WyattWyatt stepped out onto the deck of his new boat and stretched in the morning sun.Life had never been this good.Wyatt couldn't imagine how he'd once thought being a bartender had ever been enough. He couldn't believe that he'd ever been happy without Cassie.They were home here. Blue Caribbean waters were a balm to weary souls. The white sand called to them, and the warm sunshine banished worries.Cassie and Wyatt didn't go back to the resort. Wyatt didn't have a job there anymore, and after hearing how he'd been treated, Cassie had refused to go to such an establishment. Besides, Wyatt didn't need to tend bar and live a bachelor lifestyle anymore. He didn't want that life.So they bought a sailboat. It wasn't the biggest or flashiest boat in the world, but it was comfortable, and it got them where they wanted to go.Today, it was taking them to a very special island.Wyatt checked the rigging and made sure his route was plotted in the computer. The island wasn't far, but he wa
CassieCassie couldn't believe it.The guy at the bar just looked at her.Not just looked, but did a double take and then a full body check out.And then he smiled like he liked what he saw.It wasn't something Cassie was used to. It certainly wasn't anything she expected, and to be honest, something she hadn't had in a long time.She was sure it had to be an accident. She checked her clothes and didn't see any embarrassing stains or funny marks. Her hands immediately went to her hair and face to make sure nothing was wrong. Her long dark hair seemed to be still neatly up in its ponytail, and nothing was sticking out. She didn't feel anything strange on her face. Why else would he be looking at her and smiling like that?“Psst, Brianna,” Cassie whispered to her best friend. They stood next to one another in the line to check into their hotel. “Do I have something on my face? Anything in my hair?”Brianna set down her suitcase and carefully evaluated her friend. “Nope. Not even a gray
CassieThe sound of lively conversations filled the restaurant. Friends and family sat around six large tables in a small party room set off from the main seating area. The big ocean facing windows stood open, letting in the last sunshine of the day as well as a cooling sea breeze.Cassie felt naked in her thin dress. Her shoulders were bare and her legs exposed. Despite the tropical heat, she wished she had a sweater. Or her long sleeved pink work shirt. She missed the safety of her work clothes.“Oh my gosh, Cassie. You look amazing,” Janessa announced, hurrying across the room to greet Cassie and Brianna.“You like it?” Cassie asked, looking down and inspecting the cute little cherries on her dress.“Like it? I love it,” Janessa told her. “Brianna has great taste.”Cassie tried not to feel hurt that Janessa knew Brianna had picked it out. Was it really that out of character for her to wear a cute dress?“I definitely have great taste, but Cassie's got the legs for it,” Brianna agre
CassieCassie entered the bathroom and found it blissfully empty. Leaning against a stone tile wall, she let the hot tears escape. There weren't many. She didn't usually cry. She was typically strong and steadfast. She didn't let people get to her.Cassie blamed it on being tired. She blamed the tears on traveling all day. She blamed it on the stress of her job. She blamed it on Lorna knowing the exact buttons to push to make her doubt herself.She wiped her face off, checked the mirror to make sure she didn't look like she'd been crying, and went to order more wine. She found their waiter in the hallway putting orders into a computer.“Fernando?”He looked up with a start and then relaxed when he saw it was just Cassie.“I just wanted to let you know that if Lorna does speak to your manager, I'd be happy to speak to them as well. You've been great. She's the customer from hell, and I want to apologize to you for her. I don't want you getting in trouble with your boss because she's aw
WyattWyatt noticed her immediately.How could he not? She was gorgeous in an innocent-yet-sexy kind of way. She kept fiddling with the thin straps on her dress, and he couldn't help but want to be the one to slide them off her shoulders. He kept imagining his fingers sliding through her dark hair as he laid her onto his bed.He could just imagine the way her beautiful red lips would look gasping his name. Her body was made for loving. Those long legs peeking out of the sheets... The way her hips would rise to his...He needed to get a hold of himself. He was supposed to be making drinks, not imagining guests naked. Even if it was a really lovely image in his head. He should at least learn her name first.He quickly finished pouring the last few mai-tais for the tourists in front of him. While he set the drinks out, he carefully checked out her left hand. No ring. That was a good sign. Thoughts of her in his bed once again filled his thoughts. He pushed them away, trying his best not
CassieCassie woke up with a headache the size of New York.Luckily, it was just New York City-sized and not the entire state, but still a pretty horrific headache. The only reason it wasn't worse was the two glasses of water Wyatt had her drink at the bar as well as the one before bed.She didn't remember much about coming back to her room, but she did remember that she needed to drink a glass of water. It was one of the very few things that she remembered.“Did I really do that?” she asked the empty room.She groaned as she remembered sliding the sexy bartender her room number. Her head ached, and her mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. It took more effort than she expected to roll over and check the little alarm clock to see what time it was.A little after ten in the morning.Not only had she gotten drunk, propositioned a bartender and failed, but she had also slept in.Brianna would be so proud of her.There was a soft knock on the door.“I don't need any housekeeping!” C
Cassie walked quicker the closer she got. What if he didn't show up? What if he wasn't so attractive without two glasses of wine in her? What if he realized just how boring and old she was?What if she had said something super dumb while drunk?Cassie tried not to think about it. She told herself not to worry. There was no real consequence here. Unlike at home where she had her job, her reputation, and her hotel's reputation all on the line. This was her chance to try something new. She didn't have to be perfect here. She could be human.Castaway Cantina came into view. It was a small building with large open windows to let in the sea air. It was a buffet style eating area with seats both inside and outside. The atmosphere was relaxed and soft music played overhead.Cassie checked her watch. It was ten seconds past noon.She didn't see him in the restaurant. She didn't see him walking up the path or sitting at a chair near the entrance. He wasn't here.She tried to tell her self that
WyattWyatt couldn't believe he'd turned her down. Again. She'd offered him another chance in her bed, and he'd said no. That he wanted to wait.He was an idiot.His body wanted her. He'd been glad that the table hid his obvious attraction to her. She was made for loving with her soft curves and warm smile. Today's dress was worse for his self-control than yesterday's dress. The dress was practically see-through, and he kept staring, hoping that he'd catch a glance of something.It was a beautiful kind of torture.And then she'd offered herself to him — screaming orgasms in her room.Usually, after a suggestion like that, he would be the one dragging the girl up the stairs to her room. But those dates always ended with him leaving before she fell asleep. He didn't remember their names. They blurred together. While fun, they went quickly. They didn't mean anything to him.He didn't want Cassie to blur. He wanted her to remain crisp and perfect in his memory. He wanted to take his time.