"Well, let's see…” Claire sighed.“I popped down to the bar for a nightcap, sat by the piano for a while, got drunk on something called Jefton Juice, and flirted shamelessly with this incredibly handsome yet disappointingly married, would-be womanizer with a limp."
"That's my girl."
CHAPTEREIGHT
JAY/CLAIRE
"Morning, Rob."Jay carefully positioned himself in the chair across from his best friend.
"Morning?It's practically afternoon,” Rob corrected.
"It's not even ten o'clock.I'm not that late.And I see you didn't bother to wait."He pointed to the empty plate on the table between them.
With a wave, Jay secured the attention of the server, eager to order breakfast—namely a large cup of black coffee.The open-air dining area inside the resort sat deserted, and Jay figured most guests had hit the beach at daybreak.
"I'm sure you've got one hell of an excuse.You always do."Rob rolled his eyes.
"Let's just say I had a very rough night, no thanks to you."Jay smiled with relief at the approaching server bearing a silver coffee carafe.
"Me?I didn't even see you.I turned in right after dinner, remember?I thought you were doing the same."
"I told you I was gonna grab a drink before heading up."
"Yeah.Onedrink."
"One sometimes turns into two."
"Or three."Rob grinned.
"It might have been more if you hadn't called and ruined everything," Jay said, pointing at the menu and giving the server another nod.
"I called your cell phone and your room multiple times, but you never picked up.I was just making sure you were okay."
"I'm fine, Rob."
"Well, yeah, I can see that now,” Rob replied.
“I’m not going to do anything desperate, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”Jay looked his best friend square in the eye.“In fact, last night was the first time in a long time I felt like myself.”
“Ok, so then how did me calling the bar ruin your whole night?"Rob asked, his tone accusatory.
"Technically it wasn’t you.It was the bartender.He told the server to tell me that mybetter halfwas on the phone."Jay took the first healing sip from the steamy mug, his head now paying the price for his late-night overindulgence.“I’d been having a nice talk with this woman and as soon as I stepped away to take the call, she vanished?—”
“Because she thought you were married,” Rob finished.“Man, I’m so sorry.We should probably let the bartender know we’re not a couple.”
“I don’t care if anyone thinks we're a couple.I would have explained all this to her as soon as I got off our call, but she was gone.”
The server placed a plate in front of Jay.He salted his eggs while Rob watched with a curious look.
“Well…” Rob smirked.
The glimmer in Rob's eyes meant one thing—he wanted details.Jay didn’t provide an answer right away, which was an answer in itself.He also couldn’t hide the tiny curl of a smile on his lips—the first one he’d managed in months.Another telling sign.
“Are you gonna tell me?”Rob asked.
"Tell you what?"
"What happened in the bar last night with this woman?"
