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“Hey, Lacey,” Ethan said with a lightness to his tone. “Can I get you something?”
“Just a water, thank you.”
Drew spun on his stool, took her hand in his, and pulled her between his legs. He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, even though she would have welcomed a deeper one. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Hi, sorry I kept you waiting.” She tapped him on the shoulder and cut her gaze to the hair flipper. “Who’s your friend?”
He furrowed his brows, confused. “Oh, this is Shelly.” Lacey gave her a small smile. Drew, surely sensing a bit of jealousy, grinned. “Shelly, this is my girlfriend, Lacey.”
With her drink in her hand, Shelly slid off the stool and gave a weak smirk. “It was nice meeting you,” she said to Drew, before sauntering away.
Lacey felt a flash of guilt before taking Shelly’s seat and picking up the laminated menu. But she knew if she mentioned that to Drew, he would remind her that hewasher boyfriend. Instead, she decided to take his lead. “So what are we having today?”
Ethan let out a chuckle. “I like you, Lacey. Plus…” He noddedtoward Drew. “This clown has never seemed happier.”
Ethan left them to serve another guest as Drew and Lacey looked at each other. So much was spoken with just a simple glance: memories of their talk, the way his strong arms felt when she woke in them this morning, and how every time they kissed something deep within her started to come to life.
“Did you get your work done?” Drew asked, seeming genuinely interested. The fact that he knew Pete Carson still bothered her a little bit. She’d always prided herself on being independent, and landing Pete Carson’s business had been no exception. But she realized Drew was a man of his word and wouldn’t say anything.
“Yes, I did. Thank you so much.”
“Great.” He leaned in and skimmed her cheek with the tip of his nose, eliciting goose bumps on her bare arms. “That means you’re mine for the rest of the day.”
Mine. That simple four-letter word made Lacey feel something she hadn’t felt in a long time—wanted. Even though they were surrounded by people, when Drew looked at her, everyone and everything around them disappeared.
But even as she lost herself in his gaze, she couldn’t help picture him, still at the resort while she was back home in New York.Will he meet someone?she wondered.Will women vie for his attention? Will he want the company of another woman?Her last thought had her frowning.
“Hey.” Drew rubbed her arm with the back of his fingers. “Why do you look so sad?”
Lacey raised her right shoulder. “Just thinking.” She inhaled the warm salt-laced air. “I’m going to miss it here. I wish I’d booked a longer vacation.”
“Then stay,” Drew said, as if it were as easy as knowing the sun would rise. “After all, your boyfriend will be.”
“No, I don’t want to ruin your vacation or hold you back. Someone like Shelly—”
Drew cut her off. “Ruin?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want Shelly. I want you and only you.” Lacey slowly nodded. “Iknow what you’re thinking: that this is fake.” His eyes held hers as he brought his palm to the side of her face. “Well, to me it isn’t, and by the time you leave the island, I’ll make you believe that too. I don’t even care that we don’t live in the same city. Once I convince you that we belong together, I refuse to let a few hundred miles come between us.”
He made everything sound so easy, but Lacey knew it wouldn’t be. How could it? Both of them had jobs they loved and were settled in their cities.
Needing to change the subject, Lacey tilted her head and leaned into Drew’s palm. “You’re a great guy. But even if I wanted to, I can’t because there aren’t any rooms available. All the rooms are booked.”
“Pardon the interruption,” Ethan said, slinging a bar towel over his right shoulder. “I couldn’t help but overhear. If you want to stay longer, consider it done.”
Lacey’s brows furrowed. “I appreciate that, but when I asked at the desk—”
“Ah, yes.” Ethan leaned forward on his elbows and crooked his finger to bring Lacey closer, as though he were about to divulge a big bad secret. “You, pretty lady, seem to have forgotten that I have a bit of pull around here. If you’d like to stay, consider your reservation extended. Just let the front desk know your checkout date.” He righted himself and smiled. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a very pretty redhead at the end of the bar that looks extremely parched.” He shot Lacey a wink before sauntering toward the redhead in question.
“Looks like that’s settled,” Drew said, a smirk gracing his handsome face.
“Yes, it looks that way, but—”
“No buts, come on,” Drew said, taking her hand in his.
He led her to the members-only area and to a cushioned double chaise longue. They settled in; the chair was more like a mattress and didn’t allow too much space between them. Lacey took a moment to lie back and breathe—to deeply inhale the salty air. She tilted her chin toward the sky, closed her eyes, and let the sun penetrate herskin.
Lacey’s smile grew as she realized how genuinely happy she was. Soaking up the sun in the middle of December was definitely not her norm but something she could get used to. If she hadn’t taken this vacation, she’d probably be stomping around New York in a heavy coat and snow boots. But it wasn’t only the sun that warmed her. The man next to her raised her body temperature more than nature could.
A waiter came by and offered them a menu. Lacey didn’t care what she had for lunch and let Drew do the ordering. Once the young man was gone, she peeled off her cover-up, took off her sunglasses, and rolled onto her stomach. Lacey reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of sunblock.
