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Lacey glanced at her name tag, accepting a glass. “Hello, Fiona, and thank you.” She sipped the drink, barely containing a moan as the tangy, sweet concoction slid down her throat. It was a blend of pineapple and what tasted like mango and coconut rum. “Wow, this is delicious.”
Fiona nodded. “They’re delightful. Enjoy your stay, and please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make your visit more pleasurable.”
She walked away, leaving Lacey to sip her drink, wishing she had called ahead to extend her stay into her entire two-week vacation. She’d asked the man at the main desk about the possibility while checking in, but the only available room was an extravagant suite, which she reluctantly declined. At least the original reservation had been in her name and not Kevin’s.
Still sipping her drink and with her room key in hand, Lacey headed toward the elevator. Glancing to her left, she noticed two men. The older gentleman was chatting away while the younger, very handsome one listened intently. She smiled as she pressed the button for the elevator. Lacey had a feeling getting away would be just what she needed.
But for now she would appreciate the peace, quiet, and all that the island had to offer.
Every year Drew Mitchell looked forward to his holiday vacation. He loved the hustle and bustle of city life and his fast-paced job, but even he needed to unwind every now and again. That was why for the past several years Drew had traveled to the Spero Resort to relax.
It wasn’t like when he was younger and his mission was to meet a beautiful woman… or on occasion,women, to enjoy himself. Now he used the time to appreciate the beauty of the water and the island—and to hang out with his friend Ethan, whose parents owned the property. Not that if someone caught his eye he wouldn’t strike up aconversation or buy her a drink; it just wasn’t his primary goal anymore. And his intentions never went beyond a drink.
The past year had been hectic, and his financial clients were demanding. He loved what he did, but he knew taking time for himself was just as important as making money.
As Drew stepped into Spero’s lobby, Ethan’s father, Jackson, greeted him with a firm handshake. “It’s good to see you, son.”
Drew smiled at the older man. Jackson and his wife, Hanna, were like an extended family to him.
“Thank you, it’s good to see you too. As always, the weather…” He lost his place in their conversation as a dark-haired woman, coming from the direction of the front desk, breezed past. His heart stuttered. Even Jackson glanced around, searching for what had made Drew’s attention waver. She must have just checked in, because he definitely would have noticed her before.
“Enjoy yourself,” Jackson said with a knowing grin as he patted Drew on the shoulder. All Drew could do was nod, suddenly speechless. Who was the last woman who had done that? Drew could have racked his brain for days trying to formulate an answer, but it would be… no one. No one had ever affected him so much.
As Drew watched her, his chest expanded with a breath that caught in his throat. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. Her bright smile further illuminated the already sunlit lobby, and her blue eyes reminded him of the sea, though with just one glance, he knew that, if given the choice, he’d take gazing at this woman over the gentle turquoise waves caressing the shore. Her floral-patterned dress floated around her long bare legs like the hibiscus blooms in the hotel’s fountain.
Drew made his way toward the beauty, ready to introduce himself, but stopped when Fiona approached her with a tray of Spero’s signature drinks. The mystery woman wrapped her perfect rose-colored lips around the straw, and every coherent thought flew from his mind.
Before he could acknowledge the tug he felt in his rib cage, like a tether pulling him toward her, she stepped into the elevator and disappeared behind the sliding brass doors. Knowing he would makea point of meeting her, he turned and walked out the back exit to the purity of the white sandy beach, her blue eyes still flashing through his mind.
Vacationers stretched out on lounge chairs, uninhibited by whatever stresses they had before their arrival, which was also Drew’s ultimate goal—to leave the pressures of the city behind him.
When Ethan’s family bought the once run-down resort and transformed it into a haven of tranquility and beauty, they put all their energy into creating a place where people could escape, where they could leave their troubles behind and get a new lease on life. It was wonderful to see them achieve their goal.
Drew took his time greeting the Caribbean water. There was nothing like the island’s soft sugar-white sand. It was worlds better than the pavement his feet pounded back home in the city. He stood, staring at the waves, appreciating the wonder of it all and breathing in the warm salty air before heading back toward the resort to see his friend.
Ethan was behind the outdoor bar, working his mixing magic while joking with a few of the guests. Even though Drew missed seeing his friend back home, he knew this was where Ethan belonged. Part of Drew wondered if he should follow suit and give up the hustle of Chicago’s financial district, but he knew he’d miss the excitement of city life too much. Luckily, Drew’s salary gave him the means to spend most of his off time flying back and forth to the island.
Couples, singles, and locals surrounded the teak wood bar. A few of the twosomes appeared to be on their honeymoon and lost in each other. One pair barely came up for air to enjoy the fruity beverages in front of them.
Drew sat next to George, one of the locals who owned a condo less than a mile away. George had a deep-sea fishing charter that Spero contracted to take guests on excursions.
“Good afternoon, George. How were they biting this morning?”
Ethan smiled at Drew and set down a cold glass of lemonade in front of him while George tipped his captain’s hat toward his friends. “Not too bad. It would have been better if one of the men didn’t get queasy when the boat anchored.” He let out a laugh. “You know thesaying, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.” After another hearty chuckle, he looked at Ethan’s worried face and added, “Don’t worry. The only thing the man injured was his ego.”
The three of them shared an enthusiastic laugh. Drew looked up to ask Ethan how the day had been going, but his friend’s attention was no longer on the pineapple he had been slicing. Following his line of sight, Drew found what had distracted his pal… stepping out of the resort was the same woman who had rendered him stupid only thirty minutes earlier.
Drew slipped on his aviator sunglasses before flipping his baseball hat around; he didn’t want anything to impede his view. Ethan let out a whistle, and Drew was ready to call dibs right then and there as if they were still in college and vying for the same girl. But not wanting to tip his hand, he remained silent.
George finished his beer, glancing in the mystery woman’s direction. “Well, gentlemen, duty calls. I’ll leave you two to duke it out.” After a hearty chuckle, a pat on Drew’s back, and a handshake with Ethan, he was gone.
The woman walked to the beach stand, smiled at the young man who looked as though he’d swallowed his tongue after she thanked him, and grabbed two of the resort’s fluffy white towels. Like fools, Ethan and Drew watched her head down the few stairs that led to chaise lounges.
“Wow.” Ethan let out a breath as they watched her peel off her lavender cover-up, revealing a white-and-purple-striped string bikini. The triangular piece of fabric covering her backside had Drew shifting on his stool. “She looks thirsty,” Ethan added.
Drew knew his buddy was prepared to woo her with his mixology genius. “Sorry, brother. Remember your father’s rule?” When Ethan graduated and moved to the island to run the resort with his parents, Jackson was adamant about Ethan not fraternizing with guests.Be friendly, but not too friendly,was his dad’s mantra.Drew had never been happier to not be working at the resort.
Ethan glared at him. “Really?” When Drew’s gaze floated back to the beauty, his friend grinned. “I have a feeling you’ll be thanking your lucky stars you didn’t join us in this business venture. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you look like this.”
