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“Nice life you have, Mitchell. Lying next to the most beautiful girl here while I’m slaving away at the bar.”
“Yes, your life is terrible,” Drew deadpanned. “Lacey and I were just discussing my favorite cereal.”
Ethan shook his head just as Drew knew he would. “If he told you it was granola, he’s lying like a dog. This mature adult practically lives on Cocoa Pebbles. Our concierge puts a box in his room along with a gallon of skim milk—because fat-free milk negates the sugar and empty calories he’s consuming.”
Lacey laughed. “You actually have some in your room?”
“Yes, and if you play your cards right”—Drew waggled his eyebrows—“I’ll make you a bowl later.”
“That’s it, buddy. Way to impress the lady,” Ethan said.
“On that note,” Lacey said, standing up from her seat. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
Drew couldn’t keep his eyes from following her until she vanished beyond a grove of shady palm trees. When his head snapped back toward Ethan, his friend smirked.
“Wow, you really are whipped, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I guess I am. Do you believe in love at first sight?” When Ethan’s eyebrows spiked to his hairline, Drew decided to rephrase his question. “Do you believe that you can meet someone and feel as though you’ve known them forever? And when you kiss it’s as though her lips are the spark plug that starts your heart?”
Ethan sat down in Lacey’s vacated chair. “Well, you know I can’t speak from personal experience, but in my line of work, I’ve seen my share of hookups. Couples get together, they have that carefree vacation fling, and they move on. But you’re talking about more than that, aren’t you?”
“Yes, much more. It’s crazy, right? How could I be falling in love? But when I saw her the day she checked in, I felt drawn to her. Then she kissed me, and I don’t know…” Drew rubbed his jaw, relieved to finally be confiding in his friend. “It’s not a hookup or a vacation fling. I’ve never felt like this. Have you?”
“No, I haven’t… yet. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think about getting married and having a son or daughter to pass the resort down to.”
Drew was taken aback at this. He never thought he’d hear Ethan say anything about settling down.
Ethan leaned toward Drew. “You’re one of the most levelheaded guys I know. If this was some stranger sitting at the bar requesting my bartender psychoanalysis, I’d tell him it was the island air. But, my friend, I’d say if you feel like you’re in love with her, then you most likely are.” Ethan glanced up and grinned before standing. “She is gorgeous. I’ll give you that.”
Drew turned his head and admired Lacey as she walked toward them… her perfectly toned legs, smooth soft stomach, and the way she filled out the top of her bikini, as if it were made for her… just like he was.
“Sorry about that. What are we talking about?” Lacey asked sweetly, resuming her position on her chaise.
“Oh, nothing much,” Ethan said breezily. “Don’t forget tomorrow night is the party for the kids.” He smiled at Lacey. “You’re coming, right?”
Lacey’s face brightened. “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my night.” She looked up at Ethan. “Can I do anything to help?” But before he could answer, the sound of a glass breaking had Ethan hustling off with an apology, so Drew did the explaining.
“The hotel does a wonderful job. They provide the kids with a great dinner, a holiday carol sing-along, then Santa comes and hands out the gifts.”
“I love that,” Lacey said, eyes sparkling. “When I was younger, my father would dress up as Santa for the neighborhood kids. Of course, for the first few years, I didn’t know it was him.” She let out a sad laugh. “The day I found a white beard on our kitchen table was not only a scary day, but the day I gotthe talkabout Santa Claus.” Lacey pulled her glasses off and dabbed the corner of her eye with her fingers. “I wasn’t even sad that Santa wasn’t real, because for the next few years, I was his helper—well, my father’s. Those were some of the best Christmases I ever had. I’d always thought my kids would experience that with their grandfather, but… now he’s gone.” Drew’s heart ached as she met his gaze. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be Debbie Downer.”
He skimmed his knuckles on her cheek, letting them linger there a bit. “I’m so sorry, Lacey. They must have been young.”
“My mother was forty-four and my father was forty-six. They were in a car accident on the way to a restaurant. I was supposed to be with them but changed my plans at the last minute.”
Drew let out a long breath. “Thank God for that.”
“I didn’t always feel that way.” When Drew’s eyes widened, she added, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I’m alive, but I lived with survivor’s guilt for a while.” Her eyes glistened with tears ready to pool and spill down her face. “It was difficult not to wonder why I was spared and my parents weren’t. My friend Grace says it was fate, but I don’t believe in that.”
“Well, either way, life is a precious gift. I do my best not to waste a minute of any day I’m given.” That was the truth. He strived to live like that, though life was so hectic at times that he’d forget. But looking at her gave him pause.
She smiled and shook her head as if she was clearing any sad thoughts that lingered. “That’s beautiful, Drew. And anyway, even though this is a tough time of year for me, I still love Santa.”
“I can assure you Santa loves you too.”
She finally smiled. “Well, Iamon the nice list.”
“I’m sure you are. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
