Betrayal (3 page)

The next morning we had arranged to do
some watersports despite Courtney’s reluctance.

‘Come on it will be fun’ I assure her
grinning.

‘You are sporty! I am not built for speed
but luxury’ she points to her huge bosom and I laugh.

‘You know I cannot remember the last time
I heard that laugh’ she hugs me tightly, ‘come on then if it makes you so happy’
she links her arm through mine as we walk towards the beach.

We end up having a great time and I
realize this vacation is long overdue. The stresses of the past year begin to
melt away as I begin to relax absorbing the beautiful surroundings with fresh
eyes.  We start off on a pedalo which is far too tame for me but encourages
Courtney before I move up to the Jet Ski which Courtney point blank refuses to
attempt.

‘I will watch’ she promises her eyes
round with horror at the prospect.

I have a yellow bikini on today and leave
my hair loose down my back. I had driven a Jet Ski countless times previous so
pull away immediately reveling in the way the wind blows through my hair as the
machine bumps across the turquoise waters.  I feel alive the sun resting on my
cheeks as I smile against the exhilaration surging through me.  The time passes
too quickly and before long I am waved in by the instructor.

‘Well you have obviously done that
before’ he grins.

‘Yes. I will be back tomorrow’ I gush as
the adrenaline remains within my veins.

‘Wow! I might join you tomorrow’ Courtney
beams, ‘it looks great, you are so good at that!’

I grin over at her the aftermath of the
adrenaline remaining in my veins as someone approaches us, I glance up and
notice it is the photographer.

‘Hi’ I breathe as my eyes find his warm
brown eyes.

‘Hey’ his gaze is penetrating my face and
my insides churn.  ‘Sorry to bother you.  I am Brad Thompson by the way’ he
holds out a hand and I place mine inside as he squeezes softly.

‘Hi Brad, Maddison Connor’ I flush as I
feel a pull of attraction towards this man.

‘Good to meet you Maddison’ he smiles
lightly ‘Listen sorry to disturb you’ he mumbles politely, ‘I am shooting for
the hotel brochure and wondered whether you would object to us using a shot of
you on the jet ski that I have accidentally captured.  I was actually taking a
shot of one of the models but it didn’t compare’ my hand remains in his grasp
and I tug lightly to release it embarrassment surging through me.

‘Oh em…’ I move my glance to Courtney who
is smiling.

‘Hi Brad, I am Courtney’ they shake hands
giving me time to recover my composure.

‘Hi Courtney’ he smiles before returning
his gaze to me ‘you look like a professional out there’ he murmurs, ‘if you
would rather I didn’t use it that is fine’ he adds.

‘Of course she doesn’t mind’ Courtney
replies, ‘what a compliment Maddie’ her gaze informs me I am being rude.

‘No that’s fine thank you Brad’ I nod my
face flushing.

‘Great! Thank you.  There will be
something you need to sign but I take it you are staying for a week or so?’ he
probes his eyes moving over my face as if he is copying it to his memory.  His
intense gaze has me squirming inside.

‘Two weeks’ I confirm, ‘ok sure’ my eyes
flicker around his face nervously. He appears so confident in his stance and the
way he moves his body, this is a man who is extremely comfortable in his skin.

‘Fantastic, maybe we could all share a
drink this evening in the beach bar maybe?’ he includes Courtney who gushes a
positive response before he nods and departs.

‘Wow’ Courtney giggles, ‘he is hot! Well
that is one way of getting back on the horse Maddie and what a stallion he is’
she teases.

‘Courtney!’ I scold her but inside I am
smiling.

********

Brad felt as if someone had punched him
in the stomach when he had approached Maddison to find she was grinning.  The
transformation took his breath away! 

When he had zoomed in on the Jet Ski on
the horizon he couldn’t believe it was her, her hair was flowing in the wind
her lips stretched over her teeth in a breath taking smile.  He couldn’t stop
watching her tiny legs with their muscles clenched against the equipment
wishing he was that Jet Ski.

Her hand fit perfectly inside his as
though it belonged, I have to have her even if just for the night.  It had been
too long since I had taken a bedmate, I am not the slightest bit interested in
the models although I receive regular invitations.  It was all too easy that
way, this wouldn’t be simple by any means that he was convinced of. 

********

‘You look
gorgeous’ Courtney comments as they make their way down in the lift.

I smile
indifferently, ‘just holiday clothes’ I justify my outfit which I am aware
flatters my slim body.  I am dressed in cream lace shorts which sit high on my
legs revealing my now tanned slim legs teamed with a loose camisole top in a
coffee color and my wedges.  ‘You look pretty good yourself’ I compliment her
in a light blue fitted dress which hugs all her gorgeous curves.

‘Thank you’
she grins all knowingly but I refuse to question her smug look.

After our meal
we enter into the bar and once again sit up on the bar stools ordering some
drinks.  My eyes scan the room leisurely as I attempt to not bring Courtney’s
attention to the fact that I am searching for him.  I begin to relax after two
cocktails concluding that he wasn’t going to show before I sense him behind me.
I cross my legs and turn directly into his gaze averting my eyes immediately
with a small smile.

‘Hi’ he
murmurs approaching us dressed in jeans and a cream polo shirt his hair damp
from what I can only imagine is the shower.  The thought of Brad in the shower
sends my insides clenching, what is wrong with me?

‘Hi Brad’ Courtney
calls politely.

‘Hi’ I fluster
glancing briefly towards him before moving my eyes back to my glass.

He stands to
the side of me his hip leaning against the bar and I sense that he is anticipating
my gaze.  I move my eyes casually up into his stare and he smiles, ‘that’s
better’ he murmurs quietly before enquiring, ‘what can I get you ladies?’ his
warm eyes sparkle towards me and I wriggle uncomfortably.

‘Actually I am
fed up with all these cocktails Brad, could I have a Gin and Tonic please’
Courtney requests.

‘Of course,
Maddison?’

‘Erm, I love
the cocktails, the same please, Long Island Iced Tea’ I inform him.

‘No problem’
he orders the drinks and a Jack Daniels for himself before turning to us.  ‘So
you girls on vacation?’

‘Yes’ Courtney
replies, ‘I have to get this workaholic away somehow’ she jests and I scoff.

‘What do you
do Maddison?’ he enquires lightly his eyes burning into mine.

‘I have a
coffee shop come library’ I express vaguely.

‘That’s a
strange combination, tell me about it’ he insists passing our drinks over and
pulling a stool so close to me I feel the heat from him against my thigh.

‘Well I love
books and I love coffee so I decided to combine both, a coffee shop with a
library to the side where people can borrow books or read them inside whilst
drinking their coffee.  I am expanding at the moment opening a second one in
Notting Hill…. I hope’ I add, my business being a safe subject and one I am
extremely proud of.

‘Very
innovative. Where is the current one located?’ he appears interested.

‘Richmond’ I
reveal.

‘So you live
in London?’ he states his eyes pulling me into him.

‘Yes, I live
above the shop’ I fluster.

‘Ah, I see’ he
smiles over at Courtney ‘easy to become a workaholic when all you have to do is
pop downstairs’ he nods in comprehension ‘cheers’ he lifts his glass and we
follow ‘so Courtney what do you do?’

Halfway
through their conversation I excuse myself to go to the ladies. Brad stands as
I do his eyes resting on my outfit.  He smiles down at me aware I have caught
him gawping and I feel butterflies in my stomach.

When I return
Courtney’s mobile rings and she excuses herself with a grin, ‘that’s my man
excuse me’ and she exits the bar.

‘That’s a
regular occurrence’ I explain eager to fill the silence, ‘I spend a
considerable amount of time sitting at a bar alone whilst she runs and coo’s to
her Dave’ I smile gently to soften my words.

‘I don’t
imagine you sit alone long’ he murmurs and I shrug moving my eyes down to my
glass.

‘Come on
Maddison don’t shut down on me now’ he encourages and my head snaps up.

‘What do you
mean?’ I frown.

‘I mean don’t put
the barriers back up’ his eyes move to my lips and I automatically touch them
with my tongue noticing how his pupils darken at the gesture.  I glare at him
unaware of quite how to respond to his correct assumption. 

‘So, how did
you learn to Jet Ski?’ he continues unmoved by my dark gaze his head tilted in
question.

‘My dad’ I
answer quietly, ‘they lived on the coast and had boats’

‘Nice’ he nods
his approval ‘where?’

‘Well they moved
to Cornwall when I was born so I was brought up on the water’ I explain
relaxing slightly.

‘Great! Are
they still in Cornwall?’ he enquires and my stomach drops.

‘No’ I murmur
glancing up, ‘they got killed in a boating accident when I was young’

‘Oh I am sorry
to hear that Maddison’ he frowns ‘sorry to bring back such an awful memory’

‘Thank you,
that’s ok you wasn’t to know’ I smile briefly.

‘Is that why
you don’t smile much’ he regards me intently as if he is delving into my mind.

‘I do’ I lie.

‘Ok’ he
relaxes his gaze ‘do you have siblings?’

‘No….just me. 
But don’t pity me I am fine’ I add stubbornly.

‘I wasn’t
intending to’ his eyes penetrate mine and I feel suffocated as though there is
a distinct lack of air in the room despite the front folding doors to the bar being
open entirely inviting the beach inside.

‘You are an
enigma Maddison Connor’ Brad purrs.  The man oozes sex appeal and for the first
time in a year I yearn for a man intimately my insides clenching at the images
inside my mind. His eyes darken at my gasp and for what feels like an eternity
our eyes are locked the outside world forgotten.

‘Well I should
go away more often, he is definitely missing me’ Courtney gushes as she retakes
her seat oblivious to the tension between us and sips her drink, ‘another one
guys?’

Brad
reluctantly breaks the eye contact to glance at Courtney ‘no thank you
Courtney, I will leave you ladies to your evening’ Brad refuses emptying the
remnants of his glass into his mouth before standing.

‘Aw well thank
you for the drink Brad’ Courtney calls genuinely.

‘You are most welcome,
what time you ladies going Jet Skiing tomorrow?’ he probes.

‘About eleven
I reckon don’t you Maddie?’ Courtney’s eyes are amused.

I shrug
attempting to steady my beating heart, ‘I guess’ I turn to Brad, ‘thank you for
the drink Brad’

‘Anytime’ he
smiles into my eyes and my insides tingle once again as he turns and exits the
bar moving his body in a manner that suggests he is more than capable of using
it.

********

By the time I
am seated on the Jet Ski the next day my insides are anxious at the thought of
once again seeing Brad.  Courtney is being shown the ropes by the instructor as
I am eagerly awaiting to be told I can depart.

‘You go
Maddison’ the instructor calls, ‘I know you are more than capable’  I grin
before thrusting forward into the wind my hair once again flowing back as
adrenaline flows through my veins.  Maybe I should buy a place by the coast and
purchase one of these beauties I feel more animated than ever on the water. 

A little while
in and I sense him behind me as I zig zag through the calm waters, I glance
back and he is attempting to catch me.  I cannot prevent the beam flashing
across my face as he thrusts forwards eager to catch me, he is obviously a
natural on the throbbing machine.  He is now level with me grinning over as he
points to a flag and I identify he is challenging me.

I plunge
forward but he is equal with me unaffected by my snaking towards him in an
attempt to edge him further away.  He shakes his head in mock disapproval
before somehow propelling forward reaching the flag slightly ahead of me.  I
laugh, I have been taught to be a good sport and he grins back at me his face
alight with success and humor.  I travel across his back tide which causes me
to jump over the water I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun. 

By the time we
are called in by the instructor my face aches from the sun and the giggling.

‘Oh that was
great!’ I pant pulling off my lifejacket and handing it back to the instructor.