Finally (3 page)

“But if you’re so
into
the guy, wouldn’t you find yourself wanting more than one night?” Brenna pressed.

“How would you choose a one-night stand guy then?” Sarah asked.

“I don’t know. I’m too shy to have one. I imagine I’d have to be real drunk and real horny to have the guts to go through with it.”

“Sarah’s making this decision when she’s completely sober and... well, we don’t know if she’s feeling horny right now thinking of Jeff,” Gemma quipped.

Sarah flushed. “Thinking about him does kind of make me hot and bothered.”

“Oh God,” Gemma said with an eyeroll. “I do think Jeff is dangerous for you. Plus, like you said, he doesn’t fit the bill for your New Year’s Resolution Guy. So why bother with him?”

“But I don’t plan to find my New Year’s Resolution Guy on this ship,” Sarah said. “Look, I can’t remember the last time I’ve done something adventurous and out of the ordinary since that heartless jerk proposed to me, then had the hide to call me by his ex-girlfriend’s name in the middle of sex. For the first time in a long time, I just really want to let my hair down and experience something I’ve never done before. For whatever reason, that includes enjoying no-strings-attached sex—and it’s Jeff I want to do that with. I know it’s weird that I’m so stuck with this idea, but... it’s just there, taunting me.”

“I suppose out of the five of us, you’ve had the longest sex drought,” Gemma said. “Maybe you’re drunk with horniness.”

They all chuckled, then Sarah let out a big sigh. “You know what? Just because I want to do it doesn’t mean I’ll have the guts to ask for it. I might end this trip with my sex drought still unbroken.”

“If you really want to break the drought, is there anything you want me to do?” Rebecca asked. “Like give Jeff some hints that you’re interested in some casual sex with him?”

A picture of Rebecca whispering into Jeff’s ear popped into Sarah’s head. Her mind followed the scene her imagination created, and she watched Jeff’s eyes register surprise. Then his lips started to twist—into a... smirk. A smirk?!

She felt herself go red. The thought of Jeff rejecting her for a no-strings-attached romp proved way too uncomfortable and embarrassing. Hurtful, even.

“No, thanks, Bec. I want to be as subtle as I can about it. I’ll play it by ear and see what happens.” What she really wanted was for Jeff to suggest it. That way, she could avoid being rejected if he wasn’t interested.

*****

S
arah took her seat next to Rebecca at the table for six in one of the ship’s specialty restaurants. She, Bec and Zach were the first to arrive for a family dinner to celebrate Zach and Rebecca’s engagement. She felt both out of place and grateful. She wasn’t family, yet she was invited. Even Magda’s younger sister and friends who were with them on this cruise weren’t there. Magda had requested a dinner with only her grandsons, her future granddaughter-in-law and Sarah. Well, she supposed she was Rebecca’s “sister” for all intents and purposes.

“Hello, darlings,” Magda said as she arrived with Greg.

Sarah couldn’t help but be secretly pleased that Magda sat next to Zach while Greg took the other seat next to Magda. That meant Jeff would have to sit next to her when he arrived. Good.

She made small talk with Greg, who was just as utterly good-looking as his two brothers. Funny, though, that even with similar levels of hunkiness, only one brother could raise her body temperature. Speaking of that particular brother, where was he?

“I wonder what’s keeping Jeffrey,” Magda murmured. “I hope he hasn’t forgotten we were all going to have dinner tonight.”

“I’ll give him a call,” Greg said, pulling out his phone.

“No need. Here he comes,” Zach said.

“Hey, all. Sorry to keep you waiting.” Jeff took his seat, grinning at Sarah as he did so.

“I was worried you’d forgotten about dinner with us, Jeffrey,” Magda said.

“Of course not, Gran. But I bumped into Grand-Auntie Miriam and your friends, and I had to engage in some chit-chat.” He turned to Zach and Rebecca. “I didn’t mention your engagement to them. I thought you might want to make the announcement yourselves.”

The couple nodded their thanks.

“There’ll be another opportunity for them to celebrate with us when Zach and Rebecca have their engagement party,” Magda said. “That is, if they’re having one. Are you?” she asked the two.

“Engagement party?” Rebecca asked with a hint of trepidation. “Do we want one?” she added to Zach.

“Oh, I hope you consider having one,” Magda said pleadingly, hopeful excitement written all over her face. “Wouldn’t you want to share the good news with all your family and friends?”

Rebecca laughed and smiled fondly at Magda. “Okay, we’ll have one.”

“I actually have something in mind, but I haven’t discussed it with Bec yet,” Zach said.

“What’s that?” Rebecca asked.

“How big do you want our engagement party to be?”

“I’d prefer just family and friends,” Rebecca said shyly.

“Well, then, I have a great idea. The extension and refurbishment of our small country hotel in the Hunter Valley are in their final stages. Before we reopen it to the public in a month and a half, we could put the services through a dry run. Holding our engagement party there would be perfect. Our guests could stay overnight. There are now thirty rooms and five suites in total, so if we’re only having a few people, we should be able to accommodate them all at Magda’s Place.”

Sarah noticed that Magda was holding her breath, trying valiantly to contain her excitement while waiting for Rebecca’s answer. Sarah bit her tongue to keep from chuckling out loud at Magda’s childlike delight.

“That sounds wonderful,” Rebecca answered with a bright smile. “I can’t wait.”

“Me neither,” Magda quipped, making them all laugh out loud.

While Sarah and Rebecca were looking after Magda while she recovered from her hip replacement surgery, Magda had told them about their boutique country hotel that her late husband had named in her honour. Magda’s Place, situated in the grounds of the Carmichael vineyard and winery, was the part of their business that Magda was most interested in. Apparently, Magda had played a big part in designing the interior of the building, and had chosen the decor herself. She’d have a ball if her grandson’s engagement party would be held there.

Sarah was looking forward to it too. She’d love to check out their vineyard and winery.

“I love your shiraz,” she said with a sigh. “Now I’ll get to see how it ends up in the bottle. That is, if it’s allowed,” she added hurriedly.

“I’ll take you behind the scenes in the winery,” Jeff offered.

“Oh, will you?” Sarah asked excitedly. “That would be great!”

“You can even try everything we produce,” Jeff said.

“Everything? I might get drunk during your wine tasting tour,” she joked.

“Are you a happy drunk or a sad drunk?”

She chuckled. “A happy drunk. When I start giggling uncontrollably for no reason, that’s when you know I’m at my limit.”

“Well then, you definitely
must
try everything we produce.”

Sarah giggled, inexplicably happy. Geez, she wasn’t even drunk yet and she was already acting like it. It must be the effect Jeffrey Carmichael had on her.

Oh darn. He
was
dangerous. But the realisation only served to excite her more.

J
eff couldn’t help but chuckle at Sarah’s laughter. He’d always thought it was corny when people said that a person’s smile lit up the whole room. Well, now he knew what that really meant. Sarah’s giggles not only lit up the restaurant, they warmed it.

Good grief, now that was even cornier.

“Jeff, what date is the official reopening of Magda’s Place again?” Zach asked.

Reluctantly, he peeled his gaze from Sarah to respond to his brother. “April eighteenth. Major clean-up is happening in the second week of March, so you have the last two weekends in March and the first two weekends in April to choose from for your party.”

“What do you think, baby?” Zach asked Rebecca as he consulted his smartphone for the exact dates. “Unfortunately, those are the only options as the hotel is already fully booked for weeks after the official reopening. Here are the dates you can choose from: March twenty-first or twenty-eighth, or April fourth or eleventh. Hey, April fourth. That’s your birthday, Jeff!”

“Really? It’s Sarah’s birthday on April eleventh,” Rebecca said, smiling at her best friend.

“What do you know?” Jeff said to Sarah. “We’ll be celebrating our birthdays soon.” He found himself grinning at her like a loon for the simple fact that their birthdays were only a week apart. Well, actually she was giving him another one of her radiant smiles and he couldn’t help but respond in kind. It was infectious.

“I think March might be too soon to organise an engagement party,” Rebecca said. “Besides, it would be good if we share the day with either Jeff or Sarah. I’d prefer that.”

“Yeah, it’ll be more fun,” Zach agreed.

“Do it on Jeff’s birthday,” Sarah said promptly.

“No, Sarah’s birthday,” Jeff insisted.

“Guys,” Sarah said to engaged couple, “I think you should hold your party on the weekend of Jeff’s birthday. After all, the place is Carmichael-owned. If anyone’s birthday should be celebrated alongside your engagement, it should be Jeff’s.”

“But I already have plans for my birthday,” Jeff said.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Sarah said, blushing prettily. “In that case...”

“In that the case, we’ll hold it on the weekend of the eleventh,” Rebecca finished for Sarah. “That would be perfect. It’ll give us plenty of time to prepare. You’ll be available for our engagement party, won’t you, Jeff?”

“Wouldn’t miss is for the world,” he replied.

“So what have you got planned for your birthday, bro?” Zach asked. “You haven’t told us anything.”

“I was actually thinking of having it at Magda’s Place, too. A couple of my friends are keen to visit there again.”

“Oh, good!” Magda exclaimed. “We’ll have two private events there before it reopens! I’m glad you want a separate party for your birthday, Jeff.”

“Well, it’s not that I want a separate one,” he answered with a grin. “I just wanted Sarah to stop arguing against holding the engagement party on her birthday.”

Sarah gasped loudly beside him. “You sneak!”

“You have to be smart around here,” he said with a wink, which earned him a cute, narrow-eyed frown. Hmm. Sarah was just as beautiful scowling as she was smiling.

He couldn’t wait to show her around their country hotel, vineyard and winery. Magda’s Place was one of his favourite places to stay when he wanted to relax and unplug from the daily stresses. Apart from its peace and tranquility, it was situated in a beautiful part of the world.

He hadn’t had time to check it out since it closed for renovations. They’d upgraded carpets, furnishings and decor, and added three more luxury suites complete with huge spa baths and panoramic views of vineyards and hills. He better make sure he reserved one of those suites for himself—just in case.

Just in case of what, Jeff?

Hell. In his head, a fling with Sarah was already a done deal. Heaven help him, but his mind was already playing images of him doing naughty things with her in one of those suites. Honestly, if she didn’t stop looking so damned cute with those sunshiny smiles, he’d find himself making a move on her.

Well, would that really be so bad?

*****

“W
e’re going back to our suite,” Zach announced.

Jeff suppressed his snicker. He’d been wondering for the last fifteen minutes when the newly engaged couple would say their goodnights. The two had done nothing but cuddle and kiss since their group had moved to one of the bars for some after-dinner drinks.

“I think I’ll head off now, too,” Magda said, hiding a yawn behind her hand.

“We’ll walk you to your room, Gran,” Zach said, helping Magda get up from her chair.

“Another drink, guys?” Greg asked Jeff and Sarah after the others had left.

“Could I just have water, please, Greg?” Sarah asked.

“Sure. Jeff?”

“Another beer, thanks, bro.”

Jeff raised an eyebrow at Sarah when Greg left for the bar. “Water?”

“Yes, I’ve had enough alcohol, I think.”

“But you’re not laughing like a hyena yet,” he teased.

“I
do not
laugh like a hyena when I’m drunk,” she protested indignantly, tapping him on the thigh with the back of her hand.

“How does your drunken laugh go then? Like this?” He made a girly
hi-hi-hi
laugh.

“No!” she said, laughter starting to bubble from out of her.

“How then? Show me.”

“I don’t know,” she said, her giggles getting louder.

“Aha. I see. Like that!” he said with glee.

“Stop it,” she said, giggling some more. “
You’re
making me laugh, not the alcohol.”

“Wow. I’ve never had anyone truly laugh at my jokes before,” he said with amusement.

For some reason, that set Sarah off even worse. She laughed so hard that she was doubled over. And he couldn’t help but laugh with her.

“What so funny?” Greg asked, setting drinks on their table.

“Sarah’s drunk.”

“I’m... not! Not... yet,” she said in between breathless laughter.

“So why are you giggling uncontrollably, if you’re not drunk yet?” Jeff asked.

“I don’t... know,” she responded, inhaling big gulps of air and trying to control herself.

“Want a sip?” he asked wickedly, offering her his beer.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“You’re trying to get me drunk!” she accused.

“No. You’re already drunk, so I
couldn’t
be trying to get you drunk.”

“I’m not
already
drunk,” she said, her giggles subsiding. “I’m only
almost
drunk. So you
are
trying to get me drunk.”

He grinned back at her. Ah, he wanted to kiss that radiant face.

“Excuse me, guys,” Greg said. “I’m just going to say hello to a couple of people I met the other day.”