Love to Believe: Fireflies ~ Book 2 (17 page)

“My car, my rules, my music.”

“If you want to get laid this weekend, and I mean at all, you’ll switch to something more current.”

Sean dropped his head to meet her eyes over the top of his sunglasses for a quick second before returning his attention to the road. “You drive a hard bargain, Xena.”

Rebecca grinned. “I’ll listen to one more crooner, but then I get to pick.”

“Okay. But no rap, and none of that weird alternative shit Brenna listens to sometimes.”

“I like Country.” Her laughter filled the interior of the car when his jaw dropped in immediate protest of her pronouncement. “Carrie Underwood Country, not old timey Country.”

In the end, they bounced from genre to genre for the entire seven hour ride, singing along to everything from ’40s classics through Country and current Pop and Rock and Roll, leaving no musical decade unexplored. It turned out they had more in common than they thought.

The weather warmed up as they traveled southeast toward the coast, and by the time Rebecca admired the first of countless oak trees draped in Spanish moss, Sean had opened the car’s top so they could take advantage of the beaming sun and near-sixty-degree temperature.

“GPS says we’re about thirty minutes out,” he said.

She nodded. “Have you been to Amelia Island before?”

“I have, but just in passing on my way to Jacksonville.”

“I used to come to the resort with Andrea during our spring breaks. It’s very inclusive. They have a full service spa, tennis courts, two pools, and horseback riding on the beach. Really nice. They’ve made it so spectacular you don’t ever have to leave.”

“Andrea--that’s the woman who’s getting married, right?”

“Yes. And her husband-to-be is named Josh, but I’ve never met him.”

“So you took spring break here. Stole booze and food from the hotel restaurants and bar, I’m betting, and stayed out past curfew.”

“Hey, we were in college. And anyway, over spring break the hotel does a big bonfire down at the beach every night--or at least they used to. It was private, so only people staying at the hotel could attend. It was a great party, but safe and contained, you know? Plus, we always had Andrea’s two brothers hanging around us like Secret Service. We used to duck into an empty event room and hide from them. Each meeting room had these huge lecterns, and Andrea and I used to squeeze in behind them. After the first time her brothers caught us, we couldn’t get away with that anymore. They made sure we didn’t get away with much.”

Sean threw her a look. “Don’t lie to me.”

“Okay, well, nothing I’ll admit to, then.” She grinned and laid her head back against the seat, enjoyed the sun beaming on her skin and the fresh air blowing her ponytail across her face. “I know it isn’t that warm, but this feels like a heat wave compared to Bright Hills.”

“It’s the sun, and it’s more humid down here.”

“Does that mean I’ll get to see you in that purple Speedo?”

“Be careful what you wish for.”

They drove down the main drag, a beachy tourist strip of seafood restaurants, bars, T-shirt shops, by-the-week rentals, and high-rise beachfront condos. Antsy to arrive at their destination, Rebecca drummed on her thighs with her hands and watched for the entrance to Dreams by the Sea Hotel and Resort. It looked as she remembered, lined on each side of the road with rolling flowerbeds overflowing with seasonal color. She thought the blanket of purple and white might be pansies or petunias, but they all looked the same to her so she gave up trying to figure out what was what and just enjoyed the beauty of it.

Excitement and apprehension bubbled inside her at the prospect of seeing Andrea and other college friends who might be in attendance. It had been years, and beyond Christmas cards and superficial online exchanges, the occasional wedding or baby shower, she had not kept in touch with most, Andrea being the exception. Rebecca was the last marriage holdout, something that had never bothered her until now. There would be questions about Sean, and a lot of them.

“How do I explain you?”
Crap. Did I really just say that out loud?

“What do you mean?”

“Well, they’re going to assume that--you know, we’re not really--but they’re going to think we--I just--” She swallowed hard and stared straight ahead now, feeling like an idiot.

Sean parked under the hotel portico and cut the engine. He removed his sunglasses--Serengetis, Rebecca thought, and damn, the man wore them well--and met her gaze with an expression steeped in amusement.

“How about the truth?” he said.

She raised her brows. “Our arrangement isn’t anybody’s business, Sean.”

He rolled his eyes. “Why do women overthink everything? You don’t have to say a word about the arrangement. We’re seeing each other. Plead the Fifth to anything else. They’ll see us together and draw their own conclusions.”

He was right, of course. She didn’t have to admit to anything she didn’t want to. Except to Andrea. Five private seconds with Andrea and they’d both be spilling their guts about every corner of their lives. Most women, the lucky ones, had a friend like that, where time and distance disappeared the instant they were together. Andrea was hers.

Sean lifted the suitcases from the trunk and handed the uniformed valet the keys to the Mustang, but he didn’t look happy about someone else getting behind the wheel of his car.

“She’s a beauty, sir.” The young man eyed the vehicle like it was Marilyn Monroe come to life. “We’ll take good care of her.”

They checked in and went straight to their room, a full suite on the upper floor with a separate sitting area and a bathroom done in creamy marble with a whirlpool tub and double-headed clear-glass shower. The balcony, accessible through French doors from both the sitting room and the bedroom, faced the beach. A bistro table and two chairs invited sitting to enjoy the view. The plush rooms were decorated in soothing shades of sea-foam green, teal blues and muted grays, and the heavy four-poster bed with its cushy mattress and down coverings promised comfort. A basket of fruit and cheese sat alongside a bottle of Riesling on the sofa table in the sitting area with an embossed white card that read, “Welcome, and thank you for sharing our big day! Love Andrea and Josh.”

Rebecca stepped onto the balcony to enjoy the fresh air and the view, and leaned back against Sean when he stepped behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and resting his cheek against her head. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth from his body, reveled in the cool breeze and the tangy scent of salt air, and thought there was nowhere on Earth she’d rather be than here with him in that moment.

No strings, no drama, no questions. Just goodbye.

She ignored the whisper of words and turned her head just enough to meet Sean’s mouth with hers. Warm, soft, his lips moved to her cheek, her temple. He kissed her closed eyes, a brush of silk, and returned to her mouth with gentle purpose. And when he led her inside, she followed her heart.

***

“Omigod! Rebecca Walker, right?”

Rebecca turned toward the voice and broke into a smile. She accepted the embrace of a chubby woman with highlighted blonde hair whose face and blue eyes she recalled in detail but whose name she did not.

“Look at you! You always did rock a little black dress, right? So good to see you! And how about this dinner buffet. What a fancy spread. This is amazing, right?” The woman held Rebecca at arm’s length and shook her head. “You haven’t aged a day. Still gorgeous. All that martial arts stuff, keeping you fit.” She frowned and her eyes radiated sympathy. “And who could blame you, after that horrible experience? Never again, right? You were so brave.” She nodded and brightened her expression again. “And who is this handsome guy? Is this your husband? Hi there!” She grabbed Sean’s hand with an enthusiastic shake. “I’m Dana Spraynor.” She smiled at Rebecca. “Kept my maiden name. How about you? Did you take your husband’s name or keep your own? These days you never know, right?”

“Dana,” Rebecca smiled, relieved when the name brought forth memories. She turned to Sean. “Dana and I had a physics class together. We were study buddies one semester. Actually, Dana, Sean isn’t my--”

“Hey, have you seen Andrea yet? I’ve hunted all over the place but haven’t found her. I guess everyone wants to give her a hug, right?” Dana swiveled her head. “Listen, Becca, find me later and we’ll catch up, okay? Great to see you again, and nice to meet you.” She winked at Rebecca and whispered, “Good job! He’s a hottie!”

Over the next thirty minutes the banquet hall filled, and Rebecca struggled to recall names and faces. As people trickled in they gravitated toward those they recognized, and it wasn’t long before small groups formed. Waiters meandered about the room offering flutes of pink and white champagne from silver trays. Rebecca declined. Champagne gave her a headache, and she didn’t want anything to mar the evening.

Sean touched her elbow, said, “Be right back,” and disappeared into the crowd. She watched him go and caught one of her sorority sisters, a dark-eyed Latina named Alanza, watching her with a smirk.

“What?” Rebecca asked.

“You’re looking at him like he’s prime rib,” Alanza said.

Yvonne, another sorority sister, nudged Alanza with her elbow. “Well, he kind of is, don’t you think?” She tugged on a dangling earring the size of a golf ball. “Where’d you find him, Becca? He’s gorgeous, girl, like movie-star handsome.”

Rebecca smiled. “Yeah, he is, but I’m not going to tell him you said that. He’s confident enough without all the reinforcement.”

“So where did you meet?”

“My brother introduced us.”

“Nice brother.” Yvonne tugged on her earring again.

“Stop that.” Alanza made a face and smacked Yvonne’s hand. “That disco ball you’re wearing looks like it’s going to rip right through your earlobe.”

Yvonne released the earring as her eyes lit on Rebecca with speculation. “Hey, wait, I remember your brother. Great big guy, good-looking. I don’t suppose he’s--”

“Single? No. He’s getting married in June.”

Alanza rolled her eyes. “Ever since her divorce Yvonne’s been a bit of a man eater. She cut off all that long hair, bleached her new crop, and joined a gym. Watch your handsome man around her. She’s not to be trusted.”

Yvonne blanched. “Well, I like that.” She fingered her earring again and made a face at Alanza. “You’re lucky I like you or I’d have to tell all about that weekend in Destin--”

“Play nice,” Alanza said. She smiled at Rebecca. “I better quit picking on her or she’ll blab all my secrets.”

Sean wended his way toward Rebecca with two martini glasses. She widened her eyes in delight and he responded with a smile. “Grey Goose, dirty, extra olives.”

“Good memory, Counselor. Thanks.”

“I remember everything about you.” His voice whispered warm and husky in her ear.

Her eyes widened and he grinned.

“Yeah, yeah,” she said, flushed with warmth. “Point to Kinkaid. I’ll get you back.”

Dinner commenced upon arrival of the soon-to-be-married couple and, at the end of the meal, Andrea and Josh made the rounds to each table, meeting and greeting and chatting with their guests. When Andrea spotted Rebecca, she squealed like a little girl and dragged Rebecca from her seat for a swaying hug.

“We need some major alone time before this weekend is over,” Andrea said. “God, I miss you. You need to come up to New York to visit. Hey, see that guy standing next to my mother? That’s Josh’s best man. If I didn’t have five sisters, you would’ve been my maid of honor and you’d already have met him, but no worries. I’ll fix you up. You’ll like him, I promise.”

“Actually, I’m not flying solo.” Rebecca proceeded with introductions, glad that Sean provided a buffer.

“Oh, Lord, Becca,” Andrea whispered before moving on to the next table. “He’s yummy times a thousand. I want details, and lots of them. I can’t believe you didn’t clue me in about him.”

Rebecca nodded and ramped up her smile for Josh who followed along after his bride-to-be like an obedient pup. After Andrea and Josh moved on, Rebecca murmured to Sean, “Thank you for coming with me. You just saved me from an awkward fix up.”

“Just remember that you owe me, next wedding I have to go to.”

“Deal.”

“Feel like hitting the bar?” The question came from Alanza. “My husband went ahead to see if he can score us a table, and Yvonne is already headed that way.”

Sean deferred to Rebecca who shrugged. “Sure, why not? Let’s get a nightcap.”

“Are you two part of the group going horseback riding tomorrow?” Alanza asked as they walked. “I’m asking, because Yvonne and I are hitting the spa instead, if you’re interested. No offense, Sean, but no men allowed. It’s a girls’ thing.” Her countenance brightened as they stepped into the bar, and she waved at her husband, Phil, a baldheaded man with a beaky nose who looked uncomfortable standing with Yvonne. They had scored a high-top table and three stools, and Phil’s shoulders sagged with relief when Alanza approached, leaving Rebecca to wonder if Yvonne the man-eater had tried to poach.

The ladies slid onto the stools and a harried barmaid slowed to take their drink order. Phil grumbled about the stool shortage, but the room overflowed with people and Rebecca thought they had done well to secure a table at all.

“So I told Becca and Sean about our spa plans tomorrow,” Alanza announced after their drinks had arrived.

“Yeah,” Yvonne said. “Little
chica
here doesn’t like horses. We thought the spa would be a good alternative.”

“I’m hitting golf balls tomorrow morning.” Phil directed his comment to Sean. “You’re welcome to join me.”

“Sounds good, thanks. I’ll do that.”

Rebecca swiveled her stool to look at Sean. “Really? You golf?”

“Of course I golf. It’s good for business.”

“Many a client is won on the golf course,” Phil said, nodding his head. The dim light reflected off his shiny pate. “Many a client, indeed. You ever make it to Augusta for the Masters, Sean?”

“A few times, yes.”

Unsure why the thought of Sean playing golf amused her, Rebecca listened to him chat about the sport with Phil. She glanced over Sean’s shoulder, her attention drawn to two women entering the bar, one blonde and one brunette. She classified the long-haired blonde as attractive in a red silk jumpsuit, designer unknown, but the other woman--she was stunning. Diamonds winked from her ears and her sleek bob framed a face remarkable for its high cheekbones and eyes tawny as a tiger’s. She held her purse with one hand and toyed with a long string of pearls with her other. Her eyes roamed the bar, looking for a place to sit, no doubt. Rebecca read her demeanor as disappointed and annoyed--until those exotic eyes landed on Sean and widened by a significant margin. Her generous mouth fell open and she stopped toying with the pearls while she stood transfixed. Her companion in the jumpsuit said something and strode off, but Tiger Eyes either didn’t hear or ignored her. She took a step forward, and then another--on Louboutins, no less, that made her legs look so well-sculpted Michelangelo would take notice--until she halted within a few feet of the table where Rebecca sat watching her progress.