Will's Rockie Way (9 page)

“Have you seen Rockie yet?”

“No,” Will replied. His gut wrenched. She’d made damn sure to keep as far away from him as she could.

“Joanne said she’s going to bring Rockie here to the beach. Said you wouldn’t pull a stunt on her as long as she was around the kids,” Blake supplied.

Will was fresh out of stunts. He had no idea what to do next.

Blake continued. “Best thing you can do is ignore her.”

Will kept his gaze on the students on the beach. “Thanks for the advice, buddy,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll understand if I don’t take it.”

Blake sat up straight. “I’m not kidding, Will,” he said. “If you want to screw her one more time before we all go home, the best thing to do is ignore her. It’ll bug the shit out of her and she’ll come after you.”

“Sure she will,” Will said sarcastically. “Do me a favor and keep your advice to yourself.”

“I’m just saying is all,” Blade said. “Drives Joanne nuts when I ignore her.”

As Will watched the kids on the beach, his eyes narrowed. Blake was a shithead but he might be on to something. God knew, he’d run out of ideas.

Would it hurt to try Blake’s suggestion? What the fuck did he have to lose? If it didn’t work by midnight, there was nothing to stop him from going with his own instincts and forcing Rockie to listen to him.

Will looked at Blake. He continued to pick bits of potato chips out of his chest hair and shove them into his mouth.

Okay. Best to set the deadline a little earlier. If Rockie didn’t react by ten that evening, he’d go after her.

Chapter 10

“See?” Joanne said. “We got here unscathed.”

Roxanne glanced at Joanne as they walked out to the beach. “I know you think I’m crazy,” she said. “But I know Will. The second I let my guard down—”

“He’ll attack,” Joanne cut in. “Yeah, yeah, you’re a goddess and Will can’t help himself.”

The sarcastic words stung. “I never said I’m a goddess,” Roxanne replied. “I just don’t want to be cornered.”

Joanne shook her head impatiently. “If you’re so damn scared he’ll fuck you the second you’re alone with him, all you have to do is make sure you stick with the rest of us.”

Anger bubbled in Roxanne’s chest. “Why are you suddenly turning on me?”

“Why?” Joanne glanced at her. “Because you’re not the only one trying to figure things out. Do you see me wallowing and whimpering? No, I’m willing to forgive my husband for what he did,” she said. “Will’s a nice guy and you had him in the palm of your hand. He never lied to you and you know it. Yet you continue to hold out on him.” She waved her hand. “Sorry, can’t feel sorry for you. I think you’re being a drama queen.”

Joanne disappeared into the throng of people on the beach while Roxanne sputtered, trying to come up with a reply.

Drama queen?
Roxanne sniffed indigently. It was clear Joanne didn’t fully understand Will Sheridan. Nor what he was capable of doing.

Roxanne gazed around the crowded beach. It occurred to her that if she intended to get home tomorrow morning unscathed—well at the very least, no more scathed than she’d already been—she’d simply have to do it herself. Joanne had been her only ally. Without Joanne, Roxanne was quite alone.

“Ms. Way?”

Roxanne turned to look at Suzanne Sharp, one of her students. “Hi, Suzie,” she said pleasantly.

“I’ve been looking for you,” Suzie said.

“Well, you found me,” Roxanne said with a smile she hoped looked confident. “What can I do for you?”

“We’re taking on the boys in beach volleyball. Would you mind keeping score?”

This time Roxanne’s smile was genuine.
Safety in
numbers.
“You bet,” she said. “Lead the way.”

* * * *

Roxanne knew she should be relieved. For the past several hours, she’d only caught glimpses of Will and even then, never once made eye contact with him.

Sure, she’d made certain she was never alone but she expected Will would at least try to lure her away. Instead, he kept his distance. At dinner, he sat several tables away. Roxanne had to crane her neck to see him over the crowd in the dining room.

And now, as they geared up for karaoke to celebrate the final night of March break in Florida, Roxanne struggled against the disappointment seeping into her soul. Will had no intention of seeking her out.

Her heart sank deeper into despair. Perhaps he considered the past few days as payment plus interest for the pity fuck he’d been unable to provide in college.

Smarten the hell up! You should be relieved! What’s wrong with you?

Roxanne sighed heavily and sipped her cola. She knew damn well what was wrong with her. She loved Will Sheridan. She had all through college and now, she loved him even more.

She had to come to terms with the fact that he’d never feel the same for her. She survived heartbreak before, she’d do it again.

“How ya doin’?” Joanne said as she plunked down beside her at the table.

Just what she needed! The former friend who’d accused her of being a drama queen. “I’m fine,” Roxanne said tightly.

“Hey,” Joanne said as she placed a hand over hers. “I don’t blame you for being angry at me.”

“Thank you,” Roxanne said as she pushed her hand away.

“For what it’s worth, I’m really sorry,” Joanne said. “I was way out of line. You’ve been my best friend since college and, for as long as I’ve known you; you’ve never been a drama queen.”

Roxanne’s heart melted as Joanne went on.

“Heck, Roxanne, I’d only just found out that Blake was responsible for what happened to you. I couldn’t help feeling Will was innocent and you were blaming him for something he had nothing to do with.”

“I didn’t tell you everything I’d overheard,” Roxanne told her.

Joanne’s face fell. “Please don’t tell me Blake had anything more to say!”

Roxanne shook her head. “No, it was what Will said.” She leaned in close to her friend and whispered in her ear.

Joanne blinked and covered her mouth. “Are you serious?”

Roxanne nodded. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”

“He really said,” Joanne looked around before she whispered, “a pity fuck?”

Roxanne nodded again.

“Shit, you should have ripped him to shreds. I know I would have.”

“I was too stunned to do anything other than escape at the time.”

“I wish you’d told me this before. I wish I’d known.”

Roxanne smiled at her friend. “It doesn’t matter now. Besides, you were right.”

Joanne frowned. “About what?”

“About my being a drama queen,” she supplied. “I definitely overreacted. Will hasn’t made a single move all day.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Joanne asked with a knowing smile. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re disappointed.”

“Of course I’m not disappointed!” Roxanne cried. “I’m relieved!”

Joanne laughed. “Who are you trying to convince? Me, or you?”

Roxanne’s shoulders hunched in defeat. “Me, I guess,” she said sullenly. “I’m angry at him. I want to rip him limb from limb and yet…”

“Yet, you’re crazy about him,” Joanne said, finishing where Roxanne had left off. “I understand that. Will’s a great guy.”

“But why do I keep wanting him?” Roxanne asked in desperation. “He doesn’t want me, he never did. I should be angry. Instead, I just feel sad.”

“Uh, Roxanne?” Joanne said as her gaze focused ahead of her. “If you want to be angry at Will, just look due north.”

Roxanne followed her friend’s gaze. She blinked and looked again. She hadn’t been seeing things. Will stood near the stage, his arm around a buxom bleach blond.

“Get a load of her breasts,” Joanne said in her ear. “You’d see that woman coming five minutes before she walked through the door.”

The joke was lost on Roxanne as her blood began to boil.
That son of a bitch!

She wasn’t sure what happened in the next few seconds, but she was suddenly standing in front of Will, rage oozing from every pore.

Will grinned when he saw her. “Hey, Rockie,” he said so casually that she wanted to tear his eyes out. “Have you met my friend?”

Roxanne’s eyes darted from his face to the woman beside him. “Is that what you call her?” she said, seething. “Why not call her what she is?”

“Uhm, Rockie—”

But she was on a roll and she certainly had no interest in what Will had to say. Her gaze landed on the woman. “Are you aware that you’re the bimbo
du jour
?”

The blond blinked her ridiculously long lashes. “I beg your pardon?”

“Rockie, be careful,” Will warned. “You’re in uncharted territory.”

“Am I really?” Roxanne said. “I was just going to inform
mega-tits
here—”

“Rockie!”

“—that she’s about to be fucked by a rat bastard who only respects a woman for as long as it takes him to come. After that, you’re no more than a used snot rag and flushed down the toilet.”

Will pitched forward and grabbed her shoulders. “Stop it right now!” he ordered, his eyes cold with anger. “You have no idea what you’re doing!”

Roxanne lurched back. “Don’t touch me, you scum-sucking lowlife! I’ve only just begun to tell her about you.”

“Rockie, this is Brandi Van Astra.”

Roxanne stopped and gazed at the woman. The name meant something to her…if only her muddled mind would come up with why.

“My father is on the educational board of directors in Toronto,” Brandi supplied. “You’re Roxanne Way, aren’t you? I recognize you from a picture my father has of you receiving an award.”

Boing!
Yep, that was it! Stanton Van Astra, pious as all get out, folks either sucked up to him, or were buried in his critical reviews. As a teacher, he could either make or break a person.

Roxanne suddenly saw herself in the unemployment line. She’d referred to his precious only child as
mega-tits
.

“Brandi attends university in Toronto. She’s working at the hotel over the March break,” Will supplied. “She was just telling me how her father says you are one of the best teachers he’s ever known.”

“Oh my God,” Roxanne said, wishing the floor would swallow her whole. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Van Astra. You have no idea how embarrassed I am.”

“That’s okay.” Brandi waved a dismissing hand. “You aren’t the first one to say something about my breasts.” She turned to Will. “I’m sure my father would appreciate hearing from you.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Will said.

“I have to help with the karaoke, so I better run.”

When Brandi left, Roxanne clasped her hands to her heated cheeks and looked at Will in stunned silence.

He was grinning from ear to ear. “You were jealous.” It wasn’t a question.

“I was not,” she said, averting her gaze so he couldn’t read her eyes. “I just…well, after everything…”

“You couldn’t stand to see me with another woman.”

“That’s not true,” she said. “I thought you were going to take advantage of her the same way you did of me.”

Will’s brows rose. “
I
took advantage of
you
? I think we need to have this conversation elsewhere.” His hand cupped her elbow and attempted to lead her away.

Roxanne wrenched free. “No,” she said firmly. “I know what you’ll do the second we’re alone. We either talk here, or not at all.”

Will’s eyes bore into her. “Try to tell me making love to you would be against your wishes.”

Roxanne shook her head. “I can’t,” she told him honestly. “But I need people around us so I won’t do anything stupid.”

“All right,” Will said as he leaned his back against the stage. “I’m not clear on why you think making love would be stupid but I’m willing to talk here if we have to.”

Roxanne stepped to his side and leaned her back against the stage as well. She peered up at him. Now was the time to tell him everything. She had to do it before she chickened out. She had to tell him she loved him…

“Will…”

Roxanne was suddenly blinded by overhead lights as the stage behind her came to life.

A familiar voice, namely Brandi’s, echoed loudly over the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Karaoke Night!”

The crowd applauded. Roxanne groaned. If timing was everything, she was a day late and a dollar short.

“I hope each and every one of you is ready to sing your heart out tonight!”

The crowd applauded again, this time with a few cheers and whistles.

“What?” Brandi cupped a hand behind her ear. “I can’t hear you!”

This time the crowd went nuts. They clapped, hooted, whistled and stomped their feet.

Damn, there was no way Roxanne could talk to Will here. She’d have to risk being alone with him. She touched his arm to get his attention and motioned for them to leave.