Chapter 23
23
S he and Conrad both spoke. Her, “What are you really doing here, Conrad?” And him, “So really, who was that guy, Greer?”
She was over the shock of seeing him. But she wasn’t over the way she’d let Dean walk away. She wasn’t over the loss of what the afternoon could have been. Long, luxurious, pleasurable hours in his bed.
And yet, what else was she supposed to do?
Tourists crowded the lounge. Greer didn’t want to make a scene, and she kept her voice calm. “You heard. I met his delightful family, and I’ve been spending time with them since I was all on my own.” She hoped her knife came away a little bloody. “It’s his mother’s ninetieth birthday. And I’m invited to the big birthday bash tomorrow. It’s a barbecue on the beach.”
He glared. “You were holding hands with him. And he kissed you.”
“It was a peck, not a kiss.” She did not want to feel guilty. She wasn’t guilty. Okay, she was guilty. She should have called Conrad and resolved things. Before she slept with Dean.
But she didn’t answer Conrad’s question. “I told you what I’ve been doing. So why are you here?”
He swallowed then, and some of his bravado slid off his face, leaving him merely sullen. “I tried to check into our room, and they wouldn’t give me a key.”
She gritted her teeth for one second before saying, “That’s because you don’t have a room here. You canceled your vacation, and the room is in my name.”
Conrad gave up that line of questioning. “Look, we can’t discuss things down here. Why don’t we go to your —” With heavy emphasis. “—room and talk this through.”
She didn’t want him in her room. But she didn’t want a public scene either. “Okay, fine.”
She walked, almost a stalk, into the elevator lobby, where she stabbed the button. It actually hurt her finger, but the pain was good. It cleared her mind.
The elevator arrived, disgorging people around them, and then they stepped on, joined by two other couples, one with a baby. Together, she and Conrad moved to the back of the car, their forearms brushing. She found the touch almost repellent.
How had things gotten so bad?
Leading Conrad into her room unsettled her. And yet she’d lived with the man. But his accusations, his departure, and the week apart had changed things in her head. Even in her heart.
Or perhaps that was Dean.
Conrad was already striding around the bed, turned to face her over it as if it were a battlefield. “You didn’t answer my texts or my calls. And then I come here to find you holding hands with some guy.”
She answered the first question and ignored the latter. “Our plan was to talk about it when we both got home. Actually, as I recall, that was your plan.” Just as it had been Hal’s plan to wait to have children. Always a man’s plan rather than hers.
He stood a moment, hands jammed on his hips. Then he said, “But that was before I knew you actually went on the trip without me.” His traveling clothes, jeans and a sweatshirt emblazoned with the Green Bay Packers emblem, were wrinkled, though his mother had probably pressed them before he left. Conrad was a pressed kind of man.
Leaning over the bedside table, he grabbed the phone receiver.
“What are you doing?”
He stopped, looked at her, then shook his head. “I’m calling the front desk to have them bring up my bag.”
She held up both hands in a stop sign. “This isn’t your room. You can’t stay here.”
He dropped the receiver loudly back into the cradle. “What do you mean?” A grimace creased his lips and anger flared out of his blue eyes. “Is it that guy?”
“It’s because you accused me of cheating on you when I was out with the girls. Which wasn’t the first time either. And then you—” She pointed a finger. “—canceled our vacation. The vacation we’d planned for months. The first vacation I’ve had in a year.”
“Yeah, and you went anyway.” His gaze turned steely. “Without me. And then you met some guy.”
She wouldn’t let him put her on the defensive. “You said we’d talk when you got home.” How many times did she have to repeat that? “But you’re here now. So let’s talk. You left me. You changed our plans without a thought. You accused me of something terrible. And then you just walked out. So…” She raised a brow and jammed her hand on her hip, imitating his stance. “How would you have explained your behavior?”
He rounded the bottom of the bed, stopped just at the foot of it. She had a sudden inkling that he might hurt her. But of course he wouldn’t. That wasn’t his intention. He just wanted to intimidate.
But suddenly, he slumped on the bed, putting his face in his hands.
His abrupt change stunned her. So did his words. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I’d just waited and waited for you to come home that night. It was Valentine’s Day, and you didn’t even spend it with me.”
She hadn’t even thought about the date. But she couldn’t let it sway her. “We had a week of vacation coming up. When I mentioned going out with the girls, you said it was fine.”
“And it would have been. I thought we’d celebrate when you got home. But when you did, you were drunk.”
She sat on the bed beside him. “I wasn’t drunk.”
“And you smelled like a man’s cologne.”
“If I smelled like anything, it was women’s perfume.”
He sighed, long and drawn-out. “I’m sorry. I just get jealous sometimes. Because of my wife.” Dropping his hands, he looked at her. “You’re so beautiful. And men, they buzz around you like bees. They want you.”
She gazed at Conrad, his perfect blond hair, his aqua eyes, his expressive lips that had made her want to kiss him the very first time she’d met him.
But she didn’t want to kiss him now. Or touch him. And she wouldn’t fall for this woe-is-me act. “I can’t help your insecurities. Whenever you do something like this—and it’s happened repeatedly—you make it difficult for me to forgive and forget.”
“I’ve never walked out on a vacation before.”
“No. But remember the company barbecue, where you got mad because you said I was talking to that VP for too long?”
He put two fingers to each of his temples. “Maybe I had too many beers that day.”
“And what about the Christmas party when you said I was looking at your boss like he was a piece of meat I wanted to eat?”
Conrad closed his eyes.
“I could go on,” she said. “Because those weren’t the only incidents.”
He moved swiftly, dropping to his knees in front of her, taking her hands in his. “I am so sorry. I swear it won’t happen ever again. I trust you. I believe in you. It’s just that my wife cheated on me. And I can’t help myself.”
She’d heard all about his damage. Over and over. At first, she’d thought she could make everything better for him. Instead, he’d transferred his wife’s crimes to her.
She pulled free of his grip. “I’m not your wife. I haven’t cheated on you.”
And then—God help her, why did it have to happen now?—her cheeks flushed.
And Conrad saw.
He rocked back on his heels. “It’s that guy.”
She thought about denying it again. But Conrad needed to accept what he’d done. “You as much as broke up with me before this trip. Less than thirty-six hours before. And you had the nerve to say we’d talk about everything when you got back, as if you expected me to just sit there and wait with my broken heart to find out if you’d forgiven me for something I hadn’t even done.” Then she attacked him with what she actually had done. “So what if I kissed Dean Adamo?” Was that a lie? Was that stretching the truth? “That’s none of your business. You walked out on me. You left me to come on this vacation on my own.”
She thought he’d go ballistic at the mention of a kiss, but Conrad surprised her by taking her hands. “I made a huge mistake. But I didn’t break up with you. I just needed time to think.”
“That’s not what you said.” She couldn’t remember exactly what he’d said. Not that it mattered. He’d walked out, and it was as good as breaking up. Even if they would have talked things over when he got back.
“I’ll change, Greer. I promise. Everything will be different. Don’t leave me.”
She couldn’t resist saying, “You were the one who left.”
“Then please…” He let go of her hand to clutch the Green Bay Packers in his fist. “Please take me back. I’ll do anything. I love you.”
They’d said those words to each other in the beginning. But somehow they’d forgotten how to say them in the last several months. And they hadn’t even been together that long. How could things deteriorate so quickly? She’d been married for thirteen years before they couldn’t live together anymore. She and Conrad had been together less than two.
She stood, pulling free, stepping back. “Go home, Conrad. Just like you said to me, we’ll talk about this when I get home. But this is my vacation now.” She patted her chest. “And you need to leave.”
He stood, slightly taller than her. “I can’t leave. I booked a nonrefundable ticket.” He didn’t even see how much better it would have been if he’d said he couldn’t give her up, that he’d stay and fight for her no matter what.
She stabbed him in the chest with her finger, which probably hurt her more than it did him. “You are not staying in my room. And if you refuse to go, you’re not staying at the resort either. Go get a room in town until you can use your nonrefundable ticket.”
He held out his hands pleadingly but didn’t touch her. Maybe he thought better of it this time. “I will make it up to you. Please give me another chance.” Then he leaned in close to kiss her cheek before she could back away.
Did he think his attitude adjustment—if it was actually real—would sway her?
She had no idea because, when he walked out the door and closed it behind him, a fiery anger consumed her. Conrad was ruining everything. How could she go to Dean’s room now? How could she kiss Dean with the same abandon she’d felt last night?
The moment Conrad had taken a flight to Wisconsin, this trip had become her trip. She hadn’t planned to flirt with a handsome man. She hadn’t planned to sleep with anyone. She’d simply been determined that she would not miss out on her vacation because Conrad had acted like an ass.
Had she thought they’d work it all out when she got home? To be honest, she thought maybe they would. But what about now?
What about after Dean had made such beautiful love to her?
Dean felt himself going crazy.
He’d put on his swim trunks, and down on the beach, he found the family decked out in the same lounge chairs they’d occupied yesterday, the sun bright, the water warm, the margaritas flowing.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about Greer. About her boyfriend. Even if they were having problems, Conrad —he thought the name with a gratifying sneer—was a more permanent fixture in her life than Dean could ever be. Last night on the island, he told her he wanted a fling, and when they got home, he was a workaholic who didn’t have room for a relationship.
So why would Greer choose a fling with him over a man that would fly all the way from Wisconsin to beg her forgiveness? If that’s actually what Conrad planned to do.
“Where’s that sweet young lady you’ve been hanging out with?” his mother said, a smile lighting up her face.
Bernice laughed. “She’s not that much younger than Dean.”
His mother batted her eyelashes. Not that she had many eyelashes to bat. “She’s definitely way, way younger than me, dear. And that means she’s perfect for my baby boy.”
Dean jumped up to kiss her cheek and hug her, being careful of her fragile bones. Though not too fragile to go parasailing. “I love you, Nana.”
She just smiled. “Because I can talk like my great-grandchildren?”
He subsided into his chair, still laughing. “For that very reason.” And for so many more.
Then Bernice started in on him. “So where’s Greer? Weren’t you two going out for brunch? Did you leave her behind in Puerto Vallarta?”
He didn’t say he’d left her with her ex-boyfriend. Because he wasn’t sure the guy was an ex. Yet.
“She’s changing.” He wanted nothing more than to march up to her room and bang on the door. But that would make him seem as crazy as the ex. Or the not-ex-yet.
Dean had made her no promises. In fact, he’d made absolutely sure she knew their fling would be over once they boarded the flight home.
So who the hell did he expect her to choose?
While he laughed and talked with his family, thoughts of Conrad and Greer up in her room hounded him. What did the man want? What if he professed his love and said how sorry he was? Would she take him back? After all, she’d lived with him. Why wouldn’t she take him back? Except that he was a total ass who’d accused her of cheating.
He had a feeling the Greer was a woman prone to giving second chances. And wanting her own second chances. What did that mean for Dean? That their playtime would be over. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t give her more than this vacation.
Perhaps because his thoughts were so consumed by her, Greer appeared in a sexy swimsuit with a gold buckle between her breasts that made him hot all over. She went first to his mother, bent down to hug her, said hello to Bernice and the rest of the family.
Then she sauntered to his lounge chair, stopping briefly to kiss the top of his head before she took the seat beside him.
What the hell did that mean? Could he have hope again?
With Bernice and his mother suddenly deep in conversation and a pack of boys down the beach distracting his daughters, Dean couldn’t help asking, “Is he still here?”
She shook her head. “I asked him to leave. I told him we’d talk about everything back home. Which is exactly what he told me before he flew off to Wisconsin to his parents.”
Dean wasn’t sure whether that was anger or fear racing through his veins. Yet he’d offered only a fling, and he certainly couldn’t ask in front of his family if she would come to him tonight. His mother, who was no longer engaged in that deep conversation with Bernice, had the ears of a bat, hearing everything as if it were carried to her on ultrasonic waves.
Greer was saying, “He can’t get another flight out until Friday.”
She’d crushed all his hopes. “So he hasn’t actually left?”
Waving a hand, she rolled her eyes. “I told him he couldn’t stay at the resort.”
What did you two talk about? His mind shouted, but the words never made it past his lips.
“And for the rest of my holiday, I’ll enjoy spending time with your family.” Even as she said it, Dean wondered why she didn’t mention spending time with him.
Then she smiled, and the beauty of it would have knocked his socks off if he’d been wearing any. He wanted to drag her up to his room and make love to her all afternoon. Except that he had no rights, even if last night had been the best lovemaking of his life.
Rolling to his feet, he held out his hand. “Want to go for a swim?”
The bright acceptance in her smile did him in all over again. Especially when she took his hand. “I’d love it.”
As they headed to the water, Bernice called out, “Don’t forget we leave for snorkeling on the catamaran at four o’clock.”
Dean waved a hand, showing he hadn’t forgotten. Then he ran down the beach with Greer, the sand hot on his feet. At the water’s edge, he asked, “Are you coming on the catamaran?”
“Yes. Bernice invited me yesterday, and I bought a ticket.”
Something she hadn’t mentioned to Conrad. “Good.” More than good. He’d have more time with her. And he’d make the most of it, this evening, tonight, and beyond. Then he picked her up in his arms and waded into the water, throwing her when they’d reached the right depth.
She squealed. “My hair.”
He grinned. “Your hair will get wet anyway when we bodysurf.”
She stood up and shoveled water at him, soaking his chest. But before he could catch her, she ran shrieking into deeper water.
Dean followed, letting her get away until the waves were up to her breasts.
And then he grabbed her.
Dean swam into deeper water, where she couldn’t touch the bottom anymore. Greer curled her legs around his waist as he hugged her.
With a hand cupping the back of her head, he pulled her down for a kiss. It was deep. It was tongues. It was warm breath and sweet taste. She gave herself up to it, wrapping her arms around him. If they’d been deeper, they would have dipped beneath the waves, but Dean planted his feet and held her up while he plundered her mouth. And she relished his plunder.
She didn’t know how long they would have kissed if a wave hadn’t crashed over them, tearing them apart, tumbling her in the water. She came up with squeals and laughter, the wave carrying them halfway to shore.
She swam back out again, willing him to follow.
Because out here, in the water, his family couldn’t see. And Conrad seemed to be a distant memory. She didn’t care whether or not he’d found a hotel in town or gone to the airport to try for a standby flight. She didn’t care about right or wrong. She didn’t care about guilt.
There was just Dean. And she needed to enjoy him for the time they had left.
Just like she told Conrad, she’d think about the rest later. When she got home. Maybe on the flight home. Because by that time, there would be no more Dean.
But why think about that now, when his arms were around her and his mouth devoured her? She wrapped herself around him like a limpet, her legs locked behind his waist, the hard ridge of him against her center.
“I want you right now.” His husky whisper tantalized her nerve endings. He palmed her breast, flicking her nipple, the bead as hard as he was between her legs.
“Maybe we should skip snorkeling,” she said, her throaty voice matching his.
He plumped her breast in his hand, saying, “Nana and Bernice would kill us. They would especially kill me. And I want to be intact when you come to my room tonight.”
Her heart soared. “Maybe you should just tease me now. So that tonight, as soon as you shut the door, I’ll beg you to do very naughty things to me.”
He tipped his head back, groaned. “That is one big tease, lady.” He put his hand between her legs. “Should I tease you this way?”
She nodded, her body going wet with far more than the ocean. “But you can’t put your hand inside my suit. And you can’t make me come.”