Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
A dam blinked at her, momentarily stunned by her announcement. “What do you mean it’s not real?”
“I was excited. By the song, I mean. That’s all. I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry.”
“Are you trying to say you didn’t like it? Or that you don’t like me.” He wanted her in a way that sucked the ability to reason out of his brain. That had to be why her words made no sense.
“I need to keep things professional. You understand, don’t you?”
“Sounds like a swear word.”
The kiss had been unexpected, mind numbing, and glorious. He could still feel the press of her lips on his, and he wanted more. A lot more.
Dammit, she did too. He could see it in her eyes.
“Please, can we just go to lunch?”
“Mattie…”
She looked away. “If we don’t leave soon, Tina might actually get snotty. ”
“Mattie, look at me.”
She looked up and locked that sparkling gaze on his.
“I’ll never be sorry you kissed me.”
An adorable flush crawled up her cheeks. “Me either.”
“Good.”
He hummed the new song all the way down the path to the clearing where a picnic table had been set up in the shade of two large trees. A nearby grass hut housed a fully stocked bar and a counter filled with platters of sandwiches, skewers of meat, fruits, and other local snacks.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze filled with memories of Mattie’s kiss and the new song they’d started together on turtle beach.
“That’s bad ass,” Cooper said. “I like it…I can hear a riff going right there in the middle, building to a climax just before that end. Maybe a solo after?”
Mattie nodded. “It definitely needs something like that, and I can’t wait to hear Flynn’s take on it. He always adds energy, and I think it needs that. We want people to shout this one, you know? It’s a defiant, I’m-not-done-yet anthem.”
Tina took a long sip of the red drink she held in her hands. “To me it sounds like the person can’t accept that something is over. People should let go, you know? Move on.”
Adam stood up. “Speaking of, let’s get out of here. Bayo?”
Bayo hurried over from where she’d been sitting behind the bar. “All are ready, yes? We can make our way back when you like, Mr. Adam.”
“Finally,” Tina muttered. She stood up and walked to the dock without a backward glance at any of them.
Cooper followed her.
“She’s not right for him,” Mattie muttered.
“Don’t worry. I bet she leaves the island first thing in the morning, if not tonight. He’ll be able to relax then.”
She frowned. “Not sure it’s relaxation he’s looking for.”
When they reached the Jet Ski, Mattie stepped back to let him go first. He shook his head. “This time, you drive.”
Her eyes widened, and her hand did the little fluttering motion it did when she was nervous. “I can’t drive that.”
“Sure you can. It’s just like a motorcycle, only on water.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’ve never driven one of those, either.”
“Bicycle?”
She nodded. “When I was a kid.”
“Well this is easier. Go on, I’ll be right behind you. If you get in trouble I’ll be there to help.”
“You mean you’ll fish me out of the water when I go over? Is this to get back at me for pushing you off the boat?”
He grinned. “Only one way to find out.”
She hesitated, then squared her shoulders and stepped onto the Jet Ski. Once she was in position, Adam lowered himself onto the seat and slipped his arms around her. “Okay, all set.”
Mattie started the machine. He coached her on how to throttle, and then they pulled away from the dock.
Mattie’s body was tense, but he didn’t think it was from nerves. When he was sure she had a handle on it, he settled in behind her and debated with himself on which was better, her pressed against his back or her wiggling in front of him as she navigated the waves.
When they reached the dock and climbed off the skis, she was flush with excitement and a little too much sun. “We have to do that again.”
“Not in this lifetime,” Tina said as she swept past them.
The strip of white masquerading as a swimsuit flossed Tina’s now slightly pink butt cheeks as she stormed down the pier.
Cooper swore under his breath and took off after her. “Tina, wait!”
Mattie pulled her life vest off and handed it to Bayo. “Thank you so much, Bayo. I had a fantastic time.”
“My pleasure, Miss Mattie. Any time you want to ride, please stop by. There will always be a ski waiting for you.”
Mattie beamed at their guide. “I’ll do that.”
They started walking slowly down the pier to where the rest of the band waited for them, giving Cooper and Tina space by unspoken agreement. From the wild arm gestures and the way Tina stomped as she walked, their conversation wasn’t going well.
“He’s such a sweet man,” Mattie said. “Why does he go out with women like that?”
Adam shrugged. “He loves strong women, but he gets confused on where strength ends and bitchiness starts.”
“What’s the big freaking deal, they were making out anyway ,” Tina shouted. “I want to go back to the room, Cooper. Now.”
Adam cringed at Tina’s use of the word “anyway.” If Mattie caught the meaning behind that, he was toast.
Tina spun on her heels and stomped toward one of the golf carts.
“Oh my God, she did not just do that.” Mattie spun around and started walking the other way as if she were going back out on the Jet Skis. “She told them we…we…oh my God.”
Mattie was more worried about the news of their kiss getting to the guys than she was about the implication that the entire day had been staged to get the two of them to do exactly what they did. Relief washed through him.
“Mattie, wait. Ignore her.” He ran to get in front of Mattie before she made it all the way to the skis and took off.
“What a spiteful, selfish bitch !” Mattie glared at the retreating golf cart.
“Total, complete bitch,” he agreed. “We should take her out on the boat so we can shove her off it.”
Mattie’s lips twitched. “No we shouldn’t.”
“She’d deserve it. She needs to cool off. Come on, let’s go.”
He slowed down as they reached the waiting group of guys so that Mattie got there first. From over her shoulder, he glared at them and dragged his index finger across his throat to indicate exactly what he’d do to each and every one of them if they mentioned the kiss.
LT pressed his lips together and blinked innocently at them.
“Hi, you guys. How was the cave?” Mattie asked.
Brandon grinned. “It’s really cool. You guys should go see it. Loads of coral, and a little hidden den inside to, uh, hide in.”
“How were the turtles?” Flynn’s smile was so wide it would crack his face if he didn’t rein it in.
“They are so amazing,” Mattie said. “You all really should have come with us. And we made a good start on the second song. We can go over it now if you want.”
Behind her, Adam shook his head.
“Uh, I’m supposed to meet Malika in a few minutes for a horse ride. How about tomorrow?” LT said.
“Yeah, it was a long day, and I need a shower,” Brandon said.
“Yeah, you do.” Flynn pushed Brandon away from him. “I’m surprised the sharks didn’t come after you on the way back.”
“A shower sounds great. Tomorrow, then.” Mattie said. She turned to the golf carts and hesitated.
There were only two left, but each would seat four people including the driver .
Brandon hit Flynn in the arm. “You drive.”
“See you all later.” LT saluted them with a half wave and took off walking toward the Big House.
“Have a good time,” Flynn said with a wide grin.
“Dude, you look creepy when you do that,” Brandon said.
“Whatever. At least somebody’s getting laid. Let’s go.”
The two of them hopped into the cart on the right.
Flynn waved at them. “Later.”
Adam gestured to the one on the left. “I’ll drop you off.”
Flynn drove in front of them like a drunk at a NASCAR rally until he reached the turnoff for Brandon’s villa. They shouted something rude that he hoped Mattie didn’t understand and followed the cutoff to the right.
Adam kept going, grateful for the sudden absence of anyone who could say anything incriminating.
He pulled up outside of Mattie’s villa and stopped. He wanted to kiss her again. Did he see desire in her eyes, or was it something else. “See you for dinner?”
“Sure.” Mattie seemed on the verge of saying something, then appeared to think better of it. She gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head and got out. “I had a…it was a nice day.”
“Very.”
She hesitated, then gave him a little wave. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Anytime.” He waited until she disappeared through the living room into the bedroom, then went on to his own place.
He took a long shower and lost himself in a replay of their kiss in vivid detail. He could still smell the scent of her coconut sunscreen mixed with fresh sea breezes, and the taste of her, honey and spice and intoxication, still lingered on his tongue.
That one kiss opened a floodgate of desire that he absolutely could not show her. Not yet. He had to keep it together. The way she’d looked at him after Tina had outed them had been full of promise but hidden by embarrassment and something else. He refused to believe it was regret.
The whole situation left him frustrated. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and tell her how fascinating and beautiful she was, but he didn’t want her to reject him again. It was a freaking tightrope he was walking between showing his interest but not overwhelming her, and if it went on much longer, he was going to lose his mind.
He spent so long fantasizing about what might have happened after the kiss that he had to take another shower. This time, it was ice cold.
“Get a grip, man.” He shook his head at his reflection in the mirror and finished getting ready for dinner.
When he stepped out of his bedroom into the living room, he found the band—minus Cooper—lounging in his living room with beers in their hands and smug grins on their faces.
He narrowed his eyes at LT. “I thought you were riding horses with what’s-her-name.”
“Nah.” LT looked proud of himself. “I was just getting out of the way so you two could have alone time in the buggy.”
Flynn leapt up and held a hand out for Adam to slap. “Dude, well played! We thought it got messed up when Tina pulled her little stunt, but Cooper told us lip-lock was achieved.”
LT clapped his hands together in slow applause. “It’s not a roll in the hammock, but it’s a start.”
Brandon put his beer down and high-fived Flynn. “We are masters of looove .”
“How was it?” LT asked.
“Yeah, sweet and sassy, or hot and dirty?” Flynn wiggled his eyebrows. “I bet it was dirty. I mean, Tina said you were rolling in the sand. ”
Adam held up both hands in surrender at the onslaught. “We were not rolling in the sand.”
Brandon and Flynn peered at him with suspicion.
“But you did kiss her, right?” Flynn asked. “Tongue was involved?”
Adam closed his eyes and counted to five. Then he went to the fridge to get himself a beer. “Tina practically told her about your little matchmaking attempt. I don’t think Mattie caught on, but still. No more stunts like that. ”
“I thought the idea was to get more hands on,” Flynn said, sounding confused.
“We talked about this.” Adam flashed a dirty look at his drummer. “I have to be more subtle.”
“Yeah, but then you kissed,” Brandon said, looking just as confused as Flynn. “That changes things, right?”
LT rolled his eyes. “If you don’t act faster, man, you’re not getting this girl. We only have two weeks left. If you don’t make it happen here, it ain’t happening at all. It’s not like she’s always in your orbit.”
Adam took a sip of his beer. “The thing is, there’s times when I think she wants me as much as I want her. Like, we have a real connection. Then bam, she slams on the brakes. I mean, I know why she’s gun-shy. I get it. The last guy was a douche, but still. I’m not that guy.”
“Why don’t you just ask her out?” Brandon asked. He sounded practical and entirely too reasonable.
“Because the first time I tried to rush things I made an ass of myself and she pushed me off the boat.” Adam took another swig of beer. “Pretty sure she’ll take the next helicopter off this island if I do that again.”
“Look, man, it’s time to put up or shut up,” LT said. “Either you like this girl and you want to make it happen or you don’t and we might as well pack up now. You kissed. The door’s wide open for you to tell her how you feel.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Adam peeled off part of the label on his beer. Should he risk it? He’d only get one shot at this. If he pushed too hard a second time, that would be the end. She’d leave and he’d never see her again.
“I know I’m right,” LT said. He finished off his beer and set the empty bottle down on the coffee table. “Pretty sure I’m right.”
“How many relationships have you had again?” Adam eyed him. “Two?”
“Three,” LT said, sounding indignant.
“Oh no,” Adam said. “You can’t count that girl in middle school.”
“We dated all the way to freshman year.” LT pushed off the couch and crossed to the kitchen. “That’s over two years, which is longer than any fling you’ve ever had.”
Adam snorted. “Sharing homeroom and lunch with her is not the same as dating.”
LT pulled a beer out of the fridge and popped it open. “We kissed. That counts.”
“Was there tongue?” Flynn asked, looking from LT to Adam.
“A good man don’t kiss and tell.” LT plopped back down on the couch.
Adam laughed. “She kissed him on the cheek during the yearbook signing at the end of eighth grade.”
Brandon and Flynn both cracked up.
“That’s true love right there,” LT said. “I still think about that girl. She’s the one that got away.”
Footsteps on the deck outside announced Cooper’s arrival. He’d changed into pressed khaki shorts and a white collared shirt so clean and stiff that it gleamed against his dark skin, and he’d shaved the vacation stubble off his chin. He looked ready for a date, except he walked in alone and wore the stoic expression of a man who’d been on the losing side of too many girlfriend conflicts.
Adam looked behind him, but the ever-present thorn wasn’t there. “Where’s Tina?”
Cooper grimaced and stalked toward the fridge. “She’s packing.” He dragged a bottle out then twisted the top off with enough force to fling it across the room.
There was momentary silence as everyone absorbed that information.
“Finally,” Brandon muttered.
“Ding-dong the bitch has fled,” Flynn sang out.
“Guys, have a little compassion.” LT said. “The man’s been under the ball and chain for a year. Let him decompress first.”
“She wasn’t a ball and chain.” Cooper glowered. “She was cool at first.”
“Sorry, man.” Adam held up his beer bottle.
Cooper clinked it with his own then took a long pull. “Me too. She was out of line today. How’d Mattie take it?” He stretched out on the lounge chair next to the couch and laid his head back on the cushion.
“She was worried about you, actually,” Adam said. “She said you’re a good man, and you don’t deserve that crap.”
Cooper raised his eyebrows. “That’s nice. She’s a good egg. So what’s the plan now?”
“You have to at least ask her out, man,” Flynn said. “That’s how it usually works.”
“Actually, he should have done that before the kiss,” Brandon pointed out. “He’s having an Adam moment. Totally backwards.”
“I did ask her out. This entire trip is one giant date.” Adam stared at the dense line of trees that separated his villa from Mattie’s. She was probably taking a shower. The very idea that she might be naked right now sent a shiver through his body.
“Not if you don’t tell her it’s a date,” Cooper said. “She thinks she’s on a work trip. It’s time for you to make a real move, bud.”
“That’s what I said,” LT muttered.
“Okay, so why don’t we arrange one of those sunset dinner cruises for them?” Brandon suggested. “We could say we’re all going, and then back out or just not show up.”
“Let me do the planning this time, okay?” Adam had to deflect the well-intentioned meddling in his love life before it really got out of hand.
“Okay, genius, what’s the plan?” Flynn asked. “So far all I’ve heard is you dodging the question.”
“You should take her on the picnic,” Cooper said.
“Hey, yeah!” Brandon said, excited. “Now that Coop’s ditched Tina, he doesn’t need his dreamy dinner for two. He can hang with us.”
“Thanks,” Cooper said with heavy sarcasm. “That’s exactly what I want to do now that my relationship has fallen apart.”
“A little bro time is perfect after a breakup,” Flynn said. “Everybody knows that.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” LT said. “I mean, you both need to eat, right? She can’t find fault with that.”
“She could,” Adam said, “since we’ve been doing the group thing for two weeks now. It’ll be a pretty obvious move in exactly the direction she said she didn’t want.”
“I think her feelings on that might have changed.” LT leaned forward to give Adam an intense look. “You said you wanted to handle this, so handle it. Ask her out.”
Flynn grabbed the house phone and handed it to Adam. “It’s a solid plan, dude.”
Adam thought about it. Cooper had planned that dinner with romance in mind, and since he’d done it to appease Tina it would be like something out of a movie set. Cooper always went all out where his women were concerned. It would be classy, sultry, and designed to create a lasting memory.
The guys were right. Time to put up or stop pretending he could ever get anywhere with the elusive woman.
“Okay. I’ll call her.” Adam took the phone out to the deck and dialed Mattie’s extension.