Chapter 14
Juli
After the afternoon at the pool, I walk back to my suite in a daze. My mind’s reeling with so many thoughts, my body fraught with too many emotions to process all at once. However, it all changes with the sticky note I find on my door.
Preston
“Yes!” I fist pump the air, celebrating a little too loudly in the hallway. Finally. The man has figured out I need to see him.
Inside the suite, Cameron lounges on the couch in a pair of basketball shorts. And only a pair of basketball shorts.
“Honey, I’m home.” A girly giggle accompanies my words. My bag drops with a thud.
Cameron sits so he can see me. “You look happy. Too much liquor? Too much sun? Too much thinking about later?”
I hold out the yellow note. “Dinner with Preston. Among other things.” My feet move of their own accord, carrying me over to the couch where my eyes take over, feasting on Cameron’s sexy body. “What time is it?”
“Time for a riding lesson.” His answer halts my tracks as I try to make sense of what he alludes to. “Oh, not metaphorically?” He glances at his wrist. “Five-fifteen. What time is dinner?”
“Six.”
He seems crushed. “So you’ll need to shower.” The words are barely out of his mouth before he cheers up. “We need to shower.”
“If we must.” My tone belies my ecstatic expression. All the thoughts bouncing around my head on the walk from the pool depart, leaving me in a state of euphoria. Somewhat because of dinner with my brother. Mostly because of the man chasing me into the shower.
As hard as it is to leave Cameron behind in the suite, knowing he’ll be there when I return from dinner powers me on. I’m beyond excited to meet Preston, giving the two of us a chance to catch up.
A consideration pierces my brain, one I’ve tamped down and never addressed.
“Preston. Would he have a problem with you being in a relationship with Cameron?”
I don’t have an answer to Naomi’s question.
On the one hand, does it matter? We’ve got three more days of this fling before I retreat to reality and Cameron stays in paradise.
Does it matter that we’re having a little fun while I’m here?
Not a little. A whole heck of a lot of fun. In and out of the suite.
Besides, before I mention it to Preston, I should discuss it with Cameron. If there’s anything to discuss. I’m overthinking this, something I rarely do. With Cameron Fairbanks, it’s my MO.
Butterflies flutter to life as I approach the hostess stand. I’m greeted by a young girl.
“Hi. Welcome to the Marsh & Garden. One for dinner?”
“No, I’m meeting Preston Langley. Has he arrived yet?”
Her face lights up in recognition. “Yes. Let me walk you to his table.”
On the balls of my feet, I follow behind her, any leftover stress from today releasing as I get closer where Preston sits. His head is stuck in his phone when I slide into the seat across from him.
“No phones at the dinner table, mister. Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”
Preston looks up, a smile emerging. He looks the same as always—brown hair perfectly styled, a pressed button-down white shirt, his brown eyes so similar to mine, all business-like. “Juliana.”
“Preston.” I can’t help but giggle. He’s the only one who calls me Juliana regularly, but he’s only Preston. I tried once to shorten it to Pres. It didn’t go so well.
He takes one of my hands in his. “Are you enjoying your stay?”
“Oh my god, yes. I love it here and can see why you never leave, much to your family’s chagrin.” I don’t hide the disdain in my voice. He barely flinches at my accusation. Nor does he try to defend himself.
“Good. I’m glad. If you need anything, let me know.”
“Sure. Will do. Thanks for having dinner with me. We need a proper catch-up.”
Again, he smiles at me, but this one isn’t as beaming.
“Are you happy here?”
“Yes.” It’s unconvincing, but I didn’t come here to argue. I came to chat and find out what’s going on in his life.
“Tell me all the things. What it’s like to be the owner of Whispering Tide. What you do for fun. What it’s like living in paradise.”
A laugh bubbles out of him. Not one of those stuffy laughs, but a boisterous one, the kind I remember sharing when we were kids. This is the brother I miss.
Over dinner of the chef’s special of smoked belly beef and mezzaluna pasta, Preston talks animatedly about his life, giving me all the details about his job and keeping the resort running well.
Passion and pride fill his voice, making me proud of him for accomplishing this dream he set for himself.
He’s worked hard, and it’s paid off. He and the other owners have established themselves and Whispering Tide as a high-quality, luxury resort.
He spews some numbers—it’s in his blood, he can’t help it—which go over my head.
When it’s my turn to talk, I tell him about my job, leaving out the part about drooling over good-looking men. He listens attentively, never once checking his phone, and pride wafts off him.
“It sounds like you have a good thing going. I’m happy you found something that harnesses your creative side.”
It almost sounds like a dig, but I don’t let it bring me down.
“And Mom and Dad are good? Elisa?”
“Yep. Dad works too hard, Mom’s in his ear about retiring, but he’s not ready to give it up.
Maybe you know something about that.” My eyes roll at how much alike the two of them are.
“And Mom’s Mom. She fell heavily into gardening this year.
She’s an expert, of course.” Preston joins in on my laughter, knowing who our mom is.
“But of course.”
The waiter swaps out Preston’s empty tumbler of whiskey for a full one and refills my water. Before I left for dinner, Cameron mentioned having big plans for later, which I want to thoroughly remember and enjoy.
“What’s with the goofy smile?”
I try to wipe it away, but no such luck. “Happy to be here with you,” I lie. Whether he buys it, I don’t question it. Needing something else to do, I down the water.
“Seeing anyone new?” I almost choke on the sip. How does he know? “You mentioned something about a guy on our group text thread.”
“Oh.” I wave my hand, dismissing the idea.
Pedro was supposed to be my date for the wedding, but that didn’t work out.
For the best. At least regarding this week.
He wouldn’t have been as much fun as Cameron, and he wouldn’t have appreciated the beauty of the resort and the immaculate shower.
Not even a little. “He decided we should go our separate ways, see other people. It probably wouldn’t have worked out in the long run, anyway.
” I debate whether to bring up Cameron, to gauge his opinion on a relationship between us.
My mouth opens at the same time as his phone vibrates.
Good brother that he is, he only sneaks a peek at his watch, but whatever comes through must be something important.
“Shit. This needs my attention.” He looks at me. Worry floats in his warm amber eyes. “Don’t be mad?”
“You’ve paid your dues. Go.” He stands up, towering over me as I hug him. “I don’t leave until Monday morning. Even if it’s not a meal, I’d like to see you again.”
“I’m around. Come find me.” With a kiss on my forehead, he darts away.
“As if tracking him down is so easy,” I mumble, finishing up the last of my water.
The waiter stops by. “Anything else I can get you? Mr. Langley took care of the bill.”
I smile sweetly at him. “Can I see the dessert menu, please?”
The smile is returned. “My pleasure. Be right back.”
He’s gone only a minute, but it’s long enough for Cameron to slide into the chair across the table. “What are you doing here?”
“I was on the sidewalk when Preston rushed by. Figured it was fate. Are you all done or staying?”
“I’m having dessert. Care to join me?”
“Pre-dessert before the main one later? Count me in.”
The innuendo makes my heart leap. I clasp my thighs closed, his words having a direct line to his “main one” later.
This somehow feels more than casual, more than a vacation fling.
Maybe because it’s Cameron. Us being friends fast-tracked anything that might have happened this week.
It’s hard to remind myself this has an end date. It’s hard to pretend this isn’t real life. And it’s hard to persuade myself I have to say goodbye to him in a few days.
“What’s on your mind?”
His question breaks through my sullen thoughts. I’m wise enough not to share them aloud. It’s a discussion we have to have—or not, if his only solution is this ends when I leave. But that’s a few days out.
Tonight, I’m going to enjoy the heck out of Cameron Fairbanks.
And that means using him to my gain.