Chapter 13
13
“Are you getting excited about your trip? Part two of your honeymoon?” Zara asked her sister-in-law. After dropping Teryn at school that morning, Sierra had called and suggested they have breakfast at the Witherspoon Café.
Sierra’s lips spread into a huge smile. “Yes, and I think Vaughn is even more so. I can’t wait.”
When they got married in March, Vaughn and Sierra had only taken a weeklong honeymoon to the Caribbean, which had coincided with spring break. That way Teryn got to spend a week with Sierra’s sister Dani and her family in Atlanta. They had made plans to have a second honeymoon—a continuation, so to speak—at the end of the school year and would leave right after Memorial Day. This one was for three weeks, and they would be traveling to the Maldives. Sierra’s parents would be taking Teryn and their grandkids on a month-long vacation.
“How’s the painting coming along, Zara?”
Zara arched a brow. “Painting?”
“Yes. When I dropped by the other day to bring you lunch, you were painting. And when Vaughn and I didn’t hear from you yesterday, other than your text canceling our lunch date, I figured you were still doing it.”
Zara tried to keep the blush off her face. She’d still been doing it alright. Doing it with Saint. When he’d taken her back to bed, they’d made love for hours until he had to leave to check on his parents before packing for his trip to New York.
After he’d left, she’d been too weak from lovemaking to do anything but remain in bed for a while. There was no way she could have joined Sierra for lunch. She’d finally gotten up around two, showered and gone to LaFitte’s Seafood House, a popular restaurant on the boardwalk. “I finished the painting yesterday.”
“That’s great! So, what did you paint?”
Zara bit into her muffin and decided to be truthful with Sierra. She adored her sister-in-law and thought she was the best thing to happen to her brother. Vaughn might have gained a beautiful wife, but Zara had gotten the sister she’d never had and always wanted. It was great that they were the same age and their birthdays were just months apart.
“The other day when I had breakfast here, I parked near the shipping district and decided to walk. I passed a vacant building between the Ellorans’ ice-cream shop and Jenkins’s Florist.”
Sierra smiled. “I know the building you’re talking about. It is huge and, like my place, it’s two-story. In fact, it has more square footage than the Green Fig. What does that building have to do with you painting?”
Leaning over the table Zara lowered her voice and said, “Well, I wanted to paint but wasn’t sure what. Then my mind led me to paint that storefront. I painted what I envisioned for that vacant building. My boutique. It had more of a French look than any of my others and it looked pretty.” She beamed. “Even Saint said so.”
“Saint? He saw it?”
Zara wanted to swear under her breath. She hadn’t meant to let any mention of Saint slip. But she would own up to it. “Yes, he saw it.”
“Hmm.” Sierra picked up her coffee cup and after taking a sip, she lifted a finely arched brow and said, “I hope you know that bit of information only has me thinking. And just like we told you the other day, our conclusions might be hotter and more erotic than the real thing.”
Zara grinned. “And like I told you and the others, there’s no way they could be hotter and more erotic than the real thing. Without giving any details, I thought I’d pretty much made myself clear as to what was going on between me and Saint.”
Sierra laughed softly. “You did, but now I’m wondering if things are getting serious between the two of you.”
Zara was aghast at the suggestion and figured her expression showed it. “Of course not.”
“Oh.”
Sierra honestly sounded surprised, and for that reason, Zara wanted to explain. She sipped her coffee, then said, “Like I told you, I honestly didn’t think I’d see Saint again after our one night together two and a half years ago. Now I’ve seen him practically every time I’ve returned to Catalina Cove. First at your and Vaughn’s celebration cookout when I learned his real identity. Then again at your wedding. Now I’m back and it seems natural for us to be together while I’m here. But trust me when I say that it is not, and I repeat, not, a serious involvement.”
“So, the two of you are friends with benefits?”
Zara paused a moment before answering. “To me that denotes a more structured relationship than the arrangement we have. Saint and I have reasons not to want to get seriously involved with anyone, not even with each other. We like spending time together and nothing more than that. It isn’t serious or permanent. In fact, we don’t even have each other’s contact information. If I happen to be in the cove and we run into each other, that’s fine. If we don’t, that’s fine, too.”
Sierra nodded. “Well, just like we told you the other day, people in the cove have always liked and respected Saint and considered him a nice guy. He’s always been courteous, thoughtful and respectful. Back in the day, mothers would always try fixing him up with their daughters because they knew he was a perfect gentleman. He wasn’t one to lead a girl on, and he wouldn’t become involved with one unless he meant it.”
Sierra bit into her muffin as if giving what she’d said time to sink in. “Saint’s mother and mine are friends,” she continued, “and according to Mom, Ms. Irene always wanted a house full of kids. However, due to medical reasons she only had Saint. She thinks she can remedy that by having a bunch of grandkids instead. That’s why she’s set her mind to finding him a wife.”
“He told me about his mother’s determination to do that, and he’s not happy about it,” Zara replied.
“And he has a right not to be,” Sierra said. “From what Vaughn said, he can barely eat a meal anywhere without some woman inviting herself to join him or deliberately walking by his table to speak to him. There are one or two who know his whereabouts before and after work hours and show up where he is, hoping to get noticed. I understand Saint’s mother is feeding them that information.”
Zara frowned. “That’s a bit much for those women. To run behind a man that way.”
“I totally agree. But I guess if you’re a woman in the market for a husband, especially a handsome man who doesn’t have commitment phobia, you’d see the chase as worth it. I bet some are even taking his disinterest as a challenge.”
The thought of that bothered Zara. “They are wasting their time. I know for a fact that a serious relationship with a woman is the last thing Saint wants.”
“Why? Because he’s still in love with his old girlfriend?”
“That’s not it,” Zara said without much thought and in a tone that she regretted sounded annoyed.
Sierra eyed Zara speculatively. “If you and Saint aren’t friends with benefits, then what are you?”
Zara honestly couldn’t answer that, other than saying, “We’re two people who have decided we enjoy each other’s company whenever we want without the trappings of an emotional attachment, commitment and any expectation of anything other than the moment. I guess you can say that we’re hookup partners.”
Sierra bit into her muffin, chewing thoughtfully. Then she asked, “Whose idea was that?”
“Mine, but he agreed to it.”
Sierra stared at her for a moment before asking, “And how is it working for you? This hookup-partners thing?”
Zara shrugged. “I think it would work better if I wasn’t planning on being in Catalina Cove for a longer stay this time. The other two times I was in and out within days. For this visit I’m here for six weeks. Now I want to...”
Sierra gave her a curious stare. “Want to what?”
“Spend more time with him.” Zara let out a deep sigh. “I look forward to being with him, Sierra.”
“So, for you it’s only sexual.”
Zara noted Sierra had said it as a statement and not a question. “Maybe it was at first. I like being with him in every sense of the word. The lovemaking is wonderful, off the charts, the best I’ve ever had. And then we communicate on a level that I’d never experienced with Maurice. I run stuff by Saint for his ideas, thoughts and suggestions. He even thinks I should consider buying that vacant building.”
“He does?”
“Yes. He feels it will be a good investment move for me.”
“He’s probably right, Zara. Buying that building when I did and turning it into the Green Fig was the best business decision I could have made. Vaughn and I have even talked about expanding to the second floor to include banquet rooms when we move out and the upstairs living quarters are no longer needed.”
“Wow, that will be a huge undertaking.”
“Yes, but a good business decision for us. We’ll promote Levi from assistant manager to manager when we start a family.”
Zara beamed. “The two of you are thinking about starting a family sooner rather than later?”
“Yes,” Sierra said excitedly. “Definitely sooner than we originally planned. We’ve chosen a house plan and hope that by the time we move in I’ll be pregnant.”
“That’s wonderful, Sierra.” The thought of being an aunt made Zara happy. “How soon do you think it will be before they start building your house?”
“Not sure. The builder for the development has been selected, and I understand he’ll be moving to town in a few weeks. It’s Jaye’s youngest brother, who owns a construction company.” Sierra remained silent for a moment. Then she said, “You know what I think regarding the situation with you and Saint?”
Zara lifted a brow. “No. What do you think?”
“I understand you guys wanting to keep your involvement private from prying eyes. That’s your right. However, I’m not sure that will work for long.”
“Why not?”
“Sexual chemistry is something you and Saint can’t seem to hide.”
On Saturday afternoon, Saint turned his car onto Buccaneer Lane, the scenic tree-lined road that led to the bed-and-breakfast inn, Shelby by the Sea. Although he’d been back in Catalina Cove for almost six months, it had been years since he’d been here. This place held so many fond memories for him. He couldn’t help recalling that it had been Ms. Shelby who’d given him and Brody their first summer jobs at the age of fourteen. Namely, to keep the area leading to the inn immaculate. They had no problem picking up trash and the empty wine and beer bottles. It had put coins in their pockets to play the video games at the local recreation center.
When the historic mansion came into view, he thought it was as massive, stately and majestic as ever. Even more so since Ms. Shelby’s niece, Vashti Alcindor Grisham, had resurrected the inn a few years ago. From here he could hear the sound of the ocean, which was directly behind the inn.
The twenty-guest-room mansion was built in 1905 and had been owned by the Barlowe family for generations. Some claimed the original Barlowe had been Jean LaFitte’s right-hand man, and for his loyalty LaFitte had awarded the man the land the mansion sat on.
Close to forty years ago, Hawthorn Barlowe, upon his death, being the last of the Barlowes, had bequeathed the mansion and all the land surrounding it to his loyal and trusted nurse, Ms. Shelby. With no need of a house that big, Ms. Shelby had turned it into a bed-and-breakfast inn and named it Shelby by the Sea.
Shelby by the Sea was one of the most popular places in Catalina Cove, a hallmark. It was always brimming with business, particularly newlyweds from all over the country on their honeymoon, and married couples reigniting the flame in their marriage. Even as a kid, Saint would admit he’d envisioned himself getting married here. Today he was attending the engagement party for Jaye and Velvet.
He parked behind the car he knew was Vaughn’s, which made him wonder if Zara had arrived. When he’d seen her two days ago, she’d said that she would be attending. Since he didn’t have her contact information, he had no way to check if that was still her plan.
He hated admitting it, but not having her phone number was annoying the hell out of him. He understood that she didn’t want anything other than hookups—that was how he felt as well—but that shouldn’t keep them from exchanging phone numbers.
He had intended to broach the subject with her the last time they were together, but it had slipped his mind. However, he resolved to talk to her about it, and soon.
As he walked toward the perfectly landscaped yard, he saw uniformed attendants greeting arriving guests and guiding them to a welcome table where names were checked on a list. Then they were escorted to the backyard where the outdoor festivities were being held.
Saint understood why names were being checked. This was a private affair and there were those in the cove who felt they were entitled to be invited, regardless of whether they received an invitation or not. Jaye had a long memory and anyone who’d slighted Velvet when they hadn’t known she was an heiress did not receive an invitation.
The sky was a stunning blue and the temperature was the best it’d been since spring had arrived. Jaye and Velvet had certainly picked a good weekend for their party. It was Memorial Day weekend and, as usual in the cove, school had ended yesterday. He’d heard from Jaye that Velvet had wanted to finish out the school year before celebrating their upcoming nuptials. A second engagement party would be held next month in Phoenix.
As he followed the attendant through the flower gardens, he was glad to see the huge gardenia bushes and magnolia trees were still there and more had been added. Anyone who’d known Ms. Shelby knew that gardenias and magnolias were her two favorite flowers and the older woman had planted special gardens of both on the sides of the mansion.
He had to hand it to Vashti. Not only had she restored the inn to the grandeur of yesteryears, but she had also remodeled it with all the honor and magnificence that her aunt Shelby would be proud of.
The scent of the blossoms was strong, and he was escorted toward an area where a large gazebo sat facing the ocean. When he rounded the corner, he saw the crowd of people. Some he knew and others he didn’t recognize. He had met Jaye’s father and brothers and some of his closest friends from Phoenix last month when they’d come to the cove to visit Jaye and Velvet.
A huge “Congratulations, Jaye and Velvet” streamer extended from one side of the gazebo to the other, anchored by black and gold balloons. Even the pier that led out to the beach was decorated. He accepted a drink off a passing waiter’s tray, then looked around the yard. From the sensuous stirring he felt in the pit of his stomach he knew that although he hadn’t seen her yet, Zara was here.
He’d given up trying to figure out why there was such an intense physical attraction between them. All he knew was that she could set his entire body on fire, and it would burn for days even when she wasn’t in his presence. Just from thinking about her. That was how it had been for the past two days when he’d been out of town. She had been on his mind a lot.
He scanned the crowd for her as his heart began beating faster and faster. When a group of people shifted, he saw her standing and talking with several women. Some he recognized, some he didn’t. Ashley Sullivan had walked up and was happily twirling around, proudly displaying her rounded belly, which had grown a lot since he’d last seen her.
He took a sip of his drink with his gaze trained on Zara. She looked sexy with her purple sleeveless, high-neck short dress that displayed those alluring shoulders he loved licking, and her gorgeous legs he loved caressing. She had a pair of cute black stilettos on her feet and her hair was flowing around her shoulders, just the way he liked. She had the body for that dress, all the right curves, and it looked damn good on her. Totally ravishing. One of the ladies must have said something amusing because Zara threw her head back and laughed.
He wondered how long it would take for her to feel his presence. Somehow, it seemed that she could with him, the same way he could with her. He watched and waited. The moment she began craning her neck to scan the crowded yard, he knew why.
Then their gazes met.