Fantasies, she reminded herself that she’d done the right thing. She only hoped that soon she’d believe it. Meanwhile, she’d closed up her condo and flown to the island almost a full two weeks ahead of her friends.
Janine and Debbie were completely supportive, of course, which is why they were such good friends. They’d applauded her resignation and promised to keep in touch until they were able to join her at Fantasies.
“Until then,” Caitlyn whispered, getting a good grip on the handle of her suitcase as a tropical breeze kissed her skin, “you’re here to relax. So get started already.”
A soft island breeze danced over her skin and carried the scents of both the sea and the banks of flowers surrounding the exclusive resort. She inhaled deeply, tasting freedom and settling the jitters in her stomach at the same time.
“May I take your bag for you?”
She jolted a little and turned around to find a tall, gorgeous man in the Fantasies uniform of deep red shirt over white slacks smiling at her. “Hi.”
“Hello, and welcome to Fantasies,” he said, brown eyes twinkling. “Let me just take your bag inside for you.”
“Thanks.” She handed her suitcase off to him and followed him into the lobby, turning her head from side to side, admiring the lush flower beds on either side of the wide coral walkway. Their combined scents flavored the air with spice and the splash of a small waterfall from somewhere nearby soothed away the last of Caitlyn’s nerves.
When she stepped into the wide-open lobby, she came to an abrupt stop and simply stared.
Amazing was the only word for it.
The floor was cool blue tile, giving you the feeling you were walking on water. White wicker chairs with plush red cushions were staggered around the immense, open lobby in clusters of conversation zones. There were several squat glass tables boasting clear crystal vases with brilliantly colored flowers spearing out of them.
The long, serpentine registration desk wound through the lobby in lazy curves of shining glass, behind which were tropical fish swimming through sparkling aqua water. Caitlyn smiled as she caught flashes of gold, red and deep green fish darting through the sea grasses and anemones waving in the swirling water.
Computers and telephones rested on the glass top of the desk and the people manning their stations looked as beautiful and perfect as the rest of this resort. Each of them wore red shirts, white slacks and brilliant smiles that would have made any orthodontist proud.
While she waited to register, Caitlyn accepted a crystal flute of champagne from a passing waiter and felt the last of her doubts slip away on a contented sigh. There would be time enough to worry about leaving Lyon Shipping. More than time enough to worry about finding a new job.
For right now, she was going to surrender to the lush, indulgent vibe pulsing through this place.
* * *
Two days later, though, Caitlyn was already getting a little antsy. She was doing her best to combat the feeling. Stretched out on a red-and-white-flowered chaise, with a tall tropical drink at her side, she set her paperback down on her stomach and looked out at the water.
Miles and miles of clear, beautiful ocean stretched out in front of her and eased into shore, lapping up across powdery white sand. A cool breeze took the edge off the heat and the simple beauty of the place should have been enough to make her relax. Instead, her rotten brain kept turning back to Jefferson. The look on his face when she’d quit. The fact that now that she didn’t work for him anymore, she’d probably never see him again.
But that was as it should be, right? There was nothing between them but a job she didn’t have anymore. So it was better that he was out of her life.
If that were true, though, why wasn’t she happier?
“I’m worried,” she said into her cell phone, picking up her drink for a sip of strawberry-flavored alcohol.
“About what?” Janine demanded. “You’re at the most talked-about resort on the planet. You’re being waited on hand and foot. You’re footloose and fancy-free. You’re young and single and there must be at least a dozen men in arm’s reach of you.”
“True,” Caitlyn admitted, letting her gaze slide across the sand and the golden-tanned bodies either laying in the sun or playing volleyball.
“So what could you possibly be worried about?”
“Jefferson,” she admitted on a disgusted groan. She couldn’t help it. She’d left him in the lurch, and that just didn’t feel right. She’d walked out of his office and his life without any more than a moment’s thought. Of course she shouldn’t have quit without even giving him proper notice. For heaven’s sake, she had more pride in her work than that. “I just walked out, Janine. Left him high and dry with nobody to run things.”
“Just what he deserved,” her friend said, then added to someone else, “Don’t put baby’s breath in with hydrangeas. For God’s sake, were you born in a barn?”
Caitlyn smiled. The high-priced florist shop where Janine was the head designer was always busy, and Janine was always on top of everything.
“Honestly, Cait,” she said on a sigh, “Lyon Shipping isn’t your problem anymore. You’ve got to learn to let go a little. How are you supposed to have a vacation if your brain’s still back here in Long Beach?”
“You’re right, I know you’re right,” she said, taking another sip of her drink and letting the icy concoction chill the quick flash of heat she felt just at the thought of Jefferson Lyon. “But, Janine—”
“No buts,” she interrupted. “Michael, if you break another vase, I swear, I’m going to—” The sound of breaking glass came through the phone loud and clear. “Just kill me now,” Janine muttered.
Caitlyn laughed.
A minute later, though, Janine said, “Cait, get out there and meet people. Men people. Get drunk. Get laid. Get Jefferson Lyon out of your system.”
A volleyball landed right next to her, spraying her with sand before bouncing to hit her stomach. “Hey!”
“What is it?” Janine asked.
“Attacked by a volleyball,” Caitlyn muttered as the ball’s owner jogged up to her, a big grin on his amazingly gorgeous face.
“Sorry about that,” the guy said. “I’m Chad. Can I buy you a drink to apologize?”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“Don’t you dare turn him down,” Janine ordered from a couple thousand miles away. “This is why you’re there, girlfriend. To relax. To live a little.”
“Umm…” Caitlyn said, listening to Janine and watching the gorgeous beach guy.
“Is he cute?”
“Uh-huh.” Like-a-movie-star cute.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “Fine.”
