voice caused her core to react once again.
“Thanks.” She sat first and then Jewel.
“It’s beautiful out here,” Jewel acknowledged.
“There’s something mysterious about the sea at night. It’s frightening, yet intriguing,” Chloe said. When she looked up, Donovan was staring at her. She held his gaze for a moment and cleared her throat. “I’ve always wondered what it must be like to be out there in all that darkness.”
“It’s pretty cool,” Donovan said.
“Is it?” Jewel asked. “How so?”
“It’s peaceful. I took one of those midnight cruises before. We should see if they do those here at this hotel.”
“Oh. Let’s check into that. Sounds like fun.” Jewel turned to Chloe. “Doesn’t it?”
“It does.” Chloe sat back, allowing the breeze to relax her. It was almost as satisfying as Donovan’s presence.
Donovan waved the waiter over. “What are you ladies having?”
“I had this great drink by the pool earlier. It was fruity with rum in it,” Jewel said.
“I could use a nice glass of wine,” Chloe added.
As the waiter approached, Donovan nodded toward the women. “May I?” he asked, requesting their permission to order for them.
Chloe and Jewel looked at each other. Agreeing with raised brows, Chloe then turned to Donovan and said, “Sure.”
Donovan ordered wine for Chloe and a rum cocktail for Jewel.
“What are they doing over there?” Chloe leaned forward, squinting at a few of the bar’s staff members setting up speakers and a large projection screen against the backdrop of the dark ocean.
Donovan and Jewel turned toward Chloe’s line of sight.
“Are they showing a movie tonight?” Jewel inquired.
Donovan shrugged. “Perhaps.”
“How cool!” Chloe added. The idea of watching a movie under the velvet star-spangled sky charmed her. “How were your meetings today?” she asked Donovan.
“Pretty good.” Donovan told them about his day and the hotel his friend was renovating. The waiter returned with their drinks. They nodded their approval, which Donovan acknowledged with a confident smile.
“That sounds amazing! Let us know if he does a grand opening. We could come down to celebrate with you,” Jewel said.
“That would be great. I’ll make sure you have the best accommodations.” His comment was for both women, but his eyes were on Chloe.
If she wasn’t mistaken, there was more meaning behind his words that were spoken. His slightly narrowed gaze and the sultry smile that spread across his sexy lips gave her that indication.
Chloe felt warmth settle around her like a soft blanket. She matched his gaze for a moment before turning and looking out over the water.
“Just make sure we’re on the opposite side of the hotel from your mother,” she said and the three of them laughed.
“You’re right about that,” Donovan admitted. “If she knew we were here having a good time together, she’d probably faint.”
“I know,” Jewel added, releasing a belly laugh. “What’s up with them?”
Donovan shook his head. “I don’t know. My mother would never tell us.”
“Neither would ours,” Chloe said.
“It’s so crazy to me,” Jewel said.
“Me, too,” Chloe agreed. “Whatever it is, it has been going on for a long time.”
“That’s one thing I do know.” Donovan took another a sip of his rum and pointed toward the setup the bar staff was working on. “Looks like they’re setting up for karaoke.”
“Really?” Chloe got excited.
“Chloe. You should sing,” Jewel said, craning her neck toward the screen. “Donovan, you’ve got to hear her. She has an amazing voice.”
Donovan looked at Chloe and raised a brow. “Is that so?”
Chloe waved her hand dismissively and cast her eyes upward. “I don’t sing much. I haven’t done it in years.”
“She’s totally being modest.” Jewel grabbed Chloe’s hand and pulled her up. “Come on, let’s go pick a song. I’ll be your backup!” she hooted.
“Jewel!” Chloe pleaded but was ignored as Jewel dragged her over to the table that had been set up for people to sign up.
“I can’t sing here,” Chloe said, feeling nervous.
“Of course you can. Didn’t you say you wanted to start having more fun?”
Chloe groaned. “Let me look over the list.” Jewel squealed and Chloe squinted at her. “I didn’t say I was going to sing. I’m just checking this list out.”
Jewel handed her the clipboard containing the songs and peered at it over Chloe’s shoulder. “Oh. Do this one.” Jewel pointed to Natural Woman.
Chloe thought about it for a moment. She loved singing that song but the idea of doing so in front of Donovan would make her feel exposed. She already felt overtly aware of her senses in his presence.
People used to love listening to her jazzy voice. She’d won several talent competitions but she hadn’t sung in front of anyone besides her sisters since her mother chided her years ago for wasting time at an audition for a performing arts school. According to El, Chloe was going to be a successful businesswoman and the notion of her daughter attending school to sing was a ridiculous misuse of her time and energy. Her days of public crooning had ended then. She was disappointed but wouldn’t disobey her mother.
“I don’t know, Jewel.” She frowned. “I haven’t sung in a long time.”
“It’s just for fun.” Jewel pouted. “Please...for me. I love hearing you sing. Come on, Chloe.”
“What are you going to sing?”
Chloe spun around at the sound of Donovan’s voice. She hadn’t realized he’d come over to where they were.
“I’m still trying to convince her,” Jewel said.
“I’ll sing if you sing first.” Chloe raised a brow at Donovan.
“If you don’t mind the torture. I couldn’t hold a note if it was duct-taped to my chest but it’s all in good fun, right?”
“Exactly! All in good fun,” Jewel endorsed Donovan.
Chloe exhaled.
