Prize of a Lifetime
He took the edge of the towel that hung around his neck and wiped his damp face. He’d started jogging about two years ago and found that it was the best way to relieve stress. When things had started falling apart financially and romantically, jogging was the only thing that kept him from walking out into rush-hour traffic and calling it a day. After a good run, things didn’t seem quite as dismal.
He reached the part of the beach that led to a bluff of rocks where many of the tour boats docked. He slowed and climbed the rocks until he reached the top then sat down to watch the sun rise. A pathway of orange light spread out over the water, wider and wider as the sun made its ascent, pushing the darkness slowly aside.
Mitchell leaned forward and squinted against the light. He really didn’t get enough sleep. Now he was seeing things. But what he was seeing was getting closer instead of vanishing like the hallucination he thought it was. His pulse kicked up a notch as the bikini-clad beauty emerged from the water like a water goddess—warm brown, wet, with curves that could send a man driving right off the edge. She didn’t see him, and he wanted it that way so that he could enjoy, for as long as possible, the sweet eye candy that made his mouth water.
It was then that he noticed the blue-and-yellow striped towel stretched out on the beach near the shore. She strolled toward it, tossing her wet hair over her shoulder, her strong thighs rippling as she walked.
Whatever he’d imagined that Sasha would look like naked paled in comparison to what was right in front of him. His jaw clenched when she bent down to retrieve her towel. Straightening, she ran the towel across her wet hair and down her arms as she took in the scenery around her, the beauty of the Caribbean being awakened…and then her gaze fell on him. He saw her quick intake of breath, the sudden rise of her breasts. He stood up and began to climb down. He crossed the sand to where she stood, unmoving.
“Morning. I see you’re an early riser, too.”
Suddenly self-conscious, she wrapped the towel around her. “I didn’t think anyone was out here, so I went for a swim, a habit I picked up when I…” She started to say when she began her campaign to get her weight and health under control, but didn’t. Instead she said, “When I need to unwind.”
“Great bod—exercise,” he stuttered, wanting to kick himself for the near blunder. “I prefer to jog. I’ve never been a great swimmer.”
Now what? she thought, her mind going completely blank, which led to a pregnant pause. “Hmm, how did you sleep?”
“Great,” he lied. “You?”
“Like a baby.” She smiled. Like a baby that wakes up every two hours. “I’m going to head back. I can smell breakfast from here and I’m starving.”
“I was thinking the same thing. I’ll walk back with you.” They walked for a while in silence. “Listen, if you don’t have plans for today, my offer to give you a tour still stands.”
She turned her head to look at him, making sure he wasn’t just making conversation. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
Her throat went suddenly dry. He still wanted to see her, spend time with her. She wasn’t going to screw it up this time. “I’d love to.”
His eyes lit up and crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “Great. Let’s share breakfast and then we can head out. They have some great sights in St. John’s. I think you’ll like it.”
She bobbed her head. “Okay. Sounds like a plan.”
They parted ways in front of their adjoining doorways and promised to be ready in a half hour.
The instant Sasha closed her door she darted to her purse, pulled out her cell phone and prayed that her international service had kicked it. It was going to cost her a small fortune on her next cell phone bill, but it would be worth it.
She punched in April’s number, closed her eyes, crossed her fingers and waited as the phone rang and rang. Finally, April’s groggy voice came on the line.
“Hello.” She sounded as if she’d swallowed sand.
“Wake up! It’s me.”
“Me who?” April teased, her voice still thick as she rubbed sleep from her eyes and turned her back to her sleeping lover.
“You know good and damned well who this is,” Sasha snapped back. “And tell him to beat it, we need to talk.”
“And what makes you think I’m not alone?” she asked in a whisper, sitting up then tiptoeing out into the living room.
“Because if I know you like I know you, right about now you’re slipping out of your room so he won’t overhear you squealing and hollering when I tell you what I have to tell you.”
“Damn, I hate it when you’re right.” April giggled. “So tell, tell,” she urged with the excitement of a child. “Who is he and is he cute?”
“Chile…I don’t even know where to begin.”
April plopped down on the couch and curled her legs beneath her. “At the beginning, of course. And don’t you dare leave anything out.”
As Sasha relayed every detail of her trip she hunted through her closet for the perfect breakfast outfit. When she told April how she’d almost blown it at the airport, April lit into her like a flash fire.
“What! How many times do I have to tell you to stop being so stunned when a good-looking man takes an interest in you? You are worth every second of the time they spend with you and then some. Now go ’head and finish your story,” she huffed.
Sasha shook her head and rolled her eyes at the sisterly rebuke then continued, bringing April right up to date.
“Wow,” April said, dragging the word out. “All that, huh? He sounds fantastic, and it’s clear even to Stevie Wonder that he’s totally interested in you. And you said he’s right next door?”
“Yep.”
“Now that’s what I call convenient!”
They cracked up laughing.
“So I say, enjoy the moment, girl. You know why you’re down there, to snatch the prize of a lifetime, and if you hook something extra along the way…why not enjoy that, too? You’re not there looking for a Mr. Forever, just a Mr. Right Now.”
Sasha tossed the idea around. What April was saying had merit. She was there on a mission, and if she managed to get something extra out of the deal with a very desirable man, then why not?
“So, what are you wearing?” April asked, breaking into Sasha’s train of thought.
Sasha had laid out a tangerine-colored sundress in a light gauzy material that delicately swept her ankles. She described her outfit.
“Oh yes, that color looked great on you in the store. How did your micro braids hold up in the water?”
“Great. I wish I had done this ages ago. That stylist is so good that it looks like a head full of soft, bouncy curls. And I can get it wet, pull it up, down and it springs right back. I love it.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Kim you said so. Uh-oh, Calvin is calling me. Gotta run. You just have a good time, you hear me? And keep me posted!”
“I will,” Sasha said with a grin before hanging up. She tossed the cell phone in her purse, thought about calling her parents but decided to wait until after breakfast. At this time of the morning, her mother would swear that something was wrong and no amount of denying would convince her that some harm hadn’t come to her child. She checked her watch. Her eyes widened. She’d spent nearly twenty of her thirty minutes running her mouth with April. Now she had to hurry. At least she had “ready, set, go” hair. That was one thing she needn’t worry about.
She darted into the bathroom and took a lightning-fast shower, toweled off and lathered her skin with shea-butter lotion and then a sunscreen before spritzing her bare arms and ankles with insect repellent. That bit of business aside, she quickly brushed her lashes with mascara, put gold hoops in her ears, grabbed a tangerine scrunchie and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. The style elongated her face and accented her cheekbones and wide brown eyes. She examined her reflection, turning left then right, pleased with what she saw. A swipe of deodorant and she was ready to slip into her dress with about three minutes to spare. Just as she was stepping into her white flats, there was a knock on her door. She drew in a breath. It was a pure Lady Sings the Blues moment, when Billie Holiday, played by Diana Ross, sees Louis McKay, played by Billie Dee Williams, for the first time. If she’d had a wall behind her, she would have slid down it just like Billie Holiday did. Instead, she gripped the doorknob.
“Hi,” she managed to say.
Mitchell, with the sun behind him, looked like a bronze Adonis. His milky-white T-shirt stretched across his broad chest was tucked into a pair of tan linen shorts that reached his knees. The hard muscles in his exposed arms flexed and released as he removed the dark shades from his sweet chocolate-brown eyes and looked at her with a sheepish grin.
“Sorry, I’m starving,” he confessed. “Didn’t want to go over there without you and let you think I’d left all my manners in Georgia when you found me hunched over a plate.”
Sasha tossed her head back and laughed full-out, releasing the sexual tension that bounced back and forth between them. “You know what? That’s just what I would have thought—This man’s mama didn’t raise him right,” she said laying on the Southern accent. She smiled. “Let me get my bag and I’ll be right with you.” She spun around, feeling like she was going out on a first date…and she sort of was doing just that. Her heart thumped.
Mitchell watched her easy grace as she retreated inside the room to retrieve her bag. Why did he have such a thing for this woman whom he barely knew? After he’d left her a half hour earlier he couldn’t get ready fast enough so that he could see her again. What he needed to do, and quickly, was think with the head on the top of his neck and get back to the game plan. No distractions. He drew in a breath and straightened as she approached, but when she looked up and smiled at him, he forgot all about the plan.
Chapter 4
On the short stroll across the walkway and through the outdoor reception area, Mitchell and Sasha took in the scenery. The resort was quite magnificent, with stone and stucco structures, lush greenery and brilliant sunshine and white sandy beaches as far as the eye could see.
The resort was slowly coming alive as guests clad in bright colors bursting with floral designs began to emerge. The slow-moving and relaxed atmosphere seemed to have put everyone in a festive mood.
By the time they arrived at the semi-enclosed dining area they were surprised to find many of the seats already filled.
“Guess a lot of folks are hungry early in the morning,” Mitchell said in a whisper close to Sasha’s ear, placing his hand at the small of her back to guide her to an empty table.
His touch felt like hot coals, and even after he’d taken his hand away and helped her into her seat, Sasha could still feel the heat where his hand had been. She inhaled deeply to steady the sudden racing of her heart. How in the world was she going to pretend to be this worldly woman when a simple look, smile or touch from Mitchell made her insides melt?
Mitchell took his seat opposite Sasha just as a waitress approached. She poured water into their glasses. “The buffet is right around the corner here,” she began, her voice sounding like music. “And hot food is at the end. Can I get you juice or coffee?” She looked from Sasha to Mitchell.
“Orange juice for me,” Sasha said.
“I’ll have the same, and a cup of coffee. Please.”
The waitress bobbed her head and walked away.
Mitchell focused on Sasha. “Ready?”
“Yep.”
They got up and headed toward the buffet and the unbelievable array of food. It ran the gamut from fresh tropical fruit to cold cereals, French toast, bacon and sausage to made-to-order omelets. And, of course, steamy, seasoned fish.
They strolled along the row of buffet tables, loading food onto their plates and giggling as they added more.
“I think I’m going to need another plate,” Mitchell said by the time they reached the omelet station. They were surprised that they both liked the same omelet ingredients—mushrooms, cheddar cheese, green and red peppers and spinach.
Balancing two plates each, they returned to their table to find that the juice and coffee had arrived.
“This is a lot of food,” Sasha said, rethinking her decision to get so much food. She’d been so good about how much she ate over the past few months, and she didn’t want to fall back into bad habits. She’d managed to stay away from meat and chosen fish instead, with plenty of fruit. Satisfied that she’d stuck with her healthy choices, albeit a lot of them, she lowered her head and quietly said grace. She was pleased when she looked up and saw that Mitchell was doing the same thing.
“So…” he began as he cut into his omelet “…what do you do back in Savannah?”
“By day, I’m a reservationist at the Summit Hotel. On the nights that I’m not in school, I help out at the family restaurant-slash-catering business.”
His brows rose in appreciation as he slowly chewed his food. “You’re a busy lady.”
She chuckled. “That I am.”
“What are you studying in school?”
She told him about the classes she was taking and her goal to one day run her own small resort. “I’m planning to be finished with my degree and certification in a few months. It’s been a long haul.”
“You’re definitely determined and focused. Sounds like you really needed this vacation.”
She sighed deeply. “It’s been so long since I’ve had a chance to get away.” She looked around at her beautiful surroundings. “This is certainly what the doctor ordered.”
“Then I’m more determined than ever to make sure you have the time of your life. It’ll hold you over until your next big getaway.”
She dared to look into his eyes and her breath caught in her chest. The look in his eyes bored down into her center and stroked her, like a feather brushing across the skin, tantalizing and teasing, making her shiver in response.
He squinted. “Cold?”
She laughed nervously. “No.” She looked away and focused on her food. “What about you? What do you do in your other life besides squire novice tourists around Caribbean islands?”
He lifted his coffee cup to his lips and took a long sip, stalling for time. The minute he told her what a failure his life had turned into, she would do exactly what Regina had done, slam the door in his face. No woman wanted a man who was down on his luck, especially someone you were trying to impress.
“I’m your average businessman, looking for opportunities in these tough times. I thought I’d see what the investment possibilities were here,” he offered casually, just short of the truth.
Sasha chewed slowly, taking him in. “Did you get hit by the economy back home? So many people have been hurt, friends of mine, others that I know. I’m hoping things turn around soon. No one deserves what has happened to them through no fault of their own.” She put down her fork. “I know what it’s like to struggle and work for something and then have it all taken away from you.” She thought about her brother-in-law, Gary, who’d been out of work for nearly a year. It was taking a major toll on the marriage and especially on her sister, Tristan. He was a jerk before he’d lost his job, but being unemployed only made him worse.
“Do you?” He knew he sounded harsher than he intended, but his financial woes were a sore spot with him.
Sasha flinched. “Oh…sorry.”
He blew out a breath. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I know some folks that have been hit really hard, too. Friends.”
Sasha slowly nodded. “I totally understand.”
The waitress stopped by and refilled their beverages. “It’s rough all around. We have to support each other. As my grandmother always said, ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’”
Mitchell studied her for a moment, wanting to believe that her grandmother’s words of wisdom remained fixed in her soul. But what difference did it make? he reasoned. This was all just temporary. They were simply two people sharing some time together on vacation and nothing more. It didn’t matter one way or the other what she thought.
“When was the last time you were here?” Sasha asked as she sipped her juice.
“Hmmm, about three years ago.” He’d come with Regina, when things were good. They’d been so happy. He glanced away for a moment then focused on Sasha. “You mentioned that your parents had a restaurant. What kind?”
“Soul food. Is there any other kind in the South?” she joked. She told him the story of her mother starting off in the kitchen of their home before taking the leap and opening up Carrington’s. “It’s actually more catering than sit-down dining. We have walk-ins that get takeout food. But the majority of our business is catering events. And there’s always something going on in Savannah.” She chuckled.
“It must run in the blood if it’s what you see yourself doing, too.”
“I have my own version.” Her eyes lit up and she leaned closer, resting her arms on the table. “What I want is a small resort, with a full-range of spa facilities for people who want to get their minds and bodies under control. It would offer massages, relaxation techniques, a healthy menu, all in a beautiful environment,” she ended wistfully. “That’s why I’ve been working so hard for the past couple of years. I know I can do this. And now that…”
“That what?”
“Uh, now that I’m almost finished school and have my credit in order I can move toward my dream. If the financial market will cooperate,” she added.
“A grim reality for all of us. Even if you have some funding, the experience and the will, banks are still scared to lend.”
She nodded in agreement. “It makes it harder, but not impossible,” she said with conviction. She looked deep into his eyes. “When you sincerely believe in something or someone, you can’t let anything shake that belief. All any of us need is that vote of confidence, that person that can say ‘I got your back.’” She angled her head to the side. “Know what I mean?”
“Yeah…I think I do.” Watching her as she finished her meal, he began to see her in a new and appealing light. She wasn’t just pretty, with a knockout body, she was thoughtful, ambitious, and she had a sense of loyalty and a level of respect for others. A far cry from Regina, who only thought of herself, her needs and how quickly they could be met.
Sasha pushed her plate aside, sighed and wiped her mouth. “I can’t eat another bite. That was delicious. Now I really do need a swim to work off all this food.”
Mitchell had a flashback of her emerging out of the ocean in that bikini and inadvertently knocked over the balance of his water.
“Oh!” Sasha grabbed a napkin and mopped up the small spill. “Did it get on you?”
“No. I’m good.” He righted the glass. “Getting clumsy in my old age.”
“I think I have you beat on the clumsy thing. I knock something over or bang my knee at least once per week,” she said laughing.
“I find that hard to believe.”
She grinned. “Believe it, and stand clear when I’m around anything liquid or any immoveable objects.”
Mitchell chuckled as he pushed back from his seat then came around to help her up. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He was so close he felt the warmth of her body radiate from her beautiful bare shoulders. The sudden, hard rise in his shorts took him by surprise, and he quickly stepped back before Sasha did in case she bumped into his immovable object. He stuck his hands in his pockets, thankful that his shorts were not form-fitting, and told himself to think about ice cubes. He walked behind her as she led them out.
“I want to make a quick stop in the gift shop,” Sasha said, slowing her steps and turning behind her to look at Mitchell. “I packed everything I could think of besides sunglasses.” She pointed to his pair hooked onto the collar of his T-shirt. “Be right back.” She pushed through the door, setting off the tinkling of wind chimes.
Mitchell drew in a long, deep breath, turning his back to the store. What in the world was wrong with him? She hadn’t given him any indication that she was even remotely interested in him sexually, and yet every time he was within eyesight of her he got a major hard-on. If it was just about sex, he’d simply make his move, knock it out and be on his way. But as much as he tried to tell himself that this was no more than an island fling, he actually liked her.
It wasn’t just her banging body that turned him on. It was everything—her smile, the way she walked, her eyes, how she was thoughtful, funny, smart and determined. All that stacked up to what could be a problem. And that harsh reality was messing with his head.
Sasha walked through the aisles, needing a few minutes to get herself together. She didn’t need sunglasses any more than she needed a tan. But she needed to get some quick space between her and Mitchell so that she could think. As she walked she felt the dampness in her panties that had nothing to do with the island heat. Her clit was hard and throbbing, aching to be touched. When he’d stood behind her to help her out of her seat and she’d inhaled his scent, felt his hands on her arms and his body inches from hers, desire had pooled between her thighs.
If she was a different kind of woman she would ask him to come to her room, strip him naked and jump his bones. And she’d ride him until he put out the fire that continued to rage within her.
“Oh Lawd,” she mumbled, fanning herself.
“Can I help you?”
Sasha spun around, startled by the voice suddenly behind her. “Oh…um, I was looking for…lip gloss.”
“Right up front at the counter.”
“Thank you.” She followed the store clerk to the register, paid for her purchase and stepped back outside.
Mitchell had his back to her but turned at the sound of the chimes. Their gazes connected and seemed to convey the same thing: I want you.
“Find what you were looking for?” he asked.
“Yes, I mean no.” She sputtered a laugh. “Once I got in there I remembered that I’d packed my sunglasses in my carry-on.” She lifted the tube of lip gloss. “Got this instead. So, um, I’m going to dart over to my room and grab my glasses then I’ll be ready to go.”
“Sure. I’ll meet you in front of reservations in the lounge area.”
“Great. Be right back.” She hurried off, leaving him standing in her wake, and went directly to her room.
Once inside she locked the door, went to the bathroom and ran cold water on a washcloth. She stripped out of her panties, dropping them to the floor, and pressed the cool compress between her thighs. Her eyes fluttered closed as she exhaled a sigh of relief. The cool water slowly vanquished the fever.
Sasha opened her eyes and stared at her flushed expression in the mirror. Maybe the thing to do was stay as far away from Mitchell as possible until this trip was over. Her nipples tingled. “Don’t think so.”
She went into the next room and took a fresh pair of panties from the drawer, slipped them on, grabbed her sunglasses and headed back out. On the walk over to the reception area, she resigned herself to the inevitable. She was going to sleep with Mitchell Davenport. End of story. And once she’d ended her mental and physical tug of war she suddenly felt so much better.
While Sasha slipped away to her room, Mitchell took the time to try to put this crazy thing that was going on with him in perspective. He was totally taken with her, but he didn’t have a pot to piss in. He’d come to Antigua for one reason only and it wasn’t Sasha Carrington, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about her. She didn’t seem interested in him, but he wanted her to the point of physically aching for her every time she was near him. He wouldn’t be distracted from his goal, no matter what, but he was going to sleep with her. End of story. How’s that for perspective?
Chapter 5
The skyline of St. John’s, the capital of Antigua, was dominated by the white baroque towers of St. John’s Cathedral. Bright, candy-colored architecture dotted the narrow roads like sprinkles on an ice cream cone, giving the entire atmosphere a feeling of carefree frivolity.