3 Weeks 'Til Forever (10 page)

How?

Just how was he supposed to put all of this into words she could
understand when he couldn’t even understand it, never mind verbalize it,
himself?

Janey took his silence for another wall she’d have to climb over
to “get in.” And that wasn’t a battle she was willing to take on with any man
again – ever.

“We’re going to be late,” was all she said, which penetrated
Redmond’s train of thought.

“I’ll be ready in five.”

They were one of ‘those couples’ at dinner that night; the type who
barely spoke to, or looked at, each other.

Instead of lasting the
45 minutes to an hour most dinners
between couples lasted, Janey cut the evening short and told Redmond that she’d
seen everything she needed to see after half an hour.

It
was going to be a long drive back to the center of the island tomorrow.

.
. .

           
“Look Janey …” Redmond started as he pulled up in front of her hotel.

           
“Thanks for everything,” Janey said, cutting him off as she opened the door of
the van.

“I
really appreciate all of your help. I couldn’t have accomplished half of what I
did without it and I know my client is going to be pleased.”

Janey
knew she was babbling. It was her constant bad habit when she was nervous. She
did it to keep the tears from falling. On the long drive, she’d realized just
how impossible a future for them was and had made up her mind that she wasn’t
going to see Redmond anymore.

She’d
stolen glances at him throughout the drive, trying to sear every morsel of the
man he was onto her brain. She knew she could never forget him and wanted to
soak up every little detail these last few precious hours they shared together,
even though they were tense ones.

Janey
didn’t realize just how hard it would be to say goodbye to him until they
pulled into her hotel’s parking lot. But she was determined not to let one tear
fall because she knew that once she started, she wouldn’t be able to stop.

“Can
we have dinner tonight?” Redmond asked.

“I’m
really tired Redmond. It’s been a long day and I leave the day after tomorrow.
I have a lot of work to do before then, so I don’t think that’d be a good
idea.”

“Look
Janey, you were right when you said we needed to talk.”

“It’s
okay,” she said. “Look, we had a good time together. You have a lot on your
plate right now and lord knows I do with work. So why don’t we just chalk this
up to the nice experience it was and leave it at that.”

“Do
you really mean that?” he said.

Looking
him squarely in the eye, she said, “Yes, I do.”

The
only reason Janey was able to look at Redmond so directly is because she was
protecting her heart, never once considering that him shutting her out was his
way of coping for the moment.

On
the six-hour drive, while Janey had been focusing on all the reasons why what
was between them wouldn’t work, Redmond’s focus was in the opposite direction –
on why what they had could work.

He
loved her. He knew that for sure.

He
knew she was attracted to him and in time, he thought, that attraction could
grow into love.

While
he had nowhere near the financial means she obviously did, he wasn’t dirt poor.
He worked for himself and had his own little house.

Since
she could work from anywhere, being together wouldn’t be a problem.

His
divorce was close to being finalized and no matter how much of a fight Layla
put up, it
would
be finalized. He would be a free man.

So
maybe, just maybe, he thought, what they had wasn’t just a pipe dream – it
could become a reality.

But
the hope he’d found on the drive was still too new; too fresh. When she said to
chalk what they had up to a ‘nice experience,’ it cut like a knife and doubt
flooded him all over again.

Maybe
she had just wanted a little island fun and he’d been it. Hell, that knife cut
both ways – as many women came to his homeland looking for some uninhibited fun
as there were men on the island who gladly played the gigolo game.

Maybe
she realized that he couldn’t offer her the way of life she’d become accustomed
to.

Maybe
there was someone back home, in spite of what she’d told him.

Redmond’s
pride kicked in – hard. He would beg no woman for her affections, no matter how
much he loved her.

“Very
well,” he said. “I’ll get your bags for you.”

He
politely helped her with her bags, setting them right inside the hotel lobby
door, then left without another word.

. 
.  .

Back
in her room, Janey knew that she had to get off this island – fast!

She
called the airline, changed her flight and left
Sol y Besos
on the red
eye.

Chapter
14: Life Goes On

It
had been a hellish week since she’d returned. The only time she found relief
from the pain of what had happened between her and Redmond was when she took
one of her long runs.

After
finding this peace shattered by a Lionel Richie song on a workout one day,
she’d erased all of the popular singer’s tunes from her MP3 player. It just
hurt too much to hear one these days.

Work,
the ‘lover’ that never disappointed her, had been a blessing.

On
her sixth day back, she’d finally managed to get through a whole day without
any tears. Curled up on her couch with a glass of wine watching CNN, she thought
for the first time since coming back,
You’re going to be okay
.

Janey
never doubted that she would and her heart was still heavy, but it had become
an ache she could bear without the tears coming so easily.

She
kept busy.

Lunch
with her aunt.

The
movies with her best friend, Carita, who was a hoot and kept her in stitches
with stories of her love life – or sexual escapades – which was a more apt
description.

Exploring
plans for expanding her travel blog network.

Working
out.

Yeah,
she was going to be ok.

For
the first time since she returned, a genuine smile came unbidden to her face.
THIS almost made her want to cry.

“Get
ahold of yourself Janey Belle Coltrane,” she said out loud, “Get ahold of
yourself girl!”

.
. .

Janey
was skyping with the client she’d done the
Sol y Besos
trip for when he
dropped a bombshell.

“As
usual, outstanding job JC. This is exactly the kind of content we needed to
make our site stand out from others,” Mr. Chapman, the head of her client’s
content development team,  said.

“One
thing though … we realized while putting together next month’s issue that we
need a little bit more of the regular touristy stuff as well. While we want to
be different, we still want to give our readers what they want. And, what a lot
of them want is to know about the main touristy stuff there on
Sol y Besos.”

“With
that being said, we need you to make another trip – immediately. All of this
content goes into next month’s installment on the series we’re doing on the
Caribbean and we have just over two weeks before that goes live. So, can you
fly out tomorrow and send back the five pieces I emailed you about?”

“I’m
sorry Mr. Chapman, I can’t go, but I have a very good travel writer who would
be happy to. I’ll make the arrangements right away …”

The
exec cut Janey off.

“No
JC, we need you to go. We need the editorial tone of the pieces to be the same.
And while I know you have a good team over there, you can always tell when
pieces come from different writers.”

“If
you’d sent another writer from jump, that would have been fine. But since you
wrote these, we need you to go.”

If
this had been any other client, Janey probably would have refused. But this was
one of her blog network’s biggest clients and they could throw a lot more
business her way, so she had no choice but to agree.

Seeing
the look on her face, Mr. Chapman said, “Are you a little travel-weary JC? You
look a little tired. I know that look from the days when I used to be a globe
trotter,” he laughed.

“When
you get down there, why don’t you stay a couple of extra days on us – get in
some good ole R and R. Just build it into your expense report, ok?”

Little
did he know that the last place on earth Janey could find R and R these days
was on
Sol y Besos
. She didn’t want to stay one minute more than she had
to on that particular Caribbean island.

“Thanks
Mr. Chapman. I’ll get those pieces to you within the next three or four days,”
was all she said before she logged off her live chat.

.
. .

Normally,
five pieces of new content would take at least five days and the client had
told her to expense them for seven. But, Janey was determined to swoop down on
the tiny island, work her butt off and get the hell off as quickly as possible.

Four
days – tops – was the deadline she set for herself.

Dear
God, please don’t let me run into Redmond
, was the silent prayer she sent up
as the plane touched down at Athenos International in
Sol y Besos
late
the next afternoon.

Chapter
15: Back to Heartbreak

Janey
reflected on how different she had felt the last time she’d checked into
Mirabella Bay.

She
had been happy because she was not only on her favorite Caribbean island to
work – which meant the trip was practically free – she was planning on getting
in some much-needed R and R as well.

Had
that really been just over two weeks ago?

It
felt like a lifetime.

By
the time she checked into her room, it was early evening. Janey decided to
order dinner in and told herself it was because she wanted to organize the work
she had to tackle over the next few days.

If
she were being honest with herself though, it was because she was afraid of
running into Redmond.

Unbeknownst
to Janey, Redmond was on the northern tip of the island and wouldn’t be back
for at least two days.

.
. .

The
first couple of days flew by. Janey was able to complete three of her five
assigned pieces and with two more days left on her self-imposed deadline, she
felt that she was in great shape to meet it – maybe even exceed it – and get
back home.

Tired
of being cooped up in her room – and pleased with the progress she’d made so
far – she decided to go out for dinner. It was one of her favorite ways of
relaxing because she got to people watch.

Also,
after a couple of days of not running into Redmond, she’d started to relax her
guard a bit, even telling herself that it was silly to be acting like this. And
besides, she reasoned, as there’d been no further phone calls from him, Redmond
had probably moved on.

Maybe
the ‘relationship’ had been all in her head. After all, they’d only known each
other a couple of weeks.

This
made her angry and sad at the same time. But, “Life has to go on,” she said to
herself. Getting dressed up always made her feel better, so Janey took her time
with her make-up and hair for her night out.

She’d
decided to treat herself to
Gustavo’s
. Meriting four stars, it was one
of the most elegant Spanish restaurants on the island.

She’d
been there on a couple of occasions over the last few years and was really
looking forward to their world-renown paella.

Since
she’d decided not to take her client up on the extra couple of days in
Sol y
Besos
, she decided they wouldn’t flinch when they saw this on her expense
report, especially as she’d throw in a review of the place for free.

The
movement on the short, gold, flapper-style dress she wore that evening elevated
her mood for no particular reason at all. When Janey bought it, she called it
her ‘happy dress,’ because the fringes made her smile.

Paired
with three-inch high, gold strappy sandals and a beaded silver bag for
contrast, she felt good – at least outwardly – as she stepped into the waiting
cab the concierge had called for her.

Janey
enjoyed her meal
at Gustavo’s
and was glad she’d decided to write a
review because they had, only the night before, added live entertainment.

The
Latin jazz trio played at just the right volume – loud enough to be enjoyed if
you were dining alone, as Janey was, but not so loud that you couldn’t engage
in conversation.

The
new entertainment gave Janey a “travel coup” of sorts to report on. She decided
to write the review tonight so she could get up and proof it with fresh eyes in
the morning before emailing it to her client.

 The
paella at
Gustavo’s
was every bit as delicious as she’d remembered.
Always one to step outside defined boundaries when it came to mixing food and
drink, Janey enjoyed hers with a glass of
Cava
,
a
Spanish sparkling wine
similar to
Champagne that was produced almost exclusively in the Northern Spanish region
of Catalonia.

Good food, good drink and good music. Couldn’t ask for
a better evening –
besides someone to share it with
– a little voice in
her head whispered as she left the restaurant. Stepping to the curb, which
would alert passing cabs that she was a waiting fare, Janey shook off this
little voice.

She turned her attention to the depths of her beaded
silver bag, looking for money to have at the ready for the cab. One pulled up,
she stepped in and said, “Mirabella Bay, please.”

 “As you wish,” the voice said.

Janey froze.

No.

It couldn’t be.

It just couldn’t be.

Let me out, let me out!
she screamed
silently, but all she said was, “Redmond.”

“We have to stop meeting like this,” he said,
attempting a little humor which he hoped would give him time to get his
thoughts together.

He couldn’t believe it when he saw her. He’d heard
that she was back on the island, but believed that the buddy who’d told him
must have been mistaken.

He’d gotten back from Hill Country just an hour
earlier and was on his way to pick up a fare to take to the airport when he’d
spotted a petite woman in a shiny, gold dress waiting on the curb in front of
Gustavo’s
.

He’d recognize that body anywhere.

“Janey why didn’t you ever call me back? I called
you in New York and left you a voice mail,” he said, turning to face her in the
back seat.

Not sure how to respond, Janey decided honesty was
the best policy.

“To be blunt Redmond, I thought that if you really
wanted to talk to me, you would have done more than left one voice mail. Then I
didn’t hear from you anymore and just figured, well that’s that.”

“Janey I wanted to call you every day. Hell, I
wanted to do more than call; I wanted to get on a plane and come to New York.
But I knew that before I stepped to you again, I had to come correct – to
handle a lot of loose ends in my life.”

“So, that’s why I didn’t call you anymore. I was
getting things in order so that when I did contact you, I could come correct.”

“Believe me, not calling you was one of the hardest
things I’ve ever done. But I figured short-term pain for what I hope will be
long-term gain.”

Looking at his watch, Redmond said, “Look, I have to
pick up a fare to in about 20 minutes and take them to the airport. I know it’s
getting late, but I could be back at your hotel in two hours, two-and-a-half
hours, tops. Can I come over or take you somewhere so we can really talk? I
have so much I want to say to you.”

All of her senses were responding to him, the smell
of his cologne; the way he looked in that crisp white short; the look of the leather
band with the tiny silver tomahawk hanging from it tied around his wrist; the
urgent pleading in his deep, sexy voice.

All of this flooded her sensory bank at one time and
she heard herself saying, “I’d like that. Actually, I have some work to do, so
I’ll be up late.”

Redmond smiled, got out of the car, opened the door
to where she was sitting in the back and pulled her to him. Not caring that
they were on a public street in front of a crowded restaurant, he kissed her,
drinking in the sight, feel and smell of her.

Janey kissed him back with all the pent-up emotion
she’d carried over the last couple of weeks.

Dear God she missed him so!

Reluctantly, Janey pulled back, in much the same way
she’d done when they shared their very first kiss outside her hotel just a
couple of weeks ago. The feel of Redmond’s manhood pressed against her reminded
her how quickly things could get out of hand between them.

Not ready to let her go just that second, Redmond
cupped her face between his hands and planted another soft kiss on her lips.
There was less passion and more need in this kiss.

Janey held onto his forearms as he cupped her face.
Before settling her in the front seat beside him, Redmond grazed her with one last
kiss – in what she’d come to think of as the ‘magic caring spot’ – the center
of her forehand.

Seeing her to the door of the hotel lobby, he
promised to see her in two-and-a-half hours – tops.

With hope soaring, Janey tried to concentrate on the
review of
Gustavo’s
she was writing. Knowing she was too distracted to
write and edit the whole piece tonight, she decided to jot down her main
impressions, that way she wouldn’t forget.

When she heard a knock at her door almost two hours
later, it didn’t occur to her that it would be anyone other than Redmond.

“Obviously expecting company?” the owner of the
voice quipped as she stepped – uninvited – into Janey’s room.

“What are you doing here?” Janey asked Layla.

“We need to talk about my h-husband.”

Janey closed the door.

The word husband struck her like a bucket of ice
water.

“This won’t take long. I wanted to tell you exactly
what’s going on between me and Redmond.”

Fully prepared for some kind of confrontation, Layla
paused at Janey’s measured silence.

Sensing that she wanted her to say something but not
willing to stoop to anything that would remotely resemble a clash, Janey just
looked at her and said, “Very well, since you are so determined, say what
you’ve come to say.”

Fully prepared for some type of resistance, Janey’s
non-reaction threw Layla a bit off her game. However, she was determined to
make Janey realize she was fighting a losing battle when it came to Redmond.

She continued, saying, “Redmond and I have been in
love with each other since we were kids. We have an unbreakable bond, a child,
together. And even though we’ve been apart for a while, I’m back now and
we
will
work things out.”

“Admittedly, we’re going through a rough patch now.
But Redmond has only ever had eyes for me, and I’ve always loved him.”

“Is that it?” Janey said. “Are you finished?”

“Just one last thing and then I’ll be finished. . .
. I don’t know if you know this, but island men always stick with their own
kind. They may stray and they may play, but they always come back to their own
women. You foreigners are nothing more than distractions for them.”

Seeing the hurt in Janey’s eyes, Layla knew she’d
hit her mark and walked towards the door.

“I hope I’ve made myself clear but in case I
haven’t, stay away from Redmond. He’s mine. Always has been, always will be,”
Layla said as she exited the room.

Janey was glad she’d let herself out because tears
were streaming silently down her cheeks.

The words of her grandmother came back to haunt her,
“
When
you’re from two different cultures; that’s just asking for trouble. Stick to
your own kind.
”

It
was like it was some kind of sign and it ignited all the fears Janey had ever
had about a relationship with Redmond.

The
one thing that stood out to Janey was that Layla had called Redmond her
husband. Not her ex-husband; her husband.

This
was a pit of vipers she did not want to climb into – wife, child, divorce,
custody. Dear lord, it was all so complicated.

Janey
made a decision.

.
. .

           
Janey
was relieved when Redmond called not five minutes after Layla left to say that
his clients’ flight was delayed and they wouldn’t know for another hour or so
if they would be able to leave tonight or would have to take one tomorrow.