Tempted in the Tropics (11 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Eager to see Paige, Lane hopped aboard the sleek, gleaming seventy-two-foot catamaran yacht just before it was scheduled to leave the dock. After the emotional scene with his parents this morning, he’d spent some of the day with his guitar, and all of it thinking about Paige. They were officially just having a fling, but he was officially amazed at how he’d come to her defense with his parents. Not only because he was tired of them influencing his life, but also because he really liked her—a lot. More than even he’d realized until his parents had walked in, all judgmental. He’d rarely seen that side of them, mostly because they’d usually agreed on his life choices.

Paige had said she was doing a spa day with Liza and Sylvia today, as well as some last-minute wedding things, but that hadn’t stopped him from going to her sanctuary midafternoon. He’d wanted to try to smooth over what had happened with his parents that morning, and also steal a kiss…or more. But she hadn’t been there. Even so, his consolation had been pretty awesome—he’d run into Cole and ended up having a couple of beers with him. The guy was amazingly down-to-earth, considering all he’d accomplished, and seemed more impressed by Lane being a doctor than he was with himself being a pro baseball phenomenon. He and Liza were an unlikely pair, yet they were completely into each other.

Like I’m into Paige right now?
He wasn’t sure how well he was doing with the fling idea. It had sounded good when Paige proposed it, but how was he supposed to go back to Maple Creek and act as if nothing had happened between them? He took a deep breath and blew it out with a hiss. She’d been right. He
was
uptight, or maybe just traditional. The whole setup was hard for him to wrap his head around, but that’s what they’d agreed to. Right now, he had two more nights with Paige. He’d be a fool to waste them worrying about what his parents thought, or what would happen afterward.

“Welcome aboard,” the crewman said. “Happy you could join us.”

“Me, too.” Lane smiled at the crewman, amazed that the St. Lucians always seemed to be smiling and genuinely eager to please. If he could only get an entire office and nursing staff to act the same way…

He had to admit, this was the most excited he’d ever been about going to a so-called rehearsal dinner—a sunset champagne and lobster cruise. It was casual enough that he was wearing a nice pair of black shorts and a light-blue collared shirt that caught the sea breeze as he’d stepped aboard. From what Cole had said, there’d be no rehearsing, and plenty of dinner. Also drinks and an island reggae band.

And Paige.

He made his way across the expansive deck to the back of the catamaran yacht, where everyone was gathered. Scanning the group, Lane guessed there were twenty-five guests, and he knew about a third of them. A bright flash of pink fluttered in the corner of his eye. He glanced at the upper deck to catch a profile view of Paige rocking a tastefully snug pink sundress, her blond hair cinched in a low ponytail, her shapely, bare legs visible between the railings—the poster girl for playful and sexy. He got that excited, seesaw feeling inside—one he’d nearly forgotten—and caught himself looking for the shortest route to the upper deck.

She tipped her head back and laughed, shifting her stance just enough for him to see who had her attention. The guy was about their age, tall and fit, and more put together than Lane would’ve liked. He looked as if he might be related to Paige, with his short, blondish hair and the shape of his face. The guy laughed with her as they toasted each other, and he familiarly rested his hand at the small of her back. Lane tensed with jealousy. He could only hope she was related to the guy. Judging by their body language, she knew him well, and she seemed perfectly comfortable with him touching her.

Sylvia stepped over to greet him, saving Lane from dwelling on the unfamiliar jealousy that whirled inside him. She gave him a motherly hug. “Looks like the island atmosphere is agreeing with you.” She smiled knowingly, and he wondered how much she knew about what had gone on between him and Paige. He could only imagine how much girl gossip had gone on at the spa today. Sylvia would definitely get another perspective on the story from his parents if the subject happened to come up.

“I could get used to it, that’s for sure.” Lane pushed his hands into his pockets and stole a glance at the upper deck, where Paige was deep in conversation with whoever-he-was. She’d stirred up some positive emotions he hadn’t expected, but he could do without the insecurity he felt right now.

“All set with the music for tomorrow?” she asked.

Lane nodded, stealing another glance at Paige and Mr. Too Close for Comfort. As far as he could tell, she hadn’t torn her attention away from the guy long enough to even notice him. His thoughts swirled with confusion. Maybe she thought their fling was over after what had happened with his parents. But would she go looking for another one so quickly? She didn’t seem like that type of girl, although she didn’t seem like the fling type, either.

“Cole and Liza picked some nice pieces,” he said to Sylvia.

She chuckled.

“What?”

“That was all Liza. Given his rathers, Cole would have Liza walking down the aisle to country rock.”

A waiter dressed in a bright, tropical-print shirt came around with a tray and offered Lane and Sylvia rum punch. Both took a glass.

“I hear you and Paige are getting along well,” Sylvia said with a gleam in her eyes.

Obviously she hadn’t seen Paige on the upper deck. Lane wondered what Paige had told Sylvia about last night and this morning. He took a long swallow of the rum punch. “You’re quite a matchmaker.”

She beamed. “So far, I’m batting a thousand.”

Lane didn’t have the heart to tell her that his match-up with Paige might’ve only been a one-night thing.

…

Paige leaned on the railing of the catamaran’s top deck, happy to have caught up with Maple Creek’s golden boy, Trent Hawthorne. Even though she, Liza, and Trent had been friends since elementary school—he was like the brother that neither she nor Liza ever had—Paige hadn’t seen him in a year or so, not since the last time he’d come home to visit his grandmother, the Queen, and the rest of his family. Otherwise, a Caribbean resort tycoon like him would have no other reason to go anywhere near a town like Maple Creek.

“Your family’s done an amazing job with Caldera. It’s over-the-top decadent.” She smiled faintly, thinking about her night with Lane and how truly decadent it had been until his parents had shown up and she’d shot her thong into the pool. “And so romantic.”

“Or lonely.” Trent’s candid remark surprised her. The guy was a freaking tycoon—smokin’ hot
and
stinkin’ rich. She figured he’d have a revolving door here with countless women coming in and out, keeping it spinning like a fan turned on high.

She gazed at the lower deck where Lane—looking tall, tan, and sexy—was chatting with Sylvia. His parents were mixed in the group, talking with Cole and Liza. Paige couldn’t stay far enough away from them, at least until they were seated together, thanks to Sylvia. “Aw, I can’t believe that,” she said, trying not to sound as distracted as she was.

He leaned against the railing of the upper deck and crossed his ankles. “Believe it. I’m traveling from island to island, resort to resort, then back and forth to the States.” He squinted at the sun, which was getting closer to the horizon and would set before too long. “Not many women want a life like that.”

“If I didn’t know you better, I’d say it sounds like you’re thinking about settling down.”

He nodded with certainty. “I am. I have a place a little farther up the mountain from Caldera, and similar places on three other islands. But besides the staff, I’m usually the only one around when I’m there.” He shook his head. “What am I going to do? Pick up tourists?”

She shrugged. “Or the island girls.”

“I’ve tried those routes, but—” He leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear. “I want a wife.”

She gazed at him with wide eyes. “Oh. My. God.” She shook her head quickly, as if to settle the thought in her head. “I
never
thought I’d hear those words out of your mouth.” He’d been a serial casual dater since he was in kindergarten.

“Well, don’t go broadcasting them.” He grinned crookedly. “It’d make me seem desperate.”

Paige gazed down at Lane, clearly understanding Trent’s desire to have a special person in his life. “It’s not desperate. But I’ll do you a favor and keep it on the down low. And if I meet any nice, single girls while I’m here, I’ll be sure to introduce you,” she teased.

“Almost time for the sunset.” He drank the last swallow of his rum punch. “Think we’ll see the green flash?”

“I have no idea what that is, or if it’s legal.” She grinned.

He rolled his eyes. “It’s a rare optical phenomenon.”

“That was my next guess.”

“Seriously,” he said. “Some people chase sunset after sunset hoping to see it and never do.”

“Have you seen one?”

“A few. But the conditions have to be precisely right. If they are, at the last glimpse of sunset, a bright green flash shoots up into the sky. Sometimes it’s not as awesome—just a green spot over the top of the sun—but it’s still pretty cool.”

Paige couldn’t wait to tell Lane. She scanned the lower deck for him, yet didn’t see him among the group. But she’d find him. If she was going to see a green flash, she wanted to see it with him—as long as he wasn’t with his parents.

She clutched Trent’s biceps, thinking most women would love to get their hands on a man like him. “I’ve gotta dash. I’ve got someone kind of special I’d like to lose my green flash virginity to.” She winked, feeling bad for leaving a friend when he was lonely. Who would’ve guessed that the guy who had everything really didn’t?

…

Paige made her way to the lower deck as the sun dipped close to the horizon, painting the sky with a palette of impressionist red, pink, and orange. The sea was ablaze with fiery color. As much as the sun seemed to creep across the sky during the day, it set amazingly fast. She felt kind of silly, racing to find Lane in time to share the sunset, but they only had tonight and tomorrow night here in paradise—two chances to catch the elusive green flash. She had a magical-moment fantasy of him kissing her after they shared what might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It’s only a fling, Paige. You two are way too different. Get a grip!

The seductive scent of conch fritters frying carried on the tropical breeze. Paige could eat about a hundred of them, but the idea of sitting with Lane’s parents totally killed her appetite. Even so, she could definitely stomach another rum punch. She scored one from a passing waiter and took a long, cool swallow as she scanned the group, eager to find Lane.

Sylvia and John Sutherland were in an animated conversation with the Andersons, so at least she was free and clear of them for now. Some of Cole’s family and friends gathered in another group, and several people she didn’t know milled around the lower and upper decks. Behind Cole’s family and friends, she saw the back of Cole’s head—his blond hair was easy to spot anywhere. Lane stood next to him on one side, Liza on the other, lining the rail and facing the sunset. Paige’s pulse raced as she hurried over to join them.

“Are we gonna see the green flash?” she asked from behind them. They all turned, backed away from the rail a bit, and Cole gathered Paige in between him and Lane. Until she met Lane, she thought Cole might be the most beautiful man ever created, with his all-American blond hair, blue eyes, and athletic build. If she didn’t love Liza so much, she would’ve been insane with envy. But now, standing here with Cole and Lane, she decided Cole was the second-most-beautiful man ever. In her eyes, Lane was hotter, hands down. The angles of his face, his perpetual five-o’clock shadow, his mesmerizing eyes, the perfect feel of his hands on her… She glanced at him shyly, hoping for a sexy look with a glint of mischief. Instead, he seemed to force a cool smile and didn’t even look her in the eyes.

Paige’s stomach sank. The thing with his parents must’ve changed everything. She struggled to keep her disappointment from showing on her face.

“Where have you been?” Liza asked lightly.

“Trent had me cornered on the upper deck.”

“Who’s Trent?” Cole asked. “And what’s the green flash?’

“Trent Hawthorne,” Liza said. “Fairleigh Hawthorne’s grandson—the guy who runs Caldera and all the Hawthornes’ other resorts. Paige and I grew up with him.”

Paige nodded. “And the green flash is this rare thing that happens when the conditions are right at sunset. A bright green flash shoots into the sky at the last second when the sun sinks out of sight.” She glanced searchingly at Lane, her heart suddenly heavy. “Some people chase it all their lives and never see it.”

“I think he’s lonely,” Liza said, and Paige wasn’t sure if she meant Trent or Lane. Maybe both.

“You have no idea,” Paige replied.

“I’m thinking we’re going to get lucky tonight.” Cole raised his eyebrows and grinned at Liza as the sun nestled against the horizon.

“Whoa, dude,” Paige teased. “Save it for your wedding night. Give it twenty-four hours or so.”

“I was talking about the green flash.” Cole pulled Liza close, kissed her forehead, and winked at Paige. “And what happens in our sanctuary stays in our sanctuary.”

“Can’t say the same for yours, huh, Lane?” Liza grinned.

Heat rose in Paige’s face and she avoided looking at Lane. “You did not just go there.”

“The thong story’s a classic.” Cole grinned.

“You told him?” Paige gaped at Liza.

“That reminds me,” Lane said. “I’ve got your thong in my pocket.”

“Oh. My. God.” Paige considered launching herself into the sea. Not only was she mortified, she was also worried that Lane wouldn’t have brought her thong here if he wanted to spend more time with her in his sanctuary. It would’ve been the perfect ruse to lure her back there. Maybe his parents had urged him to leave her alone after the scene this morning. Was this his way of ending their fling before it really had to end—in front of Cole and Liza?