Authors: Angela Archer
I glanced at her then back at Rick, who had mirrored my distracted reaction.
“Just a second,” I shouted to her.
“We should probably head inside since they’re waiting for us,” he said.
I bit my lip.
But now, what? What had he wanted to say? The conversation can’t end like that. Ugh. Darn it, Lisa.
“Um, okay.” I hesitated for a second before following him. Frustration flowed through my veins.
“What took you two so long?” Lisa asked as we approached.
“We were just talking.” Although I smiled at her, I cocked my head to the side and twitched my eyebrows.
Understanding my hinted tone, her eyes widened and she mouthed the words,
I’m sorry
.
As I nodded slightly at her, a man approached us dressed in a uniform of knee-length white shorts, and a red and white striped polo shirt.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Bora Bora Discovery Park. My name is Juan, and I, along with some of my staff, will be your guides around the park for the afternoon.” He clasped his hands together. “As many of you know, we have plenty of activities for you to choose from here. You are more than welcome to swim around our stingray or turtle lagoons. You may also explore the coral reefs, whether by snorkel or through our state-of-the-art tank viewing room. Of course, with those tours you will learn all about the fish that inhabit the islands.” He paused for a moment and a smirk spread across his lips. “For those who are more adventurous, you can also feed our sharks.”
With his words, Nancy and Jean gasped.
“Now, if everyone will please follow me, we shall get you geared up for whichever activity you wish, and remember, as part of your experience here, you may do everything or nothing, the choice is up to you. I believe all of you aren’t scheduled to leave for several hours, so relax, have fun, and enjoy our wonderful park.”
While Ben’s parents and Lisa’s parents approached Juan first, Lisa bounced on her toes.
“Which are you guys going to do first?” she asked.
I glanced at Rick. “Um, I don’t think we’ve decided yet.”
“I’m game for anything, so whatever you pick is fine with me.”
“Okay.” I paused, trying to remember the list Juan had mentioned. “I guess . . . I guess we’ll go swimming with the stingrays?”
“You sure you want to get in the water again?” With his mocking tone, Rick brushed his shoulder into mine.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.”
“How is your leg doing anyway? I just realized I completely forgot that it happened.” With a look of concern written in her eyes, Lisa crossed her arms.
“It’s fine. Healing just as it should.”
“Good thing you had medical care here and didn’t have to have someone pee on it.” Ben laughed at his thought as he wrapped his arms around Lisa’s waist.
My cheeks flushed fire hot, burning in several shades of red and my gaze dropped to the ground. Rick fought his own laughter, glancing at me for a second before his eyes found the floor, too.
“Uh, what’s up with that look?” Lisa’s finger pointed to the both of us as her eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” My snapped voice bit through the air.
Lisa slapped her hand over her mouth. Her body shook with laughter. “Oh my goodness. You had to do it, didn’t you? You had to pee on yourself.”
Rick folded one arm across his chest, propping up the other arms elbow as he clasped his chin and pinched his lips, fighting his amusement. “Not exactly.”
“Oh, thank you for that.”
As I scolded him, Lisa’s head jerked back with snorted hysterics. Ben covered his mouth, his shoulders hunched for a moment before they began shaking with his mirth.
“Well, that is a first date for the record books.”
“It’s not that funny, Lisa.”
“Oh, yes, yes, it is. I’m sorry, Helen, you know I love you, but that is funny.”
I tucked my hair behind my ears then grabbed Rick’s hand. “Shall we go, then?”
With a slight tug on him, I led him away. My annoyance soon changed into snickers as I caught Rick trying to control his amusement.
“She will never to let you live that down, will she?”
“Nope. Never. But it’s okay. I can take it.”
Rick draped one arm over my shoulder and we sauntered toward Juan. The white in his uniform blinded me, even inside the building, and his smile beamed under his broom-like black mustache.
“And have you two decided what you would like to try first?”
“We would like to swim with the stingrays,” Rick answered.
“Ah, excellent choice.” Juan moved his finger, motioning us to follow him toward a desk with several women waiting for orders. “Jackie,” he beckoned.
The shortest one of the young women stepped forward and rested her clipboard on her hip.
“My assistant Jackie will get the paperwork signed, get your gear for you, and will escort you to the stingray lagoon. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” He gestured as though he tipped an imaginary hat. “You two have a wonderful afternoon.”
While Juan scurried off to track down Lisa and Ben, the young blonde assistant handed us a couple of sheets of paper.
“I just need you both to sign these releases and I’ll take you outside.” She avoided my gaze as though I wasn’t standing there, staring at Rick the whole time.
Signing my name felt almost foreign. I hadn’t picked up a pen in days—something that one doesn’t notice missing from their lives until they do it after a long period, like checking a cell phone or worrying about setting an alarm clock.
“Here is your food.” She handed Rick a couple of wicker-like baskets filled with dry kibble that reminded me of Charlie’s dry food. “Follow me, please.”
We trailed behind the woman’s quick pace outside and down the beach toward a shallow pool. A couple of divers in scuba gear waded around in the teal blue water.
“Our rays are all tame and very sweet.”
I exhaled a deep breath. “Have you swum with them?”
“Yes, I have.” Her lips tightened as though answering me strained her patience. “I come out here several times a week if I just want to get away for a minute or two.”
“So do we need scuba gear, too?” Rick motioned toward the two men before he shimmied out of his shirt, throwing it down on the sand as he kicked off his flip-flops.
I caught Jackie taking a double look at the brawn sexy man next to me. However, she looked away once she caught me watching her.
“Uh . . . uh, no. No, you don’t.” She pressed her fingers into the base of her neck so hard her skin turned white. “Paul and Francine are the marine biologists who care for the fish here at the park. They will help you when you’re out there. You know, show you how to feed them and such.”
“Oh, okay.”
She waved her hand toward the two figures, beckoning them to come toward us. “Well, you two have a nice time. If you need anything, just let me know.” Before either Rick or I could utter a response, she darted up the beach, struggling in the sand with the haste in her pace.
“I think you overwhelmed her.” I laughed.
“Ha. Ha. So, are you ready to do this?” Rick grabbed the baskets of food, slightly flexing his arms and abs, his skin a tanned brown that weakened my knees.
Of course, I hadn’t forgotten the sight of his perfect body. I’d seen it on several occasions before this afternoon. However, no matter how many times my eyes traced him; each glimpse caught in my breath and rendered me speechless.
I tossed my clothes next to his shirt in the sand, turning away from him to collect my thoughts and calm my thumping heart. As I glanced up, I caught sight of the mountain range in the distance, hidden from view when we stepped out of the Discovery Center.
“Oh, wow.” My words were more of a gasped breath than actual sounds.
Rick approached me from behind and his body leaned in close to mine.
“The views around these islands . . . they are so unbelievably beautiful.” I glanced over my shoulder at Rick who wrapped one arm around my waist, his fingers gently brushing against my bare skin.
“I can think of a better one,” he winked. “But that one is a close second.”
“A close second? I can’t imagine what or where could be better than that.”
“Of course, you can’t. You aren’t standing where I am.”
His words fluttered in my heart as he kissed my forehead.
“Good afternoon,” a man called out behind us. His Australian accent rolled across the letter ‘r’. As we both spun around, the marine biologist tugged on his scuba mask, resting it on top of his head. “Are you two coming out to swim with the kiddos today?”
“Yes, sir.” Rick grabbed my hand, leading me down to the shoreline.
“All right, then. Now just a few things to remember, they know you are there to feed them, so don’t be frightened when they swarm you as you are wading in the water. Walk slowly and don’t freak out if they slap at your legs or you feel their tails whip around you. As long as you don’t panic and just have fun, you shouldn’t have any problems, mate.”
“Sounds good.” Rick glanced at me. “Ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Warm waves sloshed around and lapped against my skin as the water crept up from my toes to my knees then to my hips. We trekked through the sea, hand in hand. The experience was like no other I’ve had yet in my boring life. Why had I shied away from things like this? Why had I been so happy being the wallflower?
Just as Paul mentioned, within seconds the stingrays swarmed us. Their pectoral fins slapped against my legs like a rubbery whip and water splashed all over my arms and face. Squealed laughter left my lips, and I squeezed Rick’s hand harder.
“This is insane,” he laughed. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Neither have I.”
We continued out to Francine while the stingrays followed closely, never leaving our sides. With a slight nodded greeting, the woman diver handed the both of us a pair of masks.
“So you can see them from under the water if you want,” she said.
After some brief instructions on feeding the kibble, the two Aussies backed away from us, giving Rick and me some time alone to feed the amazing sea creatures.
“I gotta say that this is probably my favorite part of the trip so far,” I gushed.
“I think it’s mine, too.”
As I slid another kibble underneath the body and into the ray’s mouth, it jumped up and flapped its fins into my chest. Through my screams, giggles erupted from my lips. Even though I felt no danger, Rick grabbed me, drawing me in tight to his body as though to protect me.
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“Your screams about gave me a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to . . .” Half expecting his arms to release me, my eyes met his when he didn’t. “I . . . I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You know, before Lisa interrupted me I was about to tell you something I realized last night.”
Finally.
“Yeah, and what is that?”
His eyes focused on mine with a lustful fierceness that fluttered in my stomach. “I don’t know how you’ve done it, but you’ve gone and ruined my plan.”
“What plan?”
“My plan to stay away from a relationship.”
Halle-frickin-lujah.
Words that a part of me wondered if I was ready to hear, and yet, words a part of me longed to hear from him caused my heart to thump. I caught my breath. Even with so little time spent together, I knew I was falling for him.
“The thought of you leaving here without me . . . the thought of taking this job . . . Is it crazy to feel this way so soon? To feel so strongly for someone you’ve just met?”
His hands slid up from the sides of my waist, up my neck, cradling my cheeks. My knees nearly buckled from his touch.
“If it is,” I whispered, “then I’m just as crazy as you are.”
“I just don’t think I can take this job and leave San Francisco.”
“So does that mean you aren’t going to take the job?”
SIXTEEN
“SO NOW WHAT?” Lisa sat in front of the vanity in the bathroom of her villa. She puckered her lips as the makeup artist painted them red.
“Please, no speaking,” the artist begged for the third time.
Lisa rolled her eyes then looked at me again, widening her gaze as if to repeat her question without words.
I shook my head. “I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
“Well didn’t you guys talk about it?”
“No speaking and no moving,” the artist shouted.
“We did, and he said he wants to stay in San Francisco, but this is an amazing opportunity for him. I can’t take that away nor would I want to be the reason he said no. I think I’d forever feel guilty. Not to mention . . . I don’t want him to regret it.”
Without turning her head, Lisa threw her hands up in the air. Questions sat on the tip of her tongue, but I was quite certain if she spoke even a single one of them the makeup artist would chop off her head.
“I will be done in a moment, then you can talk as much as you like.”
Lisa jerked her head away from the woman and narrowed her eyes. “I’m sorry, but this is big news and if you knew this woman’s troubles in her dating life, you’d understand how important this is.”
“Thanks, Lisa.” My voice whispered with a slight growl.
Of course, she didn’t mean for her words to make me sound like a pathetic mess, but she could have left out most of her argument.
“I will be done with your makeup in a few minutes. I think you can refrain until then.”
Lisa gritted her teeth together. “Fine.”
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, admiring the soft cascading curls the hairdresser managed with my strands. With one side clipped up behind my ear, the other side framed my face, softly and elegantly. My subtle copper eye shadow, pink rouge, and reddish-brown lipstick contrasted nicely with the peach dress I would wear today as Maid of Honor.
“Okay, you’re finished. You may talk your head off now.”
As the woman stepped away, Lisa turned toward me. Her colors more pink and red, each brush stroke from her shadow, to her blush, to her lipstick blended beautifully with her face.
“Oh, my, Lisa, you look stunning.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” She waved her hand, brushing aside my compliment. “You wanna know what I think? I think you’re scared that he’ll one day wake up and think he made a mistake in not taking this job and he’ll leave.”
Nail. On. The. Head.
“Ouch.”
“Oh don’t give me that, you know I’m right.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t have to be so blunt about it.”
“Oh come on, Helen. He’s not like Tom. He’s not going to leave you like that jerk did.”
No, I don’t know that. I don’t know what he’s capable of.
I spun away from her, pressing the palm of my hand against my forehead as I closed my eyes. “I just . . . I just don’t want to be the only reason he stays. That’s all. I can’t be the only reason.”
Lisa heaved a deep sigh behind me. Just as she always had, she knew when to press an issue and when to stop. And, thankfully, she stopped.
The sound of ice rustled in a bucket behind me. As I turned around, Lisa held up the dark green bottle of champagne. “Shall we make toast? I am getting married in less than an hour.”
Before I could answer, she dug her thumbs into the cork and wiggled them back and forth until a loud POP echoed in the room. Bubbles began to pour from the neck of the bottle and she squealed as she fetched two glass flutes.
“I’m so bad at that.”
“You always have been.”
“I know. I don’t know why I even try to open these blasted bottles anymore.”
“Because what’s inside is yummy.”
“I can think of other things like that.” She winked. “So have you and Rick . . .”
“Have we what?”
“Oh come on, you aren’t that dumb. Have there been any adventures in the bedroom during any of those night you’ve spent together?” She clucked as though she intended to signal a horse to walk forward.
“No, we haven’t.” I seized the glass flute from her grasp, giving her a coy smile.
“But you are going to soon, right?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t, well, I mean I have thought of it, but we are still getting to know each other. It’s only been a few days.”
“Oh, hon, Ben and I had sex on our first date. It’s probably why he changed his mind on getting involved in a relationship,” she laughed. “Whether or not you know someone doesn’t have anything to do with enjoying yourself in a romp in between the sheets. And neither does time.”
“I know it doesn’t.” My cheeks flushed hot. “Okay, can we change the subject, please?”
“You just don’t like talking about it, do you?”
“When have I ever wanted to?”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, because that’s private.”
She threw her head back, laughing, and held up her glass. “To privacy, then.”
“And to you and Ben. May this day be absolutely perfect for you, and may your marriage be blessed with wealth, health, and happiness.”
The bubbly liquid stung my lips with a fruity taste that tickled my tongue. “I just love that flavor.”
“Okay, so you don’t have to tell me if and when you guys finally have sex, but can you at least tell me if he’s a good kisser?” She bit her lip as curiosity swam in her eyes.
I cocked my head to the side and took another sip.
“Don’t you dare hold out on me, Helen, or I shall never forgive you.”
“He’s . . . he’s pretty amazing.”
“How amazing?”
“Um, probably the best kisser on the planet type of amazing.”
She clasped her hands together and bounced on her toes. “I knew it!” she shouted. “I knew he would be.”
I rolled my eyes up toward the ceiling and shook my head. “You are unbelievable.”
“Yes, but you still love me.” As she lifted her champagne to her lips, she glanced at the clock, nearly spitting out the golden liquor. “Oh my gosh, is that really the time? I’ve got to get into my dress!”
Twenty minutes later, her dress flowed down her body, while the satin train trailed behind her as she glided across the floor of the villa. I slid the comb of her veil down into the low hair bun resting upon her neck. The waist length white mesh draped her back.
“Can you still see the lace and buttons on the back of the dress?” she asked.
“Yes, but not as well.”
“Darn it. I was worried about that. I love the back of this dress so bad.”
“Do you want me to see if the hotel florist can get you flowers to wear instead?”
She glanced in the mirror, hesitating as she inspected her backside and clicked her tongue several times. “No, no, I like the veil. I want the veil. As long as you can still sort of see it, I’m all right with it.”
“Well, just let me know and I’ll call Julien.” I left her in the bedroom, wandering out into the living room to find my shoes. As I slipped my feet in the leather sandals, a knock rapped against the front door a couple of times before it opened a crack.
“Lisa?” Allen called out. “It’s time to go, honey.”
Dressed in a pair of white trousers and a button up island shirt, the colors of the blue and green flowers popped as he entered the room.
“Oh, hello, Helen. Is she ready?”
“Yeah, she’s all set.”
As I motioned toward the bedroom, Lisa appeared through the door. She shrugged her shoulders and a grin spread from ear to ear.
“Oh, Lisa, you’re beautiful.”
“Aww, thank you, Daddy.”
“Are you ready to walk down that aisle?”
“I’m so ready. I’ve been ready for a long time.”
“Well, then, let’s go get you hitched.”
* * *
I stepped out of the golf cart behind several flowering bushes at the base of the pathway leading down to the beach. Waves crashed against the sand in the distance. The pounding sound drifted through the salty sea air. Lisa exhaled several breaths behind me. Her hands trembled as she clutched her father’s arm with one hand and her bouquet in the other. The poor flower petals shook with her jerky movement.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Aaahhhh, I think so.” She closed her eyes and chewed on her lip. “I mean, yes, I’m okay. I just got nervous all of a sudden. And it’s so stupid. Our guest list is, what, eight people. How do women do this in front of like two or three hundred people?”
“I have no idea. But I don’t think it’s about the number of guests.” I rubbed her arm. “I think it’s because you’re about to get married.”
“Right. Right. I’m about to get married. I want to get married. I’ve wanted nothing more than to get married and I’ve dreamed of this wedding for pretty much, well, since I stood a gangly geeky fourteen-year-old girl looking at my reflection in my mirror.”
“You did that, too?”
“Of course.”
“And let me guess, your dress looks nothing like what you envisioned back then, right?”
“Oh, it isn’t even close. I wanted the big hoop skirt with the puffed sleeves . . .”
“And tons of lace.”
“Yep, and tons of lace.” She giggled and I noticed the tension in her whole body soften.
Julien stepped from around the bushes and clasped his hands together. Relief spread through his shoulders as if he was as ready to get the show on the road as much as the bride.
“We are all ready for you, Miss Carter.”
“Okay.” She inhaled and exhaled several deep breaths, nodding her head. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Julien motioned toward me. “After you, Miss Wright.”
As I turned to walk down the pathway, a hand wrapped around my arm. “Helen?” Lisa bit her lip as I glanced over my shoulder at her. Tears misted her eyes “Thank you for calming me down.”
“You’re welcome.” I flashed her one last smile and made my way through the bushes and the deep sand. My heart pounded so hard, the sound nearly deafened me and drowned out the violin music playing the wedding march.
In calming Lisa, my own nerves began to unravel as memories of my inner most dreams, and the imagined pictures of the wedding day that never was, played like a record in my mind. Round and round it played; the dress, the church, the limo—pieces to a puzzle that had only left heartbreak.
I wasn’t strong enough to live through that again.
As I stepped onto the white aisle runner lined with rose pedals, my eyes shifted up toward the guests, locking instantly on Rick’s unfailing gaze.
A smile spread across his face and the world around me vanished. Not even Lisa walking down the aisle to take her fiancé’s hand in marriage or her handing me her bouquet could draw my attention from the man standing mere feet from me. Our future was unknown and it terrified me.
I hadn’t said the word boyfriend in years, not since after Tom asked me to marry him. I loved the thought of it and the thought of saying it. However, I knew the dark cloud looming over it from a job thousands of miles away in another country.
How could a simple vacation turn into something so unexpected and so wonderful? Yet, how could something to amazing also give me so many unanswered questions.
Sure, we had only spent mere days together, just a blimp on the timeline of our lives. How could either of us see what has yet to come?
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Clapping erupted in front of me, jerking my attention back into the moment as Lisa and Ben kissed. Lost in thought, I’d missed the entire ceremony.
I tucked the bouquets under my arm, slapping my hands together to join in the celebration just as Lisa glanced over her shoulder to grab her bouquet. Tears streamed down her face like crystal gems of happiness felt so deep inside ones heart that it overwhelmed the person.
Arm in arm, she and Ben rushed to their parents.
“We did it!” Her scream echoed above the barrage of hugs and kisses. “We’re married! I’m Mrs. Ben Hogan!”
Through her celebration, she continued to jump up and down, clapping. Jeff shook his head as he slapped his brother on the back and watched the happy newest member of their family.
“Dude, she’s crazy. Great. You just went and married a crazy lady.”
“Yeah, but she’s my crazy lady.”
An arm wrapped around my waist just as a pair of lips brushed against my ear. “You looked beautiful up there,” Rick whispered. “Not that you’ve ever looked anything but beautiful before.”
I faced him as he drew me into him for a sweet, and yet, passionate kiss and then pressed his forehead into mine.
“I’m such a lucky man.”
You keep kissing me like that and you will get luckier than you think.
“Thank you.” A giggle left my lips a little louder than I had planned, and I dropped my gaze from his.
His fingers brushed against my chin as he kissed me again then leaned in to whisper once more. “You shouldn’t look this stunning. It’s not fair to the bride.”