Vacation (2 page)

"No?" I whispered and sucked in
a shaky breath. "Why does it hurt so fucking bad still?"

She ran her hand over my back rhythmically
as she bent down to put her face beside mine. "Because losing someone that
you plan to spend forever with is like a small death."

The sound of his voice behind us caused my
blood to run cold. "Viv. You alright?"

I stood and brushed my hands down the side
of my hair before turning and crossing my arms over my chest. "Sorry? Did
you say something?"

His expression was almost caring, kind,
loving. He watched me like he actually wanted to know how I was, as if he cared
at all. "I just wanted to check on you. I saw you run for the aisle and–”

"Running? I didn't run." I moved
toward him as my nervous system shot into overdrive. It was all gone. All the
nights of having him make love to me then wrap his big strong body around me.
All the promises, the dreams, the future. Gone.

"You did, but it's whatever. You're
good?" His eyes moved down the length of me. "You look good. Really
good."

"Fuck you." I couldn't pull the
words back as they left my lips. I didn't want him to know that I was still
swimming around in self-pity, that I was crushed by his decision to cheat on me
over and over again. He had no right to stand there and look at me as if I was
the woman he wanted in his life. He'd chosen everyone over me. He could sit on
it and rotate.

He lifted his hands into the air and took
a step back. "Whoa there. Okay. Sorry. Just wanted to–”

"Well don't. Go trip over something
and bust your teeth, you jackal." Casey's words were biting and filled
with venom. She moved around me to stand between us, her shoulders stiff and
body posed aggressively toward Jackson. "She's not upset about you.
Something happened back home. Go away, Jackson. It's none of your concern
anymore."

He ignored my best friend and tilted his
head to the side, reminding me of so much more than I was capable of handling
in that moment. "Your momma okay? Everyone at home?"

I turned and walked down the aisle toward
the back of the store to the bathroom, leaving Casey to rip into the man that
was supposed to be my best friend forever. Now there was nothing left but small
pieces of my dreams to pick up. It wasn't just the loss of my tomorrows that
hurt so damn bad, but more so the questioning of my worth. If Jackson was
willing to sleep with another woman, then surely I played some part in making
that happen. I wasn't good enough or pretty enough or wild enough in bed.

It couldn't have just been him, and if it
wasn't just him, then it was me too.

If he knew every part of me and didn't
want anything to do with me anymore, why would anyone else?

I picked up my walk to a jog, and then a
run. I could pretend that I was fine, but I wasn't. Miami was a horrible idea,
and regardless of what Casey wanted...I wasn't going.

Chapter 2

Easton

"Yes, Jon. I know the place. I've
been there twice before." I ran my hand through my short, dark hair and
pulled a second pair of black slacks from a hanger in my closet. "No, I'm
not interested in having my room near Kevin's. You know how I feel about the
guy."

My boss was far more involved in
relationship building among our teams than I felt he should be. He was a
touchy-feely sort of guy, and though I liked him, I wasn't interested in
becoming better friends with my co-worker, Kevin, or anyone else at the
company. I loved the place simply because of the travel involved and the
prestige I received for being a resort critic.

"You sure, Easton? I know you and Kev
have had a few run-ins in the past, but he's a great food critic. I'd almost
dare to say that he's the crème-de-la-crème with food as you are with
resorts." Jon let out a hearty laugh.

"You don't know him that well,
then." I scoffed and walked back to my large, four-post bed, dropping the
slacks on the mattress and checking the time. "I need to jet. Flight's
leaving in a couple of hours and I'm not done packing just yet."

"Alright buddy, well, keep me in the
loop, and don't go easy on these bastards. They're the biggest resort in Miami.
Make sure everything is up to par as most people believe it is."

"I'll search it out and write an
honest review, just like I always do." I dropped the call and tossed the
phone onto the bed, freeing myself to finish getting ready.

"Spring break," I muttered and
rolled my eyes. I was only two years out of college, but it seemed somehow like
a lifetime ago. Just the thought of being around a bunch of hormone-driven,
high-seeking, early-twenties type people made my stomach tighten. I was a frat
boy in college, but after being in the working world and moving through far too
few real adult relationships since, I was a bit tainted toward anyone’s idea of
fun.

A knock at the door caught my attention,
and I moved toward it, humming a tune that I couldn't seem to get out of my
head. The trip to Florida would be good for me, whether I wanted to go or not.
I'd been working too many hours lately, and this next job was set in a place
where I couldn't help but relax a little.

Sam stood at the door with a big smile on
his face. "Hi, Mr. Parks. Is Eli ready to go?"

"He sure is. Come on in." I
opened the door farther and smiled as the lanky, teenage gamer walked into my high-rise
apartment. His mother lived a few doors down, the woman far more interested in
her wealth and boyfriends than the kid she was raising alone.

"You sure your mom's okay with him
staying with you for the week?" I lifted an eyebrow at the boy as we
walked to the washroom.

"Oh yeah. I'll just keep him with me.
It's cool if I take him to the park down the street a few times, right?"
He moved to open the door and paused, glancing back at me as the sound of my
yapping little dog filled the air.

"Of course. Just keep up with him.
He's my only friend." I gave a cheeky grin and moved back as Sam picked up
the puppy and turned to face me.

"I doubt that. Though I'd be totally
cool just having a dog as a friend."

"No need for girls, right? Such a
pain in the butt." I moved to the kitchen and picked up the bag of Eli's
food and treats before leaning over and kissing the top of my pup's head.
"Be good, buddy. Be good for Sam, okay? I'll see you soon. I love you,
boy."

The dog wiggled and whined as if we were
parting for far longer than a week.

"Girls can take a hike. I swear they
were built with invisible knives." Sam shrugged, turned and walked to the
door with Eli in one hand and the dog's stuff in the other.

"Invisible knives?" I opened the
door and gave the kid a quizzical look.

"Yeah. The ones they sink into your
heart when you're not looking. Moms have them too. All girls do, and when they
grow into women, I figure it just gets worse."

I reached out and ruffled his hair. "There
are a lot of good ones left. Stop being so cynical. You're too young for that.
Now, get
outta
here and take care of my boy."

"I will. Have fun." Sam turned
and walked back to his place, the kid’s shoulders rounding as he cuddled Eli
against him and spoke softly to him in excited, albeit hushed, tones.

I watched him go, unable to shake the
expression on Sam's face as he expressed his feelings toward women. "What
in the world could cause a teenager to hate all womankind?"

My phone buzzed from the bedroom, calling
me from my thoughts and forcing me to answer it. The ring tone was for my
mother, which was good and bad. She was one of my closest friends, but since I
was out of college and her oldest kid, she wanted marriage and babies next on
the radar for me.

She did. I didn't.

"Mom. What's up?" I picked up
the phone and worked to close my suitcase.

"Hi, baby. Your father and I are
going out of town for the week, but I wanted you to come over Friday or
Saturday for dinner. Will you be back in town by then?"

"I'm not sure yet, mom. I'm headed
toward the airport now, but I'll keep you in the loop."

"Miami, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Who's keeping up with Eli? I can
have Sarah or one of the boys come get him."

Sarah was mother’s maid and my old nanny.
The woman was solid gold and put up with far too much rebellion in my earlier
years to ask anything of her now that I was grown. She loved my mother and
father, but the feeling was quite mutual.

"No. Sam's got him. We're all
set." I lugged the suitcase off the bed. "I'm headed out. I love
you."

"Alright, but know that I'm praying
for you to meet her." My mother's tone was firm but caring.

"Her?" I knew who she was talking
about. She was always praying for me to meet 'her'.

"Your future wife, Easton. Cary
Markum
called the other day and she's going to be a
grandmother soon. So is Milly. I'm the only one with no news to share."
The pout in her voice made my eyes roll twice for good measure.

"Make something up, Mom. I'm not getting
married and popping out kids just so you can have something to share with your
friends."

"And why not?" She said
something away from the phone, most likely to my father, because it was his
voice on the line next.

"Hey, son. Be careful and make sure to
wrap your
willie
in Miami. The girls down there are–”
He yelped. "Ouch. That hurt, Mary. Shit."

"Give mom the phone, please." I
pressed my hand to my head and tried to reject the fact that my father just
reminded me to use a condom, but utilized terms as if I were still five.

"You see what I have to put up
with?" She grunted. "Anyways. Just promise me that you'll start
dating soon. Is there anyone even on the horizon?"

"No, mother. I'm not interested in
dating right now. I have a career that's just getting off the ground, and most
women don't support that, nor do they understand it."

"You need to join a dating site. Your
Aunt Margaret met Uncle Billy on one of those things, and they've been together
for three years now. I think it's worth a try."

"Right. I'm hanging up now. Tell Dad
I love him, and stop pinching him. He's getting old and he's going to start
bruising if you keep that up."

"He is not. He likes it rough."
She giggled and my father growled as I tried to calm my gag reflex.

"Bye, Mom." I started to hang
up, but waited for her to get out a little bit more. Getting off the phone with
her was almost as hard as prying a raise from Jon at work.
 

"Fine, but keep an open mind. You
haven't really dated since college. It's been two years." She huffed.

"Thanks for the reminder, Mom. Love
you." I dropped the call and turned the ringer to silent. I didn't need
any more interruptions on my already strained trip to the airport.

My mother was well aware of why I wasn't
dating. My career required too much from me. No girl would be okay with me
leaving six out of every seven days. I'd tried it and watched it fail over and
over the first few months of my career.

It wasn't worth it. Not that
they
weren't worth it, but having to
console someone over and over simply because I had to work all the time didn't
work out too well in my world. When I found a mature girl who understood
responsibility and still had the heart and body of a woman who would throw
caution to the wind, I'd propose. Plain and simple. Until then, it would be an
occasional one-night stand and a continuation of diving farther and farther
into my career.

It was one of the only things that made
sense to me anyway.

Women were complex and incredibly moody.
Maybe Sam had it right. They were too much trouble, or maybe I just hadn't met
one that outweighed all of the effort.

"Too deep for this early in the
morning," I grumbled, grabbed my keys and my bag and made my way to the
elevator. I'd find 'her' or I wouldn't. I was in no hurry. Even if my mother
was.

*****

           
I chewed on my nails the whole way to the airport, my mind moving
through all of the various meetings and events I needed to attend. The main
resort was one of my favorites to stay at, but the two additional ones that I
would be evaluating were run by the ex-CEO of my current company. To say she
was a man-eater would be a mild understatement. The woman was a complete bitch,
and where I was good dealing with her, it didn't mean that I wanted to.

She was incredibly attractive and knew it,
leaving her to treat everyone she crossed paths with like they belonged under
the heel of her expensive-ass stiletto. I'd found a sweet spot within my rise
to stardom in the world of critiquing, but money was just a means to make due
with. I wasn't interested in rolling in it every night, nor did it really drive
my decisions. Being rich was going to be part of my future simply because I
loved success too much for it not to be.

"This is your stop, Mister. You want
me to drop you off at the front of the terminal?" The cabbie looked back
and gave me a toothless smile.

"Yeah. That would be great." I
picked up my suit jacket and moved to the door, paying the guy and tipping him
before getting out into the chilly New York morning.

"Miami should be a bit warmer if
nothing else," I mumbled to myself and gathered my things before walking
into the busy airport terminal. People raced about as if making their flight
was everything in the world to them.

I caught the eyes of a pretty flight
attendant and smiled kindly, ignoring the heated gaze I got from the woman.
After checking in and getting my seat, I moved to pick up a Coke, a magazine,
and some Skittles.

"Well, fancy meeting you here,
mister." Kevin's voice caused a subtle sigh to leave me.

I glanced over my shoulder and feigned
surprise. "Kev. What's up, buddy?"

Turning, I extended my hand to the portly,
balding food critic who wanted more of my time than I was willing to give.

"I'm good,
East
.
You headed to Miami already?"

"It's Easton, and yeah. Just wanted
to get there and get settled in before starting the week." I rolled my
shoulders before turning around and handing the cashier a card.

Kevin leaned around me and put his stuff
on the counter. "Here, just put mine on his too. We're using the same
company card anyway."

The girl looked up at me quizzically.

"Yeah, it's fine." I kept my
facade locked into place and turned back to the guy. "I thought you
weren't coming out until later this week."

"I wasn't, but there are a few new
restaurants that are opening this week that I want to try out. I figured I
could do it on the company’s dime and write up a critique. I'm sure Jon will
pick up the piece. He loves my stuff." He snorted and I turned, not
wanting to look at the slime-ball anymore.

"Thank you." I gave the cashier
a smile and took my bag before moving to let him gather his stuff.

"You on the next flight?" Kevin
ripped into a package of beef jerky and bit down on a piece before wrestling
with it to bite off a chunk.

I couldn't help but smile. The guy was a
complete idiot and had no clue. I wouldn't be pointing it out, but the sooner I
could make my leave, the better.

"No, I'm on the one leaving at ten.
Speaking of...I better get going. I'll see you in Miami." I waved, turned
and walked toward security without another word. He called after me, but I
simply pretended not to hear him.

The week would be filled with analyzing
every part of the three resorts I was headed to. I could only hope there was a
little bit of fun in store for me during all of the madness.

Walking up to the security station, I
paused and looked over my shoulder as two college-aged girls jogged toward me.
I couldn't help but notice how pretty the redheaded one was. Her long locks
bouncing on her shoulders were only outdone by her legs that seemed to go on
for days. I turned my back to them, not wanting to appear like the ass I was
being.