Authors: S Jackson Rivera
“Sorry. My mom did a good job of convincing me no one can cook unless they’ve trained for years at culinary school . . . except for Carmen.”
“I made the orange, floral shirt you love so much.” She offered bouncy eyebrows, awaiting his endorsement.
“Oh.” He suddenly perked up, but he seemed thoughtful, as if checking his memory to make sure he’d never noticed any flaws. “I trust you. I just hate all the time you’re spending with Dorothy and not me.”
She glanced at the watercraft he was about to climb onto and laughed. “You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
“I’ll notice.” He wrapped her into his arms and kissed her with more fervor than he usually dared. “Be careful on your way there.”
“Dorothy lives a block away.” She slid an arm around his neck and put her other hand on the side of his face.
“The only reason I’m letting you go alone, but stay alert and remember the self-defense I’ve shown you.” He tapped his finger a couple of times on her chest near her heart but above her breasts. “You won’t use the moves on me but I’m counting on that Rhees-has-been-pushed-too-far instinct you have inside here. When you insist on going places without me, my only hope is it’ll kick in if someone decides to try anything.”
“It’s broad daylight. Everyone knows you’d kick their bottoms if they tried anything. I’ll be fine.”
“Says the creepazoid magnet.” He kissed her one last time before pulling away with a smirk firmly in place. He climbed onto his machine. “And I’m sure everyone’s quaking in their flip flops. I’m such a kick-
bottom, bottom
kicking kind of guy.”
“You can’t make me promise not to swear, and then make fun of me for keeping said promise.”
“Yes, I can.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Just did.” He winked and gave the watercraft some gas as he sped away, throwing a splash of water up onto the deck. She jumped out of the way of the big wave, avoiding getting completely drenched, barely.
“You’re such a
bottom
-hole!” she yelled after him with a giggle. He stopped, offered smoldering eyes back, and then blew her a kiss from lips set in one of his glorious smiles.
“Be careful!” He pointed at her as a stern warning and then he and Mitch zipped away.
“Oh, my gosh,” she said with a whimper. “I need that man to marry me already.”
oOo
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” The soon-to-be-wed couple kissed, and Paul stood on the dock, watching as Rhees and nine girls from the island boarded the ferry for Rhees’ shower. They climbed the stairs to the top of the big boat to the open-air seats instead of sitting in the stuffy main cabin.
Rhees still couldn’t believe Paul had agreed to let her go and that he hadn’t given her a list of conditions. She’d expected a long one, but the days went by and he’d said nothing about it. The leg bouncing, the pacing, the throat clearing—as if he’d wanted to say something—but thought better of it. And then of course, the mouth tic had been in hyper-drive, all indications of the anxiety tearing away at his high-strung soul, and she’d half-expected him to explode at any point.
“Have fun,” he yelled. He waved as the ferry pulled away from the dock. She couldn’t believe he’d done it. He’d let her go, unconditionally, and it warmed her heart.
“Claire!” Paul barked from the pier and some unspoken message passed between them, but then Claire acted all too innocent when Rhees gave her a questioning look.
oOo
The girls stepped off the ferry, excited for the activities they’d planned. As they hiked the distance from the ferry to the taxi waiting area, they noticed two big, burly men in suits, standing next to a large stretch limo, holding a sign that said, “For The Beautiful Girls of Paradise Divers and Friends, Enjoy your evening, Paul.”
“A limo,” Regina said as though she’d expect nothing less from the most wonderful man on the earth.
“Oh my!” Maya yelled. “Paul did this.”
“Oh how sweet.” This from Krista. “He hired chauffeurs.”
“He’s so thoughtful.” Dorene swooned.
“And classy.” Kelly nodded. “How romantic.”
Rhees only saw how Paul had seized control over the trip, after all, and she fumed. She knew the men were bodyguards, not
just
drivers and the information rubbed her wrong. It was bad enough the two men followed them around everywhere they went, a real driver would wait with the car, but every time Rhees left the group during their shopping excursion, or to use the restroom, one of the men followed her—one bodyguard for nine girls, one bodyguard just for her. She wondered if the other girls noticed the steam that had to be coming out of her ears.
It had been a whirlwind day that wore Rhees out. By midnight, she asked if they could go back to the suite, another Paul upgrade surprise. The party didn’t stop at the room and someone complained about running low on ice. Rhees volunteered to get it as an excuse to have a minute to breathe.
The girls were nice, and Rhees did have fun. She wouldn’t let her annoyance with Paul, and the fact that most of the girls at her party were members of the Paul’s Former Coitus Club, keep her from enjoying the thoughtful gift, but the quick break would do her some good.
As soon as the door closed behind her, she leaned against it and let out a long sigh. She almost cried. The pressure of socializing and being upbeat got to her. She thought about Paul and in spite of her resentment, the humiliation, and anger about being treated like a child, she missed him.
“Miss Williams?” One of the bodyguards stood next to the door like a sentinel. She hadn’t noticed until he said something. “Is everything all right, Ma’am?”
“Um . . .” She felt so embarrassed about getting caught enjoying a mild breakdown. “Yes. I’m just getting ice.”
“Let me get Cuevas to stand watch, and I’ll get the ice for you.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. I can get the ice.”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am, but I have strict instructions not to let you go anywhere unattended.”
“Okay.” Rhees rolled her eyes. She didn’t want him to get fired.
He knocked on the door directly across the hall, another suite, and she realized how much money Paul had spent on this shower slash bachelorette party. Cuevas opened the door. His suit appeared a little rumpled from trying to get some sleep for his upcoming shift to stand watch at her door—so someone would be standing there—all night. She rolled her eyes again.
“So, what security firm do you work for?” she asked, making polite chit chat on the way to the ice machine.
“Safetynet Security, Ma’am.”
“Do you know Paul, Mr. Weaver?”
“No Ma’am, not personally, though he’s hired the firm in the past for friends of his, visiting the mainland.”
“Hmm . . . what did he tell you about tonight?”
“Mr. Weaver wanted to make sure you and the girls were safe . . . especially you. He made it clear you are the most precious target we’ve ever guarded.”
“Target? How did you know which one was me?”
“Pictures. He emailed your picture to the firm.”
“Do you get bored out here all night?” They’d made it back to the room. “Would you like me to bring you a drink? Some food? There’s more than enough.”
“No. Thank you, Ma’am. It’s my job. Enjoy the rest of your party.”
Rhees walked back inside. She dropped the ice bucket off on the kitchen counter, grabbed her phone, and went into the walk-in closet, away from the party, and dialed.
“What’s wrong?” Paul barked, sounding frantic when he answered.
Rhees exhaled and smiled. It was so good to hear his voice. “Thank you, Paul. I love you.”
“Thank you? How a-bout, Oh, Paul, I misss you. I wish I’d ne-ver come all the way to the main-land. I could be h-oome with you
riiight
now . . .”
“That’s the other thing I called to say.” She giggled.
“Wha’d are you than-king me for?”
“For caring about me so much that you’d hire two bodyguards to keep me safe—in spite of how I resented it, at first, and because you only hired them because you couldn’t be here to protect me yourself. Because I’m a dummy, and I told you I really, really wanted to do this on my own . . . when I didn’t, and you let me, and you took the time and effort—and MONEY to make this night special for me even though you didn’t want me to come, and I wish I hadn’t.”
“
Aaand
. . .?”
She giggled again. “Sorry, I’m sure there’s more, but it’s late, and I’ve had a few drinks. I’m afraid that’s all you’re going to get from me tonight.”
“Aw shoot. I like hearing why you love me and think I’m ga-reat.”
“I’ll tell you what, start a list, and tomorrow, I’ll sign off on everything you come up with, K?” She could feel him grinning his goofy grin on the other end of the line. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Are you at the hotel yet? I’m coming. I want to be with you.”
“Really?” She thought through the logistics of him getting there. “Wait, you’d never make it before we’re ready to head back in the morning.”
“Oh, yeah.” He sounded so disappointed. “But it’d cut off a couple of hours. I’d see you sooner.”
“Tempting, but use the time to get some rest, please. How did
your
party go?”
He laughed. “It’s good—not over yet. I’m da-runk.”
“I could tell by the way you’ve been slurring words.”
“The guys said we have to hit every bar on the is-land and have at least one drink at each one. Don’t think I’m going to make it. Haven’t been da-runk in a while, got da-runk faster than normal, and didn’t take as much to get da-runk.” The line went silent for a moment.
“Paul? You still there?”
“Yeah, just thinking. I’m relieved Taye and the guys couldn’t make it down for the party. I mean, I’d love them to be here, and I’m glad they’re coming for the wedding, but Taye’d be trying to convince me to take advantage of my laaast chance as a seen-gle man.”
Rhees didn’t say anything for a minute.
“I asked Christian and Rick to make sure I don’t m-mess up.”
“All of the girls I’d normally be worried about are here, with me,” Rhees said sheepishly. “And I asked Dobbs to look out for you, too.”
“Aw, thank you, Baby, but you for-gawt a few of my old haunts–or Coitus Club members. They’re here, following me around—
hovering
. But don’t worry. I’m not ee-ven tempted. Ee-ven da-runk, I don’t want
anyone
ex-cept my nectarine.”
“I’m happy to hear.”
“I asked Claire to look out for e-you.”
“I figured.” She thought about how differently they each used the words,
look out for
. “And don’t forget the six hundred pounds of protection outside my door. Thank you.”
“I couldn’t let anything happen to you before I finally get to have my
freakin’
way with you!”
“Only one more night after this one.”
“Yeah, one more night.” He blew out a loud breath.
“Paul?” She sounded scared to ask, but she had to. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”
“No—yes . . . I don’t know. I’m scared shitless, Dani Girl.”
She grew quiet again.
“I ne-ver thought I’d get married. Yes, I am un-shhure . . . and scared to death, but the thought of ne-ver seeing your face again, ne-ver waking up to you awll wrapped around me, ne-ver hearing you laugh—
that
scares me even more.” He paused. “Are you shhure you don’t want me to come to you? Because I really wawnt to come to you. Remember on Christmas Eve, you said, if I promise to marry you, we could have sex that night?”
“Um, yeah. Where are you going with this?”
“I shhould’ve taken you up on it—almost did. I
wawnt
you, Dani Girl—I’m coming right now.” It sounded like he put his hand over the phone and yelled. “Randy! Come on. I need you to take me to the mainland.” He was back on the line. “I’m coming.”
“Paul! No. You’re right, you should have taken me up on it—then, because I’ve changed my mind a—”
“Aw, come on, Baby!” Paul out-and-out wailed like a two year old. “Don’t do this to me. Tell me you’re ready–you don’t need more time, do you? Oh,
Gawd
, please, no. I don’t know how much longer I can wait.”
“Only until our wedding night!” She giggled. “Calm down, Baby. I’m not backing out on you or changing my mind about that, I swear. It’s just, we made it this far. We may as well go the distance, don’t you think?”
“Good hell, Dani Girl. You just gave me a
heart a-ttaack
. You have no idea what
awll
this dreaming of a life with you has done to me. I mean, at first, I
neeeded
to control my-self—I was an
animal
. Being good around you challenged me, and I needed a good challenge in my life again, but now, since Costa Rica, coming to grips with my feelings –
He’s
freakin’ outta control!”
“Wedding night!” she assured. There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “Paul? You still there?”
“You called me
Baby
.”
“Yeah.” She casually brushed that aside, too worried about what was wrong with him. “You sound choked up. Paul? What’s wrong?”
“You’ve never called me Baby before.” His voice sounded raspy and he went silent again. She didn’t know what to say. She heard him sniff. “Once—when it was just pretend, but you’ve never called me anything but Paul.
“Well, ta-
wice
, but the first time—” his mood swung back to upbeat, “—you added the word ‘big’, which kind of changes the meaning. You’ve called me a few other
choice
names too . . . but Rhees?”
“Yeah,” she answered, still surprised at how one little term of endearment had affected him.
“That is
sooo haawt
!”
She sensed his huge smile, even if she couldn’t see it.
“That’s it—I’m coming to get you. I love you
sooo
much—Randy! Where are you, Raan-dee?”
“No. Get some sleep, Paul—
Baby
. I love you too, but you’re drunk. Randy’s probably drunk too—you’ll both kill yourselves if you try to cross the channel tonight. Go sleep it off. I mean it!”
“Aww,”
he whined. “I’m not going to be able to sleeep anyway, all alone, with you so far a-way.”
“Have
one more
drink—you’ll sleep. I’m positive of that.” She giggled. “Two more nights. We can make it.”
“You’re sure you’re not just
fa-reakin’
out on me again?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “My
fa-reakin’
out days, amazingly, are over since I fell in love with you. I’ve never felt this way before.” They both sat silent for a couple of minutes. “Um, I guess I should probably go.”
“Aw . . . I don’t want you to go.”
“Me neither.”
“Aw, damn the time. Two more days.”
“We’ll be married by the end of the second.”
“Yeeah. It’s weird, huh?”
“What’s weird?”
“That if I did come get you tonight . . . for the reason I
wawnt
to come get you, I’d be screwing ev-ery-thing up, pun intended. But two nights from now, purr-fectly okay.”
“Yeah, weird.” She giggled. “Paul?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you,
Baby
.”
“I love you too, Baby.”
“Good night, my pretty beautiful man.”
“Did you
ser-iously
just call me
pa-ritty
?”
“Nope.” She giggled.