His Island Bride (4 page)

Perfect. She was a true lady.

She sighed heavily and sat down on the plush sofa in the room. “They’re still looking into it but they are fully booked up.
Everywhere.”

“Oh, dear.
Sorry to hear. I guess that really
messes up your vacation doesn’t
it?”

She glared at him. Was he being sarcastic or genuine?

“You know having been captured and locked away by the beast can’t be much fun. Well my beauty, no worries, you’ll be rescued soon.”

“Very funny.
You’re not making this easy for any of us. You don’t seem to get it. I wanted a quiet vacation to think and sit on the balcony alone watching the waves and reading on my kindle.”

“Hmm.
Sounds
pretty much what I had in mind, too.”

“Yeah right.
Alone.”

“Ever heard that commercial love means doing things alone, together.”

She wrinkled her brow.

“Anyway, I’m James by the way but I’m sure you checked that out by the bill I showed you.”

She sighed, “Jessica.”

“So what do you want to do now?”

“Well, first, I’m going to get dressed and … well, hopefully the manager will call back soon with a solution.”

“Of course.
Listen can I get you something to eat? It’s on me.”

“That’s sweet of you really,” she said with tiredness creeping into her voice. “But I’m good.”

“You sure about that?”

“Yes…no….” Her stomach rumbled so hard she knew he must have heard it or thought a
  thunder
storm was brewing outside despite the clear blue sky.
 “Okay, you can order lunch, I guess.”

“What would you like?”

Wearily she replied, “Anything. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

“Fine.
It’s done. Actually, they have a really nice buffet downstairs by the pool it’s a gorgeous view, the least we could do is enjoy it and listen to the sea waves.”

“Sure.
Why not?”
She really didn’t have any more energy to argue at this point. What could she do? He was booked in first even though the hotel was at fault, she was the last one booked in. He could kick her out and have her stay in the lobby till they found a suite for her which didn’t look like it was happening any time soon.

4

James was
right,
the open buffet near the pool was spectacular. The laughter of the patrons and the sound of reggae music playing softly in the background
was
enticing. The sound of water splashing in the pool nearby was inviting. But it was the delicious aroma of jerk chicken, curried goat, dumplings and other tasty entrees that really got her senses going.
“Thank you,” Jessica said as James seated her at the table.

“No problem,
mon
!” James teased her in his fake Jamaican accent.

She grinned and shook her head. What was with her all of a sudden? Was she enjoying this man’s company? She couldn’t remember when
was the last time she had felt this way
. But still she had to keep her guard up. She really knew little about him but she really wanted to know more. Her senses were heightened in his presence. Like the pool and the sea, he was like a breath of fresh air. There was just something about him that connected with her magnetically. It was surreal.
Magic.

The waiter brought tall drinks to the table that James had ordered a minute ago.
Pineapple Cola with a slice of lemon and a tall straw.

When they went to the buffet table, Jessica started picking her foods first. And when she looked around, she was stunned that James was picking the same exact foods in the same proportions, a spoon full of rice, a dab of curried goat and some oxtail on the side with rice and peas to sample. “Are you trying to be funny?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know…taking the same foods I am.”

“Have you ever thought that maybe I like the same foods. I love curried goat with rice.
And Oxtail and rice and peas.
Can’t get enough of that stuff back home.”

“Me, too!” she stuffed more on her plate as she swayed to the music in the background it was Bob Marley’s One Love blaring through the speakers now. The spectacular atmosphere was electrifying.

“Come on over here, let’s get seated facing the water.”

“Oh, God this is such a nice view, don’t you think?”

“I know. There’s something calming about being near a body of water,” he said in a low, deep voice.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Jessica said, mesmerized by the calamity of the ocean view.

“I could stare at it all day!” They both said in unison to Jessica’s surprise.

Was he some kind of mind reader or psychic? Jessica thought to herself.

“The answer is
  yes
,” he said.

“What?!”
Startled, Jessica felt self-conscious all of a sudden.

“I meant the view,
Jess,
I do think it’s beautiful, too.”

“You called me Jess,” she smiled not knowing how to take it. Wasn’t it a little too early for pet names or nick names? But something deep inside her loved the way he said it. It sounded affectionate.

No, this was crazy.
Too crazy.
This stuff only happened in romance novels not in real life. She was dreaming and she would wake up pretty soon to her reality. The reality was that the only interest she was getting these days
were
the ones on her credit card statements.

She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes after inhaling the island scent of the pool area and buffet. She had to remember what she would face upon her return to Canada.

Another man.

Her groom to be.

Go figure, the first time she feels like having a fling, she may be getting married to a total stranger in an arranged engagement.

“Sorry, did I offend you?” his deep, silky voice was sincere.

“No.
Um.
It’s just that well…it’s fine. My friends call me Jess.” And she liked the way her name slid off his tongue. She tried to ignore that sentiment and instead she dug into her meal and savoured every delicious tasty mouthful. Nothing could beat real island food.
Nothing.

Jessica and James sat for a couple hours until the sun began to set with the redness in the sky. James could not remember when was the last time he had the most stimulating conversation with a woman, a gorgeous woman at that. He was actually enjoying her company, he loved her wry sense of humour and she enjoyed his dry humour. He could not believe how charming this young woman was.

Still, at the back of his mind, a feeling chipped away at his soul. He was aching and wondered if he should tell Jessica the whole truth about himself but then he changed his mind. He had his obligations back home but he wasn’t going to be troubled by them today. Perhaps, his cousin was right, he should let go and enjoy the moment. He had critical decisions to make and either way he was going to be damned. So may as well enjoy the beautiful lady’s company while it lasted.
Or until they found her a room.
He felt a pang of guilt over the fact that he secretly hoped they would never find
  her
another room for the two weeks.

They discussed everything from their favorite reality shows, old TV shows like
Columbo
, Murder She Wrote and other suspenseful dramas. They talked about their favorite music, authors and political figures and what should be done to help the less fortunate.

“You didn’t mention anything about leaving a boyfriend back home,” he finally probed.

He noticed she froze. “Well…there is no one. Not really.”

“Not really?” He raised a brow. He was not into interfering between a
relationship
.

“No. I’m single and unattached.”

“You sure, now?” he teased her. He was usually good at reading people. She was holding something back but he truly believed that she wasn’t attached. After all, she was alone on vacation and she didn’t call anyone back home of significance.
Besides her documents suggested that she was single.

Jessica’s heart raced at the mere mention of “boyfriend.” Of course, she was single but why should she mention that her parents were desperate to see her married off so they arranged for her to marry a man whom she’d never met. Why spoil the moment?

“What about you?”

“What about me?” he said in a silky, low voice.

“You know what I mean,” she said, rolling her brown eyes.

He drew in a breath and she watched how his sexy, muscular chest rose and fell. God, he was gorgeous. Built like an athlete. A guy like that obviously worked out a lot and took great care of his body. His aftershave was as delicious as his appearance. She licked her lips thinking about what her hands would feel like on his firm, muscular flesh. She was getting hot and it had nothing to do with the thirty degree Celsius temperature.

“I’m not cheating on anyone emotionally or otherwise by being here.”