ROMANCE: CLEAN ROMANCE: Summer Splash! (Sweet Inspirational Contemporary Romance) (New Adult Clean Fantasy Short Stories) (149 page)

              “At least you never see them anymore.” She tried to sound sympathetic as she tried to avoid stepping directly into seaweed.

              “It didn’t last. She begged me to take her back. I’m sorry to say I was tempted, but thankfully I had a little more pride than that.”

              “Good for you.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Good for me too.”

              After a quiet few minutes, he reached across the distance between them and gently took her hand. She let it happen and let out a little sigh of contentment.

              “Do you feel like this is where you’re supposed to be? Do you want to do more with your life? Not that I’m putting down what you do at all!” She hurried to add. “I think it’s great. For me, being a nanny isn’t my dream.”

              “What is your dream?” He asked. She heard a note of real interest in his question, which put her at greater ease.

              She squeezed his hand. “Don’t laugh. Please.”

              “I won’t, I promise.”

              “I’d like to run a bed and breakfast. You work in a resort, so I’m sure you think that’s stupid-”

              “No, not at all. A really pretty place, maybe in New England?”

              “Maine, to be exact. I’ve never even been there. But it seems like the sort of place I’d be happy from everything I’ve ever seen about it.”

              They were a good ways down the beach by themselves and she shivered. It was getting a little cold. She hadn’t meant to get so far away from other people. He put an arm around her. “Hey. Let’s go back. You look chilly.”

              She shook her head and they turned around towards downtown. As they neared she paused a little. It was a romantic spot and before they got back to the crowds, the drinks, the music, she wanted a moment alone with him.

              “What?” He asked, confused.

              Without a word, she put both her arms around Josh and kissed him.

---

              A week had gone by and she was stunned to find that she was allowed to tag along with the DeVilliers for snorkeling. She soon discovered it had been Wes’ idea, a sort of reward for all the hours she was putting in with the children.

              Though she had been given more time off on her own, that time hadn’t matched up easily with Josh’s. They’d managed one lunch and one more date together. It was agony for her to see him sometimes in the lobby talking to other couples, planning events, and not being able to go up to him and say anything. She made herself remember that he was working, she was working, and that there would surely be more time together in the near future. After all, she still had two weeks with him.

              But the more she thought about that, the more it depressed her. Two weeks would be gone so soon. Then she’d be back in Minnesota and he’d still be here. How were they going to make anything work from that distance? She knew the answer- they wouldn’t. It was impossible.

              She didn’t know how to feel about that. They’d only just met, but already she felt a deep connection to him. The few times they’d been able to go out, they’d talked about their families, their dreams and hopes. They had much more in common than she’d expected; similar tastes in music and books, an interest in New England. She heard his voice sometimes in the lobby or hallway and felt a chill run up her back as she thought of how she’d be leaving him behind too soon.

              Once in a while, their eyes met across the room, hallway, or common area and they shared an understanding and attraction, a moment of flirting carried past the commonplace and ordinary vacationing people, unaware of the electricity in the room.

              Though he seemed to notice little around him, Wes apparently picked up on her low spirits. “You’ll feel much better with a little vacation time of your own!” He’d suggested after letting her know he’d paid for her scuba diving. “You’re cooped up with the boys too much.”

              “It’s her job, Wes.” Sue had reminded him, unhelpfully. Laura imagined she could hear the woman saying, “You dumb sap,” though the words weren’t spoken.

              “And she’s doing a great job. The boys have never been so well-behaved. I swear Jim is actually starting share with Tim. And a good job deserves a reward. I always believe in rewarding employees well. Makes them more productive. Tim and Jim can be babysat in the play area.” There was an onsite babysitting service with the resort, though it wasn’t ideal for more than a few hours at a time.

              Not that she’d ever considered herself family, but being reminded she was an “employee” nearly took the fun out of the prospect of the trip. Still, she’d never gone snorkeling diving before, and was looking forward to it.

              The day of the trip, they’d gone through the quick lesson on what to do and how to snorkel. She was told she was a natural and the little boat took the resort-goers out into open water.

              Once under the water, she really did find it easy to acclimate to her surroundings. She felt at ease and in total peace as she watched tropical fish swimming beneath her feet and around coral reefs.

              Long after everyone else had tired, she hung back, enraptured by the fish and the movement of life beneath the waves. Finally, when the last person had loaded back onto the boat, she reluctantly swam back and climbed up the ladder.

              “Now that was amazing!” Sue shouted above the roar of the motor once they were underway. “Laura, I hope you properly appreciated that. I know I had a wonderful time.”

              “Of course. Thank you both.” She said, having been ungraciously prodded to give them a public thanks. She felt her fists tightening as she felt that Sue was determined to ruin her fun.

              “It was nothing!” Sue retorted, despite the fact it had entirely been Wes’ idea. Laura felt a little better when Wes waited until Sue had her back turned and rolled his eyes. She covered a laugh.

              As the boat was returning, Josh approached. He looked a touch more serious than usual.

              “Hey folks.” He called out. “Welcome back to San Marcos! I just want to let you know that we’re expecting a tropical storm this evening. Dinner will be discounted and we’d like to encourage you not to go into town after dark. It’s looking like it’ll be a big one.”

              “Oh no! Is this a hurricane?” One older woman called out.

              “No, they’re not expecting that. But it will be a very strong storm, and with no cars other than emergency vehicles, it’s not going to be safe to go out. We ask that you stay in the resort itself and don’t go out.”

              There was some murmur of complaint from the resort-goers, as though he had any say over the damn weather, Laura found herself thinking with annoyance. They had just experienced a unique, beautiful part of nature that so many others would never have a chance to see, and the first thing they were doing upon getting back to shore was to whine about some rain.

              She found herself hating them all. Even Wes and Sue were joining in on the complaining, a task Wes took up with relish.

              “That’s what comes from not allowing cars.” Wes said as they loaded into a cart to be taken back to the resort. Laura was usually happy to walk, but they insisted. “The island that time forgot, or something I guess. All that charm and now we’re stuck in our rooms.”

              “Doesn’t the resort have a spa?” Laura tried to offer, helpfully. But Wes shrugged.

              “It’s all right, as far as spas go.” Sue explained, in her worldly, all-knowing tone. “I’m sure you have no way of finding comparison, but the services here aren’t up to par with what I’m used to back home.” Laura doubted that, but it was just like Sue to try to put on airs in any situation.

              The cart delivered them safely as the first few rain drops fell. The guests ran for the entrance as though they were already caught in a terrible downpour. Josh and Laura watched them run up to the doors and shared a glance of amusement.

              “Oh boy. Think they’ll survive?” Josh asked as they strolled casually towards the entrance. He held out a hand to catch a few swollen drops of rain, flipped his hand over, and let them fall to the pavement.

              “I don’t know. Fingers crossed.”

              As they got to the doorway, he looked down. “I wish I had tonight off. It’s going to be busier than ever. I need to find things for these people to do.”

              “I know. Don’t worry! We’ve got time.”

              “Right.” He said. She felt he wanted to reach across and embrace her, and she wanted that too. But instead, he gave her a nod and headed inside.

              After taking a shower, she was sent to collect the boys. When she got downstairs, she was not thrilled to see that Jim was in the middle of a meltdown just as she was walking in.

              “IT’S NOT FAIR!” He shouted, stomping towards a corner. Without being told to, he put himself in the corner and crossed his arms defiantly. He saw Laura gave a shriek, and turned back around.

              “Wow.” She said as she approached the girl who’d been acting as the day care coordinator. Tim was in another corner. “I take it they got into it with each other again?”

              The young woman shook her head, clearly having had a trying time with the twins. “They got into it with each other, with the other children, with the caregivers. It was… an extremely challenging day.”

              “I’ll take it from here.”

              She took the boys by the hand and led them to the elevators, interrogating them firmly but with care about their day. As she walked, she saw the rain was no longer a joking matter. It was pounding the windows already, a strong sheet of water demanding entrance into their sanctuary.

              “It wasn’t my fault! I never get to do what I want. I never ever do.” Jim protested. The elevator was going up and up to their floor, the 14th, and all she wanted to do was climb into bed and watch TV.

              “It may be how you asked. Did you ask nicely?”

              “YES! Yes. But they said I couldn’t go looking for it. I want to go and I want to go now!”

              “What are you talking about, hon?”

              He gave a mighty sigh. “You don’t know?”

              “No, not really. What’s the problem?”

              “Geeze. There’s a pirate treasure right here on San Marcos! It’s probably buried right out there on the beach. But I don’t get to go to the beach. I have to go to the pool and that’s IT. I want to go looking for it.”

              “I tell you what.” Laura offered. “I want you to write a card saying you’re sorry- you too Tim- to everyone you were mean to today. You’re going to give it to them tomorrow when we get up. If you do that and if you’re good for me tonight, I’ll take you to the beach myself and we’ll dig.”

              “Okay.” Jim muttered. He didn’t sound excited by that prospect. She wondered how many cards he’d have to write. She could picture it being a decent number; if that was the case, she could see why that wouldn’t be a fun prospect.

              In their room, the darkness started to settle in as the boys set about writing out their cards. Tim was soon done and Jim was outraged that he still had to write.

              “It’s not fair!”

              “It’s very fair.” She reminded him. “Tim was unkind to three people, including you. You were unkind to ten.” That seemed a high number to her, and she was amazed the little boy had copped to it. “Get it done and then we’ll all watch cartoons, okay?”

              “Ugh.” He moaned. “This is taking forever!”