Second Chance Bride (A Sapphire Bay Novella) (3 page)

“Hopefully not.” Genie let her gaze roll out the window. Donnie was incredibly easy to talk to, and so polite and accommodating. Maybe she’d been going after the wrong type of guy. Jerks. That’s what she’d always been attracted to—why, she didn’t know. But Donnie was living proof that nice guys could also be incredibly handsome and debonair.

At the marina, a large crowd had gathered near a vessel that looked like a smaller version of the ship Genie and Cami had taken a cruise on after graduating from high school.

“So these dinner cruises are popular here, huh?” she asked off-handedly.

“That they are.”

The driver opened the door and Donnie climbed out, then offered his hand to her. “Thanks,” she said, leveraging her way out of the car. Genie began to wonder how much of a dent tonight had put in Donnie’s wallet. This dinner cruise couldn’t be cheap.

A gentle Pacific breeze blew past, taking Genie’s worries with it. Oh well. Maybe he had a coupon or something. However he’d come by the tickets, she intended to enjoy the evening.

After they posed for the commemorative photograph, Donnie and Genie were whisked away to the top of the four-deck ship. The dining room was meant to convey opulence, but Genie knew it was not much more than a pretense. Even so, she intended to enjoy the evening. What’s not to enjoy? She was dining with an incredibly handsome man who was nothing short of the perfect gentleman. Under those circumstances, a girl could overlook the fact that the restaurant wasn’t nearly as luxurious as it pretended to be.

Genie eyed the long tables in the center of the room, hoping they wouldn’t be dining at one of those. She’d prefer something a little more intimate, like one of the private tables along the windows.

The hostess greeted them with a smile. “Name?”

Genie glanced at her name tag—Angela—vaguely hearing Donnie say, “Taylor.”

The girl perused her list. “Donnie or Richard?”

“Donnie.”

“Great.” With a nod, she added, “We got a table with a great view over here for you.” Angela pointed to the other side of the ship.

“Wonderful.” Donnie held Genie’s hand as they followed the waitress to one of the tables midway along the starboard windows.

Thankfully, the tables were intimate. Just two diners for each. Genie liked that idea. Donnie pulled her chair out, and once she’d seated herself, he did the same.

“Would you care for some wine?” he asked.

She nodded. “Sure. I’ve love a glass.”

O
nce the hostess heard Donnie’s request for a bottle of wine, she ambled away. He’d ended up ordering a pinot. His first requests had been Argiolas Vermentino or Turley Zinfandel, neither of which they had on board the ship. Donnie could already see tons of changes needing to be made if he bought the ship. Trouble was, he wasn’t sure where to begin.

Instead of dwelling on the dinner cruise’s inadequacies, he settled his sights on Genie. She was such a beautiful woman. He couldn’t understand how she’d come to be here in paradise all alone. Oh well, if someone had been dumb enough to let her go…Donnie’s gain. He just wished he could be sure she liked him more than his money.

Their salads came, and while they ate, they chitchatted about nothing to personal. Genie said only that she was in Hawaii to
get away from it all
, and was enjoying her respite.

The show was Hawaiian in every sense of the word, but Donnie had seen better. Every so often, Genie would look at him and smile. He got the feeling she was a little bored by the show, but every time her eyes met his, hers sparkled.

He leaned her way, asking, “What do you think of the show?”

It took a moment before she said, “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

“Well, if you ask me,” he said, “they could invest a few bucks and hire some quality entertainment.”

“That would be a start.” Her voice remained neutral, but from the perplexity lurking in her eyes, Donnie figured she felt the same about it as him.

Like a bolt of lightning, it hit Donnie. Who better to know how to give this place a much needed shot in the arm but a woman hoping for a fabulous evening? At least that’s what he’d like to think she was counting on. Donnie leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “So what would you do to this ship if you owned it? How would you turn it into the best dinner cruise on the island?”

“Well…” She hesitated, clearly mulling it over. “Assuming that I’ve already taken care of the entertainment.” She gazed around the dining room. “Are we in the economy section?” she asked, then looked at him with sweet eyes that made him forget that he might’ve been insulted.

It was impossible to ignore or dismiss her admiring gaze. It wrapped him in pleasure. “No.” Donnie shook his head and laughed to himself. “We’re in the royal treatment section.”

“Well, it’s worse than I thought then.” Her eyes filled with an odd mixture of wariness and joy. “First, the dining room needs to be redesigned. It’s nice, but not nice enough to expect people to pay
royal treatment
prices. I’d rearrange the dining room completely. It’s too crowded in here.” She shook her head. “If people are paying for luxury, it should start with privacy.” Genie shrugged, and Donnie tended to agree. “And where is the Captain?” she asked. “People like dining at the Captain’s table on cruise ships. So why not here?” Genie gave the room another once-over while Donnie was making mental notes of everything she said. “I’d probably do something with the decks too. Make it enticing for couples to steal a romantic moment against the moonlight.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah.” She giggled. “I’d give it some dorky name…like
Glamorous Genie
, or something stupid like that.”

“Any improvements to the food?”

“It’s mediocre at best.” She shrugged. “I’d bring in a top-notch chef and revamp the menu entirely.”

Man, this girl had a head for business on her shoulders. Donnie didn’t know if he wanted to hire her or date her.

CHAPTER 3

THE NEXT MORNING, MARLA
was waiting for Donnie in his office. Not that he was particularly surprised. He knew his mother would want the dirt on last night. It’s just that there was nothing to tell. He’d had a pleasant evening with Genie, but soon she’d be headed back to the mainland and that would be the end of that.

“Good morning, Mother.” Donnie stopped at the chair she occupied in front of his desk—When Marla had no qualms about claiming his chair as her own, it was a sure sign that she was up to something—he kissed her cheek and then proceeded to his own chair behind the desk.

“How was your evening?” she asked, and that did surprise him. He’d anticipated a little buttering-up before she dove right into the heart of the matter, the reason for this chat.

“It was fine, Mother.” He smiled. “We had a pleasant evening.”

“So you like her?”

“Yes, I like her.” He felt the blush heating his cheeks and tried to stifle it. “But there are two very good reasons why it can’t go any farther.” Donnie fell silent, thinking she’d issue a protest right off the bat. When she didn’t, he continued, “Firstly, she’ll go back to the mainland when her vacation is over.”

“Oh, like you couldn’t convince her to stay,” Marla said with a saucy edge to her voice.

“And that brings us to the second reason.” Donnie nodded. “How could I ever be sure if she likes
me
or the fact that I own this hotel?”

“Why on Earth would you tell her you own Sapphire Bay before you got to know her?”

“I didn’t tell her, you did.”

“I didn’t tell her that you
own
the hotel.”

“What exactly did you tell her?”

“That you work here.” Marla shrugged. “It’s not a lie.”

Donnie rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers. He must’ve come across as a buffoon last night. He’d spent the evening thinking she knew who he was, while she had been (wrongly) informed that he was simply an employee of the hotel.

No matter how well-meant her intentions were, Marla had created a huge headache for Donnie. How could he tell Genie the truth? What if she thought he was trying to dupe her?

Donnie shook his head. “Well, it really doesn’t matter.” He wasn’t willing to find out how she’d take it. “We went on a date and it’s over now.”

“That girl is suffering from some serious heartache.”

“I know that.”

“Did she tell you what exactly?” Marla waited. Donnie shook his head. “She’s being very tight-lipped about it, but I think she’s here recovering.”

“I think you’re probably right.” The thought of Genie’s heart belonging to someone else didn’t sit right. Donnie’s own heart plummeted into his gut. “Which is even more reason to keep my distance.”

“I taught you better than that!”

“What do you mean…?” Donnie’s voice was hollow; his laughter affected.

“How you treat that girl right now will determine whether or not she’ll open herself up to love again in the future, or if she’ll close herself off completely.”

Donnie hated it when Marla was right. Especially if it meant he had to journey down a road he wasn’t comfortable approaching, much less traveling.

“Don’t shatter what’s left of her already fragile heart.”

Yes, but what about my heart?

G
enie stood at the window overlooking the blue-green waters of Sapphire Bay. She had to hand it to the hotel staff, when they said
unobstructed
ocean view
, they really meant it. The resort’s private beach was beneath her, but her twenty-third floor room ensured that nothing got in the way of that glorious view.

“Seriously, Gene…” Cami’s voice echoed from the cell phone in Genie’s hand. “You went on a
date
last night?”

“I wouldn’t exactly call it a date.” Genie shrugged. “I think his mother put him up to it.”

“His mother?”

“Yeah. I think they both work here at the hotel.”

Cami sighed. “Well, if nothing else, he’s a great transitional guy to get back in the swing of dating.”

“I’m not really interested in dating anyone.” Even as she said it, Genie knew she was lying as images of last night flickered though her thoughts. Donnie was so easy to talk to, not to mention completely gorgeous. She wondered what his job was at the hotel, and how long he’d had to save to take her on that dinner cruise last night. It just didn’t make sense that he’d spend that kind of money on a girl his mother had pushed him into taking out to dinner. Maybe the dinner cruise was a reward from the hotel for his exemplary service. No matter how it happened, the truth was, she
was
interested in dating Donnie, but he lived half a world away. “Besides, there’ll be like two thousand miles separating us when I go back home.” That was just it. Genie was going home, and sooner than she’s like. In a couple of days.

“Typical,” Cami said. “You finally meet Mr. Right and he works in a hotel in Hawaii.” Her laughter teetered off.

“Mr. Right?” Genie scoffed. “Nobody said anything about Mr. Right. Besides, we’ve only had one date. One.”

“Doesn’t take more than a taste of the wine to know if the bottle’s a keeper. So did he kiss you?”

“No!” Genie said a little too quickly and a little too loudly.

Cami grunted. “Next time, you kiss him.”

“What?”

“Is that not every woman’s secret fantasy…to be swept off her feet by
Mr. Hot-and-Sexy
while on some exotic vacation?” Cami chuckled.

“Well, there’s not going to be a next time.” Genie felt the depression over that swelling inside her. “We said goodbye in the lobby last night. I went my way and he went his. We made no plans to see each other again.”

“Oh, he’s gotta call.”

“Says who?”

“The fantasy doesn’t end like this, Gene.” Cami’s insistence flowed through the phone. “It ends with one of you having to make the decision to move to where the other lives. My money’s on you.”

“Why me?”

“Because I want to come visit you in Hawaii.”

“Well, you’re out of luck. I’ll be leaving in a couple of days and I don’t anticipate seeing him again beforehand.”

“Of course you’ll see him again. Fate wouldn’t be that cruel.” A brutal silence lay between them for just a second or two, but it was long enough to make Genie wish she hadn’t told Cami about last night. “Plus,” Cami continued, “he works at the hotel where you’re staying.”

Genie was about to object when a firm knock pulled her thoughts toward the door. “Hang on, someone’s at the door.”

“Mr. Fantasy!” Cami giggled.

Genie opened the door to a delivery person behind a dozen white roses. Genie’s heart thudded against her chest. The girl behind the bouquet peeked around and smiled. “Genie Wainwright?” she asked. Genie nodded. “These are for you. I’ll just need a signature.”

“Hang on,” Genie said into the phone, then used both hands (her phone still in one) to grab the vase. She set the roses on the table by the door, then signed the girl’s tablet. “One second and I’ll get you a tip.” She hurried toward the dresser where she’d laid her purse, grabbed her wallet and fished out a five. “Thanks,” she said, handing the money to the girl before closing the door.

Genie leaned against the door. Crazy, chaotic thoughts raced through her head. Where had the flowers come from?

“Gene, what’s going on?” Cami’s voice came from the phone lying on the table next to the roses.

Genie grabbed it. “Cami,” she said breathlessly, “somebody sent me a dozen white roses.”

Both girls were keenly aware that Ross had had a habit of sending Genie white roses. Genie didn’t want them to be from Ross. She hadn’t thought of him not once since she’d first laid eyes on Donnie Taylor yesterday. And she liked it like that.

Finally, Cami said, “They’re from
Mr. Fantasy
.”

“You think?” Genie’s hope-filled voice scraped out over her uncertainty.

“Is there a card?”

“Yes.” But Genie didn’t dare touch it.

“What’s it say?” Cami asked. “Who sent the flowers?”

“I don’t know.”

“It doesn’t say?”

“No, I haven’t read it.”

“Well geez, girl. Open the damn card and read it.”

Genie inched toward the card and plucked it carefully from its perch. She eased it from the tiny envelope and went straight to the bottom, to the name inscribed there. Donnie. Not Ross, but Donnie. A wave of relief washed over her. She went back to the top and began to read his message.