girl about sixteen
years old jumped up and snatched it.
The crowd cheered for the young
lady, and my eyes went straight to Owen. His eyes were on me too, and I gave
him my best can't-win-em-all shrug. He walked over to me, drink in hand.
"You were robbed," he
said.
I smiled. "I thought you
weren't going to talk to me anymore," I said, a wry smile on my face.
He shrugged. "You initiated
communication, even though it was nonverbal." I laughed and he continued.
"Besides, you looked bored."
I leaned in and whispered. "I
feel guilty, but I am a little bored. I don't know many people here, and Emma
is so busy talking to people."
He shrugged again. "You know
me. Listen, Jack's brother Robbie has his racing boat parked on a marina right
down the beach. Why don't we take it for a spin?"
That sounds like fun , I
thought. You really shouldn't though . I could feel my resistance
breaking down. "I should really stay here until the end of the
wedding."
Owen smiled. "Jack will look
for any excuse to start his wedding night as soon as possible, if you catch my
drift. The best man and maid of honor leaving would be such a perfect excuse.
Besides, I have to hear all about the gross stuff that happens at
hospitals."
Maybe just a quick boat ride...
Owen continued. "Or, if you'd
like, we can just go straight back to my cabana house," he said.
I grimaced a little. He just
lost the sale , I thought. "You know what? I do think I'll call it a
night. It was a pleasure, Owen," I said.
Owen knew he had messed up.
"Of course," he said, gracefully accepting defeat. "Perhaps I'll
see you tomorrow," he added, hopefully.
"Perhaps," I replied
coolly, not counting on him still being interested in me tomorrow. Tomorrow I
would be plain old Kaylee, small town girl from Iowa, not maid of honor at his
best friend's wedding. I went and said good night to my parents and gave Emma
one last hug. I left quickly, looking back one last time. Owen's eyes were on
me as I left, and he raised his hand in a quick, meek wave.
When I got to my room, I took a
nice bath, thinking of Owen joining me in the warm suds. I turned the air
conditioning in the room down to 68 and lay down in bed, watching TV as I
drifted off to sleep. Somehow, even with the room being as cool as it was, I
still writhed uncomfortably in bed as I slept, the thought of the strong, rich
man down at that wedding consuming my every thought.
Chapter 4
T he next morning, I awoke a sweaty
mess. Owen had invaded my dreams, and I had a feeling he would occupy my
thoughts for the rest of the day as well. Still, I had taken my first flight on
an airplane in order to be here, and I was going to make the most of this
vacation. Tomorrow evening I would be back on a miserable flight to Iowa, so I
might as well make some memories while I was here.
I knew that Emma would probably be
exhausted from partying and everything else that goes along with a wedding
night, so I just grabbed a book and headed out to the beach. It was quiet on
the resort, as all the guests were sleeping off the party. A tree caught my eye
as I wandered toward the water, and I went to investigate. It was a funny
little tree, with bunches of beautiful five petaled flowers. I picked one
blossom from a branch, and held it to my nose. It was the sweetest flower I had
ever smelled. I tucked one behind my ear, feeling very pretty.
I went down to the beach, not
terribly interested in finding a place to read just yet. Setting the book down
on a safe patch of sand, I waded into the crystal clear ocean. The water was
too warm and wonderful not to at least dip my toes in at every chance. I kicked
lightly at the waves, looking down the shore. A few hundred yards away was a
set of cabana houses. Jack and Emma were in one of them, the two of them
staying in the same cabana where they had fallen in love.
Something else caught my attention,
though. A woman's scream of terror shattered the quiet of the beach. I
remembered Emma's story of saving a