CassieTires squealed as Cassie slid into a parking space in front of Brianna's apartment. She barely had the engine off before racing up the stairs to Brianna's apartment. She needed to do this before she lost her nerve.Cassie banged on the door. Brianna opened the door, looking surprised. She still had her pajamas on and Cassie could hear Netflix in the background. It was Brianna's day off, so she was at home relaxing. Ian was at school.“What's up?” Brianna asked. “Are you feeling okay?”“I just got fired.”Brianna's eyes went wide. “I'm so sorry, Cassie. I really am. Come on in. I've got ice cream.” She ushered Cassie inside, shutting the door behind her.The apartment was dark but comfortable. Brianna hadn't done much to the space to make it her own, yet it still felt like Brianna. The paintings were simple and bright. Books covered nearly every surface and at least three mugs sat half-filled with tea in the small kitchen. Toy cars littered the floor in front of the TV and kid d
WyattWyatt walked in the front door of the apartment ready to apologize to Cassie. He had reservations made at a fancy restaurant. He had flowers in hand and jewelry was set to arrive later this afternoon.The business meeting this morning had been long and arduous. He thought he'd escaped the corporate world by moving to the island. Being a peon for a holiday resort was easy. He just had to do what he was told and pour drinks. Now he was back to being the boss and he hated it. He had less freedom at the top of the chain than he did at the bottom. He was beginning to think that he would always be stuck with corporations telling him what to do with his life. It didn't seem to matter where he went.He'd spent his entire miserable meeting thinking of Cassie and how he could fix things between them. Of how he could give her what she wanted and what she deserved. He was willing to do whatever it took to keep her.The longer Wyatt stayed in billionaire mode, the easier it was to stay here
CassieCassie hoped she was doing the right thing.Doubts assaulted her. Had he gotten the note? Had he understood? She should have been clearer. She should have left better instructions. She should have waited at the apartment.But she'd been afraid if she waited she would chicken out. She would change her mind or that he wouldn't want this anymore. She was afraid if she stayed at the apartment, things wouldn't work out the way she hoped.Besides, she wanted to do this here. She needed to show him she was serious.She paced nervously in front of the airplane hanger. Her packed suitcase sat by the entrance. She'd spent nearly all the money in her bank account. The flight left this evening. There was no return flight scheduled.What if he didn't come?She tried not to think about it. She tried not to think about how she was about to change her life completely. Change terrified her. She liked knowing what was going to happen, but this had two very different endings. If he came, her life
WyattWyatt stepped out onto the deck of his new boat and stretched in the morning sun.Life had never been this good.Wyatt couldn't imagine how he'd once thought being a bartender had ever been enough. He couldn't believe that he'd ever been happy without Cassie.They were home here. Blue Caribbean waters were a balm to weary souls. The white sand called to them, and the warm sunshine banished worries.Cassie and Wyatt didn't go back to the resort. Wyatt didn't have a job there anymore, and after hearing how he'd been treated, Cassie had refused to go to such an establishment. Besides, Wyatt didn't need to tend bar and live a bachelor lifestyle anymore. He didn't want that life.So they bought a sailboat. It wasn't the biggest or flashiest boat in the world, but it was comfortable, and it got them where they wanted to go.Today, it was taking them to a very special island.Wyatt checked the rigging and made sure his route was plotted in the computer. The island wasn't far, but he wa
CassieCassie couldn't believe it.The guy at the bar just looked at her.Not just looked, but did a double take and then a full body check out.And then he smiled like he liked what he saw.It wasn't something Cassie was used to. It certainly wasn't anything she expected, and to be honest, something she hadn't had in a long time.She was sure it had to be an accident. She checked her clothes and didn't see any embarrassing stains or funny marks. Her hands immediately went to her hair and face to make sure nothing was wrong. Her long dark hair seemed to be still neatly up in its ponytail, and nothing was sticking out. She didn't feel anything strange on her face. Why else would he be looking at her and smiling like that?“Psst, Brianna,” Cassie whispered to her best friend. They stood next to one another in the line to check into their hotel. “Do I have something on my face? Anything in my hair?”Brianna set down her suitcase and carefully evaluated her friend. “Nope. Not even a gray
CassieThe sound of lively conversations filled the restaurant. Friends and family sat around six large tables in a small party room set off from the main seating area. The big ocean facing windows stood open, letting in the last sunshine of the day as well as a cooling sea breeze.Cassie felt naked in her thin dress. Her shoulders were bare and her legs exposed. Despite the tropical heat, she wished she had a sweater. Or her long sleeved pink work shirt. She missed the safety of her work clothes.“Oh my gosh, Cassie. You look amazing,” Janessa announced, hurrying across the room to greet Cassie and Brianna.“You like it?” Cassie asked, looking down and inspecting the cute little cherries on her dress.“Like it? I love it,” Janessa told her. “Brianna has great taste.”Cassie tried not to feel hurt that Janessa knew Brianna had picked it out. Was it really that out of character for her to wear a cute dress?“I definitely have great taste, but Cassie's got the legs for it,” Brianna agre
CassieCassie entered the bathroom and found it blissfully empty. Leaning against a stone tile wall, she let the hot tears escape. There weren't many. She didn't usually cry. She was typically strong and steadfast. She didn't let people get to her.Cassie blamed it on being tired. She blamed the tears on traveling all day. She blamed it on the stress of her job. She blamed it on Lorna knowing the exact buttons to push to make her doubt herself.She wiped her face off, checked the mirror to make sure she didn't look like she'd been crying, and went to order more wine. She found their waiter in the hallway putting orders into a computer.“Fernando?”He looked up with a start and then relaxed when he saw it was just Cassie.“I just wanted to let you know that if Lorna does speak to your manager, I'd be happy to speak to them as well. You've been great. She's the customer from hell, and I want to apologize to you for her. I don't want you getting in trouble with your boss because she's aw
WyattWyatt noticed her immediately.How could he not? She was gorgeous in an innocent-yet-sexy kind of way. She kept fiddling with the thin straps on her dress, and he couldn't help but want to be the one to slide them off her shoulders. He kept imagining his fingers sliding through her dark hair as he laid her onto his bed.He could just imagine the way her beautiful red lips would look gasping his name. Her body was made for loving. Those long legs peeking out of the sheets... The way her hips would rise to his...He needed to get a hold of himself. He was supposed to be making drinks, not imagining guests naked. Even if it was a really lovely image in his head. He should at least learn her name first.He quickly finished pouring the last few mai-tais for the tourists in front of him. While he set the drinks out, he carefully checked out her left hand. No ring. That was a good sign. Thoughts of her in his bed once again filled his thoughts. He pushed them away, trying his best not