Forever Our Beach (Flirt Club)

3. Megan

3

Megan

The sun beats down on my pale skin. It will soon be time to tuck back into my private cabana. A surprise that seems to come with my room. That and a number of other things or so I was informed by the personal concierge who brought me a beautiful breakfast spread this morning. She was almost like a personal assistant, informing me of all my possible plans for today and asking if there was anything else I’d like that she hadn’t already offered.

After crashing the moment I landed on my bed, only waking long enough to inhale a portion of the delicious smelling food that had been set up on the small dining room table in my suite, I ended up getting the best sleep I’d experienced in weeks. And so far today, the only energy I’d expended was on my walk to the cabana and the few trips I’d taken to the ocean to cool down. Even my lunch had been delivered along with snacks and drinks every time my glass empties. That’s in addition to the chest filled with ice cold water and juices in the cabana.

“Enjoying yourself?”

I glance up, knowing exactly who I’ll see, but am still not prepared for the visual. Caleb stands in front of me, shirtless while wearing a pair of swim trunks that do nothing to hide the size of him. Why are you staring at his package? I yank my gaze back up his body, but it doesn’t help, landing on his smooth six-pack and then his strong pecs. I don’t know exactly what his position is here with the resort, but every managerial position I put him in, wouldn’t give him enough time to work out to keep his body in such fine shape. I mean, there are men around the world who are twenty or possibly thirty years younger than him who wish they could look half as good.

“Megan?” He crouches down beside me, making it easier for me to concentrate on his words.

“Oh, um, yes, enjoying myself.”

His smile turns into a cocky smirk as I blush. The jerk knows exactly what his impact is on the female and even some of the male population.

“Go away.” I wave my hand at him, making a shooing motion.

He leans in, close enough for his breath to wash over me. “Only if you join me in the water since you look a little hot.”

And just like that, he melts my heart by giving me an out—one we both know is a lie—for my flushed skin even if it does get him what he wants. Or what I want too since I jump up eager to see him wet with water dripping down his chest.

Crap. What is happening to me? Is there something in the air, some type of pheromone released by local plants that makes everyone’s hormones jump into overdrive because I’ve never had sex on the brain so much?

In a natural move, he grabs my hand, entwining our fingers as he leads us to the water, nodding and saying hi to the few people we pass on this section of the beach.

The water is cool on my heated skin, raising goosebumps. The moment the water nears my waistline, I yank my hand from his and dive under the water. I’ve never been one to slowly rip off a bandage especially when it comes to getting wet, needing to just get it over with so my body can adjust quickly. I use that same push in all aspects of my life except for when making major decisions that directly impact me. Normally I like to sit and think about every possible complication and outcome before slowly arriving at a decision. It’s why this whole doing my honeymoon on my own is completely out of character for me. Even my original decision to book this trip took over a month. Cancelling it would have been a no-brainer since the impact on my life would have been negligible. People wouldn’t have even needed to know that I’d stopped it since no one would have ever expected me to continue alone. That’s just not who I am.

This thing between Caleb and I is so far out of my comfort zone that I need the wake up call of the cool water shocking my system.

Yet when I emerge from the water and search for him, nothing has changed. He stands in waist deep water, looking towards me with the sunlight causing the water droplets on his chest to glisten and sparkle. If he wasn’t a poster from health and vitality, he could almost be a stand-in for those sparkly vampires because he’s got that unearthly beauty to him.

He casually leans forward, propelling himself with a few strokes to reach my side where we tread water facing each other. “Is this your first time in the Caribbean?”

“Outside of Mexico, it is.” Growing up in the Midwest, family beach vacations tended to be to the lake with the very odd trip to Florida and one to California. A practice I continue, preferring to experience family vacations by heading to the lake where my parents purchased a permanent residence and now spend almost six months of the year there. My few trips to Mexico occurred with either a group of girlfriends during university or the odd trip I took with my ex. It’s one of the reasons why I chose this resort and this smaller island. They offer float plane trips and boat trips to other nearby island countries along with guided tours, allowing me to really experience a lot of new places during the two weeks. But I guess all of those reservations were probably cancelled when my ex and— nope not going there , I remind myself. At least I have something new I can ask Fiona, my personal concierge. Maybe she’ll be able to work some miracles and I’ll be able to do a couple of the outings I’d planned.

“Any plans to explore while you’re here?”

I stare at Caleb. This time it’s not based on his body. Does he read minds? Is that why he always seems to know what I’m thinking, what I’m needing? Or is this a consequence of the years he must have spent in the hospitality business to reach heights like this. I’m sure that over the years he must have learned how to read his guests in order to anticipate their every need. With that in mind, I answer somewhat truthfully. “I did and I still hope to, but I think I’m going to come up with new plans.”

“Like what? I know all there is about all the islands. Maybe I can help you narrow things down.”

I nod, agreeing with him. As much as Fiona appeared knowledgeable, I can’t deny how his offer makes me feel. To spend that amount of time in close contact with him excites and scares me. The attraction I feel towards him is only enhanced by how easy it is to be around. When I’m around him, he makes me forget all the shit happening in my life, unless I’m actively thinking about it. My ex is non-existent when I’m with him… and that’s scary. What I went through, what I experienced is life changing on a fundamental level. It’s not something that should be so easily dismissed.

Yet…

I’m drawn to him. Drawn to him in a way I can’t seem to deny. Drawn in a way I’ve never experienced with anyone else.

Taking the plunge, I agree to let him help me plan some excursions and we spend the rest of the time in the water letting him share his knowledge. But as he leaves me back at my cabana, telling me that he has a meeting he needs to attend and how he’ll see me this evening for supper, I know I need to pull back. With how vulnerable I am right now with wanting to feel better, feel like I worth more, I also know that ignoring the reality of what happened to me will only lead to future problems and issues.

After tonight’s supper, I’ll cut ties… even if it’s the last thing I want.