“I don’t think so,” Rick said, sitting at the table. “You know how I feel about Christmas.”
“It would mean so much to everyone if you were there. I thought that perhaps this year things might be different.”
“Nothing’s changed,” he said, his eyes drifting back to Lessa. With relief. he noticed that they had stopped dancing and were making their way back to the table. “You know what I say-”
“Christmas is for families and kids. Yes, I know what you say. But you’re part of our family. And we would love it if you came.”
“Hey, Susan,” Russell said as Lessa sat down next to Rick, “Lessa doesn’t have any plans for Christmas. I told her that she and her aunt should come to our house.”
She was going to his parents’ house?
“It might be better if I didn’t,” Lessa said, meeting Rick’s eye. “After all, Rick and I work together…”
“He’s never there on Christmas anyway. And the more the merrier. Besides,” Russell said gleefully, “if the tennis club is open you promised to hit some balls to me.” He looked at Rick and shook his head with disbelief. “You didn’t tell me she beat Korupova. I saw that match on ESPN2.”
“Good for you,” Rick said stiffly to his brother. He turned toward Lessa and said, “I know my mother would love to have you.”
“Russell, come with me,” Susan said. “I need to show you something.”
“What?” Russell asked. “What’s so important?”
“Now, Russell.”
“My brother’s a great kid, isn’t he?” Rick asked after Russell and Susan had left.
“Kid? He’s a year older than me.”
“He seemed to really like you.” Rick hesitated and then asked, “So are you going?”
“Going where?”
“Christmas at my parents. He asked you, didn’t he?”
“It didn’t seem like you wanted me to accept his invitation.”
“As they said, I won’t be there. I don’t care what you do. Outside of the office, that is.”
She became quiet. Right away he regretted what he’d said. How could he tell her that he did care? That he didn’t want her going near his brother or any other man? That she belonged to him.
She raised her hands. “What do you want from me? To not talk to anyone? That’s why you’re upset, isn’t it?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said gruffly.
At that moment, a team of waiters began serving, and the table soon filled with fellow guests. As he attempted to enjoy his meal, Rick found himself looking at Lessa. Seemingly relaxed and happy, she regaled the table with stories of her tennis exploits. Several times, she glanced at him and smiled, causing warmth to spread through him.
He poured her champagne and picked up his glass as they toasted the happy couple. He found himself wondering if he would ever walk down this road. It wasn’t that he had completely written off the idea of marriage. It was just something distant, out there, that he felt he would address when it hit him.
Lessa, however, was the type of woman who would not stay single for long. Some man, some lucky man, would find her, and when he did, he would never let her go.
What the hell was happening to him? They had shared one night. One damn night. Yet the vision of her was seared into his mind. He couldn’t forget the way she had felt in his arms, the smell of her, the feel. He had only one option. He would go to Florida with her as agreed. And then he would stay the hell away.
Eleven
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Mara del Ray had been built in the 1970s and had immediately become a leading resort, frequented by the rich and famous. But in the 1990s its allure had faded. Although still open for business, the present owner had done little in terms of upkeep and renovation. It was almost dark when Lessa and Rick arrived, but even in the dim light, it was obvious that the buildings were in need of paint and repairs. Some still had visible hurricane damage. But, as Lessa discovered, the property, although overgrown, was still lovely. A white sandy beach ringed with palm trees offered a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mexico.
“You have to use your imagination,” she said after the owner had given them a tour.
Rick could see immediately why Lessa was interested. Although the buildings would need to be completely refurbished, the setting was one of the most romantic he had seen. But an Antigua, it was not.
He turned toward the owner. “Could we have a moment alone, please?” After the man stepped back, Rick said, “I don’t think this property is going to work.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s going to take a lot of money to get this place up to our standards. And where are we going to get the start-up capital?”
“From Antigua.”
“I don’t want to risk a known quantity on this.”
“Perhaps we should take it back to the board and let them decide.”
“You should know by now that the people on the board are no friends of yours.”
“All right,” she said, in an obvious attempt to be fair, “why don’t you tell me what your concerns are so I can address them.”
“I already did.”
“This has nothing to do with Antigua, does it? This has to do with who’s in charge.”
“I’m all for picking up cheap properties and turning them around. Unfortunately, this property is neither cheap nor is it capable of being turned around.”
“We’re interested,” Lessa said, signaling the owner back over. “Very interested. But my partner and I have to discuss it further.”
“We have two other bids,” the owner said. “Not much time for discussion.”
“It’s hard to see in the dark,” Rick said. “For all we know, this place could be falling down around us.”
“Stay here tonight as my guests,” the owner said. “In the morning you will see that it is every bit as beautiful as it is at night.”
“There’s an idea,” Lessa said cheerfully.
It was an idea, but not a good one. “I can’t,” Rick said. “I have to get back.”
“Please, Rick,” she said. “Like you said, how can you make a decision when you can’t see what you’re buying?”
As he looked into her deep green eyes, he could feel his resolve fade. His phone rang and he flipped it open. It was Betty, calling with good news. Sabrina was ready to sell. He snapped shut his phone and said, “We heard from Sabrina. She wants us to meet with her tomorrow morning.”
Lessa’s face lit up. “We did it,” she exclaimed, spontaneously throwing her arms around him. He held her stiffly, trying hard not to enjoy the feel of her body pressed up against him.
As if suddenly realizing what she was doing, she stepped back. “I’m sorry. I guess I got a little carried away.”
“You have reason to be excited,” Rick said. “Apparently Sabrina is also interested in this property. I have a feeling that when she heard you and I were coming to look at it together, it convinced her we were romantically involved.”
“It’s foolish to go all the way back to New York when we have to be in the Bahamas tomorrow morning,” Lessa said. “It makes sense to stay here tonight. In the morning we’ll give this property another look and then head over to see Sabrina.”
Telling himself that he had no choice, he acquiesced. They followed the owner back into the lobby. “I have the perfect room,” the man said, grabbing a key at the front desk. “Facing the ocean. You will get a true feel for the resort.”
“That’s rooms,” she said, correcting him. “We need two rooms.”
