Down and Out in Flamingo Beach (12 page)

“My workmanship,” Derek acknowledged with some pride. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No thanks. I'm saving myself for that wine you promised.”

“Derek, you have somebody there?” Nana croaked from her bedroom.

“A friend stopped by,” Derek shouted back.

“A woman friend. You going to bring her in to meet me?”

Nothing like being put on the spot. “Nana doesn't get out much, do you mind?” Derek whispered.

“Not at all.”

Derek took Joya's hand and began leading her through a maze of rooms. “Excuse the mess,” he said. “The house is currently under construction. As you can see, I'm working on several rooms.”

“Not a problem.”

“Derek, you bringing your friend to see me or not?” Nana Belle reminded them.

“We're coming, Nana.”

Derek rolled his eyes and they burst out laughing. “She's a character.”

“She just might have my grandmother beat,” Joya agreed, actually liking that Derek's large hand was wrapped around hers.

Derek paused in front of a door that was slightly ajar. “I might as well warn you, Belle is a heavy smoker, so be prepared.”

“I was a flight attendant, remember? I'm used to people disconnecting the smoke alarm in airplane bathrooms so that they can light up. I'll manage.”

Joya was taking it all in stride. He liked that and guessed his eccentric grandmother wouldn't faze her one bit. Pushing the door open he spotted Nana Belle sitting straight up in bed sucking on one of her cancer sticks.

“This is Joya Hamill,” Derek said, nudging Joya forward. “She and I are heading out to the beach to hear the people jam.”

“You're Trudy and Leland's girl,” Belle said, staring at Joya. “You must look just like your mother.”

“You knew my parents?”

“Yes, ma'am. Come closer, child, so I can see you.”

Joya approached the bed until she was close enough to touch Nana.

Derek was always amazed at Nana's long-term memory and the stories she could recount. Having a visitor had made her alert. It had been a long time since he'd seen her this alive.

“Is my great-grandson courting you?” she asked, peering into Joya's face.

“Uh…We…”

He placed a hand on Joya's forearm. “We need to go or all the good spots are going to be taken. Mari's in her room, Nana, you call her if you need anything.”

“I'd rather suffer in silence.”

Derek did another eye roll and tugged on Joya's hand. “We need to go.”

“Can I leave my car out front or do I need to move it?” Joya asked.

“Your car will be just fine. We'll cut through the sun porch. Did you bring the blanket? Call Mari if you need anything, Nana.”

“You two have a good time.” She sounded sad, as if unhappy they were leaving.

“It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Carter,” Joya said, to the old lady.

“Call me Ms. Belle.”

His great-gran lit up another cigarette. She blew a huge smoke ring and closed her eyes. They'd been dismissed.

Outside, Joya said, “Thanks for introducing me to your great-grandmother.” Derek had found a flashlight and the promised wine while Joya retrieved an old blanket from the trunk of her car; the kind you kept for emergencies. They were set.

“Nana's an odd duck, but she means well.”

“I've heard so much about her from my own grandmother that I feel I know her. She is just as Granny J described her. Direct and feisty.”

“You'd have to be to survive five husbands,” Derek said, tongue-in-cheek. “She's a tough old bird and doesn't suffer fools easily.

“One husband was enough for me,” Joya said under her breath.

“Yeah, I agree. I'd be hard-pressed to walk down an aisle again.”

“You were married?” Joya asked. “I had no idea.”

“All of five years. So much for happily ever after.”

“What happened?”

“A lot of things. Work got in the way. I didn't give her the attention she needed.”

“You worked 24/7? Construction gets that busy?”

“I wasn't always in construction,” Derek said cryptically.

Joya's gray eyes scanned his face, and he realized he'd gotten her full attention. He'd said too much.

“What did you do before you were in construction?” she asked.

“A bunch of different things.”

He didn't have anything to hide or be ashamed of. It was just that he'd put the corporate world behind him. Today he used his engineering skills in a very different way and if Joya was going to hinge her liking or disliking him on his current profession, well, that didn't speak well of her.

He'd had it with superficial people and those needing and wanting to keep up with the Joneses. From his experience the Joneses were usually in a lot of debt. It cost money to keep up appearances.

They'd reached the area where the jam session was held and their conversation was put on hold. Several people had brought folding chairs and there were cars double-parked, some illegally on the boardwalk. Every available speck of sand was covered with a blanket or cloth. The smell of beer and barbecue competed with the scent of brine from the ocean.

Derek held Joya's hand as they picked their way around an amiable Saturday-night crowd.

“We should have gotten here earlier,” he groused. “There's no way we're getting close to the stage.”

“What about up the beach a bit?” Joya suggested. “We'll be able to hear the tunes even if we can't see the musicians.”

“Good idea,” Derek said making a U-turn.

They walked up the beach away from where the crowd gathered. It was probably not a good idea to be in a secluded spot with Joya. Parts of his body were already at half-mast.

But maybe tonight was the kind of night to let your other head rule. Tomorrow, when reality returned, he could deal with the consequences.

T
he jam session ran over its allotted time, largely because the weather was drizzly. The musicians, concerned about their equipment, refused to play until the rain stopped, and although there was no real downpour, moods were somber.

Joya and Derek found an isolated spot up the beach close to the lighthouse. They figured that if there was a torrential downpour the lighthouse would provide shelter. A few couples having the same idea had spread blankets behind the rocks. And, although they couldn't see their neighbors, the fruity smells of wine, barbecue and citronella candles scented the air, providing evidence of their proximity.

“Excellent choice of wine,” Joya said, sipping on her second glass while surreptitiously checking the label. There was just enough light coming from the gas lanterns on the boardwalk to make out the label. It truly was an outstanding zinfandel and must have set Derek back at least a twenty-spot. He was full of surprises, a man of many layers, she decided.

“At one point I kept a cellar,” he let slip.

“You did?”

She wasn't sure she believed him.

“The house I owned came with one. Rather than let it go empty I decided I would learn what I could about wine and start collecting.”

Joya sat back on her blanket. Her feet were bare and her toenails were painted sugarplum-pink. She curled and uncurled her toes and decided, why not play along with him?

“So what did you do with this house you owned?

“Sold it. Hey, that guy on the sax is pretty good.” He didn't seem to want to discuss his wine collection or his house. But she did.

“I don't think I've heard him before. Maybe he's new to town,” she said.

“Everyone's new these days. Flamingo Beach is quite the hot spot. We're the flavor of the month, judging by the houses going up. Mind you, I'm not complaining because it means work for me.”

There was a rumble of thunder in the distance, followed by the crash of lightning.

“Uh-oh,” Joya said. “That doesn't sound good.”

“Don't tell me you're afraid of a little rain?” Derek joked.

“A little I don't mind. A lot—that's a whole other story.” She stood and grabbed at the blanket he was still sitting on.

“Okay, Ms. Subtle, I get it.” Derek stood before she tried to pull the blanket out from under him. He picked up the wine bottle with a third of its contents left and draped an arm around Joya's shoulders.

“Where to, madam?”

“The lighthouse or we make a run for it down the beach and hope that we make it to my car or your house before it pours. My hair doesn't hold up to rain.”

Another crash of thunder made it sound as if the sky were splitting in two. Forks of lightning lit up the surrounding area.

“Bye-bye jam session. No one's stupid enough to risk being electrocuted. It's the lighthouse for us.”

Derek swooped her off her feet and began to run toward the tower.

“What are you doing?” she screamed, quite liking his Neanderthal approach, but reluctant to admit it. The wine must have gone to her head, either that or Derek and his offbeat personality had gotten under her skin.

“Where did everyone else go?” Joya asked, realizing they were alone. She wrapped her arms around Derek's neck to anchor herself.

“They all had the good sense to find shelter a long time ago. But not us.”

Joya giggled, liking the lighthearted way he poked fun at them.

Exactly one second before the sky exploded and rain pelted down, Derek kicked opened the lighthouse door and set her down inside.

“That was close,” he said, removing the flashlight from his pocket and illuminating the interior briefly. “I wonder where everyone else is hiding.”

“Right now, the only thing I'm concerned about is not having some creepy-crawly thing run over my foot.”

Derek shone the flashlight around, making shadows on the walls, and found steps leading upward. “I'm at your service, princess. I am prepared to do battle with any rodent or palmetto bug we encounter.”

Another bolt of thunder had Joya grabbing Derek by the arm and clinging. Outside, angry waves slammed against the pilings and sheets of rain sounded like a giant crumpling cellophane.

“Doesn't appear that it's about to let up anytime soon,” he commented.

“Then we might as well either explore or get comfortable.”

“How about we do both? It's rumored this place is haunted, I say we go find the ghost.”

Something about having Derek nearby was very comforting, and made her ready to take on any ghost. She had the feeling he was the type of guy who took good care of his ladies. Too bad she wasn't one of them.

Where did that come from?

Joya still had a hold of his arm. Up close and personal she couldn't miss the delicious smell coming from him. Maybe it was a good idea to explore and not get comfortable. Who knew what she might do? No,
they
might do. They couldn't be trusted together.

“I'm leading the way,” Derek said shining the flashlight in front of them and lighting a path.

Joya followed him toward the narrow stone steps that no two people could possibly mount side by side. She kept a fistful of his shirt in her hand as they continued to climb.

For some strange reason she was getting really spooked. Maybe it was the darkness, or it might have something to do with Derek bringing up the story that the lighthouse was haunted. Then again, maybe it had to do with the realization that the two of them were here alone, and no one had seen them enter. If anything happened, no one would know.

They'd reached the top. Through a window she could see an angry sky lit up by lightning and she could hear the ocean's roar below.

Something furry brushed against her foot. Joya's scream pierced the darkness. She leapt into the air, bringing Derek with her.

“What's wrong? What happened?” His voice was close to her ear.

Her breathing now came in quick little bursts. She was close to hyperventilating. “A mouse. A rat,” she said when she could bring herself to speak. “Something with fur and claws. It was disgusting.”

Derek, despite her death grip on him, shone the flashlight around the open space. Whatever it was had gone into hiding.

“I want to go home,” Joya pleaded, looking uneasily around and expecting whatever it was to reappear.

“You'd rather brave a storm than deal with a mouse that's more scared of you than you of it?”

“That's right. I hate creepy-crawlies, and I hate mice.”

Derek hugged her to him. “I'm here to protect you, girl.” The flashlight wobbled in his hand.

For a brief second, Joya allowed herself to relax and trust him. She let Derek fold her into his arms. They kissed again, and her arms wrapped around his neck and she gave in to the passion, the feeling of being swept away. Another quick brush of their lips, and again that instant combustion, the feeling her body was on fire.

Derek's hands were warm on her bare stomach. He began a sensual massage, a supple kneading of flesh. Those same hands found their way to her breasts. Derek's rough palms created a friction that caused her nipples to pebble and harden. His fingers slipped under the demi-cups of her bra, tweaking her nipples and setting off another round of heat. Every nerve was wired.

She was alive, pulsing and suffused with heat. Her loins felt heavy and her body close to exploding. She bit the side of Derek's neck and pressed herself against him, fitting her lithe body against his solid one. He was rock-hard and throbbing. Joya ran a hand over his butt and gave a little squeeze. Then things went rapidly out of control.

Joya's shirt was pulled over her head, and she did nothing to stop him. Simultaneously, she unzipped his pants and reached inside to release him. Then, holding him in one hand, she used her saliva to dampen a finger and draw circles around the rim of his erect penis.

Derek's groan told her she'd hit a sweet spot. He brought her up hard against him and the flashlight rolled across the floor, causing them to jump.

“Stop me now if you don't want this to go any further,” he said, on a ragged breath.

Joya didn't want to stop him. She was living in the moment with no expectations beyond this. Derek was making her feel like a woman again, and from the sounds of his uneven breathing, she hadn't forgotten what it took to make a man happy. Still, if he hadn't brought protection with him, things would come to a grinding halt. Now that would be disappointing.

“Joya?”

“I'm here, baby.”

“I need to get a condom from my wallet.”

Hallelujah! He'd come prepared. That also indicated responsibility.

Derek kicked off his pants then bent to retrieve his wallet from his back pocket. Joya removed what was left of her clothes. When Derek straightened he handed her the condom. “Come on, baby, help me slip this on.”

She used her hands and mouth to do so as Derek braced himself against the wall. His eyes were closed, his breathing strained. Rodents were forgotten. Joya stood on tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck. Derek's hands clamped around her buttocks and slowly lifted her until she was impaled. He began a slow sensuous thrust. With every entry, his thrusts grew in intensity as she jiggled and bounced against him, feeling as if she would burst out of her skin.

Derek nibbled on a nipple and Joya threw her head back. Her whole body ignited with the heat that seared through her. She was throbbing in places she didn't think were possible. Then Derek's whole body convulsed and with a final thrust he exploded. She bit down on his shoulder, let go and hurtled over the top.

Seconds turned to minutes and Derek still held onto her. Eventually he planted a kiss on her lips before setting her down. Then he retrieved the flashlight that had rolled into the corner, found his pants and climbed into them. Joya gathered her clothing and quickly got dressed. Without saying a word she followed him down the staircase and into the night.

Outside, the wind was still howling, but the rain had turned to drizzle. Only the occasional drenched stray dog roamed the boardwalk and there was no evidence of the aborted jam session.

Derek appeared lost in thought, and conversation was kept at a bare minimum. They walked back to Belle's, where Joya had left her car. Awkward as this was turning out to be, she had no regrets. She'd done what felt right and had been a willing participant in their lovemaking. She'd come to it with no expectations beyond what had happened tonight. She only hoped Derek was of the same mind, since he hadn't even tried holding her hand again.

When she reached her car, Derek gave her a peck on the cheek, the kind a brother gives a sister.

“Are you okay to drive?” he asked.

“I'm fine. The wine's pretty much worn off. Thanks for spending your evening with me.”

“I've enjoyed every last second of it.” His finger grazed her cheek. “Drive safely now. See you Monday.”

Joya climbed into her vehicle and Derek shut the door. She waved at him and started up the car. It wasn't until she was halfway across town that the full impact of what she'd done hit her. She'd made love to a man she barely knew. Worse than that, technically he was her employee and also one of her customers.

Enjoyable as it was, it just couldn't happen again. She wouldn't let it!

 

“I want to see what you did with my store,” Granny J insisted as Joya hung a left on Blue Heron.

“How about tomorrow, Gran? Today you really should stay in bed.”

She made another left on Bird Road and a right on Ibis. They were now only a few minutes from Flamingo Row.

Since Granny J had been released from the hospital she hadn't stopped carping. She was in one of her stubborn moods.

Joya had picked her grandmother up in the Lincoln Continental figuring it would be a more comfortable ride, but granny hadn't wanted to get comfortable. The store was all that she talked about and there was no changing the conversation.

After she'd parked the Lincoln in the back of the house, Joya tried once again.

“Tomorrow will be time enough, Gran,” she said, helping the old lady out of the back seat. Her bags could wait until after she'd gotten her settled. “Dr. Benjamin said you needed to be off your feet for at least a few more days. He wants you to take things slow.”

“It's my store and I want to see it,” the old lady insisted, jerking her elbow out of Joya's hold. “I'll rest far better if I see what changes you've made.”

Instead of starting up the path to the house, Granny toddled across the scrap of back lawn and toward the front where the store was. Joya reluctantly followed her. It was impossible to talk Granny J out of anything after she'd made up her mind.

The old lady stood on the sidewalk staring at the Craftsman-style cottage that served double duty as both her home and her store. Her lips were pursed and she jiggled her foot.