Romance: One Perfect Holiday (4 page)

Chapter Ten

When the alarm clock starts ringing at nine o’clock, I crawl out of my bed with a groan.

Even though I’m on vacation, I still went into pilot work mode and set my alarm.

I’m hopeless.

I really am.

After I’d run out on Grayson last night, I took a long walk on the beach and kept replaying what happened over and over in my head.

Did he really ask me to stay here at the resort?

And did he actually mean it or was it just some charming lines that he uses on all the girls once he’s slept with them?

“Well, good morning!” Zoe smiles when I walk out in the living room.

Racheal almost jumps up with excitement. “Tell us everything! Spare no details!”

“It was… great,” I say.

“So why the grumpy face?”

I pull out a chair and sit down at the table with them.

Rachael rests a hand on my shoulder. “We’re here, honey. Tell us what happened.”

Zoe gets up and heads into the kitchenette. She brings back a hot cup of coffee for me. “This should help.”

Taking a deep breath, I begin to tell them about last night. “It was incredible. Like,
really
incredible. Almost magical even.”

“Like a unicorn magical?” Zoe jokes.

“Well, he did have one horn pointing upright,” I chuckle.

“Oh yes!” Rachael screams with excitement. “And was it a big one?”

“Massive,” I reply, blushing.

“Show us!”

With my hands, I show them just how long and thick Grayson is.

Both girls almost fall over backwards.

“I knew it,” Rachael states, her eyes gleaming.

“And how was his… member?” Zoe asks.

“Oh, it was mind-blowing. In all honesty, I’ve never experienced sex quite like it. Never. There was tons of chemistry between us. It was unbelievable.”

“So, where did you guys do it? In his staff quarters?”

“No – someplace even better. We snuck onto a property next to the resort. It had a massive mansion on it, but Grayson knows the owner and said that the owner was away. We didn’t go into the mansion, but up on the hill was this little tiki hut with a bed and a remarkable view.”

“Wow… that almost sounds perfect.”

“It was perfect,” I sigh. “The location, the man, the moment… it was like a dream.”

“But?” Despite the joyous look in my eyes, the girls know something is up.

“Afterwards he… he asked me to stay at the resort.”

“What?”

“At the resort?”

“Yes. He said I should forget about New York and come live with him.”

“Whoa, really?! You must have left quite an impression on him, girl!”

“Do you think? I mean, he might have said that to other girls too. After all, he’s drop dead gorgeous and I’m sure a lot of single girls come to the resort.”

“A man doesn’t ask a girl to stay with him unless he’s head over heels for her,” Rachael’s voice is firm. “It’s every man’s dream to screw a beautiful woman and then walk away. He wouldn’t offer something like that unless he meant it.”

“Do you really think so?” I ask, starting to feel bad about running out on Grayson.

“Absolutely… but I get the feeling you didn’t say yes?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“What? What did you do then?”

“I ran away.”

“Like literally ran away?”

“Uh-huh. I don’t know what came over me, I just ran. And ran. It was all just too overwhelming. On the one hand, the city is my home and is a part of my identity… but on the other hand, no one has ever made me feel so… special and wanted.” 

“So, is he amazing enough to tempt you to stay?”

“Well, he seems perfect in every way, but…”

“There’s that word again…” Rachael cuts in.

Sighing, I bury my face in my hands. “I just don’t know if I can live without a busy, high-pressure city.  I don’t know if I could be content here with just peace and quiet. I don’t even know who I am without the demands of work. Like I said, I love New York. It’s my home.”

“But what do you really have there?” Rachael’s question packs a punch.

I pause to think about the question.

“What is it that’s keeping you in New York?” Zoe adds.

Both these girls grew up in New York but ventured outside the city to live in different states. 

Their lives have evolved since they left.

But not mine.

All I know is the Big Apple. 

Maybe they’re right. Maybe I need to know what else is out there…

“Claire, feelings like this don’t come around very often,” Rachael says, her tone soft.

“But I’ve worked so hard to get where I am at the bank…”

“I know, but life is all about choices, Claire.”

Shaking my head, I rise from my chair. “Sorry girls, I’m too confused. I need some fresh air.”

Throwing them a weak smile, I walk out of the apartment and into the warm air.

Their hearts are in the right place, but I need some to think.

Some time to breathe…

Chapter Eleven

After a brisk walk in the tropical air, I join the girls at the day spa – the pampering includes a wonderful massage, sauna, and beauty therapy.

The girls don’t raise the topic of Grayson again, but he’s never far from my mind.

How could he not be after a night like that?

After we completely relax and finish up at the spa, we head beachside for cocktails again.

Once we’ve settled in our sun chairs, I listen to the waves gently breaking on the shore and let the sound calm me. 

The rhythms of the beach remind me that there’s so much more to life than just putting my head down and working my ass off. 

There is a whole world out there that I’ve yet to dive into.

The rest of the afternoon disappears as we laze on the beach and get tipsy on Piña Coladas.

“Hottie alert!” Zoe whispers, reaching over to nudge me with her elbow.

Gazing up from my book, I see a towering, broad figure walking along the beach. 

The silhouette is large and muscular, framed by the afternoon sun. 

It takes my breath away.

I try to hide under my book and avoid eye contact with Grayson, but it’s too late. He knows I’m here.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him approach and pretend to read.

My heart is pounding so fast.

Why is he coming up to me? Shouldn’t he be pissed off about last night?

“Hello,” he says in that silky and seductive voice.

“Oh, hi,” I say, peering around the edge of my book.

“Hi,” Racheal smiles. “And bye.”

She stands up and gestures for Zoe to do the same before throwing me a quick wink. 

After they walk away, Grayson sits down on sun chair next to me where Rachael had just been.

“I meant what I said last night,” Grayson states, leaping straight into the conversation.

“Oh? And what was that?” I ask, being coy.

“I want you to stay at the resort with me.”

My heart skips a beat again.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” His tone is so serious and direct.

“The city. My work. My life. I can’t just throw that all away.”

“Your work isn’t important. It doesn’t define you,” Grayson says, taking a hold of my hands.

His touch sends a tantalizing shiver up my spine.

Grayson is right. My work doesn’t define me, but I need it. 

I’m not sure who I am without it and I’m afraid that Grayson won’t like the real me.

“I want you to stay,” he repeats. “Last night my world came to life, which is something I haven’t felt in years. Just being with you, despite only knowing you for a couple of days, makes me feel… complete.”

His words are heartfelt and full of passion. He really is telling me the truth.

“I can’t,” I protest again.

“Don’t go back to work. Everything that you could ever want in the world is here - sun, surf, sand, and me. Like I said before, I can get you a job too. The resort office would love to have an experienced banker on board.”

“Grayson, I told you… I can’t.” I’m struggling to resist his offer, but my head is still fiercer than my heart.

“Give me one good reason why you can’t?” he states, annoyance creeping into his voice.

“I can’t stay because… you’re not the man for me.” The words fall out of my mouth without a filter. I don’t even know if I mean them.

“Not the man for you?  And who is the man for you?”

“I don’t know.  I haven’t met him yet, but I know that he’s not some guy who works at a resort and lives day by day on whims. The man I want will have security in his life.  He’ll be successful and more of a businessman, the kind you find back in New York.”

Despite it being a blatant lie, it’s the only thing I can think of to say to try and convince myself not to give in.

“I don’t believe you.”

“You don’t believe me? How can you say that? You don’t even know me!”

“I can read you like a book,” he states with a hefty sigh. “Success at work doesn’t mean anything in the end. Nobody on their deathbed has ever said that the one thing they regretted was not working more. And anybody can be successful in the big city.”

“That’s not true.  It’s hard work to succeed in the real world. But of course, you wouldn’t know anything about that,” I say on the defense.

The words are harsh and rude, but they barely seem to put a dent in Grayson’s ego. 

“Work is not the real world.  Surviving in the rat race is not how we’re supposed to live our lives.  Out here is the real world.  Look around you – nothing could be realer than this.”

“Spoken like someone who has never experienced the world that I live in.  The city is a part of me and I can’t be with someone that doesn’t understand me.”

He averts his eyes away and shakes his head.

“I’m sorry, Grayson.  But we’re just not suited for each other.  Our lives are too different.”

With a sharp nod, he rises and leaves.

As I watch his God-like physique disappear down the beach, a single tear runs down my cheek.

Oh, Claire. What have you done?

Chapter Twelve

Despite how great these last five days have been with the girls, the last day of our vacation has a tinge of sadness. 

Not only do I have to say goodbye to my best friends tomorrow, but I also have to leave Grayson and this picturesque resort behind too.

“As this is our last day here, I’m only going to raise this topic one more time, Claire,” Rachael states.

“Okay…” I sigh, staring down at my hotcakes. “Go on.”

“Why won’t you consider staying here?”

“Because…”

“Because is not an answer. This guy could be ‘the one’ and you’re just going to throw him away?”

“Like I told Grayson, I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I’m not going to throw it away for the sake of love. No, it’s not even that. It was just a fling. You know I’m not a risk-taker, Rach. I like my safe, yet extremely busy, world. It would be stupid to give it up. I mean, what happens in three months time when the glow of the relationship wears off and he moves onto someone else. What happens then? I crawl back to my old life and beg for my old job back? No thanks.”

“But what happens in three months if you realize that he’s still perfect for you?”

“It’s a holiday fling, remember. Nothing more.”

“That’s baloney and you know it!”

Scowling, I dig my fork into my breakfast.

“What’s
really
keeping you in the city?” Rachael persists. “You hate your job most days.”

Looking at my hotcakes, I try to find an answer for her.

She’s right – most days I do hate my job.

And my apartment.

And my ex-boyfriend…

So, why am I still there?

“Maybe…”

“Yes?” both Rachael and Zoe ask, leaning forward.

“Maybe I could… No. I can’t. I wouldn’t be challenged enough here. I need a challenge.” 

“Fear!” Zoe bellows, slamming her hand down on the table. “That’s the only thing that’s holding you back. Fear.”

“I agree with Zoe. What’s the worst that can happen, Claire?”

“Ah, didn’t we just cover that. In three months time the relationship could turn sour… yadda yadda yadda.”

“Okay, let’s say that’s the scenario. What happens after that?”

“I have to restart my life out here. Alone.”

“And is that such a bad thing?”

“Of course it’s-” my words fall away when I realize what they’re suggesting.

Staying here is not just about Grayson.

It’s also about me.

It’s about finding myself again and learning who I am away from the city and work.

“So, why don’t you stay?” Zoe asks again like she’s witnessed the penny dropping in my head.

I think about all the missed opportunities I’ve had in life – all the chances I’ve been too afraid to seize.

“Yes,” I say as a smile sneaks across my face. “Why not?”

“What are you waiting for then?” Racheal’s beams, her voice full of jubilation. “Go and find that hunky man of yours!”