Island Fantasy

No wonder they’d been nicely dressed. They’d been heading to the gazebo for a wedding.

And when the man turned, Shayna felt another jolt. Out of all the rooms in the hotel, had his gaze landed on her?

She quickly hurried into her room, away from the man’s gaze. And then she felt stupid.

What was she going to do—run every time she saw him? Stay in her hotel room the entire week to avoid crossing his path?

“It’s not like you’re about to try and steal another woman’s husband,” she said to herself. “It’s okay to look.”

And maybe that’s exactly what she needed on this trip. Some eye candy to help soothe the memory of what Vince had done to her.

An attractive man she could admire from afar without any fear that it would lead somewhere.

After all, he was married. Therefore unavailable.

It was perfect.

Chapter 4

The next morning, the sun rose to a glorious day. Shayna stretched, climbed out of bed and immediately went to the balcony window. Pushing the curtains aside, she stared outside and sighed happily, knowing she would never tire of the view.

The previous evening, she’d found the dining hall, enjoyed a solitary dinner that seemed more Mexican than Jamaican, then retired to her room where she’d continued reading after calling home to assure everyone she was okay. Yes, she’d hidden from the world, but she hadn’t felt up to small chat with anyone. And she’d had a pleasant time by herself. It was hard to have a bad time when you sat on your balcony and stared out at nature’s stunning beauty.

She opened the glass door and stepped onto the balcony. Everything about the resort was magnificent. The beautiful greenery lining the stone paths. The towering palm trees and the low ones. The hibiscus flowers growing in the shrubs. The amazing contrast of light and dark blues in the ocean. The lulling sound of the ocean as it crashed against the shore. And she loved the slightly spicy scent of exotic flowers in the air, something she certainly didn’t smell back home in Buffalo.

Shayna smiled. Yes, this was a new day. And she was in paradise. She was going to enjoy it.

Heading back inside, she checked the time on her cell phone. It was after seven in the morning in Jamaica, which meant it was an hour later at home since Jamaica didn’t subscribe to daylight saving time. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a clock in the room. Maybe the hotel staff had figured that honeymooners would be too wrapped up in each other to care about checking the time of day.

She hadn’t eaten much of a dinner last night, and her stomach now grumbled in protest. It was time to head downstairs for breakfast. She got into the shower first, lathering up with the scented body gel the hotel provided, thinking that it was nice not to have to worry about sharing the bathroom with another person. To make her own schedule.

She was determined to look on the bright side.

Once out of the shower, she put her bathing suit on—then a dress to cover it—and packed a beach bag with two hardcover suspense novels. She would lounge by the pool and decide which world to escape into next.

Even though the walk from the front desk had been enormously long, the walk to the restaurant was much shorter. That’s because she didn’t need to backtrack through the hotel to get to the restaurant. It was directly opposite her building on the other side of the pool.

Shayna enjoyed a leisurely stroll from her building along the path that led to a bridge that crossed over the pool. It was early, but the sun was bright and hot. To her far right, under the terrace outside of the lobby, she saw the word SPA. She would definitely take a trip there later, pamper herself.

Shayna climbed the steps to the restaurant and opened the heavy door. The next moment, her heart caught in her throat. Because the sexy stranger who’d caught her staring at him yesterday was walking directly toward her.

Once again, he was accompanied by three females, two other men this time and the same children from the day before. The little girl the sexy stranger had held yesterday was now wide-awake, jumping with excitement as they exited the restaurant, probably ready to head to the pool or the beach.

Shayna smiled politely at the man and his family, then promptly looked away. She didn’t want his wife thinking she was the type of person who would do more than appreciate the good looks of another woman’s husband.

And she didn’t dare glance over her shoulder, fearing she would give both the man and his wife the wrong impression that she was a flirt.

At home, Shayna would have had a cup of coffee and perhaps a slice of toast for breakfast. But here at this all-inclusive resort, she had a freshly made omelet with cheese and vegetables, toast, slices of various fruits and a justbaked pastry. She ate and read at the table by herself until her stomach felt like it couldn’t hold another crumb.

The food was delicious. If she kept eating at this pace, she’d go home with another twenty pounds on her thighs.

She left the restaurant, appreciating the fact that the resort was as large as it was. All the walking would help burn off the extra calories she would no doubt consume.

As she stepped outside, she scanned the nearby pool area. It was beautiful. It would be a nice place to lounge for a while and read her thriller, let the food digest. Then she would get some exercise by doing several laps in the water.

Even though it was early, there was only one lounge chair left in the shade, at the side of the pool closest to the spa. Shayna could see the beige of the chair’s thin mattress, with no towel slung over it to indicate that it was taken. Positioned under a man-made tree created to look like a coconut husk, it was a prime seat. The mattress atop the chair’s wooden frame would certainly be more comfortable than the chairs on the opposite side of the pool, which were made of plastic and blue fabric.

The exit of the restaurant was near the towel hut, so first Shayna got herself a towel, then walked briskly to the vacant chair in the shade. Only when she got close to the seat did her legs falter. Sitting two chairs over from the one she planned to claim was the very handsome stranger she apparently would never be able to avoid.

“Brother,” she muttered under her breath, then told herself to keep walking toward the chair. What did it matter who was sitting there? The man was married and she could bump into him every other minute for the rest of her stay—it wouldn’t matter.

She continued on, her dark sunglasses allowing her to avoid making eye contact with the sexy—and married—stranger. He noticed her—and stared openly at her. Shayna pretended not to notice as she went to the empty lounge chair and settled into it.

Feeling the man’s gaze on her, she flitted her eyes to the left without moving her head. She was right. He was staring.

Shayna couldn’t help scowling, her view on men going down another notch. On Friday night it had plummeted after seeing Vince touching and kissing and then disrobing that stripper. And now, feeling the heat of this man’s gaze, she was further disappointed by the male species.

Why on earth was this man giving her more than a casual glance when he was here on this beautiful island with his wife and kids?

It didn’t matter. It took two to tango, and Shayna was certainly not going to tango with him.

Nor anyone else.

She put the folded towel behind her head to act as a pillow. Then she dug into her bag and pulled out her serial killer novel. Moments later, she found the page where she’d left off and resumed reading the book. In the story, another young woman’s body had just been discovered with a slashed throat and several knife wounds. There wasn’t a hint of a love story in sight.

Exactly what Shayna needed.

But even with the gore on the pages to occupy her mind, she was all too aware of the sexy stranger a couple of lounge chairs away. For some reason, her eyes kept surreptitiously flitting in his direction. He and the two other men were talking and laughing. Red Stripe beer bottles were on the table between their chairs.

She noticed all the details. That of the three men, the one she’d first seen had the best body. His shoulders were muscular, his pecs clearly defined. He looked to be related to the man on his right. That man was older, and he had a ring of extra weight around his waist. But he was still attractive, if not as sexy as his brother or cousin—or whoever the undeniably sexy man was.

The man’s gaze wandered in her direction, and Shayna quickly held her book higher, making it seem as though her nose had been buried in her story the entire time.

She turned her gaze toward the sprawling pool. Why on earth was this man commanding so much of her attention? For goodness’ sake, he was married.

Of course I’m checking him out, Shayna told herself a moment later. She did nothing if not people watch. Her role as a novelist demanded it. She was constantly checking out people, watching their faces as they spoke, their body language as they interacted. Storing every detail in her brain for future use.

She was simply cataloging the details of the man’s incredible body for a description in an upcoming story.

Of course that was why she was so intrigued by him. The realization made her sigh with relief.

She went back to her story and continued reading the descriptively brutal passage of the body at the crime scene. And when she heard the scream, she almost thought it came from her imagination.

But when the second frail scream sounded, this time crying out “Daddy!” Shayna jerked her eyes up from the pages of the book. In the pool before her, near a small round island that boasted grass and a palm tree, she saw the little girl struggling to stay afloat.

Shayna bolted into action. The pool was fashioned after a beach, where you walked right in from the shallow shore. Shayna sprinted right into the water, dress and all, moving as fast as she could to get to the little girl. She was aware of the commotion around her, but she blocked it out. Blocked it out until she reached the little girl and pulled her into the safety of her arms.

No sooner than she had the crying child, someone was reaching for the girl. Shayna quickly looked to her left. The sexy man and the two other men were there, but it was the brother or cousin who was taking the little girl from Shayna’s arms.

“Daddy!” The girl coughed. “Daddy!”

The man enveloped the little girl in an embrace. It was the same little girl who’d been so eager to get to the pool when Shayna had been heading in for breakfast. Shayna gazed down at the two older boys and three older girls in the pool, probably between the ages of six and eight. Their small faces were marred with concern.

“How did she get over here, Isaiah?” the man holding the crying young girl demanded.

“I don’t know—she just—”

It was the younger of the two boys who’d spoken, and he looked like he was going to cry.

“It’s all right.” The voice was just as sexy as the man. Shayna tried her best not to look at him. “You called for our help. That was smart. Very smart.”

Isaiah nodded bravely, and the sexy man clamped his hand down on his shoulder in a gesture of support.

And that’s when Shayna realized she shouldn’t still be standing there. That she was observing—intruding—when she should have moved back already.

She turned and started walking away. She didn’t get more than two steps before she felt a hand on her arm.

“Hey,” came the deep voice. Shayna turned, her heart thundering as she did. Piercing brown eyes met and held her gaze. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I did what anyone else would do.”

“No, thank you,” the man insisted. “My niece was drowning—and we can’t thank you enough for your quick action.”

His niece?

“Yes, thank you.” The man holding the little girl spoke now. The young girl, maybe three, was wailing and coughing. More frightened than anything else, Shayna knew.

But thank God she was okay.

“You’re welcome,” Shayna said. “I’m glad I could help.”

Then she headed back to her lounge chair. Her dress was soaking from the chest down, and she pulled it over her head. That’s when she noticed him. Walking toward her.

The look in his eyes made her stomach flutter, which was completely inappropriate. Even if he wasn’t the young girl’s father as she’d assumed, he was likely still the father of at least one of the children. Or at the very least, married to one of the three women who were nowhere in sight.

Shayna pretended not to notice him and instead concentrated on laying her dress over the back of the chair to air it out.

“Sorry you got your dress wet,” the man said.

“It’s perfectly okay,” Shayna told him, hoping her voice was as flat as possible. “It’ll dry.”

The man was near her now, only a couple of feet away. He extended his hand, “I’m Donovan.”

Shayna hesitated. She almost didn’t say her name. What was the point? But she decided that simply stating her name was not an invitation to begin an affair.

“I’m Shayna.”

“Nice name.”

Shayna almost rolled her eyes, but she didn’t. Instead she glanced around, looking to see where the three women were. She’d assumed they’d gone for a bathroom break or perhaps to the nearby bar.

She saw no one.

“I’m sorry,” Donovan said. “Are you expecting someone?”

“No. Just…checking the place out.” She paused a beat. “Which children are yours?”

Donovan seemed momentarily confused. Then he said, “Oh. None. But I’m a proud uncle.”

“Are you trying?” The question came from Shayna’s lips before she could stop it. It was none of her business, of course, but she was trying—as eloquently as possible—to let this man know that she wasn’t the least bit interested in someone who was married.

“Trying to have children?” Donovan once again sounded surprised at her question.

“You seem to be a very loving family,” she said, gesturing to the children and other men. “And you’re clearly an attentive uncle. I’m sure you must want kids with your wife.”

Donovan’s eyes widened in slight surprise. Then he nodded in understanding. “Aah. Well, I suppose if I had a wife I’d be trying. But I’m single.”

Now it was Shayna’s turn to look surprised. “You—You’re not married?”

He flashed his naked left ring finger. “Nope.”

“But I…Who are those women you’re with?”

“My sister, my brother’s wife and my cousin’s wife. Two of the kids are my brother’s, three are my sister’s and one is my cousin’s. Another cousin just got married yesterday. You haven’t seen her yet because she and her new husband are…well, they’re spending a lot of time indoors. Anything else you want to know?” Donovan added, a warm smile playing on his lips.

“No.” Shayna shook her head briskly. “I’m sorry…I had no right to be nosy.”

“But you thought I was married.”

Shayna glanced away. “To be honest, yes.”

“Now you know I’m not.”

The way he said the words made Shayna’s eyes jerk to his. And when they did, something in his gaze made her pulse race.

Donovan wanted her to know he wasn’t married. And there could be only one reason for that.

He was interested.

The charge she’d felt as she’d looked at him the night before had come not just from her appreciation of his good looks but also from his attraction to her.

“Is this your first time in Jamaica?” he asked.

Lord, but the man was fine. Shayna allowed herself a moment to stare at him without guilt. At his broad shoulders and perfectly sculpted chest.

But that was all she would allow.

She looked away. “Yes. It’s my first time here.”

“Mine, too,” Donovan said. “Beautiful place for a wedding.”

“Right.” Shayna smiled tightly. The last thing she wanted to think about was how perfect the place was for a wedding.

“So, where are you from?” Donovan asked.

“Why?”

“Excuse me?” Donovan asked.

Sighing softly, Shayna crossed her arms over her chest. She knew where this was going, and she wasn’t interested. Yes, the man was gorgeous, but she wasn’t on the island for a meaningless fling. She was getting over her broken heart.

“I’m going to come right out and say this,” Shayna began. “I think you’re a perfectly nice man and all, but I’m not interested in getting to know anyone.”

“Ouch.”

“I’m sorry,” Shayna said, realizing she’d been far too abrupt. “I was really rude, wasn’t I? It’s just…”

“Just what?” Donovan asked.

“Just…” She paused. Exhaled sharply. “Nothing I feel like talking about right now. So let’s just leave things off with my apology. I’m not normally this rude.”

“Donovan!”

Both Shayna and Donovan turned following the sound of the voice. Donovan’s brother, cousin and the children were back at their lounge chairs, drying their bodies with towels.

The father of Donovan’s niece—which meant the man was Donovan’s brother—said, “We’ve got to get going if we’re going to make the bus.”

Despite herself, Shayna asked, “You’re going on an excursion?”

“Yeah. We’re doing the dolphin ‘touch’ experience. Meaning we don’t get to swim with the dolphins, but we can go in the water with them and pet them. It better be good. It’s costing an arm and a leg.”

“What about the women?”

“It’s just the guys and kids. The ladies said they needed a break from being moms, so they’re doing a spa day.”

“Donovan!”

“Relax, Antwon. I’m coming.”

“The bus leaves at nine.”

“I know, I know.” Donovan waved off his brother’s concern, then turned back to Shayna. “It was nice to meet you, Shayna. Sorry that you’re having a rough time, but I do hope that you have a lovely day.”

Shayna felt like dirt. Here Donovan was, trying to be nice, and she had taken out her frustration with men—Vince in particular—on him. What was the harm in making small talk? Small talk did not equal reciprocation of affection.

She wanted to apologize again, but instead she simply said, “Thanks. You have a good day, too.”

Donovan smiled again—and Lord if it wasn’t the most charismatic smile in the world—then turned and headed back to his family. Shayna sat back down and picked her book up. But she didn’t even glance at the pages. Instead, she turned and watched as Donovan dried that magnificent body of his with the large blue towel.

And when he slung the towel over his shoulder and looked her way, Shayna didn’t turn her head. Instead, she raised her hand and gave a little wave.

It was the least she could do to show she regretted her ungracious behavior.

Chapter 5

“You like her,” Antwon said, clamping a hand down on Donovan’s shoulder as they stood at the front of the hotel, waiting to get on the bus that would take them to Ocho Rios.

Donovan faced his brother, not having heard what he’d said. “Hmm?”

“I’ve been talking to you for five minutes, and I bet you didn’t hear a word I said. You’ve been staring off into the distance. You’re thinking about that woman from the pool, aren’t you?”

Donovan’s eyebrows shot up at the statement. How had his brother read his thoughts?

Antwon chuckled. “Think I don’t know my little brother? You like her.”

“She’s cute,” Donovan admitted.

“She’s hot,” Antwon corrected.

Donovan shrugged, playing nonchalant.

“Are you gonna pretend you didn’t notice?”

“No, she’s definitely hot.” Donovan had thought of nothing else since they’d left the pool to go back to the room. Shayna was gorgeous. He’d noticed her immediately the day before. He’d also noticed that she was alone. For him, that had been good. But her comment to him earlier made it clear she didn’t want to be bothered.

“Why do I sense a but?” Antwon asked.

“I tried to make conversation, but she wasn’t interested,” Donovan stated flatly.

“So you try again.”

Ennis, their cousin, had been tending to the children in front of them, but hearing the conversation, took a step toward them and spoke. “He’s been out of the game so long, Antwon, he doesn’t remember how to play.”

“Hey,” Donovan said, frowning. “I still got game. But if someone’s not interested—”

“She’s interested,” Ennis said, confident she was.

That perked Donovan up. “Why do you say that?”

“Because every time your back was turned, she was checking you out.”

“Really?” Donovan asked. Shayna’s rejection had left him feeling out of sorts, but with his cousin’s comment, he was now feeling better.

“Really.” This from Antwon. “I saw it. Then you’d turn her way, and she’d quickly put her head back in her book.”

Donovan placed his hands on his hips, a smile playing on the edges of his mouth. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah,” Ennis said.

“Wow. I’m surprised. She totally blew me off when I talked to her.”

Antwon slung an arm across Donovan’s shoulders. “That’s exactly how Lynda was when I first met her. Gave me the cold shoulder most of the time. Did she mean it? No. She wanted me to chase her. Show her I was really interested. Women love that.”

You’d never know it now. Lynda and Antwon were as loveydovey as two people could be. It was nice to see.

And it was exactly what Donovan wanted for himself. In fact, two and half years ago he’d had all reason to expect that he would be enjoying that kind of marriage right now—but things had gone tragically wrong.

“You should have invited her to come along,” Ennis said.

“Right.” Donovan rolled his eyes. “Like she’d want to be the only woman on our trip. She doesn’t know us.”

“That’s gonna change,” Ennis said and smirked.

“Enough about Shayna already,” Donovan said, but inside he was smirking, too.

“Shayna,” Antwon said, his voice teasing. “Nice name.”

Donovan punched his brother’s arm. “Seriously. Enough.”

But the truth was, he didn’t mind the friendly teasing. It had been years since his brother or cousin could bug him about any woman.

Keira, Ennis’s five-year-old daughter, tugged on his shirt. “Daddy, Tamara won’t share her drink.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” Ennis said and stepped forward to deal with the children.

“Good, there’s the bus,” Donovan said, seeing the large tour bus pull up in front of the hotel. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

The bus came to a stop in front of them, and the children, who’d been antsy, dutifully lined up.

“Hey,” Antwon said, putting a hand on Donovan’s shoulder.

Donovan faced him. “Hmm?”

“Seriously, it’s nice to see you interested in someone again.”

Had he been that obvious? All Donovan had done was talk to Shayna. And he hadn’t gotten to say that much.

“I know you’ve had a rough time since Nina died,” his brother went on. “But I think she’d approve.”

At the mention of Nina, Donovan felt a spasm of sadness in his gut. He supposed he always would when he thought of the fiancée he had loved.

And lost.

Two and a half years ago, he’d been on track to marry the woman of his dreams. And then they’d gotten the devastating news that she had breast cancer. It had been caught too late. The cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and bones. Six months later, she was gone.

And so were his dreams of forever.

“Sorry,” Antwon said. “I didn’t mean to bring you down. I’m just saying, it’ll be good for you to start dating.”

“Yeah,” Donovan said softly. “I know.”

The thought of dating had been too painful in the beginning. And even after a year had passed, he hadn’t gotten Nina out of his heart. He hadn’t been against meeting someone new, someone as special as Nina was. It was just that no one had sparked his interest.