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“Don’t even try it, G.” Dane used his bottle to point in Gage’s direction. “Hookin’ up with the wrong chick can turn a beautiful life into hell on earth.”
“Where’s all this comin’ from, man?”
“Coming from one friend to another.”
“Jay might not see it that way.” Gage went back to girl watching and nursing his beer.
“We usually don’t see it that way when being told something for our own good.”
“Right.” Gage left Dane’s counter-remark unchallenged and pushed away from the bar. “Guys, we can take this stairway down to find our lunch!” he called out to the rest of the group.
Gage waited for Alythia, offering her his arm when she broke away from her friends.
“Thanks.” She leaned into him a little. “Those mojitos were no joke.”
“There’s more where they came from.”
Alythia tilted back her head. “That’s good to know. Being around my girls for ten days will definitely put me in the mood for more.”
Gage slanted a look toward Dane, who responded with a mock toast of his beer bottle. “I know what you mean,” he said.
Chapter 3
It went without saying that the lower deck of the jet made quite an impression on Gage Vincent’s guests. Myrna and Orchid were very vocal in their appreciation of the sumptuous layout of the combination dining room and sitting room. Myrna oohed and aahed while breaking into a light sprint down the wide aisle. She trailed her fingers across the silk-covered beige sofas and chairs with embroidered finishes. Even Orchid, who had seen her fair share of private jets, seemed impressed by the understated decor of the grand space. She didn’t let too much of it show, preferring instead to use the opportunity to school her fiancé. Simply put, if Jayson was confused about what to look for when he bought his jet, use this for an example.
Jeena was equally as impressed. She was busy trying to get Gage to agree to a time when they might chat.
“I know neither of us are in the mood to discuss business, but you’re so busy every time I call,” Jeena rambled while tapping furiously at her mobile as she scrolled through the calendar there. “I’m pretty sure your assistant is sick and tired of talking to me while we try to work on a good time to meet. But I’m flexible with whatever we can...”
While Jeena talked, Gage only half listened. It was of no consequence. If need be, he could have recited her spiel verbatim. A good thing, too, because taking a more avid interest in the woman’s rambling wasn’t a top priority just then.
Gage kept his gait to a leisurely stroll.
So much the better for Jeena. She hoped she might be on the verge of nailing down a meeting with the elusive entrepreneur. Aside from her, the one thing Jeena’s...clients all had in common was Gage Vincent. They were either in business with the man or they wanted to be. Jeena hoped to be on the in business with Gage Vincent side of things. Having him on her side to smooth the way regarding certain ventures would be a coup indeed. But Jeena didn’t realize that she was pretty much carrying the conversation alone, with only Gage’s intermittent “mmm-hmms” to punctuate the discussion.
“I’ll have my assistant get in touch with you,” he managed just as they rounded the corner into the dining area. He didn’t spare Jeena a glance. His stirring gaze was set on Alythia as he and Jeena walked into the room, among the last to arrive.
Gage saw the smile enhancing Alythia’s profile when she angled her head to look up at the recessed lighting that added a golden glow to the cream, beige and cocoa color scheme. The space was devoid of windows, and woodgrain-based lamps had been added to provide warm illumination. Gage dipped his head, hoping to shield the smile that emerged as he studied her reaction.
“And here I thought the bottom of a plane was only for storing luggage,” Aly teased. Turning just as Gage looked up, she favored him with a smile across her shoulder.
Alythia’s comment closed off whatever attention Gage had been paying to Jeena.
“So when should I expect your assistant’s...call?” Jeena finished disapprovingly when she saw Gage walk on ahead to catch up with her friend.
Jeena’s cool, unreadable smile mimicked the one Zeke Shepard wore when he rounded out the group arriving in the dining space. He’d taken a deep interest in the sight of his old friend leaving one beauty to catch up with another.
“My friend has a one-track mind sometimes,” Zeke noted to the petite woman Gage had left behind.
Jeena ceased working at her phone. “One-track?” she queried of the slender dark man next to her.
“One reason Gage agreed to this trip is because all of Orchid’s friends are dimes.” Zeke grinned.
“That’s cold,” Jeena chided, though lightly. She pulled a stylus pen from her bag and blandly regarded the man in question. “I’d like to think he really wanted to do something special for his friend.”
“Well...that, too.” Zeke gave a little shrug. “But being surrounded by four beautiful women won’t be a hardship.”
“Hmph.” Jeena tapped a finger to her cheek and slowed her pace a bit. “Are you saying that he plans to sleep with all of us?”
“Nah.” Zeke’s response was softer, reassuring then. “My man’s already made his selection.”
Jeena stroked the soft hair tapered into a V at her nape while studying Gage and Alythia. The two stood discussing an oil canvas that was on display inside a cozy alcove a ways down from the dining room. She gave a sideways glance up at Zeke.
“And what about you? Have you made your selection, as well?”
“Not much point in making a selection if your choice is otherwise occupied, is there?” He gave a pointed look toward Jeena’s phone.
“Oh, this?” Shrugging, Jeena dipped into a sultrier mode. “It’ll do until something better comes along.” She used one hand to tuck the phone into the back pocket of her coral linen capris; the other she linked through the crook of Zeke’s arm.
* * *
“You live very well,” Alythia told Gage once he had finished the story of how he’d acquired the piece adorning the alcove wall.
“Thanks.” He gave her a gracious nod. “It’s not without a lot of hard work.”
“Just don’t work too hard,” Alythia advised with a playful gleam in her light eyes.
“Don’t work too hard without having anything interesting to show for it.” Gage edited the advice and then smiled encouragingly. “Would you agree?”
Aly regarded the vibrant hues that seemed to shimmer within the canvas and draw the observer’s eye to the brilliant meshing of colors. “I’d definitely agree.” She sighed as though imagining herself in the seascape depicted in the painting. “I might get around to living that truth if I ever get past the ‘working hard’ phase.”
Gage turned his attention back toward the canvas. “This trip’s a good place to start.”
“It was supposed to be.” Alythia couldn’t resist sending an uncertain glance across her shoulder.
“What’s that look for?”
It wasn’t in her nature to confide so easily, but the man possessed the most coaxing voice. Aly wondered if he knew that and how often the attribute worked to his advantage. Her guess was quite often.
“The only reason I agreed to come along on this getaway was because there’s a chance for me to get some real business handled.”
“Real business, huh? In the Caribbean?” Gage’s rich, dark brows rose.
The soothing depths of the man’s voice notwithstanding, Alythia had been bursting to share her news. Silently, she reasoned that she could at least count on Gage not to blab to her girls if she told him.
“I happened upon a business opportunity while I was trying to find a little more info on where we were heading for this trip. I hope to own a chain of boutiques one day.” She shrugged. “Right now there’s only two, but I’m looking to expand. Turns out our resort owner has a shopping village that he’s hoping to cultivate. I’ve convinced him to at least consider giving my shop a chance.”
Gage put in a fantastic effort to school his expression.
“We should go check out the place when we land, all right?”
Alythia was already shaking her head no to Gage’s suggestion. “It’s not necessary and I don’t want to mention it to my friends. They’re still getting over the shock that I agreed to come along.” She folded her arms across the emerald tank that hugged her breasts adoringly.
“It’d crush Ork to know that my priority is once again business and not taking time out with my girls.”
Gage’s grimace over the outlook triggered the lone dimple in his cheek. “Time out with friends takes money.”
“Agreed,” she said with a smirk, “but my friends think the way I earn my money takes up too much time.” She cast a withering look toward the painting then. “Unfortunately, I don’t come from money—” she looked to Orchid “—I’m not model material—” she took note of Myrna “—and I don’t have the nerve to earn my money the way they say Jeena earns hers.”
“That’s good to hear.” He leaned in close and gave her waist a pat. “And you’re wrong. You’re definitely model material and then some.”
Alythia felt her lips part, but she really didn’t expect to handle the task of filling her mouth with words. Thankfully, speaking became a moot point when Gage turned once again, offering her his arm and then escorting her toward the dining room area, where everyone else had already gathered.
Dining room seating consisted of blocky chairs with heavily cushioned seats and backs. A booth seat ran the length of a polished dark oak table and was upholstered in the same embroidered beige silk as the dining chairs and other furnishings.
The space could seat six comfortably, which mattered little to the betrothed couple. They opted to enjoy the late lunch on the sofa that held position opposite the dining table and ran the length of the entire space. There, Orchid and Jayson lounged in a loving tangle of arms and legs. Every now and then, Orchid would burst into wild laughter over something that her fiancé whispered in her ear.
Across from the happy couple, other companion selections appeared to have been made. Dane and Myrna had laid claim to the booth seat while Zeke and Jeena engaged in their own private conversation from the cushiony chairs that put them side by side. Across from them, holding court at the other end of the table, were Alythia and Gage.
“Do you think our travel companions care what’s on the menu?” Gage asked, reclining in the chair he occupied, elbow relaxed along the arm with his hand at his mouth as he spoke.
The question gave Alythia the chance to observe her friends, something she’d been trying not to do since the game of “choose your lunch partner” had gotten under way several minutes prior.
“I don’t think it matters,” she managed. Inwardly, Alythia was cringing. Jayson and Orchid’s...demonstrativeness was understandable. The rest was, in Alythia’s opinion, not a good idea. Not that she was in any way against enjoying all the delights a Caribbean getaway was supposed to offer. Only...if someone got the wrong idea and became disappointed, things would not bode well for the feelings of good cheer desired between the bride’s and the groom’s friends. From the looks of things, Aly noted, it didn’t appear that anyone would be disappointed anytime soon.
From her periphery she could see Gage looking her way. She felt no pressure to make conversation. He was only...looking. She realized that he had a way of doing so that soothed instead of stirred her. Not that his gold-flecked browns didn’t have the power to stir. There was just something about him, some element to his demeanor, that was intensely calming. It was a good thing, too, Aly thought. She was sure to require every calming agent she could summon before the end of the trip. She decided to give that train of thought as little brain time as possible and turned to face Gage fully.
“Forget them,” she said. “I’m very interested in what’s on the menu.”
Chuckling softly, Gage pulled away the fist that supported his cheek. “I think you’d rather see it for yourself instead of listening to me trying to describe it.”
Everyone, in fact, tuned in to the wait staff, who had arrived balancing trays of covered dishes and baskets of golden bread.
* * *
The late lunch was sort of a preamble to the kinds of delicacies the group was sure to enjoy during their ten-day Caribbean stay. The travelers dined on catfish, flown in fresh from the Outer Banks of North Carolina that morning, in a succulent white-wine-and-scallion sauce; chilled shrimp with a tangy tomato, orange and lemon glaze drizzle; steamed squash; and zucchini. There was fresh apple butter for the yeast bread and a decadent apple-cinnamon cobbler for dessert.
Once again private conversations and laughter resumed. The soft talking mingled with the infrequent clinking of silver-and other dinnerware.
“Tell me about your business.” Gage took advantage of their measure of privacy to ease some of his curiosity about the woman dining to his right.
Alythia gave a one-shoulder shrug, keeping her light eyes downcast toward the zesty fish. “It’s just a store.”
His smile was equal parts desire and disappointment. “Why do you do that?” He clenched a fist to resist trailing his fingers along the caramel-toned length of her bare arm.
Again she shrugged. “I’m guessing that selling clothes would sound pretty silly compared to what you do all day.” Faintly, she acknowledged that she really had no idea what he did all day.
“I don’t think selling clothes is silly.” Gage allowed mock bewilderment to cross his dark, attractive face. “I can think of at least three people in this room who I have no desire to see without their clothes.”
Alythia tried to quiet her laughter when Gage fixed pointed looks upon each of his three best friends.
“Does your laughing mean you’re in the mood to tell me how you got into the clothing business?” he asked.
Alythia took a moment to observe him then. He’d propped his fist to his cheek again and she wondered whether it was a habitual stance. Whatever the case, it kept her settled in a comfortable frame of mind conducive to talking.
Everyone appeared relaxed and truly involved in their conversations. The food—which was quickly disappearing—smelled wonderful and tasted even more wonderful. The room where they dined was as much like a work of art as the exquisite pieces that adorned the wall spaces of the aircraft.
Aly thought that the lamp lighting was soothing, very much like the sound of Gage’s voice when he called her name to tug her from her thoughts.
“It’s not such a surprise that I’d go into the clothing business.” She saw his probing stare narrow dangerously and raised her hands in a show of playful defense. “I swear I’m not trying to make light of it.”
Gage had dissolved into laughter. Once done, he relaxed back into the chair and waved his hand in a mock show of permissiveness, urging her to continue with her story.
At ease, Alythia forked up another plump glazed shrimp. “I’ve always dreamed of being surrounded by beautiful clothes.” She popped the morsel of meat into her mouth and took a moment to relish the taste. “Mostly because I never had any growing up. None of us did.” Her expression saddened somewhat when she looked toward Myrna and Jeena. “Then we met Orchid.” She beamed.
“How’d that friendship happen?” Gage glanced over to Orchid and Jayson. “I thought, with her family’s money, she’d have been in some private school.”
Aly levered a weighty look toward her friend. “Yeah, she was, but there were...problems with following a few choice rules and Mr. Benjamin said if she wanted to rule-break, he wasn’t gonna pay an arm and a leg for her to do it. So he sent her to public school.”
“Damn. I heard he was a tough man.” Gage studied Orchid for a moment or two and then shook his head. “Hard to believe she got into so much trouble with a parent like that.”
“Well, Ork’s always done her own thing...but Luther Benjamin was a really great man.” Alythia set down her fork and leaned back into the chair, reminiscence filling her striking stare. “He never treated his daughter’s new public school girlfriends with anything other than acceptance and respect. He was the kind of dad we all wanted.” A sigh followed the admission.
“Wanted but...didn’t have?” Gage carefully probed.
“Myrna’s mom and dad separated when she was little.” Alythia hugged herself a bit, raking her square French tips over suddenly chilled arms. “Jeena never knew her dad, and mine...” She resisted the urge to allow resentment to close her eyes. “Mine was in and out, in and out of my mother’s pocketbook when he’d drank or gambled off his own. If he didn’t steal it, she’d give it to him, no questions, no matter if she had to pay rent, buy food or...”
“Clothes.”
His voice was quiet with understanding that made Aly smile while she nodded slowly.
“My mom died of a broken heart. She tried to be everything my father wanted. When that didn’t work, she tried to buy his love and when that didn’t work, she killed herself.”
The stunning revelation was interrupted when a belt of laughter rang out from Zeke and Jeena’s direction. Gage paid no mind to the outburst on the other side of the room. He appeared stricken and remorseful.
“Hell...” He groaned, having taken her elbow and drawn her so near to him that she was practically seated on the line between the cushions of his chair and her own. “God, I’m sorry for making you remember that.”
“No, Gage.” She smoothed her hand across the one that clutched her arm. “It wasn’t like that. She—” Aly inhaled around the sudden emotion swelling her chest. “She passed slowly over time. There was nothing...physically wrong. She just didn’t want to live—lost the will...”
“I’m sorry anyway.” He squeezed her arm and gave it a little tug.
“Thanks.” Her smile harbored none of its earlier somberness. “I’ll never own up to the idea that I have any ‘daddy issues.’ My sister and I are too busy living our lives for that.”
“I like the sound of that.” Gage applied a soft thumb stroke to the bend of her arm.
“It’s true. We live our lives in tribute to our mom.”
Suspiciously amused, he smiled. “How?”
