Excerpt

“I just want to kiss you again,” Shayna said.

And so he did, pressing his hot mouth down on hers, forcing his tongue between her parted lips. Her body exploded with heat. She opened her mouth to him, letting his tongue go deeper, and sighing with the pleasure of it. It was a hot and desperate kiss, far too inappropriate for public, but Shayna didn’t care. All she wanted right now was to indulge in this flirtation to the fullest. She kissed Donovan wantonly, kissed him as though he was the man she was supposed to be with on her honeymoon.

As his lips caressed hers, his fingers skimmed the side of one of her breasts. Shayna mewled, wishing he could touch the part of her that craved his fingers, but knowing he couldn’t.

He moved with her through the water to the side, where he gently leaned Shayna’s body against a large rock. Her legs were still wrapped around him, and as he kissed her senseless, he held her more tightly, and she clung to him.

KAYLA PERRIN

has been writing since the age of thirteen and once entertained the idea of becoming a teacher. Instead, she has become a USA TODAY and Essence bestselling author of dozens of mainstream and romance novels, and has been recognized for her talent, including twice winning Romance Writers of America’s Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year Award. She has also won the Career Achievement Award for multicultural romance from RT Book Reviews. Kayla lives with her daughter in Ontario, Canada. Visit Kayla at www.KaylaPerrin.com.

Island Fantasy
USA Today Bestselling Author
Kayla Perrin

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

Lately I’ve had many letters from my fans, asking me when I’m going to write another romance novel. I’ve dipped my hand in other pots, writing some suspense, erotica and general women’s fiction, but romance is where I started, and romance is still in my heart.

So for those of you who have been waiting for another one of my romances, for those who enjoy reading all of my stories, and for those who might be reading one of my books for the first time, I’m very pleased to have Island Fantasy to share with you.

Many of us—if not all—have experienced heartbreak at some point in our lives. Many of us have experienced betrayal. What if you experienced a crushing betrayal on the night of your wedding? Would you get married anyway, hoping that your fiancé simply had prewedding jitters and that once he said “I do” all would be fine? Or would you have the courage—in front of all of your wedding guests—to say that you deserve better?

My heroine, Shayna Kenyon, has the courage to call off the wedding, knowing that a man who would betray her the night of her wedding isn’t a man who deserves her heart. It’s not an easy thing to do, but doing the right thing isn’t always easy. I wrote Shayna’s story to show a woman’s courage in the eleventh hour. To show that even if you’re about to say “I do” and suddenly realize it’s not right, it’s not too late to say “I don’t.”

I really enjoyed writing Shayna and Donovan’s love story. I hope you enjoy their quest for true love on the beautiful and sultry island of Jamaica. And be sure to look for Brianne’s story—Shayna’s sister—in my next Kimani Romance.

And now, indulge your Island Fantasy.

Kayla

Chapter 1

Shayna Kenyon didn’t consider herself a vengeful person. Revenge was not her style. In life, she had been able to turn the other cheek when people had wronged her. Been able to move forward and leave any ugliness in the past.

But last night…A flash of what she’d witnessed with her own two eyes entered her brain, causing her stomach to twist harshly. She couldn’t very well move forward from Vince’s betrayal in the same easy fashion she had moved forward when necessary in the past.

Especially not today.

Today…Oh, Lord help her.

The depth of Vince’s betrayal burned deep in her soul. And the timing of it couldn’t have been worse.

Shayna inhaled a deep, shaky breath. Her eyes misted, but she held back her tears. She had to do what she was about to do. There was no other choice.

“Baby, it’s okay,” her father said and held her arm a little closer to his side. “There’s no need to cry. You’re marrying a man who adores you, and if I do say so myself, you look incredible. You’re my daughter, yes, but I mean it when I say this—you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. Other than your mother,” he added with a smile. “This is your day. Enjoy it.”

Enjoy it, Shayna thought sourly. She hadn’t enjoyed anything since last night—and she had the puffy eyes to prove it. She’d told her parents that she’d been too excited to sleep, which wasn’t the truth. She’d been too devastated to truly rest. All night, she had lain awake, alternately crying and contemplating what to do.

Her decision—approved by her sister—was the only thing giving her the power to walk down the aisle. The fact that there would be some satisfaction in what was coming next. It was the only reason she’d gotten all dressed up and spent two hours getting her hair and makeup done. To see the look on Vince’s face when she let him—and all the guests in attendance—know that she knew.

The last of Shayna’s five bridesmaids took her place on the podium. After a few beats of silence, the local singer she and Vince had hired began her rendition of “Here I Am” by Beyoncé and Eric Benét. Shayna and Vince had opted for something more contemporary as opposed to the traditional organ music signaling the bride’s walk down the aisle.

Shayna swallowed, tears falling from her eyes even though she didn’t want them to. Her father pulled the handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed at her cheeks.

“Come on, baby,” he urged. “Everyone’s waiting.”

Shayna hesitated a beat, suddenly unsure. But even her sister had encouraged her to do what she was about to do next. “Do what you need to do,” her younger sister, Brianne, had told her. “As far as I’m concerned, Vince deserves much worse than public humiliation.”

The singer continued the soulful love ballad, and Shayna knew she should start moving. Through the church’s back door windows, she could see everyone on their feet, waiting for her to take her final walk as a single woman.

The doors opened. She began to move. She was nervous and devastated, and yet she tried to force a smile. Given her state of mind, she wasn’t sure she accomplished her goal.

All around her, people were grinning. Some grinning and crying. This was a wonderful occasion. One she’d waited thirty-two years for. Her family was ecstatic that she’d found the kind of love that lasted a lifetime.

Shayna knew better, and soon everyone else would, too.

While walking down the aisle, Shayna hadn’t allowed herself to look directly at Vince, afraid she would fall apart. But as she neared him, she did. Her stomach lurched with disgust when she saw the tears streaming down his face.

Tears of joy, or tears of shame?

The tears of shame would come soon—that much she was sure of.

Near the pulpit, her father stopped, faced her and dabbed at his own tears before kissing her cheek. “I love you, baby,” he said.

“I love you, too,” Shayna said, her voice a whisper.

She hoped her father wouldn’t be upset with her ruse, but she knew his wrath would be for Vince. Vince, who’d behaved like the son her father had never had.

How could you? Shayna wondered, and then took the two steps onto the podium to join her groom.

The singer finished her song. Vince took Shayna’s hands in his, his eyes lighting up with warmth.

“Baby, you look amazing,” he told her, and Shayna wanted to yank her hands from his grip. She was past the devastation, at least temporarily, and was going on pure anger.

“Dearly beloved,” the minister intoned. “We are gathered here today—”

“Excuse me,” Shayna interrupted, her stomach fluttering. She had known she would speak, but she hadn’t expected it to be just then. But she couldn’t fake it a moment longer. Couldn’t stand the sight of Vince acting like the happy fiancé. “I—I need to say something.”

The minister looked confused. So did Vince.

But when neither objected, Shayna forged ahead, meeting her fiancé’s tear-filled eyes. “Actually, I have a question for you, sweetheart.” She added the last word with much exaggeration.

“What, baby?” Vince asked, looking and sounding concerned. “What is it?”

Part of her wanted to turn and run down the aisle. That would be easier than confronting Vince publicly. And yet, she’d made up her mind. Difficult or not, she was going to do what she’d planned.

“Do you love me, Vince?” Shayna asked. “Love me enough that you believe you’re making the right decision by marrying me?”

A hum of surprise sounded in the crowd. People were curious now, perhaps some realizing that something wasn’t right.

“Of course I do,” Vince responded. He squeezed Shayna’s hands tighter and chuckled softly in relief, his tone saying he felt his bride was suffering from last-minute jitters. “You know I love you more than anything, baby. You’re the one I want to grow old with. Have children with. Spend the rest of my life with.”

There were some, “Awwws,” and a few people even clapped—that’s how perfect Vince’s answer had been.

“Shall I continue?” the minister asked. The warm smile on his face said he also believed that Shayna had simply needed reassuring.

Shayna faced the minister. A beat passed. Then she said, “Just one more question.”

Silence filled the church, so much so that the buzzing of a fly could be heard. Shayna swallowed the lump in her throat so that she could find her voice, aware that everyone was waiting to hear what she had to say.

She straightened her shoulders and said, “You love me.”

“Of course.”

“You love me so much you ended up in your car after your bachelor party, making out with a stripper!”

Startled gasps erupted in the pews.

“Baby,” Vince said. He tried to chuckle, but the sound was hollow. “A—a stripper? W-what?”

Shayna pulled her hands from the man she was grateful not to be marrying. “Don’t you dare try to lie, Vince. I saw you with my own eyes! You were parked right outside the private hall you rented, you jerk. I saw you leave the building with her. I saw you go to your car with her. And I saw what happened after that, too.”

Vince said nothing, but Shayna saw the panic in his widened eyes. The disbelief that she could possibly know what he’d done.

Shayna glanced to her left, at her sister, who was her maid of honor. Brianne nodded her encouragement.

“And baby,” Shayna went on, slowly and clearly, “if that’s your definition of love, then I’ll pass on the whole marrying you thing, thank you very much.”

Vince’s mouth fell open, but he was too startled to speak. A buzz of surprised chatter instantly filled the church. The groomsmen and bridesmaids all stared at Shayna, stunned looks on their faces. Shayna would answer their questions—but not yet.

Running on adrenaline, Shayna gathered her wide organza skirt in her hands and turned as swiftly as she could. She hustled back down the aisle, aware that all eyes were on her.

She knew she would cry later, but for that moment, as she neared the back doors of the church, she smiled.

Vince Danbury may have had a scandalously good time last night, but Shayna had just had the last laugh.

Chapter 2

“You’re still going on your honeymoon?” Brianne asked Shayna later that afternoon, the look on her face saying she thought her sister was crazy.

“I’m not going on my honeymoon,” Shayna clarified. She was running her fingers through her shoulder-length hair, trying to loosen the tight spiral curls the hairdresser had done such a great job of creating for her wedding. “A honeymoon requires two people who just tied the knot.”

“You know what I mean,” Brianne said. “You still plan to go to Jamaica tomorrow—the trip that was supposed to be your honeymoon?”

“Seven days in Jamaica? Of course I’m going.”

Brianne placed her hands on her hips as she stared at Shayna, who sat on the edge of Brianne’s bed. “You’re serious.”

Shayna didn’t respond. Instead, her eyes traveled over her sister—from the white orchid adorning her short black hair to the pale yellow maid of honor dress. “Do me a favor, sis? Take that dress off, please?” Her wedding dress had been the first thing Shayna had taken off when she’d gotten to her parents’ house, slipping into a pair of her sister’s shorts and a T-shirt. “I really don’t want any reminders of Vince.”

“Oh.” Brianne smoothed her hands over the dress. “Right.” She reached behind her to drag down the zipper. “Such a shame I didn’t get to wear this all day. After all that weight I lost for your wedding…”

Her sister did look fabulous. At the beginning of the year, she’d started a diet and rigorous workout routine to get in better shape for Shayna’s wedding. She’d lost thirty-five pounds.

Brianne walked toward the closet, shimmying the dress off her shoulders. She found a red sundress with a formfitting halter neck and slipped into that.

Brianne twirled around, facing Shayna again in the casual dress. “Better?”

Shayna nodded. “Yes. Except for the flower.”

Brianne pulled the flower from her hair and tossed it onto her dresser. “Now, back to your trip—”

“Yes, I’m going.”

“But you’re grieving,” Brianne protested. “This isn’t the time to go on a trip alone.”

“Why not?”

“Because you hate even going to a movie alone,” Brianne pointed out. “I can’t see you going on a trip by yourself.”

“Well, I am.”

The look Brianne flashed her sister was full of doubt. She thought Shayna was bluffing.

“I’m a big girl,” Shayna went on. “I’m entitled.”

“I know, but—”

“But what? You think I’m going to do something crazy?”

“Maybe you will,” Brianne said, but her tone quavered, indicating she didn’t believe her sister would do anything out of character. “Maybe you’ll end up marrying the first man who hits on you.”

Shayna laughed out loud at that.

“Don’t laugh. Remember that happened to my friend Gloria’s friend’s sister.”

Shayna scowled at Brianne. “That was in Vegas, and she was drunk and on the rebound.”

“You’re on the rebound.”

“Rebound? Already?” Shayna’s heart spasmed, but somehow, she found the strength to force a laugh. “Right now I should be at the park, taking perfect wedding photos with that expensive photographer Daddy hired. Instead…” Her voice trailed off. She couldn’t go on, or she would cry. “Bree, the way I feel right now, if I never see another man, it’ll be too soon. Trust me.”

Brianne took a seat beside Shayna on the bed. “Shay, I’m so sorry. Part of me wishes I’d never suggested we drive by that hall to see what the groomsmen were up to.”

“And if we hadn’t, I’d be married right now—not knowing that my husband was a dirty cheating jerk.” The anger helped Shayna hold back any tears. “No, I’m glad you suggested it. Everything happens for a reason, and in this case, it was to spare me the pain of marrying the wrong man.” Shayna was amazed at how calmly and rationally she was dealing with the situation, but she truly believed that nothing good came of fretting over something she couldn’t control. “I don’t want to be married for the sake of being married. I need to be with a man who loves and adores me enough not to sleep with some stripper he just met. To know—even if he was drunk—that no other woman could ever tempt him away from the woman who’s in his heart.”

Brianne shook her head, the look on her face suddenly venomous. “I still can’t believe Vince could do that. If we hadn’t witnessed it, I never would have believed him capable of that kind of betrayal.”

“Me neither,” Shayna said softly. “And the night before our wedding? That’s the reason I need to go away. I can’t be around here, see all the places we liked to go to. I can’t deal with the calls from everyone. I’m holding it together now, but I know at some point I’m going to fall apart.”

“Which is why you need to be with your family. People who love you.”

Shayna smiled, loving her sister for caring so much, though if the situation were reversed, Shayna would be saying the same thing to Brianne. They were eighteen months apart, but as close as twins. They’d been there for each other through every triumph and tragedy in each other’s lives.

Like when Brianne had lost her boyfriend, Carter. Three years ago, Carter had vanished while hiking in the Rockies. After weeks of searching for him and finding only his backpack, the authorities came to the conclusion that he’d likely died of exposure, and that coyotes or other wildlife must have eaten his remains. It had been the worst time of Brianne’s life—after which she’d turned to food for comfort. Shayna had been there for her sister through the entire harrowing ordeal.

“I know how much you love me,” Shayna said, smiling softly. “And I appreciate you caring for me. But I need some time for myself. Time to reflect on everything. Time to lie in bed and do nothing if I don’t want to. Time to sit on the beach and read all those books I thought I’d never have time to read. Time to just…get away from it all.”

“You’re sure?” Brianne asked.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Shayna said, feigning a confidence she didn’t feel. “‘Still I rise,’” she went on, quoting Maya Angelou. “I’m a strong black woman. This is a setback in my life, but it won’t keep me down. And hey, the trip is paid for. I’m pretty certain Vince won’t be going. But I’ll gain some small measure of satisfaction knowing that his money will fund my seven days in paradise.”

“Serves the idiot right,” Brianne said.

Shayna hugged her sister, long and hard, then got to her feet. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to go home and pack.”

That wasn’t entirely true. Shayna was mostly packed already, and her flight wasn’t until the next afternoon. But she was ready to be alone.

“Besides,” Shayna continued, “the limo driver’s not going to want to wait all day.” He’d driven her to the church, and he’d driven her back to her parents’ place. It was a painful reminder of the wedding that never was, but the car had been paid for. Might as well utilize it.

“Let me at least walk you to the door.”

Shayna caught her reflection in Brianne’s dresser mirror. Her makeup was exquisite—and totally illogical given the oversize T-shirt she was wearing. She would look even more out of place when she got into the limo like this, but she needed to get home.

She and Brianne headed out of the bedroom and downstairs to the front door of their parents’ home. Shayna had already had time with her parents and Vince’s, time to explain in more detail what had happened last night with Vince and why she wouldn’t be marrying him. Now, all four parents had gone off to speak with Vince, most likely to try and talk some sense into his senseless brain. It didn’t matter what they said—Shayna wouldn’t forgive him, and there would be no rescheduled wedding date.

When Shayna and Brianne got to the front door, Brianne suddenly said, “If you want, I can see if I can call in sick to work and put the trip on my credit card so I can go with you.”

Shayna wrapped her arms around Brianne and hugged her. Hugged her until she felt emotion clog her throat. “I love you for caring,” Shayna said. “I really do. But this week…I need it for myself. If I stay here, Mom is going to cry all week, depress me with her ‘I can’t believe Vince would do this to you’ talks. No one is going to be able to look at me without pity—not even you—and I don’t want that. I already feel bad enough. I need this time—time to digest what’s happened and pull myself together.” Emotion finally got the better of her, and a sob escaped Shayna’s throat while a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Oh, sweetie,” Brianne crooned, rubbing Shayna’s arms. “This is why I don’t want you to be alone.”

“I can’t believe Vince did this to me,” Shayna said, trying to keep herself from completely falling apart. “How could he destroy everything?”

“I know. No one expected him to betray you like this, least of all me.”

“If he calls again, tell him I’m in an undisclosed location and can’t be reached. I have nothing to say to him. That’s another reason I want to be in Jamaica. He won’t be able to drop by and see me. Won’t be able to try and beg me to forgive him. I think I’d rather be in Timbuktu than Jamaica—as far away from Buffalo as possible—but Jamaica will have to do.”

“I can’t talk you out of it?” Brianne asked.

“Please don’t worry about me. I’m going to be at a five-star resort. Nothing bad is going to happen to me. And I’ll call you, every day if you want.”

“All right,” Brianne said. “You’re a big girl. If you want to go on a trip alone, that’s your right.”

“I love you,” Shayna said.

“I love you, too, sis.”

Shayna gave her sister one last hug, then opened the front door. And when she did, the blood froze in her veins.

Vince was standing there.

A full five seconds passed with neither of them speaking, only staring at each other. Shayna was too startled to speak or even move.

“Shayna.” Vince broke the silence. His voice was full of pain and perhaps also regret.

Shayna’s eyes darted beyond Vince to her parents and then back to Vince. All of them looked distressed. And of course they were. The day that had begun with so much hope had ended in the worst possible way.

And it was all Vince’s fault.

If not for their parents, Shayna was tempted to give Vince a piece of her mind and stalk off. Instead, she held herself together.

“Shayna, can we talk?”

Shayna swallowed. Her throat was suddenly dry, but she managed to find her voice. “There’s nothing to say.”

Mrs. Danbury stepped forward. The woman’s eyes were red, as though she’d been crying. “Shayna, I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be, but what Vince has to say…it might help.”

So Vince had told his and her parents a pack of lies. Something that had them believing he was worthy of a second chance?

“Hear him out,” Shayna’s mother said. “No matter what happens, at some point you’re going to have to talk.”

Shayna gritted her teeth. As much as she didn’t want to acknowledge it, her mother was right. At some point she and Vince would have to talk, settle everything. Thank God Shayna hadn’t given up her apartment yet, because now she would not be moving into Vince’s house as planned. She only hoped the landlord didn’t have a rental agreement in place for when her lease was up in a month.

“All right,” Shayna said. “If you want to talk, let’s talk.”

Vince’s shoulders sagged with relief. He was still wearing his tux, though it was unbuttoned at the collar and the tie was loose. His dark, handsome face was drawn. “Thank you.”

Don’t thank me, Shayna thought. No matter what you say, it’s over. Unless he told her that he’d been drugged and taken advantage of and had the toxicology reports to prove it—but that kind of story line only happened on soap operas.

“Let’s go to the back patio,” Shayna said flatly. “We can have some privacy there.”

Shayna led the way, holding her head high, though it felt like her insides were being churned in a blender. She opened the back door and stepped onto the patio then took a seat at the small table. As Vince took a seat beside her, Shayna spoke. “I’m not sure what you think you can say that will excuse what you did.”

“I’m sorry, baby. You have no clue how bad I feel.”

“Not nearly as bad as I feel.”

“It was a mistake,” Vince went on. “A stupid, stupid mistake. Baby, I’m begging you—please forgive me. Forgive me, and I will spend the rest of my life proving to you that I’m worthy of you.”

Shayna could hardly stand being this close to Vince. Part of her wished that a bolt of lightning would suddenly strike him dead. But what she really wanted was to end things once and for all and move on.

“I’ve got boxes at your place,” she said. “Can you arrange to have them sent to my parents’ house? It’ll be less messy that way.”

Vince looked crushed. She hadn’t said what he’d wanted to hear. “Baby—”

“And please—stop calling me baby. You no longer have the right.”

“I was drunk, Shayna. Do you really think I would have touched that woman if I were sober?”

“That’s your excuse?”

“I know it’s lame, but it’s the truth.”

“So any time in the future when you get drunk, you can’t be trusted to be faithful.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“And what about all the women who hit on you in your practice? Or have you already crossed the line with some of your patients?”

“Shayna, stop it. You know that’s not true.”

“Do I? Because I never would have thought you capable of…of what you did.” Shayna had to look away, because looking at Vince hurt too much. The beautiful foliage and flowers of the garden her mother had worked hard to cultivate over the years didn’t bring her the sense of peace it normally did.

How could anything bring her peace right now?

Shayna flinched when she felt Vince’s warm hand on hers. The gentle touch almost brought out her tears. He had ruined everything, destroyed their dreams.

“Baby.” Vince sighed wearily. “I know you might not believe what I’m about to say next, but it’s true. Look at me, please.”

A beat passed, then Shayna raised her eyes to his.

“When I was in my car with that woman…I was so drunk, so damn out of it that I thought…” Vince paused. Swallowed. Gave Shayna a heartfelt look that on other occasions would have tugged at her heartstrings. And then he dropped his bombshell. “I was so drunk, I thought that it was you in the car with me.”

It wasn’t so much a bombshell as a slap in the face. An insult to her intelligence. Was Vince actually saying…? Shayna stared at him, gauging just how serious he was.

The man was serious.

Seriously full of it.

“You’re saying you thought that stripper was me?” Shayna asked, for clarification.

“I told you it would sound crazy, but yes, baby. That’s the only reason I did anything with her. Because I thought she was you.”

And just like that, Shayna was over him. Irrevocably. So much so that she actually laughed.

“Oh, Vince.” She shook her head as she chuckled. “You know, I thought that between me and my friends I’d heard every line a man uses when he’s caught cheating. But that—oh, man. That one takes the prize.”

Vince’s face fell. He looked surprised that Shayna didn’t believe him.

No, he looked crushed.

Shayna pushed her chair back and stood. “I can see how you couldn’t tell us apart—with our breast sizes being so similar.”

Shayna snorted. The stripper’s breasts had been so huge, she and her sister had marveled that the woman could walk. Which only made Vince’s lie all the more lame.

“Plus her long red hair and white skin,” Shayna continued. “So similar to my brown skin and black hair.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s—”

“Have the boxes with my stuff delivered here as soon as possible,” Shayna told Vince before she walked away. “Oh—and one more thing.” She pulled the beautiful engagement ring he’d given her off her finger and plopped it onto the glass table in front of him. “Give this to the next woman fool enough to believe you’re Mr. Right.”

Then Shayna walked away, leaving a stunned Vince sitting at her parents’ patio table. “It’s over,” she announced to her and Vince’s parents as she strolled through the living room, not even breaking stride. “I’m going home now.”

No one tried to stop her. They obviously saw her resolve and knew not to test it.

If they’d held out any hope of a reconciliation, they had to know now that that would never happen.

Chapter 3

People stared at Shayna as she got out of the limo in front of her building. Of course they did. They all had to be wondering why a girl with great hair and makeup but dressed in casual clothes was getting out of a Hummer limo—alone. Especially one that had clearly been decked out for a wedding. Shayna had ripped off the “Just Married” sign at the back of the limo, but tissue-paper flowers and streamers still adorned the sides and front.

Shayna didn’t meet any of the curious gazes. She just hustled into her building and up to her apartment. Once there, she turned off her cell phone and yanked the plugs of her two home phones out of the wall. She knew her parents and others would be calling, but she didn’t want to talk to any of them. She stripped off her clothes and took a hot bubble bath, surprised that she no longer felt like crying.

Somehow, she had been truly able to put Vince behind her, and she had him to thank for that. If he’d stuck to apologizing profusely, Shayna might still feel some sadness over the end of their relationship. But that bald-faced lie about thinking he was with her…Vince simply didn’t deserve her tears.

Later that night, after she had repacked her suitcase to include a myriad of books she would now get the chance to read, Shayna called her parents. She got pretty much the same protest from her mother about going to Jamaica alone that she’d gotten from her sister. Her mother didn’t want Shayna alone during this difficult time. She wanted her eldest daughter surrounded by supportive family. Shayna assured her mother that she’d be fine and needed this time to herself.

“You’re sure I can’t change your mind?” Shayna’s mother asked.

“I’ll be fine, Mom. I’ll call every day.”

A beat passed. “Vince says you’re mistaken,” her mother said softly. “That what you saw was him trying to fight off that woman in the car. Granted, he shouldn’t have allowed her in the car in the first place—”

“Funny,” Shayna said, interrupting her mother. “Because he told me that he thought that stripper was me.” Shayna let the words settle over her mother. “He’s lying, Mom. Trying any story that will stick.”

“He says he loves you, dear. With all his heart. He’s so torn up over what’s happened.”

And Shayna’s mother was torn up over the fact that her daughter wouldn’t be marrying a doctor. Her dream had come true when Shayna had started dating Vince, whom she’d met by chance at a coffee shop when she’d been there working on her latest historical romance novel. And Shayna thought her dream of finding her real-life perfect hero had come true, as well.

Clearly, she’d been mistaken.

“You don’t actually think I should forgive him?” Shayna asked her mother.

“No,” Alice Kenyon said softly. “It’s just…such a disappointment.”

“I know it is. But the fact remains that Vince betrayed me. The night before our wedding. Nothing he says will ever explain away what he did. I would have far more respect for him if he could admit what he’d done, take ownership of his very bad behavior.”

“All right, sweetheart. You go on your trip alone if you need to. But be careful. Take care of yourself.”

“Like I told Brianne, I’m going to a five-star resort in Jamaica. I’ll be in good hands, so please don’t worry. I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.”

Shayna ended the call with her mother, finished packing the last of her things for her trip and headed to bed in her apartment—all too aware that it was a far cry from the posh honeymoon suite she and Vince had booked for the night.

About five hours later, Shayna was up in the middle of the night and driving to Toronto, where she and Vince were scheduled to fly to Jamaica on a charter plane.

She turned the radio on as she drove, hoping music would block out her thoughts. But within minutes, she was no longer focusing on the lyrics of Kanye West, but the reality that the last thirty hours hadn’t been an awful dream.

Shayna had often taken playful ribbing from her friends about her single status. Especially when she’d hit thirty and still hadn’t found her true love. They had teased her about the fact that she could come up with the best heroes in her novels, yet couldn’t find one in her real life.

“Writing the perfect hero has taught me that the last thing I want to do is settle,” Shayna always explained. It had become her mantra.

Shortly before her thirty-first birthday, she’d met Vince. And her life had changed. He was successful. Charming. Attractive. Finally, the man she’d been waiting for had come into her life.

Was he always a cheater? Shayna wondered. Or did alcohol truly make him lose his mind on Friday night?

A moment after the question popped into her mind, Shayna knew that it didn’t matter. If he’d always been a cheater, then good riddance. If the alcohol had clouded his morality, then good riddance.

Gripping the steering wheel, she drew in a deep, calming breath. But she felt anything but calm. She felt anxious and hurt and relieved all in one.

Which was to be expected. Her mind might know better, but her heart was still reeling from shock.

She hoped that after a week in Jamaica she could return home with her mind, body and spirit refreshed, able to truly consider Vince a part of her past. Because it wasn’t so much Vince she was grieving now as the loss of the dreams she’d had about her future with him.

She’d told herself that she wouldn’t shed another tear over Vince. If he could so easily sleep with one of the strippers from the bachelor party in the backseat of his car on the night before their wedding, then he wasn’t worth her tears. Yes, the life she’d been planning and hoping for had been taken away from her in the blink of an eye, but it was far better that Vince betrayed her now, before they said their I do’s. Shayna’s good friend, Christine, was still reeling from her husband’s decision to leave her for another woman, and after six years of marriage, Christine was now a single mother.

No, if Vince was going to cheat, this was the time.

But as much as Shayna knew she needed to move on, she still felt pain deep in her soul. She wished she could turn her emotions off the way one did a light switch, but that simply wasn’t realistic.

Hopefully one week in Jamaica would go a long way toward helping her heal.

After an hour and forty-five minutes of driving, Shayna arrived at the Pearson International Airport. She parked, caught the train to Terminal One and dutifully lined up at the counter. A pleasant young woman greeted her with a warm smile. Shayna handed over the paperwork she’d downloaded from the travel agent, along with her passport.

The airline representative punched in Shayna’s information, then promptly raised her eyes to hers. “According to your reservation, you’re traveling with a Vince Danbury.”

“The plan has changed,” Shayna said. “I’m traveling alone.”

“Oh.” The woman’s gaze immediately lowered to Shayna’s ringless left hand. The impression of the ring that had once been there was visible.

“Let’s just say I’m thanking my lucky stars that I learned the truth about him before we said I do,” Shayna told the woman.

“I’m sorry,” the woman said.

“Don’t be. Better now than five years and a couple of kids later.”

“This is true.” The woman printed off a ticket and handed it to Shayna. “Seat 6F. Gate B27. Boarding begins in an hour and fifteen minutes. You have plenty of time.”

Shayna took her time heading to the gate, stopping to get a light breakfast—a banana and a yogurt. She also stopped to buy a murder mystery. She tried to act like a woman going on a happy trip, instead of a person going on her supposed honeymoon alone.

At least on the plane she didn’t have to worry about making small talk with a stranger. The seat beside her—the one that should have been for Vince—remained unoccupied.

Shayna closed her eyes and tried to sleep as the plane headed for Jamaica.

An hour after arriving at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, the chartered bus taking the passengers to the hotel slowed down, then began turning left. Shayna’s eyes widened, her spirits soaring when she saw the exterior of the resort.

The Gran Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, could not have been more beautiful. The grounds were lush with palm trees, well-manicured lawns, and neatly trimmed bushes. An array of colorful flowers added to the hotel’s beauty. She broke out in an ear-to-ear grin when she caught a glimpse of the turquoise-blue sea in the distance. This was her first time in the Caribbean, and so far, the landscape was everything she’d dreamed of.

So was the hotel. To put it simply, it was gorgeous. The large columns at the front made it look like a Roman structure—grand and elegant.

Shayna had been sitting alone at the back of the bus, not wanting to engage in small talk, and she waited until everyone had filed off before getting up to exit. The digital clock at the front of the bus read 3:32 p.m.

Outside, the sun was shining in a perfect blue sky. Perhaps the first thing Shayna would do was head to her room, get changed and then find a restaurant where she could have a late lunch. After that, she’d find a spot under a palm tree and continue reading the novel she’d started on the plane.

Shayna got off the bus and stood to the side, knowing it would take a few more minutes for all of the luggage to be unloaded. On the right side of the wide lobby, near the front desk, a woman in a black skirt and white blouse was offering welcome cocktails to the newcomers. Shayna would be sure to get one as soon as she retrieved her luggage.

After a few minutes, she turned back toward the bus and joined the people searching for their suitcases. Hers was navy blue and she would recognize it anywhere, even among a mountain of navy blue suitcases. She wasn’t like people who mistakenly took another person’s luggage because they all looked so similar.

But she didn’t see her suitcase anywhere. It had been with her when she’d gotten off the plane. She’d taken it to the bus. It had to be somewhere.

She approached the bus driver. “My suitcase,” she began. “I don’t see it anywhere.”

“No worries, lovely lady.” The man’s eyes roamed over her face appreciatively. “The suitcases are being taken into the main lobby.” He gestured up the few steps to the left side of the large open foyer.

“Oh. I see.” How had she missed that?

“You’re beautiful,” he told her, letting his eyes roam a little lower. “You here by yourself?”

“Um, no. I’m meeting friends.” She handed the man a couple dollars in tip. “Thank you.”

Before he could say anything else, she turned and climbed the few steps into the lobby.

The smiling woman with the tray of cocktails approached her, and Shayna took one. The nonalcoholic beverage tasted like a mix of papaya and pineapple. It was refreshing, especially in the island heat, which was a heck of a lot warmer than the weather she’d left in Buffalo.

As Shayna took another sip, she spotted her suitcase, but before she could retrieve it, she was assured by a bellman that he would watch all the luggage until people had checked in. Then someone would help her get her luggage to the room.

“It’s only one piece,” Shayna said. “I’ll be fine with it on my own.”

When she retracted the handle, the man said, “You can leave it with me until you’re checked in. Is all right?”

Slowly, she nodded, though she didn’t fully meet the man’s eyes. She saw that he, too, was checking her out. Maybe he figured her for a tourist who had come to the island to get lucky.

He was cute, but she wasn’t interested—even if she did like the sound of his Jamaican accent.

Shayna went to the line at the front desk and waited for her turn to check in. As she did, her eyes roamed. There was a huge stone structure in the middle of the lobby, surrounded by a fountain and foliage. The structure sort of resembled a giant teardrop. Sort of. The floors were a cream-colored marble. The place was elegantly decorated, no doubt about it. The perfect place to spend a honeymoon.

Or a solitary vacation.

Pushing the thought aside, Shayna turned, seeing for the first time that there was a massive terrace on the far left side of the lobby. Happy people sat at tables outside, drinking and enjoying the view. Perhaps that would be a good place to get a bite to eat and read her novel, with the beach and Caribbean Sea as the idyllic backdrop.

Hearing a sudden burst of laughter, she turned and saw a group of people entering the lobby from a hallway near the front steps. It was an extended family by the looks of it, with at least a few women, two men and handful of kids. They were nicely dressed, as though they were heading to an early dinner. One of the men was holding a young girl who had fallen asleep.

Shayna had told her sister that if she never saw another man it would be too soon, but the one carrying the girl was quite something to look at. In fact, she couldn’t tear her eyes from him as he strolled across the lobby. He was tall, a little over six feet, with wide shoulders and muscular biceps. Shayna loved football, and this guy had the build of a wide receiver.

The man must have sensed Shayna was staring, because his gaze suddenly turned from his happy family and found hers. His brown eyes sent a jolt of electricity right through her.

Shayna immediately glanced away, uncomfortable. Her heart was beating a little bit faster and she couldn’t help wondering why. Guilt that she’d been caught staring?

Or something else?

The man was certainly attractive. He had skin the color of milk chocolate; a strong, chiseled jaw and a seriously nice body evident even beneath the loose white shirt that hung over his black pants. But he was carrying his daughter and was obviously married.

After a few seconds, knowing the man and his family must have passed her by now, she turned to steal another glimpse of him.

Ooh, Lord. What a behind. And those muscular thighs…He was just as attractive from behind.

The man angled his head over his shoulder in her direction, almost as if he sensed her staring again. Her face flaming, Shayna quickly turned her attention back toward the front desk, embarrassed that he would think she’d been checking him out.

But she had been checking him out. The realization startled her.

How long had it been since she’d fled the altar? Barely over twenty-four hours. Shayna didn’t think she’d be checking anyone out for many months, maybe even years.

As her pulse returned to normal, she cut herself some slack. As the saying went, she wasn’t dead. It wasn’t a crime to check out a sexy brother, even if she didn’t plan to date ever again.

And there was one reason she’d allowed herself to shamelessly ogle the sexy stranger.

He was safe territory. He was married.

Ten minutes later, Shayna was checked in and had her room key and room number, which the woman at the front desk had told her a bellman would help her find. The same bellman she’d spoken to earlier smiled warmly when she approached him again.

“What room, lovely lady?”

“18326,” Shayna said, frowning. The building certainly wasn’t eighteen stories high. “You can just direct me, and I’ll be fine.”

“No worries, mon. I’ll take you.”

Shayna decided not to argue. There was no point coming across as uptight when the man was only offering help.

The walk to the room went on and on. Every time she thought they were reaching the end, they simply rounded a corner and another corridor came into view. Shayna passed rooms that began with fourteen, fifteen, sixteen—and wondered if they’d reach her room before sunset. The walk seemed to take hours.

But finally, the bellman slowed when he got to the end of what turned out to be the absolute last hallway. “It’s a long walk,” he explained. “But you have the best view.”

The man opened the door for her, inserted the electronic key into a slot on the wall, and flicked on the lights. “When you’re in this room, you need to keep this key in the slot to get the lights and air-conditioning working.”

The room was warm, but the balcony door was open, sending in some fresh air. It smelled of the sea and also a slightly spicy scent that Shayna figured came from the flowers.

“If the balcony door is open, the air-conditioning shuts off immediately,” the man continued.

The room was beautiful. In the middle was a four-poster king-size bed. A dresser was on the opposite wall, beside which was a minifridge. There was a sofa near the balcony window. Across from the sofa was a small round table—upon which was a carafe with a bottle of champagne.

Shayna’s heart fluttered. Honeymoon. Of course.

“You also have the best balcony. It’s on the corner, so it’s much larger than the rooms beside you. They usually give this room to honeymooners.”

Shayna’s pulse began to race. This was the room where she and Vince were supposed to spend the next seven days and nights in wedded bliss.

Instead…

She stopped the thought before it could finish and reached into her purse. She pulled a few bills out of her wallet and passed them to the man. “Thanks for your help.”

He caught her hand as he accepted the money. Caught and held it. Shayna looked at him in surprise.

“You really are a lovely lady,” he said softly. “Where’s your husband?”

Shayna pulled her hand free, thinking suddenly of her family’s concern about her going on this trip alone. She hoped this man wasn’t going to be a problem.

“Thanks again for your help,” she said in a firm tone, the kind that said she wasn’t interested in any more small talk.

The man nodded and headed to the door. “Have a good vacation, pretty lady.”

Before he left, Shayna made note of his name. His tag read “Garth.” She would file the information away, but she hoped he knew she wasn’t interested. If he showed up at her door unannounced, she would be able to tell the front desk who he was.

Shayna closed and locked the door, then slowly strolled through the room. She made her way onto the balcony, which was, as Garth had said, huge. There was a round plastic table in its center, with two plastic chairs. It would be a nice place to eat breakfast in the morning.

The woman at the front desk had explained that Shayna’s room was three stories high, even though the third level was directly accessible from the lobby level. Here, the room was at a nice height to see everything around her. Moving forward to the railing, she looked out at the incredible view below. Garth had been right. The walk had been long but worth it. Shayna had never seen water so many shades of blue. To the left there was a large bay populated with sunseekers along the beach and in the water. A number of people were a good fifty yards into the sea, and yet the water only reached to their waists. Clearly, that was a very shallow beach.

Directly below her was a green building. A restaurant, perhaps? Beside that was another building beside a marina where people in bathing suits were eating at plastic tables. That had to be one of the resort’s casual eateries.

Shayna’s gaze wandered to the right. There she saw a rocky inlet with a smaller beach, at the end of which was a gazebo. No doubt it was a spot where the resort’s weddings were held.

In fact, there were people down there now. Some children, some adults.

Wait a minute, Shayna thought, her gaze narrowing. The next instant, she felt a jolt of shock.

The sexy stranger. He was in the gazebo along with his family.

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.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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