Island Fantasy

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.