Heat of Passion

Kim and Gabby burst out laughing and greeted Robyn with one-arm hugs.

“You’re not going to believe this.” Kim’s words fell from her lips in a gush, and stars twinkled in her big brown eyes. “Yesterday, I told Jaxon how much I love sailing, and this morning, I found out he rented a fully staffed yacht to celebrate our two-month anniversary.”

Robyn whistled. “Girl, your man’s the real deal.”

“Tell me about it. I almost fell off my chair when he showed me pictures of the yacht, and he booked live entertainment, too.” Kim admired the marquise-cut diamond on her left hand, gazing at the engagement ring adoringly. “Jaxon is the love of my life and, hands down, the most romantic man I’ve ever met. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to prove I’m not dreaming.”

“Me, too!” Gabby shrieked, giving Kim a high-five. “Geoffrey means everything to me, and I cherish every moment we spend together.”

Robyn cocked her head to the right, studied her friend closely for several seconds.

Were her eyes deceiving her? Was that a love-struck expression on Gabby’s face? The trio had been besties ever since Merriweather Academy—but this was the first time she’d heard her friend gush about someone. “You sound head over heels in love.”

“I know,” Gabby said, releasing a dreamy sigh. “Isn’t it great?”

“I never thought I would feel about a man the way I do about Jaxon, and I wish that kind of love for you, too, Robyn. I hope you find your soul mate and live happily ever after.”

Robyn wanted to tell Kim about her feelings for Sean, about how much she enjoyed spending time with him but couldn’t. Kim would be upset, and Robyn didn’t want to put a wedge between them.

“Have a seat,” Gabby said, patting the empty stool beside her. “Take a break.”

“Shouldn’t you be in the kitchen, whipping up one of your new signature recipes?” Robyn asked, helping herself to a garlic shrimp from the oversize plate and popping it into her mouth. Like everything Gabby made, it was moist and full of flavor.

“I’ve worked double shifts for the last two weeks, so I’m taking the rest of the day off. I trust my staff, and I know they won’t let me down.”

Kim spooned sugar into her cup of coffee and stirred. “Robyn, sit, and I’ll fill you in on all of the latest wedding developments.”

“I have to get back to my office, but you can tell me all about it tonight.” Robyn had been looking forward to girls’ night for weeks and was excited about spending some quality time alone with her girlfriends. These days, she hardly saw Kim and Gabby—unless they were doing wedding-related stuff—and she missed seeing them outside of work. Jaxon Dunham and Geoffrey Girard were great guys with big hearts, but Robyn was tired of hearing about how wonderful they were. Tonight was supposed to be about reconnecting with her girls, not discussing floral arrangements, seating charts and honeymoon destinations.

“What time are we leaving for the Comedy Store?” Robyn asked. “I’d like to leave early so we can get good seats.”

Kim and Gabby shared a puzzled look, shifted uncomfortably on their stools.

“I thought the comedy showcase was tomorrow night,” Kim said.

Gabby nodded. “Same here. I must have gotten my days mixed up. Sorry.”

“Do you have other plans?” Robyn asked, knowing the answer to the question even before it left her mouth.

“The guys are taking us to The Tower Bar for dinner and dancing.”

“You’re more than welcome to join us,” Gabby added, wearing an apologetic smile.

To watch you coo and fawn all over your fiancé? Been there, done that, and not doing it again! Robyn decided, masking her displeasure by wearing a blank expression on her face.

“I’ll tell Jaxon to invite one of his cute investor friends, and we’ll make a night of it,” Kim proposed. “How does that sound?”

Like torture. I don’t do blind dates. Never have, never will.

Robyn felt tears sting the back of her eyes at her disappointment. What was the matter with her? Why was she getting so emotional? Why did it feel as if she was mourning the loss of a loved one?

Because you are, whispered her inner voice. You lost Kim to Jaxon and Gabby to Geoffrey and now you’re all alone.

Robyn knew she was being ridiculous, but she couldn’t change the way she felt. For more than a decade, Kim and Gabby had been her closest friends, and now they were head over heels in love and planning their lives without her. And it hurt like hell. Robyn hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was envious of the relationships Kim and Gabby had, and she secretly wondered if love was in the cards for her.

An idea came to her, one that turned her frown to a smile. Robyn considered inviting Sean to the comedy showcase, even rehearsed what she was going to say when they talked. He’d look great at her side, no doubt about it. Images of him filled her mind. She appreciated being with a man who was not only attractive but intelligent, and Sean was the total package, exactly her type. But they were friends and nothing more, and since she didn’t want to give him the wrong impression, she couldn’t ask him out.

“Hi, Robyn, how are you doing this glorious morning?”

Jonah Gray, the jovial bartender with the perpetual twinkle in his eye, greeted her with a smile. Eighty-six years young, he’d worked at the resort for decades but showed no signs of slowing down. He was as skillful at handing out advice as he was at mixing drinks and was loved by all. From the time Robyn had arrived at the Belleza, she’d bonded with Jonah. He was a father figure to her, someone she could depend on, and she enjoyed hearing the colorful stories about his past, along with his tales of buried treasure at the resort. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Nothing, Jonah, thank you. I’m not staying.”

Kim wore a long face. “Come on, Robyn. Don’t be like that. I want to go with you to the comedy showcase, but I can’t be two places at the same time.”

“We’ll hang out tomorrow,” Gabby said. “We’ll do whatever you want, okay?”

Still, Robyn was unable to shake her foul mood. Feeling her cell phone vibrate, she took it out of her pocket. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Sean’s picture come up on the screen. Her mind raced, jumped from one thought to the next. What was wrong? Why was he calling?

“I have to take this call. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Who is it?” Gabby asked, her tone filled with concern. “You seem upset.”

Robyn stumbled over her words and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. It was a lame explanation, one she doubted her friends would believe, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say. “It’s my, uh, mom. She’s been having...car trouble, and... I’m worried about her. I’ll see you guys at the afternoon staff meeting.”

Hustling out of the dining room, Robyn put her cell phone to her ear and spoke in a whisper. “Hello, Sean. Is everything okay? Are you in trouble?”

“No, of course not. What makes you think that something’s wrong?”

Sighing in relief, Robyn marched from the restaurant and ducked out one of the side doors. Bikini-clad women, men with perfect bodies and rambunctious children were soaking up the sun and frolicking in the pool. Conversation and high-pitched laughter sweetened the air, and the scent of fresh pineapple made Robyn’s mouth water.

“When your number appeared on my phone, I got worried,” she explained, feeling embarrassed for jumping to conclusions. “I thought maybe you were in police custody.”

“I am in trouble...”

Oh God, no! Not Sean. He didn’t do what his father is accusing him of.

“I’ve fallen hard for a pretty event planner from New York, but she won’t give me the time of day. Any ideas on how to win her heart?”

Robyn scolded Sean for teasing her. But his soft, sensuous plea and the yearning in his voice made her long to be back in his arms. Her pulse quickened at the thought, and a delicious sensation caused her body to tingle.

Plugging her ear with her finger to block out the noise around her, she listened intently to what Sean had to say. Never before had a man made her feel this way, so special and desirable. He spoke about missing her, about how anxious he was to see her again, and it took everything in her not to confess her true feelings. Robyn pictured him sitting inside his office with his feet propped up on his desk and smiled at the sexy image scrolling through her mind.

“Did you get the roses?”

Robyn nodded her head, though he couldn’t see her. “Yes, I did, and they’re beautiful. I was going to call to thank you, but I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You could never disturb me. Talking to you is the highlight of my day.”