Chapter Six

Cassie walked quicker the closer she got. What if he didn't show up? What if he wasn't so attractive without two glasses of wine in her? What if he realized just how boring and old she was?

What if she had said something super dumb while drunk?

Cassie tried not to think about it. She told herself not to worry. There was no real consequence here. Unlike at home where she had her job, her reputation, and her hotel's reputation all on the line. This was her chance to try something new. She didn't have to be perfect here. She could be human.

Castaway Cantina came into view. It was a small building with large open windows to let in the sea air. It was a buffet style eating area with seats both inside and outside. The atmosphere was relaxed and soft music played overhead.

Cassie checked her watch. It was ten seconds past noon.

She didn't see him in the restaurant. She didn't see him walking up the path or sitting at a chair near the entrance. He wasn't here.

She tried to tell her self that it didn't matter. She'd been drunk, and he had been kind. It wasn't a big deal. It was no huge loss.

Yet the ache in her chest and the burning in her eyes said otherwise. Deep down, his rejection hurt.

“You came.”

She turned to see him walking up the path to greet her. Today he wasn't wearing the employee outfit. Instead, he wore a pair of dark blue swim trunks and a really nice short sleeved shirt that showed off his broad shoulders and lean waist. He pushed a pair of sunglasses up into his windswept hair.

Her heart skipped a beat, and the tightness in her chest changed. Now it was nerves instead of heartbreak trying to strangle her.

“Hi.” It was probably the lamest thing she could have said, but seeing him standing there, she didn't know what else to say.

He smiled, and her heart went into overdrive.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

Having him on this side of the bar was almost overwhelming. He had such presence that it was hard not to get drawn into his orbit. Cassie found herself unconsciously stepping toward him, wanting to touch him.

“I'm actually feeling pretty good,” she replied. “I have a feeling it's due to the water you had me drink. Thank you. I'm not usually a drinker.”

He grinned at her. “Could have fooled me.”

“No, I didn't,” she replied. “I didn't fool anyone. I'm a lightweight. And I apologize if I said or did anything inappropriate last night. I'm not used to being drunk.”

“If you're used to being drunk, that's typically a problem,” Wyatt replied. His eyes crinkled in a smile as he looked at her. “You were fine last night. A real lady.”

She scoffed. “Real ladies don't give out their room numbers.”

“The kind of ladies I like do.” Light sparkled in his green eyes, and Cassie felt her knees go wobbly. Suddenly she was thinking of screaming orgasms that had nothing to do with alcohol.

“So you like your ladies dirty?” Her voice wavered a little bit. The heat curling up around the base of her spine from the way he looked at her was affecting her vocal cords.

He grinned. “Dirty. Clean. I like them all.”

Cassie's brain drew blank. This flirting thing was hard and she wasn't sure she was doing it right. Was she dirty enough for him? Was she getting in way over her head with trying to flirt with a man like this? He had experience with women. She had corporate policies memorized.

Was she really what a man like Wyatt would want?

“Lunch?” she asked, changing the subject to something she was more comfortable with. She could handle lunch.

“I'd love to.” He offered her his arm like a knight in shining armor. She laughed, and he escorted her into the buffet.

Cassie picked out fruit and a baked fish dish. She only took one of the coconut macaroons and felt guilty about ruining her diet the entire way back to their table.

Wyatt on the other hand, chose a cheeseburger, fries, and a small side salad. He had three desserts set off to the side on a separate plate.

“You know you can eat anything you want here, right?” he said, eyeing her healthy plate.

“Vacation calories definitely do count,” she told him. “Besides, I have to fit into my bridesmaid dress in two days. After that, I can eat whatever I want.”

“I'm sure you'll look great in the dress,” he said, his eyes going over her body as she sat down. The gesture was intimate in a way that made Cassie want to blush and at the same time stick out her chest to give him a better view.

“You can't possibly eat like this every day,” Cassie said, picking up a fork.

He shook his head. “Only when I eat here,” he admitted. He took a big bite of hamburger. “So, where are you from?”

“Arizona.” She nibbled daintily at her fruit. “You?”

He shrugged. “The easiest answer is California. I was born in Kansas, raised in Utah, and went to school in California. Now, I'm here.”

“What brought you to the Caribbean?” Cassie asked, genuinely curious. She placed him in his mid-to-late forties, but incredibly fit. Something about him spoke to education and life experience that didn't fit with his current job description. He wasn't just a beach-bum bartender. There was too much age around his eyes.

“This is where I want to be,” he told her. “I spent enough time in offices and sales meetings to last a lifetime. I hated it. I wanted to be here every second instead. So when I got the chance, I ditched my modern, high-stress job and ran away to the beach.”

Cassie had often imagined running away. She'd wanted to open a small hotel that was all her own. The big chain was so corporate and demanding. They wanted her to always be presentable and ready. There were rules for everything. She lived and breathed rules at work. It was a big part of why her friends wanted her to relax this week. When she let herself, she'd daydreamed of running away from it all just like Wyatt said he did.

"Do you regret it at all?" she asked, her fork hovering over her plate.

His green eyes met hers and held.

“Never for a second. Best decision of my life.”

Something inside her trembled. A possibility was forming in her mind, but she didn't dare let it grow. Just because he escaped his life didn't mean she could.

“What do you do now?” She didn't look away from him. She couldn't look away from him. “Just serve drinks at the resort?”

One side of his mouth curved into a smile. “I do whatever I want,” he replied. “Right now, that's serving drinks. Tomorrow, it might be teaching surfing. I've been considering expanding my horizons. Maybe even deep sea fishing.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Cassie sighed.

“What do you do?” He finished off his burger and leaned back in his chair.

“You mean when I'm not getting drunk at hotel bars?”

Wyatt laughed, and Cassie felt a little pride. She was getting better at this flirting thing.

“I run a hotel. A StarTree in Phoenix.” She shrugged and picked at her fruit.

“Do you like it?” Wyatt asked. She felt his emerald eyes on her, even as she stared at her fruit.

“Sometimes,” she admitted honestly. “I like the hotel part. I like setting things up and making sure everything runs smoothly. I'm always busy. For the most part, I like the customers. I like interacting with them and fixing things, so their trip is better.”

“And you don't like?”

Cassie sighed. “It's corporate. There's no flexibility or freedom. I have to present the StarTree image at all times. I have to live, think, and breathe StarTree rules. It's a little stifling.”

She was surprised she was admitting to that. Especially without alcohol in her system. It had to be Wyatt. He was the reason she was spilling her guts. He probably had bartender magic. Everyone spilled their secrets to the bartender.

She cleared her throat. “Anyway, thank you for taking care of me last night. I'm really sorry about getting so drunk.”

He let her change the subject. “It was a pleasure last night,” he assured her. “I wouldn't have asked for lunch if it wasn't.”

Warmth filled her chest, and Cassie smiled. “So, what would happen if I gave you my hotel number now?”

The corners of Wyatt's mouth turned into a confident smile. “I'd teach you how to make a screaming orgasm.”

Cassie's heart pitter-pattered out of control. Her girl parts reacted in ways she wasn't used to. Her nipples went hard. “Wow. Okay.”

Wyatt chuckled. “I don't think you're ready.”

“I'm very ready,” Cassie protested. “I'm beyond ready.”

“And that's why you're blushing?” He tipped his chin and waved to someone behind Cassie. “By the way, you have someone watching you.”

For a moment, Cassie thought it might be Lorna. Lorna would be the worst person to see her while talking to a hot man. Lorna would tease Cassie. She would mock her. She would then attempt to steal Wyatt away just because she could.

Cassie turned, bracing herself for the worst. Luckily, it was just Janessa. Relief flooded Cassie. She waved, and Janessa gave her two big thumbs up.

“Friend of yours?” Wyatt asked, chuckling softly.

“Yeah. The bride.”

“When's the wedding?” Wyatt asked as Cassie turned back around.

“Tonight's the bachelorette party, tomorrow is the rehearsal. Saturday is the big day,” Cassie replied, going through the schedule in her head. Corporate rule number three: always know the schedule and stick to it.

“So, are you free until the party?”

That too warm, blushing feeling washed over Cassie again when he looked at her. He wanted to spend time with her. It made her light-headed and giddy.

“Yeah. I am. You said I'm not ready to bring you up to my room, but maybe we can go to your place.”

“Slow down, tiger,” he said gently.

Cassie felt her cheeks heat. She was pushing this too hard. She needed to slow down and enjoy herself. The point was to have fun this week. Not just to get laid. She was supposed to let loose and be a little wild, not sleep with anything that showed the slightest interest. She didn't have to be like her ex.

“Right. Um, an activity then? Outdoors, so I can't tempt you,” Cassie replied. “Or you tempt me.”

“You ever go jet-skiing?”

Cassie shook her head. “I'm not even a hundred percent sure what that is,” she admitted.

Wyatt grinned. “I'm guessing you're not wearing a swimming suit under that dress.” He eyed the dress appreciatively, and Cassie felt that familiar heat creep up again. “Meet me by the dock in fifteen minutes with your suit on. You can swim, right?”

“Of course I can swim,” Cassie replied indignantly, crossing her arms.

Wyatt grinned and stood from the table. “I'll see you in fifteen then.”

He winked and walked away, leaving her at the table. She sat there blinking for a moment, still trying to figure out what was happening.

Was this really happening? Had she managed to flirt herself into a date? Was this even a real date? She wasn't sure, but she wasn't about to waste the opportunity.

There was too much at stake. She might actually have fun.