Scarlet let out a deep breath and inhaled the salty sea-air as they sped through the crashing waves. There was nothing before them but miles and miles of seawater. She looked up at the clear skies and let the warmth of the sun wash over her.

“Beautiful day huh.” She turned and looked over at Lucas who looked positively divine in the tight polo shirt and cargo shorts he wore.

“Yes, “she replied, “it’s stunning here.”

“Is it everything you thought it would be?” he asked

“Everything and more” she replied, “although I didn’t factor in the mosquitoes.”

Lucas laughed, and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her lips. She could tell he was affected by her outfit by the way he had stared at her in awe earlier. She was proud that she had managed to throw him off the way he had thrown her off earlier.

“So, would you come back?” he asked

“Of course,” she replied, “but I’d have to bring,”

She was about to say that she’d have to bring her son but then she stopped. She had to be more careful around Lucas. 

“You’d have to bring Ethan?” he asked

She looked at him and realized he must have been looking for some insight into her relationship with her partner.

“No, I think Ethan would rather to come here with his husband,” she replied, “I meant I would have to come back with my sister. She loves the Caribbean and she’s studying in the city right now.”

“I didn’t know your sister was in the city.” He said,

“Yeah, she got an art scholarship.” She replied, “she wants to become a painter.”

“What about the rest of your family?” he asked, “how are they doing?”

“They’re good.” She replied nodding away the painful memories, “we keep in contact every now and then.”

It was a blatant lie, but she didn’t want to tell him that they had all but disowned her because then he would want to know why that was. She had always been a favorite of her family and their hometown at large.

“I’m happy to hear that.” He replied, “I think about visiting there sometimes but I,”

“I understand.” She replied not wanting him to continue, “sometimes when you leave it makes no sense to go back.”

“Scarlet,” he said

She turned to look at him and she saw the yearning in his eyes. It was the same yeaning she felt and a yearning that made her eager to be alone somewhere with him.

“Scarlet, I’m sorry.” He said, “I’m sorry for the way everything went down. I was a fool.”

Scarlet bit back tears and once again she chastised herself for being so fickle. She had to be strong.

“Oh, it’s no big deal.” She replied, “things happen, and people change. If that wasn’t the case, where would we be today.”

She saw the uncertain look on his face and so she thought this was the perfect opportunity to begin her deception.

She rested her hand against the front of his shirt very lightly and allowed it to rest there for a moment. Although she had meant it as a means of seduction she hadn’t thought of how her body would react to touching him. She inhaled as her hands began to heat up and she looked up to see him watching her intently.

“We’re different people now.” She said licking her lip nervously, “our past is what it is, the past.”

She noticed the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. She had accomplished her plan, but she was also being swept away by his beautiful brown eyes.

“I agree.” He said

She wasn’t prepared for it when he lifted his hand and covered hers so that it was pressed against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat and it felt so familiar she couldn’t believe all that time had passed.

“Is it weird that it seems like no time has passed since you touched me like this?” he asked

She looked up at him to see if he was joking but the genuine look of confusion on his face told her that he understood it as much as she did.

“It is.” She replied pulling her hand away from his chest and away from his firm grasp.

“I remember the day you taught me to listen to heartbeats.” He said with a slight chuckle

“You were so scared to put your head on my chest.” She said, “you thought you would get cooties.”

They both laughed as they reminisced about their childhood.

“I would never have thought I could see you grow up to be a big titan of industry.” She teased

“Look at you,” he said, “you’re nothing like the girl I knew.”

They paused for a moment as they looked at each other.

“I guess time changes people.” She said

By all calculations, her plan was not going well. She didn’t want to rehash the past, in fact, that was the very last thing she needed to deal with right now. She wanted to sleep with him and then leave him. It was a simple plan and all she needed to do was follow through with it. Somehow it was easier said than done when she was looking up at the man who was once again sending her nerves into a frenzy.

She turned away from him quickly and decided to maybe try another tactic.

“This is a great thing you’re doing for your employees,” she said

“They need the break.” He replied, “they’ve been working hard these few months to improve the company my father left behind.”

“How did the rest of your family take his passing?” she asked, “you mother must have been devastated.’

She thought of the woman as she had last seen her. She had been a tall beautiful woman with a beautiful smile but a cruel hart. In her childhood, Yvette had been encouraging of her relationship with Lucas but as they had aged and grown closer, the woman had shown her true dislike for Scarlet. She had never been outright about it but Scarlet saw it in her eyes every time she visited the house to see Lucas.

“She’s hanging on in there.” He replied, “it gets hard but we’re trying to make it through.”

“She’s lucky to have you.” She said, “you were always the son they never deserved.”

She heard him chuckle softly at her reference to something the maid had once said to them as children.

“The last day we saw each other,” he began

She turned and took a step towards him and then reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. She caught the look of surprise on his face a moment before she reached up and kissed him. It was exhilarating, and she was happy that she had made the decision to sleep with him. She didn’t think she could kiss him like this and not want much more.

“Let’s not talk about that.” She said, “let’s just live in this moment.”

He pulled her closer to him and deepened their kiss. His lips we so perfect that she began losing herself in his embrace. She felt his hand sneak down her body and it left a trail of fire in its wake. It wasn’t until someone behind them cleared their throat that they released each other and stepped back. They both stared at each other for a moment blinking back their surprise.

“Ugh, they need you for photos on the upper deck Lucas,” Elizabeth said shyly with her face flushed crimson red.

“Thanks, you,” Lucas said, “I should get to that.”

Scarlet waited until he was gone before she heaved a sigh. That had gone completely out of control. Kissing him was her way of shutting him up but the moment their lips touched, she had lost all control; just thinking about it made her eager to see him again.

“I knew there was something between you two,” Elizabeth mumbled excitedly.

Scarlet rolled her eyes and smiled at the older lady.

“It’s not that serious.” She said

“Not that serious?” Elizabeth asked, “it looked pretty serious to me.”

Scarlet couldn’t help the laughter that came rushing out of her mouth. She hadn’t expected it, but a strange happiness filled her. She decided not to read into it and chalk it up to the fact that her plan was coming along smoothly.

“Don’t get too excited Elizabeth dear.” She said, “there’s nothing between Lucas and me.”

Without saying anything else she walked away from Elizabeth and moved closer to the bow of the boat. She looked over at the horizon and smiled. Things would work out; she would make it work as she always did.