Isabella
I can’t believe the change in Grayson since coming to the island. I’ve never seen him so playful and carefree. His face is tanned and the tiny worry lines by his eyes are completely gone.
I sit with him on a huge beach towel and stare up at the sky. The baby’s in a jumpy seat, toes dug into the warm sand. Overhead, fluffy clouds form a cat chasing a mouse. Another could be a one-winged dragon.
“We need to talk.” Absent-mindedly, I start the conversation I’ve been meaning to have and turn my head to meet my husband’s warm gaze.
His forehead crinkles and dark brows raise. “Did you know those four words were voted the most feared in the English language by Playboy Magazine?
“Really?”
“No, I just made that up.” He chuckles.
“Ha, ha, ha. I’ve been thinking, would you mind occasionally giving Skye a nighttime bottle?”
His handsome face is even more so with the smile he shares with me. “I’d love it! But I thought you didn’t want her on formula.”
“Well, she’s already started on solid food and is doing so well, why not? Also, I talked to Cherry. When we get back, she has a couple apartments for us to look at in Manhattan.”
He sits up, totally enthused. “I did some searching, too. There’s a small town just two over from where we live. It’s got a movie theater, a downtown, and small schools with big playgrounds. Eventually, we can live there fulltime but how about starting with weekends?”
He kisses me so sweetly that I almost don’t hear the motorboat down at the dock.
Nick waves. “Sorry to bother you nice folks. I got da food you asked for.” He jumps out as we make our way over the sand to the end of the dock.
As we unload he asks, “Would either of you like to try da parasailin’?”
He hands me a pamphlet which I immediately give to Grayson. The thought of flying a few stories above the ocean makes my stomach churn but my husband’s eyes light up like it’s Christmas and the Fourth of July, all rolled into one.
“Hell, yeah!”
When he sees my expression, his drops so I add, “I’ll watch from the boat, okay?”
“When? When can we go?”
Nick chuckles, “Whenever you want Mr. Smith. I’ll have someone waitin’ for you.”
“Wait right here. Let me see if Slate will watch Skye.”
When Gray dashes off with the baby, I grin, happy as him and realize this is what we’ve been missing. What with the whirlwind courtship, the troubles with Xavier, and having a baby, we never had a honeymoon.
All of a sudden, our future seems bright and for the first time since saying I do, I see us growing old together.
I gather up the blanket and suntan lotion. Nick will have snacks and water. We’re his gold mine for the season. A minute later, Grayson bounds down the hill, across the sand, and huffs at the water’s edge. His beautiful tanned body glistens with sweat and his scent drifts under my nostrils.
Suddenly, I wish we had a completely different exercise in mind for this afternoon but knowing Grayson, we’ll find time for that, as well.
In the boat, my hair blows, my husband grabs it in a fist, and drags my face to his. Warm lips meet mine, his eyes bright with excitement.
What a big kid.
Soon, we’re on the main island of Nassau, not far from where we arrived. I’m worried about the waves but Nick and my husband seem fine as the bow of the boat turns up thirty degrees and splashes down hard. I can’t help but grin as warm water washes over us and drenches us completely.
With one hand high on my thigh, Grayson takes my cheek and kisses me. Meanwhile, Nick maneuvers the small boat across the bay and into a cove where an elite group of tourists has assembled. We pay for a ticket, wait in line, and grab a couple fruity cocktails along with conch sandwiches.
By the time it’s our turn, I’m really glad I’m not the one high in the air, tethered by a rope, feet dangling miles about the earth.
Gray, however, hops up and down with excitement as we climb into the boat and get settled.
Our handsome captain, Lucas, is a blond Australian with a body and accent to die for. “G’day luv, aren’t you going up, too?”
I smile at his appreciative gaze and can’t remember the last time someone, other than my husband, has looked at me with so much desire. “No thanks. I’ll watch from down here.”
The driver expertly attaches Grayson into the harness and then we’re off. When he releases a lever and lets out the line, Grayson laughs as he goes higher and higher, the wind in his chute. I grab binoculars and I wave as he hits his final height.
The captain hands me a beer. “Here ya go, pretty sheila.”
“Isabella.” I smile and clink my bottle with his.
He laughs heartily, puts his arm around my shoulder, and watches Grayson catch the wind. A bit uncomfortable at his close proximity, I peel him off and step back. Right about now, I wish I’d stayed on land.
However, when Lucas turns the boat, I give Grayson a thumbs-up and he waves back, an indication he wants to stay in the air longer.
Lucas glances down at my empty left hand, then catches my eye. I stopped wearing my ring when I gained weight and simply refused to have it adjusted. I refuse to admit I’ll never be back to my pre-baby size.
Lucas must see the missing jewelry as an open invitation. “Why not ditch him? I’ll show you a side of the island you won’t get elsewhere, luv.”
It’s been so long since someone hit on me, I’m speechless, and to tell the truth, flattered as the heat of my blush rises into my cheeks.
Suddenly, he leans over and kisses me square on the lips.
What the hell?
Shocked, I jump back, hit my butt against the rail, and topple head over heels into the water. I just miss the boat’s propellers and must black out because I wake bobbing on top of the ocean, thankful for the life vest.
I know the boat can’t stop on a dime, not with Grayson in the air, so I tread water as my husband is pulled back down. I’m not sure if he can see me but wave anyway. He must be worried.
I wonder if he saw what happened? If he did, I would so not want to be Lucas when Grayson gets down. What a stupid move for the Aussie to make. I could’ve been sucked under the boat and torn into tiny pieces by metal rotating at a b’zillion rpm’s.
I’m pretty sure I hit my head and there’s a few missing seconds before I came up for air. However, it takes both hands to stay afloat and it’s impossible to feel for a lump.
A white ring floats close by on the choppy seas. Lucas must’ve thrown it when he saw me go overboard. It probably won’t help as much as the life vest that digs into my chin but I swim over and grab it, anyhow. Suddenly, a fish bumps my thigh, my heart beats like mad and I force myself to stop. Surely, Lucas wouldn’t parasail over shark-infested waters?
Oh sure, like he’s shown such good judgment.
What the hell is taking them so long?
Far away, my husband’s shouts tell me he’s back in the boat and I wave again, careful not to kick my feet for fear of becoming shark bait. When the boat comes closer, my stomach retches as I rise and fall over the wake.
Grayson dives in, Lucas drops a ladder over the side, and arm over arm, my husband reaches my side.
His face is full of concern. “Are you hurt, babe?”
“I’m fine but I think there’s sharks.”
Quickly, he swims me to the ladder and places his hands over mine until my fingers wrap around the rung. Odd, how clumsy I am. With Lucas up top, Grayson below, I’m pushed and pulled out of the water. Then, I flop into the bottom of the boat.
I’ve already decided to pretend the kiss never happened and Lucas will no-doubt do the same, “Miss, are you alright?”
Grayson growls, “It’s Missus. Mrs. James Patten the third. Shut your mouth and take us to shore. Make sure there’s a car waiting to take her to the hospital.”
“I really don’t nee—” I want to explain I’m fine but the glare from my husband shuts me up.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him angrier. My guess is he saw the kiss and thinks somehow, I initiated it which makes no sense. Didn’t I fall to avoid it?
When he touches the back of my head, I see stars, lean forward, and puke all over the inside of the boat. If my stomach wasn’t still queasy, I’d laugh, seeing as how this is all Lucas’ fault.
Grayson squats in front of me, takes off his t-shirt, and wipes my mouth.
“You may have a concussion.” His slate eyes bore into mine as if he could see what happened.
I nod because I did lose a little time between banging my head and bobbing on top of the ocean.
“Dammit. I’m bringing you home, right now, to the states.”
My eyes sting and throat tightens. We were just getting our marriage back on track. In a few more days, we’d be solid. We can’t go back now, especially with him so angry.
“Let’s wait and see what the doctor has to say. Okay?”
“Here? Are you out of your mind?”
I grin. “Hun, please? Please? I don’t want our vacation to end, not like this.”
He puts me in his lap and wraps me in a soft warm towel. “When you went overboard and I was in the air, I lost it.”
“I was fine. I had a life vest.”
“What happened Izzy? You’re not one to be clumsy. How did you fall? I was too high to see clearly.”
I don’t want to get Lucas fired or worse, have Grayson end up in jail, so I shrug. “I just fell.”
His eyes go dark. “I saw he was flirting with you. He tried to kiss you, didn’t he?”
I shrug again and close my eyes to avert his gaze. This is CEO Patten. The one that makes billion-dollar deals. The one that can tell a lie from the tiniest of facial expressions.
“Isabella?”
“It wasn’t his fault.” I flash my left hand. “I left my wedding ring at home, afraid I might lose it in the water.”
“You’re lying.”
“God, I hate it when you do this. My fingers changed when I had the baby and my rings don’t fit because I'm fat. Happy now?”
We ride the rest of the way in stormy silence. When we get to the dock Grayson helps me out of the boat, unzips the life preserver, and tosses it at Lucas. “Find another job.”
“Hey, mate. I didn’t do—”
“In twenty-four hours I will own this company and you’ll be out of work. I suggest you find another island, far, far way. Know what I mean, mate?”
The guy nods and swallows hard.
Inside the car, on the way to the hospital, I try to explain. “Okay, Lucas was flirting with me but it was perfectly harmless.”
His stony face gets me a little pissed. “Oh, come on now, like you never flirt.”
“Not since meeting you.”
“Damn it Grayson. He said I was pretty. He smiled at me, appreciatively. Not in a creepy way, just being nice. When he didn’t see the ring, he assumed I was your mistress and hit on me. I blushed, he took that as a yes, and kissed me. I was so shocked, I jumped back, and fell overboard. That’s it.”
“I’m sorry, Izzy. This is all my fault. I should’ve gone without you.” Grayson’s jaw ticks away as palm trees fly by and the houses get closer together.
Soon, we arrive at a cement brick building with a red plus sign painted on the side. I’m still trying to reason with him as I get out of the car. “Please don’t be mad. When was the last time you told me I was pretty? It just felt good to hear, okay?”
I put my palm to his cheek but he shoves it away which is so unfair. I almost got killed from an uninvited pass and he’s the one that’s pissed? I don’t know how he does it but immediately we’re ushered into a plain, neat doctor’s office.
A dark woman with high cheekbones greets me with a smile. “How are you, young lady?”
“I bumped my head.”
“I heard. Do you have any other symptoms?”
“Just a bit of an upset stomach.”
“I’ll want to keep you overnight.”
“No listen, I’m still nursing my baby.” My breasts, heavy, I hope Slate did as I asked and brought Skye here.
“And you went parasailing?”
“Not me. I was on the boat and fell overboard.”
When she gives me a look that says I’m a complete moron I add, “The captain hit on me, I backed away, and went over.”
From now on, I’m definitely wearing my ring because she pointedly glances down at my left hand and scowls. For heaven’s sake. What is wrong with these people?
“My wedding ring grew too small when I gained weight with the baby and I haven’t had it fixed because I want to be thin again.”
She shakes her head like she can’t understand and mutters under her breath about insane Americans. “Here’s my number. You call me if you get a headache, throw up, or symptoms worsen. Understand?”
I nod.
She smiles. “Good den. Get dressed while I talk to your husband. He’s very worried about you. And I suggest you find a ring so the local men know you are taken.”
When I start to object, she raises a palm to quiet me. “This is a place many wealthy men bring their mistresses. You are so pretty, the boat driver assumed you were just that.”
“Thank you doctor. That’s the nicest thing you could have said.” Despite falling off a boat, I jump up and hug her, suddenly very happy she thinks I’m beautiful.
Just when did I become so vain? An important fact dawns on me. Maybe it took getting hit on the head but I need to start to work again. I need to define myself more than a mom, more than a wife of a billionaire, and definitely more than my outward appearance.
Slate waits for us with Skye who seems perfectly content. The time is an hour past feeding time and I don’t get it.
Gray comes up behind me and says dryly, “He gave her a bottle.”
“You did? She didn’t spit it out?”
Slate shrugs. “She’s a smart kid. When she realized you weren’t around, we had a short conversation, and she took formula like a champ.”
I’m both elated and sad at the same time as we make our way to the car. My baby doesn’t need me as much anymore.
On the boat ride home, I’ve never seen Gray so stone cold silent.
“Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I have some work to do. I’ll wake you every couple of hours. Get some sleep.”
No kiss, no I love you babe. We had made such progress and now I feel we have slipped back even further than before.
Before I go to bed, I try to talk again. “I can’t believe you’re mad.”
He looks up from his computer and frowns. “I’m not mad. Go to bed.”
Oh, but he is, and now, so am I. Unfortunately, when I get really mad, I cry, which ruins the whole effect, especially when I slam the bedroom door, more like a petulant child than an angry wife.