Christmas Short and Sweet, page 36
What a bittersweet time this would be. She’d do her best to treasurer every minute of their time together.
A Key West Christmas: Chapter Three
Shelly had trouble concentrating on work after Beau left. Every thought revolved around him and his unexpected arrival.
She was dying to find out what he’d been doing since she last saw him. She wondered if he found the solitary life of sailing his boat fulfilling. He’d been so active in New York. How could he turn that off and be satisfied sailing far from friends and familiar sights?
Hotel guests stopped by seeking ideas on how to spend their days when lying on the beach lost its appeal. Busy executives, social wives and bored teenagers looked for more excitement than watching breakers roll.
Shelly had explored Key West in the first few weeks she’d been a resident and delighted in matching guests with the perfect activity, whether it be parasailing or browsing the quaint shops on Duval Street. For the more adventuresome, there were the Dry Tortugas or reef diving or deep sea sport fishing.
Today, however, she couldn’t muster her usual enthusiasm because her thoughts kept returning to Beau.
He’d looked amazing. Tanned and fit. The T-shirt he’d worn displayed impressive muscles. His hair was a bit longer than in Manhattan, but suited a casual retired look.
She checked the guest registry during a lull. He had booked a suite on the top floor.
Why stay here?
Was he tired of the boating scene?
Or did he stay in hotels at all his island explorations?
She had a thousand questions. Impatient with the way the day was dragging, she tried to maintain focus on her job, but thoughts kept returning to Beau.
Finally the workday ended.
She changed into her bathing suit and put her sarong back on until she reached the game site.
Once on the sand, she jogged down to the volleyball setup. Others were already there, but not everyone. She checked her watch. They still had ten minutes before the agreed upon start time.
She dumped her dress and sandals into her tote and added it to the pile from the others and moved out onto the sand to get some practice in. She’d joined this team last spring and they’d be able to play almost every week except when hurricane Minerva had invaded.
“Hi Shelly,” several people called.
She returned greetings and went to stand in a vacant spot.
Concentrating on her game, she was glad for the chance to warm up. The only prize the winners won was bragging rights, but they all played as if they were trying for Olympic gold.
Soon they were playing in earnest. An assist. A slam over the net. A missed return. The game was fast.
“Yours, Shelly,” Annabelle, her teammate on the right called.
Shelly looked for the ball, her eye caught by Beau standing on the sidelines, arms crossed, watching her.
The ball bounced right on her head.
Arrrgghh, she’d blown it big time.
With an apologetic look to Annabelle, she tossed the ball back. Every inch of her was attuned to Beau standing on the sidelines. She needed to be all in for the game, but snuck another quick glance to the right.
He was standing there big as life with a wide grin on his face. She’d just done a really dumb non-assist and he was probably laughing up a storm.
Focus!
Doing her best to ignore her awareness that seem to expand exponentially, she concentrated on the game. She did her best but felt self conscious like never before. Why could one person make such a difference?
Bragging rights retained! Shelly joined in the celebration with her teammates, still feeling foolish about her mistake earlier, but happy it hadn’t cost them the game.
“Dinner at McDuff’s?” someone called.
The agreement was unanimous. McDuff’s was a local hole-in-the-wall with beach front setting and picnic tables and benches on the sand. The primary advantage was it was a short walk from the volleyball field. Soon everyone was headed that way.
Shelly looked around for Beau, but didn’t see him. Disappointed, she kept a bright smile on her face. She didn’t want teammates questioning her.
Ordering the shrimp po’boy, Shelly tried to join in the conversation that swirled around her table. But she couldn’t help sneaking glances around in case Beau had followed the group.
“Looking for someone, Shelly?” Annabelle asked, catching her glance over her shoulder.
“No, just seeing who all is here. Sorry about my fumble earlier.”
“Yeah, what was up with that? You’re one of the best on our team, why the miss?”
“I got distracted.”
“With that hunk that watched us for a while?” Marcy asked from across the table. “Did you see him, Annabelle? Tall, dark and hot, hot, hot. I was almost mesmerized.”
Shelly shrugged. She was not going to foster speculation. Even though she agreed with Marcy. Beau was hot, hot, hot.
Annabelle said, “There’re always people watching. I think we should think about getting some seating, maybe cheapo plastic chairs. We might draw more of an audience if they could sit for the game.”
“Nah, we move the location too often. Anyway, they’re always tourists, here today, then gone,” Marcy said. “And if they don’t want to stand, they can sit on the sand.”
That was true, Shelly thought. Beau could be leaving the day after tomorrow for all she knew. If so, she’d better make the most of their day tomorrow.
She’s missed him so much when she’d first arrived in Key West. For nine years she’d seen him almost every work day and plenty of weekends. They’d worked together flawlessly. She’d admired him so much. Starting his first company while still in college, he’d grown more than one business before turning it over to someone else as he started another one.
He’d seemed driven. Which is why she was so surprised when he turned his back on it all to go sailing.
Over the year her infatuation with her boss had diminished. If asked, she would have said she was over him entirely until he walked up to her desk that morning.
“I’m heading home,” Shelly said, scrunching her napkin up and rising to toss the remnants of her sandwich.
She wanted some time alone to think about what she’d say to Beau in the morning. Could she be subtle in posing all her questions? Or just come across as totally nosy?
“Good game. See you after Christmas,” Marcy said.
Others at their table called goodbye and Shelly headed for her small cottage.
Twilight had descended a while ago–while the game was finishing up. It was dark but street lights illuminated the sidewalk enough to walk safely. She took a deep breath smelling the fragrance of some flowers still blooming in the warm humid air even though Christmas was only days away.
Tomorrow she’d see Beau again. Her heart skipped a beat just thinking about him. She’d soak up his very presence to tide her over–until when? Would he ever be back to Key West?
She needed to get over him once and for all. How could she move forward still holding a crush on her former boss?
Concentrating on trying to envision all the women he’d dated while she worked for him, she could remember most. The pretty faces with his in the newspapers. That one spread in People magazine. His taste in women was legendary–blond and beautiful, rich and sophisticated, playgirls to his playboy.
Instead, she remembered the times he’d asked her to play hostess at his Hampton house when holding a party for the company’s most favored stockholders. And the times she’d gone as his plus one on several different social events. Not that they were the high society events with dozens of paparazzi, but personal celebrations that he attended without the gossip columnists speculating on who his date was.
Letting herself into her cottage a short time later, she headed for a shower. She was gritty with sand, tired, but not sleepy. After her shower, she’d fix some hot cocoa and pretend it was snowing outside.
When Shelly fixed her hot cocoa she took it into the living room and sat on the sofa. It was still warm enough to have the windows and doors open, but she loved hot cocoa and took a sip.
Glancing around she wondered if she should have decorated her home for Christmas. She hadn’t last year–it didn’t seem worth it for one person. Plus she was rarely home. Now it looked a little bare.
It wasn’t too late. She’d have to think about it.
A Key West Christmas: Chapter Four
Beau stood at the window of his hotel room gazing out. The sea beyond was dark, but the fairy lights scattered around the resort’s grounds illuminated the area in a most inviting way. Pathways were outlined by lamps that added to the romantic ambiance of the place.
He watched as palm trees swayed gently in the breeze and wondered how Shelly liked her new life. It looked totally different from what he knew about her in New York. Was she tired of the constant hot weather? Did she find her job less exciting than her position with him?
He hoped when they got together she’d give him some insight.
He’d come on a mission. He needed to scope out the situation before making his move. But for an instant he wondered if he’d succeed.
His phone rang. It was Jason Wilson.
“Beau, it’s the end of a long day. Join me for a drink? I’m sitting at the Beachcomber’s Bar right on the beach. Lovely night. Elizabeth’s gone off with her friends. Want to keep an old man company?”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Beau had always liked Jason. An astute business man they had had several good discussions on various aspects of building a business.
Elizabeth, however, was a different matter. If she was elsewhere, he’d enjoy talking with someone from the past. That young woman reminded him of a shark always looking for prey. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t gotten married–it seemed to be her raison d’etre to find a husband. Preferably a rich one.
Beau was always careful when around women like that. He knew his money was a draw. That had never crossed his mind when he set out to become wealthy. A poor childhood had him vow to never live like that again if he could help it.
But once an estimate of his wealth began to circulate, he suddenly had people wanting friendship or more. Not for himself but for either what he could do for them or to latch on and ride the wave of wealth.
It was not something he liked thinking about, but it was his reality.
A short walk along one of the resort’s paths and he saw the bar. Jason sat at a small table on the outskirts of the lighted area. The soft sound of small waves washing on shore lent a soothing almost magical mood to the place.
A few other tables were occupied with couples leaning in close as if in intimate conversations.
“Beau, thanks for joining me,” Jason smiled.
“Too early for bed, too late to do much. It’s good to see you. Let me get a drink and I’ll join you.”
In less than five minutes he pulled out a chair and sat at the small table. The sand beneath them held onto the warmth of the day contrasting to the cool breeze that came from the sea.
“To living the dream,” Jason said raising his glass.
“To living the dream,” Beau echoed as he touched the rim of his to Jason’s. “And are you living the dream?”
“Not yet. Not like you. I want to hear how you turned your back on everything and set sail for new adventures. Gutsy move if you ask me,” Jason said.
“Timing. I’m in my prime. If ever I want to do this, I need to do it when I’m fit, not put it off until I’m too old,” Beau said. “I haven’t really turned my back on everything. I have a satellite phone, wifi at ports to keep me in touch. But Lyle is doing a great job. I may just sell him the business.”
“That’s been your secret all along, hasn’t it–bring someone along as you grow a business and then sell out to them. Do you get bored once you’ve built an empire.”
Beau smiled. “Hardly an empire. A successful company here and there. I’m not bored with them as much as the challenge is diminished once it’s running successfully. I think I like the risk of failure as something tangible to overcome. You could do it. You’re doing well, turn over the day to day operations and go live your dream.”
“I don’t have the passion in anything these days,” Jason said, studying the remaining liquid in his glass. “I’m divorced. Elizabeth is still single and is high maintenance. I’m not as young as you, but still have some good years ahead. I’m just not sure I can leave the safety of work to step into the unknown.”
“You’ll never know unless you try.”
“So tell me about that. Talk about total change. From your home in the Hamptons to a sailboat? Quite a change.”
Beau started to share his experiences since leaving New York when Elizabeth showed up.
She looked beautiful. She wore a sparkling silver dress which displayed her figure to perfection. She had a filmy wrap covering her arms.
“So this is where I find you. And Beau. Lovely evening isn’t it?”
Both men rose as she reached the table. Jason reached out to get a chair from a nearby table for his daughter.
“Party ended early?” he asked as she smiled at him and Beau.
“Several of the women are going scuba diving tomorrow and so had to stop drinking so many hours before. The rest of us decided to call it a night. Now I’m glad I did,” she said smiling brightly at Beau. “Have you two been here for long?”
“Not too long. Can I get you a drink?” Beau asked.
“G&T. Thanks.”
Beau went to the bar, turning to look at the Wilsons while the bartender prepared the gin and tonic. He became immediately suspicious about Elizabeth’s arrival. How had she known to come to this bar to find her father? A glance at his watch allayed his suspicions somewhat. It was almost midnight and he knew diving was never recommended if a person had a hangover.
He’d finish his drink and call it a night. He hadn’t arranged a time to meet with Shelly in the morning but planned to be near the concierge desk by nine–the time it open.
“I was telling Dad that there’s going to be a kind of crab bake on the beach tomorrow evening for the wedding party and guests. Will you join us? It starts around 6 and goes on until who knows,” Elizabeth said after she thanked him for her drink.
“I have other plans, but thanks. It sounds like fun.”
“What kind of plans?” she asked.
Beau wanted to tell her it was none of her business, but merely said he was meeting an old friend and spending the day together.
“Well the invitation is open. Come if you can even if later.”
He inclined his head, but carefully refrained from giving any hint he might accept.
“Beau was telling me about his life these days. Maybe I should retire and try something different,” Jason said slowly.
“Like what?” Elizabeth asked staring at her father in some surprise.
“That’s the problem, no idea.”
“While I think it’s wonderful for a young man like Beau to do that, you’d be bored to tears in no time,” Elizabeth said.
Beau swallowed the last of his drink and set the glass down on the table.
“Good to see you both. I’m heading for bed now. I’m meeting my friend early.”
Despite their protests, he rose and swiftly followed the meandering path back to the hotel.
When he reached his room he found a message waiting. Shelly had called to say she’d meet him in the lobby at seven o’clock and not to eat breakfast because she knew the best place on the island.
As he got ready for bed, he considered the difference between Elizabeth and Shelly. He’d take Shelly every time.
A Key West Christmas: Chapter Five
Shelly leaned against the concierge desk checking her watch once again. It was still five minutes until seven. She tried to be patient, it wasn’t even the time she said to meet, but she wanted to hurry so they’d see the sunrise.
When the elevator dinged again she looked over and saw Beau step out. She smiled and hurried to meet him.
“Good morning,” she said brightly.
“Good morning, I take it there’s a reason to meet so early,” Beau said.
“Yes, but we have to hurry. There’s this little restaurant right on the beach that has a beautiful view of the sunrise, which is due in just a few minutes. I think we can make it.”
She hurried out of the hotel with Beau keeping pace with her. She’d discovered the little café her first week on the island and made it a point to visit frequently always adjusting the time for sunrise each day.
They walked briskly along the sidewalk heading east.
“No car?” he asked.
She smiled.
“No car. I didn’t have one in New York, so wanted to see if I could get by without one here. And I can. I have a bike that I use if I need to get somewhere quickly, but otherwise, I don’t live far from the hotel. So I walk everywhere or take my bike.”
“Even in the rain?”
“A little water never hurt anyone. I do have a raincoat. Here we are.”
She turned onto a pathway that led to Marty’s Café. Sitting at one of the empty tables right next to the sandy beach, she smiled at Beau.
“Now watch, the sun will be rising in just another minute or two.”
He sat facing east studying the colorful dots of high clouds sprinkled across the sky. The pink was fading into white. Slowly the orange ball began its ascent until it cleared the horizon.
She turned from the view back to him.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? Though I expect you see a lot of sunrises on your boat. And sunsets.”
He nodded and turned his chair slightly.
“It never gets old, though, does it?” he asked.
“What can I get you?” The waitress placed two glasses of water on the table. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please. And we’d like your Key West Special Breakfast,” Shelly said, looking at Beau for confirmation.
He nodded.
When the waitress went back inside the small café, he asked what the special was.
