Page 16 of Michael

“Say no more! You could come here, but my condo is under renovations and is a mess.”

“Oh, maybe not. Sounds like I will just be in the way. Thanks anyways. I—”

“Wait, you can use my family’s beach home in Barbados. My parents are away visiting my brother for a couple of weeks, and the house is empty. It has been fully renovated, and we even have a guest house if you want to stay there instead of in the main house. They made changes after they moved back to Barbados last year. The house is fully stocked because the staff is there. I’ll notify them that you are coming.”

It had worked out perfectly for her, and she had taken the guest house, not wanting to use the main house. The main house was big and beautiful but was less personal and cozy like the guest house. She thought it was fate that she’d made friends with Coco.

Coco had been Zahara’s best friend since high school, and she and Ambra had struck up a conversation during the bachelorette party and then the wedding reception. Ambra had been surprised to learn that Coco was the owner of the skincare products she enjoyed using so much since it hit the market a couple of years ago.

Unlike Zahara, who wanted to focus on a men’s care line and had switched majors to become a chemical engineer, Coco had already gotten her degree and had started her care line out of her apartment while studying. The product was now being distributed all around the world.

Ambra was in the process of landing Coco as a potential client for her and Ben’s start-up tech company. She had offered to go in and set up some protocols on her computers and to help flag any attempted breaches. They were supposed to discuss it at the end of next week when Coco arrived in Barbados for her vacation, when she would also take Ambra around the island to see more of the attractions that Barbados had to offer.

Ambra paused as she was about to take another sip of her drink when she felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. She felt like there was someone watching her, and she discreetly turned her head, gazing at the people in the water and on the beach. Everyone seemed to be occupied with what they were doing; sunbathing, playing sports, or building forts in the sand.

Her eyes began to track someone in the water. His form cut through the waves with powerful strokes. Ambra froze. The person looked familiar as his head popped out from the waves.

No, it was impossible. Michael could not have found her that quickly and easily. He did not know about her friendship with Coco. He had been too preoccupied with Summer at his brother’s wedding to have noticed who she stopped to talk to, and they hadn’t had a lot of conversations in front of people back then. She had also been careful to turn off her phone so he couldn’t track it.

The Brooks had been known to do that, and she knew Ben would also try and track her down for Michael. She grinned, happy that she had bought a disposable phone when she landed in Barbados. She’d decided to just relax and enjoy the vacation, something she’d not done in a long time by herself. After leaving the airport, she had called Diamond and left her a message after it went to voice mail, explaining that she was going to be unavailable for a while and would be in touch soon. She had not a care in the world and was enjoying herself immensely in Barbados.

She had mostly been relaxing on the beach, drinking and getting fat from all the food she was eating here. So far, she had gone to Harrison Cove, shopped in Bridgetown, visited their gardens and spent a day at The Boat Yard participating in the activities there and then enjoying a late afternoon meal.

Coco had promised her a trip on the catamaran to visit the sea turtles and a jeep drive around the island. She was excited to explore more and to have someone who knew the island well to take her around.

Tonight, she was going to Oistins Fish Market for music and food. Coco had recommended that she go there especially on a Friday night, and she was excited to get dressed up and go out.

The man she had been tracking in the ocean suddenly popped up close in front of where she was resting, and she let out her breath. Even though he had a similar physique and hair coloring like Michael, that was where the similarities ended. The man had a beard and dark-brown eyes. He was very handsome and chiseled, with water beading on the hair on his chest, but he didn’t stir her the way Michael did. She sighed, turning around on the lounger, feeling a bit disappointed that it wasn’t him.

Girl what is wrong with you? she asked herself. If he finds you, the only thing he will want is more revenge. He is not interested in you.

Her lips firmed. She needed to keep reminding herself of that because she missed him terribly; missed how he woke her up when she fell asleep, the way he always liked to touch her, and the heat of him lying entangled beside her after having sex.

The day that they had gone on the train ride, she thought there was a new shift in their relationship, and that maybe they could become something more than just best friends turned lovers. But that hope had been dashed by the phone call she overheard.

“Can I put sunscreen on your back?” She turned her head and shaded her eyes to see the man from the water who she had thought might have been Michael. She had been wrong about something: his eyes were not just a dark brown but had flecks of gold in them. He was even better looking up close, and he piqued her interest. But she just arched her eyebrows.

“Sorry, I should introduce myself first. Hi, I’m Kyle Regland, and I just arrived yesterday from Chicago for a business convention that will be starting on Monday. I came early to enjoy my weekend here exploring before I get locked up all day for business. I am staying at the Bay Hotel, and I work for a company that manufactures equipment for the disabled. You can verify me at the hotel. Now does that help with me getting a chance to put sunscreen on you?”

She gave him an engaging smile. “Sure, thank you. Hi, I’m Ambra,” she introduced herself.

“Great,” he said with a smile, displaying his perfect teeth and lips. “Do you live here?” He pulled the top off the sunscreen and squirted the white cream into his hands before rubbing them together. She moved slightly over on her lounger for him to sit down and felt his damp skin next to hers. She let out a half shriek because he was cold from the water.

“Sorry, can I use your other towel? I left mine on the beach over there.” He pointed to a spot on the beach, and she could make out something on the sand before she turned and nodded.

“Yes, go ahead. To answer your question, no, I am just visiting too, but not for a conference. I’m just on vacation.”

He leaned over her and reached for the extra towel she had laid over her beach bag. He put it around his hips to absorb the water before sitting down again on the edge of her lounger and beginning to massage the lotion into her shoulders and neck.

“Hmmm, that’s good. Not here with anyone?”

She stiffened, and he paused.

“You seem to be here alone. At least, I am hoping you are alone, or me trying to hit on you will end up being embarrassing for me if you are taken. I’m asking because I don’t pursue married ladies...but for you, I would make an exception,” he joked.

“I am staying with friends, but to answer your question, I don’t have a significant other, so you can proceed with the flirting.” She worked up a smile, feeling a twinge of guilt. It was nice having a man show interest in her, and she was on vacation and here to have fun, not feel guilty like she was cheating on Michael.

She decided not to tell him that she was alone for now. You can never be too careful.

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