Page 15 of Beach Bum Billion-Heiress
8
Sage
After talking to the ladies at the coffee shop, I felt way better about things, even though I wasn't any further along in solving my problem. I guess just chatting with someone about the dilemma was helpful. Instead of bulldozing my way into Jax' shop that afternoon and most likely pissing him off, or getting distracted by bulging muscles, I decided to take the evening to myself. I had plenty of time to figure things out.
Walking down Main Street on a Tuesday night was an interesting undertaking. The street was closed off from vehicles, allowing street vendors to line up their carts along the street. Bouncy houses, petting zoos, fire pits for sale, organic produce, face painting, and live bands could all be found blended together in one chaotic street party. I saw teen girls strutting down the road with just bikinis on, even though the sun was low in the sky. A couple of scuffles broke out amongst some rowdy men. And even with all that, I saw plenty of young families out enjoying the sites, usually with the cutest leashed dogs along for the night festivities.
My hands were full with fresh fruit from several vendors when I reached the end of the street where you could see the ocean laid out before you. I sighed, a sense of peacefulness sliding through my system as I breathed in the salty air and let the breeze whip my long, flowing skirt around my ankles. I'd bought a long, thin feather earlier in the evening and the lady selling them had been nice enough to tie it to a couple strands of my hair. With the wind picking up as the sun set into the blue water, I hoped it wouldn't come untied and blow away. My last purchase was a bag of henna to use later on to make my own tattoos.
A microphone squealed off to my left, and a feminine voice chuckled as she introduced herself to the growing crowd. I moved in that direction, hoping to catch some live music before I turned in for the night.
The lead singer, a buxom blonde from what I could tell, started playing a keyboard and a good looking, barefoot guy stood at her side, strumming a ukulele. I elbowed my way between bystanders, trying to get a good look at the singer, who looked familiar, which was odd since I didn't really know anyone here in HB yet. By the time I made it front and center, the woman had begun singing, her raspy voice perfect for the laid back love song lyrics.
Quickly dropping my bags of fruit to the ground, I broke out into a smile, recognizing the singer. I put my two index fingers in my mouth and let out a shrill whistle in appreciation for some kick ass music. The singer looked right at me and I saw her eyes widen. Then she smiled, winked at me, and kept singing without missing a beat.
Hessa, the blonde who looked down her nose at me earlier today, was now singing on the street corner with a man I was guessing was her boyfriend. And she was damn good! I couldn't help but move my hips and start dancing, right there in the street, in a cocoon of happiness all by myself.
The love song morphed into another one, the beat picking up. I left my grocery bags where they lay and lifted my arms up over my head, eyes closed, just listening to the beat of the music from my new friend. My hips took the lead and rolled side to side, my whole body moving to the rhythm, unconcerned with other people, my father, my trust fund, the direction of my life. Nothing existed except this perfect moment in time. I'd thought I was in heaven a little earlier, but add in this beautiful, live music and I couldn't imagine myself more relaxed or at peace.
Hessa thanked the crowd and let us know she was taking a quick break. I clapped till my hands hurt, then used them to let out another shrill whistle. I had no idea that kind of passion and sultry voice was contained in that prim and proper woman I'd met earlier. Just goes to show you that you can't judge a book by its cover. A lesson I wished more people would learn.
I saw Hessa taking a swig of water, then whispering to the man on the ukulele. He nodded and then looked up to scan the crowd. His gaze stopped on me, then went back to Hessa. Well, that was obvious. I wasn't sure I wanted to know what Hessa was telling him about me. If I remembered the jumbled introduction yesterday, his name was Kai and he was Jax' best friend. Uh oh.
Before I can tuck tail and run, Hessa stepped back up to the microphone and introduced her next song. I didn't have the heart to walk out of her performance, even if Kai's continuous stare was like a thousand needles digging into my skin. It would be rude to leave, and I was never rude. Well, except to weak men who mistook me for an easy ride into my father's personal space. But that was different. They deserved my rudeness.
Before the weight of Kai's stare dragged my mood down, I got back into Hessa's music, really enjoying the sultry beat combined with her throaty vocals. Forgetting everything but the music, I was back to dancing, my whole body flowing faster and slower, depending on the beat of the song she played.
When she called out the last song, I popped my eyes open and saw that the sun had all but dipped into the ocean, taking its light with it. The mood shifted and her last song followed. It was deep and dark and sexier than the ones before it. I kept moving, getting turned on simply by the sway of my hips and the beat of the song. This mood, this lighting, was made for lovers. Made for hands skimming down the sides of my body as I moved. Heat shared between two people. The meshing of hard and soft planes.
The song faded away at the end and I opened my eyes, wishing more than ever I had a special someone to share the moment with. Before I'd caught my breath or released the desire from my veins, I saw Kai waving to someone to my left. I followed his line of sight and saw Jax.
He was standing perfectly still among a throng of people bustling about. His body was angled away from the stage area and instead, turned facing me. He looked good in a tight black t-shirt that hugged his biceps and pulled tight across his muscular chest. But I didn't even see all that at first. What I noticed first were his eyes, still discernible in the darkening sky. Those blue eyes were glowing bright and focused intently on me.
I froze, my brain taking longer to process what was happening. How long had he been standing there? Had he been watching me dance when I was oblivious to everything around me? If the intensity of his eyes was anything to go by, then my guess was yes.
My heart rate picked up at the implication of his staring, and the cool, night air felt refreshing on my overheated skin. People were walking back and forth between us but neither of us broke eye contact. I saw Kai coming up next to him and I knew I'd better leave before this perfect night was ruined by talks of fathers, businesses, and our stark reality. I flashed him a quick smile, winked, and then picked up the bags at my feet.
And then I turned and walked away as fast as my long skirt and racing heart would let me.
* * *
"Well?"
"Well, what, father?" I pulled my robe around me tighter and sat up straight, which was ridiculous. He couldn't see me slouching in my chair, enjoying another late breakfast on my patio watching the families arrive at the beach for a day of fun in the sun.
"You know what I'm asking, Sage Vanderman. How's the purchase of the property coming along?" My father's voice barked through the phone, and all my worries came tumbling back in the form of a knot in my stomach and an ache in my temples.
I took a deep breath and mentally suited up in the armor I reserved for all conversations with my father. "It's going well. I met with the current owner and have started negotiations."
"Good, good. Shouldn't take much to make him sell. My appraiser said the place was a shithole."
"Well, actually, it's not well maintained, but what your appraiser didn't tell you was that it's a local landmark. And it's--"
"I don't give a shit about some local yammering on about how things were in the good ol' days, Sage. It's time to move forward and it'syourjob to make sure they see the value this restaurant will bring to their community." He paused and I bit my tongue. "Maybe I should send Drew down there to help out."
"No! No, father, everything is just fine. I'll call you back as soon as the deal is signed, okay?" I panicked, promising something that I didn't think was going to happen, maybe ever. But I couldn't have Drew, my father's right hand man, down there with his nose in my business. And I surely didn't want him hassling Jax.
Drew was the last limp dick I went on a date with before I left New York. He was just like every other guy my father had set me up with. The date was about as boring as a church choir rehearsal, with Drew's only aim being to get in the good graces of my father. Earlier in life, when I was more naive, I'd slept with a few of these assholes, thinking the power suit would translate to the bedroom. Big mistake.
