Page 3 of St. Lucia Escapades
“Thank God. I love me brother, but in this case, Laura is right. I’ll call them both tonight and thank them.” Moira smiled, tucking the envelope into her purse.
Moira sat on her back deck watching the full moon rise over the city of her birth, sipping her wine. After dinner with her parents, she had called Sean and his wife Laura and thanked them. Sean had told her that she worked too hard and after ten years as an author she deserved a vacation. She couldn’t argue with him. She had published her first novel her senior year of college and from there, her career had flourished. It was about three years later she had met her ex. While their relationship had seemed to be idyllic, she quickly discovered his true colors. Moira chastised herself for thinking about that time in her life. Tonight, was a night for celebrating.
In a week, she would be boarding a plane and going to the beautiful St. Lucia for three weeks. She had only seen pictures of the islands and what she had seen looked like paradise. She had only met one person who had ever been there and that had been her assistant editor of the college newspaper Roxanne. Roxi had told Moira that if she ever got to go, she would fall in love with the islands. Moira would call her in the morning and get some ideas for places to visit. Roxi would know places not on the beaten path and that’s what Moira wanted.
Polishing off the sweet red, Moira pushed herself up from the lounger she was in and headed inside. Even though her book was in the hands of her editor, she still had a bit of work to do before she left. Most people had no idea the time and energy that went into being an author. It wasn’t just writing. Despite having a publishing house backing her, Moira still had to do her share of the work on marketing and promotion. These she did through her website and social media, but she also reached out to public publications like The Voice in New York and several others like it. Placing her empty glass in the sink, Moira started clicking off her lights as she headed for bed.
Chapter 2
Cord
He couldn’t believe that he had let his brother and parents talk him into this. Renovations were starting on the bar and damnit he should be there to oversee things. Instead, where was he? A beautiful beach condo on the shore of St. Lucia. A place he had not visited in nearly twenty years, but hey, who was counting. He stepped out onto his deck as his mind replayed how he had wound up here in paradise.
That morning when he had shown up at the bar that Councilman Walker’s son nearly burned down, he had been stopped by not just his brother Collen, but by the bar’s manager Taylor, and the head bartender Angie. Before he could speak, the three had proceeded to tell him that as of that moment he was on vacation for three weeks. When he tried to argue, Collen stopped him. Collen, who knew the business of their seven bars better than even Cord at times, reminded him of that.
“Cord, I know these bars are your babies, hell their mine too. And have you forgotten that I’ve been involved with you in this venture since damned near the beginning back in college?”
“No, I haven’t forgotten Collen.”
“Then, as not just your business partner but your brother, I’m telling you that I’ve got this. Go on vacation. It’s been what…three, four years since you’ve taken any real time away?” Collen inquired.
Cord had sighed then and rubbed the back of his neck, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Of course, I’m right. You’re not the only one that got brains in this family.” Collen had laughed.
Cord couldn’t stop the smile as the ocean breeze washed over him. He had to admit, his little brother knew him better that Cord knew himself. He and Collen had worked so hard to build their business. What had started as one bar near the NYU campus had now expanded into seven bars throughout the five boroughs. That alone was beyond anything Cord and Collen had imagined when they began. Standing there watching the jewel like water before him ebb and flow, the sweet smell of the tropical flora that surrounded his villa along with the call of the birds had him more relaxed than he could remember. Hell, he was here in paradise and his family wanted him to enjoy himself. He decided then and there that he would do just that. He pulled his phone from his pocket and shot a quick text to his family:
Okay guys, you sent me here and now that I’m here…I’m glad you did. You all want me to relax and have fun so that’s what I’m gonna do. Mom, pop, I’ll call ya each night. Collie… unless there’s a major problem, do not call me.
See ya in three weeks,
Cord
Hitting send, Cord turned and walked back inside. He jumped into the shower to wash off the travel from New York to St. Lucia. He dressed in his favorite pair of khaki shorts, a blue cotton polo style shirt and a pair of flip-flops. Before leaving the condo, he put on his faded Atlanta Braves ball cap and stepped out into the island paradise that was St. Lucia with a fresh spring in his step and a huge smile plastered on his handsome face.
Moira
The sky was clear and the water a beautiful azure blue. She couldn’t remember if she had ever seen water as blue as the water, she was looking at right now. The second she had disembarked from her plane; excitement had filled her. When Roxi had found out she was going to St. Lucia, Roxi had immediately emailed Moira a list of places to see and things to do. Of course, being the club girl that Roxi was, she had made sure to list a few clubs that she figured Moira would like. Moira wasn’t much of a club or bar goer, but she figured why not.
Once the Uber had dropped her off at the condo her parents, brother and sister-in-law had rented for her, she quickly unpacked and explored the condo. It was bright, airy, and so much light filtered through the numerous windows. She had opened the windows and let the sea air flow through the condo. Currently, she was standing at the railing of her deck looking over the majestic view of the Caribbean ocean before her. Already, her artistic mind was thinking of how she could use her experience here in a future novel.
Moira turned and hurried back inside and went straight to her purse and pulled out her traveling writer’s notebook and a pen. Returning to the deck, she went straight to work jotting down what she was seeing, smelling, and feeling. This was something she had done ever since she was a sophomore in high school whenever she and her family would travel to a new place. She would write down thoughts, smells, feelings, and sights.
Ten minutes later, she had her purse slung across her chest and was walking in the direction of the town where she was. All around her tourists and locals moved along the streets. It was early, but already she could smell the delicious scents of food wafting in the air mixing with the flora and sea air. It imbued her with an energy she hadn’t felt since her days in college when she, Roxi, and their other roommate Lucinda had gone to Key West for spring break. She loved it and would definitely do something as a thank you for her family for doing this for her.
Moira had spotted a little cafe to her right, and feeling hunger starting to gnaw at her, she walked in. She was quickly seated and began looking over her menu. The waiter came by and after taking her order and bringing her a glass of water, Moira sat back and just people watched. One of her favorite past times. Sometimes, in DC, she would go to The National Mall, or one of the many parks and just watch people. Tourists, families, politicians, lots of those in the Nation’s Capital. Lifting her glass of water, she smiled and nodded when the waiter returned with a cup and carafe of coffee. Before she could lift her coffee cup, she spotted a man walking in and taking a seat at the bar.
He was tall, about six foot three, maybe four. He was handsome, probably one of, if not the most handsome man she had ever seen in person. He was dressed in khaki shorts, a blue shirt, flip-flops, and a ball cap. Sipping her coffee, she studied the man. He moved and talked with the person at the bar with a smoothness and confidence that said whoever he was, he was successful. She was guessing he was an American, but since she couldn’t hear him, she couldn’t be sure. After a few more minutes of watching him with a strange fascination, she was brought out of her study when her food arrived. Breathing in the smell of the food had her moaning quietly. Wasting no time, she picked up her fork and dug in.
Cord
Cord sipped his beer as he waited for his lunch. He didn’t know if it was because he himself was a bar owner or what, but whenever he went to a restaurant that had a bar, he typically sat at the bar. He turned on the stool and cast a casual glance around the dining room. Tourists and locals sat at the tables and booths. Now, he was the only person at the bar, but in a few hours that would change he suspected. His hazel green eyes stopped at a lone woman thoroughly enjoying her lunch. She would stand out in just about any crowd. She was petite, from what he could tell with her sitting, she looked to be curvy in all the places he believed a woman should be. He wondered, if she stood, would she have that classic hourglass figure? Then there was her hair.
Rivers of flaming red gentle curls cascaded over her shoulders and down to the middle of her back. From his vantage point, it looked soft and silky despite the curls. What would it look like as the dawning sun caressed it against her pillow? Okay, where the hell had that thought come from? Cord frowned slightly. He liked women but the thoughts that seemed to be flowing through his mind watching this stranger was a new concept for him. He shook his head slightly before taking another sip of his beer. He had just turned back to face the bar again when his food was placed in front of him.
“Wow, this looks delicious.” Cord grinned.
“It’s a local favorite. Enjoy.” The bartender replied, before leaving Cord to enjoy his meal.
