Chapter 2
AFTER FINALLY STRETCHING HER legs, she gathered her suitcases and rolled them off the ferry onto the loading dock. There was not just one that she had to endure but two as the first stopped off in Tortola for an hour. It wasn’t a completely wasted trip because she did get to purchase a few things for both Emily and Natalie, but Calista was already tired of traveling. It seemed like she’d been in flux since about seven o’clock the night before. She barely even had time for more than a nap when she’d made it to the hotel after trying to find her missing suitcase.
Thankfully, it had turned up in the hands of another passenger who’d mistakenly grabbed the wrong one from the baggage carousel. It just so happened to be the one that contained all her swimwear and lingerie. Oftentimes in one of her books, the heroine would go without panties, but she wasn’t one of those women she wrote about and would be too concerned about what others would say or think if they knew. Phew! At least one crisis was diverted.
There was a line of taxis waiting at the end of the pier, so she hurried as fast as she could to get to one. The resort she was headed to had everything one could desire on-site, and right now, all she wanted was a hot bath followed by a few more hours’ sleep.
“Where are you headed, ma’am?” one of the cab drivers asked as she stopped in front of his car.
“The Paradise Resort,” she answered, glad that despite his heavy West Indian accent, he spoke English. She was too mentally drained to try to figure out any foreign languages at this point.
“I’ll take you there. Let me get those bags in the trunk.” As he did, she kept her small carry-on bag with her. Once in the backseat, she opened it and pulled out the printed copy of the hotel reservations she had stuck in a large Ziploc bag before leaving Boston. She also grabbed her wallet, which would contain her identification and anything else she would need to check in.
The driver closed the trunk and took his place behind the wheel of the car, so her time could be better spent looking out at the beautifully decorated island. It seemed as festive as Christmas in Boston did outside of the blanket of white that Mother Nature usually added to Boston’s.
Cali was not going to miss the frigid cold and snow. Often joking that she needed to move somewhere tropical, this was her chance to see if it was merely lip service or something she would enjoy. A smile tipped her lips as she thought about having a house on an island with nothing but the waves and sounds of sea birds to distract her. It would definitely be an improvement over the sounds of sirens and complete and utter chaos that city living provided her in Boston.
“We’re here,” the driver stated, cutting through her daydreams. “I think you’re really going to enjoy the island.”
Cali smiled brightly, holding back her “I hope so.” Natalie was always telling her not to borrow trouble, and she agreed with her, this time at least. She’d been looking forward to this trip for months and wanted to keep any negativity at bay. Despite her protests to her friends and whoever else would listen, she truly did need some time to herself.
Her last book didn’t open to the same reception that she was accustomed to and Cali chalked it up to her current time constraints. The truth was she was slowly losing the motivation needed to weave the incredible tales of love and desire that she was known for. At times, she wished she could be one of the women from her books and find a grand lover to sweep her off her feet. She was a realist, however, and things like that didn’t happen to women like her. She was plain, shy, and utterly boring. Even her real last name, Smith, was ordinary. It was only after she started writing that she decided to go with a pen name, eventually having her own changed to match the one she was now known under.
The sound of the large wrought iron gates opening jolted her mind back to the present. Moving her gaze to her left, she took in the tropical sights that extended as far as the eye could see. It was breathtaking. Large patches of foliage surrounded them, the vibrant colors of the tropical flowers peeking out from behind the curtain of green. The palette of colors was almost indescribably beautiful.
All thoughts Cali had of going straight to sleep were long forgotten as she grew more excited to venture around the grounds, exploring every inch of the natural paradise offered by the resort. She didn’t have anywhere else to go and she couldn’t come up with anything better to do. The scenery beckoned, rapidly diminishing all the jitters she’d experienced since leaving Boston.
The car followed a winding driveway, finally coming to a stop in front of a large building. It was obvious from the outward appearance of the structure that it was filled with luxury and refinement on the inside. The sight before her was identical to the photo she’d seen on the brochure at the travel agent’s office. Digging into her wallet, she pulled out a few bills and handed them to the cab driver. “Thanks. Let me open the truck and help the staff with your bags,” he told her.
Cali nodded then exited the car, immediately seeing two men decked out in khaki pants and tropical shirts heading their way. They didn’t look like the ordinary bellboys she saw at the regal Boston hotels, but then again, they were on a Caribbean island.
They asked for her carry-on bag, so after grabbing her purse from inside, Calista handed it off to the two men and watched as they circled around the car to get the rest of her things. While they were busy with her luggage, she would go inside and check in. Depending on how efficient the other resort staff was, she might even have her keys by the time they made it in the building with her bags.
As she walked toward the entrance, the smell of the flowers perfumed the air and she inhaled deeply. She could detect the salt from the nearby ocean as well, only increasing her desire to get to her room. She’d made sure when she’d booked the reservation that she would not only have a balcony but an oceanfront one to boot.
The slight layover in St. Thomas did allow her the opportunity to dress for the climate. When she had left Boston, Cali had worn a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and some tennis shoes. She swapped out that attire for a pair of pink capris, a white tank, and sandals. The bottom of her shoes clicked slightly on the marbled stairs as she climbed the four wide steps.
The hotel had a welcome feel to it despite its obvious elegance. She opened one of the French doors and stepped inside. The tropical theme carried on with potted orchids in varying colors. Other plants were scattered throughout but those were the only ones she could recognize and name. In addition, the fabrics covering the large floor-to-ceiling windows and furniture were in bright colors, which made the interior seem so much brighter. Her gaze traveled around the expansive lobby as she took everything in.
“Can I help you with something?” A male voice caused her to jump. In her appraisal of the space, she didn’t even realize she had stopped in the center of the room.
Turning toward the voice, she tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and wryly smiled. The older gentleman was dressed in a similar fashion to the men outside. “Where’s the front desk?”
Cali knew where it was but felt silly being caught standing there gawking at the place. That was when something, or rather someone, grabbed her attention. Another man, one much younger, was looking directly at her. She blinked a few times and by the third one, he’d literally disappeared. Story of my life! She should’ve known better.
Listening to the voice in her head, Cali had to admit it was true. She hadn’t gotten that good of a look at him but from what she did…Shaking her head softly, she finally turned and headed to the check-in area.
“Your name and identification, please?” the woman behind the desk asked.
“Calista Grant,” she stated absently as she pulled out her driver’s license and handed it to the redhead. “I hope it isn’t too early to check in.”
“Absolutely not,” the woman, whose name was Robin according to her nametag, assured her. “Your room is ready, so it’s no problem at all.”
Relief filled her and Cali waited as the woman compared the information from her identification to that on the reservation. Just as she’d hoped, the woman finally raised her head and handed her a room card.
“You’re in room twelve, which is on the east side. It has a lovely view of the ocean and is mere steps from the spa. My name is Robin and it looks like…” She paused momentarily and looked over Cali’s shoulder and pointed. “It looks like your bags are ready too. Bruno and Ed will show you to your room.”
“Thank you very much,” Cali replied, slipping her driver’s license back into her wallet. She smiled at Robin then turned to see the men from earlier with her bags in hand.