"She only called so that Eleu could have breakfast waiting for them. Don't you think it's strange she called Eleu and not us?" Jay took her hand and pulled her toward the beach. "But I don't want to talk about Katherine. I don't even want to think about Katherine."
They walked to the water's edge, their bare feet sinking into the damp sand as they stood looking out over the ocean. It was still overcast, the air cooler than it had been, the sun hiding behind clouds, the waves and wind a little stronger than they'd seen.
"Last night was fantastic," Drew said quietly, the wind carrying her words away.
Jay nodded. "Yes. It was beyond fantastic." She sighed. "And now they're back."
"We didn't really have time to consider anything, did we?"
"No, we didn't. But I don't regret it. Do you?"
"Are you kidding? It was the best night of my life."
"But now?" Jay asked, looking at Drew. "You look so sad."
"Do I?" Drew turned away, beginning to walk again. "Yeah, I guess I am," she said.
Jay touched her arm, stopping her. "Nothing about this is perfect," she said. "But like you said earlier... it is what it is."
"Yes. It's just funny. A few days ago, you were the one saying you didn't want an affair with me. And now, I guess, it's me. I don't want an affair with you, Jay. But it seems that's what we have."
"No. That's not what we have. What we shared last night can't ever be called an affair. I fell in love with you weeks ago.
Last night was inevitable. We both knew that."
"And I'm being selfish. I just want us to be alone, to be able to be ourselves. And I knew coming in that wouldn't be the case."
Jay turned into the wind, her hair lifting around her face. "I'm not sure what I thought would happen. I guess I thought maybe we could ignore this... this thing between us until we got back home. I know that's crazy now." She glanced at Drew. "I mean, we've spent every day together, just us. There wasn't any defense anymore. We made love." She moved in front of Drew, standing close. "We made love last night. And I've never felt closer to anyone than I did you. It was so... so powerful being with you like that."
"I'm totally in love with you, Jay. And I'm scared you're going to break my heart," she said. "Scared to death."
Jay shook her head. "No." She moved into Drew's arms and Drew held her tight. "No, I'm not going to break your heart," she whispered into Drew's ear. "I'm going to love you to death." Her lips lingered before she pulled away and slipped out of her arms again.
"So now what? We go back and keep on pretending?"
Jay took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "No." She shook her head. "I'm tired of playing games. Aren't you?"
"So you're ready for that confrontation with her?"
"I'm ready for the truth. I'm ready to get on with my life."
But the relief Drew felt at those words was short-lived. When they returned to the garden, Jenna and Katherine were already there, sipping strong Hawaiian coffee and chatting with Eleu.
"There you two are," Katherine said with a smile. "I was hoping you'd be here waiting for me, Jay."
"Waiting for you?"
"Yes. I missed you terribly last night." Her smile was beaming and Drew frowned. Something was up.
"But I trust you enjoyed the theater and dinner," Jay said as she pulled out a chair.
"Oh, it was fun, but I hated that we missed the last shuttle."
"Well, we managed without you."
"Something special for breakfast?" Eleu asked quietly behind Jay. "Or just fruit?"
"This is fine, Eleu. Don't go to any trouble."
"For you, Drew?"
"I'm good, thanks." Drew pulled out a chair opposite Jay, chancing a quick glance her way. Jay looked at her and Drew saw a quiet determination on her face.
"I hope you guys didn't have any excursions planned today," Jenna said. "I think we'd like to join you at the beach, just hang out, you know."
"No, actually we didn't make any plans for today," Drew said. "Although it still looks like it could rain."
"Eleu says the clouds will burn off by noon," Katherine said. She turned to Jay. "I'm ready to see you in that cute black bikini," she added with a wink.
Drew's eyebrows shot up. Was that the same black bikini that was a tangled mess after Drew had ripped it from Jay's body last night?
"You hate the ocean, remember," Jay said as she stabbed a piece of pineapple.
"I didn't say I wanted to get in the water." She put her coffee cup down, smiling at Jay. "It'll be good to spend the day with you though."
"Will it?"
"Of course." She stared at Jay. "But you seem a little agitated this morning. What is it? Are you angry that we missed the shuttle last night?"
Jay tilted her head as she stared at Katherine, then she flashed a quick smile. "Honestly, Kath, I didn't even know you were gone."
Drew and Jenna watched the exchange silently. Drew wondered if they were about to witness that big dramatic scene Jay had warned her about. But no, Katherine didn't even seem fazed by Jay's comment.
"Now I know that's not true." She reached across the table and touched Jay's hand, rubbing it lightly. "I'll make it up to you, darling." She glanced at Drew. "You don't mind if I steal Jay away from you today, do you? We've got some catching up to do."
Drew wasn't certain if that statement needed an answer or not, but Jay saved her from replying.
"Kath, why don't we go to our cottage?"
Katherine flashed a beaming smile, her eyes sparkling. "Excellent idea." She glanced at Jenna and winked.
Jay stood, her glance moving to Drew. There was a look there Drew wasn't sure she'd seen before. Not anger really, something even deeper than that. She watched them go, feeling jealousy rear its ugly head as Katherine's hand slipped around Jay's waist.
"That was a little odd, wasn't it?" Jenna said.
Drew nodded. "This whole trip's been odd."
Jenna sighed. "Oh, well, I suppose things will be getting back to normal."
"What do you mean?"
Jenna waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, me and Katherine. That's over with."
Drew frowned. "I thought you were in love."
"We had our fling, but we realized last night that there just wasn't anything there except lust. The sex was great. In fact, the best I've ever had. But beyond that, we really didn't enjoy each other's company all that much."
Drew felt her chest tighten at her words. Their affair was over. Now what? Was that why Katherine had been so sickeningly sweet to Jay this morning?
"I'm in the mood for a Bloody Mary," Jenna said. "Want one?"
"That'll be a good start," she said, her glance going to the cottages, wondering what was happening inside.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
"We need to talk, Katherine." Jay stood at the window, looking out at the ocean. The cool breeze felt good on her heated face. "Don't you think we need to talk?"
"Does that mean you did miss me after all?"
Jay turned, ignoring the smile Katherine was offering her. "It's been a very strange trip, Kath. Even you have to admit that."
"Why do you say so?"
"Because it's almost like we're on two separate vacations, we just happen to be sharing a cottage at night."
"Oh, Jay, come on. You must admit you'd have been bored silly touring museums and galleries with me. And I'd never have done all that snorkeling and other stuff with you," she said, moving closer. "But, I've got it out of my system. I've seen my last show, toured my last museum. Now I'm ready for a little us time."
"Us time? Now you're ready?" Jay took a step back as Katherine reached for her. "It's not always about you, Kath. You still don't have a clue, do you?"
"Apparently not. But I don't care to stand here in the middle of our room talking about it." She paused. "How about a drive?"