Chapter 13

       The concierge, Etienne, dropped Emie and Lucia off at Emie’s room first.  It was a gorgeous villa, with a bedroom, living area, and an amazing outdoor space.  There was a small plunge pool just outside the living room area, which opened up with huge double French doors.  The only downside was that it wasn’t particularly private, since it was almost directly on the beach.  It faced the powedery white sand beach, and the crystal clear lagoon.  There wasn’t many people on the beach though, considering how private and small the resort was.  Emie immediately knew she was going to love the next two weeks.       “I’ll see you ladies in a bit.” Tom said, flashing a smile as Emie and Lucia made their way into the villa.  It was gorgeous—all dark wood, and flowing white curtains.  Just like in the lobby, there were fresh flowers everywhere.        “See you soon.” Emie smiled.  She stepped forward, giving him a bit of an awkward hug.  He was still sitting in the golf cart, but he leaned into her throwing an arm around her.  “Thank you, again.” She said softly into his ear, then pressed a kiss to his cheek.       Tom smiled, then looked down, almost shyly.  If Emie hadn’t been mistaken, she almost thought he blushed.  Lucia disappeared into the villa, and Tom leaned forward, pressing an identical kiss onto Emie’s cheek.         “I couldn’t have had a better travel companion.” He whispered.  It was Emie’s turn to genuinely blush, but she hid it by quickly stepping away, and moving toward the villa.       “See you.” She said, turning toward the building as she heard the golf cart take off toward the bungalows.       Emie made her way into the villa, seeing that one of the hotel staff was dropping off her suitcase.       “Emie, I almost killed you, you know.” Lucia was walking aimlessly around the room, opening doors and peaking into the bathroom.         “I know.” Emie said, after thanking the concierge and giving him a tip.       “Tom really is a life saver, isn’t he?” Lucia asked, flopping down on the large, king bed.  It was covered in an impossibly fluffy white down duvet and about a million pillows. It looked so utterly tempting, that Emie wondered if she could sneak in a nap.  Although the sun was shining outside, the traveling had taken it’s toll on her.  Maybe a nap on the beach.  She’d seen some awesome looking palapas on the beach.       “I don’t know about life saver.  But he is handy.” Emie sighed, grabbing her suitcase and unzipping it.  First, she’d unpack and then get a shower.         “Handy? What an interesting choice of words.” Lucia said slyly, rolling over on the bed and raising a slim eyebrow at her sister.  Emie shook her head, warning Lucia not to go there.         “I saw you kiss him.” Lucia said, her smile growing huge.  Emie pursed her lips, frowning.       “On the cheek.”       “Does it really matter? I was around you guy for about two minutes and the sexual tension was…thick.” Lucia sat up, rubbing her hands together.  Emie shoved her underwear and bras into a drawer, and then started hanging up the countless dresses she had brought with her.       “Luce.” She said, then turned her back.  If she said anymore, she knew Lucia would be able to tell something was definitely going on.  Emie wasn’t sure why she couldn’t admit it to her sister.  Maybe because once she told Lucia, it would mean it was real.  It would mean that there were actual things she needed to think about and consider.  Right now…it could still pass as just being friends.  Really, really good friends who knew what the insides of each other’s mouths felt like.         “Okay, so you don’t want to talk about it.” Lucia finally caught on.  “But just so you know, Tom is amazing.  He’s the sweetest thing ever.”  As if Emie needed to know, or hear any of this.  She was certainly aware of his finer…attributes.  “I wish you’d give him a real chance.  Screw the rule—“       “It’s an important rule.” Emie turned around quickly then, looking at her sister.  Lucia scrunched up her face.       “Is it though?”       “You and Chris go sometimes weeks without seeing each other.” Emie said, grabbing shoes out of her giant suitcase and putting them in the closet.       “Yes, but it makes the reunion sex all that better.” Lucia laughed, flopping back down onto the bed.       “Please. My delicate ears.” Emie laughed.       “Anyway, do you and Tom want to have dinner with Chris and I tonight?” Lucia asked, finally getting off the bed and smoothing out the covers.  Emie sighed.       “I cannot speak for Tom, seeing as we are just friends and I have no jurisdiction over him, but I would like to have dinner with you, sure.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose, suddenly feeling a bit of a headache come on.       “Great.  Tom already knows, anyway.  He’s going to tell us the surprise for tomorrow.” Lucia walked toward the door to the suite.       “Great.” Emie mimicked, waiting for Lucia to leave and give her some peace and quiet.       “Wear something sexy.” Lucia urged.       “I don’t know what that means.” Emie said, deadpan.  Lucia grunted and left the villa, leaving Emie to finish unpacking and some peace and quiet.                     True to her word, Emie finished unpacking and then promptly fell asleep for a few hours on the amazing, pillow like bed.  She had needed the quiet, uninterrupted sleep.       When she had woken up, it was nearly 5pm, and she knew she needed to start getting ready for dinner.  She didn’t feel too bad about sleeping away most of the day.  She knew if she didn’t catch up on sleep now, she never would.  Hopping off the bed, Emie stripped quickly out of her travel rumpled clothing.  She went into the bathroom, which was equipped with an amazing teak wood and marble shower with double shower heads.  She grinned, thinking again how much she was going to love this place.  The shower itself had an eye level horizontal window that gave an amazing view of the lagoon.         Emie stepped into the hot spray, putting her face under the water and feeling the grime and weariness of travel wash away.  All the stress the lead up to the trip was melting off of her.  She didn’t have to worry about the flight anymore, or getting there.  Now she could just enjoy.  She washed and conditioned her hair, letting herself luxuriate under the hot water for longer than she normally would have.  She used the loofa that was provided, and the amazing coconut scented body wash, then shaved her legs.         After getting out of the shower, she smoothed on body lotion, then wrapped herself in the silk robe that was hanging on the back of the bathroom door.  She debated whether to straighten her hair, or let her natural waves dry, and she decided to let it go.  She was at the beach, after all.  She worked a bit of product through her hair, to give it a beachy look instead of complete frizz, and then set to work on her makeup.         Emie usually went pretty natural as far as makeup went.  She had been blessed with good skin, and the California sun usually helped to aid in giving her a natural glow that also enhanced slightly the light smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks.  She applied mascara, and some bronzer and topped her look off with some rosebud lip tint.         She dressed in a floral maxi dress.  It was cream colored, with an overall vintage rose pattern in muted crimsons and pinks.  The dressed wrapped tightly around her chest and torso, and then flowed down at her waist, the material light and airy.  She checked her profile in the mirror, happy to be out of her old jeans and cardigan.  This was much more appropriate.  She felt pretty.  It was nice.  For once she wouldn’t see Tom while she was either covered in blood or wearing her pajamas.       But why, exactly, did she care how Tom saw her?