“
On your day off?” She wrinkled her nose.
“
That is a day off for him,” Cody cut in. “He’s always loved playing with numbers and making stupid little graphs. I swear, when we were in college, we had new little graphs shoved under our noses daily. Finally we had to tell him to stop wasting ink or the company would go under.”
Sarah gave Justin a weird look. “Really?”
He shrugged. “I find charts relaxing. I know, it’s weird, but it works for me.”
Sarah looked at Amber with wide eyes. “Do you find charts relaxing?”
Amber shook her head. “I’ve never found anything having to do with money relaxing.”
“
What do you do to relax then?”
Amber smiled. “I ride my horse. I still live on the ranch where I grew up and I take long rides through the countryside.”
Sarah nodded. “I’m not much of a horse person, but I can see that as relaxing. I’m so glad you don’t make charts.” She said the last in a loud whisper, and then cut her eyes over to Justin to see how he’d react.
Justin was glaring at Cody. “Thanks, man. I’m glad you’ve got my back.”
Cody grinned. “Someone has to!”
“
I know all of your embarrassing secrets, you know.”
“
I don’t get embarrassed.” Cody smiled at Amber. “I’d be happy to go on a long relaxing ride with you anytime.”
“
What do you do to relax?” Amber asked him.
“
I cook.”
“
You cook? Like grilled cheese sandwiches and stuff?”
He shook his head. “Nahh…like cordon bleu stuff. I actually took some classes after college for fun.”
“
You’ll have to cook for me sometime.”
“
I’d love to.” His hand covered hers and Sarah turned away.
Justin looked at Sarah. “What do you do to relax?”
Sarah smiled. “I’m a reader. I like to take a three hour bath and read in the tub.”
Justin raised an eyebrow. “Bubbles?”
“
What does that matter?”
He grinned. “Just trying to get a good mental image.” He laughed when she swatted his arm. “What do you read?”
“
Mostly fiction. Sci-fi, romance, fantasy, mysteries. I even read young adult at times. Just depends on my mood.”
“
So why did you major in business and not literature?” Most people he knew who enjoyed reading that much had chosen English for their major not business.
“
One’s a fun way to escape from the other. I don’t think I’d enjoy reading half as much if I had to.”
The stewardess came then with their meals. A table folded down out of the wall to put their plates on.
Once they were done eating, and the meal was cleared away, Cody pulled out a deck of cards. “Spades anyone?”
Sarah shrugged. “Sure.” Her family had played a lot of cards growing up.
Amber frowned. “I guess, but you’ll have to teach me. I’ve never played.”
Cody nodded. “You’re Justin’s partner then.”
“
Why do you always stick me with the people who have never played?”
“
Because I like to win, of course.”
Amber caught on quickly, and they played two games. Cody and Sarah won the first, but Justin and Amber edged them out in the second. By the time they were finished with the second game, Sarah was yawning. Justin grinned at her. “Let’s fold the table up and get some sleep.”
Sarah nodded. “I’m sorry I’m so tired.”
“
Don’t be. We’re flying through the night so we can sleep on the flight, not so we can keep each other up playing games.”
The stewardess brought them each a pillow and a blanket. Justin showed Sarah how to lean her chair back and kick her feet out. Once they were settled, his hand found hers and she fell asleep clutching it. She slept with a smile on her face.
Chapter Six
Sarah woke as the wheels touched down. Justin’s hand was still clutched tightly in her own. She watched as the other three struggled awake as well. Looking out the window, she saw it was light out and stretched. “I guess we’re here,” she mumbled.
Amber rubbed the back of her neck. “How’d you sleep?” She directed her question at Sarah.
“
Really well, considering I was on a plane.” She dropped Justin’s hand. “You?”
Amber nodded tiredly. “Pretty well.” It was obvious she could have used a few more hours, though.
Justin stood up stretching to get the kinks out. “They’ll bring our stuff over. Let’s go to the island!”
Cody came awake slower than the others. “Let’s get breakfast here before we go over on the boat. Steven isn’t going to be happy if we invade them too early.” He stood up twisting his torso first one way and then the other, cracking his back loudly.
“
Are they already there?” Sarah asked.
Justin nodded. “They got there yesterday morning. Steven said he deserved a little time without us bugging him.” Justin grinned at Cody.
Sarah frowned. “Didn’t he want you to come?”
“
Oh, sure. He just wanted a little time in paradise before we showed up and forced him to think about anything other than Bailey.” Justin winked at her.
“
Bailey’s the nanny, right?” Justin was interested in the nanny?
“
Uh huh. And you’re the executive assistant and Amber is the riding instructor.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “I see.”
“
I thought you would.”
Cody led them all off the plane. “Put our stuff on the boat. We’ll be back in a few hours and head over,” he told the pilot.
“
Yes, sir.”
They walked toward a small restaurant adjacent to the airport. “I’m hungry!” Cody rubbed his stomach.
“
You’re always hungry!” Justin shook his head at his friend.
Cody shrugged. “Very true.” He grabbed Amber’s hand and pulled her along toward the restaurant.
By the time they’d eaten and browsed a couple of the shops it was almost noon. “We gave them enough time to wake up,” Cody announced. “Paradise awaits!”
They walked toward the beach and found the boat with their things in it. The man who owned the boat and shuttled people back and forth to Motu Tane was sitting quietly waiting for them. He had a book in his hands.
Sarah had only been outside of the United States once when her family went on a trip to Britain when she was a little girl. The tropical island they were on was amazing to her.
Once they were on the ocean, she turned her face toward the sea spray. “I love this!” she shouted over the motor.
Justin smiled, his hand squeezing her thigh through her jeans. She wondered again what the accommodations would be like. If Justin had told her sooner where they were going, she’d have looked it up, but she hadn’t had time.
Once they were in view of the island, her smile widened. It looked like a jungle with bungalows built right on the beach. There were several, so she could obviously have her own if she chose to.
Soon they were all standing on the beach, talking to Steven and Bailey. Well, Sarah and Amber were talking to Bailey, and Cody and Justin were talking to Steven. Bailey was cradling her niece in her arms.
“
I’m so glad Cody and Justin both brought dates!” Bailey said excitedly. Bailey was a petite blue eyed blond. She seemed genuinely happy there were other women on the island with her.
“
Oh, no! I’m not Justin’s date. I’m his administrative assistant.” She held her hand out to shake Bailey’s. “I’m Sarah Roberts.”
“
It’s nice to meet you. I’m really not a date either. I’m the nanny.” Bailey smiled as she shook the other woman’s hand. “I’m Bailey Borders.” She turned to face Amber. “Are you a date?” she asked with a grin.
She shook her head. “I’m Cody’s riding instructor.” She looked bewildered by that fact. “I’m Amber Cassidy.” Amber had blue eyes and dark hair.
Bailey nodded. “I’m sure he’ll need you for the horse riding portion of the business meeting,” she said with a straight face.
They all laughed. “Would you believe he actually told me if he decided to ride a horse on the beach and he fell off, it would be my fault if I didn’t come with him?”
Bailey shook her head. “They’re all crazy!” She looked around for a minute, waiting to see if Steven would come over. When he didn’t, she decided to play hostess. “I’m sure we can take meals together, or not. Whatever. Steven said they were having their big meeting tomorrow. Do you guys want to hang out on the beach during it? Or we could use the boat for whale watching?” Bailey paused. “Steven said he’d have someone watch the baby if we wanted to go. It seems strange to let him pay for a babysitter so his nanny can go for a ride in a boat, but who am I to argue?”
Sarah shook her head. “That sounds like fun, but I’m sure Justin will need me during the meeting. I mean, he wouldn’t have brought me along otherwise, right?”
“
I have a feeling the only reason any of us are here is because those men over there thought we should be.” Amber shook her head bemusedly. “I still can’t figure out why I agreed to come here.”
Bailey nodded emphatically. “They’re certainly….forceful.” She glanced over to where Steven was talking with his friends. “They’re all standing there talking to each other, but looking at us.”
Sarah sighed. All three of them were here because of the whims of the men. “I think maybe we need to go do something just us women. You’re right Bailey! Let them have their meeting alone. They don’t need me there. What do you think we should do? Go out on the boat? Hang on the beach?”
“
I’m open for anything. Steven also said something about how he could have spa treatments arranged. It didn’t sound fun when I was the only girl, but having a spa day could be cool.” Bailey looked excited by the idea.
Amber grinned. “That sounds like fun. Let’s do this. We’ll spend the morning whale watching in the boat, and then come back here for an afternoon of spa treatments. I spend so much time smelling like horses it would be nice to actually have my nails done and look like a girl for a change.”
Sarah shrugged. It sounded like it could be fun. “I could do go for that! I’ve never done anything like that. Have you?”
“
I did once, when I was a teenager, but not since. I’ve been too busy trying to save my family’s ranch so my kid brother would have the life he’s always thought he’d have.” Amber shrugged. “It’s all been worth it, too.”
“
I’ve been too busy simply struggling to survive. Who can afford a nice spa day?” Bailey wasn’t upset she’d never done it, just matter of fact.
The men walked toward them. “What did you girls decide to do tomorrow while we’re in our meeting?” Steven draped his arm around Bailey’s shoulders.
Sarah looked at Justin. “You don’t need me for the meeting?”
Please say no
, she thought. She’d already agreed to go have a girl’s day.
Justin shook his head. “Have fun with the other ladies.”
Bailey rolled her eyes at Sarah. “They’re all three just alike, you know.” She turned to Steven. “We want to go whale watching in the morning and then in the afternoon we want a spa.”
“
Sounds good. I’ll make the arrangements. Why don’t you girls tell me what you want included in your spa package, and I’ll make the call?” Steven acted as if what they wanted was no big deal.
Amber grinned. “So what are we doing for dinner tonight?”
“
Let’s do the Polynesian dancer thing again!” Cody’s eyes lit up as he put his hand on Amber’s arm. “They’ll do a private show for us right here on the island, and we can have them do a luau-type traditional menu or anything we want, really. What would you like to have for dinner?”
“
Umm….” Amber had seemed so confident when it was just the three of them, but now that Cody was there, she seemed confused. “I think the traditional thing could be cool. I’ve never been to a luau before.”
“
My lady wants a luau. You wanna handle it, or should I?” Cody didn’t seem to think anyone else’s opinion mattered.
Steven shrugged. “I’ll just add it to everything else I’m calling about.” He pulled Bailey away from the others and talked to her in low tones before going inside.
Justin looked at Sarah. “Did you agree to all that, or did they rope you into it?”
Sarah grinned. “We all decided together. I like them!”
Justin smiled. “I’m glad. I hope y’all end up being good friends.” He looked around. “It looks like Steven and Bailey have commandeered the villa. Do you want to share a bungalow?” At the look on her face, he said, “Don’t worry. You’re not required to share a room with me. They all have two bedrooms.”
Sarah nodded. “That sounds fine.” She didn’t tell him she’d pretty much decided she was going to throw caution to the wind and just let their relationship go where it would that week. She’d surprise him with that later.
He took her hand and led her down the beach. “Let’s go for the one down on that end.” He pointed to the other end of the island. “We’ll be close enough to have fun with the others any time we want to, but we’ll also have a lot of privacy.”
She smiled, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder as they walked. “That sounds really good to me.”