“Keep it in your pants, Mackenzie.”
Josh chuckled, and he was the next recipient of Abigail’s glare.
“You.” She poked him in the chest. “Traitor.”
She turned on her heel and marched back to her seat, crossing her arms over her chest as she sat down.
Her seat wobbled as Grant took the one next to her.
“I’m sorry if you don’t think you can control yourself around me,” he grinned, remembering his own anger to hearing she’d be there. They were made for each other, and she’d see it eventually. “I am pretty irresistible.”
He winked. She shoved him. Josh and Taylor laughed.
“Just shut up. All of you.”
There was no more fight behind those words as everything began to sink in. She was headed to a tropical island with a hot professional athlete who she may or may not have feelings for.
Just great.
Three
The last leg of the trip was on a small Cape Air plane from Puerto Rico to St. Croix. It flew low enough to enjoy the beauty of the island and the surrounding waters. Greens and blues swirled together to create the tapestry that was the Caribbean.
Abigail had never seen the ocean before. Her parents had never been ones to take their kids anywhere. They couldn’t afford it, and didn’t want to take the time. Pushing her sunglasses up her nose to get a better look, she pressed her face closer to the window from her seat right behind the pilot. He pointed out a few things to them as he began the descent towards the island.
“Taylor,” she yelled over the noise of the plane. “It’s the ocean.”
“I did tell you we were going to an island, right?” Her friend laughed.
Green foliage dotted a landscape that was both mountainous and flat; both dry and forested.
The airport came into view, its yellow buildings faded from the sun. Abigail looked over at Taylor, who grinned in excitement. An entire day of traveling with the likes of Mack wasn’t fun, but it brought them here, and Abigail was determined to have a good vacation regardless of the big, strong, sexy man seated behind her. She squeezed her eyes shut.
What is wrong with me? She thought. I’m on a friggin’ island, stop thinking about stupid men.
Opening her eyes, she began to see the island differently. This is her escape; her freedom. She was young and a little crazy, and this place was about to become her bitch.
They climbed out of the plane into the warm afternoon air. She inhaled deeply and spread her arms wide.
“We’re here!” she called to Taylor, who wrapped her arm around Abigail’s shoulder as they practically ran across the tarmac. The airport was teeming with people waiting for another plane to come in. Abigail and Taylor pushed their way through the crowd before stopping to wait for the boys to catch up.
Josh took Taylor’s hand, and together the four of them went to baggage claim. A woman stopped them on their way, pointing back to a welcome booth.
“Rum?” she asked.
“Is that even a question?” Abigail responded. “I’m in love with this place already.”
The woman smiled. “Cruzan rum is made on the island. It’s practically the designated drink.”
They all laughed at the joke. Grant stepped behind Abigail, a little too close for comfort, to reach around her for his free shot.
“I could use about ten more of those.” He looked at Abigail, but she turned away and led Taylor towards the carousel where their bags were about to show up.
A little while later, Josh looked at his map once more and pulled the rental car up in front of a bright pink house. Taylor laughed as they gazed up at the hideous, peeling paint.
“Don’t judge before you see the inside,” Josh piped up. “I swear this place came recommended.”
“Whatever you say, Joshy boy.” Grant clapped him on the shoulder before taking the keys from his hand and opening the front door.
They walked in, the only sound being Grant’s surprised whistle. White tile spread out in front of them, past island chic decorations and colorful walls, all the way to a wall of sliding glass doors that led out onto a deck with the most incredible view Abigail had ever seen.
She ran across the house, not taking in many of her surroundings, and threw open the doors.
Stepping outside, she looked across the pool towards the ocean. “Oh my freakin’ God. I guess it pays to have a trust fund.”
“Abigail.” Taylor pinched her to shut her up, but Abigail just shrugged before kicking off her shoes and running across the deck. Moments passed as everyone watched her plunge into the sparkling pool.
She came up laughing, her eyes trained on Grant in challenge. “Well?”
That was all it took for the rest of them to follow her in, clothes and all.