“I know. But what that man has done for those boys, Zack and his brothers, is amazing. Imagine, he didn’t know they existed and then all of a sudden in their teens, he took them in at the right time when they lost everything. Wow. It gives me goose bumps every time I hear the story. Rags to riches. Living out of their dad’s car, their mother died mysteriously, the authorities were after them. Then a door opened. And they’ve worked hard and each came into their own.”
“I know. They never forget where they come from. And Toni made sure they each earned his own way in life. God, they’re good. Alonso is a successful doctor. Do you know he’s opened up some free health clinics in Haiti?”
“Yeah, I read that somewhere.”
“And Lucas has his Healthy Start Software program that really took off.”
“And Zack, wow, he’s really done well for himself and what he’s done by creating a program through his winery to boost the careers of thousands of entrepreneurs. I heard he’s created more jobs than any other single family-owned business. Is that cool or what? Girl, you should be really proud of your man.”
“I am. I just…”
“What?”
“I’m just nervous, Ari. Every time things seem to be going great, something happens.”
“Stop that, Blue. What could possibly happen? You’re getting married in seven days.”
“I know. I just hope nothing steps in to mess it up. I hope Zack doesn’t change his mind.”
“Blue? Talk about a bad case of pre-wedding jitters. Oh…” Arianna finally realized the source of Blue’s jitters. “Those damn articles. I hope you’re not reading any of that garbage online about Zack and publicity stunts and sex tapes?”
“No. I’m not…well, I happened to be checking my email once and it popped up on the trending stories but other than that, no.”
“Listen, Blue. Whenever miserable people see a good thing going they always take some perverse pleasure in picking it apart and tearing it down. Why can’t naysayers leave well alone? Don’t read any more of that junk online. It’s all tabloid stuff and probably bitter ex-girlfriends who are jealous that you’re the one he’s walking down the aisle with. And trust me, if I have to drag you two together down the lobby to the gazebo, I’m doing it.” Arianna pressed her hands on her hips and gave a mock scowl.
Blue laughed. “Oh, Ari! What would I do without you, girl? You really are a true friend.”
“Come on. I’ll let you get ready since you just arrived. Then we’ll head over to the pool bar. We’ll cool off there and take in the sun and water.”
A knock sounded on the door.
“Don’t worry, Blue,” Arianna said after she hugged her friend. “I’ll get it on my way out.” Then she walked towards the door. When she opened it, kaboom went her heart.
A sinfully gorgeous, tall, dark and deliciously handsome man stood before her. Her eyes caught his dark, sexy gaze, a heated look stole her breath away. There, standing in the doorway, was none other than Christian Romero.
CHAPTER TWO
“Christian,” Arianna gasped, almost breathless, too breathless for her liking. The tension increased inside her body as inner torment whirled inside her mind.
Christian. Her heart rate immediately escalated inside her chest, beating hard and pounding fierce. The man always had that effect on her whenever she was near him. It never failed. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. What was Christian doing here?
She had anticipated meeting him sometime during his stay on the island, but not right this minute, so soon. She simply wasn’t prepared to see him…now. Emotionally, she didn’t know how she would react to him again after their last face-to-face meeting which didn’t go all too well.
Things were going fabulously during the time they were dating, so Ari thought. She’d been flying back and forth from Jamaica to New York every other week since she’d taken over more responsibility at the hotel as her father went through a bout of depression. Christian teased her that it was almost like dating a flight attendant. Always on the go! Of course, being from a prominent and wealthy family like the Romeros who were spread out all over North America, travelling on a private plane or commercial jet-first class was not a problem. They’d spent plenty of passionate times together and spoke every day without fail. Her parents had taken over the Duponte Hotel after her grandfather, the founder, died when Arianna was only twelve. The hotel was everything to her parents. Everything. Over the years, they’d fixed it up and turned it around into a world-class hot spot for tourists heading to the Jamaican west coast for an unforgettable vacation.