Prologue
“You don’t know what you’re missing out on Drew. I’ve never been so happy in my entire life. I love you and Ryan like brothers, you know that, but there’s something completely satisfying about having a wife and children. It fills a void you don’t even know is there until you finally are with your true love,” Derek said as the two men sat by the pool, having a drink.
“You know, I think Jasmine is about the most perfect person in this universe but marriage just isn’t for me. I’m a confirmed bachelor. Why would I want to settle down with just one lady, when I can have a new one on my arm every single night?” Drew said with a wicked smile. He said the words but even he didn’t believe himself anymore. He’d watched his newly married cousin with his wife and felt a tugging for something more in his life. He wouldn’t admit that out loud, though. He had a great life and he refused to even think about changing it.
“Yeah, well you know I felt the same way until Jasmine came back into my life and now I just think of all the wasted years we could’ve been together,” Derek said with pain in his voice. His cousin had married his childhood sweetheart but circumstances had kept them apart for ten years and Drew knew it pained Derek whenever he thought about all the years lost.
“I think I’m so restless because I need a vacation. I’ve been working non-stop for years now and I think I’m going to pick one of my resorts and just go soak up some sun and lounge around. I’m sure I can find a few pretty ladies to enjoy the time with me,” he said. He was well known as a playboy. The women he got involved with knew the score and were looking for nothing more than a night with him, so there were no hurt feelings between the couples in the morning.
That had always been enough for him, so he figured the restlessness really was just the fact he was working too hard. The old saying seemed to be quite fitting, all work and no play.
“What are you boys up to out here?” Jasmine asked, as she walked out, with her beautiful baby girl. Drew immediately held out his arms to take her. She was the most adorable thing in the world and he could imagine himself with a few someday. He had to shake the thought off, since he couldn’t have the babies without having a wife. He’d been raised far better than that.
“Oh, you know Drew, he’s talking about all the pretty ladies,” Derek said as he grabbed his wife around the waist and settled her onto his lap. She giggled before bending down to kiss him, making Drew a bit uncomfortable. He cleared his throat, just to remind them he was still there.
He’d never been so head over heels for a girl he forgot everyone else in the room. He was starting to wonder what that would be like.
“Sorry Drew,” Jasmine said a bit sheepishly, as a pretty blush stole over her features.
“Want to babysit?” Derek said. He wasn’t in the least bit sorry. Before Drew had a chance to say anything, Derek rose from the chair, with Jasmine still in his arms and carried her off through the house. He could hear her weak protests as they got further away.
Britney was looking up at him with her big blue eyes, which he couldn’t resist. He blew some raspberries on her tummy, which made her giggle and pat his face.
“I know your parents are a bit nutty but you have to love them, anyway,” he said to the baby. He didn’t feel foolish at all talking to her, even though she had no idea what he was saying. He found himself alone for a very long time before the happy couple came back down to join him.
He raised his brows at his cousin, who just shrugged as if to say, he couldn’t help himself. Jasmine apologized for her husband’s behavior and took Britney back, so she could get her ready for bed. He reluctantly handed her over.
“I’m going to take off now, since my presence here is obviously not needed,” Drew said with a huge smile.
“Hey, you know you’re always wanted here,” Derek told him, truly meaning it.
“I know. That’s why I keep coming back. I’m going to take everyone’s advice though and go on a vacation. I’m sure once I get away for some fun, I’ll feel much better and can get back to normal,” he said.
“Don’t stay away too long, you know how quickly Britney is growing up,” Derek said, as he walked him to the door.
“I can’t believe how quickly she’s growing. I’ll be back in a week or so. I’m thinking it’s time to start slowing down. I’m realizing traveling isn’t holding the same appeal it used to and whenever I’m away I’m anxious to get back. I think it’s your wife’s cooking. I swear I’ve put on twenty pounds,” he said, while rubbing his incredibly flat stomach.
“I understand. I’m going to have to go to the tailor to let all my pants out,” Derek agreed, while rubbing his own impressive stomach. Both men looked more like they should be on the cover of magazines, than sitting behind a desk. They shook hands and Drew took off.
He called his pilot and had the jet readied and headed straight for the airport. He knew some sun and surf would wash all his worries away and hopefully the weird thoughts of marriage and children as well. He simply wasn’t the marrying kind, not like Derek was. Heck, he could tell when they were still teenagers Derek would be the first to marry and make a ton of kids.
Once he was airborne, he sipped on his drink and laid his head back against the seat. He could feel himself relaxing. Yeah, he thought, this is what I needed. He’d refuse to work for a couple of days and everything would go back to normal.
Chapter One
Trinity laid down on the oversized towel, letting out a sigh of total ecstasy. She could feel the sun shining down on her closed eyelids. She was so relaxed, she felt as if she could float off in the crystal clear water, only a few feet away from her.
This was the first impulsive thing she’d ever done in her life. She’d always been the responsible, stable, reliable person but after being walked all over for the hundredth time, she packed one bag, hopped on a jet and ended up on a secluded island off the North Coast of Spain. The last portion of her trip had been on a small charter aircraft, with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen before. She’d been unable to take her eyes away from the window, as the aircraft circled the island and landed in paradise.
She’d spent every last dime she so strictly saved over the last ten years, on the mega expensive, all-inclusive resort. As she lay there, soaking up the sun, she knew every penny of it was worth eating ramen noodles for the next year, once she got back home.
Her life had been flipped upside down a few days ago and she’d finally snapped, like many people had predicted would one day happen, if she continued to let people abuse her good nature. She’d always been the people pleaser in her group of friends and in the few romantic relationships she’d been in.
Her last relationship was the reason she was now soaking up the sun and flat broke. Her mouth stretched out in a pleased grin. She was starting to get too warm, so she stood up and started walking towards the inviting water. She was trying really hard not to think about her ex but the man invaded her thoughts, which caused a frown to pucker her brows.
She had been with her supposedly straight-laced boyfriend for six months and really loved him, or at least she thought she did. She’d decided it was time to take the next step in their relationship and had gotten all dressed up, planning on waiting for him to get home from the office.
She didn’t really understand his job. She just knew he owned some business that developed software. He tried talking about it to her and she’d nod along, as if she understood but in reality, it had bored her to pieces.
She had the key to get into his place, from when he’d been on a business trip the previous month and she’d gone over to water his plants. She’d forgotten she even had the key but was very grateful, considering she was going to plan a romantic evening for them.
It was such a cliché because of course she’d opened the door, with nervous anticipation, only to find the stupid creep in bed with his secretary. He had, of course, begged her not to leave and promised it was a one-time thing, that he’d temporarily lost his mind.
Trinity smiled as she thought about his moment of groveling. As she’d walked out the door, she vowed she was done with businessmen for good. She was tired of being their perfect girlfriend, who did their laundry, cleaned their places and anything else they asked. She was done being the girl everyone could depend on. She was done always playing it safe. She was certainly done with being a doormat.
She dived into the water and swam out until her arms started to ache. She turned around, surprised at how far she’d gotten from the shore. She wasn’t worried about it though, as she was a strong swimmer. Even if she did get tired, she could float on her back for hours. She began the long trip back to shore and continued thinking about those life changing days.
Trinity had driven back to her boring, beige apartment and started searching the internet for exotic resorts. She’d found a new place on an island, off of the coast of Spain, booked her ticket and went to the mall to purchase a few sundresses and a new bikini. She’d slept incredibly well that night and was off to the airport first thing in the morning.
She landed yesterday and had wandered the beach as she watched the most spectacular sunset she’d ever seen in her life. Tears had fallen down her face from the sheer beauty of the colors splashed across the sky. She was exhausted as she climbed back up to her room. She was also feeling better than she had in a very long time.
For a few seconds after she woke up that morning, she’d been confused about where she was. She’d sipped a few too many margaritas in the outdoor bar. Once it all came back to her, she couldn’t keep the smile from her face. She slipped on her most daring bikini and headed towards the incredible beach, where she lounged for hours, until she finally dove into the crystal clear sea water.
Trinity snapped back to the present, as she continued to swim closer to the shore and she felt nothing but the warmth from the sun and the coolness of the glorious water. There was no stress, no feelings of regret and no doubt she’d made the right choice. That’s all she felt, until something smashed into her head. There was a shooting pain and then she felt blackness surround her. Her last thought, before she started sinking beneath the surface of the water, was her room was non-refundable.
Drew was lying on his board, swimming out to catch a wave. He’d arrived at his resort earlier that morning and felt good. He’d told his staff they were to pretend not to know him over the next seventy-two hours and then he’d hit the beach. He could certainly get used to being a tourist, he thought with a laugh.
The day had been relaxing so far and he could feel his stress fading away. As he paddled out further into the sea, he suddenly felt a thump and turned his head, to see a body start sinking into the water.
“What the hell?” he yelled, before diving off his board to retrieve whoever he’d just ran into. No one was ever out in the water this far unless they were surfing. He supposed their board could’ve gotten away from them but he didn’t see one floating around anywhere without a rider.