What Now? (27 page)

“We’ll
have to see her tomorrow, then. She must be an amazing woman.”

“She
is.” Shari agreed.

“She
certainly has a wonderful daughter.”

Shari
beamed at him and kissed his hand. Better and better, Nick thought.

“Ladies
and gentlemen, please bring your seats to the upright position, stow your tray
tables and make sure your seat belts are securely fastened. We’ve started our
descent into Barbados.”

Shari
released Nick’s hand so that they could obey the stewardess. Once they had
brought their seats up and buckled their seatbelts, Nick joined hands with
Shari again. Nothing had felt so right in a long time.

Nick
and Shari stepped out of the air-conditioned comfort of the arrival lounge into
the Barbadian heat. The afternoon was bright and sunny and, after the cool
temperatures of Sonora, the 87
^o
F welcomed them to the tropics.

“Are
we being picked up?” Shari asked him, looking around for someone with a sign.

“Should
be. The villa sends someone.”

Before
the words were out of his mouth properly, a tall dark gentleman came up to them,
greeted Nick by name and invited them to follow him to his taxi.

No
need to hold up a sign for Nick Badley, Shari thought. They know him even in
Barbados. But, then again, it wasn’t exactly the backwoods, was it? They had
produced Rihanna and she’d had a concert here a few years ago so obviously they
would know Nick. She hoped that that wouldn’t interfere with their holiday.

It
was a relief to get into the air-conditioned car. The driver took them on to a
highway which ran through the countryside. They soon turned off the main
highway onto roads that could do with some repaving. Sugar cane plants lined
these roads for part of the way, waving in the breeze. They soon gave way to a
few houses which became more frequent as they headed back to the less rural
areas and eventually came back to the main highway, passing a number of
businesses along the way.

Within
half an hour they were entering the gates of a beautiful coral stone villa with
a fountain in the courtyard. Excitement stirred in Shari. She was in Barbados
and an adventure was about to begin.

The
villa looked deceptively small from the front, but Shari remembered that Nick
had said that it had six bedrooms. Palm trees framed the covered porch and
contrasted beautifully with the pale olive green of the walls and the white
painted accents.

They were
greeted by the house staff – all six of them – and shown to their rooms. Nick’s
room was next to Shari’s and both overlooked a stunning swimming pool with a
large deck area and cabanas on either side. It would be the ideal place for the
party.

Shari
was delighted to find that her room had a mahogany four poster bed and a bench
at the foot with bolster cushions. Her bathroom was pure luxury with a claw
foot tub as well as a modern shower with multiple jets coming from the walls.

Leaving
her room, she peered through Nick’s open door and found him enjoying the view
of the pool and deck. She knocked to alert him that she was coming in.

“This
is …”

“Amazing,”
Nick finished for her. Shari stuck out her tongue childishly at him.

“But
it is. Look at that pool deck. It’s perfect for your party.”

“Yes.
That’s what made me choose this one, but there are so many other gorgeous
properties and some can sleep up to seventeen people.”

“I’ll
go and call my mother and then I think I’ll try out the pool. It looks
wonderful.”

“I’ll
join you. You look wonderful.”

Shari
threw a flirty glance over her shoulder as she sauntered out of his room. Nick
was very glad that she had decided to come. There wouldn’t be a dull moment.

Nick
decided that it would be easier to send a car for Shari’s mum and bring her to
the villa rather than trying to find his way to where she was staying. He
dressed in a pair of shorts and a light cotton shirt and pushed his feet into a
pair of boat shoes. He was dressing for the weather rather than to impress her,
although he hoped to impress her enough to win her to his side in his campaign
to get Shari. He supposed he should define what that meant. OK, marry Shari. He
wanted to marry her. Seeing her with his family had shown him what he really
wanted. They said that the third time was lucky.

He
was on his way downstairs when he heard excited laughter and talking. He
guessed that Shari’s mum had arrived. He stood for a few moments watching them
together and smiled as Shari excitedly pointed out the many wonderful features
of the house.

“Welcome,”
he said, entering the foyer which led off in three different directions. 

Shari’s
mum turned around and presented him with an older version of her daughter. If that’s
what Shari looked like in twenty years he would have chosen well. Her mum
looked like forty-five, although she was probably over fifty. She was wearing a
floral summer dress and looked as elegant as her daughter did in her white
sundress and sandals.

“Nick.
So glad to meet you at last.” She folded him into a hug, not the least
intimidated by who he was.

“I’m
glad to meet the woman who has been praying for me. I’d like to tell you that
your prayers are working.”

“Praise
the Lord!” she exclaimed, smiling. Nick couldn’t help but smile back.

“Do
you want a tour, Ma? After that we can chat. There’s so much to tell you.”

“Does
that include me or will you be talking about me?”

Shari
and her mother laughed.

“We’ll
talk about you when we tour and then meet back up.” Shari compromised.

“Only
the good things,” he cautioned Shari, giving her a quick hug. Her mother looked
on with a smile.

“This
is Nick’s room and mine is right next door, but, don’t worry, we’ve been very
good.”

“You’re
a grown woman, Shari, so I know that you will try to do the right thing, but
try not to play with fire.” 

Tell
me about it, thought Shari.

“I
know, Ma, but Nick’s been wonderful. He really seems to have changed so keep
praying. He told me that he started walking with the Lord when he was a teenager,
but he’s fallen away. I don’t think that he’s far from coming back, though. We
just have to keep praying.”

“I
will. I can see that things have changed between you and Nick. So much for ‘
I would never fall for someone like Nick Badley! He’s not
my type and I’m definitely not his.’ ” Her mother laughed, making Shari pull a
face at her.

“You have my permission to say ‘never say never’. Ma, I
think I love him, but I’m afraid to get hurt again and Nick doesn’t have the
best track record. I don’t know if he’s really changed or if he thinks he has.
Sometimes it seems impossible for a relationship to work between us. Our lives
are just so different.”

“Don’t worry, dear. What’s impossible with man is
possible with God.”

“Thanks, Ma. I guess I needed to hear that. My trust
level is pretty shaky right now, even to the point where I’ve forgotten to
trust God. If he’s brought us together, he’ll work it out.”

“Amen to that.”

They
ended their tour of the house by the pool and joined Nick for glasses of
blended fruit punch. Nick was reading a copy of the
Ins and Outs of Barbados
,
a magazine which was a source of good information of all the things they could
do on the island.

“Had
a nice chat?”

“Absolutely!
What are you planning for us to do?” Shari asked, sipping her cold drink.

“We
don’t have a lot of time, but we can do Harrison’s Cave, or swim with the
turtles, or go on a submarine. Or we could just vegetate here.”

“Maybe
a bit of all.”

“I
hear that you’re having a big party on New Year’s Eve, Nick.”

“Yes.
It will be a paparazzi paradise. I don’t know who’s been invited, but I know
it’s over a hundred people. Some are friends and others are acquaintances. I
understand that Rihanna is home for Christmas so she’ll probably be here.”

“You’re
kidding!” Shari’s mum exclaimed. “How exciting!”

Shari
suddenly realized what the party would be like. A house full of celebrities! 
It would truly be baptism by fire and would show her whether or not she could
really live in Nick’s world.

December 30

I’m
in Barbados! I can hardly believe it. We’re staying in the most amazing villa.
Nick would tease me if he saw what I just wrote because he says that “amazing”
is my favorite word. He’s been so good. My mother came to visit yesterday and
they got on as if they were old friends. She reminded me that although things
seemed impossible, as if they could never work, nothing is impossible for God.
So I’m clinging to that.

We
went to St. Nicholas Abbey today. Wow! I felt as if I was transported back in
time to another era. It was built in 1656 in the Jacobean style and is one of
only three remaining in the western hemisphere. The second one is also in
Barbados, that’s Drax Hall, and the last one is in Virginia.

There
was an outdoor kitchen where the slaves used to prepare all the food and
elaborate plantation feasts. Apparently, they had to have the kitchens separate
from the house in case of fire. I could just picture the poor slaves over the
boiling pots and stone ovens, sweating away as they worked.

They
also have over 200 acres planted in sugar cane and a small processing factory
which produces sugar and rum. We sampled the rum and it had me reeling. Nick
was totally unaffected, of course; after all, he’s been known to drink five and
more drinks in a night on the town. Or he used to. Alcohol is not a good idea
for me, though; it causes me to want to throw caution to the wind and just let
Nick have his way. Not that he’s tried to have his way. Not once! I’m wondering
what on earth is going on.

Steve
and Brad and their wives arrived this afternoon. It will be fun to have some
other women around. We can go shopping together and do things that the men
wouldn’t want to do.

Tomorrow
is the party so we’re not going anywhere. I don’t know how I feel about it, to
tell the truth. I think I would prefer if Nick wasn’t having it, but that’s
ridiculous. I’ll be fine. It’s just that he’s had a break from that life for
two weeks and he’s been wonderful. I guess I’m wondering if the party will
cause the old Nick to show up again. I’ll know tomorrow night. Based on the
newspaper this morning, several of the celebrities have already landed on the
island and more are probably due in today and tomorrow. I may even get to meet
Rihanna.  What a groupie I’ve become.

Wow,
I’ve written pages. More after the party.

Shari
opened the door to Nick’s knock, pausing dramatically in the entrance and was
rewarded by the flare of desire that lit his eyes. Her mother’s warning not to
play with fire flashed through her mind, but she didn’t allow it to take root. 
She was old enough to handle fire responsibly.

“Wow!”
Nick was almost speechless. His gaze travelled from her wild, curly hair,
dramatic eyebrows and deep red lipstick to her strapless satin dress in a
matching red. It hugged her from breast to thighs at which point a split
started, ending just above her five-inch black stilettos.

“Do
you approve?” Her tone was flirtatious and she bent a wrist to show off the
bracelet he had given her for Christmas. Red fingernails flashed at him.

“Definitely.
Just one thing is missing.” He reached into the pocket of his black tuxedo and
pulled out something in a small draw-string bag. Shari was distracted by how
good he looked in his tux since she had never seen him formally dressed.

“What’s
that?” She asked distractedly, straightening his bow tie. He poured something
out of the bag and held it up. It was a stunning diamond necklace with each
diamond nestled in a small leaf made of white gold. She couldn’t begin to
imagine how much it had cost.

“Nick.
I can’t wear that. It must have cost a fortune. What if I lose it?”

Nick
laughed as he turned her around to fasten it around her neck. He couldn’t
resist, and didn’t try, as he pulled her back against him and nibbled the curve
where her neck met her shoulder. Shari would have collapsed on the floor in a
pile of red satin if Nick was not holding her up. Desire immediately pooled in
her belly.

Nick
turned her around and their lips met wildly, as if they had been starving for
each other. They had. They hadn’t kissed since…Shari couldn’t remember when.
Nick held her head in place while he reacquainted himself with her mouth. Shari
felt as if she was drowning in sensations and restlessly plunged her fingers
through Nick’s immaculately combed hair. Nick urged her closer until Shari
could feel the button of his tuxedo pressing against her tummy. Not even the
slight discomfort deterred her from molding herself to him.

“Shari,
are you read–?” Marie, Steve’s wife, halted on the threshold at the sight of
Shari and Nick in a passionate embrace. “Sorry.” She backed away from the door.

Shari
pulled out of Nick’s embrace, breathing as if she had just raced up the stairs.
She was pleased to find that Nick was no more composed than she was. His hair
had been totally mussed up by her marauding fingers and her lipstick was
smeared all over his mouth. She figured that hers must look the same.

“Sorry,
Shari. I didn’t mean to –”

Shari
held up a hand to stop Nick’s words.

“I’d
be a hypocrite if I let you apologize, Nick. I wanted you to kiss me. I was
wondering why you weren’t kissing me or trying to come on to me.”

“Now
you know why. What’s between us is too explosive and we’re only kissing.  I
can’t do this, Shari. It’s killing me. I can’t be this close to you and not
touch you, not want to explore you and give you the fulfillment you say you
never had.”

“Please,
Nick. You’re not helping the situation here. It’s hard enough as it is.”

“Tell
me about it,” agreed Nick. “I’m going to tidy up. I’ll see you downstairs, away
from beds. You may need to put on some more lipstick.” And he was gone, closing
the door behind him.

Shari
collapsed on the bed, crossing her hands over her tummy as if in agony.

Help
me, Lord. Deliver me from this temptation.