“I lack the heart-guarding gene.”
“No, you don’t. You simply haven’t learned to use it. Why would you? Your mom married her high school sweetheart. For her, your dad was Mr. Forever.” She made air quotes around the words. “Heartwarming, but not very realistic these days, yet you approach dating as a quest for Mr. Forever instead of a chance to have a little fun, bask in mutual attraction, and, ideally, enjoy entertaining sex with Mr. For-the-Moment.”
Chelsea propped an elbow on the counter and rested her chin on her palm. “That’s all you want from a relationship? Sexy fun with Mr. For-the-Moment?”
She shrugged. “Call me shallow, but yeah, that’s all I’m expecting. If a guy wants more from me, he’s got to earn it.”
“And how does he do that?”
“No one’s managed yet, but in theory, he proves he’s got more to give.”
“But if no man has met your standard, maybe you’ve set your standard too high?”
“I’m not the one crying into my wine tonight,” she pointed out. “You, on the other hand, leave your heart way too accessible, instead of making a man demonstrate he’s worthy of the emotional investment. You treat him like he’s the prize.” She poked Chelsea’s shoulder. “You’re the prize. Start treating yourself like one.”
She placed her wineglass on the counter and turned the smooth, slim stem with her fingers. “I don’t feel like a prize. I feel like a fool.”
“You’re not a fool, Chels, but you’re living your life by all the nice girl rules your mother drummed into you, and that’s not who you are.”
“I’m not a nice girl?”
Laurie poked her again. “You know what I mean. You’re a caterer.”
“Um. No. Last time I checked I was unemployed.”
“I mean you cater to people. There’s a part of you that craves approval, and you seek it by being the perfect daughter, perfect employee. Perfect girlfriend. It’s no accident you’re so good at your job. The hospitality industry revolves around anticipating and accommodating your guests’ needs. You’re a natural. But those caterer instincts that make you so good at your job carry over to your relationships, and…well…you get taken advantage of.”
Truth weighed heavy. She dropped her head to the counter and rested her hot face against the cold steel. “I’m back to feeling like a fool. I guess I need some new rules.”
Laurie patted her back. “You do, because there’s another side to this nice girl. She’s fun-loving, a little bit naughty, and she wants to come out and play.”
Chelsea sniffed. “You think so?”
“I know so. She tackle-fucked Rafe St. Sebastian in a supply closet.”
“Wow. Did you invent that term for me?”
“Yep.” She buffed her nails on her sweater, and then blew on them.
“Okay, here’s the thing, whatever I did, I did it by mistake. I didn’t know it was him.”
“Well, next time you should—”
“Oh, no. No next time.”
“Why? Not only is he a walking orgasm, but one with the power to render a woman deaf, dumb, and blind with pleasure.”
Chelsea rolled her eyes, though she could feel the flush rising in her cheeks. “Do you really see me getting involved with someone like Rafe St. Sebastian, playboy billionaire?”
“Who said anything about getting involved? You’re living by new rules, remember? No more looking for Mr. Forever. You’re looking for Mr. For-the-Moment. You seek fun, attraction, and mind-blowing sex. He meets all three criteria. Naughty Chelsea wants to play, and he’s the perfect plaything. Consider him an important first step on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery.”
Except it would be a short journey, because I’d die of embarrassment if I ever saw him again. Though true, something told her the explanation would disappoint Laurie, so she offered another truth. “I’ve got more pressing priorities right now than finding a plaything. Even Naughty Chelsea has obligations, and she needs a paycheck to meet them.”
Her friend’s grin faded. “How dire is the situation?”
“My pride didn’t check my bank balance before I tendered my resignation. I just walked away from a Christmas bonus I kind of already spent on gifts.” Gifts like the Rolex Paul wanted—the one she’d had engraved and couldn’t return. “Visa’s going to knock on my door pretty hard come January.”
“I can’t scrape together a lot, but I can help if you need a loan.”
She shook her head. Laurie funneled every extra dime into Babycakes. Chelsea couldn’t take resources away from her best friend’s dream. “Thanks, but hopefully I’m going to get another job right away. This afternoon I spoke with a recruiter who’s been calling about a general manager opportunity at a Tradewinds Resort. I’m interviewing with the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Templeton, tomorrow at their headquarters in Los Angeles.”
“That’s awesome.” She picked up a towel and began wiping down the counter. “Where’s the resort?”
Chelsea mentally braced for another outburst. “Maui.”
“Maui!” She dropped the towel. “Chels, when I told you to start a new phase of your life, I didn’t mean pack up and move thousands of miles away.”
“I’m not packing my bags yet. It’s just an interview. I haven’t gotten the job.”
“You will. And then I’ll miss you.”
Chelsea reached over and hugged her friend, burying her face in Laurie’s curls. “I’ll miss you too, but I think a change of scenery would do me good.” She drew away. “Sounds a lot better than hanging around Montenido, unemployed and broke, watching Cindy and Paul get married and start a family.”
“You’d be hanging around Montenido, watching Paul and Cindy make each other miserable, as they inevitably will, and thanking God it didn’t happen to you.”
“I love you, but I realize, as my friend, you’re duty-bound to say stuff like Paul and Cindy deserve each other and are destined for misery. And not say stuff like, ‘I told you so,’ and ‘You’re an idiot.’”
“They are bound for misery, and you’re not an idiot.” Laurie took their wineglasses to the sink.
“Well, I feel like a pretty big one. A few thousand miles might change my perspective, but, right now—”
“Right now you need some distance. I get it. Moving to Maui ought to give you plenty.”
Chelsea picked up a dishtowel and twisted it in her hands. “Hopefully. That’s the plan.”
“Tradewinds…the name sounds familiar. Isn’t it one of those resorts where people go to hook up while on vacation?”
“Maui’s most spectacular singles destination. Flirt, mingle, and make your fantasies come true during your dream vacation. Perfect job for a woman embracing her naughty side, don’t you think?”
“Yeah. But still. Maui.”
“I know.” A lump threatened to form in her throat at the thought of leaving her family, friends—everything she loved. She swallowed it down. “Anyway, I should get going. Thanks for the shoulder to cry on.”
“My sofa has a vacancy.”
Though tempted, Chelsea shook her head. Her apartment was a short walk along well-lit sidewalks she knew like the back of her hand. She’d leaned on Laurie enough for one night.
“I have some stuff I need to see to at home.”
Polish her résumé.
Change her Facebook status to “Jilted.”
Donate an absurdly expensive watch to charity.
Escaping to Maui sounded better by the second.
Chapter Five
“Let me understand the situation. As soon as you pulled the trigger on the deal, the assistant manager resigned because her paramour, the general manager, announced his engagement to the head of human resources—who also happens to be carrying his child—and you saw none of this coming?”
Rafe winced at his father’s tone, but resisted the urge to quicken his pace as he ran along the foggy shoreline behind the compound he shared with Arden. No amount of speed would enable him to outrun this call. Still, the inevitability of the conversation didn’t stop him from resenting his father’s timing. Once his day began, he rarely got a moment to himself. He disliked forfeiting the solitude of his morning run along this private stretch of beach so he could defend himself to Luc. But he would, nonetheless, defend himself. “It’s not the kind of information that comes to light during due diligence.”