Sandy smelled like vanilla and lavender, and her thousand-watt smile made him hunger for a life he had no right to even dream about. As she walked ahead of him, the sway of her hips hypnotized him, and her long blond hair looked like gold.
She squeezed his hand as the door closed and she surveyed the cocktail party. Some of the wedding guests were near the bar, and others were on the dance floor. This was the pre-ceremony setting-sail get-together. Sandy stood on her tiptoes, and he leaned down as she whispered in his ear, "Wyatt, it might be best if we dance over there."
Their first kiss flashed in his mind. He'd met her in their coffee shop, where he asked her to prom, and then she had thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him. He pursed his lips. "I don't dance."
"Lies you can tell your other women. You took me to prom and danced all night." Then she dragged him closer to the dance floor.
No excuse popped into his head. He held his arms stiff as his hands settled on her hips and another memory surfaced: her lying beside him on those white hotel sheets. Sandy was unforgettable. Then he went all out and twirled her. She laughed, and the sound made the room lighter somehow. As she returned to his arms, he said, "Okay. I don't dance with anyone but you."
"Keep talking that way. I like remembering my first love. It makes me feel young and innocent."
"Technically we weren't that innocent." The memory of prom night, when he'd rented them a room without their friends knowing, flashed in his mind as a major adventure. In their small group, they both told people they were going together as "friends," though the second he had asked her to go had been the moment she kissed him, ending their friendship-only status. He held her firmer in his grip as he whisked her around the floor.
She held his arm like she belonged there. "I think you forget how cynical Miami people are and how none of us are truly innocent."
Clearly she denied her true nature. "You're a natural-born cheerleader, Sandy. It's part of your charm."
"So I am charming. That's good to hear."
The song ended and they both stood still.
"Good to see I didn't forget how to flirt."
"Forget?" Another song began. This one was faster, by a boy band Sandy had gushed over when she was thirteen. He held out his hand to dance again as she said, "Funny all these little stories you tell yourself these days about what you're good at and what you are willing to do."
Life had changed for him, and there was no turning the clock back, despite how right it felt holding Sandy again. Charlotte needed to be signed up for school soon. No more kisses from Sandy were in his future. "I'm a dad now."
As he turned the corner with her in his arm, Sandy asked, "When was Charlotte born?"
The day he'd never forget. "April thirtieth."
"That's not nine months later."
This was why they were both on the math team together. Sandy would figure that out. He'd never even spoken to his mother about this, but Sandy had been the one hurt in the whole thing. Out of the mess, he'd become a dad. His mind flashed to how he held his tongue when questioned, but he had to tell her. "No, it's thirty-two weeks after conception. I'm trusting you not to tell anyone about this."
She missed a step. "What?"
He lowered his head, stopped dancing, and whispered near her ear so only she could hear. "Jessica tried to tell me she was born early, but Charlotte was seven and a half pounds. Most babies that young are much smaller. Her story always had holes in it to me, but Charlotte's birth weight was the last straw."
"So she lied to you?" Her voice was louder, and people stared at them.
Now was not the time to discuss this. They were in public, though he had waited years to tell Sandy already. He said, so low only she heard him, "Aren't we here to spy on your aunt Kate?"
Her face flushed as she nodded. They both began to dance again. "Changing the subject. Okay, I'll let you off the hook, for now, but technically she's my aunt-in-law. I'd prefer not to be related to her."
He'd missed something. If she hurt Sandy as well as Jay, then she could hurt Penny as well. He tightened his hand on her waist. "What did she do to you?"
She sighed, placed her hand on his heart, and whispered, with a fierceness she rarely showed, "She turned in evidence against my father to save herself and acted like she had no idea about anything. I wouldn't be surprised if the Ponzi scheme was her idea in the first place."
"That's harsh." Instinctively he held her closer, like he could protect her, then stopped. He lessened his hold on her waist but still kept his frame. Their dance lessons after school from the old Russian lady to prepare for prom had been her idea. He had gone along because her kiss had been all the thanks he ever needed.
She lowered her lashes but held his gaze. "I've become meaner in my old age, I guess."
No, she was still perfect. One kiss from her might send him into orbit. He held her hand higher in the air so she looked up. "You? Old? Sandy Marshall, you are still the brightest star in the night sky."
Her eyes widened. "I knew you were still good at flirting."
Yes, his lips now ached to know if her kiss still sent him over the edge. The room felt electric, but then the rest of the room flashed in more color than he wished. Behind Sandy, Kate spoke to ship personnel. "Who is the crew Kate's talking to?"
Sandy turned her head but stayed in his arms. Then she stared at him again. "I don't know."
If they could identify this person, then they had a way to stop whatever Kate might do to his sister. "Reach in my back pocket and get my camera."
"Why?"
He turned them so they were closer. "I think it's time to take a selfie."
"Huh?" The blank expression on her face told him she had no idea what his idea was.
He leaned closer. "We'll get the guy's picture for identification."
A huge smile grew on her face. Then she fluffed her hair, like she was a model, as she reached behind him and took out his phone. "Good idea."
She wrapped her hand around his shoulder like they were posing for a selfie as he took forward-facing pictures of Kate with the ship guy. Goosebumps grew on his arm as she held him. Once they were done, he turned the camera forward and snapped one real selfie of them to remember this moment. Then he put it away.
"What's the plan once we ID this guy?"
Demand the guy tell him if anything was planned, as he couldn't threaten Kate with physical force if she went after his sister again, but he had to ensure no one harmed Penny. "Ensure that whatever he spoke about with Kate doesn't interfere with the wedding."
"When are you going to do that?"
"I'm going to check on my daughter when we're done here. Then I'll head to the information desk and find out who the guy is. I'll want to talk to him alone."
"Let me know when you're done?"
"Of course."
"Good."
Kate finished her discussion. Sandy wrapped her hand around his arm and tugged him forward, which caused him to almost forget why he was here. "Let's go interrupt now."
He followed because he wasn't sure what else to do. Once they stood in front of Kate, he stood taller as Sandy asked, "Kate, how are you?"
Kate sipped her champagne and then stared at both of them with her arms crossed. "Sandra, I see you're having a good time."
"I am." Sandy then stood on her tiptoes and hugged him.
Kate stiffened and tilted her head. "Clearly. So, how are the wedding plans?"
Sandy bounced as she smiled. "Great. Everything is on track. Tonight, everything should be beautiful."
Kate sipped her champagne again as she frowned. "We're counting on you to ensure the Marshall name still shines."
Sandy's blue eyes darkened. "I always do my best."
Kate finished her champagne and still stood with her arms crossed as she asked, "How is your brother, Michael?"
"He's keeping Jay company. Jay invited him a game of mini golf." Sandy softened her voice and then looked at him. "I know they're meeting with a ship steward later to ensure the venue is ready. They're supposed to call me afterward."
"At least my son has someone in the family to watch out for him, and he's not entirely surrounding himself with vultures."
His heart nearly stopped. Who was the vulture? Sandy then placed her hand on his chest like she could restart it as she said, "Penny's a nice girl, and they are clearly in love."
Kate motioned for another champagne glass from the passing waiter. She picked it up off the tray as she said, "If you say so. I will be here to watch his execution into middle-class values."
No one should insult Penny. He stepped forward. "He's marrying my sister."
Kate held up her glass like she was saluting him. "Cheers, colonel. Happy sailing."
Who did Jay's mother think she was? Wyatt's hand curled into a fist, but Sandy pulled him away. He followed, as he couldn't think of one thing to say to her that would make himself feel better or protect Penny. They walked out into the bright sun, and the humidity weighed on his shoulders. As they made it to the cafeteria area and the air conditioning, he asked Sandy, "Did she just say marrying my sister was her son's execution?"
"Pretty much." Sandy hadn't even blinked. She pointed to the ice cream machine, and he followed her directions.
She took out two bowls and handed him one as he said, "Penny deserves better."
She turned on the machine and ice cream poured out as she said, "Penny and Jay both have controlling mothers. I think it was one of the similarities that brought them together as soul mates."
"Soul mates?"
She turned off the machine, handed him a bowl to add things to, and turned to fill the second bowl. "Yes. Why the question?"
He'd hurt her. Perhaps it was all one-sided on his part in the past. He lowered his voice and said, "I'm surprised you still believe in soul mates, Sandy."
"Just because my own love life took a huge detour after you left doesn't mean I can't believe in happy-ever-afters." She then went to the side bowls for the ice cream and decided between sprinkles and chocolate chips. "Hot fudge?"
"I'll get my own." He poured nuts onto his bowl and then went to the hot fudge.
She made up a bowl filled with pink and white sprinkles and chocolate chips, and then topped it off with whipped cream. Once she was done, she put it in his hands. "We have to get going. Here, take this and give it to Charlotte. If I ever have a child, I'd want to cherish every second I can."
Charlotte would like this. As Sandy turned to leave, his world felt darker. "Will you eat dinner with us tonight?"
Had he asked that?
A smile flickered on her face, and she nodded. "Sounds nice. I have to check in on my brother and your sister to see if they need anything else. I can meet you for dinner before the wedding."
She wasn't as excited as in the prom moment, but he still had to test his reaction. He closed the gap between them.
She licked her lips and stared into his brown eyes. "I look forward to it."
"Me too." Then he lowered his head. Right before he kissed her, he waited. If she wanted him to stop, he'd respect that. She deserved more than him, but she stayed in his arms, closed her eyes, and puckered her lips. His lips met hers.
There was nothing else in the world besides Sandy and him in that moment. She sighed and then deepened their kiss.
He'd spent years wishing and telling himself to forget paradise. Now that was gone.
As their kiss ended, she smiled. "Definitely later."
Perfect. Once again, the world had sunshine in it. He stayed next to her, but at the stairs he broke the closeness and ascended to his room. Right now, he had to get back to his daughter. Tonight, he'd spend time with his lost angel again.