Melanie glanced at the bouquet of roses sitting on the passenger seat and smiled. She thought of Jax as she drove and how everything had turned out just right between them. Her mind drifted to John. I wonder what he’s doing tonight. Does he know anyone else in the area? I suppose he spends time alone in St. Thomas, too, and it’s no big deal to him. Should I call him, or is that too forward? I’m doing it. What do I have to lose? Mel scrolled down her call list until she found John Richmond. Nice, strong name. I like it. She pressed the telephone icon and waited. Three rings seemed appropriate, and he picked up on the fourth.
“Hi, Mel, it’s nice to hear from you.”
“Hi, what’s going on? I hear music in the background. Don’t make me regret going home.”
“Then don’t. Come and meet me at Waterfront Park. There’s live music tonight, and the band is really good. The full moon looks pretty spectacular over the water, too. We could even go for a stroll after the band stops playing. It looks like a cruise ship came in today, and there are a ton of people here, but I don’t know if you can handle this much fun.”
“It depends.”
“I’m listening.” He chuckled into the phone.
“Is there a kiosk selling caramel apples set up in the park?”
“Hang on. I’ll look around.”
“It should be on the pier if it’s there.”
“I’ll be damned… yep, it’s here. Does that mean you’re on your way?”
“Meet me at Echo Rock in ten minutes. I need to find a parking spot first.” Mel hung up and did a little happy dance in her car. “Life is pretty damn sweet right now.” She drove around the block three times before she saw taillights flash. A car had just pulled out of a spot on Prioleau Street only a block from Echo Rock. “This is perfect,” she said. She slipped her car into the spot, locked the doors, and began walking toward the crowd. She saw John in the distance, standing on the rock, searching the mass of tourists and locals for her face. She waved as she got closer.
“Hey, there you are. This is really a pleasant surprise. I’m glad you came.”
“Me, too… wow, this is quite the crowd. Lucky you. How far was your walk from the hotel, a few blocks?”
“Yeah, it’s so close, I could hear the band from my hotel balcony. I had to come and check out the fun. You want to get that caramel apple before anything else?”
“Hell yeah, I haven’t had any dessert tonight.”
“It sounds like you were out earlier.”
“I was. I had to meet a magician friend about some costumes he ordered.”
“You aren’t kidding, are you?” he asked, laughing.
“Nope, it’s the God’s honest truth. I hope they have the chocolate and caramel apples with the almonds on top. They’re to die for.”
John took Mel’s hand and ran. “Let’s hurry then. I want you to enjoy the night.”
***
“You’re right, these apples are to die for. I’ve never had a caramel apple this good in my life. How do you like the band?” John asked. They sat on the grass side by side, listening to the music and enjoying their crunchy, decadent apples.
“I love their music. It’s fun and funky. Do you like to dance?”
“Yeah, I do. When we’re finished with these sticky, gooey apples, I’ll show you what I can do, but only if you join me.”
“Deal. Oh, duh… I almost forgot to tell you I was approved for two weeks of vacation. You need to give me your flight info so I can try to get on the same plane as you.”
“That’s awesome. We’re going to have a great time. I have a ton of things to show you.”
I bet you do, she thought as her eyes and body danced with his.
***
The park began to empty as the band packed up their equipment. Tourists followed the path back to the cruise ship, and crying kids could be heard in the distance, as it was far past their bedtimes.
“Do you want to walk for a while?” John asked.
“Sure. A cozy hanging swing meant for two is at the end of the pier. Let’s go there first. We’ll have a great view of the cruise ship.”
“Okay, lead the way. Better yet, let’s walk together.”
John took Mel’s hand as they walked. The full moon was directly ahead. Its brilliance illuminated the water as far as they could see.
“It’s right over here,” Mel said. “Isn’t this pretty?”
They sat on the swing, the cruise ship aglow with lights and merriment to their left and the open sea in front of them.
“It is pretty. I’ve never been to Charleston, and I’ll admit I’m really impressed. This is a gorgeous, diversified city. There’s history everywhere you look but also fun, hip things like what was going on tonight. The open water and the full moon ahead, the calm night, it’s all pretty sweet. You’ll like St. Thomas, too. I know the perfect spot where you can see forever, and the nighttime view is killer.”
“Where would that be?”
“Originally, it was Blackbeard’s Castle’s turret just because it’s a higher point than the turret at Bluebeard’s Castle. Unfortunately, it just closed and is up for sale. The Bluebeard’s Castle turret has a pretty spectacular view of the harbor, too. I’ll take you up there if you aren’t afraid of heights. They have several great restaurants on the property to choose from. It’s a fun place to visit.”
The image of zip-lining popped into Mel’s head. “How do we get to the top of the turret?”
“There’s stairs inside, and it’s safe. Each floor has exhibits of shipwreck finds as well as bits of historical information. They have tours several times a week. Do you like diamonds?”
Mel laughed. “What girl doesn’t? Why?”
“There’s an entire street in downtown Charlotte Amalie that’s considered the diamond district. When the cruise ships come in, the women flock to that area. Employees of the stores stand outside offering you drinks and gifts to try to get your business. It’s quite the racket but fun to take part in. Charlotte Amalie is a great city. The harbor for the enormous cruise ships is at one end, and the ferry terminal is at the other end. Seaplanes are constantly coming and going. It’s fun to watch all the activity. Magens Bay is over the mountain on the north side of the island. It’s much quieter there. Is there anything in particular you’d like to do, something on your bucket list?”
Mel could barely see John’s face because the moon was rising higher in the sky. She knew he was smiling though. His white teeth glistened in contrast to his tanned skin. Yeah, I’m wishing you’d kiss me. “I’d like to try snorkeling. That sounds like fun.”
“Cool. We’ll definitely go to Coki Point Beach. It’s the best place on the island to snorkel. Yeah, that will be fun. I’m really looking forward to this.”
“Don’t you have to work when you get back?” She stood up. “Are you ready to walk?”
“Yeah, sounds good. As far as working goes, I have to do some now and then. I’ve been gone several weeks already, but I do own the bar and grill. It’s pretty easy to find someone who wants extra shifts. Any time I am working, you can hang out on a bar stool next to me and read a book, or lie on the beach. The water’s edge is literally fifty feet away, and Abby’s beach house is just up the path through the turpentine trees. She has a killer view of the bay from her balcony.”
“It sounds beautiful. I’m so happy Abby got her house back. That was a miracle in itself. That whole Remy thing was crazy.”
“It sure was. I knew the dude, and I can’t believe what he did to her. It was really shameful on his part, but I think he got what was coming to him. It’s that whole karma thing, you know. Do you want to walk on the sand or the pavement?”
“Let’s walk on the pavement, or I’ll be shaking out my shoes every five minutes.”
John turned toward Mel and leaned in. He kissed her gently, then pulled her in closer. His hands framed her face while he searched her mouth with his own. He whispered to her and tugged at her earlobe with his teeth. “You’re a beautiful woman, Mel. I can’t wait to spend more time with you. I’ve been looking forward to this for months. Come on. I’ll walk you to your car.”
She snuggled close against him as they walked. John was a gentleman and made her feel special. He was ruggedly handsome, tall, and strong. Mel was content and felt safe at his side no matter what the circumstance was. She knew he would take care of her. They reached her car, and she clicked the key fob twice to unlock the doors. John leaned in as she stood with her back against the driver’s door. They kissed again, deeper that time, with more passion. Nothing was stopping Mel from feeling whatever she wanted. She was good with Jax and ready to enjoy her vacation and get to know John better.
“Good night, Mel. Drive carefully.”
“Good night, and thanks for the caramel apple.” She smiled, blew him a kiss, and drove away. She tiptoed into the house, checked on Lucy and gave her a few minutes of petting time, then went upstairs to bed. Tomorrow morning and her job would come soon enough.