Island Paradise

By C.J. Baty

Gar Lancaster wasn't depressed, no matter what his sister, Nellie, said. He didn't need a trip to a tropical island to meet some guy for a vacation romance. Sex was, he could get that. Love and commitment, those were two entirely other things. But when Mike Peters kissed him on the balcony under a sea of star with the pounding waves hitting the shore below them, things changed.

Maybe, he didn't need a happily ever after. Maybe happily for right now was okay. Whatever happened, Gar was pretty sure he wa sin way over his head. 

Now he was on his way back to Dasia Island for a friends wedding. Happily for right now hadn't worked out for Gar. He missed Mike and what they had shared on the island. The question was did Mike feel the same way. There was only one way to find out if there was a happily ever after in his future. Face Mike and ask him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.J. Baty
• Release date: Jul 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781530842308

C.J. Baty

CJ Baty dreamed of writing her own stories from a very young age. Time and life got in the way, but with the encouragement of her two grownup children, she began to follow that dream. She loves a mystery and when you mix in romance and hot men, you can bet there’s going to be a happily ever after. She brings her love of nature and the mountains of the Southern states into her stores too. Too many years spent in an office crunching numbers, left her with the desire to explore new places and experiences. Whenever, possible you can find her in Tennessee enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Her muse lives there so she visits often. She believes deeply that love is love and love is what binds us all.

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Palm Tree

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my three best friends: Robyn, Angela, and April. Thank you for your encouragement over the last few years, pushing me to go beyond myself and follow my dream. May all of your dreams come true, too!

Palm Tree

Chapter One

How had I let myself be talked into this trip? Nellie, my twin sister, had somehow gotten it in her head that I needed some sort of an intervention, so here I was.

You are depressed, Gar! That jackass screwed you over. Cheated on you from the very beginning and left you hurt. Really hurt. It’s called d-e-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n. She spelled the last word slowly.

So you’re going on a short vacation with me. We’re going to lay in the sun, get massages on the beach, dance the night away, and hopefully you’ll get you laid! Determination was my sister’s middle name.

What getting laid had to do with anything, I didn’t know. I could easily get laid on my own, right here at home, thank you very much. The truth was, sex wasn’t the problem. Sex was easy. Love ... commitment ... those were the hard things. Even harder, was finding someone who wanted those things, too. That was the real issue. If anything, that was why I was in such a funk, but I was definitely not depressed.

I had made the idiotic mistake of thinking that Bill Tolsen was one of those men who felt the same way I did about relationships. Long term, grow old together relationships. He wasn’t. I would have kept living my happy little, totally oblivious life if a barely twenty-something blond-haired, blue-eyed boy hadn’t come looking for "Billy" at my door one evening.

During a brief chat with "Mitchie, realization dawned on me that Billy" had been screwing said Mitchie and several of his friends on a regular basis for more months than I cared to think about. I guess you could have said I was in shock, but it felt more like the implosion of my life.

I was thinking little white houses with white picket fences. Bill had clearly been thinking little white asses on much younger men. So here I am, six months later, with my sister, winging my way to Dasia Island and the Elysium Resort for a week of fun in the sun.

Nellie had made quick friends with the other three women on our plane from Miami to the island. They were previous guests on a return visit, and were excitedly telling Nellie about the clubs on the island and several of their favorite things to do.

Gar, Nellie said, shoving my shoulder. Snap out of it, and look out the window.

Sure, I mumbled at her.

Leaning to my right, I glanced out the plane’s tiny side window. My breath caught in my lungs as I took in the view below me.

Isn’t it gorgeous? Nellie whispered as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

It was. A turquoise blue ocean surrounded a small dense green island. White sandy beaches were clearly visible circling the entire isle. The main lodge of the resort seemed to blend into the tropical jungle surrounding it, with small thatch-roofed huts dotting the edge of the beaches.

I’ll admit, I hadn’t even looked at the brochures Nellie had given me, but no picture could have captured this paradise. It was like something out of a fantasy.

The plane landed on a small private airstrip on the north side of the island. A large open tram was waiting for us, along with a young man dressed all in white. His name tag added a splash of color and said Ernesto. He loaded our baggage from the plane onto the back of the tram.

As we traveled, Ernesto was quick to point out shops along a street that appeared to be the main focus of a small community. He mentioned the side road leading to the outlet mall, arcade, and aquarium. He told us a shuttle went back and forth several times a day from the resort to the main strip and shopping areas for guests to use. The girls started asking questions about the local night spots and attractions, and my mind shut down.

I had become engrossed in the action going on across from us on the ocean waves. There was a guy on a jet ski, slicing through the water like a hot knife through butter. He was very close to the huts that jutted out into the turquoise sea. He waved and called out to people on the beach as well as those standing on the huts verandas. The sun was reflecting off the water and jet ski, making it hard to ascertain specifics about the rider. He wore dark Ray Ban sunglasses that shielded most of his face. However, it wasn’t his face that had me practically drooling as the tram slowly drove by.

He wasn’t overly huge, but his muscles were well defined and his body had the tone of someone who worked out regularly. His skin looked smooth as silk, yet hard as steel. My fingers involuntarily flinched with the need to touch. His hair was wet, so I couldn’t really tell the shade of brown it was, but it lay in soft waves all over his head, just touching his shoulders. Moving closer to the beach, he sped past the tram one more time. He waved and smiled, showing even, white teeth in his tan face. The girls on the tram, who had been chatting nonstop with Nellie, became silent.

One of them, I think her name was April, asked Ernesto, Who’s that? Is he staying here, too?

His laugh was mischievous as he answered, Oh no. He works at Club Nyx.

More questions came fast and hard after that. Poor Ernesto could hardly keep up.

What’s his name? April asked.

Is he single? Angela, the red head, jumped in.

What does he do? Robyn asked. I’d noticed she was the quiet, shy type in the group.

Nellie broke their bubble by asking, Is he straight or gay?

April and Angela gaped at Nellie while Robyn blushed profusely. I quietly planned how I could dispose of Nellie’s body on this beautiful island. After I murdered her, of course.

Nellie, what the—

I didn’t get to finish my statement before she shrugged and added, It’s a fair question.

Thankfully, the tram stopped at the front entrance of the resort at that exact moment. We all hustled out of the tram and into the lobby to check in. Everywhere we looked, the staff was dressed in immaculate white uniforms. Michelle, a young woman at the desk who wore a name tag proclaiming her the Front Desk Manager, checked us in. She was cool and efficient, and had our credit cards charged and our room keys in our hands in record time. She also introduced us to Ricardo, who was one of the resort’s concierge staff. He led us into a small conference room off the lobby, which had comfortable overstuffed chairs in bright floral patterns. A waitress brought in a tray of complimentary drinks garnished with umbrellas that the girls fawned over.

Welcome to Elysium Resort, ladies and gentleman, he stated, and raised a glass in a toast to us. He went over maps and brochures, explaining all of the pluses of staying on Dasia Island.

His white linen suit was in contrast to his cocoa-colored skin, and jet black hair and eyes. He was probably in his mid to late thirties. Extremely well groomed and very good looking in a dark, bad boy sort of way. I could see where some might view him as suave and sophisticated, while others might take him as slightly sinister with a hidden agenda. It was clear he was interested in one of