All of Me: Rod & Daisy Duet Box Set Read online

  We pass the usual “get to know you” questions around the group in general conversation starters. Daisy mentions she’s also from Georgia, but doesn’t name a city. Just as well, though. That’ll keep me from making a colossal mistake and hunting her down when we return home.

  “What do you do for a living, Tracy?”

  “I’m in public relations.” She purposely avoids naming her employer and only gives a vague job title. “Public relations” is one of those ambiguous terms that can mean so many things. I recognize the tactics and ploys used to maintain anonymity. I’ve used them all myself.

  Much like the maneuver I’m using by not giving my last name nor asking for Daisy’s. That just makes a clean break all the easier in the end. There’s no way to social media stalk someone without a full name. A minor part of me occasionally wishes I could be different, but I know this is the best way.

  Others may describe me as a douche, among other things, but at least remaining a bachelor ensures I’ll never be the man who abandons my family.

  “Rod, what kind of job do you have?” One of our unnamed party crashers attempts to invade my privacy.

  “I’m a hacker. I ruin people’s lives for fun.”

  Everyone laughs, knowing I’m exaggerating and kidding at the same time, and we move on to other topics. The conversation flows smoothly between all of us from that point on.

  We finish our excursion with more drinks, food, and dancing than should be allowed in one day, but every minute is worth it. Daisy smiles, laughs, and is more animated than ever. Seeing her come to life is a beautiful thing, almost as enticing as seeing her in that tiny bathing suit.

  When we’re back on the resort grounds, she turns to me and stops. “Will I see you at dinner this evening?”

  “Absolutely.”

  And… you’ll hopefully see me eat until my heart’s content for many, many hours after dinner, too.

  Old habits die hard.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Daisy

  Tracy and I are on our fourth day of our trip and becoming more spoiled than we care to admit. Today, she and I had a girls’ day out on the island and picked a couple of activities we’ve always wanted to do, such as swimming with dolphins and feeding the stingrays. When we returned to the hotel, we took our place by the pool and basked in the sun.

  Though I have to admit, it felt strange not having Rod and Kevin with us on our day trip. I found myself looking for Rod and hoping he’d show up out of the blue, wanting to spend time with me. I also couldn’t help but wonder if he’d found someone else at the resort today, since I’ve repeatedly shot down his previous advances. So many women have had him in their sights, and I’ve been ready to scrap with them every single time. Nothing in my head makes sense where he’s concerned. I have spent an enormous amount of willpower biting my tongue to avoid a catfight confrontation.

  Now that we’re back on the resort grounds, I look forward to seeing him again.

  “Did you ladies have fun today?” Rod moves an empty lounge chair next to Tracy and motions for her to move to it. She jumps at the chance to sit next to Kevin, and I try to hide my eagerness to be close to Rod.

  “Yes, we did. It was definitely unforgettable.” I smile up at him as he stands at the end of Tracy’s vacated seat.

  “Would you like a drink before I get comfortable? I’m going to grab a beer.”

  “Sure. A piña colada would hit the spot. Thank you.”

  “I won’t end up wearing it again, will I? Because I almost lost my favorite parts of my body from frostbite last time.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “No, I promise not to waste this one.”

  When Rod walks away to stand in line at the outdoor bar, I glance over at Kevin and Tracy. There’s no doubt they’re completely into each other. I’m a little envious, for a few reasons. I wish I could be as carefree and throw caution to the wind the way she does. Part of me wants to believe Rod is more than the ladies’ man he seems, but that’s wishful thinking. I’ve met too many men exactly like him, and it never ends well.

  But, as far as the rest of the trip is concerned, I suppose I could find worse company.

  Over the past few days of being here, I’ve noticed several people have already paired off into couples, finding the one they want to spend the rest of the trip with and making the most of the time we have left. I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel and agree to be a late night booty call, just because we’re on vacation at a singles resort, with buff guys all around us. Every minute spent with Rod chips away at my self-control, though. Every night when he walks me to my door, I’m tempted to invite him into my room.

  “Hi there, gorgeous. I’ve watched you nearly all day because I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from you. I also couldn’t help but notice you’re still single and you’ve been alone most of the day. On behalf of the entire male population in this place, I’d like to rectify that appalling lapse in judgment. You, my beautiful new friend, should’ve been the first lady who updated her relationship status on social media.”

  A strange man appears from out of nowhere, his face right beside my ear when he speaks, startling me and making me jump nearly out of my seat. I didn’t hear him walk up behind me because Rod has invaded my thoughts to the point of distraction.

  “Oh, hello. To be honest, I’m not sure if I should be flattered or freaked out by your admission of watching me all day. That feels a little creepy.”

  He laughs with no sign of discomfort in his demeanor. “You say exactly what you think. I love it. Too many people are afraid to speak their minds and go after what they really want. Do you mind if I sit here?” He motions toward Rod’s chair.

  “Sorry, but that seat is taken. My friend just went to get our drinks from the bar, but he’ll be right back.”

  “Yeah, actually I know. That’s why I came over here.” He sits in Rod’s seat anyway, and I instantly feel protective over it. “Hear me out, then I’ll leave if you still want me to. Listen, I don’t know that guy, but I’ve seen him around the hotel a lot. He’s with a different woman every night, and he was with someone else earlier today. You seem like a sweet person who trusts people too easily. I’d hate to see you hurt over a loser like him. The objective of this trip is to help single men and women find someone special, not to be a revolving door meat market. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but I’d dump him if I were you.”

  Over the last several years, I’ve become an expert at hiding my thoughts and feelings. When it comes to allowing myself to be vulnerable to someone else, I shut down rather than deal with the messiness of relationships. This conversation is headed in a dangerous direction. I’m not ready to assess why I’m inwardly jealous over Rod, or why I feel the need to defend him to this stranger.

  Time to deflect.

  “All right. Well, I appreciate your concern, but I’m a grown woman and I can take care of myself. Not to be rude, but I don’t even know your name, much less anything else about you. However, I have spent quite a bit of time with Rod, so I’m not sure why you assumed your word would be enough for me to turn against him.”

  “My name is Thomas Flint. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, and I don’t mean to embarrass you. I’m honestly just trying to warn you about him. Whether or not you realize it, that guy is a total player and not worth another minute of your time.”

  “Tom, is it?” The gruff masculine voice at my feet immediately grabs my attention. “I don’t know what your fucking game is, but I’m clearly not the player in this scenario. Now get the fuck out of my seat before they send you back home with every bone in your body broken and no fucking teeth.”

  Thomas looks over his shoulder at Rod. “This beauty been alone all day, while you were chatting up some busty chick at the bar earlier. Then you disappeared with her. You’re just out looking for a fuck wherever you can get it, flirting with all the women who even look your way. If you had a clue about women, you’d know at first glance this beautiful little
lady isn’t your type. Why don’t you step on, buddy, and find your next conquest?”

  The nagging fear in the back of my mind that has been there since the day I met Rod takes front and center. Was Rod flirting with someone else? I mean, I know I don’t have any claim on him, so I have no right to question him about it. But after all the attention he’s given me and time we’ve spent together over the last few days, anyone in my place would’ve thought he wanted more than one night.

  Apparently, I’m just a fool. Again.

  “First of all, you don’t even know me, so there’s no chance in hell you know what I’ve been doing. Second, I’ve had plenty of chances to hook up with random women, if that’s what I wanted. But I haven’t even spared them a second glance, much less flirted with them. Third, she hasn’t been alone all day. She hasn’t even been out here on the deck until now, so you don’t know what the hell she’s been doing. Furthermore, you don’t even know her name, so you haven’t been paying too much attention.” Rod moves between us and sets our drinks down on the chairside table. “Last chance to get out of my seat before I knock you out of it.”

  Thomas stands up and stands toe to toe with Rod before moving to his side. Then he looks down at me. “You come find me when you want a real man, sweetheart. I’ll show you how you should be treated.” He rattles off his room number before he saunters off.

  “He’s lying, Daisy. I don’t know why he’s trying to start shit with us, but everything he said is a complete lie.” Rod sounds so sincere, but I’ve been wrong and trusted the wrong guy before. I can’t afford to be that gullible again.

  My reply is a simple nod, but I can’t hold his gaze. I drop my eyes to my lap, pick at invisible lint, and brush out the wrinkles in the towel underneath me. The change in the air surrounding us is immediate. One stranger planted a seed of doubt in my mind, and it’s working hard to take root, despite the objections I raised to Thomas.

  I want to believe Rod, but I don’t know if I should.

  When I finally pluck up the courage to face Rod again, I’m shocked by his appearance. He looks as if he’s mad enough to spit nails. When his hands curl into fists, I follow his gaze across the deck to Thomas, who’s making hand gestures toward Rod as if to say he’s watching him.

  “I’m going to kick that guy’s ass.” Rod takes several steps before I catch up with him.

  “No, don’t do that. You’ll get kicked out of the resort for fighting. He’s not worth it, Rod.”

  “He’s definitely not worth it, but defending my honor is. He came over here, uninvited, just to start shit with you out of the fucking blue. I want to know why he did that and what he’s planning next. I’ll make sure he gets the message to stay the fuck away from you if he values his balls remaining attached to his body.”

  Thomas stands and walks inside, leaving his friends behind beside the pool. Rod storms off after him with murderous intent in his every step. For a moment, I’m frozen in place and unsure of what I should do. While I don’t want Rod to fight him, I also don’t want Thomas starting anything else with me. With us.

  “Kevin, I need your help with Rod.” After I fill him in on the situation, he jumps up and trots in the direction Rod went. Tracy and I are hot on Kevin’s heels.

  When we walk through the sliding doors into the main hallway, the scene in front of me stops me in my tracks and steals the breath from my chest.

  Rod has a buxom blonde backed up against the wall, his body leaning into hers. Her fingers on one hand grip the side of his shorts and the other hand is wrapped around the back of his neck. His lips are a breath away from hers. Her D cups spill over her bikini top. The tiny spaghetti straps are under tremendous strain from the weight of her breasts, the same ones scraping across Rod’s bare chest.

  I’m close enough to hear what she’s saying to him, though she’s not trying to hide it, anyway.

  “Rod, you’re so fucking sexy when you’re mad. What do you say we go back to my room and you can work off all that frustration with me? You know I can take excellent care of your every need, my lover.”

  Bile rises from my stomach and burns my throat as tears sting my eyes. When a cross between a cough and a gag breaks free from my chest, Rod turns his attention to me and jumps back from his friend. He lifts his hands in the air in mock surrender and turns fully to face me.

  “Fuck. Daisy, wait!”

  Before he can spew his lies, I hold up my hand to stop him. “I don’t want to hear it, Rod. I stood up for you when Thomas tried to warn me about what you’ve been doing all along. You made me look like a fool. Don’t come near me again.”

  The woman sneers at me, enjoying the pain she’s causing me and relishing being the winner in this tug-of-war over a man. With my head held high, I march toward the pair of losers and snatch her bikini top off her body as I swiftly walk past. It’s still in my hand when I turn the corner and head toward the bank of elevators, and her shrieks fill the hall behind me until the doors slide shut.

  I barely make it to the room before the surge of tears flows over my cheeks. The hot and salty mixture leaves tracks over my face, but I don’t waste the energy it takes to wipe them away. I’m embarrassed, I’m irrationally hurt, and seeing those two just affirmed my secret fears.

  There are no decent men out there. None I can trust with my heart or my body. None who will truly love me. I mean, Rod couldn’t even like me and not fuck around for a week and a half, tops. How can I ever hope to find true love when life keeps showing me it’s nothing more than an unattainable dream?

  My intense reaction makes little sense. I’ve pushed him away and stressed nothing could happen between us. So why would I expect him not to seek company elsewhere? I told him to do just that two nights ago at dinner. So why am I reacting like a jilted lover all of a sudden?

  I walk into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. If a cold shower would work better to wake me up from my irrational reaction, I’d gladly take one. When I finish drying my face and calming my frayed nerves, there’s a knock at the door.

  I know who it is without looking. I really don’t want to face him right now.

  Then I remember what I did to the other woman in the hallway, and I groan in embarrassment. “What have I done?”

  “Daisy, it’s me. Open the door. We need to talk.”

  Shit.

  “Daisy, I’m not leaving until we talk. If I have to sleep in the hallway propped up against your door all night, that’s what I’ll do. You have to open it sometime.” He bangs on the door again for extra measure.

  Might as well get it over with.

  When I jerk the door open, I find three long faces staring at me. I step back and motion for them to enter.

  “This really isn’t necessary. You don’t owe me any explanations, Rod. You’re free to do whatever you want with whoever you want, whenever you want.”

  “Then why do I feel sick to my stomach because you think I had anything to do with that woman? I swear on my life, I’ve never even met her before, much less laid a hand on her. I don’t know her name, or anything about her.”

  “He’s telling the truth, Daisy. I hung around after you tore her bikini top off her to have a few words of my own with her. She finally admitted it was all a lie to get Rod away from you, and she paid that Thomas guy to help her.” Tracy wouldn’t lie to me, that much I know without a doubt.

  “Why would she do that?”

  “Rod owns his own highly successful company, and it’s well known in certain circles. She came up with a plan to entrap him and did her best to execute it. She just didn’t count on how forceful you can be when it counts.” Tracy shrugs, but she’s clearly proud of me.

  “Yeah, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about that embarrassing scene I caused, Rod. I had no right in doing what I did, whether or not she was lying. I overreacted and made a fool out of myself.” I put my hand over my eyes to shield my insanity from him.

  “Made a fool out of yourself? Are you crazy? That was h
ot as hell. I’ve never had a woman fight for me before. Now I’m even more determined to convince you to change your mind about me.” His proud smile and the mischievous gleam in his eyes verify he’s not simply being nice. I can’t help but smile in return.

  “Fine. If I’m being completely honest, it felt fantastic to snatch that top off her. She was enjoying my torment way too much.” The trio laughs with me and it dispels most of the awkwardness.

  “Rod has been my best friend since high school, Daisy. I’m not the least bit hesitant to put my good name on the line here. He hasn’t been with another woman for one minute. He’s only been interested in spending time with you. With that said, Tracy and I are going back up to the pool area for the afternoon activities and to give you two some time to talk alone.”

  Kevin takes Tracy’s hand, and they leave together. My best friend clearly mouths “make-up sex” to me as she closes the door on her way out.

  “I know this sounds like a cheap line, but I’ve truly enjoyed spending time with you these last couple of days. Part of why I was so mad at Thomas was because I could tell he made you doubt me, even if you didn’t fully believe him. I didn’t want you to ditch me. We both know I don’t need any help in the one step forward two steps back category.” Rod’s confident smile belies the vulnerability in his eyes.

  I know what he’s asking, even though he didn’t speak the words.

  Can I move past my own issues and let whatever this is between us resume?

  Because despite my earlier protests, there is something there. We both feel it and we both know it, though neither of us wants it. I’m under no delusions about falling in love or finding the perfect man. But I’ve enjoyed his companionship and even came to look forward to it, so in that respect, I’m not keen on ditching him.

  “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you too, Rod. And because I don’t want anything to feel awkward between us now, I think I should explain why my reaction was so extreme.” I tell him to have a seat on the couch before sitting beside him.