Alex raised an eyebrow.
Reid felt a sensation of discomfort meander down his spine. As if he was betraying a confidence somehow. Though he’d be hard-pressed to identify whose privacy he was uneasy about. Celeste’s or Jack’s?
“Celeste is a shrewd businesswoman. She’s very well known in the industry as one of the most successful marketing executives in New York. The business sites have regular profiles on her. She can be ruthless when she doesn’t get what she wants.”
“You said your friend hasn’t been the same ever since the disastrous wedding that didn’t happen.”
Reid nodded. “That’s right. He’s still traipsing all over Europe, partying in different cities. Living with various women.” Some of those women being wealthy, married socialites looking for a good time on the side.
“Huh. And he didn’t behave like that before he met Celeste?” Alex wanted to know.
The uneasy feeling grew from tingling sensation to an all-out burning down his back as Reid sought for a truthful way to answer. If he was being completely honest, Jack had always had a propensity to be a bit of a partier, something of a Lothario. If anything, his relationship with Celeste had seemed to temper that side of him.
“It’s just different. Trust me. I heard all about it before he called off the wedding. Celeste worked long hours, was never around for him. He said he felt single most of the time.”
“Sounds like she’s just ambitious.”
“I agree that’s a commendable trait. But for people like her, it’s never enough,” Reid answered quickly, though the uneasiness was now sitting like a boulder at the base of his spine. Damn it, why hadn’t he scheduled that massage? Maybe they could fit him in between clients.
Alex went on, “She also happens to have booked our most exclusive and pricey deluxe suite for an extended stay. So clearly her ambitions have served her well.”
Reid shrugged. “I guess. Again, some people can’t seem to have enough.” He couldn’t even tell anymore if he was talking from personal experience about his father or if he was still referring wholly to Celeste.
“You sound like a man who’s only considered one side of a story.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You sure you’re not confusing cause and effect, partner?”
But his friend didn’t give him a chance to answer, just turned and left the office. Apparently, the question was a rhetorical one. Good thing, too. Reid would be hard-pressed to come up with an answer.
Had he been completely unfair in his assessment of Celeste three years ago? Of course, it had occurred to him more than once over the years that he’d only heard one side of the story. But Jack had been his friend since they’d been roommates at university. He was a loyal friend and he’d come through for Reid more than a few times over the years. Reid’s father’s recklessness and wandering eye had started right around that time, too.
Jack had genuinely seemed shaken when he’d confided in Reid as his nuptials had fast approached. He’d talked about how cold and critical Celeste had suddenly gotten when a couple of Jack’s business ventures hadn’t panned out. How demanding she’d been that he get back on his feet in all haste.
Reid slammed his laptop shut in frustration.
What did any of it matter now anyhow? It was all past history. Jack had moved on, even if some of his current behavior bordered on self-destructive. He was a grown-up who could make his own choices. Even if everything Jack had told him about her was the absolute truth, Celeste couldn’t be faulted for her ex-groom’s behavior three years after the fact.
That thought had him feeling like a heel again for the way he’d behaved earlier when he’d first seen her. And also for the assumptions he’d made about her judging him.
In all fairness, Reid had been nothing less than judgmental himself.
Bouncy reggae music greeted her as Celeste made her way down the beach to the seaside cabana she planned to visit for her first dinner here. Her paperback tucked under her arm, she was looking forward to a relaxing evening with a nice glass of wine and a tasty meal of local seafood. Her morning plans had gone woefully astray. The least she deserved right now was a satisfying meal followed by a peaceful stroll on the beach. Then she’d spend the rest of the evening tucked in under her bedcovers, enjoying some further reading. To most women her age, such plans might sound boring and flat. To her, it all sounded like heaven. Exactly what she was looking for during her evening hours on this vacation.
Her step faltered as she approached the cabana. It was already packed and hopping. Every table appeared full. She approached the hostess manning the front entrance.
“Hi, it’s just me. Table for one please.”
The young lady gave her a sympathetic look before motioning toward the bar area where couples sat sharing various appetizers. Several bartenders stepped around each other mixing drinks and taking orders.
“I’m afraid all we have available right now is bar seating, miss. And those spots are going fast.”
Celeste released a sigh of disappointment and made her way to one of the few open bar stools. Squeezing herself in between a burly older man in a Hawaiian shirt and a bikinied brunette, she reached for the drinks menu.
One of the bartenders appeared in front of her within moments. His gold name tag said Phillipe in black lettering. “What can I get for the lovely lady?” He asked her with a wide grin. “And I do mean lovely.”
Celeste tried to smile back. He wasn’t doing any harm but she really wasn’t in any kind of mood for a flirtation. And she had no doubt the young man was flirting. The way he was looking at her left no question about it.
She almost wanted to tell him his efforts were hardly necessary. She always tipped well and if this was sympathy flirting simply because she was sitting at a bar alone in a popular resort, she had no need for it. She placed her order for a glass of sparkling wine and a plate of fish tacos without acknowledging the compliment.
She’d gotten through several pages of her book before her meal arrived.
Phillipe winked at her as he placed the plate in front of her on the bar.
Maybe she should have ordered room service. Now she would have to spend the entire time eating trying to avoid his gaze. And a quick cursory glance in his direction confirmed he was indeed staring at her. Oh, yeah, she couldn’t wait to submit an online review about this place after her stay. She’d normally go straight to the owner with her complaints, but he’d been a part of the problem.
Phillipe appeared as soon as she’d taken her last bite. “So, I have a break coming up in a couple of hours. Can I treat you to another drink then?”
She didn’t get a chance to answer as a thick baritone voice suddenly sounded from behind her. “Miss Frajedi, I hope you enjoyed your meal.”
She didn’t need to turn around, recognized the voice immediately as belonging to Reid. Unlike earlier, he wasn’t speaking in the low husky voice of a makeshift Santa.
Phillipe immediately took a step back. “Oh. Hey, boss.”
Celeste darted a glance over her shoulder. Reid stood only an inch behind her. Arms crossed in front of his chest, his chin tight. He didn’t look happy. He merely nodded in a curt acknowledgment of Phillipe’s greeting.
Then, to her surprise, he held her hand out to help her up off her stool.
“I haven’t settled my bill,” she protested.
Reid didn’t take his