Page 39 of A Love So Sweet
Max excused herself and walked into the dining room to listen to the message.Hi, sweetness.She melted a little inside at the sound of Treat’s voice.I thought I’d try to catch you again. I tried to text, but it wouldn’t go through. I’m heading out with some old friends for a little while. I’ll try you again when I get back. I love you, Max, and I can’t wait to see you.
She couldn’t suppress her elation as she joined Vicky and Chris on their way out to the truck.
Vicky took one look at Max and grinned. “Looks like someone got her call.”
Max knew her answer was in her mile-wide smile.
“So?” Vicky raised her brows. “Are you coming with us for a little while? Or heading out for a romantic rendezvous?”
“I’d love to come with you for a bit if you don’t mind. Mytilleris out with friends.” Max followed them to the truck, her belief in fate reinstated once again.
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Chapter Seventeen
THE WIND PICKED up, turning Treat’s thick hair into a mass of waves. He’d gone home to grab a sweater, and now he stood at the top of the dune looking down at the beach and counting the bonfires, realizing he had no way of knowing which one was Chuck and Bonnie’s. There were enormous groups of people around each fire pit, and for a minute Treat considered going back to the bungalow. Maybe Chuck and Bonnie wouldn’t even notice his absence.
All he really wanted was to talk with Max, but Chuck and Bonnie had been good friends to him for more years than he cared to remember. He kicked off his loafers and descended the steep sandy ramp to the beach below. The deep, cold sand covered his bare feet with each step. He took a moment to listen to the waves breaking against the shore, and his thoughts traveled to the night in Nassau with Max. They’d come so far. The moon hovered over the water like a beacon in the clear dark sky. Laughter filtered up from his right, where children were tossing a ball and diving into the sand to retrieve it.
The feel of the sea air on his cheeks had always been one of his favorite sensations. It reminded him of playing along the water’s edge when he was younger, while his mother and father watched from nearby. He bent down and rolled up the legs of his gray linen pants. From his crouched position, he watched a group of teenagers drawing pictures in the air with sparklers, just as he and his siblings had done. He remembered his mother’s laughter as she teased him, chasing squeals from his lungs as she’d swoop him from the sand and tickle his belly years before she’d been too weak to even lift her own chin. He didn’t allow himself to visit those memories too often. But now, while he was missing Max, he reveled in the warmth of them.
“Go ahead. I’ll catch up!” Treat heard someone yell. He blinked away the memories and headed down the beach toward the first bonfire.Might as well get this over with.
A few minutes later he heard his name from behind.
He turned, expecting to see Chuck. Smitty stood a few feet away, carrying an armful of blankets. Treat walked back through the dense sand and took the blankets from Smitty’s arms.
He embraced his old friend. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Oh, you know Vicky. Any excuse for a party.” Smitty’s white hair looked almost gray in the moonlight. “Are you with our bonfire tonight?”
“I don’t know. I’m looking for Chuck and Bonnie Holtz.”
Smitty shook his head. “They’re not with our group.” He scanned the people closest to them. “Isn’t that them right there?” He pointed to a couple roasting marshmallows around the nearest bonfire.
“Your eyes are better than mine. I think you might be right.”
“Treat!”
Treat groaned at the sight of Amanda, the daughter of Bonnie’s friend, who had been at dinner with them. He’d made it clear that he was not on the market, but she was like a gnat, refusing to be deterred.
“Looks like you have a lady friend waiting for you. Here. Give me the blankets and go join your party.” Smitty reached for the blankets.
“That’s okay. I’ll bring them to your bonfire.”Anything to avoid Amanda.
Smitty yanked the blankets from his arms, eyeing the woman who was heading their way with a determined look on her face. “That one’s not taking no for an answer. We’re the last bonfire down on the left. Stop by later, and bring your friend if you’d like.”
“She’s not my friend!” Treat called after him.
Half an hour later, Treat could no longer stomach Amanda, even to spend time with his friends. She was clingy and vile, offering to do all sorts of dirty things to him and refusing to accept his gentlemanly denials. She was so persistent that he half expected to hear,All that for a cool five hundred dollars.He was on the verge of telling her flat-out,I will not ever sleep with you.He’d never had to go that far before. Then again, he’d never been so in love with one woman that he’d turn down another.
“I’ll tell you what,” Amanda said as she pawed at his arm. “If you’ll take a walk with me—one walk.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I promise you, I’ll rock your world. I’ll beyourtreat.”
Treat gritted his teeth against his anger. He could have a string of nameless, faceless women if he wanted them. But now he knew what it was like to feel more than lust, to look into someone’s eyes and want much more than sexual gratification—a lifetime of smiles and handholding, breakfasts, and yes, saucy, sumptuous, scorching-hot nights of lovemaking. Enough was enough.
“Excuse me,” he said for the hundredth time, and walked away from Amanda, making a beeline for Chuck.Why did he have to be such a gentleman?He smiled to himself with the thought. It was the same question Max had asked.
“Chuck, I had a great time, but I really have to run. Bonnie, you know I think the world of you, but you should think twice before inviting Amanda out again. She’s a bit aggressive.”
