A Second Chance
Page 48

“It clears my mind. Life gets too complicated, don’t you think?
Madeline nodded. Complicated. Yes, that summed up her life lately.
Corbin leaned in toward her. “Have you ever been here?”
“First time.”
“I come three times a year. I enjoy the beach, have some nice meals, and relax.” He covered her hand with his. “This time I decided I’d find the finest woman on the beach and have a romantic dinner.”
Madeline felt her throat tighten. “But you’re here with me.”
Corbin laughed and sat back in his chair. “And you don’t think you’re the most attractive?”
“Hardly.”
“Not all men seek a woman who looks like she should grace the cover of a magazine. Some of us want that inner beauty and that resonates very loud on the outside as well.” He moved his chair around so he sat closer to her. He touched her cheek. “Madeline, you are one very beautiful woman, both inside, and out.”
The evening air had grown warmer—or Madeline’s blood pressure had taken quite a spike. What did this man want? Was he sincere enough to want only conversation? Or would he expect Madeline in his bed when the evening was over? Was she woman enough to say no? Was she woman enough to say yes?
She took a large drink of her wine.
The waiter took their order.
Madeline mulled over the thought of sleeping with a stranger. Talk about stepping out of a comfort zone; that would do it.
Corbin smiled at her. “You’re wondering what my motive for tonight is.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“I’m safe.”
Of course he’d say that. That didn’t help her decide what to do when she was done with her wine and her tilapia.
Their dinner was served and the conversation stayed light. Corbin was a gentleman, and Madeline found she’d eased into the evening and looked forward to whatever might come next.
“There is a piano bar in the lobby. Why don’t we go in there, and maybe he’ll play us something slow to dance to.”
“I think that sounds wonderful.”
Madeline gathered her purse and Corbin escorted her from the restaurant.
Just as they crossed the lobby, her cell phone buzzed in her purse. She dug for it. Her body shook with nerves. Who would be calling her? Something must have happened. Everyone knew she was on vacation.
When she turned on the screen, she saw the text message Eduardo had sent to her. Tears filled her eyes and her jaw tightened. She slipped the phone back into her purse and looked up at Corbin.
“I think I’d better call it a night. Thank you for dinner.”
He sighed and dropped his head. “Breakfast tomorrow morning at nine?”
“That would be nice.”
“Let me walk you to your room.”
She wanted to tell him no. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart with a nice man who thought she was beautiful. Why was she mad at Eduardo for sending her a picture of his father and his new bride kissing on their wedding day? She should be happy.
They rode the elevator in silence.
Madeline pulled the key card from her purse as the elevator doors opened, and they walked down the hall to her room. Her hands shook, and she dropped the key.
Corbin bent over and picked it up. “Let me.”
He slid the card into the lock and opened the door.
Madeline sucked in a breath and willed the tears away. “Thank you for dinner.”
“I had a wonderful evening.” He touched her cheek. “I look forward to seeing you in the morning.”
With that, Madeline rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his. He didn’t move away; instead he gathered her closer to him.
When they’d pulled away, Madeline closed her eyes tighter and thought of the picture her son had sent her. “Corbin, would you like to come in for a drink?”
Carlos had fallen into bed exhausted, and as he pried his eye open, he realized he had fallen asleep. He’d probably only dozed off.
He had danced with every woman at the wedding and with Kathy in between each of the other dances. He’d had plenty of champagne and little food, so his head had a dull throb working behind his eyes.
He scrubbed his hands over his face and looked down at the band of gold that adorned his finger. Married. He’d moved on. A little chuckle escaped him. They’d been so tired, they hadn’t even consummated their wedding. Well, that wouldn’t do.
He rolled over but found that he was alone in their bed.
Carlos sat up and looked around the room. His tuxedo hung in the doorway, the rental bag behind it. Kathy’s wedding dress hung on the back of the bedroom door. Really, he thought, those things should have been tossed to the floor in a mad rage. How pathetic was he?
He climbed from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. The small clock on the counter said it was almost eleven in the morning. He shook his head. Perhaps he’d had more champagne than he thought he had.
He brushed his teeth, found a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, and pulled them on. He couldn’t be sure there weren’t people lingering in his kitchen.
As he walked down the hallway toward the kitchen, he noticed suitcases lined up against the wall. A smile formed on his lips. A week in Hawaii. That would be a well-deserved vacation.
Kathy was in the kitchen moving about. He stopped and watched her for a moment. There was an urgency to her. She scrubbed the counters and tucked items into drawers. But that wasn’t all he noticed. She was wiping her eyes. She was crying.
He walked to her, rested his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened under his touch. Gently he laid a kiss on her neck. “Good morning, my wife.”
She didn’t speak. Instead, she brushed away the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Carlos turned her to him. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
“I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’m so sorry for it too.’
“What could you have done? Honey, what happened?” He ran his hand over her hair and waited for her to lift her eyes to him.
“Oh, Carlos. What have we done?”
“Why don’t we sit down? Let’s have some coffee. I could really use come coffee.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Sit down and I’ll make some coffee.”
He pulled a chair out for her, and she sat as he busied himself with measuring out coffee and pouring water into the maker. He was fully aware she was sitting at the table tearing apart a paper napkin. On his first day as a newlywed, this was not what he’d expected.