So young, so happy, so in love, she thought sadly, just watching them made her want to weep. She didn't think she'd ever been all of those things. Oh, she'd been young once, and happy on occasion, but not happy like they were, and while she'd thought she was in love with Robert, it turned out the man she'd loved hadn't even existed.
Her in-love stage had been very short and mostly self-conscious as she struggled to please a man who could never be pleased.
Grimacing at the unhappy memories, she raised her book again and pretended to read, but instead continued to glance around under the cover her sunglasses offered.
Carolyn had awakened that morning to the sounds of retching coming from Beth's room. Bethany was still sick, definitely some sort of bug and not food poisoning, which was a worry with her diabetes. When Beth joined her in the kitchen some moments later, Carolyn had suggested seeing if there was a doctor on the island, but Beth had refused. She just needed more sleep, she'd insisted.
Carolyn should go have breakfast with Genie and then hit the beach. She'd join her later.
As if that was likely, Carolyn thought on a sigh. It seemed she was destined to spend the next two weeks alone, surrounded by happy honeymooners, whose very joy was a counterpoint to her own situation. That or hang out with her g*y buddy Christian.
The thought was unkind, she told herself as soon as it slipped into her mind. Christian seemed like a nice guy. Besides, without him to keep her company at least part of the time, she might very well be moved to do herself harm.
Seriously, all these loving couples made her feel...
Well, frankly, she felt damaged. A freak. She kept looking around wondering why she didn't have someone to love her. Why Robert hadn't loved her. What was wrong with her? It was disheartening, being surrounded by all the couples were young. There were some older couples, and even one or two women she thought she might be better looking than. Yet they all had these happy, smiling, loving partners while she was alone... as usual. But then Carolyn had felt alone most of her life. She'd been a latchkey kid with a mother who she knew loved her dearly, but who, because of circumstances, had spent most of her time working, and then... Well, she'd just never felt like she belonged anywhere or had a real family.
Carolyn grimaced at her own selfish thoughts. She'd been very lucky to have her mother. She'd at least known she was loved. Some kids didn't even have that. She forced her gaze back to her book again, trying to find where she'd left off, then stiffened with surprise as someone dropped onto the sand beside her lounger.
"Morning."
Carolyn recognized Christian's voice before she actually turned her head to look at him. He had a deep, sexy voice, very distinctive and hard to forget. She smiled at him, her relief at no longer being alone adding warmth to it.
"Morning," she said and frowned as she noted the rings under his eyes. "Did you get any sleep at all?"
"Not much. I drifted off at dawn." When concern pulled at her face, he shrugged. "It just means I'll sleep great tonight."
Carolyn smiled wryly. "As it happens, so should I. I woke up at dawn."
"Ah, that explains it," he murmured and she quirked an eyebrow.
"Explains what?"
"Why you look tired too," he said quickly. "What woke you?"
"Beth. She got up to get a drink and dropped a glass in the kitchen. By the time I sent her to bed and cleaned it up, I was wide awake. I tried to go back to sleep, but gave up after lying there for an hour."
Christian nodded. "How's she doing?"
"I think it's the flu and she should see a doctor, but she insists that so long as she takes in lots of fluids and sleeps, she'll be fine." Carolyn said, her eyebrows rising as she glanced over his black jeans and T-shirt.
"That's not exactly beachwear."
"I have something of an allergy to the sun," he excused himself.
"Should you be out here then?" she asked with concern.
"So long as we're in the shade, I'm good."
"Hmm. You aren't going to be comfortable out here in jeans and a T-shirt, though. It's too hot. Maybe we should-"
Her voice died abruptly as he stood and quickly removed his T-shirt.
Her eyes widened. She'd thought his tight T-shirts pretty much gave away what his chest would look like na**d, but she'd been wrong. He looked good in the T-shirt, but he was a bloody Adonis without it.
When Christian undid his jeans and began to push them off his hips, she tried to tear her eyes away, but it was just impossible. She watched avidly as he stepped out of them to reveal a pair of loose, black swim trunks. His legs were as impressive as his torso. The man was built like an athlete, all rippling muscles and taut olive skin.
He must be popular at g*y bars, Carolyn thought, but frowned as she noted that his impromptu striptease had drawn every female eye for a hundred yards.