The Guy Next Door - By Lori Foster, S Donovan, V Dahl Page 0,56
at her feet. She didn’t intend to pout, but she truly wanted the girls to have a well-rounded experience here in Key West. Was that so terrible?
“It’s just that we already have plans, Ms. Chapman,” Hannah offered, smiling sweetly. “And we thought it would be nice for you to have some time to yourself for a change, you know? Just think—you could browse the art galleries, sip your lattes, hang out in bookstores.”
Despite herself, Gail chuckled under her breath. “I see. And while I’m doing all this sipping and browsing, you’d be doing what, exactly?”
Hannah was about to answer that question but Holly cut her off. “We’d be playing volleyball on the beach. Riding our rental bikes. Shopping. Getting ice cream. You know, just having fun.”
Gail folded her arms across her chest, not falling for a word of it. Although she’d gone over the rules with the girls before she even purchased the air tickets, it was clearly time for a refresher.
“You’re good kids. I know you want your freedom. I know you believe you’re mature enough to make wise decisions and stay safe.”
“But?” Holly fell back against her chair and pursed her lips, waiting for the rest.
“But I am responsible for you,” Gail said. She turned her attention to her daughter’s friend. “And Hannah, I swore on my life to your mom and dad that I’d keep you out of harm’s way and bring you back in one piece. You understand that your parents have entrusted me with the most precious thing in their lives, right?”
Hannah rolled her eyes.
“So let’s review, shall we?” Gail leaned in on her forearms, speaking softly enough that other diners wouldn’t hear her morph into the world’s most boring human being. “No sex. No alcohol. No pot. No getting into or onto anything on or near the water without my prior permission. No getting into cars or onto motorcycles or mopeds with anyone other than me, period. No flirting with bouncers at bars to get them to let you in without ID. You will use your cell phones to check in with me, and you will answer if I call. There will be no violating curfew—you will both be home by midnight every night, no exceptions.”
Since neither girl said a word, Gail decided to wrap it up.
“And if you don’t follow these basic rules, you’ll both be on the first thing smokin’ out of Key West. End of vacation. And, Holly, I’m sorry to say that for you it would be the end of life as you know it.”
Their mouths dropped open from the force of the insult Gail had delivered. Then Holly’s tongue made that clicking sound of disbelief before she squealed, “We just wanted to go to the beach, Mom! God!”
Gail relaxed into her chair, her blood pressure returning to normal. “So we’re in agreement on the rules?”
Their nods were slow and lacking in enthusiasm, but they were nods, nonetheless.
“Fabulous,” Gail said. “The beach sounds great, then.”
Holly and Hannah looked at each other quickly. “Are you coming with?” Holly asked.
Gail laughed. “No. You’ve agreed to the rules, so I trust you. You don’t have to spend your vacation hanging around with old, boring me.”
“Thank God,” Hannah whispered.
“But there’s one condition—you can’t wear those skimpy swimsuits out in public. They’re pornographic.”
The waiter appeared at tableside, and Gail watched the girls’ sullen frowns turn to sparkling grins the instant the handsome young man looked their way. Gail knew what it felt like to be Holly and Hannah. It wasn’t all that long ago that she and Kim had been seventeen, running around with all the same boy-crazy hormones coursing through their veins, with grand plans of their own. Gail only wanted Holly and Hannah to find a happy medium. She wanted them to enjoy the adventure of this vacation without losing their heads.
Gail suddenly had a sobering thought. She couldn’t even remember what it felt like to lose her head, over anything or anyone. In fact, self-denial had been her field of expertise lately, hadn’t it? Maybe she should order a second set of business cards from the campus print shop: Gail Chapman, Doctor of Chastity. “Dessert, ladies?”
My God… Gail stared off into space. I really am the most boring human being on the planet!
Suddenly, she thought of the brown-skinned, sexy-as-hell captain next door and for a moment—just a moment—she wondered what it would be like to let go with a man like that. Completely. Holding nothing back.
That was a ridiculous fantasy. She could