Chapter 6

There's a chime before another word can be spoken and he offers his arm, "I believe we are heading into dinner," He explained. I felt like a complete moron all I could do was nod. We walked to an outside dinning room, which had a pergola over the table with linens on the corner. The arches lead into the indoor dinning room that was now a serving station. He pulled out my chair and sat next to me, This was a huge light wood table to match the wood in the pergola. Madam Yasmin sat at the head, in a large ornate chair, "Good evening my friends, I hope everyone has found this evening to be ripe with conversations," she smiled. I could feel Jack's eyes burning into the back of my neck, and all I could do was remind myself to breath.

"For those of you new to the Island I will explain the next week. Every morning breakfast will be served downstairs, unless you are ill. Please make sure you are here between nine and ten am," She explained but was interrupted by an insanely drunk thin blonde woman who was on my plane, "I thought I paid for vacation," she said loudly. A few women giggled, "Excuse me Miss Kincade, if you wanted a traditional vacation I can arrange for a plane to take you tonight," Madam checked her real quick.

"If I may continue, Classes will be set up personalized for each of you. This week will be about each of you relaxing and enjoying the spa. Lunch will be between noon and one. Dinner at 7 after a cocktail hour," she explained. "After this weeks relaxing activities we will have another special dinner on Sunday and I will explain the next few weeks," She continued staring at each of us. Waiters brought out food, "Now let's enjoy a wonderful dinner," She finished and sat down. The plates were clear glass with gold rims, a light salad filled the small plate. "I never understood salads for a date food," the British woman across the table who was slightly over weight with dyed red hair and blue eyes. "Are we on a date, Sandra," the tall, dark, and handsome man, who was seated next to her said. I rolled my eyes, "Of course her name was Sandra" I thought to myself. She smiled like an idiot and giggled, which pleased the man. I sighed and took a sip of water, she was clearly eating all of this up. They brought out the next course which was announced as seared scallops locally caught, with cauliflower mash and walnut butter. "Aren't scallops, what make men aroused," Sandra said trying to sound sultry but sounding dumber than before. "I believe you're thinking about oysters," her escort replied. "Oh, right," she said deflated. "But we ate those during cocktail hour," he whispered much more sultry than she every could. I rolled my eyes again, this time I was caught by Jack, who cocked his head to the left and smiled as if he was stifling a laugh. "Would you like a glass of wine?" the man asked Sandra. "I better not, if I want to keep my wits about me," she answered staring into his eyes. I nearly choked on my water, "Sorry," I apologized as I coughed into my napkin. Sitting at this table made it nearly impossible to carry on privet conversations. "Whitney, where are you from?" Jack asked. "Chicago," I answered. "I've never been. Were you born and raised?" he continues. "No, I was born and raised in Ohio," I explained. Our conversation was interrupted by desert which was a creamy rose panna cotta, that was so refreshing.

It was nearly ten o'clock when we finished dinner. "Excuse me Miss Clark, Madame Yasmin would like a word with you personally," a woman came to me when dessert was done.

I nervously got up, maybe she caught one of my eye rolls. Why does my face always get me into trouble, I scolded myself as we walked to an office in the house. "Miss. Clark," she said turning around from looking out the window. "Yes," I basically whispered. "Do you think you're in trouble?" She asked. "I wasn't sure," I replied. "No, quite the opposite. You work at the law firm that represents me, I wanted to make sure that everything was satisfactory," she explained. "Oh, yes," I answered. "And Jack is your chosen escort?" She asked. "I uh, I guess," I said wondering where this was going. "You sound unsure, is there another?" She asked. "No, I just I'm not sure exactly," I began. "What they have to do with your vacation?" She finished my sentence. I nodded, "You stated in your questionnaire that you had lost your husband and child is that right," she asked sitting in her large desk chair. She held a hand out to one of her office chairs which I sat in as I nodded. "I am very sorry for your loss," she said. "Thank you," I replied. "You see according to physiatrists you have experienced a major loss, not just significant but something some people never overcome," she explained sitting back in her chair. "We are here to bring you back to you. That means if you need romance we help with that, if you need someone to treat you as if that never happened, we are here. If you just need a good, oh how should I say this," she paused thinking. "Fuck," she stated blatantly, "We are here for you," she smiled. I just sat there blinking not sure I really heard what I just heard, "I just wanted to let your know, if you need anything I'm here to help you in anyway that I can," she explained. "I appreciate that, Madame, thank you," I answered nodding in shock. "Well, I'll let you get back to the party, Miss Clark," she said shaking my hand.

I walked out to the pool side area where everyone was for another cocktail hour, some people were dancing to the soft music now playing. I was not entirely sure I should be here, I was contemplating going home when another man approached me, "Care to dance Miss Clark?" he asked. I didn't recognize this one, he was very well put together blond, with green eyes, and all I could think of was, he was wearing a three piece suit on a sandy island. I stared blankly at him for a min before I made my decision, "No thank you," I said gently and walked over to the spot where I was before, where I could see the ocean. I began thinking, if I paid for this trip and these men were going to jockey for my attention, I guess I should have some fun with it right? "Let's just see what happens," I whispered to myself. "After you left me at the table, Sandra asked Roman, to take her on a frolic on the beach," Jack said standing next to me. I giggled, "Did he oblige her?" I asked as we starred at the ocean. He turned and looked at me, "Should we go see?" He asked. "No, we should let her have her moment," I replied turning to look at him. "If we hurry we can find them," he said grabbing my hand. We walked around the corner where we ate dinner and the staff was cleaning up. There was a trail down to the beach from there that was lined with potted bamboo. "Hold on," I said and stopped to slip off my shoes. We ran down the trail, there were small dunes of sand on either side of the trail we took to the right side and peeked over, so we could see them walking. They looked like a set of awkward teenagers on their first date, suddenly they stopped and she lunged at him knocking him down as she kissed him. We laughed as quietly as we could, "We better go back before they catch us," I told him catching my breath. We walked back up the trail as a few other couples went down to the beach. He walked me to my room, "I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked. "Ok," I replied smiling. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, his cologne was so intoxicating I almost lost myself. "Sleep well," he whispered. "Goodnight," I squeaked out. He waited until I was in my room before leaving, I walked into my closet and slipped off my dress, it has been a long time since I've felt those butterflies. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I felt them and was having a good time with someone who was being paid to make me feel this way. I washed my face and slipped into my bed, it was late and the traveling made me sleepier than I had admitted. The bed was soft and I felt as if I sank right in, the sheets were soft. I left the doors open to keep the breeze blowing, it was the best nights sleep I had in years