Crying hysterically, Taylor collapsed in a flood of tears for several minutes. When she cried herself out, she felt anger replacing hurt. A plan for revenge began to take shape in the back of her mind. Some of her more enlightening and evolved epiphanies from the beach had started to permeate her rage-filled brain, while sadly, some others about being non-emotional still lay forgotten in the back of her mind.
She would become an independent woman that men desired. She would take chances and do the unexpected. With those pledges firmly back in her mind, she looked up various local boutiques and selected one. She drove into town and picked out the sexiest dress she could find. It was deep purple and hugged all of her curves. Low-cut and sexier than anything she had ever owned, Taylor quickly bought it. On the way back to the cottage, she passed a lingerie shop and popped in. Before she lost her nerve, she purchased the shearest lace bra and thong set she had ever seen.
Donning the lingerie and dress was akin to putting on armor for a soldier. Knowing she wore them made her bolder and prepared her for the night ahead. Her hair was brushed to a high sheen and twisted in a sexy chignon. Last, she slipped on her heels and painted her lips with a thin coat of cherry red lipstick. The one item that she did not put on was her wedding rings. She had taken them off the first night she had gotten to the beach and had not put them back on since. Glancing at them, she knew her days of wearing themwere over. There had been a time when she felt almost naked without them. Now, she could barely stand to look at them. Dismissing the rings and the fear she could feel gurgling in her gut, she took a last look at herself in the bathroom mirror and saw a woman ready to do battle with her own life.
Chapter 10
River Rat Bar and Grill
Gulf Shores, Alabama
March 2012
Once in the car, Taylor had to remind herself that if Bennett and Joules could run around having affairs and then talk about it like it was no big deal, so could she. After all, she was the one who always played by the rules, and yet they acted like she was the one with the issues. Well, she would show them tonight.
She was going to experience all the desire and passion that Bennett and Joules were so hyped up about. They weren't the only ones with needs. Taylor promised herself the only regret she would have about tonight would be if she came home the same boring, sexless woman Bennett and Joules seemed to think she was.
The anger, hurt, and rage that Taylor had worked up during her phone call earlier carried her all the way into town with the single purpose of finding a man, seducing him, and proving everyone wrong. It was almost 10:00 when she finally made her way down the main strip and weighed her choices. All the bars looked extremely busy. It was unlikely anyone would recognize her, but she was suddenly rethinking her plan to be bold and daring.
She didn't want to be spotted and ruin everything, but she refused to give up.
She was just about to return to the cottage when she remembered the rundown shack of a bar at the end of that boat dock she ran past every day. It was doubtful anyone would know her there. With her mind made up, Taylor quickly drove to the boat dock. It was not where she would have expected to find herself on a hunt for a man, but that is what made it so perfect. She was doing the unexpected.
The River Rat Boat Dock Bar and Grill was little more than a shack with blinking neon lights. From the look of the place, she was sure no respectable person would ever be seen there, making it the perfect place for Taylor to lose herself for the night.
As she approached the entrance, she could hear the muffled sounds of country music wafting from the building. Opening the door and stepping inside, her eyes and ears were assaulted by blaring music and a dark, smoky cloud that seemed to rush out and cover her, blinding her for a second.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust. Once they did, she saw the overall theme of the place was shabby cowboy. She felt like she had been dropped into an alternate universe because she had never been to any place like this before. Peanut shells covered the floor. A long bar dominated one wall. Booths lined the other walls, and various tables were scattered around. Everything was covered in a disgusting 1970s orange vinyl.
The lights were low, but there was enough light to see a dance floor in the middle of the room. Several couples were dancing to an upbeat, popular country song from a jukebox in the corner. It was seedy and in much need of a makeover. And honestly, Taylor loved everything about it. There was an ease to the place that called to her and terrified her at the same time.
Feeling intimidated and unsure of herself, she stood by the door for a moment more, gathering her courage. One thing was sure:her mother would roll over in her grave if she knew where she was and what she was about to do. Momma would take one look at this place and say, "There is nothing here but trouble." Well, that was just fine by Taylor. Trouble was exactly what she was looking for, so she had come to the right place.
Feigning a confidence she definitely did not feel, Taylor threw her shoulders back, smiled a smile she didn't actually feel, and began to walk across the bar as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Surely, at least one man here would find her desirable. She just had to find him.
The minute Taylor entered the River Rat Bar and Grill, the atmosphere completely changed. Almost everyone in the bar instantly became aware of her. The music kept playing, but otherwise, everything else seemed to stop. Even the dancers appeared to turn and look at her as she crossed the floor. Of course, Taylor was unaware of any of this or the man sitting at the bar nursing a long-necked Miller Lite.
Before Taylor walked in, Dr. Greer Stone had been sitting at the bar thinking that River Rat wasn't his kind of place anymore. In his younger days, it was just the kind of redneck, honky-tonk he'd been right at home in. In fact, it was exactly like several bars he had worked in during college and medical school to support himself. Thankfully, those days were long gone.
Now, most of his time was spent at the hospital. What little free time he did manage to squeeze out for himself tended to be filled with classier pursuits like wine tasting and art galleries. However, occasionally, on nights like tonight, when he needed the company of others, he found himself slumming at the Rat. Coming here gave him a feeling of home without the poverty or bad memories. So, while he was by no means a regular, he had been to the Rat several times and knew almost everybody there.
Greer had been polishing off his second beer when the pretty lady walked in the door. Her presence captivated everyone's attention, including his. Greer readily admitted the woman was a looker. Her beauty alone made her stand out, but it was more than that. Her demeanor was too sophisticated and cultured to be at home in such a seedy place. She was clearly out of her element. Surprisingly, something about her looked very familiar. He just couldn't place her.
Watching her take a seat at the bar, Greer could see good taste and wealth rolling off her in waves. Every inch of her screamed class and money. She was the perfect package of poise and grace, complete with a strand of pearls around her neck and the gold Rolex on her wrist. He instinctively checked to see if she wore wedding rings. Seeing none, he could not suppress a groan of pleasure. This woman looked as good as an orange push-up on a hot summer's day, and he would bet his most expensive bottle of wine that she tasted just as sweet.
The mystery lady reminded Greer of Christine. Thinking of her and their failed marriage was always a downer. It would have been so much easier if Christine had been a first-class bitch like most of his friends' ex-wives and ex-girlfriends. He could have put her into the hate zone and moved on, but she wasn't. She was a lovely woman whose heart he had trampled because his priorities had been screwed up. He had valued success and money over her. Well, he had lost her to his best friend, and it had been his fault entirely.
Crap, he was not going on another guilt trip. He could handle a lot but not guilt. He didn't do guilty. Guilt was dirty, wet towels after a nice hot shower. Neither did anybody any good. So, instead, he checked himself and pushed all thoughts of his failed marriage right out of his mind. Instead, he just sat quietly drinking and tried to focus all his energies on watching the pretty lady now sitting down from him at the bar.
Once seated at the bar, Taylor watched as the very muscled young bartender approached her. The guy leaned against the bar and flashed her a sexy grin before asking with open curiosity, "Are you lost? Do you need some help?"
That was not the question Taylor was expecting. She assumed he was coming over to take her drink order. She supposed she should not have been surprised that he thought she looked lost. Given that she was now seated in this bar, dressed the way she was, with the intent of picking up a man, she was pretty worried that she had lost her mind. But she didn't say anything about that. Instead, what she said was, "No. I am right where I want to be." As she began to look around the bar, Taylor didn't add but thought, of course, that was about an hour ago when I was really mad. Now, I am not so sure.
Greer was seated close enough to hear everything being said but far enough away to go unnoticed. Watching her, Greer could think of nothing a beautiful, sophisticated lady like that would want in a place like this.
Jake, the bartender, seemed to share Greer's opinion because he just shook his head and said, "Um. Okay, well, you want a drink? Some wine, maybe?"
Taylor considered the bartender's question carefully. In truth, she hadn't planned on even drinking tonight; however, now that she was here, a little Dutch courage sounded like a great idea. Perhaps a glass of white wine was just what she needed to see her plan through. Then, remembering her promise earlier to do the unexpected, she rejected the idea of ordering wine. Instead, she racked her brain for a drink that was chic and daring. If she was going to do this, she should do it right. Suddenly, Taylor remembered what her father and brother used to order, so she said, "McCallan 15, with a big rock."
