Someone handed Grant a plastic cup with a cocktail. Music blared, and the beach gathering was in full swing.
“Grant, help me start this fire,” Eric said.
Grant went over and helped him stack up the wood.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Eric said as he struggled to light the fire. “I need another groomsman. Ginny wants her old roommate to be in the wedding party, and there’s an odd number now.”
“I suppose I could,” Grant said as he took the lighter from Eric and got a tiny flame burning in the kindling. “Are you sure you don’t have any, I don’t know, actual friends you’d rather ask?”
Eric laughed and said, “Our wedding party is thirty-six people. I’ve thoroughly exhausted my friend list. Ginny is the more social one. We’ll pair you with Kate. You know her, and she’ll help you.”
Grant did like the sound of being paired with Kate. He looked over at her. Fernando was hovering around her with Brandy nearby as well wearing a bikini top, a crocheted lace crop top, and shorts. Kate looked anxious and kept checking her phone.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he said to Eric.
As Grant walked up to the group, Fernando was reaching for Kate, and she jerked away.
“Is there a problem?” Grant asked, stepping into Fernando’s personal space.
The Argentinian smiled defensively and stepped back.
“Everything’s okay, boss. No problems here.”
He looked around for Kate, but suddenly, she was gone. He didn’t even see her go.
“I need to find Kate.” There were trails and bushes around the beach. Maybe she had walked off and headed down a path.
“Don’t leave,” Brandy said. “Stay with me.”
She pulled him away from the fire and behind a shed. After slowly undoing her top, she took his hand and rubbed it slowly down her chest. Her breasts were full and soft, and Grant felt as if he were under a spell as she kissed him and undid his pants.
“I don’t want this,” he said abruptly, buttoning himself back up. “I need to find Kate.”
“Maybe another time,” Brandy said. He thought she looked hurt, but he didn’t really care. It was not as if he led her on. Fernando came around the side as Grant pushed past him to look for Kate.
Chapter 49
Kate
After the latest message from Alan came in with another picture of his erection half hanging out of his underwear, Kate didn’t want to be there on the beach anymore. She was still exhausted from the trip, and she didn’t have the mental energy to deal with Fernando and Brandy.
So she ran off. She walked down the boardwalk path that led to the Holbrooks’ summer house. As Kate walked alone, listening to the birds chirping, she heard someone biking on the path behind her. Kate automatically stepped aside, but the biker slowed down and stopped.
She froze. Oh no. It couldn’t be.
“Kate,” Alan said. “You didn’t return my calls.” He touched himself suggestively, and Kate felt panic rise in her chest. She still couldn’t believe she had had an affair with him. He had a wife and a family. What had she been thinking? And now she was all alone in the woods with him. No one even knew where she was.
“Are you stalking me?” Kate said loudly. “Stay away from me.”
“I just wanted to talk,” he said, cornering her against the railing along the path.
“I don’t want anything to do with you. You lied to me.” Kate was wondering if she should make a break for it or jump over the railing into the underbrush. She was only wearing her flip-flops, though.
“You were always my best student,” Alan said, reaching for her hair. “We were good together.”
She flinched away from his hand. He had his wedding ring on, she noticed.
“Finally advertising your real status?” she snarled.
