chapter 56
Dana couldn’t believe her eyes.
Cody.
It was really him.
She rose to her feet matching his approaching footsteps stride for stride.
“You made it!”
“What took you so long?” he responded, cupping her face in his hands, raising it for a gentle kiss. Dana felt her knees weaken.
“I was wondering the same thing.” The stares of curious onlookers bore into them. “Come meet my friends.”
Hand in hand they approached the broadcast table. Sharon’s jaw literally dropped.
“Hey, everyone, I’d like you to meet...”
“Cody Blue, oh my God, I love your band!” Sharon had not yet learned radio couth, the unspoken rule of professionalism between rock stars and radio personnel that removed the fan element.
“Thanks.” A true gentleman, he shook her hand, then quickly returned to the warm grasp of Dana.
Sharon noticed his action. “Are you and Dana...?”
“Yes.” He smiled.
“Dana, you’re on the air in five,” Liam yelled. “Sorry to break up the reunion, but this is work.” He spoke with feigned seriousness. The Blue Bird of Paradise had taken effect and “this is work,” was the new catchphrase of the trip.
Cody kicked back with the group, nursing his piña colada slowly, enjoying his view...of Dana. She looked incredibly beautiful. Shiny black hair, a gorgeous smile and the warmest eyes he’d ever seen. He was so grateful for the time they’d have together without work, without the band. Time to see who they really were...together.
The broadcast went smoothly and fast.
“See you back here tomorrow at noon,” Liam said, as Dana and Cody walked away.
Finally they were alone.
Cody took Dana’s hand as they walked in shared excitement to the hotel.
“You look amazing,” he said.
“You too.” And he did, more amazing in fact than she remembered.
“So do you want to explore this place?”
“I’d love to.”
They walked around the hotel, taking in their luxurious surroundings. The resort was huge. Aquariums covered the walls like wallpaper. Bright fish in hues of rose red, fluorescent purple and golden yellow darted through their rich blue surroundings. Dana and Cody explored the lounges stealing kisses in everyone: the seventies style disco, complete with mirrored ball, the champagne salon and the cozy piano bar. The restaurant selection was vast, they had a choice of eight including The Mexican Cantina, Chinese Dim Sum Village and Tropical Nights, island fare.
“We’ll have to try them,” Cody said, eyeing the menus.
“Definitely.”
“Dinner tonight, snorkeling tomorrow?”
“Awesome.”
It was strange and incredible for Dana to be here with Cody. There was an instant intimacy between them. Cody was even more attractive than the image she conjured up every night before bed. And he was so excited to see her. That was very sexy. He was really into her, as a person. She got chills realizing the fantasies in her mind were living up to the reality.
For Cody, Dana was an oasis in the desert of his life. He’d clicked with her and felt so close so fast it restored his faith in fate. She was so beautiful with her raven hair and emerald eyes, but she also possessed a gentle inner beauty. He loved her stories of her family. It made him feel like all his dreams were possible.
The small talk they shared was a prelude...mindless chatter that masked their overwhelming desire for each other. They walked through the hotel not so subconsciously heading to the elevators.
“Dana?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your room like?”
Within minutes they were at Dana’s door, Cody caressing her skin, Dana’s hand fumbling with the room card. They moved quickly into her room, devouring each other with their hands and mouths. No words were spoken. None were necessary. They shared an intense connection sparked with insatiable passion.
Breathlessly they moved together becoming one.
Pure ecstasy.
“You are incredible,” Cody said, lying next to Dana, feeling things in his heart he’d never experienced before. He softly brushed a stray hair from Dana’s eyes.
Dana curled closer into Cody. “And you.”
Cody pulled her into him, squeezing her hand. Dana responded in kind, lost in bliss. The silence was comfortable. Each basked in the glow of each other.
Outside the azure sky became tinged with purple - evening had begun to fall.
“Are you hungry?” Cody asked, sorry to interrupt their reverie.
“Famished,” Dana replied sitting up and eyeing Cody’s firm chest, broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes. Her mind and heart at last were in agreement...Cody was everything she’d hoped for and more.
“Do you feel like...?”
“You? Yes.” Dana leaned into Cody kissing him warm on the mouth.
Cody ran his fingers through her hair, pulling her body closer to his. They melted into each other again, taking things slower this time. They caressed and kissed, exploring each other’s body with gentle whispers. It was a most intimate dance with a finish that left them breathless.
“Amazing,” Cody fell back on the bed pulling her soft body beside his.
“Beyond.” She grinned at him sheepishly. “Hey...not to change the subject, but I’m starving.”
“What do you say we go for dinner and...”
“I like dinner and...” Dana said.
“Mexican?” he said punctuating his sentence with a kiss.
“I’d like that.” Dana responded in kind, kissing him softly.
“We’re never gonna make it to dinner at this rate.”
Dana sat up straight. “You’re right. And I have to get dressed!” She pulled the sheet around her in mock modesty. “You better go change.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to drive you away.” Cody reached his arm out to her.
“You didn’t. I’m just speeding up the process for us to get back to the room.”
“Good point.” Cody raised his lean, tan, muscular frame from the bed. He slipped into his clothes and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll wait for you on the balcony.”
“Wonderful,” Dana said rising from the bed to walk him to the bedroom door.
Cody leaned in and kissed her. “See you soon.”
Dana floated back to the bed. She fell onto the mattress alive with excitement. She was scared of what she was feeling. Nervous butterflies in her stomach, a racing heart and yet, a calmness in her mind. It was all happening so fast, but an overwhelming sense of peace had taken over. Dana was sure of herself and the decisions she was making with Cody. Part of her still nagged...you felt excitement over Sam, too. But it wasn’t like this, she argued the devil in her mind.
She remembered very clearly, it was never like this.
She got dressed quickly...anxious to be with Cody. They had such limited time together, she didn’t want to waste a second.
Dana opened the bedroom door and walked out onto the balcony. Cody silently gasped. She looked amazing in white Capri pants and a short white top that seemed to rise and fall with her breath revealing her tanned flat stomach. A thin silver chain belt hugged her hips. Her black hair was tied back loosely, soft wisps fell softly around her face.
“Hola.”
“Hola.”
“I missed you.”
“Me too.”
“Shall we go?” Cody ran his hand down her arm, taking her hand in his. He wore dark tan khaki pants and an azure collared shirt. Tan and muscular with his angular face, Cody looked more like a model than a rock star.
They strolled down to The Mexican Cantina and went inside. The restaurant transported them south of the border without the flight. The ceiling was painted the color of sunset. Small paper lanterns were strung across the realistic “sky.” Cream stucco walls were accented with adobe red tiles and carefully placed sombreros. In the corner of the restaurant a Mariachi band played lively Mexican songs. Dana and Cody had stepped into a fiesta.
They were seated next to a three-tiered fountain in the center of the restaurant. On the table was a bottle of Corona filled with salt, a clever idea for a condiment shaker.
“Cute,” Dana said picking it up.
“Thanks.” Cody looked up, “Oh, you mean the salt shaker.”
Dana laughed. “You look cute, too.” Damn good is more like it.
Within seconds a waitress appeared with a basket of hot, salty tortilla chips.
“Bienvenidos a la Cantina de Mexico. My name is Rosa.” She wore an embroidered blue off the shoulder dress. Her dark hair was gathered in a loose bun with a large red flower tucked into it. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Dana, taking in her surroundings, ordered. “I’ll have a margarita.”
“And for you, señor?” Rosa addressed Cody.
“Just some water for now.”
“I’ll be back to take your order.” Rosa left to get Dana’s drink.
“Hey, if I knew you weren’t drinking I wouldn’t have gotten anything.”
“No, that’s fine, maybe I’ll take a taste.”
“You’re not a big drinker are you? I’m not either...I just want you to know. It’s just that I’m on vacation and I don’t know...the place put me in the mood.”
Cody debated whether or not to tell Dana the truth of why he didn’t drink. He didn’t want her to feel bad about doing something she enjoyed just because of his past. He decided quickly. If this relationship was going to really be something the truth was the only place for it to start, but maybe, a cleaned up truth. He didn’t want to scare her off.
“Let me tell you why I don’t like to drink,” he paused. “My father was an alcoholic.”
Dana’s eyes grew wide.
Cody continued. “Not just an alcoholic, but an angry drunk. He was in his own miserable world most the time.”
Dana reached out and took his hands in hers. “How awful.”
Her sympathy was comforting. “It was. Since then I’ve never had a real taste for alcohol. I don’t know if it’s because I’m afraid I’d turn into my dad – though I know I’d never let that happen, or if it’s just that the desire to drink, socially I mean, was killed by seeing what it did to him.” Cody purposely left out his one drunken experience that found him in bed with a one night stand...the one night stand that ended his relationship with Laura.
“Drinking’s not that important to me, I don’t have to have a drink.” Dana raised her hand to motion to the waitress to cancel her order. The last thing she wanted to do was make Cody feel bad.
He brought her hand down back to the table. “No, no, no...my issues shouldn’t keep you from what you enjoy. I’m not an alcoholic...I sometimes have a drink, but my decision shouldn’t affect you.”
“I understand, but I don’t want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“You won’t.”
Her eyes softened. “I’m so sorry for your childhood. It must have been so hard for you.”
“It was.”
“Do you still see your dad?”
“No.” Cody paused and took a deep breath. “I kicked him out when I was fifteen. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but there was no other option. My mother and I needed to be safe.” Select memories of his childhood tumbled from his mouth. It was odd hearing his voice speak his secret past.
“So what happened with your mom?”
“Not much. She and I are not close at all. I resented...resent her still really, for letting my dad stay around as long as he did. I wished she was stronger, no that’s not the right word...” He pursed his lips together in thought. “I wish she was smarter. The verbal abuse...” He omitted the physical abuse, not wanting to speak those memories, “Letting your child get verbally abused, there’s no excuse for staying in that kind of situation.”
“Did she not have anywhere else to go?”
“I know what you’re thinking...that she felt trapped like she couldn’t escape. But Dana, when you are getting abused the way my dad was abusing her and me, something in you has to overcome the fear and get the hell out of that situation. If not for herself, then for the safety of her son.”
In Cody’s eyes Dana could see the soul of a scared child. She tightened her grasp of his hands. “You had a really hard life. I can’t imagine.” She really couldn’t. Cody’s childhood was entirely different from hers. Dana’s family was close and loving. The world Cody spoke of was completely foreign to her.
“I was glad to get out. It’s not anyplace I ever want to think about or go back to.” Cody exhaled slowly. He could feel a weight lift off his shoulders. It was freeing to confess the sins of his father. He held those memories inside for so long they had become a permanent wound, an ache that never left him. This moment of lightness was something he’d never experienced or knew existed. He spent a lifetime hiding: under his bed, behind a gun, as a cocky singer in a rock band. True happiness had eluded him. He looked at Dana with new eyes. Maybe she could help him heal. Cody never thought that was even possible. He only hoped it wasn’t at the expense of losing her.
Rosa reappeared with Dana’s margarita, “Are you ready to order?”
Dana and Cody pulled back from each other and their serious conversation. They barely had time to look at their menus, but each was starving. Quickly they perused the menu.
“Wanna share fajitas?”
Dana nodded.
“For two,” he ordered.
They handed Rosa their menus and went back to each other.
“Enough about my childhood...let me hear more about you.”
“Cody, if you want to talk more...”
“Actually I don’t.” He meant it. “My past has taken too much from me already. I want to live my life.” He looked around at the beautiful surroundings and the amazing woman who looked at him with such concern. “I want to see your eyes smiling again.”
Dana tipped her head to the side, “You sure?”
“One hundred percent.”
“Ok...” she smiled, “what do you want to know?”
Cody thoughtfully tapped his head. “Your turn for serious stuff,” he paused. “So you’re stranded on a deserted island, what CD do you take with you?”
She crossed her arms across her chest. “Oh, you’re really delving.” She smiled. “Elton John, Madman Across the Water.”
Cody raised his eyebrows in respect. “Unexpected...good one.” He sang a few bars of Tiny Dancer.
“My favorite one. And you?”
“Zeppelin, but it’d have to be a greatest hits. No way could I choose.”
“Classic.”
“Inspired,” he smiled. “Okay, your turn, you ask.”
“Okay, favorite meal of all time to have on this deserted island that just happens to have the greatest music of all time.”
“Beef Wellington.”
Dana cracked up. “Are you serious?”
“What’s wrong with Beef Wellington?” Cody asked smiling, “Why can’t a man like a nice piece of steak wrapped in puff pastry?”
“No...there’s nothing wrong with that...or the fact that you would specifically mention the puff pastry,” Dana said, laughing so hard that tears fell down her cheeks.
“Well, what’s your selection, Miss Food Expert?”
“I have a bit more simple taste buds...I’d pick pizza and chocolate cake.”
“Um...I believe you said only one item. Pizza and cake?”
“Well you got beef and puff pastry.”
“Touché.”
Their food arrived as if on cue.
“Careful, this is hot,” Rosa said, putting down the sizzling hot black fajita skillet overflowing with green peppers and onions.
They dove into their dishes still talking, laughing...connecting.
Dana pushed her plate away. “I am so stuffed.”
“That was great. I’m ready to walk this off. You?”
“I’d love to.” Dana got up from the table.
“Do you feel lucky tonight?” he asked, pushing his chair in.
Dana looked at him quizzically. “I thought we already got lucky.”
“No, silly, lucky as in lady luck. You have such a dirty mind.” Cody smiled.
“Ha, ha.”
Cody shook imaginary dice in his hands. “Wanna go play a little in the casino?”
“Sure.”
Arm in arm they left the restaurant and hit the hotel casino. The Paradise Island Resort spared no expense on their biggest attraction – a full Las Vegas-style Casino. Bright white running lights framed the entrance. Around them every game of chance sparkled with the temptation of a big win. The room was alive with the sounds of ringing machines, spinning slots and the oohs and aahs of great wins and losses.
“So what do you like?” Cody asked, surveying the field.
“I like to play the change machine...I break even every time.”
He laughed. “Very clever.”
They hit the blackjack table and within twenty minutes had lost all their chips.
“Now that was entertaining,” Cody joked.
“Yeah.” Dana looked at her watch. “I hate to say this, but it’s late and I have to be up really early...”
“I understand.”
“I hope you do...I don’t want to end your time in the casino...this vacation is really a work thing.” Dana silently cursed her sense of responsibility.
“Silly girl...I’m here for you, not the casino.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Just because our fun in the casino is over doesn’t mean the night is over, does it?”
“No, it doesn’t,” Dana whispered, her heart racing. He kissed her gently. The noise of the casino muted around her. She could only hear the beating of her heart.
He pulled back. “Let’s go.”
They went back up to her room barley able to control themselves. The door hadn’t yet closed as Cody pulled Dana into to him. He wanted to be as close to her as he felt in his heart. He slowly traced her curves, starting at her shoulders, working his way down her body. Dana felt every touch of his fingertips. Her body hungered for him.
“Cody...”
He cut her off. “Dana, I’m falling in love with you.” He gazed adoringly at her, cupped her head in his hands and kissed her softly on the mouth. She started to speak, but he put his finger over her lips, afraid of what she might say.
“Dana, you don’t have to say anything.”
“Then I’ll show you.”