Wyatt seemed a little shy as he walked through the crowd of people, across the gigantic open space, the kitchen, den, and dining area all sharing the same flawlessly glossed hardwoods. White columns were the only structures separating the rooms, stretching two stories high to the balcony where the second floor overlooked the large bay window facing the ocean.
“I’ll just walk Wyatt out,” Luke said. “Get yourselves a drink.” He pointed toward the spacious kitchen where a bartender was standing behind a bar that took up one whole wall. “Or you can go outside. There’s more out there.”
“We’ll follow you outside,” Callie suggested, just dying for fresh air and sunshine to calm her nerves. She caught the eye of a group of women dressed like fashion models who were chattering loudly and laughing, their perfectly manicured hands wrapped around glasses of champagne. With a quick assessment of her dress, it seemed, they smiled briefly and went back to their conversation. Callie wondered if they’d noticed it was Juliette’s. She felt self-conscious.
Luke noticed Wyatt struggling to get through the crowd of people. He squatted down and whispered something to Wyatt, who nodded. Then, he scooped up Wyatt and gave him a piggyback ride across the room.
He led them through the two towering double doors that were propped open and tied with at least thirty silver Mylar balloons. Callie stepped onto the most magnificent deck—it was bigger than the whole of the downstairs at The Beachcomber. On either end there was a bar with a working bartender, crowds gathered around as both were tossing liquor bottles into the air and catching them. Between the bars were tables with turquoise umbrellas, hundreds of fresh flowers, chaise lounges, and wicker seating—all done up with matching cushions and throw pillows. Circular stone structures held fire pits that were roaring with flames resembling the orange sun as it began its slow descent behind the house.
Once Callie could force her vision beyond the deck, she was able to take in the yard below. The sand stretched as far as she could see in both directions—not another cottage in sight—the ocean rolling onto the shore. But close to the house, the yard had been landscaped with grass rivaling the best golf courses she could imagine, countless palm trees, outdoor lighting, patios, more umbrellas, and furniture.
Wyatt had found the other partygoers, Luke introducing him to Mitchell. The kids were piled into two bouncy castles that were as grand as the property itself. There was a clown making balloon animals, an ice cream stand, and a cotton candy machine with a man in a red and white striped suit and a tall white chef’s hat at the helm. Happiness flooded her as she saw Wyatt bounce along by the mesh netting. He grabbed the side and doubled over laughing, as another boy jumped toward him and pulled him back into the center.
“Here you are,” Luke said, handing her and Olivia each a drink. Callie had been so taken with the view that she hadn’t realized he’d made it back up to them. “They’re mojitos,” he said, allowing a grin.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Luke!” a woman said from behind as she draped her thin arm around his shoulder and kissed his cheek.
Callie tried not to gawk when she saw her—Juliette. She looked exactly like she had in the photos; she was just as flawless. Her long brown hair was poker straight and parted perfectly down the middle. She had large hoop earrings, her make up understated with just a hint of clear lip-gloss, and her dress was amazing—soft pink chiffon, with a high neck that tied around the back in a bow and cascaded down her bare back. Her nude heels gave her a good four inches of height. Callie guessed she wasn’t planning to walk in the sand in those shoes.
“Luke!” she said again. “Introduce me to your friends!” She smiled, showing her perfect, white teeth.
“Julie, this is Callie and her friend Olivia. Ladies, my sister Juliette.”
“It’s nice to meet you!” She shimmied off her brother and held out a delicate hand. Callie shook it and then Olivia followed suit. She leaned forward toward Callie and whispered, “I like your dress.” Then she gave her a wink. Her face was kind and put Callie at ease.
Callie smiled. “It’s a great design,” she said.
“You look great in it! You’re gorgeous!”
Callie’s skin prickled with embarrassment. She’d never really given much thought to her looks more than whether she had broccoli in her teeth or not.
“Isn’t she beautiful, Luke?”
“Yes,” he said with a contemplative look, and then tipped his beer back, draining it.
“Enjoy the party! Off to celebrate!” She kissed Luke on the cheek again, disappearing into the crowd at the bar.
Olivia waved to Wyatt, who was still jumping in the bouncy castle, his shirttail untucked and his hair a mess. “I’m going to go see him,” she said as he beckoned her down. “He looks so cute! I want pictures!” She’d pulled her phone from her handbag and was already taking them from the deck.
“If I could, I’d like to steal Callie away for a moment anyway,” Luke said seriously. He set his empty beer bottle on a table and a member of staff swooped in and scooped it up immediately.
Olivia was already heading down the stairs, still snapping photos. She turned around and threw up her hand with a smile.
“Slip your shoes off,” he said, leading Callie down the steps toward the bouncy castle where Olivia had her hands cupped around her eyes, peering in at Wyatt while he showed her the tricks he could do. “Let’s go down to the beach.”
She got to the bottom of the steps and took her sandals off, placing them neatly under the deck with one hand, her mojito in the other, and followed Luke down the wooden sidewalk that divided the yard in half and led straight to the ocean.
He walked quietly beside her and she wondered what it was that he had to say.
They walked along the walkway, the lush grass giving way to taller sea oats and wild grasses along sand fences that were all part of the dunes that had been created to prevent erosion on the small barrier islands. Callie stepped down the few steps at the end and put her feet in the sand, immediately responding to the heat of it. The intense sun beating down on it relentlessly made the surface feel like hot coals.
Luke took her hand. “Run,” he said, pulling her toward the water.
He took off, and Callie had to work overtime to keep up, his hand gripping hers as she pushed herself full speed along the powdery beach, trying to hold her drink steady, her feet feeling like fire, until they reached the wet gritty shoreline. A wave broke, fizzing and bubbling its way toward her, the gurgling spray cooling her feet immediately. Luke dropped her hand and walked closer to the waves, the current sliding up around his ankles. Callie moved beside him. She pushed a runaway strand of hair off her face.
“They’re all liars,” he said, looking out at the water.