Chapter 6

Kelsey looked away from her tablet as Isabella stared at her computer. Before she could say anything, Luis walked up with their drinks.

"Here you go," he said, handing each of them a large glass full of their chosen frozen concoctions.

"Thanks," they both said.

"Can I bring you anything else?"

"I don't think so," Kelsey said, glancing at Isabella.

"If you need anything, I'm right over there," he said, pointing to a small bar nestled between several palm trees. "Just wave. I'll come around to check on you in a little while."

"Thanks, Luis," Isabella said.

"Mmm, this is good," Kelsey moaned, taking a sip of her drink.

Isabella tried hers and nodded.

"What were you thinking while you were staring at me?" Kelsey asked.

Isabella eyed her and sipped from her straw. "After another one of these I might tell you."

Kelsey raised her brows and couldn't help wondering what was going through Isabella's head. Was she thinking about me?

"I think it would be fun to ride bikes around the island," Isabella said, turning back to her computer.

"We could do that then stop at the bar Carmen told us about. Oh my God!" Kelsey exclaimed. "The name of the bar is Peaches. That's so gay."

"It is?"

"Yes. Take it from your new lesbian friend," Kelsey said, chuckling. She watched as Isabella furrowed her brows, thinking how cute the little line that formed between them was.

"Well, new lesbian friend, would you care to explain it to your new straight friend?" Isabella said.

"Are you?" Kelsey couldn't stop herself from teasing Isabella just a little.

"Am I what? Straight? Or your friend?"

"Oh, you're definitely my friend," Kelsey said. "Have you ever thought about a woman as a partner?"

"Honestly, Kels, I've never really thought about a partner other than Spence," Isabella admitted.

"But now that you've met me, maybe you should give women a thought or two," Kelsey said with a grin.

"Oh, you're teasing me," Isabella said.

"No, I'm not. I'm not saying give me a thought," Kelsey clarified. "I'm just saying maybe you should keep your options open."

"Hmm, my options," Isabella said, glancing at Kelsey. "I do have options, don't I?"

"Sure you do."

"If I have options then you do, too."

"Let me put that in our notes," Kelsey said, turning back to her tablet. "We have options," she said as she typed. "Don't get caught up in the adventure, notice everything."

"I'm not sure what that means, but okay," Isabella said.

"It's just a reminder to keep our eyes and hearts open. You never know what you'll find," Kelsey said. "Or what will find you."

"Okay. I can do that," Isabella said. "Now, why are peaches a lesbian thing?"

"Uh—um," Kelsey stuttered. She could feel the heat in her cheeks and hoped Isabella would think it was because of the sun. Oh shit, we're under an umbrella!

"Come on. You started it," Isabella said.

"Okay, okay," Kelsey muttered. "The peach and its juiciness have been compared to…"

Isabella raised her brows but didn't say anything.

If Kelsey didn't know any better she'd think Isabella was messing with her and it was obvious she was enjoying Kelsey's sudden discomfort.

Kelsey widened her eyes. "Compared to the loveliest parts of a woman," she said with a smile and delight that maybe she'd gotten herself out of this embarrassing moment.

Isabella giggled. "You're awfully cute when you get flustered. Good save, Kels."

"My, how quickly that turned," Kelsey said, shaking her head.

"Just imagine what all I'll learn from you after a few more drinks. Let's get another round," Isabella said, chuckling and waving at Luis.

"I'm going swimming first. Why are we just sitting here when we can be in this gorgeous water?" Kelsey said, getting up and taking her shirt off. "Come on!"

Isabella laughed and hopped up. "Wait for me!"

Kelsey held out her hand and Isabella grabbed it. They ran towards the water and fiercely stepped into the surf. Once the water was about mid-thigh, Kelsey dove under and surfaced but couldn't see Isabella anywhere. She looked around and felt a moment of panic when suddenly Isabella grabbed her shoulders from behind and pushed her back under the water.

Kelsey shot out of the water laughing.

"You have the best laugh," Isabella said.

"We'll see about that." Kelsey lunged at Isabella and wrapped her arms around her, picking her up then crashing back into the water, taking Isabella under with her.

They both came up for air laughing.

"Okay, okay. We're even," Isabella said, taking a few quick breaths. "You still have a great laugh."

"Thanks. I hope you get to hear it often the rest of the week," Kelsey said.

"I'll make that a goal." Isabella grinned.

They floated in the water, enjoying the coolness. Kelsey looked back at the resort and let her gaze follow along the sand until she was looking at Isabella. She was a little sad that her girls didn't come with her, but how could she not feel lucky? Here she was in this beautiful place, floating in the water with a gorgeous woman. This might be a merry Christmas after all.

"What are you thinking, Kels?" Isabella asked, meeting Kelsey's gaze.

"Oh, no you don't," Kelsey said, wading over closer to Isabella. "You never told me what you were thinking about when I caught you staring at me earlier."

Isabella grinned. "Okay. I was wondering if you knew just how beautiful you are because, Kelsey, there's more to you than those curly locks and mesmerizing eyes."

Kelsey couldn't hide the shock on her face, then she laughed. "You think I'm beautiful?"

"Don't do that," Isabella said.

"Do what?"

"Laugh and make light of yourself. You are an interesting woman, and I can't wait to find out more about my new friend."

Kelsey smiled and sighed. "I laughed because a statement like that coming from such a beautiful woman made me want to tell you to look in the mirror, Bella. But…"

"But what?"

"I have to be careful because if I tell you you're beautiful, you might take it the wrong way," Kelsey explained.

Isabella tilted her head. "Why?" Kelsey saw realization dawn on her face. "Oh, because you"re gay?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm, so how could I take it the wrong way? Surely you have better moves than just telling me I'm beautiful. Don't you think I'd know if you were coming on to me?"

"Oh, God," Kelsey muttered. "I need that drink now." She started walking out of the water as the red tint on her cheeks deepened.

"Hold it," Isabella said, grabbing Kelsey's hand. "I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Kelsey kept walking because she couldn't imagine looking in Isabella's eyes at that moment.

"Stop walking, Kels," Isabella said, pulling her hand.

Kelsey winced and slowly looked at Isabella.

"I would take it as the compliment you meant it to be. You don't have to choose your words carefully around me. I thought we were becoming friends. I want you to be able to be honest and open with me."

Kelsey smiled and nodded. "When we were in the water, I gazed around this beautiful setting and then my eyes stopped on you. I thought to myself how lucky I am to be here with you. Wait… I take that back. I thought how lucky I am to be here with a gorgeous woman and it might be a merry Christmas after all."

The smile that spread across Isabella's face rid Kelsey of any of the remaining embarrassment from earlier.

"Thank you. That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Kelsey chuckled.

"I'm lucky to be here with you, too. We are going to have a merry Christmas, Kelsey. You'll see," Isabella said as they began to walk back to their chairs.

They sat down and both reached for their new drinks.

Kelsey took a big slurp through the straw and immediately groaned. "Brain freeze!"

Isabella laughed. "Oh, I hate that."

"I'm going to try one of those fruity drinks from last night next," Kelsey said.

After finishing their drinks they took another quick dip in the water then plopped down on their chairs.

"Luis just keeps bringing drinks," Isabella said. "We have to put that in our notes. Beware of the efficient bar staff."

Kelsey chuckled and took a sip of her fruity cocktail. "This is even better than last night's drink." She lounged back on her chair. "Oh, Bella, this has been the perfect way to spend our first afternoon, don't you think?"

Isabella glanced over at Kelsey and grinned. "It has, but I'll be ready for dinner after this drink."

"Oh, good. I thought you were trying to get me drunk."

Isabella laughed. "You only brought one bottle of water for us. We have to drink something."

Kelsey giggled. "I think I'm already a little drunk."

Isabella looked over at Kelsey and smiled. She couldn't remember when she'd felt this relaxed and had this much fun.

"You're staring at me again."

"I'm having fun. Can't I look at you?" Isabella giggled.

Kelsey met her gaze and they both began to giggle.

"It sounds like you two are getting to know each other and enjoying the beach," Carmen said, walking up. She moved their things to an empty chair and joined them.

"We're having a wonderful time," Kelsey said, straightening up. "Luis keeps bringing us drinks and it's caused a bout of giggles."

"I think we both needed this though," Isabella said. "I haven't been this relaxed and carefree in ages."

"Tomorrow will be a full day depending on how long you stay at Peaches," Carmen said.

Kelsey giggled. "I love that name."

Carmen furrowed her brow and looked from Kelsey to Isabella.

"Big ol' lesbian sitting right here," Isabella said, snickering. "Come on! Peaches, get it?"

Kelsey laughed, but Isabella realized what she'd just said and gasped. "Oh, my God, Kelsey! I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay," Kelsey said, stifling a laugh. "I'm not ashamed of who I am."

"Uh, big lesbian sitting right here, too," Carmen said, pointing to herself with a smile. "How many drinks have you two had this afternoon?"

"Luis just kept bringing them," Kelsey said. "We may have lost count."

Carmen chuckled. "You're both tipsy and funny."

"I promise we are professionals," Isabella said. She looked at Kelsey and mouthed, "I'm sorry."

Kelsey shook her head and mouthed back, "It's okay."

"I know you're professionals and neither one of you has probably been on a vacation in a long time. That happens to single moms," Carmen said. "That's another reason I think you'll be perfect for this campaign."

"Don't you have kids?" Kelsey asked.

Carmen smiled. "I do. I have a son and a daughter who are both off doing their own thing. They're a little older than your girls, Kelsey. My son followed me into hotel management and my daughter is a teacher. They are both in the states. However, I am not a single mom. I don't know how you two do it. My wife and I live here in St. Thomas."

"Maybe we can get them to do the Valentine thing," Isabella said, widening her eyes.

"Good idea," Kelsey said.

"So you haven't just been lazing on the beach and drinking all day," Carmen said. "You've been talking about the coming year?"

"We have," Isabella said. "We're already making notes."

Carmen leaned forward and rested her arms on her knees. "You don't have to start now. I want you to have a good time while you're here. I don't expect you to go through the excursions we have planned and start working. They're for you to see what I'm talking about and we'll go from there. We can start planning the January trip before you go back, but for now…" Carmen stopped and looked around. "Please enjoy this."

"Oh, we are," Kelsey said. "Can't you tell!"

Carmen chuckled. "I can and I'm glad to see it."

Isabella looked over at Kelsey and smiled. This has been the best day.