How about a bit of a playlist for the next couple of chapters, huh? (It's what I've been writing the updates for this story to, so I might as well share!) It's VERY "island-y" sounding, so I promise it will only add to the mood if you choose to listen to it.

1)"Funk" by Fe

2)"Turn Me On" by Kevin Lyttle. It's a steamy one, but nothing explicit. (And ACTUALLY? I have to tell you something about this song. When I first heard it clear back in 2009, I couldn't help but think about our couple! You could say it's what sparked the inspiration for these chapters set in the Cayman Islands, in fact! I just didn't have a story to write them for at the time! And now I finally get to put my ideas to actual written words! That's a long time to be carrying something around in your mind, right? Oh well! Better late than never! LOL!)

3)"Temperature" by Sean Paul

OH, and there's one more! But I'm saving THAT one for JUST the RIGHT moment! YOU'LL see why SOON, I promise! :D :D :D

In the meantime, happy reading! And thank you so much for the reviews! They mean the world!

A short time later, Vanessa and I were making our way down the beach toward the Paradise Café. She was clinging to my arm, trying to be all lovey-dovey, giving passers-by a dopey, love-sick grin for show. But I just ignored her, keeping my hands shoved in my pockets and my eyes forward as I trekked along.

When we reached the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by burning tiki torches at the boardwalk entrance to the colonial style, open-air building, where live reggae music was coming from a house band on a small stage to the back of the darkened dining room. Waiters were bustling around the perimeter of the dance floor in khaki shorts and fluorescent pink bowling shirts, delivering drinks and food to candlelit tables. Vanessa chattered to the hostess about finding us a secluded table for two while I was busy scanning the crowd for Nick and Pepper.

Soon, we were lead to a corner booth, but I still hadn't spotted them. I pursed my lips in frustration, praying we hadn't somehow missed them. But then, my eyes fell on a couple on the crowded dance floor, and a pit instantly formed in my stomach. Nick was holding Pepper tightly to him, and she had her arms around his neck. They were gazing at each other, their foreheads pressed together, as Pepper swiveled and rocked her hips from side to side in time to the music. They were grinning at each other, much like how Vanessa was grinning at strangers all the way from the hotel. But, somehow, this was even more nauseating.

I swallowed hard, and tore my eyes away from them to direct my attention to Vanessa, who was ordering me to sit down next to her. And when I did, she reclamped herself to my arm. "Oh, yes. Look just there," she purred, pointing at Nick and Vanessa. "Seems they're enjoying themselves, ay, love?"

Just then, Nick moved to step out of Pepper's embrace, and then he took her hand to spin her once around. But he didn't bring her back to face him. Instead, he pulled her into his arms from behind, matching the movement of his body with hers, in a kind of half-swaying, half-grinding motion. Then he lowered his lips to murmur something in her ear, and she immediately threw her head back against his shoulder in a belly laugh. I bristled, but it was only made worse by the fact that she quickly spun around to face him again, still giggling, before raising her lips to his, and kissing him. Hard. At which point, I saw Nick's hands begin to snake up and down her body as they continued to dance, remaining in their nauseating lip-lock. Right there. In front of everybody. I gritted my teeth. Rat bastard. With his hands all over her like he's some kind of horny frat boy, I thought bitterly, finally looking away in disgust.

Vanessa's sudden shrill giggling distracted me, and I flicked my eyes to her. "What?" I asked frowning.

"They've certainly taken a liking to each other, haven't they? It seems love is..." she said, cupping my cheek. She tried to give me a seductive pout, but I just frowned at her. "In the air for everyone, hmmm?"

At that point, a waiter came to our table to get our order and I startled, jerking back to look at him in surprise of his sudden appearance, but secretly thankful for the distraction. I grabbed a menu, and started fumbling with it. "Yeah, hi. Fish tacos. And...scotch. Lots of scotch. Single malt, if ya' got it. On the rocks. Start with a double and keep it coming," I blurted out. Then I smacked the menu back down on the table, and shoved it in his direction before I put my eyes right back on Nick and Pepper, and scowled, grinding my teeth again. I saw the waiter give me a perplexed look out of the corner of my eye, but then he directed his attention to Vanessa.

"And...for you?" he said, covering with a polite grin.

Vanessa started giggling. "Yes, fish tacos all around! Sounds lovely. And a daquiri, please? Strawberry?" she told him. "You'll have to excuse my fiancé, by the way. We're here on vacation, and he's simply wound much too tight, the poor baby," she explained. I felt Vanessa wrap an arm around my shoulder, and jostle me back and forth. "Come, now, darling! Maybe a little dancing is in order while we wait, hmmmm?"

I shot her a look. The waiter quickly babbled something to us about putting the order in right away, and then hurriedly walked off. Vanessa pumped her eyebrows at me suggestively, and I glowered at her. "No, I'm good," I replied sternly, holding up a hand in protest. "You wanna go shake your thing out there? Knock yourself out," I said, waiving a hand toward the dance floor.

"No, I don't think so," she argued, yanking on my arm, as she moved to slide out of the booth. "We are going to go out there, and dance together, like a proper couple. So, let's go," she insisted.

She obviously wasn't going to take no for an answer, so I let out a reluctant sigh and followed her. She grabbed my hand, and pulled me to the center of the floor, close to where Nick and Pepper were. He was still groping her, and it looked like she was enjoying it, so neither of them noticed our arrival right away. Vanessa pulled me to her, and wrapped her arms around my neck. I put my hands on her waist, but she abruptly pushed them down her body, so that they were on her hips. I rolled my eyes, and she huffed in exasperation.

"What kind of engaged couple are we if we don't at least try to look the part?" she pouted.

I shrugged indifferently. "Oh, I don't know. A fake one?" I quipped.

She gave me a snide smile, and then put her arms back around my neck, and jerked my head down so she could speak in my ear. "Play along, darling," she hissed. "You're embarrassing me. And you know I don't like being embarrassed."

I jerked my head back up and glared at her. But within seconds, Nick and Pepper had spotted us, and Nick soon led her over to where we were. "Hey, you guys!" he hooted jovially. "We were wondering when you two were going to come up for air!"

Vanessa chirped out a "Ha ha!" but I just gave him a polite nod, ignoring his remark.

"Yeah, hey. What's up," I said flatly. "You, uh...you enjoying yourselves?" I asked, looking first at Nick, and then at Pepper, who now had what appeared to be one of the cocktail umbrellas from that drink in the picture Nick took tucked behind her ear (which, as cheesy as it is, I have to admit, was kind of cute). She was a little wobbly on her feet, and was gripping Nick's hand with both of hers as she fought to stay righted. She just gave me a sheepish grin, and then averted her eyes. I could see she was a little embarrassed to have me see her this way. In all of her time with me, I couldn't recall her ever being drunk in my presence. She was always the pinnacle of poise and professionalism. But as far as I was concerned, she had every right to tie one on tonight. I know it had been rough for her to be in this situation.

So, I just nodded at her in understanding, and looked away.

"We are, we are," Nick confirmed, with a cocky smirk. He glanced back at Pepper over his shoulder, and gave her this hungry, lip-biting, elevator eyes look before he shifted back to me, and gave me a knowing nod, grinning like a schmuck. "Some of us maybe more than others, huh?" he joked, pointing at her. Pepper just scoffed and looked away. Then he leaned in closer to me. "Though, man to man? If I play my cards right, I have a feeling I might get the chance to catch up to her by the end of the night. You know what I mean, bro-seph?" he murmured, nudging me in the ribs with his elbow and giving me another nod before he leered at Pepper again.

I gritted my teeth in response. Because there it was. At long last. That douchebag nature I just knew he had in him, and that Pepper was much too good for. I'd smelled it on him from moment one, remember? I knew I just had to be patient, and wait him out, and sure enough, he had let it slip. Only problem, though, was that Pepper was still very much in the dark about his "good guy" charade. And I couldn't do anything about it.

This made my blood boil, but I swallowed hard to tamp it down, and gave him a snide smile back, as I knew I couldn't cause a scene without major consequences. So I choked out a "Yeah," in reply. Try anything with her, though, jerkass, and you'll see. Fun time will be OVER, I thought to myself. She won't put up with you, and neither will I.

"Nick, stop. I'm fiiinnnnne," Pepper slurred, daintily slapping his arm in protest. "I'm not...I'm fine, I'm just. He's wrong, Tony. Geez," she drunkenly babbled, before looking sheepishly away again, but stumbling a little to keep her footing in the process. Nick just chuckled at her.

"Actually, maybe she's had enough," I offered, flicking my eyes to Pepper in concern and then narrowing them again when I looked back at Nick. "Ay? Nick?"

He frowned at my interrogative tone, and then narrowed his eyes at me in suspicion. We stared at each other for a few seconds in silence before Vanessa grabbed my arm, and started trying to pull me away. "Come now, love! Let them get back to their evening!" she said. But I didn't take my eyes off of him, even as Vanessa was marching us away from them. And Nick didn't take his eyes off of me.

Soon, Vanessa found what she thought was a suitable place for us on the dance floor, and she put my hands back on her hips. She put her arms around my neck, and was trying to get me to sway to the music. I followed along robotically, but still kept my eyes trained on Captain Douchebag. Then, I saw Nick shake his head, and turn away from me as he lead Pepper off into the crowd in the direction of the bar. And out of my sight.

I let out a disgruntled huff and turned my eyes back toward Vanessa. "You believe that guy?" I said, jamming a thumb in their direction. And really, it was more of a rhetorical question, but of course she had to offer her two cents.

"They're clearly falling for each other, Tony," she argued.

But I shook my head. "No. Pepper's not usually like this, trust me," I countered. "It's all moving too fast. He's too clingy. And I'm..."

"Too jealous?" she sneered.

I glared at her. "Worried," I rebutted sternly, my teeth gritted. I exhaled sharply. "I was trying to say that I'm worried he's going to..."

"Take your place? Sweep her off her feet? That she'll become as smitten for Mr. Nick Green as you are for her, and one day she'll show up to work with a..." she held up her left hand, and wiggled her ring finger. "Well, a ring? Like...like this one? Hmmm, darling?!" she prodded, her voice growing increasingly screechy. Her face was contorted into a maniacal grin, her eyes dark and cold, the corners of her lips bent upward like a clown's in some kind of funhouse of horrors.

It made me shudder. "Stop it," I begged hoarsely, trying to catch my breath. Just as she'd begun her taunting, my head was becoming like a bubble. And my eyes were quickly getting blurry. Then I realized what was happening, and my heart jumped in my chest.

Oh, no. Here it comes!, I thought. I knew I should've got a fix before we left the hotel!

But Vanessa wasn't paying any attention. She was giggling at what she'd said to me. And then she started cackling.

"Oh, Tony!" she chirped, clapping her hands on my cheeks, that were now becoming flushed and clammy. "I can just hear it now! 'Mr. Stark, my beloved Nick has proposed, and we're getting married! Aren't you happy for me?!' " she cajoled, her voice an unbearable tea-kettle whistle. I grimaced. And she threw her head back, and cackled even more, gasping for air now. "What oh what will you do then, my little dove?!" she cried breathlessly.

I jerked my head back to escape her hold. But she kept at her heckling. "Oh, you poor dear! Why, that would just leave you utterly alone in the world, wouldn't it?! Oh! But wait a moment! You'll have me!" she declared, clasping her hands to her chest, and grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

I stumbled back and away from her, my chest heaving, and my field of vision quickly narrowing as I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. "Please. I've gotta sit down," I gasped.

She suddenly stopped cackling and frowned at me. She must have (thankfully) listened to my plea, and thought better of continuing her bullying session because she rushed to grasp my hand, slinging my arm around her shoulder for support. I saw her look around to see who had noticed my sudden downward spiral as she helped me make my way to our table. "Oh, alright. There, love. You just need something in your stomach, and you'll be right as rain," she told me as we lumbered over there.

We finally reached our booth, and she piled me into it. Then she sat down next to me, and started rubbing circles on my back. I planted my elbows on the table, and just held my head in my hands, which felt like it was in a vice. And squeezing harder by the moment.

Our food had come, and after a moment, once I felt like I had even a smidgen more strength than I had, I started to pick at it. "There you go, darling. Eat up. You'll feel better. I promise," she urged again.

"What I need is a fix," I said sternly with my mouthful, and glaring at her. "I knew I was going to need one before we even left the room."

"Nonsense," Vanessa argued. "You're just feeling a bit peckish. Best to get something in your system. Keep eating."

I frowned, not really understanding why Vanessa was disagreeing with me on this, as she was well aware of the effects of the drug. But I did as instructed, none the less. And I didn't really want to have to go back to the hotel anyway. Pepper needed me to keep an eye on her. Even if she was totally unaware that she did.

XxXxXxXx

Nick and I made our way back to the bar after talking to Tony and Vanessa, which I was somewhat grateful for. I really needed to sit down. The room was starting to spin, though I had tried my best not to appear tipsy in front of Tony. But I don't think I succeeded. He looked concerned. And I'm not sure, but...I think Nick and Tony had a bit of disagreement over...I'm not really sure what. Maybe it was my imagination, but suddenly Nick got very quiet. And kind of lost in thought. Did Tony say something to him? About me? All I know is he didn't look very happy to see me in this state. But who was he to judge what I was doing there with Nick, anyway? I had the right to let myself go and have a little fun, didn't I? And besides. He had no room to talk. I was behaving myself far more than he ever had in similar situations in the past. So I decided to forget about whatever it was Tony might've said, and put my focus back on the very handsome man sitting beside me.

"Hey, you. Heeeyyyyy," I slurred, playfully nudging him in the shoulder. He chuckled, and then smiled at me.

"Hey, yourself," he said, coming out from under the mental cloud that had formed over his head. "Are you, uh...having a good time?" he asked.

I smiled, and nodded emphatically, my head feeling like it was on a spring. "Yes," I said. "I am having a greeeaaaattt time."

He chuckled again, and leaned closer. "Good," he purred, as I felt him wrap an arm around my waist. And then I felt his lips on my neck, planting a kiss just below my earlobe. It surprised me, but then I giggled at the spontaneity of it, and at the ticklish sensation it caused. He chuckled at me giggling at him, and then moved his lips to my ear to speak. "Would you, uh...wanna get outta here?" he offered, his voice in a low, sultry, purr. "See if we could have an even better time...somewhere...private?" he cooed.

I didn't respond right away, as his words rattled around in my brain like a pinball. But somehow, in my inebriation, I still managed to get his meaning. "You mean like...go back to the...hotel?" I asked, turning my head to look at him.

Nick smiled and nodded, shrugging. "But only if you want to, Ginny. No pressure," he assured, holding up a hand in defense. "It's just..." he leaned in again, and moved to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear, and then he cupped my cheek tenderly as he gazed intently into my eyes. "You look so beautiful, tonight," he began. "I just can't help but to want to...love you way that I know you deserve to be loved," he said. "That's all."

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tony and Vanessa at the corner booth. It looked like they were getting very cozy, as I saw Vanessa wrap an arm around Tony's shoulder and pull him to her. I narrowed my eyes at them, the sick feeling I felt earlier after hearing them together rising quickly in my stomach. I flicked my eyes back to Nick, who was still awaiting my answer with a hopeful look on his face.

I knew what Nick was trying to say. I wasn't stupid, mind you. Just a little drunk. So, maybe he was thinking he'd get lucky because of that. I don't know. In all honesty, though, I couldn't say as I blamed him for trying. The poor guy had been a very good sport by even agreeing to go on this house of horrors roller coaster ride with me. And we were thoroughly enjoying each others company tonight before Tony and Vanessa showed up.

And besides. It was probably the alcohol. And the way we were dancing, but...the energy between us was positively sizzling with our collective arousal. So, I wasn't surprised he had suggested this. But, at that moment, I had half a mind to take him up on it.

For the record, I know, had the situation been different, and had I been completely sober, I would've declined the invitation. But...

I wasn't sober. For one thing.

And for another- after the day I'd had, and the stress I'd felt over the situation with Tony, it just kind of seemed like I should indulge. Because I deserved to be with someone who could reciprocate even an ounce of what I felt for them. Besides- I needed to get out of my own head for a while, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Plus, just look at the man! He's an Adonis!, my mind reasoned. And HOW LONG has it been? Face it. You don't have ANY semblance of a social life, let ALONE a sex life, thanks to Tony! And it's not like it'll be a casual one night stand! The man said he'd want you to move to New York with him, for God's sake!

So, I brought my eyes back to Nick's and smiled. Then I leaned forward and grasped the front of his shirt to pull him to me, while trying my best to give him a seductive smolder. "I think that's a very good idea, Mr. Green," I purred.

He brightened, and then gave me a playful smirk. "Reee-aally?" he purred back. "Then I'll call us a cab, and we'll go back to the hotel to, uh...continue the party."

I smiled, and nodded, and then leaned in and planted my lips on his, kissing him eagerly and very hard- ignoring, yet again, that there was still no spark between us.

The kiss broke and he gave me a grin. I ignored my disappointment, and grinned back. Then he pulled his phone out of his pocket to search for a local cab company, and I picked up my phone.

"I should text Tony. Tell him we're leaving," I explained, as I fumbled to find Tony's name in my contacts. I finally managed to open up my text messages to him after a moment, but something didn't look right. There was a picture of Nick and I at the bar, and I had this stupid, goofy grin on my face, looking like I was sucking down that ridiculous drink Nick had ordered for us through a straw I'd had clamped between my teeth, with the caption, "And the Pina Colada's are to DIE for" underneath.

In a word, it was mortifying.

"What is this? I didn't take this. I didn't," I babbled in confusion. I turned to Nick and held up my phone. "What is this?" I said again, pointing to the screen. "Why is there a picture of you and I in a text message to my boss?"

Nick gave me a sheepish grin, and shrugged. "I...thought you'd want him to know we were having a good time," he offered awkwardly, but I glowered.

"Did I tell you it was okay to text him this picture?" I asked testily. Though, if I was being honest, I couldn't specifically remember whether he'd even asked me at that particular moment if he could send it, or not. But my money was on no. I prided myself on my professional image with Tony. And even in my most uninhibited moments, I would never dream of tarnishing it.

"Uh...no, honey. But..." he started to say, but I scoffed.

"Oh, don't 'honey' me. Uh-uh. You don't get to text my boss without my permission. Let alone send him a ridiculous picture of me like this one," I said, jabbing the screen with my pointer finger. "That's just...beyond..." I stammered, trying to search for the right words in my alcohol-addled mind. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. How dare he use my work phone to text Tony that picture without my knowing it! My boss, of all people?! Didn't he understand how embarrassing that was for me? As far as I could see, I could never look Tony in the eye again. Or at least until I got a chance to apologize profusely, and explain to him that it wasn't me who had sent the photo. And that it would never, ever happen again.

"Baby, I'm sorry," Nick pleaded, but I was clearly still seething. I shot him a look that I was sure he thought could fire laser beams at his head at any moment because his eyes widened, and he looked rather startled.

But I didn't care. He had crossed a serious line. "And you certainly don't get to call me baby, right now, either!" I spouted. "You're going back to the hotel, Nick Green! But it won't be with me! Our night is over!"

He huffed, and threw his hands up in defeat. "Fine," he replied, and walked briskly passed me and out the front door. I watched, remaining rigidly still in my seat until he left my sight, and then I slumped forward to lean on the bar and put my head in my hands.

"Damn it," I grumbled, closing my eyes. This is not at all how I wanted this night to go. We really were having a good time. And now, here I was, drunk and alone, sitting at a bar on a tropical island, while my billionaire boss and his fake fiancé were probably pawing at each other in a booth behind me.

Just then, the bartender walked over. "Need another one?" he asked, pointing to the mostly empty fish-bowl sized glass that had once held our Pina Colada. I frowned and pushed it away.

"No," I said emphatically. "Definitely not. I think I've had enough, actually. So, just give me a..." I took a moment to think of something I'd want. "A...cranberry juice and club soda? I still have to manage to get back to my hotel at some point tonight. Might as well start trying to sober up."

He nodded and quickly put together my order, placing it on a napkin in front of me. I handed him the cash, and told him to keep the change. "Thank you," he said. "Rough night?"

I gave him an indifferent shrug. "Rough night. Rough day. It's all the same right now," I griped regretfully.

"You came here with that tall, blond guy, right? Where'd he go?" he asked.

I shrugged again. "Back to the afore mentioned hotel, I'd imagine," I replied, taking a sip of my cranberry juice.

He clucked his tongue in disapproval. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such a shame to leave a woman like you alone in a place that's supposed to be paradise, you know?" he said, with a flirty smile.

But I dismissed him and scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, well. Paradise is apparently only for those with very uncomplicated lives," I said, as I turned to look over my shoulder at the dance floor. But it had pretty much cleared, so, instead, my eyes automatically fell on Tony and Vanessa across the room. She was hanging all over him, obviously trying to get him to pay attention to her. But, while it looked like he was doing his level best to keep her somewhat contained, his eyes weren't on her. I was shocked to find that, actually, at that very moment, his eyes were looking back at me.