Rescue Me(17)

"No, not me. Meredith." She smiled with as much pride as if she'd just announced that Meredith was nominated for a Nobel Prize.

Brandon's head snapped toward her and she wiggled her fingers, giving him a small smile and a shrug.

"No," he said. "Not happening."

Meredith felt like all the wind had gone out of her sails. Of course he wouldn't want her to. He was the main reason she'd given up dance in the first place.

"Don't be ridiculous," Katrina said. "She's the most capable person here. And unless you can find someone else in the next few days, she's the only person we've got."

Meredith felt an irrepressible urge to stand up to her brother. That was new. Whether it was her frustration with Cole or her newly enlivened spirit from pursuing her passion for dance, she didn't know, but suddenly she didn't want to take no for an answer. She had given up enough to prove herself to him, and irrational as it may be, she didn't want to give this up.

"She's right," Meredith found herself saying, rising to her feet and sticking her chin out stubbornly. "I'm the best you can get on short notice. And I want to do it."

"But you're here to rest," he insisted. "To have fun."

"This is fun, Bran," she said softly. "I love it."

"You're sure?" He looked skeptical, and Meredith smiled exuberantly. He was caving. "You know I just want to make sure you enjoy your time off."

"You worry too much. I want to," she repeated. "Let me do this." Brandon nodded and she threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you."

"Thank you, I guess." He still looked unsure as he left them and walked toward the water where Cole had finished up with his lesson.

Meredith turned to Katrina. "I can't believe this. I'm excited now." And she was. It was empowering to do what she wanted. To stand up to Brandon for a change and not take his opinion as gospel truth. She loved her brother and knew he had her best interests at heart, but sometimes she wondered if he really knew her at all.

"Let's go have a celebratory lunch and then head to the studio to work on some dances, what do you think?"

"Perfect," Meredith said again. And for the first time in a long time some things about her life did feel perfect.

***





Cole plunged his head into the salty water to cool off, then stood waist deep, shaking the drops from his hair. The cold water did him some good, both because the summer sun had been beating down on him for hours and because he had been distracted by Meredith sitting nearby through the duration of his last lesson.

He'd immersed himself in his work completely for days to try to keep her out of his mind, but it was futile. She was everywhere, even though he had made a point not to schedule any more lessons with her. He didn't like how preoccupied he was with her. It was dangerous. He'd been so careful to keep women at arm's length for the past few years.

Ever since Jessie.

And now Meredith was worming her way into his thoughts, night and day. He'd seen the look in her eyes when she'd realized they hadn't slept together. She'd been shocked, sure, but she'd also seen him in a different light. More like that first night. All her irritation had dissipated and he'd known at that moment that if he wanted her, he could have her.

A very bad idea on so many levels. That she was Brandon's sister was a given. But the fact that she was so intoxicating sent up a hundred more red flags to stay away. So he had.

Cole saw Brandon approaching and left the water to meet him at the shoreline.

"How's it going?" Brandon asked.

"Great," he replied. Which was true if he was referring to Cole's stint as an instructor. "I'm actually enjoying myself. It's refreshing to be out on the water for the sport of it."

"That's what I like to hear. You know the option to stay on is always open. You've become a guest favorite in a very short time." He smiled knowingly.

Cole had been surprised to find himself booked up for most of the coming week. Mostly with women. Normally it would have been icing on the cake. Time on the water and sexy women vying to spend time with him? The taste was bittersweet though when the one woman he wanted to spend time with was off limits.

"I appreciate it. Truly. And I'll keep it in mind."

"Have you heard back yet?" Brandon became serious.

Cole shook his head. "It should be any day now. I just wish I knew what to do."

"I can't help you there, but like I said, you're welcome here as long as you want to be here."

"Thanks, man." Cole clapped him on the back and turned toward his villa. He had just enough time to change and grab something to eat before his next sailing lesson. "Want to join me for lunch?"

"Sorry, but my day is packed. How about this? I've promised Meredith I'd have dinner with her since she got here and I've still not had a chance. We're dining at Bien tomorrow if you want to join us."

Knowing it was a bad idea, but not sure how to get out of it, he said, "Sure, see you then." He didn't think he had anything to wear to the resort's fanciest restaurant, but it looked like he would have to find something.

After a quick shower and change, he walked to the twenty-four-hour buffet and was about to go in when he saw Meredith sitting at an outdoor table with a tall redhead. He thought he recognized her from one of the activities meetings, so she must be a resort employee. He was about to continue past the buffet and opt for the snack bar instead in another ridiculous attempt to avoid Meredith, when the redhead waved her hand high in the air and gestured for him to come over.