Sunset Waves by Jennifer Conner Read Free Book Online

He never answered.
    Nicole, the woman he’d thought was smoking hot three weeks ago, now held no interest for him.
    He drove back to his condo and wandered around the empty space. The only window that opened was in his bedroom. He pushed open the pane and tried to breathe in some fresh air. The honks of taxis filled the night air and smells of curry from the Indian restaurant below wafted up from the street’s level.
    Mateo roamed out into the living room, and poured himself a glass of Pinot Grigio. He’d purchased this bottle of wine yesterday. How much did it cost? Fifty dollars? Was it really that good?
    He stood for a long time in one spot looking over his condo. What - changed?
    Nothing had changed. Everything had changed.
    Why didn’t his perfect life feel perfect any longer?
    He needed to talk to someone. Mateo grabbed his cell phone and waited until his father answered.
    “Hi Papa. I need your help with a big decision. I always trust your instinct and I need it now more than ever. I’m thinking about doing something, and I don’t want you and Mama to ever be disappointed in me. Let me explain what’s been happening.”
    When they finished their conversation, Mateo had made his decision. He’d never thought it would be so simple.

    Kyra put her feet on the front porch railing and opened the lid on her computer. She was doing a little better this week. Last week was a disaster. She’d been a mess. Everything she’d told herself before Mateo left was easier to tell herself than having to face it after he’d gone. But, when he hadn’t returned her calls after the fifth try, she gave up and knew she needed to move on.
    There’s someone out there for everyone , her mother said. That was true, and she thought she’d found that man.
    The resort would be open soon and there were a million things to still be done. Good, it would keep her mind busy.
    Kyra opened one of the computer files that held the database’s mailing list just as a car pulled up in the driveway. It wasn’t one of the worker’s trucks. She set the computer on a table and dropped her feet to the ground.
    When Mateo stepped out of the car, her heart stopped. Lines of weariness were etched on his handsome face. She wanted to run to him, but instead waited warily until he came up on the porch to join her.
    “Hey,” she said, trying to force her words to sound bright and cheery when in reality she was shocked to see him again. “What are you doing here? You can’t be ready for another vacation. It’s only been a few weeks.”
    “I’m sorry.” He looked down and stuck his hands into his jean pockets.
    “For what?”
    “Not calling. I must have hurt you and I feel terrible. It wasn’t you, it was me. I was being an idiot.”
    “You didn’t need to drive all the way from New York to say that. I told you when we were together, I knew it was a short-term thing. You don’t need to be sorry for anything. And it might have been for the best that you didn’t return my calls.”
    “Why’s that?”
    She looked at him, choosing her words. “It would have been better not to talk to you again. Easier.”
    “You missed me?”
    “Yes, I missed you. What did you expect me to say?”
    I was trying to figure out what I wanted.” He sighed and drummed his fingers on the porch railing. “I needed to think through a few things and talk to my family.”
    “How’s your job?”
    “The same.” His laugh was dry as he moved to gaze into the distance. “I finally realized that was the problem. It was the job and many others things.”
    “I thought everything back in the city was going great.”
    “Jobs and cars don’t make things perfect. It took my papa to tell me that. Money helps but it doesn’t bring you happiness. It’s the people you spend time with.” He watched her in silence before saying, “My family would like you.”
    “Does that matter now?”
    “It matters a lot to me. So do the things I do that may affect them.”
    “Family