Page 25
Author: Roni Loren
The driver gave her an amused smile and tipped his hat at her before turning his attention to Wyatt. Wyatt climbed out of the limo, his open collar flapping in the breeze, and paid the driver. Even in the casual chinos and an untucked shirt, the man reeked of power and money. How the hell was she going to pull off that same kind of image for this trip?
The driver pulled their bags from the trunk and set them on the ground. “Would you like me to get these to the boat for you, sir?”
“I’ve got this one. ” Wyatt grabbed a small duffel bag from the pile. “But yes, please take the rest. ”
He tipped the driver and turned to her, pulling a pair of aviators from the outside pocket of his bag and replacing his eyeglasses. The arch of his eyebrow was pure sexual promise. He set his bag down, and his arm snaked around her waist, tugging her against him. “It’s fucking cruel that we’re going to have to share this island with other people this week. We should just get a hotel room here and not leave the bed until next Saturday. Why waste time kissing their asses when I could be kissing much more tasty things?”
He pressed his mouth to the curve of her shoulder, sending ripples of hot sensation straight south. And she was tempted to say, Yes! Let’s do that. But before she could respond, another voice cut in from behind her.
“Wyatt?”
Wyatt’s forearms stiffened against her back, and he lifted his head, looking in the direction of the woman’s voice. An oh-fuck glimmer went across his features, but he quickly covered it with the implacable mask of politeness. He released Kelsey and stepped back. “Hello, Gwen. ”
Kelsey turned around, the tension from Wyatt leaking into her system as she took in the pretty brunette. Her brown eyes flicked over Kelsey’s way, annoyance in her gaze despite the prim smile. The woman looked back to Wyatt. “I didn’t expect to see you here. ”
Wyatt cleared his throat and pressed a hand to the small of Kelsey’s back, a statement. “My dad couldn’t make it, so I’m here in his place. You never mentioned you attend this event. ”
“I’m accompanying Mr. Weller since his wife had other obligations. He thought the trip would be a nice reward for my performance this quarter. ”
“Hmm,” Wyatt said in a bland tone, one that could’ve been read as complete and total disinterest or complete and total judgment.
Gwen’s spine starched, so Kelsey guessed the woman didn’t like either option, but she maintained a tight little smile that cooled further as she turned to Kelsey. “And who is this?”
Wyatt’s thumb caressed the base of Kelsey’s spine. “This is Kelsey Adams. Kelsey, Gwen Harrison. She’s an attorney in the building next to mine. ”
And had some kind of history with Wyatt. Whether that was in the bedroom or in the boardroom, Kelsey couldn’t quite tell. She stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Gwen. ”
“Charmed. ” The handshake was about as warm as her tone. “And what do you do, Kelsey?”
Her inner bitch wanted to say, Him. Just to see the look on this woman’s face. But she held her tongue and retracted her claws. It’s not like Wyatt was really hers anyway.
“Kelsey’s planning to open up her own bakery,” Wyatt said smoothly, a tinge of pride in his voice.
“How lovely for you,” Gwen said, the condescension not quite fully masked. “Are you one of Wyatt’s pet projects, then?”
Kelsey coughed. “Excuse me?”
“You know, those silly little investments he likes to entertain himself with. ” She slid her sunglasses from atop her head down to her eyes.
“Gwen,” Wyatt said, the word holding warning.
She laughed and laid a hand on Wyatt’s chest. “Oh, don’t get all grumpy. I’m just teasing you. You can do what you like with your money. I’m sure you’re very . . . talented, Kelsey. ”
Kelsey’s eyes narrowed. Fuck claws, she was about to sprout talons and fangs. But Wyatt was already two steps ahead. “Gwen, I suggest you don’t try this tactic with me. Feel free to throw your ire my way, but you won’t insult my girlfriend. ”
This time it was Gwen’s turn to choke. “Girlfriend?”
“Babe, I think the boat is waiting for us,” Kelsey said, ignoring Gwen’s bugging eyes and turning toward Wyatt to lay a hand on his forearm. She didn’t know where the words had come from or how’d she’d said them with such a casual air, but there they were. “We probably should head over. ”
Wyatt smiled down at her and pressed a quick peck to her mouth. “You’re right, love. Let’s get going. I’m ready to relax in our room before the festivities start tonight. ” He looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Enjoy your trip, Gwen. ”
Then he was wrapping his arm around Kelsey, picking up his bag, and leading her toward the dock without peering back. Kelsey didn’t let out the breath she was holding until they were a good thirty strides away.
“I’m sorry about that,” Wyatt said, regret heavy in his voice.
She peeked up at him as they walked. “Let me guess. The former colleague with benefits?”
“That obvious, huh? I thought we ended things on friendly enough terms, but apparently not. ”
She shrugged, trying to shake off the little whip of jealousy that hit her at the thought of Gwen and Wyatt together. Had he fucked Gwen in the bed Kelsey had slept in last night? She tried to shove the image from her brain. He’s not yours. Not then. Not now. “It’s never easy to see someone you’ve slept with kissing someone else, especially if you had feelings for them. ”
He sighed as their shoes thudded along the weathered wood planks that led down to the boats. “I would’ve never taunted her on purpose. But hell if I’m going to be polite while she insults you. She can be a bitch to me if she wants, but she has no right to shoot arrows your way. ”
“It’s okay. I have a badass bitch in me, too, if I need it. I can defend myself,” she said, leaning into him and giving his side a poke to lighten the mood. “And that chick was already drawing out my street side. ”
“Oh, really,” he said, looking down at her and smiling. “You have a possessive streak, Ms. LeBreck?”
She lifted a shoulder. “There’s a reason no one else ever served you at the diner. I would’ve cut a bitch who tried. That includes Nathan. ”
He chuckled and spun her against him. “Is that right? Lucky for you, Nathan’s not my type. ”
“Yeah, what is your type then, Mr. Austin?”
“Hmm, let’s see. Sexy, nice ass, gives good head. ”
She punched his chest. “Jerk! And by the way, that means Nathan is your type. ”
He laughed, mirth dancing in those blue eyes. “Okay, how about all those things plus funny, gorgeous, strong, ambitious, submissive, possessive, and knows how to bake a muffin that will make you weep?”
“Better. ”
Wyatt eyed the end of the dock where a group of people were gathering near what Kelsey assumed was the yacht that was going to take them over to Devil Cay. Yay, more time to hang with the oh so sweet Gwen. Fun times. Wyatt brought his attention back to her. “Looks like it’s time to board. ”
“So it seems. ”
“But first, I have a little confession,” he said, touching his forehead to hers.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Truth is, I’m wildly possessive, too. And I’m not quite ready to share you yet. ” He stepped back and tugged her hand, guiding her down another stretch of the pier and toward a separate row of smaller boats that bobbed and dipped in the water. Though, smaller was a relative term since they were all bigger and fancier looking than any boats she’d ever seen.
“Where are you going?”
“Fuck the communal yacht. We’re getting our own ride. ”
“But—”
He stopped and pressed a finger to her lips, his hot gaze singeing right through her protest. “Not asking you. We got interrupted in the car. I’m not going to let it happe
n again. Plus, I can’t very well fuck you with thirty people watching, now can I?”
She arched an eyebrow.
His dimples flashed. “Dirty, dirty girl. ”
Oh, he had no idea. With the way he was looking at her right now, she’d probably let him take her right there on the dock.
She took a deep breath. No looking back now.
“I’m all yours, sir. ”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Wyatt spoke in low tones to the young guy he’d commandeered to take them over to the island. He didn’t want Kelsey hearing his instructions. He was enjoying that curious look she was giving him from her perch on the large cushions on the back deck of the small yacht.
“You sure you know how to handle this thing?” Wyatt asked. The kid couldn’t have been more than twenty-two or twenty-three.
“No problem, sir. ” Johan slid his sunglasses to the top of his head. “I’ve been helping my father captain the boats since I was sixteen. You’re in good hands. ”
“Excellent. ” The boat rocked beneath them with the wake from the large luxury liner the other guests had boarded. Wyatt reached out for a railing, watching with satisfaction as the other ship pulled away without them. “You see that boat, my friend. Stay a good distance from that one. I’m paying you for privacy. ”
“Yes, sir. I understand completely,” Johan said, a shy but sly smile breaking through all that suntanned skin, his cheeks coloring a bit. His gaze strayed to Kelsey for a moment, and there was no missing the flare of appreciation.
Wyatt couldn’t blame the kid. Hell, he probably shouldn’t even think of him as a kid, as he was no doubt closer to Kelsey’s age than Wyatt was. He laid a hand on Johan’s shoulder. “You can look all you want, but touch her and I’ll throw you off the side of the boat. ”
Johan gave an uneasy laugh. “May be worth it, sir. I’m a good swimmer. But I promise to keep my hands on the wheel. ”
Wyatt smiled and headed back down toward Kelsey. She held her hand over her eyes, shielding the sunlight and watching him walk toward her. Lord, she was beautiful, all sun-kissed and windblown. Her grin was a bright ray of light even amongst all the tropical beauty surrounding them. To think she’d been through so much darkness in her life, so much hurt . . . The knowledge was like a lead weight pressing against his chest. It didn’t seem fair that he’d been gifted with so much in his life when someone like Kelsey had been given so little.
Yet, here she was, a survivor, a fighter. And even though he knew she had mixed feelings about him giving her money, and would probably lose her shit when she actually opened the envelope and saw how much, the move had been pure selfishness on his part. He couldn’t give her what she deserved—love, a relationship, a soft place to fall. But he could make sure she never had to ask anyone for anything again.
It wasn’t money for her time here. But it was a thank you. Because even though this was going to be brief, he knew already that this week was going to be one of the best of his life. The old fears would still rumble in the back of his brain, but he wasn’t going to waste another minute ruminating. Not when he had something so precious waiting for him.
“Does Abercrombie know what he’s doing?” Kelsey asked as Wyatt lowered himself to the deck cushions.
“Abercrombie?”
She smirked. “Never mind. I’m guessing you don’t get that catalog. ”
He glanced over at Johan. “You’re telling me you think our young captain looks like a catalog model. Should I be jealous? He is closer to your age, after all. ”
She shoved his thigh with her bare foot. “First off, why go for cute, when I have six feet of gorgeous man right in front of me? And, second of all, that kid wouldn’t know what to do with me. ”