Hot Dubai Nights
Holiday Heartthrob Book 2
Holly Hathaway
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2020 by Holly Hathaway
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
A Gift For You
Afterword
Also by Holly Hathaway
Let‘s Stay Connected!
Chapter One
Allie
I check my phone one more time before the plane takes off, and sure enough, I have yet another message from Ben. My friend Mindy flashes me something of a jealous glance. I know she's been trying to text Tucker ever since we left Ibiza, but he always takes forever to reply. I don't have the heart to tell her he was more into Kate. It's okay; she'll move on quickly. Of the three of us traveling around Europe together, Mindy is the playgirl.
My mind drifts back to the yacht. Ben and Tucker are the two brothers we met our first day on the island of Ibiza, and except for their good looks and sexy British accents, they couldn't be more different. Ben is older, and the one who swooped in with his charm and stole my heart. He swept me into a brief, whirlwind romance that quickly developed into a real passion. It's the kind of intensity and passion that makes my stomach feel fluttery. I find myself easily lost in the thought of being in his arms forever.
We were utterly smitten with each other after I finally let my walls down. Ben is a successful investor who owns a beautiful yacht, and he also happens to be ten years older than me. I found the age difference intimidating at first. After all, I'm just a fresh college graduate on her first trip outside the United States. He's a wealthy businessman from England, and I'm just a country girl who grew up on a ranch in Wyoming. We come from completely different worlds. And yet despite these differences, everything feels so right when I'm with him. The barriers and inhibitions I had at first had come crumbling down when he swept me right off of my feet and right into the bedroom. Being intimate with him was magical. It surpassed ecstasy. I keep playing the scenes over and over in my head.
I peek over at Mindy, who keeps impatiently checking her phone. Tucker is Ben's younger playboy brother who throws all the parties on the yacht, which I know Ben dislikes. But if not for Tucker, Ben and I never would have met.
I have never dated anyone before. I'm a shy bookworm who enjoys horseback riding in the mountains and focusing on my studies. These feelings I am developing for Ben are new territory for me. Mindy tells me I’m being naïve. She asserts that my time with Ben was just a summer fling, the first of many that I’ll have in Europe, and I can’t get hung up on the first guy to charm and woo me into bed. But I don’t think she understands the connection that Ben and I have.
Ben is texting me every chance he gets. I'm almost worried that he's not getting any actual work done. But he is a grown man who can make his own decisions. If he wants to text me every second of the day, I’m perfectly okay with that. I've never been so attached to my phone before, and every time I hear the ping of an incoming message, I feel butterflies fluttering around in my gut. If I check my phone and it's anyone else but Ben, I feel disappointed.
I re-live our brief but passionate romance, dwelling on it each waking moment. The sunset, the hot tub, the hot, passionate sex. The intense desire and lust that I could feel flowing through us during our lovemaking. It gives me this sense of fulfillment that I've lacked until now, something that I didn't even know was missing from my life. Even though we are apart now, we have such a strong connection, it feels like nothing can break it.
My brother, Eric, keeps texting me to make sure I’m okay. I continuously assure him that everything is fine, and Europe is surpassing all expectations. I haven't told him about Ben.
“At least this is a short flight,” says Kate. “I'm already uncomfortable, and we're not even in the air," She groans and squirms in the small, cramped airplane seat.
Both she and Mindy got themselves good and hungover for our travel day. I’m not going to say I told you so.
“You guys can take a long nap once we get to the hotel in Paris,” I say.
But I think Mindy is already passed out.
Eric texts me again. Stay safe, and don't get kidnapped. He’s a little overprotective. I guess that’s why I haven’t told him about Ben, yet. I don’t want him to worry or book a flight to come out here and look after me. Eric would probably try to lock me up in the hotel room and never let me have any fun.
Okay, time to switch into airplane mode. The engines rev high, and the plane bolts forward. I love the feeling of taking off into the air, and I smile, knowing it won't be long before we're in Paris. I wish Ben could travel with us, but I understand he has his life and I have mine.
The plane soars as high as my heart when I think of my time with him in Ibiza, and I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
Chapter Two
Ben
I have a hard time focusing. My heart keeps diverting my attention away from work.
Allie is in Paris with her promiscuous friends, and I must admit that I'm pretty jealous. I don't want to come off as a possessive asshole, but I wish I were there to make sure no other guy can come within five feet of Allie. That would make me crazy. And Paris would be the perfect place for it. All those French hunks who think they're hot shit swarming all over her… My stomach churns at the thought of it.
She promised she wouldn't be seeing other guys, and I trust her. It's all the men out there that I don't trust. I know exactly what they'll think when they see her sexy body, her small waist and curvy hips, her large youthful breasts and adorable face hidden behind glasses and bangs. Just the thought of her gets my blood pumping and my heart thumping.
I also promised her that I wouldn’t be seeing any other women for the time being. She’s young and new to sex and relationships, so I don’t want her to worry. Not that she would have to. I have every intention of sticking to my promise. I haven’t been thinking about other women since the moment I saw Allie. They might as well all be squirrels, and they can go chomp on someone else’s nuts.
I keep checking my phone to make sure any texts from her don't drown in the influx of other incoming messages. I need to get two phones—one for business and one for pleasure.
My brother, Tucker, is having another party on my yacht with about a dozen or more new girls and guys that he and Charlie invited back. I'm hiding away upstairs, and I have no desire to join them. I stare out at the breathtaking ocean, spanning out in front of me, but the most beautiful thing in the world is missing.
I’m going to go crazy until I see her again. Love is maddening. Yes, I said it. Love.
Glass shatters down on the deck. Somebody dropped a drink. That's fine, it happens all the time. Jeffrey is already on it, ensuring nobody steps on a stray shard of glass.
I’ve never been lonelier than with all these people on board.
Chapter Three
Allie
Paris is even more overwhelming than Ibiza, but beautiful in its own way.
I can't believe we are actually in Paris, and I want to explore as much of the city as possible. I know what Mindy and Kate's intentions will be. They have been scoping out the hottest clubs and bars online, and have been swooning over every hot french guy we pass on the street. But I'm determined to soak in the history and culture of Paris. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, everything. The fears that I had at the beginning of this trip are still there: getting lost, kidnapped, hit by a bus, etc. But I also have a newfound confidence in myself, thanks to Ben.
Our hotel is just as lovely as the last one, and I say a silent thank you to Mindy's wealthy parents for hooking us up. As we settle in, I can see that my friends are about as exhausted as I was on our first day in Ibiza. The long travel between the United States and Europe had really taken it out of me. I look out the window at the vast city, overwhelmed by its hum of life and culture. I have a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower, and the neighborhood below us looks adorable, full of cute coffee shops and quaint boutiques.
Kate and Mindy both flop on the couch, leaving their bags in the middle of the floor. I think Mindy passes out immediately. She's still wearing her sunglasses. I don't know how she made it through the airport without falling flat on her face.
“Okay, I’m in favor of that nap,” Kate says through a yawn, and then lets her head fall on Mindy’s shoulder. They both look like the grim reaper came for them.
“I feel fine,” I say in a chirpy voice. It must be my romance that has me so lively and full of energy.
“That’s because you’re such a good girl who doesn’t drink yourself silly. Could you make me a cup of coffee?”
“Anything for my bestie,” I tell her and saunter into the kitchen. I'm so giddy, I feel like nothing can bring me down. Ben is the perfect man. I know I don't know him that well, but I am full of hope that we will have more time to get to know each other.
My thoughts drift to memories of Ben kissing the insides of my thighs, stroking me softly, and I feel my face flush.
I begin some brewing some coffee in the kitchenette, lost in my daydream. I'm not usually a coffee drinker, but I decide I'll have just a little. After all, this trip is about trying new things. And so far, that's been going very well.
Chapter Four
Ben
“Yes, I can meet you,” I say into my phone as I take a cocktail from Jeffrey. “How about tomorrow? Perfect. I’ll book a flight.”
The party on the lower deck is raging now, bikini bodies cooking in the afternoon sun, livers overworked, and underappreciated.
I immediately text Allie the news. Hey, I have to go to Dubai tomorrow for a last-minute meeting. I’d love for you to meet me there.
I already know how she's going to respond. I know her well enough to know she hates diverging from an established plan.
My phone dings.
Ben, I don’t know. We just got to Paris.
I'll take care of your flight and arrange for a car to pick you up. I'll even book you your own hotel room. You won't have to worry about a thing.
I wait for her answer. I just want her to trust me. Spending some time together in Dubai is going to be so romantic, and I can't wait any longer to see her, to wrap her in my arms. I have a nagging feeling she's going to say no, but I have hope. I've broken through to her before.
Is it safe?
Good. She’s considering it.
It’s perfectly safe, Allie. One of the safest countries you can visit.
Let me talk to Kate and Mindy.
Oh, how I hate the waiting game. I'm used to having a confirmed answer immediately when there's something I want to know. And if I don't get the answer I want, I badger for it until I do. But Allie isn't one of my clients or employees. What is unfolding between Allie and me has nothing to do with business. I have to do what doesn't come naturally to me, and just back off a little. The hardest thing is letting her make her own decision, and I wish again that I were in Paris with her. Now that I think about it, I should have gone. But I don't want to seem overprotective, and the phone calls and the emails are bombarding my phone, keeping me imprisoned in my office on the yacht.
The party keeps raging on the deck below me. I put my headphones on and sip my cocktail. It's just not the same anymore without Allie, and I know I won't be able to sleep until I receive an answer. Not that I usually get a lot of sleep, anyway.
Go ahead and book it. Send me the information, she says. My heart jumps out of my chest. She made that decision a lot quicker than I expected her to.
Done, I reply with the biggest smile on my face.
Chapter Five
Allie
“Are you guys sure it’s okay?”
“Yeah, it’s totally fine. You’re finally living, girl. And you’ll love Dubai," says Mindy. "Not that I've ever been there. I’m just glad you’re living with some abandon and getting laid.”
I'm a little offended by the way they're not upset about not spending more time with me. After all, I came on this trip to experience Europe with them. Soon, we will all be heading separate ways into real adulthood.
"You go have a romance with your new man in Dubai," says Kate. "Keep us updated, and we'll all meet up later in Greece."
“But don’t get hung up on just this one guy,” says Mindy through a mouthful of bagel chips. Hangovers always make her crave carbs when she usually won't go within five feet of them. "Have your thing with him and then move on. Don't just settle for the first thing to come along and call you pretty."
“Don’t listen to her, Allie. The guy obviously has a crap-ton of money. You want to nail that down for good.”
“Will you guys just let me make my own decisions for once in my life? Let me figure this out, okay?” I take a sip of coffee. It's bitter, but something about it makes me want more.
“Sorry,” Kate mumbles like she’s honestly hurt.
Crap, I don't want to fight. I would hate for there to be a rift in our relationship, especially when we are halfway across the world.
“You guys, please let’s not fight. But you are both right. I need to get out of my comfort zone, and I can’t do that when you’re both telling me what to do all the time.”
They look at each other with understanding.
“Sorry, Allie. We just want to look out for you," Mindy admits. "The important thing is that you stay safe."
Such rare wisdom from Mindy. Like a celestial alignment, it doesn’t happen very often.
“We understand,” says Kate. “You do what you need to do.”
“Right now, what we need to do,” Mindy goes on. “Is take a nap because I feel like I got run over by a train.” She falls over and drapes herself over the armrest of the couch.
“She’ll be fine.”
“You guys take care of yourselves,” I tell Kate. “I feel pretty good, so I’m probably going to go explore and take photos.”
“By yourself?”
“Yeah.” I see the look on her face. “Don’t worry. I won’t go far. You know me. I’m not going to get myself in trouble. I'm a worrier, remember?”
“Okay, but just be careful.”
"Always."
Paris is breathtaking. I know some people say it's dirty, and parts of it are, but everything I have seen is beautiful and romantic. I wish Ben were here to enjoy this with me, but I don't mind spending a few hours out on my own.
I stand against a railing overlooking a river I don't know the name of. I'll have to look it up later. I feel like I'm in a book or a movie. Being outside of the United States and in such a foreign and exciting city is still so surreal to me. Am I dreaming?
I hear someone approach me from behind. Whoever this stranger is standing uncomfortably close, and I turn around
to say something.
"Pardon, Mademoiselle, did you drop this?”
He has a thick French accent. I’m standing in the shadow of a young man with a boyish and innocent face. He holds my bracelet in the palm of his hand.
“How did—” I look down at
the bear charm glinting in the sun. “I didn’t notice that it fell off.”
"Here, let me help you with it."
I hold out my wrist as he latches it back on, brushing his hand along mine for a little longer than he needs to. The feeling that shoots through my body from his fingers on my wrist is the same feeling I got when I first felt Ben’s touch.
“Thank you,” I say, captivated by his boyish charm. His hair is dark and curly, and his hands soft. His eyes twinkle with a hypnotic light.
"No problem. It looks important. I wouldn't want you to lose something precious."
“You’re right. My mom gave it to me for good luck.” I feel my face turn hot. He's still standing too close to me. He leans against the railing beside me, his chest nearly touching my nose.
“Where are you from?”
"Wyoming, the United States."
“Is this your first trip to Paris?”
“Yes. My friends and I just got here today.”
“I see. Where are your friends?”
“They’re back at the hotel hungover.”
“Ah, haha,” he laughs. Even his laugh has an irresistible accent. “So, you are sightseeing all by yourself?"
Ben was the one who warned me about people taking advantage of girls traveling on their own, but this guy seems so innocent and harmless. He can’t be any older than me. And he was so helpful in returning my bracelet. I would have died if I’d lost it.
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