Chapter Nine
Blake
I walked into the office. One of these days I would get a wireless printer for the condo. For now, Lea’s printing services would have to work.
She met me with a wide grin. “How did last night go?”
“You know I don’t kiss and tell, girl,” I teased.
“That is not true.” She waggled her finger at me.
“I was wondering if you could print another file for me. I already emailed it to you.”
“Of course. Is it about your big resort?” she pried.
“I need to sign a few contracts. Standard stuff. Legal says E-signatures won’t work on these.” I watched as an older couple shuffled past the front door. I was the only resident under the age of sixty-five staying at the Escape.
“I liked Alyson. Caleb does too.”
“Nice to know my nephew approves.” I smirked. It wasn’t as if Caleb and I were ever going to have a heart to heart conversation about women. At least I wasn’t planning on it.
“So there is something to approve?” Her eyebrows rose.
I sat on the couch. Lea was relentless. “You are jumping to conclusions. We had a few drinks. I took her back to my place after.”
“Ah-hah! I knew it. And she left this morning, right?”
“Technically, she hasn’t left yet.” I tried to keep the smile from creeping up the corners of my mouth, but I couldn’t help it. I had left Alyson sleeping in my bed. After the morning we had, I knew she needed an extra round of sleep. Fuck. I did too, but I had an empire to run.
“What?” Lea squealed almost spilling her coffee. “This is a good sign. No one ever stays past your run time.”
“What are you talking about?” I prepared a cup of coffee and sat across from her.
“You do the same thing with every girl. Dinner, drinks, moonlight on the ocean, who knows what lines you feed them and then by seven o’clock they are out the door, and you are running on the beach. Like clockwork every time. I’ve never seen the same girl here twice and I’ve never seen anyone leave any later than seven.”
“What are you my mother? How do you know my schedule?”
She shook her head. “That’s not the point. The point is you like her. You really like someone.”
Lea had a way of wanting everyone to be happy. She thought everyone deserved a fairytale romance and a happy ending. She practically sacrificed her life to save the Dune Escape for Caleb. She bent over backwards to help Madison with her wedding last year. And when Holly and I broke up she was on the first flight home to help her best friend. I didn’t want to be on her list of good deeds. When she went all in on something, there was no turning back.
“This is good. Really good. She lives here, and you’re going to be here a lot more now. I’m so excited.”
“Calm down,” I warned her. “It was one night.”
“And a morning,” she reminded me. “Speaking of, what’s she doing right now?”
“Sleeping.” I saw an image of her auburn hair tussled over her shoulders. I waited until I knew she was sleeping deeply before I dressed and walked to the office. I didn’t want to wake her and risk her leaving.
“You should take her breakfast.” She hopped up and started opening cabinets.
“What are you doing?”
“I keep continental breakfast items for the residents, but they have all passed through here by now. You know seniors eat at like six in the morning.” She filled a paper bag with bananas, blueberry muffins, and a couple of yogurts from the fridge. She walked across the room and grabbed the flowers on display and tied a ribbon around them. “And flowers. Girls love flowers.”
“I know what girls like.” I eyed her. “This is not my first rodeo, sweetheart.”
“I’m just trying to help.” She handed me the makeshift breakfast picnic. “Here.”
“Thanks.” It didn’t matter how much I resisted, I knew I had just become Lea’s top priority. “Will you scan these back to me in separate attachments?” I traded her the papers I had signed for the food.
“Sure. But don’t let work get in the way of real life.”
“Lea, stop with the sermons. I know what I’m doing.”
“Right. Sorry.” She winced. “Have a good day, and tell Alyson I said hello.” There was an I-told-you-so hint in her voice.
“Thanks for the food.” I walked out of the office, carrying the goodies for Alyson.
By the time I walked into the condo and set the food on the counter, the sun had filtered through the windows, throwing beams of sunlight into the kitchen. I hummed under my breath while I arranged breakfast on a tray.
I poured a cup of coffee for her and positioned it on the edge of the tray next to the vase of flowers.
I took careful steps to the bedroom. She was right where I left her. Her back moved with deep breaths. The skin on her shoulders was golden and freckled from the sun. I studied the curves of her back, how they dipped at her hips and swelled over her bottom. God, she was gorgeous even asleep. I shook my head.
I placed the tray next to the bed, but she didn’t stir. Couldn’t say I blamed her, after three rounds of mind-blowing sex I was feeling exhausted too. I pulled the T-shirt I had thrown on over my head, stepped out of my jeans and crawled into bed next to her. I felt her body align against my back and within minutes my eyes closed and I slipped into sleep.
***
I shot out of bed, unsure of the time. I heard light laughter over my shoulder.
“You ok?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah. I don’t usually sleep in like that.” I turned to see Alyson smiling at me.
The breakfast tray was almost empty. “Thanks for bringing me food.”
“Have you been awake long?” I asked.
“No, just long enough to eat.”
I checked my phone. I had emails piling up, and a few missed calls from the office. I rolled out of bed. “I’ll be right back.”
I dialed Paul and stepped into the living room. “What do you have for me?”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning.” I still hadn’t checked the time. The morning was a fog. Between waking up at five to help Alyson with her story, to the shower that moved into bed, and then climbing back in to sleep, my body was out of sorts.
“Congratulations again on the Cove deal.”
“Thanks, I appreciate everyone’s efforts yesterday. Now the real work begins.” I always felt as if I had to lecture him.
“That’s why I’m calling.”
“Go on.” I waited.
“We have two sub-contractors lined up in San Antonio who are interested in bidding on the resort. Do you want me to drive down and meet with them?”
“God, no.” I wasn’t about to let Paul scout anything. “I’ll take care of it. Tell them I’ll be there to meet in the morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have Donna set up my hotel and set up the meetings. I need an hour in between each appointment. I don’t want them running into each other.”
“Yes, sir. We can handle that. Will you be driving or do you need a flight?”
I calculated how long it would take for me to drive to San Antonio. Alyson peeked around the corner of the door, my sheets wrapped around her chest.
“I’ll drive. Call me when it’s done.”
I tossed the phone on the couch.
“Is that how you get so much accomplished?” She walked into the living room.
“As a matter fact, it is.”
She pulled the corners of the sheet around her shoulders, and I realized how much I wanted to pull it down. But I had a full day’s worth of work to do. I couldn’t jump back in bed no matter how much I wanted to.
She settled onto the couch.
“What do you have planned today?” I asked.
“I’m waiting to hear from my editor about the story. I’m sure I’ll have follow up to do.”
“Right.” It wasn’t as if just bec
ause I had granted one interview for her she would no longer have to follow the story. “The story is never over is it?”
The smile faded from her face. “We agreed last night we wouldn’t—”
“Alyson, I understand. It’s your job.”
One side of the sheet fell from her shoulder. I sat next to her. “I have an idea.”
“What’s that?”
“I have to leave this afternoon for San Antonio. Come with me.”
“Go with you to San Antonio?” She sounded surprised.
I nodded. “It will be fun. Road trip.”
“You don’t really strike me as the spontaneous type.” It looked as if she was analyzing my face, trying to read my next move.
“There you go again with your interpretive journalism. I’m the definition of spontaneity. Thought I proved that this morning.” I winked.
“And how would you suggest I take off from work with no warning?” she asked.
“I’m sure you just delivered a Pulitzer award-winning article. That should give you some negotiating power.”
“The newsroom doesn’t work like that. Would you give that poor guy you were talking to the day off for doing something great?”
“I’m not giving him the day off for anything. He’s new.”
“Exactly. I’m new too. I don’t get to take off on vacation whenever I feel like it,” she explained.
I pulled her into my lap, letting the rest of the sheet fall away. I brushed my lips against her collarbone. “Then, I only see one option for you.”
“And what is that?” Her arms circled my neck.
“I think you’ve caught your first Texas bug.”
She leaned back on the pillow, the perkiness of her breasts drawing me on top of her. I changed my mind. I had enough time for this.
“Call in sick?”
“If that’s what you want.” My hands ran along her hips.
“I think you’re going to be very bad for me.” Her voice was raspy as I pushed her knee to the side and kissed between her legs.
“I hope so, baby.”
Chapter Ten
Alyson
My body was sore in places I didn’t know existed. I let the hot water run over my shoulders and down my back. I ran a handful of shampoo then conditioner through my hair before lathering my legs in shaving cream. These were all the things I would have done last night before going home with Blake if I had known. How would I have known anything like that was even possible?
I pulled the blade over my shin, careful not to press too deeply. The foam bubbled at the drain and disappeared with the water.
I dried off and looked at my reflection in the mirror. My full lips felt swollen. My hands ran over my breasts, feeling the extra tender spots lashed by his tongue and teeth. I sighed looking at the blue marks on the inside of my thigh. When he had landed there after breakfast I almost squirmed out of his hands, but it didn’t take much coaxing to relax on the couch and let him show me what he was capable of. I should have written a piece for Cosmo instead of the News & Report. The world was missing out on Blake Davenport’s real skills.
I hooked my towel behind the door and walked to the closet. I had an hour before he was supposed to pick me up. There was enough time to get dressed and pack for an overnight excursion.
Although I was wondering with Blake if one night would turn into two. He felt unpredictable. I already knew he was dangerous.
He had been right about Christine. When I called in to say I had a sore throat, she was surprisingly nice. The piece had bought me at least one day’s worth of capital. Hey, I was starting to sound like I knew something about business.
I threw a few sundresses into my bag along with a pair of strappy heels. I walked back to the bathroom to get dressed and dry my hair. I thought about tonight. Sex was a definite, right? Should I pack something? My PJ drawer was embarrassing. I hadn’t met a single guy since I moved to Padre, so it wasn’t like I had been busy resupplying my lingerie collection.
A man like Blake had good taste. High dollar taste. I rummaged through the drawer, throwing tank tops and boxer shorts to the side. These all screamed career student. After last night I wanted to show him my complete feminine and sexy side. Way in the back was a balled up satin number with more straps than actual fabric. I had never worn it, but bought it at one of those sex toy parties my roommate threw before I left Virginia. It would have to work. I folded it neatly and tucked it inside my bag.
I stepped into a pair of white shorts and pulled on a silk tank that had a deep V-cut in a bright shade of tangerine. For the first time since moving here I felt like an actual islander. I was headed out of town, traveling for the night. It was my first Texas trip. I closed my makeup bag and tossed it on top before zipping my suitcase.
Mr. Spontaneous would be here any minute.
***
I had never called in sick before. True, I had only been an employee for a few months, but it felt the same as it did when I skipped school senior year of high school. Everyone did it and the teachers had accepted years ago it was a senior tradition, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel guilty about it. I was supposed to be the good one. The one who followed the rules. Last night I think I broke every rule I had.
I heard a knock and walked through my studio apartment to open the door.
“Ready?” Blake’s eyebrows arched. His shoulders filled the doorframe. He was dressed in a blue button-up shirt. Holy hell, I didn’t know his eyes could turn that shade of blue.
“Yes, let me grab my bag.”
“I’ll get it.” He stepped past me, taking in my one-room apartment.
“It’s temporary.” I fluffed the pillows on my bed. I didn’t even have a couch. “Until I find something else.”
I had moved into the studio my second day in South Padre. It was part of a string of studio units on the sound side of the island.
He walked to the dresser and picked up a picture of Kendal and Cami. I ran over to snatch it from him. “That’s personal.” I laid it face down.
“Sorry.” His brows furrowed in confusion.
“I’m all packed.” I pointed to the bag.
He picked up the suitcase as if it weighed the same as a pair of flip flops. “Let’s do this.”
I locked the door behind us and followed him down the stairs. His car was running, cool air filling the convertible.
Blake secured my suitcase in the trunk and made sure I was settled in the front seat before closing my door. It surprised me that he was such a gentleman. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I thought he was self-absorbed. Everything he did contradicted the preconceived ideas I had of him. Except maybe last night. I could have predicted he was phenomenal in bed.
The car whipped in reverse and I reached for the bar on the door.
“You better hold on, darlin’,” he warned.
We spun out of the parking lot and merged onto the island roads. Before I knew it we had crossed the bridge and South Padre was in our mirrors.
“Do you always drive so fast?” I asked.
“I have a lot of ground to cover.” He tapped a few of the buttons on the computer screen on the dash. “My acquisitions are located from one end of the state to the other. And if you haven’t noticed, Texas is one damn big state.”
“You’re going to get us killed driving like this.” I clutched the handle tighter as we exited onto seventy-seven.
I looked at my driver. He had a devilish grin. He was enjoying the effect his driving was having on me. It wasn’t the first time I had seen him smile like that. My skin tingled.
“Don’t worry. I promise to deliver you to the hotel in one piece.”
“Have you ever crashed?” I should have checked his driving credentials before I got in the car with him.
“Not yet.” He smiled wider.
I looked out the window at the blurry landscape. “What kind of meetings do you have in San Antonio?” I asked.
“I’m meeting with a few contr
actors.”
“Shouldn’t they be coming to you? Why not meet in Padre?”
“I want to keep everything I’m doing with the resort as private as possible,” he explained.
“And you’re not worried I might write a big expose on it?” I teased.
“You are home sick with a sore throat. I don’t think I have to worry about you interviewing anyone.” He pulled his sunglasses down and I caught the message in his sapphire blue eyes.
“Right.” I didn’t like that he had pinned me in a corner.
“Have you ever been to San Antonio?” He lowered the radio so we could talk.
“I’ve never been anywhere but around the island. I went across the border when I first moved here so I could say I had traveled to Mexico.”
“You’re telling me you haven’t left Padre in three months?”
“Is that bad?” I eked.
“It tells me something about you.” He changed hands on the steering wheel so that his right palm rested on my leg. I liked that touching me came naturally to him.
“That I’m trying to work hard at my new job and prove myself to my boss?”
“No. That’s not it.”
“What then?”
I waited—worried he was going to think I wasn’t the travel companion he really wanted. There were probably tons of women who were beautiful and spontaneous, willing to hop on a jet with him and cross the ocean. Women with adventurous spirits and travel savvy. I didn’t know if I fell into that category. I didn’t have any idea what category he put me in.
“That you needed to meet me.”
“Is that so?” God, he was arrogant.
“It is.” He gently squeezed my thigh. “We can have fun together, Alyson.”
“Fun?” I realized exactly what category he had grouped me in—the fun girl.
“We both work hard. We play hard. Very hard.”
My cheeks burned. Somewhere deep inside I knew this was bad. Blake was the kind of guy who got what he wanted when he wanted it. And when he was satisfied he would move on to the next thing. But with his hand on my leg and those bedroom eyes smiling at me, all I could think about was that I wanted him too. My body still ached from this morning, and yet I wanted more.
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