The Honeymoon Prize

by Melissa McClone

  “I’d be homeless.”

  He winked. “You win.”

  “We both win and get a free honeymoon out of the deal.” Though the rock in her stomach felt more like dread than relief at the moment.

  “True that.” He opened the truck’s passenger door. “Here’s to having fun and being each other’s good luck charm from now on.”

  “I like the sound of that.” She hoped his words came true. For years her luck had been bad. Not anyone’s fault, just the way her life had turned out. She was ready for things to be different. “Where to now?”

  “Home so we can finish packing our overnight bags.”

  Addie climbed up into her seat, careful with the dress. “I still can’t believe we won a honeymoon. We’ll have to buy Emily a nice souvenir.”

  Nick walked around the front of the truck and climbed inside. “She’s gone out of her way for us.”

  “That’s because she thinks we’re . . .” Addie couldn’t say the words in love. “A cute couple.”

  “Yeah.” He fastened his seatbelt. “But we can’t tell her or anyone the truth. Our friends have to believe we’re married for real. My boss, too. I love my job. Six figures to babysit clients in exotic locales is too easy a gig to lose because of a jealous husband.”

  The gorgeous, young wife of a client had become infatuated with her handsome bodyguard. The man threatened to take his private security needs elsewhere unless Nick was reassigned. With the man’s connections, other clients voiced similar concerns leading to Nick’s assignments becoming limited. His boss had joked how much easier life would be if Nick were married, but the underlying ultimatum was unmistakable.

  So what did the not-interested-in-settling-down bodyguard bachelor do? Propose to Addie. His friend. A sex-less, in name only marriage solved both their problems. In theory at least.

  “Did you happen to give the client any reason to be jealous?” she asked.

  “No way. I take my job seriously. No messing around. Strictly professional.”

  She had no reason not to believe him. Nick had never lied to her. But that meant she knew many of his secrets. “Until you’re off duty.”

  He stuck his key in the ignition. “I’m only human, babe.”

  “I know.” She was a one-man woman who wanted the happily ever after, pinning her heart on a guy like him would be a disaster. “And you can’t help yourself for being a chick magnet.”

  His cheeks reddened. The charming blush reminded her of the boy he’d once been, the boy she’d once loved, her childhood friend. “A cross I must bear.”

  She fastened her seat belt, thinking about the cocktail waitress he’d last dated. They’d gone out for two weeks, a new record for him. “I pity any woman who falls in love with you.”

  He started the engine. “Funny words coming from the new Mrs. Cahill.”

  “In name only, dude. I would never want to be married to you for real.” She knew too much about his dating habits. “No offense.”

  “None taken.” He turned on his blinker. “I’ve never wanted to be married for real.”

  She remembered when he’d become engaged to a woman named Carrie who’d told him she was pregnant while he was deployed in Afghanistan. Nick, who wanted to do the right thing and be a better dad than his had been, proposed via Skype and sent her his paychecks, only to return home to find a pregnant fiancée, but one who wasn’t far along enough for the baby to be his. She’d been lying and cheating on him the entire time.

  Nick never mentioned Carrie, but Addie knew the breakup affected him. He’d left the military when his contract expired instead of reenlisting. His dates never went beyond casual, even back in high school, but they seemed to be more temporary and physical now. But the hookups seemed to satisfy him.

  “At least we know where we stand,” Addie said.

  He nodded. “There’s no one else I trust enough to marry like this. Things are going to be okay. This will work.”

  Addie crossed her fingers. She sure hoped so. Being homeless sucked.

  Chapter 2

  Nick stretched out, enjoying the legroom in first class, thirty-seven thousand feet over the Pacific Ocean. He twisted the gold band on his left-hand ring finger.

  Sunlight streamed through the plane’s window, a new day. He hadn’t been married twenty-four hours yet, but he’d realized one thing. This ring wasn’t coming off his finger anytime soon.

  Five years. He planned to make the most of being married.

  Addie had called him a chick magnet, but this ring drew babes in like a tractor beam set on high. Since saying “I do,” three hot women had tried giving him their numbers at the airport. He hadn’t taken them. That wouldn’t have been nice to do to Addie a few hours after their wedding, even if the marriage wasn’t real. But getting married might be the best thing that ever happened to his social life.

  With a wife waiting at home, another woman couldn’t expect him to get serious or stay the night. The possibilities of what he could get away with over the next five years were endless thanks to Mrs. Cahill.

  Addie.

  A warm feeling settled in the center of his chest, adding to the satisfaction he’d felt since being pronounced husband and wife. He’d come up with a brilliant plan.

  This marriage wasn’t only for him, but Addie, too. He would support her financially and pay her school tuition. She could enjoy life for once with no money or housing worries. He also had a special wedding present he’d tracked down for her, but he hadn’t decided when to give her the gift. Maybe after they got settled on the island. He couldn’t wait to surprise her.

  Lying on her reclined seat, Addie slept, covered haphazardly with a blanket, her left calf sticking out and her feet covered in the fuzzy socks from their flight amenity kits.

  She’d dressed for comfort, wearing cut-off knee-length sweats, a large t-shirt and oversized San Diego Chargers crewneck sweatshirt. She looked younger, like a teenager, with her dark brown hair pulled back in a familiar ponytail, the same style she’d worn for over two decades and freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose and cheeks.

  Cute, as always, but different from how pretty she’d looked in the white dress at the wedding. The last time he’d seen her dressed up had been at prom. She’d gone with Scott Taylor, captain of the tennis team, and Nick had stewed watching the jerk hold Addie too close while they danced.

  A bad night.

  His fault.

  He could have been Addie’s prom date, her boyfriend even, except he’d blown her off on what would have been their first date. That day, his parents had finally, after years of threats and separating only to reunite, decided to divorce. Addie was his best female friend, his safety net. Going on a date had seemed like a bad idea. He’d been upset and too nervous to tell her how he felt, unsure of her feelings for him. He couldn’t afford to lose her friendship. Not when his life was falling apart. He knew that might happen because he didn’t know how to have a relationship that lasted more than a couple weeks or month.

  Things had worked out for the best. Addie hadn’t been pissed at him or wanted an apology, proving she must not have been into him enough to want to go out. They’d stayed friends, good friends, though they hadn’t spent much time together after graduating because of his being away so much, and now they were married. At least according to San Diego County.

  Goosebumps covered her arms. The air temperature in the cabin was cool at altitude. She’d mentioned not flying much. He turned off the air vent, then adjusted the blanket so she was fully covered.

  She didn’t stir. After what she’d been through the past months, she must be exhausted. She needed this vacation.

  He pushed a strand of hair off her face, her skin smooth beneath the pad of his fingertip.

  Ten days on the exclusive, private Starfish Island would get rid of those dark, puffy circles under Addie’s hazel eyes. Relaxing would erase the two lines of worry forming a permanent V above the top of her nose. She could learn to have fun, b
e herself again, and not think about anyone but herself. Something she couldn’t do caring for her grandmother.

  A flight attendant named Teresa touched the back of his seat. “Your wife looks like a painting. Very pretty.”

  Nick pulled his hand back, not realizing he was still touching Addie. “I’m a lucky man.”

  And he was. He couldn’t ask for a better friend. Addie Sinclair was a total sweetheart with a generous heart. She’d cared for her ill grandmother, pushing her around in a wheelchair, driving her to one doctor appointment after another, for nine freaking years. Addie deserved a medal or something. Whenever he was deployed, she emailed him and sent a weekly care package. She was the only woman he’d ever trusted with his secrets, with everything.

  But friendship was all they would have because nothing else lasted. His parents constant fighting and numerous affairs showed Nick marriage wasn’t all hearts and roses. Carrie’s lies and cheating had taught him emotions were best pushed aside and ignored. “Addie is one of a kind.”

  Teresa’s smile softened. “Is there anything I can get for you, Mr. Cahill?”

  Not for him, but Nick wanted to make this trip special for Addie. He knew how to start—a toast to this new chapter in their twenty-two year friendship. “Two mimosas, please.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Peanuts.” Addie hadn’t cared for the caviar, but she’d liked the little foil pouches containing peanuts.

  “Mimosas and peanuts coming right up.” The flight attendant walked to the front of the cabin.

  As if on cue, Addie blinked open her eyes.

  He looked away so she wouldn’t catch him staring.

  She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “Are we there yet?”

  “A couple more hours.”

  She glanced out the window. “It’s daytime.”

  “It’s also tomorrow. We crossed the dateline.”

  “Fiji is nineteen hours ahead of San Diego.” She spoke softly, her tone hushed no doubt due to the other passengers in first class still sleeping.

  “Someone’s been using Google.”

  Addie shrugged. “Figured I should know a few things about where we’re going. It’s better if we stay awake now that it’s daylight.”

  “Why?”

  “So we’ll be ready for bed five hours earlier than normal.”

  “You always have a plan.” Addie had been making plans for as long as he’d known her, from earning money at Coronado’s Fourth of July parade, selling water bottles from her wagon to working as a waitress at a coffee shop on Orange Avenue to pay for college. Money she ended up spending on property taxes and other expenses for her grandmother’s bungalow instead.

  “Not really. I’ve given up planning. Seems like all mine fizzle out. Case in point, Grammy’s will.”

  The resignation in Addie’s voice bothered him. “Choosing not to challenge the will wasn’t a fizzle. You made the best choice for yourself.”

  “And my bank account.” She shook her head. “Who knew lawyers could be so expensive?”

  “A lawsuit would have taken time and energy. You cut your losses and walked away. No shame there.”

  “I suppose.”

  He wanted her to have a positive outlook and be happy. The way she’d been when they were younger. “Times are changing for the better. No more worries. You have a place to live, food to eat, medical insurance, and tuition. I’ve ordered you credit cards and a debit card. Everything will be covered. I promise, it’s going to be okay. You’ll get your nursing degree the way you’ve talked about and find a great job at a hospital somewhere.”

  The edges of her mouth curved slightly. “You’re such a good friend.”

  Nick would have preferred a grin, but he’d take a half-smile . . . for now. “Feeling’s mutual.”

  Teresa returned with the mimosas in hand and her apron pocket full of peanut packages. “Your drinks and snacks.”

  Nick took the champagne flutes and handed one to Addie. Teresa placed the peanuts on the wide armrest then walked away. He raised his glass. “May our marriage be exactly what we want it to be.”

  Addie tapped her glass against his. The chime hung in the air above the monotonous drone of the engines. “I feel like a CD with a scratch, but thanks again.”

  A good thing he wore a seatbelt. Otherwise, the gratitude in her eyes would have knocked him to the floor. A funny feeling tickled his stomach. No one had ever looked at him like he was the sun in their world, but he was glad Addie did. He wanted her to be happy. “You’re welcome.”

  They were doing their own thing on the island, but he hoped they could spend time together, share a meal or two, something they hadn’t done much of since high school. “What’s the first thing you want to do when we arrive?”

  “Shower.”

  “After that.”

  She tilted her chin as if deep in thought. “A walk on the beach.”

  “You did that almost every day growing up in Coronado.”

  “In California, not Fiji.”

  “Point taken.”

  “What do you want to do first?” she asked.

  Spend time with her. “Swim.”

  Addie leaned toward him, eyes bright and dancing with excitement. “How about you swim while I shower, then we switch? You shower and I go for a walk.”

  “You realize you came up with a plan.”

  She straightened. “I did, didn’t I?”

  “This trip will have you back to your old self before you know it.”

  “I’d rather be a new self.”

  “I don’t see any need for a new you.”

  And he didn’t. Addie was . . . special. Just the way she was.

  After landing and a layover at Nadi International Airport, Addie and Nick boarded a floatplane. Flying on the smaller aircraft made Addie feel like she wasn’t on her way to a vacation, but off on an adventure. She wiggled her toes, more excited than nervous now.

  The seaplane made a pass around Starfish Island, giving her a bird’s eye view of her vacation home for the next ten days. She stared in wonder at the gorgeous sights below: white beaches, several hidden among rocky coves, lush greenery and rolling hills on the island’s interior and clear, blue water all around. “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

  Nick leaned over her shoulder, as if wanting a better look himself. They were the only two passengers on the small plane. “Welcome to paradise, Addie. This vacation is going to be good for you.”

  She nodded. “I want you to enjoy this, too.”

  “I will.”

  But Fiji was nothing new to Nick. He traveled the world, working in exotic locations and staying in luxurious accommodations. There might be more sun, sand, and downtime, but the island wasn’t that different from what he was used to. Still she hoped he had a good time. Maybe they could do something fun together—snorkel or fish. She missed hanging out with him.

  “Starfish Island has twenty-three private beaches for you to enjoy,” a fifty-something guy named Mitch, with long bleached-blond hair, said from the pilot seat. His window was partly open letting in the fresh, sea air. “The staff will help you decide which beach fits your needs best. All are secluded, but some are better suited for honeymooners.”

  For sex.

  Mitch meant sex on the beach.

  “We were hoping for some . . . privacy,” Nick said.

  I’m only human, babe.

  She remembered what he’d said on the transpacific flight this morning. If their marriage were real, she and Nick would be making the most of those hidden coves. Swimming, kissing, making love . . .

  Sexy images formed in her mind, ones starring her and Nick. Addie’s cheeks warmed. She focused on the scenery below.

  So what if this was their honeymoon? Sex was so not happening between them.

  Not on this trip. Not ever.

  Thinking about the possibility, even abstractly, was a bad id
ea. Like their marriage, the honeymoon wasn’t real. No need to fantasize about Nick. She would only be spending enough time with him so people believed they were newlyweds, then she would let him loose to do . . .

  Whatever Nick did.

  All are secluded, but some are better suited for honeymooners.

  Yeah, sex. Nick liked having sex. That was no secret, but he would be discreet if he met a woman and not go crazy. He enjoyed hooking up, but he wouldn’t embarrass Addie. He was too good a guy to do that.

  Maybe they would both meet people. Fall in love. Okay, that might be a bit much while on their honeymoon, but meeting a man and getting to know him wouldn’t be bad. She hadn’t dated in a long time. She wasn’t sure she remembered how to flirt. Maybe Nick could give her tips and she could practice on the island. Though he’d been protective of her whenever she was around his friends.

  Funny, because she’d never paid any attention to his friends. None compared to Nick in his board shorts with water dripping down his chest and flat abs. She wet her lips.

  What was the matter with her?

  Nick was gorgeous, but a heartbreaker. Being friends had been the safer choice then. Being friends was the only choice now.

  “We’ll be landing in a minute,” Mitch announced.

  Her excitement grew. “I can’t wait.”

  “When was your last vacation?” Nick asked her.

  “Cancun.”

  His eyebrows knotted. “Our high school graduation trip?”

  “I started taking care of my grandmother my freshman year of college.”

  “That’s right.” He got a faraway look in his eyes. “Cancun was a fun trip.”

  Except he hadn’t kissed her like she thought he would. Oh, well . . . Based on the wedding kiss, she hadn’t missed anything. “Fun until you told me you’d enlisted in the army and would be leaving the next week.”

  His tight squeeze on her shoulders brushed aside the memories and gave her more than a thrill. A heat sparked low in her belly. Maybe a goodbye kiss between friends wouldn’t have been so bad.

  Uh-oh. What was going on? She needed to stop thinking about kissing. Honeymoon in name only, remember? She couldn’t lose herself in a fantasy.