The Honeymoon Prize

by Melissa McClone

  Nick gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, his way of telling Addie he was here for her. He would take care of her the way she’d taken care of him during his parents’ fights, their divorce and his deployments. That was what friends did for one another.

  She rewarded him with a shy smile.

  A smile was good. They would get through this. Maybe have a good laugh about their escape from reality TV once they were back in San Diego.

  Brad grinned. The dude had the whitest teeth Nick had ever seen. Unnaturally white. Weird. Glow in the dark?

  “You okay?” Addie whispered, her breath warm against his skin.

  Always thinking about others.

  “Fine.” Nick focused on her small hand in his. He hadn’t realized how petite she was. She’d acted so strong and brave when they were growing up she seemed taller. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

  A large woman wearing a long blue dress greeted them outside their bure, a thatched roof cottage surrounded by palm trees and sand. “Welcome, welcome. I am Lani, your bure Mama. Call me Mama Lani. I will see to all your needs while you are on Starfish Island. You will have the most romantic honeymoon ever.”

  “Thank you.” Addie’s voice sounded weak, tired.

  “Oh, child, come to Mama Lani.” The woman enveloped Addie in a big hug. “You are exhausted. A wedding, travel. You need a bath, then a rest.”

  “It’s been a long day,” Nick agreed.

  Mama Lani patted his arm. Nothing more than a slight touch, but the woman exuded warmth and kindness, reminding him of his Aunt Eliza who never judged him like his parents had, but showered him with affection, attention, and little presents from the Dollar Store.

  “We need to shoot a few scenes first,” Brad said.

  Mama Lani frowned. “One scene. Then you go.”

  Nick liked Lani. A lot.

  “Come see your bure for the next ten days. You will like it. Your clothes arrived before you and are unpacked. A staff member will deliver your overnight bags shortly.”

  The camera crew followed, directed by a still smiling Brad. Didn’t the guy’s facial muscles get tired? Botox injections? He seemed too young for those.

  At the entrance, Brad cleared his throat. “Threshold.”

  Nick wanted the film crew gone. He swept Addie into his arms.

  She inhaled sharply. “What—?”

  “A husband carries his bride over the threshold, remember?” He hadn’t done this at his townhome after the ceremony. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind. Wedding traditions weren’t on his need-to-know list. But he liked how Addie felt against him, soft in all the right places.

  “Don’t hurt your back,” she cautioned.

  He couldn’t tell whether she was teasing or serious. Her voice sounded lighthearted, but her eyes darkened. He flashed a grin. “You’re not heavy.”

  Addie had curves he liked feeling. She wore modest clothes—baggy ones—that did nothing to stimulate the male imagination, but he remembered what she looked like in a bikini. Her image had fueled his teenaged fantasies until he learned to push them away. Like he should now with her hips pressing against his abdomen waking different parts of his anatomy.

  He carried Addie into the bure to the sitting area with an L-shaped couch and rattan coffee table. The inside was bright, open with a bedroom toward the back and a patio in front. A ceiling fan circulated the air, providing a light breeze.

  Nick placed Addie on the bamboo floor. “Welcome to paradise, Mrs. Cahill.”

  Pink tinged her cheeks. She looked up at him through her eyelashes. “Thanks . . . sweetie.”

  Aw, so cute. Nick kissed the top of her hand. “My pleasure.”

  Mama Lani released a loud sigh, then clapped her hands once. The sound echoed through the room. “That’s enough.”

  She shooed the film crew out of the bure. The four men left without a word. Brad typed on his tablet as he walked out.

  “Thank you,” Nick said to their new friend.

  “You rest.” Mama Lani took Addie by the hand. “I take care of your beautiful bride.”

  His muscles tightened. “I want to stay with her.”

  “It’s okay.” Addie said with a soft smile. “I’m tired. Must be jetlag. I could use some help.”

  Help she hadn’t received in the last nine years. A knot in his stomach tightened, grew. Her so-called family, nothing but selfish, money grubbing, entitled jerks, had put Addie through hell before and after her grandmother’s death.

  At least she had Mama Lani here.

  That might make up for the film crew.

  Then again . . .

  “Beer is in the bar,” Mama Lani said, leading Addie away.

  Nick did a quick surveillance of the bure, checking for hidden cameras and microphones. He didn’t trust many people and wouldn’t let his guard down around strangers, especially a film crew from a reality TV show.

  Paranoid? Maybe.

  Satisfied the bure was clean, Nick found the bar. Beer filled the mini fridge. “Now we’re talking.”

  With a bottle in hand, he walked out to the patio. A breeze carried the scent of salt and flowers, a nice combination. To his left was a day bed, large enough to fit two. He’d sleep here and give Addie the bed inside. On the right, a hammock hung between two palm trees.

  With a pull from the bottle, he sauntered over and lay down. “This is what I call a vacation.”

  The only thing missing was Addie. Nick hoped she was okay without him. He had to admit Mama Lani was a better person to draw Addie’s bath and help her undress. Though he was up for the job if need be. He took another drink.

  Better not think about a naked Addie.

  Holding her a few minutes ago had awakened dormant feelings, ones he’d buried back in high school. Addie was his friend, not some woman he wanted to hook up with then forget about.

  Nick wasn’t like a dragon that hadn’t been fed for over a decade. He knew how to handle attraction, push aside the feelings, as he’d always done. Addie would never know what he was thinking. He drank more beer.

  If only dealing with the film crew would be as easy. But an extraction plan was forming in his mind. Until they were out of here, Nick would do what he could to keep the cameras away. Addie would be safe. Nothing would happen to her. Not on his watch.

  The thick, luxurious cotton robe brushed Addie’s moisturized skin. She’d never felt more pampered after taking a long, relaxing soak in a bubble filled tub then rinsing off in a waterfall shower built for two. Yet the conch-shell sized knot of worry in the pit of her stomach hadn’t been washed away.

  She’d had crushes, dated, lusted and been in a relationship her freshman year of college until she had to drop out of school, but not once had she ever experienced the I-want-to-wake-up-next-to-you-every-morning-even-though-your-breath-is-foul kind of love, an everlasting love, the kind of love she’d dreamed about . . . forever.

  Being carried over the threshold in Nick’s arms gave her a glimpse of what that might be like. She wanted more. She wanted to find true love. She wanted the happily ever after.

  If she and Nick . . .

  Stop. Now.

  Getting caught up in the make-believe would complicate everything. They were pretending, nothing more would happen. End of story.

  Hanging out and being roommates had sounded easy enough, but Nick’s marriage plan had strings she hadn’t counted on. Addie needed to be careful. She might not be free for the next five years to find her Mr. Right, but that didn’t mean she should transfer her longing to Nick. Sure, she’d been in love with him before. Most girls at school had. But then, like now, she knew dating him would be bad, disastrous, worst idea ever.

  “You look better. More relaxed.” A big, warm smile spread across Mama Lani’s face, making Addie yearn for another hug. The woman’s hugs gave a sense of belonging and home, two things she hadn’t felt in months. “You’ll have to make sure your husband eats dinner. Mr. Nick won’t be able to take his eyes off you tonight.
”

  “I’m a yoga pants and oversized T-shirt kind of girl.” Caring for her grandmother took too much time and money for Addie to be into fashion. She might have felt invisible to the opposite sex during that time, but comfortable and cheap continued to be Addie’s motto. “Nick doesn’t mind. Besides, he’s going to be tired. All he’ll want to do is eat, then go to bed.”

  “He’s napping on the hammock outside. Even if he’s still tired, I’ll make sure he stays awake.” Mama Lani pointed to a light pink cocktail dress hanging on a bathroom hook. “There’ll be no drowsy eyes while you’re wearing that.”

  Addie’s breath caught in her throat. “Oh, how gorgeous.”

  “The color will be flattering on you.”

  She touched the fabric. Soft, shimmery, light. So lovely. The dress was like nothing she’d worn or could afford. “This is mine?”

  Mama Lani nodded. “You have an entire closet full of clothes as beautiful as this. Whoever chose your wardrobe did a wonderful job with the colors and styles.”

  “Wow.” Addie hadn’t worn something this nice since splurging on a prom dress her senior year of high school. “This is some honeymoon prize.”

  “There’s lingerie, too.” Mama Lani handed her a pair of pink lace panties, wispy as spun sugar. “Lots of frilly things for you to wear.”

  Addie stared at the sexy panties as if the lace were radioactive. Multi-colored hipsters were her standard fare, paired with sensible bras. She didn’t own a scrap of lace. Her only thong, a gag gift from Emily one Christmas, had been tossed in the back of a dresser drawer. Too much or rather, too little, for Addie to wear for herself.

  These new panties were a novelty. A challenge. A chance to step outside her normal self and be another woman, an adventurous one who showered under a waterfall and wore shimmering fabrics over delicate lace. A part of her couldn’t wait. But the other part was . . . hesitant. Uncertain. Overwhelmed.

  Addie wrapped her arms across her churning stomach, then leaned back against the counter.

  Mama Lani was at Addie’s side in an instant. “What’s wrong?”

  A pain formed behind her forehead. She massaged her temples, but that didn’t help. This was a mental ache, not a physical one. “I’m not used to dressing up in fancy clothes or wearing make-up. Ponytails are my normal hairstyle. All this is so strange. I’m a little scared.”

  Anxiety spiraled. An invisible weight pressed on her chest. She struggled for air. Everything about this trip was out of her comfort level. She’d never spent this much time with Nick, not even when they were kids. Sure, she’d moved into the guest room at his townhouse, but since that night she hadn’t seen him until the morning of their wedding.

  Nothing she could do about Nick, but the pink dress . . . Beautiful, except a beach towel provided the same coverage, maybe more. “I’m not sure I can pull off this kind of style. I’ve never worn anything strapless. I’m going to look . . . awkward.”

  “You’re a beautiful woman with a stunning trousseau.” Mama Lani patted Addie’s shoulder. “You will look lovely, not awkward. Once you put on the dress, you’ll see how good you feel. And your husband will enjoy undressing you.”

  The thought of Nick unzipping her dress brought a smile. Uh-no. She pressed her lips together. Unless the zipper broke, the guy was not touching her clothing.

  “Look at yourself.” Mama Lani turned her so they faced the mirror. “You have a perfect complexion. No foundation is necessary.”

  Addie focused on her reflection. “But the freckles—

  “Add character.”

  She’d never thought of her freckles that way. They’d always been something she wanted to hide or go away. “Character is good I suppose.”

  “Very good. You have lovely features and beautiful hazel green eyes,” Mama Lani pointed out. “You don’t need much make-up. Some blush to bring out your cheekbones and a touch of mascara to highlight your long lashes.”

  “I didn’t pack make-up, only lip gloss.”

  “Cosmetics were provided with the new wardrobe.”

  “The contest thought of everything.”

  Mama Lani nodded. “I have friends who can teach you about make-up and help me with your hair. No ponytail tonight.”

  “It’s nice of you to offer, but that’s not your job.”

  “I’m your mama bure. Let me mama you.”

  Warmth flowed through Addie. She felt special and cared for, a way she hadn’t felt since her grandmother’s stroke nine years ago. They’d switched roles overnight. Addie had been a freshman on a full-ride scholarship with a boyfriend, first semester finals behind her, but that changed in an instant. She’d had to change. No more going out and having fun when her grandmother needed constant care and bills paid.

  “Sure. I’d like that very much.” Maybe having the film crew following them didn’t have to ruin her time here. Maybe having Mama Lani around could salvage the vacation. Maybe Addie could have fun, something she’d missed having for so long. And, of course, there was Nick. Face-to-face time would be nice. She straightened her shoulders. “Guess it’s makeover time.”

  Nick woke to a chorus singing. Not people, birds. The sound carried on the sea breeze and settled on the palm fronds above him. He lifted himself onto his elbows, staring through the greenery to the waves rolling to shore. The hammock swung back and forth, tempting him to close his eyes and go back to sleep.

  Something hummed. Not a bird. An engine.

  Adrenaline sent him out of the hammock and to his feet in one fluid movement. Every muscle tensed, on alert and ready to act.

  He scanned the periphery, looking for anything threatening or out of the ordinary. Nothing in close range.

  On the water, a pontoon boat motored. The driver wore the blue and white resort uniform. A couple, his passengers, wore swimsuits and laughed, their arms linked around each other’s waists.

  No threat. Nick’s pulse slowed.

  Vacation. Time to relax, not work. But his job was protecting those around him. Turning off those instincts didn’t just happen when he felt responsible for Addie.

  Something rustled behind him.

  He spun.

  Mama Lani stood in the doorway to the bure. “Addie is finished, Mr. Nick.”

  He swiped his empty beer bottle from the ground, then went inside. Quiet, except for the fan. He didn’t see Addie. The hair at the back of his neck stiffened. “Where is she?”

  “Off being pampered.”

  “Addie needs to be spoiled while she’s on Starfish Island.”

  Mama Lani eyed him warily. “Your bride deserves to be spoiled no matter where she is, including home.”

  “That’s what I plan to do,” he said quickly, feeling defensive. If asked to pick sides, Mama Lani had Team Addie written all over her. “But we’re here now.”

  “Towels are in the bathroom along with a robe and an outfit to complement Addie’s dress.”

  Starfish Island was known for their service and so far he wasn’t disappointed. He’d never been one for lounging outside the bedroom, but he could get used to this. “Thanks. I appreciate you taking such good care of us, especially Addie. She’s been through a rough time.”

  “Then it’s good she has both of us.”

  Nick nodded, but unease coiled in his gut. He’d been out of the country when Addie’s grandmother died, and her life fell apart. She hadn’t contacted him right away, or he would have paid the funeral expenses and given her a place to stay. At least he could help her now. An image of Addie asleep on the plane formed. So sweet and vulnerable. He would make sure no one took advantage or hurt her again.

  “Once you’re ready, go to the dock on the right side of the bure. That’s where dinner will be served.” Mischief gleamed in Mama Lani’s dark eyes. “I have something special for your first meal together in paradise.”

  “Can’t wait. I’m starving.”

  She grinned wryly. “I promise tonight will more than satisfy your appetite.”

>   Nick showered, then put on a tropical print button down and linen tan pants. He stared at the clothes hanging in the armoire—polo shirts, T-shirts, button downs, shorts, pants, a lightweight cotton sports coat—giving kudos to whoever purchased his wardrobe. High-quality and stylish resort clothes.

  By the time he arrived at the dock, the sun was sinking into the horizon. Streaks of blue, pink and purple painted the sky. The temperature had dropped a few degrees.

  Lanterns illuminated the way. At the end of the dock, flames from three torches reflected in the water. More lanterns, sitting on the dock between the poles, provided a soft glow of light for a table set for two. Tropical flowers filled a vase placed on a white linen cloth. Flickering candlelight danced. Waves rolled against the dock with a soothing, rhythmic sound.

  So romantic. Exactly what a newlywed couple would enjoy. Especially a blushing bride like Addie.

  Nick tugged on the neckline of his shirt. Not the time to get caught up in the trappings of hearts, flowers, and violins. He knew better. A fake marriage with Addie had a better chance of succeeding than a real one like his parents’.

  Heels clicked against the dock.

  He glanced toward the shore.

  A woman walked toward him with flowers braided in her long, curly brown hair.

  His mouth went dry. Stunning was the only word to describe her.

  She wore a sexy light pink dress. The strapless bodice showed off firm, round breasts and a trim waist. The skirt clung to her hips then flared, flowing around her thighs and falling well above her knees. Strappy silver sandals accentuated long, slim legs.

  He took a closer look at her face, did a double take, choked on a breath, coughed. “Addie?”

  “Mama Lani went all out tonight.”

  Hot damn. “Look at you. Smokin’.”

  She spun around, sending her skirt flying up. A peek of her pink lace panties sent his temperature soaring as if a solar flare had exploded inside him.

  “You like?” she asked.

  “Very much.”

  Addie smoothed the sexy dress. “The style is different from what I usually wear.”

  “Suits you. Let’s you shine.”