He could see the tears falling before she even opened the door, and she ran for her house.
He slowly got out and found Ubon with a huge spread of food on the table.
Hayden sat down and began dishing up his plate. He ate slowly, his anger simmering. Mostly at himself. He should’ve left her in the friend zone where she belonged. Instead, he was frustrated, and she was hurt. Ubon was watching him. After a few minutes, she picked up a plate and shrugged her shoulders.
He pulled out his phone and sent Ubon a message. She’s mad.
Ubon spoke to him in rapid Thai. He had no idea what she said but it was probably something along the lines of, “You asshole, what have you done?”
Finally, he stopped eating, filled a plate with food for Anna, and handed it to Ubon. He pointed to Anna’s house. She stomped her foot and raised her voice at him.
He let out a breath and took out his phone.
Please take Anna the plate. He pointed again.
Ubon glanced at her phone and glared at him. He watched her take the plate and go knock on the door. He couldn’t see Anna from where he sat, but Ubon came back without the plate.
Hayden finished his food and took his plate to the sink as a peace offering, but Ubon wouldn’t look at him. Hayden was angry with himself for making Anna cry, but it was better this way. She couldn’t think anything was going anywhere with him. But he’d thought she was of the same mind. He couldn’t figure out what she was so upset about.
Chapter 16
Anna woke up to a pounding on her door. It was still dark outside. What the hell?
She looked out the window and saw Hayden standing there in his swimming trunks. Oh no. She wasn’t going anywhere with that bastard today.
She cracked open the door and kept her foot behind it so he couldn’t push it open. “What do you want?”
“We’re going to the beach. Need to get an early start.”
“I can go to the beach anytime I want and not with you.” She moved to shut the door, but he blocked it with his foot.
“Not this beach you can’t. It’s supposed to be the most beautiful beach in the world. Come on, when will you get another chance to go?”
Dammit. He had a point. But she didn’t want to go anywhere with him.
“What time is it?” It felt like it was still the middle of the night, especially since she cried herself to sleep.
Hayden grinned at her. “Five-thirty.” He shoved past her and flung himself down on her couch. “I’ll wait for you here. You’re not getting out of this. You don’t need to shower. Just throw on your suit, pack a change of clothes, and grab a towel.”
She stayed next to the door and crossed her arms. Her brain wasn’t functioning fully, and she had no idea how to argue with him. She didn’t want to spend the next week avoiding him, but he had been an ass. A big one. She supposed she could go to the beach and ignore him.
She stumbled to her bedroom and found one of those tiny bikinis he’d bought her, and she changed quickly. She put on a short cover-up dress and blinked at herself in the bathroom mirror. The skin under her eyes was puffy, and tearstains streaked her cheeks.
She splashed water on her face, dried it off, and jumped when she looked in the mirror. Hayden was standing in the bathroom doorway.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Making sure you didn’t go back to bed.”
She rolled her eyes. “Let me put on some makeup, and I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Nope. No makeup today.”
She turned to him, toothbrush in hand. “My eyes are all puffy. I’m not going out without putting on something.”
Her hand shook when she put the toothpaste on the brush. She ran water over it and stuck it into her mouth. What was the hell was she thinking? She should just stay holed up in her little house.
He’d basically accused her of being a slut last night, and she had no idea what to expect of him today, but she wanted to go to that beach. She rinsed out her mouth and reached for her makeup bag. But Hayden snatched it up first.
“Nope. Let’s go.”
“I’m not leaving without covering up the lines under my eyes.”
He shook his head. “The sun will take care of that. Until then, it will remind me of what an ass I was last night, and I need to be reminded. Now go. I’ll put your makeup away when you’re in the living room.”
She stood in front of him for a few moments, glaring, with her arms crossed. She couldn't think of an argument, so she grabbed a beach bag and put in her towel, a change of clothes, and sunscreen. She shoved her sunglasses onto her face. One way or another she was covering up the evidence of her tear-filled night.
She yawned and followed Hayden out the front door. A wet nose bumped her, and Anna scratched behind Una’s ears.
Hayden opened the car door and whistled. Una jumped into the back seat.
“She’s coming with us?”
“She loves the water and boats.”
Anna sank into the front seat, wondering if she could sleep in the car. Though she supposed she’d probably get some naptime on the beach. She was slightly more awake now than she was before, and she was regretting her decision to go with him. He had been an ass, and she didn’t really want to try to be all buddy-buddy with him.
Hayden handed her a small bag when he got into the car.
“What’s this?” she asked, wary.
“A peace offering. I’m really, really sorry about last night. I was jealous of those other guys.”
“Jealous, why?”
“Because I like you, Anna. And I can’t have you. So I said things I didn’t mean to drive you away. I’m sorry.”
She took the bag with caution. She looked inside, and her stomach tingled. “Thank you.”
He’d bought her four new books. It didn’t make up for what he said, but at least he was trying.
“I don’t know what you liked to read, so I picked a few off the best seller rack in Tesco. I went last night after you went to bed. Got us snacks and stuff for today as well.”
She pulled out all the books. “I’ve read this one,” she said, setting it aside. “But not the other three.”
He took it from her. “Guess I’m reading this one then. Is it decent?”
She nodded, still not quite sure what to say. It was a sweet gesture.
She remained quiet as they drove, and she watched the coconut trees and buildings fly by. Hayden was fidgety and antsy. He was trying to make it up to her, but she figured it would be best if she distanced herself from him.
They pulled into a marina just as the sun began to rise.
He put a leash on Una and handed it to Anna. “Can you hang onto her while I go see what boat we’re on?”
There were tourists everywhere. All crammed on boats that seemed too small for the number of people they were transporting. Anna wondered how Hayden had planned on doing this with Una. No one else had a dog.
He came back to the car and took a cooler out of the trunk.
“Can you carry the other backpack? I’m full.”
She shrugged it on and followed him past the boats and down a long dock. Trash floated in the water, and Anna wondered if the beach they were heading to was even going to be safe to swim in. As they neared the end of the dock, he pointed to a boat that was much bigger than any of the ones that the tourists were getting on.
“This is us.” He climbed up and set his stuff down on the rear of the boat. Una jumped up after him. He held his hand out for Anna. She took it, and he pulled her up. The boat was similar to the one Eileen’s family took out on the lake every summer but bigger. She’d always loved going out on the lake with them.
“Our captain will be here soon, and then we can go. Do you want to help me put the food away?”
“Sure.” She followed him into the galley.
The captain and his assistant joined them a few minutes later. Anna sat on the bow as the boat took off. Una lay down next to her. Hayden joined them
and settled next to Una.
“What are we doing today?” Anna asked.
“It’s a bit of a ride to get away from all the tourists. We’ll spend a couple of hours here on the boat, and then we’ll stop and go snorkeling. After that we’ll eat lunch, and then we’ll go to a private beach and spend the rest of the day. The island we’re going to has some hiking if you want. We’ll eat dinner, and then head to the mainland. Does that sound okay?”
“It sounds amazing.” It sounded incredibly romantic, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to let her guard down. They sliced through the crystal clear water.
“Do you know how to snorkel?” Hayden asked.
“No. I spent a lot of time swimming in Lake Michigan, but there’s not many opportunities for snorkeling there.”
He chuckled. “No, there’s not. You’re in for a treat today then. It’s pretty easy. I’ll help you get situated.”
She stood. She had to get away from him. So far, he hadn’t given her any indication he wanted to repeat the kiss from the other night, and she couldn’t resist touching him when he was close. Plus, she was still mad at him.
“I think I’m going to go take a nap up on the upper deck. Wake me up when we get to the snorkeling.”
He nodded and made no move to follow.
She spread out her towel upstairs and slathered on sunscreen. She managed to get her shoulders, but her back was too difficult. She wanted to sleep on her stomach. Could she risk it? The sun beat hot on the deck. Nope, she’d be fried to a crisp.
Bottle in hand, she climbed down and found Hayden still sitting on the bow with Una.
“Can you get my back?”
He raised his eyebrows at her. “Sure.”
She handed him the sunscreen, and he squeezed a little into his hands and rubbed them together. “You need to turn around.”
She had to force herself to look away from him. “Right.”
He started with her shoulders and neck, and she shivered. His touch was electrifying. Slowly he made his way down her back. He was deliberately taking his time, but she didn’t care. This felt too good.
His fingers brushed the top edge of her bikini bottom and pushed out toward her hips. She nearly let out a moan.
“All done,” he said and removed his hands.
“Thanks.” She raced for the stairs before she said or did something stupid.
Once on the top, she lay down on her stomach, trying to calm her racing heart. She’d hoped sleep would come quickly. What would the next week be like with Hayden? What would happen when he found out she wasn’t leaving for another two weeks? Would he still let her stay? Did she want to?
Those questions plagued her as tried in vain to fall asleep. She felt the floor move as someone climbed onto the roof. She kept her eyes closed and her breathing even and deep. She didn’t want to talk to Hayden. Not yet.
She felt him sit down very close to her. He brushed her hair out of her face. “Are you awake?” he whispered in her ear.
When she didn’t respond, he slid his fingers down her arm. He must’ve laid down next to her, because she could feel his breath on her face. Her pulse sped up, and she had to concentrate so as not to give away that she was awake.
“How come you make me so crazy?” he muttered, so close she felt his breath across her lips. He continued to run his fingers up and down her arms as he spoke. “I can’t get you out of my head. You’re incredible in ways I didn’t even know were possible. You make me want things I can’t have. Things that I shouldn’t. I want you so bad, but I can’t have you. Because if I have you, I might not be able to let you go.”
Anna couldn’t take it anymore. Those words were exactly what she wanted to hear. She blinked her eyes open and saw his eyes widen in surprise.
“So don’t,” she said and pressed her lips against his. He returned the kiss eagerly and leaned into her.
Abruptly, he pulled away and stood. “I can’t do this.”
“Why not?” Anna asked, sitting up. She couldn’t handle this whiplash. First he wanted her, and then he didn’t.
He paced back and forth. “Because I’m going to end up hurting you. Seriously, you leave next weekend and then what? You’re just going to wait for me to come back? For what? I can’t promise you anything. I’m not in this for the long run. But seriously, you drive me insane. I can’t stop thinking about you. And the thought of you being with anyone else makes me jealous. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I don’t understand how this is possible.”
Anna stared at the turquoise water. He’d basically told her that no matter what, she’d get hurt. Was she willing to risk that? If they got close and he left, he’d leave her in a puddle on the floor. But maybe a few months with Hayden was an experience she wanted to have. Even if it was dangerous.
She stood and slid her hand across his abdomen and pulled him close. She couldn’t believe she was being so forward.
“What if I don’t care? I know that this could hurt, but I’m willing to take that chance. Because, Hayden, you’ve gotten into my head too. For the past week, all we’ve done is try to deny the attraction we have toward one another. What if we give in and see what happens?”
Hayden kissed her lightly and made no move to pull away. “Sounds scary.”
“Scary is not always a bad thing. I was terrified before I came, and now I’m not sure I’d trade this experience for anything in the world.”
“It’s been a long time since I did anything that frightened me. Maybe you’re right.”
“Really?” Anna was surprised he’d given in so easily. She’d expected to have to talk him into this. Though maybe he was hoping for the same thing she was. She shook her head knowing she was wrong. He warned her he wouldn’t be around forever.
For the next hour they talked, kissed, and laughed. Anna couldn’t ever remember being more comfortable with a man. Nothing about him was awkward, and she felt like she could completely be herself. It was like the first night they spent together, except there was no tequila to do the talking.
The boat stopped, and the captain yelled up.
“Doc, this is a good place to swim.”
“Be down in a sec,” Hayden called and they climbed down the ladder.
Fifteen minutes later, they stood on the edge of the boat. Anna felt ridiculous with the snorkel gear on her face, but Hayden looked equally ridiculous. He even made her wear fins. She slid into the water after him. It was crystal clear, and she could already see the fish swimming in the coral beneath her.
Hayden took his mouthpiece out. “The trick is to breath in and out of your mouth. It feels weird at first, but after a few minutes it seems normal. You ready?”
She put her mouthpiece in, nodded her head, and stuck her face into the water. A new world opened up. Directly beneath her were yellow striped fish, and far beneath them a few clownfish swam near the coral. Anna had to get a better look. She plunged down into the water, kicking her feet behind her. She inhaled a mouthful of salt water. She jerked up and whipped out her mouthpiece, coughing. Hayden popped his head up and pulled out his own mouthpiece.
“You okay?” he asked.
She continued to cough, but nodded. After she pulled herself together, she shook out the mouthpiece.
“I tried to go down too far. That is incredible.”
He chuckled. “You need to learn how to dive.”
“Yeah, I do.”
She had water in the mask as well, so she shook that out and resituated herself.
She sucked in a deep breath through her nose to seal the mask and plunged her face back in. The colors were breathtaking. Bright blue and yellow. Near the coral, she spotted an eel.
Hayden pointed to a sea turtle swimming among the fish. It was so peaceful, quiet and beautiful.
A huge school of silver fish scattered, and Anna’s heart nearly stopped. A six-foot shark swam several yards beneath her. She clutched Hayden’s arm, and he pointed at the shark and then gave her a thumbs up. She wasn’t
convinced. Her blood pounded in her ears until it was out of sight.
After a while, they slowly made their way toward the boat. A school of tiny silver fish swam in and out of her legs. She jerked up in surprise and found the boat in front of her. The captain stood on the back of the boat, laughing. He had bread in his hand, and he was throwing the pieces at her so the fish would swarm her.
She laughed.
Hayden climbed onto the boat and helped her on board, and she took off her mask.
“That was incredible. But I was terrified we’d get eaten by that shark.”
“That was a reef shark and completely harmless. I’ve dived before and seen them.”
Hayden handed her a towel, and Anna followed him up the stairs once again. Several dishes were spread out on a blanket. Fruit, rice, and what she hoped was chicken on a stick. They sat close to each other as they ate, and watched the water.
After lunch they sat on the bow of the boat. Hayden leaned against the cabin and pulled her down onto his lap, and she leaned against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her as they sped through the water.
“Thank you for making me come today. This is beautiful.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for giving me a second chance.”
She was glad she had even though she’d fallen hard already. Hopefully he was worth it.
Chapter 17
Hayden watched Anna as she stepped onto the sand, waiting for her reaction. This beach was so unbelievably beautiful it took his breath away, and he’d seen his fair share of beautiful beaches.
Anna knelt down and slid her fingers through the white sand. He wasn’t quite sure what the hell he was doing with her, but he hoped she wouldn’t be too upset when he called it off.
“The water. It’s so clear,” she said, pointing out toward the water.
“That it is.”
She beamed at him. “I want to build a house here and never leave.”
“You know, a house here would fall into the ocean. Tides and all.”
She walked up to him, and he had to fight the urge to pull her close because he liked her way too much. Would he have the courage to call it off when he needed to?
Monkeys and Mayhem (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 4) Page 10