“Of course,” Bernadette said. She immediately began to busy herself on her phone and didn’t look at me once as we made our way through security and onto the plane. This is going to be a very long trip, I thought.
Chapter 10 – Bernadette
I eventually fell asleep during the flight to the Caribbean. I dreamt Edgar kept unbuttoning my sweater and instead of stopping him, I pulled him in and kissed him. His lips were hot on mine and his arms wrapped tightly around me.
I sat up with a start, instantly wide awake. Edgar sat next to me, reading a book. He looked over at my sudden movement. I took a moment to catch my breath. It was just a dream. It didn’t mean anything.
“Are we almost there?” I asked him.
“Yes, your timing was perfect. Take a look.” He gestured towards the window.
In a surprising act of chivalry, Edgar had let me sit by the window. I had closed the blind when I wanted to sleep. Now I pushed the blind up to look out the window. The view was spectacular. The sun had reached the horizon and spreading pinks and purples infiltrated the sky. The water around the island was as blue as it looked in photos. The sand was golden against the dying light. As land got closer, I could make out tall palm trees and bright green foliage. It truly did look like paradise.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, still entranced with the view.
“Yes, I guess it’s nice. Have you never been?” Edgar asked.
“No, I’ve never even left the country. I mean, I’ve been to Mexico a few times and I went to Canada once, but no further.”
“Ah, well, you should like it. It’s really a lovely island. The perfect place to cheat on your special someone.”
“Way to ruin the mood.”
“I meant Mr. Coleman, of course. That’s why we’re here.”
“Right. I knew that.”
The ride to the hotel was just as beautiful. We passed colorful flowers and plants I couldn’t identify in the car Edgar had hired to take us from the airport to the resort. The chauffeur had taken my suitcase and ushered me into the backseat. The town car was luxuriously upholstered in rich black leather and there were two icy bottles of water already waiting for us. I could definitely get used to traveling on someone else’s dime, I thought as I let myself sink into the plush leather as I sipped my water. I could almost forget that I was here on work. Of course, if this wasn’t a work trip, I wouldn’t be here with Edgar, I reminded myself.
Pleasures, the resort, was an immense, white stucco set of buildings that were located right on the beach. The driver pulled up a long, private driveway to the entrance of the resort and escorted us out before getting our bags.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I said, reaching for my suitcase.
“Nonsense darling,” said Edgar, in an overly sweet tone. “It’s our honeymoon. You don’t have to lift a finger.” As he said this, he wrapped me in a hug. He quietly whispered in my ear, “Showtime.”
Right, it was time to pretend to be the happy married couple. That was why I was here and why I was getting paid. Still, it felt strange being in his arms. They were stronger than his wiry frame would suggest. I wanted to snuggle into his chest. But instead, I disengaged myself, as subtly as I could, and said, probably a bit too loudly, “You’re right . . . dear. This is our vacation. Time to relax and be madly in love.”
Edgar cocked an eyebrow and I could tell he thought I was overdoing it. I stopped talking and followed him inside as he checked in with the hotel front desk.
The lobby of the resort was just as beautiful as the outside. A break from the heat, the interior was cool and air-conditioned without being too cold. Gleaming marble tiles lined the floor, and framed photos of tropical sunsets hung on the walls. Large potted plants gave the place a tropical feel. Edgar took me to the check in desk of the hotel, an immense counter with a smiling young woman behind it.
“Hello, Alice,” Edgar said, reading the woman’s name tag. “I’m Edgar Rake, and my wife and I would like to check in.” I felt a strange thrill being called his wife with his arm wrapped around my waist. It was nothing, I told myself. I was just nervous about this job, I decided.
“Welcome to Pleasures Mr. and Mrs. Rake,” said the smiling Alice as she pulled up our reservation. “Yes, we have you two in one of our honeymoon suites.”
“That’s right,” said Edgar. “Because this is our honeymoon.”
“Congratulations to both of you. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time here,” Alice said with the same pleasant professionalism.
Now who is being too obvious, I thought. I leaned into him and whispered in his ear, “I think she figured that out. Don’t want to overdo it.”
At that, Edgar looked at me and gave me a wicked smile. He had a dangerous gleam in his eye that made me want to gasp.
“And we just can’t wait to enjoy being married,” Edgar said and pulled me into a kiss. I was so surprised, I didn’t resist. His lips were soft and hot on mine and I could feel just a touch of rough stubble on his face. He held me tight and his kiss was hungry. I lost myself in the passion and kissed him back, breathing in his woody cologne and feeling safe in his strong arms. David never held me like this . . . I violently pushed Edgar away. I couldn’t believe I had let him kiss me. I felt hot and confused. I was supposed to be taking a break from men, not kissing my boss. I didn’t want to admit that I liked it or worse, that I had kissed him back.
Edgar and Alice both looked startled at my sudden reaction. I had to think of something to say. I considered confessing all, but I would lose my job and lose Edgar the case. I was angry at him, but I still didn’t want to hurt him.
“Edgar, don’t be so rude to this lady,” I gestured to Alice. “We’re in public,” I lightly scolded, trying to sound playful. “We’ll have plenty of time for that this week.” It sounded forced, but Edgar nodded and Alice never lost her professional smile. She must be used to seeing a lot of PDA working at a couples-only tropical resort.
“Of course, darling. I’m so sorry,” he said to Alice, who waved it away like it was nothing. “I am just so happy that I convinced this stunning woman to marry me.”
“You are such a flirt,” I said to Edgar. I could feel myself blushing, and I hated that I couldn’t stop. As soon as Alice gave us our keys and directed us to where our suite was, I hastily grabbed Edgar’s arm and directed him to our room. I kept a smile plastered on my face, and waited until the bellhop left our luggage with us before closing the door behind us. The room was the height of luxury, but I refused to be impressed.
“What the hell was that?” I demanded, as soon as we were alone.
“I don’t know what you mean.” But Edgar didn’t sound convincing in the slightest.
“You’re my boss!” I yelled back.
“And you are also hired to act like my loving wife this weekend so I can get my job done. Unless you don’t want to have a job,” he said, a new iron in his voice. “What exactly did you think posing as newlyweds would mean? I’d hate to really be married to you if you thought kissing was off limits.”
His last comment stung, though I couldn’t say why. “I just wasn’t expecting that,” I said lamely. I was frustrated. The fact that I had enjoyed the kiss, even kissed him back, bothered me the most.
His voice softened. “I’m sorry,” he said. Surprised, I looked at him. “I probably shouldn’t have sprung that on you right away. But we do have to act like two people in love, or it will cause suspicion. Think of it like a play. When we kiss, it’s acting. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Sure,” I said. My voice had lost most of its venom. “You’re right. It’s just acting.” I wanted to believe the kiss didn’t mean anything, especially as it clearly hadn’t meant anything to Edgar. “I just . . . I think I need some time to myself and to wrap my head around all of this. I’m going to get a drink.”
“Good idea,” Edgar said. He sounded relieved, and whether it was because I wasn’t yelling at him anymore or because I was leavi
ng, I couldn’t tell. “And when you’re at the bar, keep your eyes open for Mr. Coleman.” Chloe Coleman had given us a photo of her husband, so we’d know who to look for.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” Before he could say anything else, I left the room.
Chapter 11 - Edgar
I watched Bernadette leave our room. Part of me wanted to follow her. I was irritated that she was being so difficult. She had no right to be angry. This was just acting, it didn’t mean anything that I kissed her. And yet . . . I couldn’t deny that I had enjoyed it. She was soft in my arms and I wanted to hold her there so much longer. I was hungry for her and kissed her much more fiercely than what the job required. Honestly, I didn’t need to kiss her in front of the receptionist to keep up appearance, but I had wanted to so badly.
It was good that she had left the room. It gave me time to collect myself. I was in danger of losing my professional distance with her, and that would break my rule of never getting emotionally involved with anyone. But I couldn’t deny that I really wanted to kiss her again. I wanted to do more than just kiss her. I wanted to unbutton her sweater and rip off that pink dress and take her on the oversized bed in this honeymoon suite. I wanted to run my tongue over her breasts and have my cock inside her. What am I thinking, I chastised myself. This was my assistant and I shouldn’t have these thoughts about her. However, I could have sworn that she had kissed me back in the lobby. But I must have been imaging it.
I recalled that she had said she ‘used to’ have a boyfriend when I inquired about her seeing action movies. I knew that meant she was single now. I was surprised that she was so optimistic about love when it sounded like she had recently been hurt in love. Part of me wanted to take away that pain and make her mine. But the other part of me knew that was impossible.
I unpacked my things and tried not to think about Bernadette. I took a moment to enjoy the room. It was a lush suite, tastefully decorated in white and gold. There was a large bedroom, a living room with a couch, TV, fireplace and a gorgeous bathroom with an oversized bathtub that had jets on the sides. I thought about Bernadette in that tub, naked and smooth to the touch. No! I wouldn’t think about her like that.
I needed to clear my head. I decided to go for a walk. Maybe I would get lucky and run into Mr. Coleman. That would make my job easier. And being distracted by my assistant certainly wasn’t making things easier.
The resort was beautiful, with lush flora and fauna that emphasized the tropical feel of the place. White marble paths cut through vivid green lawns, most leading to the private beach. The air was warm, and I could smell the flowers that grew along the paths. They were sweet, but not as appealing as Bernadette’s perfume. I strode to the beach, where it was cooler. I took off my sandals when I got to the shore, and the white sand was silky-soft underfoot. The water was a vibrant blue that wouldn’t need any photoshopping to look like any resort brochure. I inhaled the salty air as I strode along the shore. I couldn’t stop thinking about Bernadette, and that bothered me. I hadn’t been so obsessed with anyone since Molly, and I had ended up marrying her. And look what happened after that, I reminded myself.
I veered away from the beach and back to the resort. As nice as a solitary walk on the beach was, it wasn’t going to get me the photos of Mr. Coleman that I would need to get paid. I gripped my phone in my pocket, ready to pull it out and take some photos should I run into the man on my walk.
I didn’t find him, and after circling around the resort a few more times, I reluctantly returned to the room. I opened the door, wondering if Bernadette had come back. She hadn’t. I felt a stab of disappointment, even though she was mad at me and would probably just yell at me some more when she did get back. Though her cheeks had a very pretty flush in them when she was angry, not that I’d ever tell her that. I wondered what else could make her so flushed. Not that I’m going to find out, I reminded myself.
I sat on the bed and grabbed the room service menu from the nightstand. It had gotten late, and I was famished. I had no interest in going to any of the six onsite restaurants, and a quiet night sounded good. I dialed room service and started to place my order.
The door opened, and Bernadette entered the room. She had taken off her sweater and was holding it. She looked more tired than angry.
“Hold on a sec,” I said to the operator on the phone. I turned to Bernadette. “Would you like some food?”
“Huh?”
“Dinner. Do you want something to eat?”
“Yeah, thanks,” Bernadette said.
“You got it,” I said. Back on the phone, I continued, “I’ll take two of the cheeseburgers, extra fries, two piña coladas and a slice of cheesecake.” I hung up.
“You’re just going to order for me?” Bernadette asked, but she didn’t sound as angry as earlier, just exasperated. “What if I was a vegetarian?”
“I wouldn’t hire a vegetarian. They are a crime against enjoying delicious meat.” She looked at me quizzically.
“I’m kidding. Not that vegetarians aren’t missing out on real food, but that I wouldn’t hire one. Your dietary preferences didn’t enter into my decisions to hire you at all.”
“And what did?” Bernadette sounded curious.
You looked like a sexy librarian, I thought. But I knew better than to say that. “You were available and looked mildly competent.”
“You do know how to compliment a girl.”
“Besides, you’re not a vegetarian.”
“And how do you know that?”
“You had a sausage biscuit at the airport.”
“Ok, I’m not a vegetarian.”
“Of course you’re not. I just said so. Besides, I’ve heard the burgers are fantastic here.”
“I’m still mad at you,” Bernadette said, but she didn’t sound mad.
“I can’t stop you being mad at me. But it will ruin your appetite and then you’ll miss out on enjoying a fantastic burger.”
“That’s not true,” she said, but she was smiling. “Wait, is it true? You know such weird things.”
“You better not risk it,” I said, also smiling now.
Bernadette flopped onto the other side of the bed. “I am pretty hungry. And I would hate to not enjoy my food.” She looked at me seriously. “I might have overreacted a bit. I guess we are here to pose as a couple, so it would look weird if we didn’t, you know, act like a couple,” she said awkwardly. “But just don’t kiss me, unless it’s totally necessary.”
“Cross my heart,” I said. I enjoyed watching her squirm far more than I should.
“It’s just acting, right?” she said, and it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself. “I just broke up with my boyfriend, and it’s just a bit weird kissing someone else.”
“Why did you two break up?” I asked
“I saw him with another woman,” she said, and the hurt in her voice was audible. “It was only dinner, but he had promised to go out with me. And I just couldn’t trust him after that.”.”
“You know my stance on relationship, but even I’ll admit that trust is critical for a couple,” I said.
“But I am really glad you hired me,” she said with sincerity, probably trying to change the subject. “I’m probably just getting grumpy because I’m tired. I’ll be glad to get some sleep. Oh my god!” she suddenly yelled.
“What?” I asked, worried something was wrong.
“Sleep,” she cried. “Where are we going to sleep?”
“In bed . . .” I trailed off, realizing the problem. Naturally, there was only one bed in the honeymoon suite. “Don’t worry. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Are you sure?” I wasn’t sure if Bernadette was disappointed or relieved. Probably relieved.
“Certainly. It’s better for my back.”
“Thanks.”
“Think nothing of it,” I said, trying not to sound disappointed. I knew she wouldn’t have slept in the same bed as me. And I wasn’t going to get involved with her, I remind
ed myself. Still, it would have been nice to have her in bed next to me.
Chapter 12 – Bernadette
I woke up, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. I was staring up at a white and gold ceiling, framed by a four-poster bed. I sat up and look around at the suite. The last day came back, and I recalled where I was. I hated to admit it, but I had had a really nice evening with Edgar. The burgers he ordered for us were delicious and the piña coladas were tasty, but strong. Mine went straight to my head, and made me feel relaxed and talkative. I wasn’t drunk enough to do anything stupid, like try to sleep with Edgar, but we stayed up late just talking. It was actually really nice. Edgar told me how he used to read detective novels as a kid, knowing that he wanted to do that one day. I told him I used to sing along with the radio when I was a kid, hoping to be a famous singer someday. However, I had no sense of rhythm or pitch, so that cut my career as a pop star pretty short.
Edgar had another round of drinks sent up to the room, and after my second piña colada, he was able to convince me to sing to him. I did a few verses of Brittney Spears’ Hit Me Baby One More Time, and he agreed that I was a terrible singer. In response, I threw a pillow at him. It was nice and comfortable. I thought about how in the last few months of our relationship, David never wanted to just hang out. We were either going out to dinner or a movie or if we did go to one of our places, it was just as a precursor to sex. Not that I minded sex, I quite enjoyed it, but there was a nice comfort with just hanging out with Edgar. It was probably the drinks, I told myself. But still, I thought it would be nice to be with a guy who could be happy just being with me.
The Love Boss Page 4