“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he went on. “I just didn’t know where you wanted these?”
Kelly stepped back from Luke and eased around him. “Thank you so much,” she said sweetly. “Just set everything here.”
She pointed to the table next to the cabana and pulled money from her bag for a tip.
Once the butler left them alone, Kelly turned back to face him. Her lips were swollen and damp, and he had to clench his fists at his sides to keep from closing the gap between them and finishing what he’d started.
“Are we going to talk about that or do you just want a drink?” she asked.
Was she seriously just going to move on to the refreshments? Like what just happened hadn’t taken them across some invisible line they could never come back from?
“How long have you wanted to kiss me?” he asked bluntly.
“You kissed me first,” she retorted. “So I guess I should be asking you that same question.”
Fair enough.
“For about a day now.”
She crossed her arms and shifted her hips as those breathtaking green eyes continued to hold him in place. “Well, I’ve been coveting your kiss a little longer. You didn’t disappoint.”
Kelly didn’t say another word as she reached for one of the tall piña coladas with a bright pink flower on the side of the rim. She eased the flower out of her way before taking one long drink.
“This is amazing,” she said, going in for another sip. “You ready for one?”
“How long?” he asked again, his patience at an all-time low.
Holding onto her glass, she glanced over her shoulder. “Years.”
Luke remained still, absolutely stunned at her admission. How had he not known? How had he missed the signs? She’d never said one word or even flirted.
“That’s a long time to keep your emotions to yourself,” he told her.
“You were engaged and my boss, so that’s not exactly a time to reveal my inner desires.”
Desires. That word slipping through her lips had his body aching even more. He’d always known she was beyond brilliant, independent, strong-willed...but sexy hadn’t entered his mind. And now that’s the only word he could use to describe her.
“You didn’t think I deserved to know before now?” he demanded, taking another step toward her.
“And when would that conversation have taken place, Luke? During a meeting where we were all stressed trying to bring the company from the ashes? Or maybe when your engagement fell apart? Tell me when exactly I should have opened up my most vulnerable thoughts to you.”
When she sounded like that, so exposed and bold, he felt like a complete jerk.
Luke pulled in a deep breath and propped his hands on his hips to keep from touching her again.
“Would you have ever said anything?” he asked softly.
She dropped her arms at her sides. “I was letting my swimsuits speak for me.”
He said nothing. What was there to say? He was sinking here and there was absolutely no lifeline anywhere in sight.
“Listen,” she started. “We kissed. We don’t have to do anything else. My attraction to you doesn’t have to change anything, either. It’s not like you’re the only guy I find sexy.”
Luke moved before he even thought about his actions. His feet slid through the sand as he shifted to stand directly in front of her.
“Do you kiss those other guys like that?” he demanded.
She tipped that chin again and he was finding he wanted to nip at that as well. There had been way too damn much brought to his attention in the past day and he still wasn’t sure how he felt about that... But he knew he needed to fix this ache, this gnawing need he had.
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business,” she answered pertly.
“You just threw other men in my face,” he countered. “You made it my business.”
Her lips quirked in a grin and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “So what are you going to do with all of this information?”
Was she challenging him? Luke didn’t know if he was amused, turned on, or peeved. Likely a healthy dose of all three.
“Figure out where the hell my mind is at.”
He left her standing there as he went straight to the ocean, welcoming the cool water in a vain attempt to calm his raging hormones.
What the hell was he going to do? she’d asked. He had no idea, but he was stuck alone with her for four more days, and he had a feeling that kiss was a stepping stone to something much more.
Eight
As much as Kelly had wanted to follow Luke into the ocean, she’d decided they needed space. She lay on the cabana with her drink, and his since he ran away, and picked up her book.
Since the white material draped all across the top of the cabana, she didn’t need sunscreen after all. She lay on her stomach reading, popping the fresh fruit and enjoying their piña coladas.
And thinking about that kiss.
Mercy, her boss could make a woman’s toes curl. Her suit nearly melted off and that had nothing to do with the heat. The way he’d grabbed her, commanded her without a word, and then claimed her... Kelly’s wildest fantasies hadn’t even been that good
What would happen if they did more than kiss? If her entire body had responded to just his lips, would she be able to even handle more?
Oh hell yes she could. She’d been dreaming of that moment for quite some time. As much as she found Luke attractive and sexy and intelligent—and pretty much the perfect man in every way—she also knew a workaholic like him would never share his life with a woman... Not when he had such a demanding career. Kelly had known that in advance, which is why she always told herself if she ever got the chance with him, they could only be physical. Nothing more.
She flipped the page in her book and took another sip of her drink. The sand shifted and water droplets splattered onto her legs.
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Luke raking a hand over his hair, clearly the source of the droplets. She thought she’d only give him a glance, but a body like that really deserved so much more.
All of that dark skin with water clinging to those impossibly broad shoulders and then losing the fight as the moisture slid down over his muscular torso and right toward those lips on the front of his tight trunks.
At this point she really had no idea who was seducing whom, but she wondered if the battle of control would continue to volley back and forth.
“How was the water?” she asked.
“Refreshing.” He glanced down toward the drinks. “Did you take mine, too?”
She rolled back to her stomach and put her mouth on the straw in lieu of an answer. Kelly flipped a page in her book, though she wasn’t even focused on the actual words. She needed something to do with her shaky hands.
“I’ll go get us more drinks,” he told her.
“No need.” She still kept her attention on her book as if everything in their little world hadn’t exploded an hour ago. “I already asked for another round. The butler came by a minute ago.”
“Will I be able to have my own drink this time?”
Kelly closed her book, grabbed the piña colada from the holder on the bed, and turned to sit up and face Luke. She smiled, though nerves danced in her belly at so many unknowns that would be facing them in the next few days.
“I ordered doubles, so you will get your own.”
“How much do you plan on drinking?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Considering I’m on vacation, who knows. I do love a good fruity cocktail, though. I might have some wine with dinner. But don’t worry, I’m also getting plenty of water.”
Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she came to her feet and held onto her almost-empty drink. “Were you concerned for me, Luke?”
“I just don’t
want you getting dehydrated.”
She laughed. “Whatever you say. Lunch is also being delivered in about an hour, so if you want to swim or just relax here go ahead. I plan on heading to the ocean to cool off.”
As she spoke, his eyes would dip to her body, then back up to her face. The man was fighting with his willpower, and she couldn’t wait for him to cave and just take what he wanted. There was no way, from that red-hot kiss, that he didn’t want her.
Honestly, she wasn’t looking for some ring on her finger or happily-ever-after. Oh, she was attracted to his intelligence, his determination, his compassion for those he cared for.
But the man fueled literally every one of her fantasies. Dates she’d gone on over the years just didn’t compare to Luke...not that she’d ever tell him that. His ego was growing by the minute and didn’t need more help.
As she started by him, he reached for her arm and stopped her.
“You’ve intrigued me,” he murmured. “I don’t know what the hell to do about this. I’m still processing everything.”
He eased her around so she faced him fully. She stumbled in the sand and threw her hands up. They landed on his chest, and he steadied her with both hands on her upper arms. She had no choice but to stare up at him as he loomed over her with that hard, wet body pressed to hers.
“The ball might have been in your court all this time,” he murmured. “But now that I know the truth, I’m in control.”
The way he delivered that delicious threat had her body heating up in anticipation and arousal.
“Sounds like fun,” she replied with a smile. “Can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
Kelly pulled from his grasp and made her way to the ocean, knowing full well Luke’s gaze was firmly planted on her ass.
* * *
“I think we need to focus on investors for our overseas resorts.”
Kelly glanced across the patio table as Luke cut into his baked fish and attempted to discuss business. Seriously? Her body had been about to go up in flames all day and he was trying to talk shop?
“Save it for the boardroom.” She stabbed one of her fresh pieces of pineapple and popped it in her mouth. “No work while we’re on vacation.”
His eyes met hers across the small round table. “That’s the only way of life I know.”
Kelly dropped her fork and curled her hand around her glass of sweet tea. “Luke, you honestly need a hobby or something to take your mind off work.”
“Your kiss took my mind off work,” he tossed back. “That damn strappy suit took my mind off work.”
“Glad I could help,” she joked with a smile. “Let me know anytime you want to be distracted again.”
Luke sighed and eased back in his seat. He still hadn’t put a shirt on, but she’d thrown on her wrap cover-up. Still, sitting here having a meal while barely dressed was a level of intimacy she’d never shared with him before.
“You think this is a good idea?” he asked gruffly.
“Whether it’s a good idea or not is irrelevant,” she countered. “That doesn’t change the sexual tension between us.”
“There shouldn’t be any,” he snarled.
Kelly couldn’t tell if he was angry with himself for being turned on or if he was upset that he hadn’t noticed before.
“I know you’ve had me in this nice little assistant box for a long time, but it’s okay to move those boxes around.”
He continued to stare at her, those dark, penetrating eyes seeming to go almost black. Oh, he was aroused and not happy about it. That delighted her more than she thought possible because that smoldering passion was no doubt going to explode, and she planned on being right here to enjoy it.
“I don’t like change,” he told her. “I don’t have time for it. I have a company to save and a family that is counting on me.”
Kelly laughed. “No wonder you’re cranky. You don’t make time for fun because it’s not work.”
“I have fun,” he defended.
“Doing what?”
He shrugged. “I do things.”
Kelly crossed her arms and pursed her lips. “Buying new cars or upgrading your jet doesn’t count.”
“Funny,” he mocked. “For your information, I enjoy working out and running marathons.”
That was news to her. Well, not the working out part. A man didn’t get a sculpted body like that without putting in the time and effort. But she truly had no idea about the marathons.
“I’ve worked for you for five years and I’m just now learning about these marathons?”
Luke shrugged. “Should I come to work and display my medals in my office?”
No, he would never do something like that. When Luke Holloway was at work, his mind was solely on the job. But he’d never been one to brag which made him all the more attractive.
“So how many marathons have you done?” she asked.
“A few.”
Kelly snorted. “Oh, please. What’s the number? You have your spreadsheets memorized, so you know how many marathons you’ve run.”
“Forty-seven.”
Her eyes went wide at that number. She was expecting him to say like five or even ten. But forty-seven? Good heavens.
“That’s quite remarkable,” she told him. “I assure you, if I ran forty-seven marathons, I’d sure as hell be hanging up those medals. The only thing I run for is the coffee pot first thing in the morning.”
Luke eased back up and went back to his lunch. “Running is therapeutic for me.”
“I’m ashamed to admit, I don’t work out.” She took another sip of her tea and grabbed her fork. “I try to offset that by eating somewhat healthy.”
“Your body is just fine.”
She glanced across the table to see his eyes firmly on hers. There went those butterflies once again. How could she have schoolgirl giddiness and very adult fantasies all rolled together?
Anticipation. That was the only explanation. She had no clue what was going to happen here and that level of the unknown might be just as thrilling as anything else.
“Speaking of bodies, our massages are scheduled soon.” Kelly sat her cloth napkin on the table and eased her chair back as she came to her feet. “I’m going to go rinse off in the shower to make sure all the sand and sunscreen are off.”
He sat back in his seat, looking all relaxed and sexy. “I don’t really need—”
Kelly held up her hands. “Stop right there. You are getting a massage. You will love it and you will thank me afterward. End of discussion.”
His lips quirked. “Yes, ma’am.”
Oh, she could get used to those words coming out of his mouth. She nodded her silent thanks and turned to head to the shower. Although she could have invited him to join her, she rather liked this sexual tension and naughty flirting. She also wanted him to make the next move. Kelly had laid out her feelings. Luke knew full well where she stood, so the ball was in his court.
But, that didn’t mean he held all the power here.
Kelly made her way into her bathroom and stripped down as she stepped into the large open shower with the rain head. She fully intended to hold tight on the reins of control during this trip. However, she couldn’t let her heart get involved, not with knowing Luke was cut from the same cloth as her father. Both workaholics with no time for anything else.
When Kelly entered into a serious relationship, she wouldn’t settle for less than being first in her partner’s life.
But, she wasn’t going to turn down a fling with the one man she’d been fantasizing about for years. This was the chance she’d been waiting on.
Nine
Luke didn’t do massages. He didn’t do facials or pedicures, or any other spa, self-care nonsense. How did people make time for this? His mode of relaxing was running, and that was when his work schedule all
owed.
He felt like he was on display here. Nobody had warned him he’d be bare-ass naked with only a thin towel covering his backside.
Kelly lay on the table next to him on the beach. Which, thankfully, provided a delicious distraction from his cringe-worthy state of undress. And he grudgingly conceded that the sound of the ocean waves in the background did have some of the tension leaving his body...or at least some of his work tension.
The sexual frustration was practically exploding all around him because, every now and then, Kelly would let out the softest moan and his entire body would tighten with a need he shouldn’t have for his assistant. He had to think of something else, anything else, before he embarrassed himself when he turned over to lay on his back. That towel wasn’t going to be able to conceal anything.
Kelly might have told him not to discuss work, but that wouldn’t stop him from thinking about it and all the ways he could potentially jumpstart Wingate.
That would definitely keep his hormones in check because there was nothing about this situation that was enticing. He carried the weight around everywhere, desperately seeking the answers to bring the company into the next phase of their future projections.
He sighed. Their loyal employees were counting on him; his brothers and aunt were, too. Granted, his family was also involved and everyone was working like never before to make this black cloud disappear. But with Luke being VP of New Product Development, he shouldered the majority of the responsibility.
Ava had taken him in when his parents had died and there was a large part of him that felt obligated to take this burden from her. She’d been through so much and she deserved to be cared for, to be protected from all of this.
The masseuse dug into that crook between his neck and his shoulder, and Luke nearly moaned himself. As much as he’d been against getting a massage, those hands were magical.
An instant image of Kelly running her hands all over his body instantly popped into his mind. He wouldn’t mind giving her a rubdown as well.
Tempted by the Boss Page 6