“Can I hold your hand?” he asked quietly.
Lexi hated that he felt he had to be cautious around her, but it was for the best. Yet she really, really wanted him to hold her hand. “To help me get through takeoff?” she tried to tease.
He nodded, though his eyes said there was more to the request than settling her nerves. She released her death grip on the armrest as he extended his hand and lined his larger palm up with her smaller one. Their fingers entwined just as the plane accelerated. Lexi clung to his hand. The plane swooped off the ground, and her heart raced. Callum said nothing, just let her squeeze his hand like a stress ball.
The plane started to ascend more gradually, and she tried to take her hand back. Callum held on. “Is it only takeoffs that bother you, not landings?” he asked, casually pulling her hand toward him and resting their clasped hands on his muscled thigh.
Lexi gulped, warmth rushing through her. He acted like holding hands was no big deal, but now that she wasn’t scared for her life, this connection to him, especially with the back of her hand on his thigh, was making her heart race faster than the fear of moments before. “Just takeoffs. Weird, huh?”
“Nothing about you is weird, Alexia Hall.” His eyes moved over her face like a caress, and his voice lowered. “Intriguing and beautiful.”
He’d said the same thing last night. Oh my goodness, she was not going to survive this Christmas vacation. “Are you going to work today?” she asked, grasping for something to say instead of telling him all the ways he intrigued and impressed her. He was also beautiful, in a very manly sort of way.
He shrugged. “I’ll have to catch up on projects and correspondence sometime today. There are always fires to put out with as many businesses as I own.”
“I was …” How could she explain she’d been deflecting his intriguing and beautiful comment? She hadn’t seriously thought he’d work again today. “Are you going to work the entire vacation?”
He watched her carefully. “Shirlene will do all she can to deal with the issues our managers can’t handle, but there’s always a lot I have to do.”
“Will you take off Christmas?”
“I’ll try.” He smiled at her as if her question was funny—or, like she’d said yesterday, as if she were an amusing child.
“Well, I guess that’s something.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you have against me working?”
“What drives you?” she countered. After she’d told him off last night, she half expected him to give her grief right now, but she wanted to understand him a little better. “You’re already more successful than most people in the world. Aren’t you, like, the youngest billionaire ever?”
He smiled at that. “No. I was beat to that one by a few people.”
“So it’s competition? Or do you just not know what else to do with your time than make money?”
He studied her, and Lexi was afraid and yet hopeful that he’d release her hand. The tingles going up her arm were hard to ignore. “I wouldn’t be successful like I am if I wasn’t driven.”
She acknowledged that with a nod. “Okay, but at what point is it going to be enough?” Would he slow down if he had a family? If he loved a woman enough to glance up from his computer on occasion? She understood that most hours of the weekday would be consumed with a career, but she had this horrible feeling that if she let herself fall for Callum—which she wasn’t going to let herself do—he’d be that man who missed the delivery of his child because he was doing a business deal. Wow, she was getting ahead of herself.
He tilted his head to the side. “Because of my drive, children in seven third-world countries now have clean drinking water, schoolteachers, and iPads in their classrooms. I have much more planned to help children worldwide through my own charities and through Health for All, Avalyn Shaman’s brainchild. Is that worth being driven? To change children’s lives?”
Lexi had heard about his philanthropist causes and seen some of them in action the past couple of weeks at work. What he was saying was beautiful and charitable, but somehow she didn’t think that was the base of what drove him. That was a bonus.
His phone rang. He released her hand to pull his phone out, and when he saw the screen, he murmured, “Excuse me.” He stood and walked to the other corner of the cabin.
Lexi admired his manners, his looks, and his charitable focus, but she knew the worker man was back and she had lost him just like that. One little phone call and their fledgling connection was gone. She sighed and pulled out her phone, opening her app to read scriptures. Maybe if she communed with the good Lord, she wouldn’t cuss Callum like she had last night. If only Callum pacing at the other side of the cabin wasn’t so distracting.
They arrived at Cancun after nine p.m. The flight had been about seven hours like Callum had told Lexi, but flying through time zones they lost a few hours. He’d had to deal with several phone calls while they flew, and then he’d engaged in his email correspondences to schedule everything for Shirlene, his department heads, and his project managers to take care of in his absence. He looked over at one point and saw that Lexi’s head had lolled to the side. He smiled and reclined her seat, then placed a blanket over her. She blinked up at him groggily but then closed her eyes and fell back asleep. She must’ve had as bad of a night’s sleep as he had. Did he dare hope that meant he stirred her up as much as she did him?
He didn’t like her questioning why he worked so hard. It was his life, and he was proud of the dynasty he’d built and even more proud of the people he helped. She’d come from very humble circumstances. Maybe the way he lived and worked was simply foreign to her. His dad was fond of saying that the way someone was raised was their “normal.” Yet a lot of people changed their normal as they were exposed to life. Would Lexi want a dairy farmer life? He shook his head. He was getting way ahead of himself.
Lexi stirred as the plane landed, but she didn’t say anything to him; she simply put her seat up and watched out the window, staring at the lights as they descended. He stowed his laptop, and when they landed, he unbuckled and stood, stretching. His back almost hurt worse today. He should’ve asked Lexi to bring that ointment with them. Though the tingling of his skin had bugged him last night, it had helped with the pain.
Lexi unbuckled and stood next to him. “We made it.”
He nodded down at her. She looked beautifully disheveled with her hair falling in disarray around her shoulders. “Are you nervous?”
“There aren’t any more takeoffs,” she said.
He smiled. “No, to meet my family.”
“Oh.” Her lips pursed and she nodded. “But everybody says you’re the most intimidating one, and I can handle you.” She placed a hand on her hip and tossed her long hair.
“I love your spunk,” Callum said. Truly, he loved a lot of things about her, but telling her that would probably make her cuss him like she did last night.
“Farm girl sass,” she corrected.
Callum couldn’t help but laugh at that. “You need that to take on the cows.”
“You know it.”
He touched the tender spot on his back. “Yeah, I do now.”
The flight attendant opened the door and gestured as a waft of warm air greeted them. She gestured to them. “Welcome to Cancun, Mr. Hawk, Miss Hall.”
“Thank you, Marci.” Callum motioned for Lexi to go first.
She picked up her coat and her purse and descended the stairs. Callum lifted his laptop bag and stepped out into the balmy night, breathing in the humid air.
“I guess I won’t need this.” Lexi held aloft her coat.
Callum chuckled. “Thankfully, no.”
She looked him over as the attendants loaded their luggage into a Hummer. “Are you driving us?”
“Shirlene set everything up, and she told me to use a local driver. Less chance of extortion that way.”
“Extortion?” Her eyebrows went up.
“The local police like to pull to
urists over and won’t give you a ticket if you produce enough cash.”
“Yikes. Yes, let’s use a driver.”
A customs official spoke with Callum briefly, and Callum held out papers for him. The man waved them on after less than a minute.
The local driver held the back door of the Hummer, grinning at them. “Welcome to Cancun, Mr. and Mrs. Hawk.”
“Miss Hall.” Lexi grinned at him. “We’re recently engaged, not married yet.”
“Ah, beautiful lady.” He bowed slightly to her. Lexi slid into the car, and he shut the door. Callum walked around the car with the man. “Congratulations, señor. Your fiancée is muy bella.”
“Gracias.” Callum palmed him a hundred before sliding in. The man wasn’t wrong, but everything felt wrong as he realized they were going to be lying to everyone now about being engaged. With Lexi’s mom, it had felt like the right thing to do, keeping things under wraps so as not to upset a very sick and sweet lady. With his mom and brothers, he was going to outright lie. What had he been thinking?
Chapter Fourteen
Some lights lit up the night as they drove, but what Lexi could see looked run-down and commercialized. Billboards for everything from resorts to swimwear were lit up. She’d assumed the wedding would be at an unreal gorgeous resort and she’d assumed Cancun was an exotic Caribbean location, but so far she thought her farm looked more appealing. The plane ride here had been as disappointing as her first views of Cancun—Callum had been working and she’d fallen asleep out of sheer boredom. She kept reminding herself this was a job and she shouldn’t get emotionally invested. It wasn’t helping.
They pulled up to some massive gates with a high stone fence leading out from the guard station. Their driver conferred with the guards; then the guards scooted back to Callum’s window, and he produced their passports. Shirlene had gotten some information, paperwork, and a picture of her for her passport, but she hadn’t realized Callum had it. The guards snapped pictures of each of them and went back to their guard station. A few minutes later, they returned and waved them through.
“Guess they’re serious about security here?” Lexi asked.
“Cancun is a beautiful spot, but there’s been an increase in crime in Mexico, even in the resort towns. The resort wants to make sure to protect their guests so they keep coming back.”
“Do you have resorts here?”
He nodded.
“Why aren’t we staying at one of them?”
Callum shrugged as they pulled into a circle drive and a massive building with lots of windows loomed over them. “This resort is where Kiera and Creed reconnected, so they wanted their wedding here.”
“Does that bother you?” Lexi waited for the answer even though the driver had opened her door.
“No. Should it?”
“I don’t know. If I owned resorts, I sure as tootin’ wouldn’t want to pay to stay at someone else’s spot.”
Callum smiled. “It’ll give me exposure to how the competition is measuring up.” He winked and gestured to the driver.
Lexi slid out of the car. A bellhop rushed to get their bags.
Callum walked over and placed a hand on her back. “Hola,” he greeted the bellhop.
“Hola, señor. Check-in is this way.”
Callum nodded and escorted Lexi through the sliding glass doors and into a gorgeous area. Floral arrangements dotted the large wooden tables, and leather couches and fancy chairs made up seating arrangements near water features or fireplaces. The entire back of the building was glass and overlooked so many sparkling blue pools Lexi lost track counting. She wondered if the ocean lay beyond those pools, but it was too dark to tell. The Caribbean Sea! This was the Cancun she’d been hoping for. She’d gone on a couple day trips during college to the Atlantic Ocean, and since she’d been in Manhattan she’d seen the ocean, but it was cold. You didn’t play in it. She couldn’t wait to play in this water, taste the salt, and ride the waves.
The only thing that could distract her from this gorgeous reception area was Callum’s warm hand on her back. Why did her body have to react like this when he was a workaholic? Though he seemed interested in her, he would never be able to commit to her. His work would always be his number one focus. She shook her head.
They approached a long, mahogany counter, and the smiling attendant offered them a virgin daiquiri. Callum declined, but Lexi took one, sucking down the sweet strawberry and coconut delight. “This is delicious!” she exclaimed.
Callum smiled at her like she was a cute little child. She ignored him and focused on the sparkling blue pools, lit up invitingly.
Callum checked them in. He turned to her and she burst out, “Let’s go swimming!”
He smiled that indulgent smile again.
“Oh, wait, you probably have work you need to do.”
He inclined his head. “Only a few more hours’ worth tonight.”
“Are you even going to take this week off?” she asked.
His eyebrows rose as if she had no right to ask that.
“Callum could never take a week off. The world would implode,” a deep voice said from her left.
Lexi turned to face a man who looked very similar to Callum, right down to the short dark facial hair and beautiful brown eyes. The man was grinning and had his arms open. A gorgeous dark-haired woman stood by his side, smiling radiantly. Creed and Kiera, right off the television and standing in front of her.
Creed laughed. “C’mere, son, and give me a hug.”
Callum rolled his eyes but grabbed the man, and they hugged and slapped at each other’s backs. Lexi wondered how Callum’s back was taking this hug. She noticed he didn’t flinch in the slightest.
“You must be Lexi,” Kiera said warmly. She gave Lexi a quick hug and a grin. “I’m Kiera, and we’re so happy you’re here.”
“Thank you.” Lexi felt an instant connection to this poised and lovely woman. Her long, dark hair trailed down her back, and her beautiful face revealed a mixed heritage that came together perfectly. “Congratulations on the upcoming wedding,” she said because she didn’t know what else to say.
“I’m the one you’re supposed to congratulate,” Creed interrupted them. “I’m the luckiest loser you’ll ever meet.” He opened his arms. “How about a hug from my future sister-in-law?”
Lexi laughed and gave him a squeeze. He was solidly built and she liked his teasing smile.
“How did you talk my hyper-focused worker bro into settling down? I didn’t know he ever looked up from his laptop.”
“Come on,” Callum protested, wrapping an arm around her waist. “How could I not notice someone as beautiful as Lexi?”
The words and his touch made her feel warm and tingly all over. She had to remind herself it was fake. “I ran in front of his motorcycle, and after he almost killed me, he had no choice but to take me out.” She winked. “Don’t worry. His phone rang two seconds after he asked me to marry him.”
“Please say he didn’t answer it,” Kiera begged.
Lexi made her eyes all big and round. “Of course he did. Have you ever seen this man not answer his phone?”
Creed groaned. “Aw, son, I am going to have to box some sense into that head.”
Callum pulled her in tighter, his hand wrapping around to her abdomen and making her go hot and cold all over. “Don’t worry. Lexi puts me in my place often enough.” He looked down at her, and it wasn’t as warm as some of his looks had been.
Had she overstepped her bounds teasing with his brother and future sister-in-law? She’d have to remember to make him look good, but he deserved some crap the way he shut her out with his phone and computer all the time. The only time he hadn’t was part of yesterday when they’d been with her parents.
“Good girl.” Creed nodded his approval. “Well, we’re off for a romantic walk on the beach. We asked the front-desk staff to inform us as the family checked in. Everyone’s here now, so my next official duty is to kiss my future bride.”
Jealousy and admiration raced through Lexi as Kiera gazed lovingly up at Creed. These two were so in love and there was nothing fake about them. Would Callum’s family recognize that their relationship was fake? They knew about his workaholic tendencies, so maybe they’d just assume that was how their relationship went and Lexi was willing to play second fiddle.
“Well, don’t let us stop you,” Callum said. “Is the entire wedding party here?”
“Just the family and a few of my SEAL buddies. Everybody else will come rolling in the next couple of days.” Creed swooped Kiera off her feet. She let out a cute giggle. He kissed her fully on the lips and then grinned at Callum and Lexi. “Have fun, you two.” He hurried away with his future bride in his arms.
Lexi watched them go. Callum still had his arm around her waist. She turned from him and noticed the bellhop waiting with their luggage. “Ready to go to your suite, señor, señorita?”
“Yes, gracias.”
Callum let the man lead the way. Neither of them said anything as they walked out the tall sliding glass doors at the rear of the reception area and skirted the first set of gleaming pools. The man started prattling off about all the pools, hot tubs, state-of-the-art spa, fitness area, and of course many five-star restaurants on the all-inclusive property.
“What about the beach?” Lexi asked when they reached building number four and an elevator. The man had informed them there were twelve buildings with almost two hundred rooms in each building. The buildings formed a horseshoe around the pool and restaurant areas.
“It’s just beyond the last set of pools, señorita. Beautiful beach, soft sand, very peaceful.”
The elevator arrived and they loaded in.
“No waves? I wanted to learn to surf.” Lexi glanced up guiltily at Callum. Would he think she was asking too much of her paid vacation? Her back stiffened. While he talked away on his phone and tapped on his laptop, she could at least enjoy the beach and surfing.
“Sorry, señorita. No waves big enough to surf here, but beautiful snorkel and fun paddleboard and kayak.” The man nodded eagerly, a walking billboard.
Hawk Brothers Romance Collection Page 35