Lexi felt a stab of disappointment—who knew when she’d ever be at a warm ocean again and able to surf?—but any sense of letdown disappeared quickly. There was plenty to do and enjoy at this lovely resort.
“Please do not leave resort grounds without approved taxi or shuttle,” the man said. “Crime high against Americans right now.”
Callum nodded. “We appreciate your vigilance.”
Lexi wasn’t sure if the man understood the meaning of vigilance, but he smiled anyway. He spoke pretty good English, so maybe he got it.
They exited the elevator on the twelfth floor. “Penthouse suite for señor and the bella señorita.”
Lexi had a sudden rush of panic. They didn’t have their own rooms? Callum had told her dad last night he respected her and marriage. Did that respect extend to vacation, or were all rules suspended here?
The bellhop waited as Callum used his key card to open the door. He swung it open and waited for Lexi to walk in first. Despite her worry about the sleeping arrangements, she gasped. Low lights were on in the form of lamps and some ambiance lighting above and below the cabinets. The table was set all fancy and there was a spread of cut-up fruit, cookies, and desserts on the table, as well as what looked like champagne on ice. The living area was spacious and gorgeous with white leather couches and teal, gray, and blue accents.
The thing that really drew her eye was the balcony. She rushed to it and walked through the open French doors. Two hammocks swung in the soft breeze and the pool areas glistened down below them. The best part was that she could see the ocean. A half moon glinted on the gentle waves, and she could see a dock lit up and boat lights out in the water. She was really here!
There was a large hot tub on the balcony. Their own hot tub? Visions of Callum without his shirt on in that hot tub reached out and grabbed her. Lexi pushed them away and noticed the various arrangements of comfortable-looking patio furniture. This would be a dream, if only she and Callum were real and in this romantic spot together.
Lying down in the hammock, she closed her eyes and sighed. This was nothing like the hammocks she and Hannah used to hang from their trees in the summer.
“You like it?” Callum’s voice came from above her.
Her eyes popped open and she met his dark gaze. “It’s so beautiful. I’ll just sleep here.”
Callum chuckled. “You don’t want to check out your bedroom?”
Lexi swallowed hard. “Do I have my own bedroom?”
“Of course.” Callum offered her a hand. When she stood, she knew she was much too close to him. She could smell that spicy cologne that drew her in and feel the warmth from his body. “I told your dad I would respect you, remember?”
Lexi blinked up at him and asked a question she had no right to ask. “Do you respect all your dates?”
Callum nodded solemnly, his gaze never leaving hers. “But I’ve never been so tempted as I am with you.”
Lexi pulled in a sharp breath and tugged away from him. She hurried back into the main area and glanced around. The bellhop was gone and her luggage as well. Callum arrived next to her, quiet and solemn.
“Which room is mine?” she asked, her voice much too bright and forced.
Callum gestured to the door on the right. Lexi strode quickly that way. She pushed the door open and her jaw dropped open again. The room had its own balcony with another hammock and some comfortable-looking outdoor furniture. The bed was massive with a fluffy white comforter and dozens of pillows in blue and teals. The bed was turned down, and there were fancy-looking chocolates on the pillows and a towel arrangement that looked like an elephant holding more chocolate. Beautiful beach paintings hung on the walls. There was an open bathroom with a tub bigger than a Jacuzzi and a glass shower that ten people could fit in. There was a separate room for the toilet and a long vanity with two sinks and all kinds of beauty products lining it.
“Do you like it?” Callum whispered close to her ear.
“It’s insanely beautiful.” She whirled to face him. “Did you give me the master suite? You need it. You need to soak in that big old tub.”
“Why don’t we both soak in the hot tub on the main balcony?” he asked.
Lexi’s eyes widened. She could not be alone in a hot tub with this man and keep her distance. “I, um, I’m exhausted. I’ll just call it a night. You go soak, though. It would help your back.”
Callum studied her for far too long and far too perceptively. Finally, he sort of bowed to her and spun on his heel, striding from the room.
Lexi softly closed the door behind him and leaned against it. This arrangement was too intimate and would be the death of her resolve to not fall for him. She tried to grasp her original fear of the money coming between them. She still wanted to pursue her career and not get perks because she was kissing Callum Hawk. Her stomach heated thinking about that one kiss they’d shared.
She sighed. Surely his phone would ring soon and remind her that his work was his one true love and he wasn’t right for her at all.
Chapter Fifteen
Callum soaked in the hot tub, by himself, but it didn’t help much. He spent another horrible night, despite the high-quality mattress and sheets. His back hurt and he was irritated with Lexi and himself. Had this whole fake fiancé gig been stupid of him? He’d helped her family out, and now he’d like to get to know her better. But she treated him like a pariah workaholic. Truly no one understood how much he had to accomplish in one day. Was it too much to ask for those closest to him that they respect how hard he worked?
He climbed out of bed at four a.m. and spent two hours dealing with project managers and Shirlene’s list of things for him to do before firmly shutting his computer and heading for the gym. There was no movement from Lexi’s room.
When he returned an hour later, sweaty and ready to shower and climb back into bed, Lexi was in the main area, wearing running clothes and downing a water bottle. “Hey,” she said, her eyes roving over him. “How was the workout?”
“Fine. Where did you run?” It came out too demanding, but she couldn’t just go off by herself. He needed her safe.
Lexi took a step back and said, “Just up and down the beach.”
“You didn’t leave the resort?”
“No. Just kept going back and forth, back and forth the quarter mile. It should’ve made a twelve-mile run boring, but the ocean is so pretty.” She beamed with excitement. “Can we play in the ocean and the sand soon?”
Callum smiled too. He wouldn’t mind playing in the ocean with her. He wouldn’t mind doing a lot of things with her. “I think there’s a family breakfast we need to be at this morning; then we can spend the whole day at the beach if you want.”
“Thank you.” She clutched the water bottle. “Callum …”
“I thought it was supposed to be Cal.”
“Cal.” She said his name all warm and gooey like a fresh chocolate chip cookie. Callum liked it. “I’m sorry I teased with Creed about you being a workaholic.”
He nodded. It had bugged him, but that was what brothers did—they teased each other. He just hadn’t realized she fully agreed with his brothers’ common complaint about him. “It’s okay.”
“I’ll try to make you look better with your family today.”
All the warm feelings from her saying his name disappeared. “Try? I didn’t realize it was such an effort to make me look good.”
She bit at her lip, and if he wasn’t slightly ticked at her “trying” comment and smelling like a gym rat, he would’ve strode across the room and kissed her soundly. “You look good,” she hurried to say. “You are good. I didn’t mean that it would be any effort to brag about you. I just meant I don’t want to be that fiancée who rags on her man, you know?”
Callum held himself in check, trying to think of the reasons they weren’t kissing right now. He was sweaty. She wasn’t his fiancée. He wasn’t “her man.” And she hadn’t asked him to kiss her like he’d thought she would long before now
. “Thanks. But I can handle a little teasing. I realize I work a lot.”
“Now that’s the understatement of the year.” She grinned.
Callum returned her smile. He thought about trying to prove her and his family wrong—do something crazy like leave his phone in the room and not come check his computer all day—but there were too many fires he had to either stoke or put out, too many jobs and projects on the line. He couldn’t rely on anyone else to take his heavy load, no matter how competent his people were.
“The breakfast is at eight,” he said instead of trying to dispute her comment. “Is that enough time for you to get ready?”
“For sure. You told me all I needed was a bikini and a cover-up.” She winked at him and strode to her bedroom.
Callum stood staring at the closed bedroom door for a long time. He prayed that she really would come walking out in a bikini; then he realized that probably wasn’t an appropriate prayer to utter, even in his mind. His mom would scold him for having such thoughts.
He rushed to his own room and into the shower. If she was truly coming out in a bikini, he wanted to be ready.
He put on Quiksilver amphibian shorts and a fitted Abercrombie T-shirt, and he smiled as he remembered Lexi accusing him of being an Abercrombie model. Shirlene had claimed the shorts were all the rage because they looked like regular shorts but could be worn in the water. They were comfortable at least, even if they were so inexpensive he’d almost balked at buying them.
He gelled his hair, brushed his teeth, and hurried to the main area. Lexi’s door was still closed. He waited impatiently, his mind taking all kinds of detours at the thought of Lexi in a bikini.
The door opened, and he straightened and focused. Lexi walked out in a white-and-blue-striped dress. It fit her body perfectly and showed off her lovely shoulders. He realized he’d been very smart to bring her to a warm climate.
“No bikini?” he asked.
Lexi laughed. “I was teasing you. You doofus! Have you been waiting out here hoping I’d strut my stuff in a bikini?”
“Busted.” He held his hands up. “It’s okay, you can call me a doofus again.” His voice dropped. “If there’s a bikini under that dress and you’re going to ‘strut your stuff’ in it.”
Lexi shook her head. “Yes, you’re a doofus, and you’ll just have to wait and see.” She winked at him and walked toward the door.
Callum hurried to keep up, swinging the door wide and following her onto the open walkway and to the elevator. Her delicious coconut scent swirled around him. “Do you realize you always smell like the beach?” he asked.
The elevator door opened and they stepped inside. “I love the smell of coconut,” she admitted.
“Have you visited the beach often?”
She looked at him like he was crazy. “Did you or did you not come to my parents’ run-down dairy farm with me? How would I afford trips to the beach? I was lucky to afford college, and only because I had a sweet scholarship, Pell grants, and a part-time job.”
His eyes widened. “I apologize.”
She nodded stiffly. “Different worlds, Cal, different worlds.”
Callum felt that sharply. He had this sense she didn’t think they could be a match, but he wasn’t about to give up when he’d never been intrigued by a woman like this before. She made him want to ditch his laptop and his cell phone. He patted the pocket where his phone was. Mercifully, it had been quiet all morning, but it was only seven a.m. at home.
The elevator opened and he escorted her back to the main building. They walked past the reception area and down a hall to a banquet room of sorts. It was too large for his family, but they liked their privacy. The smells of bacon and sweet pancakes greeted them before they entered the door. As soon as they entered, his family all looked their way, and then there was an explosion of “Cal!”
Bridger reached him first, whooping and lifting him off his feet with a bone-crushing hug. “Bro!” He glanced over at Lexi in awe. “You really did find the perfect woman?” His voice was full of disbelief.
Callum registered Lexi’s uncomfortable laugh but couldn’t do anything about it as his petite mother pushed at Bridger. “Out of the way. I need to hug my firstborn love.”
He opened his arms and enfolded his mother in them. Even in Cancun, she was perfectly coifed and pressed, but she was still his loving mom. Hugging her, he knew he was more than enough. She made him feel like he’d already conquered the world.
She looked up at him and patted his cheek. “So handsome. Oh, I love you, sweet boy.”
“Love you too, Mom.” He kept his arm around her and turned to Lexi, who was being accosted by Bridger. “Back off, bro, she’s my fiancée.” Callum shook his head in disgust.
“Just welcoming her to the family.” Bridger winked down at Lexi but didn’t release her from one of his bear hugs.
“That’s enough welcome, son.” Callum’s dad approached and stuck out his hand. He shook Callum’s hand briefly, hardly bothering to glance his way, and then turned to Lexi. “It’s a pleasure to have you here, Miss Hall.”
Lexi blinked up at him and shrank into Bridger, who had released one of his arms from around her beautiful body but kept his other firmly around her shoulders. Callum hoped it was a brother kind of hug, but with Bridger you never knew, his brother flitted through a dozen women a week. Callum remembered that when Lexi had agreed to be his fiancée, she’d told him that an adventurer was her type. Aw, no.
“Thank you, sir,” Lexi said, shaking his hand.
Callum’s mom gave Lexi a hug, tugging her from Bridger. “We’re so happy Cal has found the love of his life.”
Lexi winced, and he hoped no one but him noticed.
“And you’re just as beautiful as an angel. Isn’t she?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bridger readily agreed.
Callum shot him a look. This was going to be a long couple of weeks. At least he had a fiancée so his well-meaning sisters-in-law and mom wouldn’t be pushing women on him, but how was he going to keep Lexi far away from Bridger? His fun-loving, crazy, and accomplished brother had none of the issues that Lexi had with Callum. Bridger hadn’t paid money to be with her, he wasn’t her boss, and he definitely was not a workaholic, unless you counted working to be the best nontraditional athlete in the world. Callum was worrying too much. Bridger would never make a play for one of his brothers’ girls.
Emmett and Cambree and Creed and Kiera were in the group now. Callum got hugs all around. Creed and Kiera greeted Lexi warmly, and then Callum introduced Lexi to Emmett and Cambree. She was gracious, but he could tell she was a bit starstruck by Emmett.
“My dad is seriously your hugest fan,” she told him. “Would it be lame of me to ask for an autograph?”
Emmett laughed easily. “Not at all. Text me his address and I’ll send him a bunch of autographed stuff.”
She blinked up at him. “You’re a stud. You know that, right?”
“I try, ma’am, I really do.” He spoke with a fake Texas drawl, and Callum rolled his eyes.
Cambree chuckled and kissed Emmett’s cheek. “Believe you me, he’s a stud through and through.”
“You two better cool it or you won’t make it until February for a wedding,” Bridger warned. “Why don’t you just admit the hormones have won and elope today?”
Lexi’s eyes went wide again. The family was all circled around them, and she blinked up at Callum. “I thought they were all stiff and formal like you.”
Bridger laughed out loud at that. “Only our beautiful mama and Tomahawk are stiff and proper. Oh, and Callum, but you obviously like that in a man.” He arched his eyebrows as if doubting why anyone would like that.
“Why don’t we eat, son, and stop teasing Callum’s fiancée so she doesn’t run away?” His dad formed it like a question, but it stung like a command. Two minutes with Lexi and already his dad was doubting this amazing lady would want to stay with Callum.
His parents and Creed and Kiera wande
red back to their seats, where they already had plates filled. Callum and Lexi joined Bridger, Emmett, and Cambree in filling up their plates. Bridger joked with Lexi the entire time. Callum watched her closely, trying to gauge if she was being pulled in by Bridger’s charm and teasing. Women literally threw themselves at his brother, and Bridger appeared to love every one of them.
Cambree pulled Callum aside as he was getting a glass of juice. “Whoo-ee, bro, she’s a cutie. I think she’s a better fit for you than my setup. I feel like she’s an angel.”
Callum smiled his thanks. “Who was your setup again?”
“The cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Britney Nolan.”
“Yeah, Lexi’s definitely a better fit.” He blew out a breath. “You really wanted to set me up with a swimsuit model?”
“She’s got a heart of gold, and you date fakey models all the time. I thought you’d be thrilled to have her on your arm this week.” She patted his back. “But your choice is much better. Oh, I’m so happy. Now if we can just hook up Bridger with Avalyn.”
“What?” He was frustrated that Cambree thought he only dated fake women, but then he realized that was what Shirlene set him up with and there were photographs all over the internet of him on those dates. Yet he was confused. Avalyn Shaman and … Bridger? He looked across the room at Bridger, who was pulling out Lexi’s chair for her. His brother went through women faster than Callum acquired companies.
“You didn’t notice?” Cambree asked. “He, like, worships the ground she’s spit on.”
Callum shook his head. Avalyn was too classy to ever spit, much less look twice at his crazy little brother. “Cam, Bridger and Ava are … not a fit. They grew up together and he tormented her.”
“They’ll be adorable together! They love each other, they just don’t know it yet. Ooh, I love happy couples.” She sauntered away from him and sat down next to Emmett, kissing him before focusing on her plate of food.
Hawk Brothers Romance Collection Page 36