by Elyse Riggs
Holding Chase’s hand makes me feel like a teenager again. We follow the path through bushes and palm trees until we come around to the back area where the resort faces the beach. The rock path ends in a sea of white sand facing ocean waves and a beautiful sunset.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” he says.
I agree. I’m already taking off my shoes.
He joins me in the task. I stare at him out of the corner of my eye. For just a flash of a second, the sight of him taking off his shoes to walk in the soft sand, the way one is supposed to, makes me wonder if he’s not redeemable. But I have to banish that thought from my mind.
“What are you doing?” he asks. “I thought we were going upstairs to discuss strategy for tomorrow.” He leans in close, his breath tickling my neck in a way that makes my cheeks heat and my pulse race.
Those sea-green eyes. I get lost in them every time. They calm me and excite me at once. And he just stands there and stares at me, like he’s reading my thoughts.
Good luck with that. Then for a brief moment, I think he’s going to kiss me. I want him to.
Then I realize he’s waiting for me to answer his question. “Oh, yes. Well, we can walk and talk, right? And hey, you said your family likes to strategize on the beach. It makes it harder to eavesdrop or whatever.”
The smirk and the dimples are back. No fair. “Well, the lounge chairs are gone,” I say. I thought it would make him feel better. Instead, a look of panic creeps across his face.
“What now?”
He points toward the waves. “I can’t go out there.”
“Into the waves? Why not?” I ask. I’m not really in the mood for swimming, just curious.
He makes a face and I know he’s just screwing with me. “I can’t go out there, there could be paparazzi. Or crazy people. Or sharks. Or lawyers.”
I smile and look out across the sand. There are a few small groups of people walking or sitting on blankets. But other than that, it’s pretty sparse out there right now. Just the way I like it.
“I don’t see any sharks.” I hold his hand tighter. “Trust me, without your security and the resort security and your tux, you’re not Chase Covington. You’re just a tourist on the beach with a girl.”
He cocks his head to the side. “I thought you had a big problem with tourists. Fairly sure that’s a rule of yours.”
I pull in even closer to him, until our bodies are nearly touching. “Well, that rule is more like a guideline. In any case, there are exceptions to every rule.” I can feel his body heat in between the gusts of wind whipping my hair. “And I swear to protect you from any lawyers.”
“Promise?” he asks. “I don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into. How many lawyers have you had to deal with?”
“I don’t know,” I say as we start walking at a leisurely pace toward the water. “I only met one, but he was pretty nice.”
“Ha, the entire profession has you fooled, then. Give them time. Or are you running a long con on me. Are you about to serve me with papers?”
I laugh out loud. “That’s it, you caught me. I have the papers right here in my bra.” I give him a flirty look, the one that usually gets me free drinks. By the look on his face, the flirty look isn’t wasted on him.
“Then it is my duty to search you,” he says and the hungry look in his eyes is back, “just to be on the safe side.” He tackles me onto the soft beach sand.
I scream with mock fear and glee. We land with a plop into the sand, it’s like falling on a cloud. Then I’m lying on my back in the sand, the cool breeze playing with my hair, and Chase Covington is on top of me. “Now where are those papers, spy? Talk!”
He’s straddling me now. He searches me, but only with his eyes. I know he wants more. So do I. He caresses my chin with his hand, then he lets it slide down to my shoulder. His touch sends a shiver through my body that even the cool breeze can’t compete with.
A couple walking by stops his hand from its downward path. He looks down at me with his own sexy, flirty face.
Like he’s thinking about what to do next. It’s only in this moment, when he doesn’t get a chance to search my bra for legal papers, that I realize I really want him to.
That thought takes my breath away. We stare into each other’s eyes. I keep having to remind myself I can’t fall for him. And that first night was just for fun, but now I know I’m past that. I want him, but I don’t want to get hurt.
He must see the conflict in my eyes. He smiles and wipes a stray hair from my face. Then he gets up and holds out his hand to me. “Come on, Kaylee. You promised me you’d help plot the Chase Covington comeback plan.”
I accept the hand up. “So I did. Plotting is kind of my specialty.”
“Not lying, though,” he teases.
“Definitely not lying.”
We walk closer to the water, our footsteps matching as the sun sets in the background. It’s magical. We make it to the wet sticky sand at the shoreline and I let the last of the retreating waves trickle across my toes.
“So, what do you propose we do,” Chase asks. His voice trails off into the ocean breeze, so I know this is where I’m supposed to jump in.
I glance over at him and I swear that since I’ve known him, which admittedly isn’t very long, I have never seen him so relaxed.
The frown lines on his forehead from that first night are gone. Even his smile looks different. Right now, it’s not all the way to dimple, just somewhere between happy and content.
It’s kind of funny to me that he wants my help at all. I’m almost a complete stranger.
He’s right about lawyers, though. I haven’t dealt with very many.
My family back in Colorado gets pretty rowdy, but we only had two rules: no cops and no lawyers.
The only exception to that rule was when I was electronically robbed in the middle of the night. And nobody can blame me there. Unfortunately, according to the police, if my douche ex had pointed a weapon and actually taken a single dollar from my purse, they could have arrested him for armed robbery. But run of the mill he-said, she-said, white collar crime? Nobody gave a damn. Straight to the back of the we’ll-get-to-it-after-forever file.
The whole situation still makes me angry enough to consider hiring a private investigator to go after him, but I know even that is probably pointless. The money was long gone whether he’s still around or not.
I break out of my flashback and try to concentrate on the Covington in front of me. Covington. I let the word rattle around in my brain, because honestly I’ve spent the whole time freaking out since getting fake engaged and I haven’t taken the time to process. For a brief moment, I wish it weren’t fake.
To be fair, Chase actually put money into my account instead of taking it out. And the truth is, his smile always puts me at ease. I glance down at the giant rock on my left hand as I consider everything.
I know that I’ll do everything I can to help him win his company back. Because all of a sudden, I want him to win. I’m rooting for him. And my competitive streak takes over since I also have skin in the game now.
“The company,” I say at last, in my attempt to finally get serious about things. “Wants to be convinced that we’re a real couple. And that somehow makes you a responsible adult. And we have to prove it in the next couple of days, right?”
That brings a round of laughter from Chase. I watch it rumble across his deep shoulders. He strokes his chin as he thinks, and the brown stubble catches the light of the rising moon. It makes him so sexy.
He moves closer to me, both of our feet in the wet sand now. We’re facing each other again. I stand on my tiptoes to get closer to those lips. “Maybe the paparazzi are watching us. Right now. Have you ever considered that?”
“They could be. Maybe we should put on a show. You know, for them. Just in case.”
He leans down like he’s going to kiss me, but at the last minute he veers away from my lips and places a deliciously small kiss on m
y shoulder. Then he grazes it gently with his teeth, bringing another shudder through my body.
I don’t even realize that I’ve closed my eyes to savor the sensation until his lips meet mine. Heat cascades through my body. Our tongues intertwine and I feel his hand go to my waist, sending even more shivers of desire. His kiss is strong, urgent, rough. I match the intensity.
My heart races and I feel my face flush. I kiss him back, harder, my hands on his chest. I feel the chest muscles I know are there under his tee shirt. I press my body closer to his, until I can feel his need.
My head swims with desire. Somewhere in the back of my mind, warning bells are going off, but I’m not listening. I can’t hear anything over the thundering of the blood in my veins and the pulsing desire growing in parts below.
His hand moves to cup my chin and then makes its way down to my chest, grazing my breast. I let out a moan at the touch and feel Chase get even harder, our bodies press even closer together.
“Hey, get a room,” a voice yells at us from somewhere nearby.
Breathless, we break off the kiss and take a step back. Then we both burst out laughing. We laugh until tears flow down our cheeks. When it all subsides, Chase takes my hand again.
“Maybe we should plan our battle strategy for tomorrow back in my room.”
It’s my turn to move the bangs hanging over his eye with my finger. “I like that plan.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kaylee
Sneaking back into the building at this hour is no problem, back entrance or no back entrance. All too quickly, the elevator opens up into the hallway of his suite and then he swipes us into his room.
Walking into his Royal Presidential Suite always takes my breath away. Right now, the windows are open to the sea breeze and the gorgeous view of the ocean at night makes it all the more amazing.
I run straight for the sprawling couch overlooking the window. Chase races me and beats me there, pulling me on top of him.
He lays down on his back and I jump aboard, straddling him. Even in the dim lighting, I can see the lust in his eyes. His intensity is matched by my own.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want those luscious lips. And his hands, and his biceps, and other parts of him as well.
He silences my inner monologue with a deep, delicious kiss. Desire pulses through my body, blocking out all other thoughts. I lean in closer to the kiss, rocking my hips back and forth on him and watch as he groans with pleasure.
His hands reach up and he cups my breasts through my shirt, finding my nipples and giving a teasing squeeze. I moan into his mouth. Then I feel his fingers move underneath my tee shirt. He makes a play for my bra strap. A new thrill washes over me.
Once his hands finish their job and release my breasts from the bra underneath the tee, his hands retreat and move much further south.
They slowly make their way down my clenched abs. I gasp as his hands keep going south, down to my shorts, where his fingers delicately graze the growing wet spot in my panties.
I close my eyes to try to calm my racing heart and libido. Half savoring the moment, and half wondering if this is the right thing to do. But then his hands slip back under my tee shirt to my now bare breasts. I arch my back and groan from his touch on the sensitive, bare skin before I lean forward onto his chest.
He’s even harder now than he was outside on the beach.
I tease another kiss, my lips hovering tantalizingly close to his. My mind races and throws up red flags in a parade of signs and signals trying to get my attention. To get me to stop, or at least slow down, but my body is in full control right now.
I’m just about to give in and devour him in a kiss when I hear a key card swipe at the door. Chase’s door. I freeze. Then I hear the door swing open and then footsteps. And voices. And somebody turns on a light. What the hell?
Chase sits straight up and I re-clasp my bra.
“Whoever you are, get the fuck out of my room before I kick your ass,” Chase growls. I have to admit, that tone is pretty sexy on him. Maybe he should growl more often.
But I read the papers, and I know that Chase shouldn’t confront burglars all by himself. “Chase,” I whisper, “just call security.”
“Hey, brother,” a voice calls out from the entryway, “did we catch you at a bad time?”
“Son of a bitch!” Chase yells. “Liam? Get the fuck out of my room.”
I glance up as I finish adjusting my tee shirt. “What the hell? I think you need to take away his spare key.” I shoot Chase an annoyed look.
“How is this my fault?” he asks. Then he stands up and crosses the room and points at his brother. “It’s obviously his fault. In case you were wondering, yes, you interrupted something. Now get out. Both of you.”
I peek around the corner and see not only Chase and his brother, but his sister is standing there too. She waves to me.
“Seriously? We’re going to have to start bolting the door or something, Chase.” I wonder what’s the point of all his security if people can just come barging into his room any time they want.
Liam studies both of us then frowns.
Chase shoots me a get-over-here look, but I decide to stay on the couch and stew. I sit back, cross my arms, and don’t go anywhere. After a minute or two, he gives up and pulls out a chair for himself at the kitchen table. I see him palm his face in his hand.
“Okay, Liam. What’s going on? I’m going to temporarily give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you have a very, very good reason to be here. Or I’m going to pummel you right out that door back to wherever it is that you came from.”
“I would apologize for the unannounced visit,” Liam says, “but if you would bother to check your phone you’d find eight missed calls and thirteen missed texts.”
I could hear a smirk in Liam’s tone. Whatever he’s here for must be pretty important if he tried that hard to reach him. Chase’s phone must have been set to silent.
A minute ago, I decided to stay out of the conversation, figuring it was going to be boring, corporate mumbo jumbo. But now I find myself getting sucked into the drama of it all.
Chase shrugs. “Sure, my phone was turned off. I would really like you to get to the point, though. Can you do that, Liam? Please? For me?”
“In short, this isn’t over,” Liam says matter-of-factly.
“What are you talking about?” Chase asks. “The paparazzi has pictures of us for days, even before the attempted takeover. What exactly doesn’t the board believe about us?”
“It’s not a matter of belief, apparently,” Liam says. He sighs and removes his glasses like the conversation pains him. Drama king.
He rubs his temples for a moment and then replaces the glasses to their previous position. “Like I said, the board, already on their current course of action led by Charles, is understandably skeptical. Because of your track record. I tried, brother, I really did. But they say that anybody can have a fun evening, or weekend. That does not make a legitimate couple. And they kind of have a point.”
A snarl crawls across Chase’s face. “So what is it that they’re looking for, exactly?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m the one they argue with. I’m the one they take it out on. That’s what I came here to tell you, I’m the only one even trying to push back on this, Chase. You’re here cavorting on the beach and I’m the one stuck trying to save it all.”
Chase glares at him.
Liam continues with a sigh. “Listen, you have to give me something to work with here, something more concrete than publicity photos. Think about what it is that being a couple means to you two. Specifically. What about your relationship or future leads me or the board of directors in this case, to believe that this is more than a fun, sun-filled weekend of convenience?”
“Just wait a second, you,” I jump in, despite my intention to stay out of it. Because as usual, my mouth runs ahead of my brain. I don’t even know what I’m objecting to, really.
&n
bsp; This is exactly what the board of directors thinks it is. A weekend of convenience agreed upon for money. And it makes me feel cheap, despite the price tag. I cross the room ready to rumble. I see Chase turn to me first, and he looks as surprised as I am that I after refusing, I’m now charging across the room to engage with his brother.
Liam’s face turns to me and his expression softens. He looks downright apologetic. “Those were the words of the board members, not me. That type of reasoning is what I’m fighting against. I’m not saying I agree with it.”
The four of us eye each other suspiciously, as if we are in a crazy standoff in a movie. I understand what he’s saying, and yet I’m not ready to let go of my anger.
“I apologize if I offended you,” Liam says, breaking the tense silence. “I’m not saying that I believe it to be the case, I’m saying that as a current member of the board and the only one on Chase’s side, it’s my job to prove otherwise.”
“Current member?” Chase asks. For the first time, his face turns serious. “Are they threatening you?”
“Not in so many words.”
I lean back on the wall as the conversation unfolds, taking in a deep breath and letting it out again. I want to say more, but I bite my tongue. There’s no need to yell at him, he’s just doing his job. And it sounds like he’s doing his best to help Chase.
I need time to think. And apparently, I’m not the only one.
“Okay, Liam. I hear you. Thanks for the heads up. And I’m sorry about all the tension. Give me some time to figure this out, okay? I’ll let you know what we figure out.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kaylee
Chase palms his chin for a moment. He looks lost in thought. Then he crosses the room back to the couch and sits down. “Leave it to siblings to kill the mood. Am I right?”
My inner thought is he should take the card key away from his brother and sister. We sit in awkward silence for a few minutes.
“What do we do?” he asks, turning to me. “How can we convince them we’re a real couple?”