Page 13 of Wild King
His offer to let me stay with him surprises me. For two people intent on lying to one another because our time together is just about sex, it seems like a very romantic gesture to ask me to stay.
“I’m supposed to get back for work,” I say half-heartedly, already thinking I don’t want to leave yet.
“Forget work!” he says with a laugh, waving his hand like he’s creating magic. “Work is nothing. It’s always there, so don’t worry. It will be waiting for you when you get back.”
“You do make a convincing argument, and I would like to go snorkeling.”
“Then it’s settled. Go get your stuff from your room, and while you’re gone, I’ll make reservations for snorkeling. I’ll also tell the concierge that we need dinner reservations at that restaurant you were at last night. They were making something with pineapple that smelled fantastic, so I need to try that before I go back.”
I stand to leave, secretly thrilled to spend more time here and with him. I make sure not to let on how excited I am, though. I don’t want to look too eager. Nobody likes that.
“Okay. I’ll be back in a little while.”
As I walk toward the door to leave, he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. Setting his chin on my shoulder, he says, “I’m glad you decided to stay. It’s going to be fun.”
I turn my head, and he kisses me sweetly on the lips. “Hurry back, okay?”
“Okay.”
My heart’s racing as I practically run toward my room to get my things. This gorgeous man with the body of a Greek god who’s made me come so many times I’ve stopped counting wants to spend the next two days with me. He’s right. Work will be there when I return. If anything comes up, Ever can handle it.
And if she gives me a hard time, I’ll remind her about that two-week span of time she didn’t do a stitch of work because she claimed she needed some mental health time to herself. That’s what this is for me.
Mental health days.
As for last night, I’m calling that a fantasy come true. I won’t mention that to her, though.
She answers on the first ring, and before she can say a word, I inform her I’m not coming home today like I planned. “Salem, what do you mean you’re staying a little longer?” Ever asks in the sharp tone she uses when she’s irritated with someone.
I don’t usually get that treatment, though. As my sister, she generally goes easier on me.
“Just handle anything that comes up with my clients, okay? I’ll be back on Monday. It’s no big deal.”
My sister huffs her frustration into the phone. “Fine, but there’s something big going on that I’m going to need you back no later than Monday.”
Why does she have to rain on my parade?
“What? What could be happening that I’m so necessary?” I ask as I begin pacing across my hotel room.
I’ve felt so relaxed for the past twelve hours, and in just a few minutes, she’s gotten me as tense as I was when I left the city. I sincerely doubt anything is happening. She just wants to killmy joy because she wishes she was here enjoying herself and not back in Manhattan wondering when spring will finally arrive.
“I hear there’s a big mess going on with some billionaire, and if what the rumor mill is saying is true, he’s going to need our specific kind of expertise. You’re the one who will handle it if we’re the firm they come to, so you have to be back on Monday.”
A spoiled billionaire who can’t stop misbehaving can wait. I’ve got a dream man who rocks my world in bed and out, and I’m going to enjoy him for the next two days.
“Fine. I’ll be back by Monday afternoon. For the record, though, this better not be the same as that asshole who hired us to clean up his reputation last summer. Working with him made me want to bathe in Clorox every time we had a meeting.”
That makes my sister laugh. “He was sort of disgusting, wasn’t he? Not to worry this time. I don’t think you’ll be grossed out with this job.”
I stop pacing next to the bed and rearrange my clothes in my suitcase to make room for all my toiletries from the bathroom. “I’ll see you on Monday, Ever.”
As I go to end the call, she says, “I expect to hear all the details about what kept you on that island an extra two days. It’s the least you can do after leaving me here to deal with your clients.”
I laugh and tell her goodbye. I’ll be gone a total of five whole days. Why does she act like I’ve taken a month off and left her with a mess on her hands?
No matter. I don’t want to think about that now. I’ve got my mystery man waiting for me, so I need to finish packing, call down to the front desk, and change my flight. Then my time is my own for the next two days.
And I plan to enjoy every delicious second of it.