Pollygasps as a building comes into view between the trees.
“Oh, wow.Isthat the main house?”
“Nope.That’son the other side.Thisis a guest cottage.”
“That’sone of the small ones?GoodGod.”
“They’reall a bit different.Look.”Ipoint at the next one along as we approach it.She’ssilent. “Don’tyou like it?”
“Ofcourse.”Sheglances down. “Butexpensive luxury stuff always makes me a bit uncomfortable.Anyway,Ithought this was going to be a quick date.Ithought you were drowning in work.”
“Ihad a video conference early this morning, then told my assistant to cancel everything for the rest of the day.Sheasked ifIwas having a stroke.”
Polly’seyes crinkle as she laughs. “Youdon’t really have time for this, do you?”
Ishrug. “Maybethis is business.MaybeI’mtrying to use a private island to dazzle you into becoming aYellowBarnfan.”
Shecomes to an abrupt halt, her brow furrowed over her sunglasses.
“Isthat the real reason you brought me here?You’restill trying to buy me?”Shesnatches her hand from mine and plants it on a hip. “Doyou still thinkI’ma pushover?Haveyou really not gotten the message?Thelast attempt cost you a suit, remember?”
Shelooks on the verge of digging in her heels and demanding to go home.That’sthe last thingIwant.Notjust becauseIneed to change her mind, but also becauseIcan’t stop looking at her glossy pink lips and am desperate for the chance to lick them and suck on them.
“Oh,Imost definitely do not think you’re a pushover.”Igesture for her to follow me up the slope.Please,God, let her come with me. “I’mtaking a day away from the grind.IfIcan manage that, how about you do me a favor and just go with it too?”
Shegrunts, screws up those perfect lips, and slowly follows.Mystomach relaxes with relief, andIslow so she can catch up.
“Theway the houses are tucked into the trees is really thoughtful,” she says as she looks around.
Thebreeze catches her hair and blows it across her face.Shepulls it back, but a strand sticks between her lips and she pushes it out with her tongue.
Yup, distractingly adorable.
Whatwas she talking about?Oh, right, the houses. “Yeah, it’s higher up here, and they managed to give them all clear views of the water but keep enough greenery between them that they’re all private.Notthat it matters.Whenthe whole family’s here we’re in and out of each other’s places all the time.”
“You’reclose with your family?”
“Yeah.Me, my two brothers, and two of my cousins are tight.Weall get pissed off withConnor’santics at times.He’smy middle brother.Butit always works out that at least one of us has patience with him at any given moment.Andwe all dote on my mom and dad.”
“Youmake it sound like the perfect family.”
“Oh,Idon’t know about that.We’vehad our tough times.Butmaybe that makes us closer.”
Sheopens her mouth like she’s about to ask about those times.SoItalk before she can. “We’rehere.”
Ipoint to a gap between the rocks that line the water side of the boardwalk. “Careful.It’sa bit steep.Stayright behind me.”Istep off onto the pebbled path.
“Steep?” she says, one hand firmly braced on a large rock. “It’salmost vertical.”
“It’llbe worth it when we get to the bottom.”Ireach back and hold out my hand, but she ignores it.
“It’sokay.Ican manage.”
Ikeep my arm out in the hope she’ll change her mind andI’llget to hold her hand again and be the thing she reaches for when she feels unsafe, like she reached for my thigh in the chopper.
But, nope.
Christ,IhopeIhaven’t upset her.Idon’t want to ever be the cause of that beautiful smile disappearing from her face. “Areyou sulking about me trying to buy your support with an island day trip?Itwas a joke.”
