Heath stretched and flexed his fingers, ignoring the tingling, visceral need to pet the dusting of hair that blazed a path from the dip of Westin’s belly button to somewhere beyond the cinch of his belt. The man’s attractiveness quotient already existed beyond measurable limits and was about to grow exponentially. Heath expected a Best Actor Oscar for pretending to be unaffected, assuming he survived.
Raising his sunglasses onto his head, Westin held out his hands, palms up. “Can we call a truce?”
Heath closed his eyes and took a calming breath. “Fine.”
They rumbled along the winding dirt road, and Heath silently, begrudgingly admitted he was glad he’d caved. He was tired and hungry and hadn’t really wanted to walk. Plus, playing passenger princess allowed him to enjoy the incredible view, which unfortunately included the person driving.
The smaller rooms that Heath had expected to occupy were tucked and scattered around the center of the resort like little hobbit homes. The villas, however, were on the outskirts, hidden amidst dense plant life that enveloped either side of the road, which had narrowed significantly as they’d wound theirway up and around the hillside. Groundskeeper carts had to pull over to let them by.
It was cooler at this elevation, too. A breeze rustled the leaves that shaded them overhead, carrying with it the briny tang of salt. Heath closed his eyes and inhaled the heady scent mixed with humid earth and fragrant blooms.
“God, this is beautiful.”
Westin propped his sunglasses back atop his head. “A friend of mine said I was crazy coming here alone, but the joke’s on him. Despite how you feel about me, I still think you’ll be better company.”
Heath bit his tongue. God, he was curious, but he knew Westin was only looking for an opportunity to say something about his nosiness. He wasn’t falling into that trap.
“I know you wanna ask.”
Heath gave him a sidelong glance. Was the guy a mind reader? “Nope.”
“Liar.”
“It’s not my business.”
“When has that stopped you?”
Touché. “I’m not even remotely interested.”
“Alright, then. I guess you don’t want to gloat about me getting ditched at the altar. Probably for the best. Would only cement your already negative opinion of me.”
Heath bit back a gasp. No, he couldn’t be serious.
Westin faced straight ahead, wearing an expression of total neutrality, but Heath caught the movement of his eyes when they darted over to check if he was looking. Once confirmed, the slightest smile quirked Westin’s lips.
Heath crossed his arms and snorted. “Tease.”
The laugh that rumbled up from Westin’s chest made Heath’s limbs warm and wobbly.
“Unfortunately, I’m serious.”
Incapable of maintaining an air of disinterest, Heath turnedninety degrees for the best view of Westin’s responses. “Was it dramatic? Did someone interrupt the ceremony, or did she turn tail and run out of the church with her dress and veil streaming behind her?”
“Nope. Just didn’t show up.”
“Oh.” Heath couldn’t hide his vexation. “Well, that doesn’t make for a satisfying story at all.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“So, what did you do?”
“I hightailed it out of there and came here.”
“No, I mean, why didn’t she show up? What did you do to her?”
Westin hit the brakes, sending Heath sideways into the dash with enough force to bruise.
“Jesus!”
