California’s here.
The weight of his eyes burn into my back, hotter than the midday sun.
A slow smile curls the corner of my mouth as I keep my gaze fixed on the water, pretending to be utterly absorbed by the waves.
Mohammed won’t go to the mountain—the mountainwillcome to Mohammed.
Game on.
Chapter Four
COLE
Turn around, Irish.
Turn around and show me you’re aware of my proximity, the way I’m painfully aware of yours.
Turn around and show me you’ve been obsessing about me all afternoon, the same way I’ve been obsessing about you.
No matter how many times I silently will her to glance over her shoulder, she doesn’t. But then again, that would be too easy. I’ve only just met the woman, buteasyis unequivocally not a word that I’d use to describe her.
Sassy—yes.
Hotter than hell—yes.
Easy—no way. I could probably climb Everest quicker than she’d let me climb her—which naturally makes trying so much more exciting.
I spent the afternoon hoping she’d return to the pool—preferably without the bionic boyfriend—but no such luck.
Speaking of which, where is he?
Why is she here alone?
If she was mine, I’d be feeding her every aphrodisiac on the menu right now.
I watch as the waiter delivers her dinner, then order the same as her—just to share her experience, even from a distance.
What the fuck has gotten into me?
Thirty-six hours away from the office and I’ve lost my damn mind.
I don’t do obsession. I don’t chase women. They chase me.
It’s a good job I’m a workaholic, because apparently when I’m not working, I’m some sort of psychotic stalker.
By the time my food arrives, she still hasn’t so much as glanced over her shoulder.
I spear the snapper. It’s sublime.
Irish has excellent taste—apart from in men, that is.
I devour my dinner without taking my eyes off her back. If she feels it, she doesn’t so much as flinch. Either she’s completely oblivious to my presence, completely unaffected by it, or an exceptional actress.
If the chemistry at the pool was anything to go by, it’s the latter.
She has a boyfriend.
Leave it alone.
