“Wow, this is...phenomenal.” Kate is taking in the sunset over the lush green forest.
We’re a few miles from the beach, but every part of the South Pacific is awe-inspiring.
“Mr. Bradshaw, welcome. Let us take your luggage,” a woman with a thick French accent greets us in a white uniform.
Several men, dressed similarly, take the bags, stowing them in the trunk of the idling limousine.
I follow Kate into the car, and we ride silently through the jungle. She gasps as we make it to the beachfront. The sunrise tinges the sky a million shades of pink, orange, and yellow, reflecting the glass-like surface of the turquoise water.
I’m enraptured by her absorption of the scenery. She’s wide-eyed, amazed by the beauty of it. I feel the exact same way about her. From her sensual frame to the luscious lips that I crave to taste, I want every part of her.
I shift in my seat, forcing my eyes away.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she says, clutching the leather.
I roll down the windows from my side, allowing the ocean air to pour into the vehicle. She turns to me, an enthralled smile spreading across her face as her eyes light up.
“Have you been here before?” she asks me.
I nod. “A few times.”
My mother loved the French Polynesian islands until she discovered my father’s penchant for prostitutes here...and many other continents.
She turns back to watch the scene go by. I can’t help the desire to observe her reaction. She gapes as we cruise along, leaning forward to wave at some young children on the side of the road.
Is she kind to everyone?
We finally reach the bungalows my sister wanted all the wedding guests to stay in. They’re suspended over the water, featuring glass bottoms to reveal the ocean life swimming below. We stroll down the boardwalk over the water toward one of the bungalows.
Kate is supposed to have her own little hut, but the manager informs us that he was only instructed to prepare one for Luke Bradshaw.
“What do you mean, there’s only one?” I growl at him, getting irritated as I stand outside in the rising sun, wearing the same suit from yesterday.
“Miss Kendall told me to prepare a suite under the name Luke Bradshaw. She said he would need accommodations for two in one hut. This is our finest room. My deepest apologies, sir. We can contact the neighboring establishment to see if?—”
I cut him off, “No. We’ll make it work.”
I need to keep an eye on her anyway. If she does try to attack me, she could escape too easily, considering we are outside of the US. She won’t be going anywhere until I know more about why she’s here and who sent her.
He stammers another apology before opening the door for us and scurrying away. I turn to face Kate, gesturing for her to walk in first. I follow behind her.
She’s pale, looking around the room. It’s a tropical paradise. The interior is mostly made of wood, with thick beams stretched across the vaulted ceiling. Rattan shades cover the windows to offer privacy. A gentle island breeze is flowing through, rustling the palm trees outside and the luscious plants in our room. There’s a door leading to the bathroom where the window frames more of the turquoise water all around us.
The wood bedframe looks sturdy, making me picture all the ways we could test its durability.
“I’ll sleep on the floor,” I tell her, irritated that for the exuberant amount of money it’s costing me to be here, I won’t get a single good night’s sleep.
I need to be alert in case she attempts something.
I begin to unbutton my shirt. “The rehearsal is tonight.”
“Okay. Go ahead and take the bed to sleep. I’m going down to the beach.”
“Order whatever you want.” I gesture toward the touch screen menu.
She nods slowly, seeming unsure of what to do with herself. Her eyes watch me unbutton for another moment before she blushes and jerks away.
“Do you need anything?”
