I turned away from him and onto my side. “It’s definitely not my style.”
His arm wrapped around me, and the heat from his body resonated as he snuggled up against me. It sent a shiver through my spine, and I cringed. His touch didn’t feel right.
As I heaved myself up, his arm fell off me and onto the bed. “I’m going to go check with the front desk. We need more towels.”
I hurried out of the room without a reply. It was the lamest excuse I could’ve come up with. The door shut, and I walked straight into a broad chest. My breath caught as the warmth of the person enveloped me. Two strong arms wrapped around my waist to prevent me from falling backward.
My defenses dropped. I could feel his firm torso and the heart that beat within. His hands clasped around my back, and he drew me in closer. My body trembled in his grasp.
Finally, my senses returned, and I ripped myself from his arms, ignoring the weakness in my knees.
His eyes bore into mine, and his jaw was set. “Careful, Mags. Lucky I was the one to catch you.”
My feet were rooted to the floor. “Luca.”
Day One
11:30 AM - 12 PM - Free Time
Her light blonde hair hung in effortless waves down to her hips. I caught the faint fragrance of berries, a scent she’d always worn. Her light green eyes shot daggers at me as she stood a couple of inches away. She was almost a foot shorter than I was, and her petite frame was something that drove me wild.
“Luca.” The way my name came out of her mouth caused me to flinch.
She still held a grudge. I knew that from the way she’d ignored me after the morning I drove away from her at Asher’s. It was better that way, easier if she hated me. I couldn’t be what she needed. A woman like her deserved better than a man like me.
“Who’s the guy?” I nodded toward her room, where I assumed Declan was.
Her gaze faltered. “A guy I’ve been seeing.”
My tongue clicked. I hated seeing her with another man, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Not that I’d wanted to. “That so? Doesn’t seem like your type.”
Something behind her eyes flashed, and she took a step back. “What do you think my type is, huh? Men who fuck with my feelings and leave the next morning with no explanation?”
“Mags, I didn’t mean—”
She put her hand up to cut me off. “I don’t care what you mean.” She pivoted on her heels and walked away.
I groaned before I yanked my key card out and unlocked my room. Magnolia Miller was a piece of fucking work. She was gorgeous, a firecracker, and everything I’d wanted in a woman. Too bad I wasn’t worth any of it. My worth amounted little to nothing—all because of my father.
Delilah laid stretched out on the bed in her underwear. Her toned body on display. I pushed away the thoughts of Magnolia and focused on Delilah.
She smiled when she noticed me. “When are you going to make us official?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know that’s never going to happen.”
She huffed and pushed up from the bed. She made her way over to me and ran her hands down my chest. “Why not? You enjoy my company, right?”
I shook my head and grabbed her hands. “Delilah, you know we barely spend any time together. We use each other. That’s what we’re good for.”
She frowned and hesitated. “I know that was the arrangement we set at first, but I think I’m falling for you.”
That was the moment I realized I had misinterpreted her actions. She’d never been satisfied with the arrangement, and now I was going to hurt another woman.
I rubbed my forehead as I shook my head. “I don’t date. I don’t fall in love. That’s why we had the arrangement in the first place. I’m sorry Delilah, but I can’t continue whatever this is.” I motioned between us. “It’s not fair to you.”
Her lips parted, and her eyebrows raised. “You don’t haveanyfeelings for me?”
“I’m sorry.”
