“I could say the same.”
“You could.” He scanned the pool area before hunkering down and resting his arms on his knees, hands loosely clasped. The picture of a cool, confident alpha male. “But then you’d miss out on the best lunch on the island.”
“I thoughtyoumade the best lunch.”
Another low laugh. “I’m good, but not this good.” He arched his brow. “So, are you coming?”
“Where is this magical place?”
“Does it matter?” She wanted to reply that of course it did. Where it was would give her an indication of how long she’d be away. Also what she should wear. But before she had a chance to say anything, he hauled her to her feet. “The answer is ‘No, Connor, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy to eat anywhere with you.’”
“I don’t lie.”
He burst out laughing. “God, you know how to bust my balls. Okay, throw on a pair of shorts and meet me in the car park in five.”
“This seems like a good time to remind you I also don’t like being told what to wear,” she grumbled, shoving her sunglasses and phone into her bag and following him.
He turned and took her totally off guard by grabbing her hand and drawing her into the alley that led to the front of the hotel. Easing her against the wall, he stepped in front of her, putting his giant muscular body right up against hers. Her blood began to hum as he stared into her eyes, all virile, pulsating male. “Take as long as you like,” he said quietly, a husk to his voice that caused a shiver to skate down her spine. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
She swallowed. “And the shorts?”
A slow grin spread across his face. “I said that for a reason, but we can work with whatever you want to wear.”
“Workwith it?”
“See you outside, Livvy.”
She cursed him under her breath all the way to her room, yet when she opened the wardrobe, she pulled out a pair of chino shorts. It was one thing to refuse to be dictated to, another to be caught wearing a dress if he planned to take her for a hike through the woods.
Deliberately she took a moment to check her work emails—she’d told everyone she was out of the country but not out of contact if needed. She saw one from Simon asking both her and Stuart if they should sell out of a stock position following the quarterly earnings report, and she rattled off a reply. Something she wouldn’t have been able to do if she hadn’t spent the morning reading that report.
Smiling in satisfaction that she’d beaten Stuart to the reply, she popped her phone back into her bag and headed for the door. A second later she sprinted back to the bathroom to add a quick dash of eyeliner and a dab of lip gloss. Because her lips were dry. And her eyes were... damn, she had no excuse for that.
She took the stairs down to the lobby and headed outside. When she rounded the corner to the car park, she found Connor leaning nonchalantly against...
“Oh, no.”
He unfurled his long body and walked toward her, carrying a helmet. “Oh, yes.”
“I’m not riding a... thing designed for irresponsible twenty-year-olds.”
“It’s an ATV, Livvy, not a souped-up hot hatch.” He waved toward the motorbike on four wheels. “We get to feel the breeze from the ocean as we nip down the coast, the sense of freedom, unconstrained by seat belts and metal walls.” He darted her a crooked smile. “In terms you’d understand, it’s a practical alternative to renting a car. Cheaper, easier to park, and goes places cars can’t.”
“I’m sure it’s perfect for you. It’s just not for me.”
“How do you know if you don’t try?” With a shake of his head, he plonked the helmet on her. “Come on, I’m starving.”
She either went with him or turned on her heel and walked back inside.Something a dull, staid old woman would do. “Fine. But if I end up in hospital and by some miracle you come out unscathed, you’re responsible for telling my sisters. And visiting me, because I don’t see why I should be the only one stuck inside a hospital when this was your idea.”
Her belly tumbled as he pressed a kiss to her nose. “No problem. I’ll even bring grapes.”
There was no feeling like zipping through the streets of Nantucket on a quad bike, the breeze cooling his body, the views unobstructed by the confines of a car. But the experience was intensified a millionfold with Olivia’s body plastered against his back, her arms around his waist. Yes, those arms were rigid, but did he feel bad for taking her out on the bike rather than walking into town for lunch? Only a tiny bit. Whatever guilt he felt was totally outweighed by the pleasure of having her so close.
He slowed as they neared Madakat Beach and her arms relaxed their death grip. When he came to a stop at Millie’s restaurant, he smiled to himself as she jumped off the bike as soon as he turned off the engine.
She pulled off her helmet and shook her head. Wisps of her now loosened ponytail fluttered around her face, softening her features. “This lunch had better be worth it.”
“It will be.” He took her hand and tugged her toward the restaurant. “If nothing else, you’ll enjoy the setting.”
