“It’ll probably take a bit for delivery. I’m going exploring. Order me a burger, babe.” He stood from the bed.
“Stop calling me ‘babe.’”
“Stop being adorable.”
Her eyes moved from the menu to stare at him with a terrified gleam. “I’m not adorable.”
“Uh-huh.” He slipped on his shoes.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me alone on our honeymoon,” she huffed.
“As you pointed out, Princess, it’s not a real one.” He’d prefer to go exploring with her, but he needed to return calls.
Taking over a broadcast empire the size of Crestone entailed a lot of meetings, phone calls, and paperwork. The attorneys handled the majority of the paperwork, but he still had to attend an obscene number of meetings. Every time he checked his phone, five or ten more voicemails needed attention. Most of the calls came from the attorneys, sometimes from his father, occasionally from Parker.
“Later, Princess.” He didn’t turn around as he left the cabin, but he knew her eyes never left his back.
…
Exploring for William meant arguing with his father, and hoping his chest wouldn’t implode from lack of oxygen, while sitting on the beach near the lodge. By the time he finished, he was hungry, tired, and as grumpy as Lucy in the morning. He’d expected once the judgment came through, his father would quit jerking him around. Turned out the verdict only ignited his father’s anger, and Dad was on a mission to continue running not only the company, but also William’s life.
When he finally got back to the cabin, he found Lucy sprawled on the bed, asleep, and the table near the kitchenette set with two trays. One tray was picked over while the silver room service cover remained fitted on the other. He lifted it and took a bite of tepid hamburger.
After he finished eating, he cased the cabin. Room service had delivered a six-pack of beer with dinner, a bottle of wine, and aThank Younote from the manager.
All he wanted right now was to sit and watch a game. Any game. He’d even take a soccer game or NASCAR if it meant a break from the lunacy going on in his head about his dad, his company, and Lucy spread eagle on the bed. And he hated soccer and NASCAR. Now, Lucy spread eagle…that he could get used to.
Her mouth moved as if she carried on an important conversation even in sleep. It was probably creepy that he enjoyed watching her this much. He didn’t particularly care because, well, hedidenjoy watching her. At least asleep she didn’t seem angry with him for dragging her along on his assignment.
He needed to find something to do.
The closet next to the bathroom held extra linens and pillows, a handful of paperback novels, and a stack of board games. He sifted through the novels—mainly mysteries he had already read and a few Stephen King books. The board games were pretty standard. Monopoly was his game. He could wipe the floor with anyone when he played, so it wasn’t fair to Lucy. Dirty Jenga. Now, that one held promise. The last game was calledConfessions: The Ultimate Game of Getting to Know You.
He’d found a winner.
Lucy squirmed on the bed. He guessed she’d be awake soon, so he cleared the trays from the table, popped the top on a beer, and set upConfessions.
The instructions were easy enough. It worked similar to poker. William was counting chips when Lucy sat up in bed, stretched her arms over her head, and yawned.
“Hey.” She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and headed to the table. “What’s this?”
“We’re playingConfessions.” He gestured to the chair across from him and resumed his counting.
“What’sConfessions?”
“A board game. Dammit, we’re short.” He glanced around the room.
“What’re you looking for?” Lucy’s eyes were still hazy with sleep.
“Something to use as chips. We’re short ten.”
“What kind of chips?” She stretched again, clearly trying to test the limits of his sanity.
“Like this.” He held up a couple of the poker chips.
Lucy glanced at the table before heading back to the bed. She opened the nightstand and rummaged around for a minute before emerging with a purple box. Her hips swayed as she moved toward him to toss the box on the table. “These’ll work.”
“These are condoms.” He shook the box so it rattled.
