Ronan
I’m coming out of the resort gym the next morning when I come to an abrupt halt and feel the need to rub my eyes, just to make sure I’m not dreaming. Because right there in front of me, wearing a lavender spandex shorts and sports bra set, is none other than my seatmate.
“Willow?” I call out, still not totally sure if I’m imagining things. I’m not ashamed to admit, she starred in a very X-rated dream last night, which should maybe feel weird since I barely know her. But fuck, if she doesn’t look like temptation incarnate in workout clothes and a ponytail.
“Ronan?” Her eyes widen and the slightest hint of a smile crosses her face, lighting her up from the inside. “I’d say I’m surprised, but —”
“Fate.” I finish for her with a grin. Her laugh is light and easy, and goddamn, do I want to hear it again. “What else could it be? We’re staying at the same resort. C’mon, it’s gotta be fate.”
Willow just shakes her head, but she’s full-on smiling now, and I count that as a win. “Or pure coincidence.”
“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
“Why would I?”
“Because I’m handsome and charming, and you’re beautiful and intriguing, and I want to spend time with you while we’re here in paradise together.” Part of me can’t quite believe I just laid it all out there for her like that, but something tells me Willow appreciates a direct approach. “But don’t worry, I’ve wised-up. I’m not gonna ask you out for dinner right now.”
She arches one brow. “You’re not?”
I shake my head slowly. “Nope. Because you’d still say no. You’re not ready to say yes. Not yet, at least. But you will be.”
“So you’re playing a long game?”
I wink. “I’m a good closer. Ninth inning home runs are my specialty.”
She leans in, and I hold my breath as her subtly sweet and citrus perfume hits me. But then she whispers, “I don’t date baseball players.”
I turn slightly, so we’re face-to-face, mere inches separating us. “I’m not looking to date you, Willow. Just take you out for dinner.”
Her tongue darts out to lick her plump lips as she inhales, then backs away slightly. “Just dinner, huh?” she says, her voice sounding airy and carefree. “Right.” She drags that one word out, as if she doesn’t fully believe that dinner is my only intention. “Well, we’ll see about that. I’m going to go do my workout.” She gestures over her shoulder to the gym. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
I let her walk away, but she only takes a few steps before I call out, “I think you will. Fate seems to be on our side, Willow.”
Her shoulders shake with silent laughter as she waves over her shoulder.
I was already looking forward to this trip, but now? Even more.
An hour later, I’m trying not to think too hard about what Willow might be doing while I’m off with the guys for Eddie’s bachelor party day. I’ve got no claim on her or her time. But fuck if I don’t wish I was poolside with her instead of standing at the top of the jetty leading to the boat that will carry me and four other guys out to the ocean for a day of deep-sea fishing.
“Ronan. Dude.”
I blink out of my fantasies of Willow in a bathing suit and focus on Jeremiah, my other buddy from university. The three of us were friends all through university. On the varsity baseball team, we were unstoppable. But I was the only one of us to go pro, the guys were content to move on to other things. And right now, Jer, Eddie, and a couple other friends of Eddie’s from work are looking at me expectantly.
“Sorry, zoned out for a second.”
Jeremiah raises his eyebrows. “Everything okay with Peyton and your mom?” he asks under his breath. I appreciate his discretion. My friends are good about not a big deal over who I am and what I do, but Eddie’s other friends aren’t quite as discreet. I’ve emphasized I’m not Ronan Sinclair, ball player, on this trip. I’m just Ronan, Eddie’s friend and groomsman, but it still took a bit for them to let it go and treat me like a regular dude.
Since Jer knows I keep my personal life pretty locked down, I’m grateful he’s keeping his voice low, even if he couldn’t be more wrong about the reason for my distraction.
Instead of a pint-sized brunette pulling my focus, it’s a tall, leggy one.
“Yeah, yeah. All good, man. Sorry. What did I miss?” I ask quietly.
“Not much, just the douchebags shooting the shit about who’s gonna reel in the bigger fish.”
I muffle my snicker at his name for two of Eddie’s other friends. I already pegged them as being competitive for all the wrong reasons and have no intention of getting to know them. “Great.”Not great. I’m missing out on a day where I could be trying to get to know Willow, win her over, and get her to say yes to dinner. Instead, I’m stuck going fishing on a fucking boat with a couple of cocky assholes.
I hate boats.
