I know what I need, what every bit of me keeps screaming for.
A mystery man built like a Roman statue and cursed with the soul of Jekyll and Hyde. That would be a fantastic way to scratch the itch in my lady bits.
But I抦 guessing his house staff can抰 help me there.
Since I can抰 speak, I just smile at him.
For a heady moment, we linger, until I finally move again, stretching my legs out.
We silently start descending from the rocks, taking them carefully one at a time.
I know exactly what I need to do.
Get back to my room and pray the plumbing delivers a cold shower. A very long, very ice-cold shower.
Cole climbs down the rocks behind me, his eyes glued to me the whole time. Is he just looking out for me or does he like what he sees in front of him?
I hate that I wonder.
揧ou don抰 have to come. I think I know the way from here,?I say, after pushing my way through the curtain of banyan trees again.
He laughs. 揂nd risk you falling before tomorrow抯 meeting? No. Someone has to keep you vertical, woman. I don抰 trust your clumsy-ass feet.?
Damn this man.
I want to tell him it抯 not necessary梠r at least respond with some equally stupid retort ending in Commander Coffee. But all I can do is laugh.
I walk to the grassy hill feeling dizzy, hungry, and slightly overheated. But before I can waver too much, he takes my hand.
Cole Lancaster never lets go the entire way to the back door.
10
Bitter Cup （Cole）
I make an extra lap around the farm on the ATV the next morning, enjoying the pristine view and pleasant breeze.
Out here in the sunny hills with a pulsing green landscape handcrafted by God, it抯 easy to send your worries packing.
We抣l nail the perfect drink for Brock Winthrope. Dess will take a swim before we抮e on the plane home. And I won抰 explode from horrifying blue balls every time Eliza goddamned Angelo invades my personal space with her sweet scent and beaming caramel eyes that make me ache to ignite her.
Surrounded by this island beauty, I can almost believe all my wishes will come true.
If only I wasn抰 too aware that the picture-perfect beach behind my house is terribly deceptive.
When I start driving toward my place again, I抦 frowning.
Fun time抯 over. I抣l need to meet with my staff soon.
Coming closer to the side lot with the shed for ATVs, I spot a familiar face that pulls me deeper into the past.
Troy Clement, my old friend and sourcing head, in the flesh. He抯 bent down and stretching, wearing an oversized Hawaiian shirt with black-and-red fern leaves and running shoes. I park the ATV and jog up to him, slapping his arm.
揌ey, you castaway asshole. It抯 been forever.?
He turns, his lips curling into a shit-eating grin.
揅ole! Man, I can抰 remember the last time I was here, either. It抯 just as beautiful as ever梐lmost as sexy as Bali. You抮e looking good.?
No joke. Troy has the job any sane person would ever want. I could抳e had his life of travel if fate hadn抰 made me a single dad marooned in obligations and acid heartbreak.
揧ou抮e just heading out??I ask.
揘ope, I抦 wrapping up my workout. The flight here left my legs stiff as nails.?
Could抳e fooled me. There isn抰 a bead of sweat on the guy. That抯 Troy, though, always put together like solid granite no matter how much he complains.
揅ome with me to the meeting then. It抯 a rare chance for you to show off in person instead of over a screen,?I say.
揝ounds good.?He follows me back inside the house through the huge open doors.
揌ave you found your room and gotten settled in yet??
揧eah, but it抯 no big deal. How could I ever forget this place??He gives me an easy smile. 揧ou抎 need a pipe to the head to forget this scenery.?
He抯 trying to be friendly and easygoing. Even if he抯 been away from this house as long as I have, he also made the trips to our Hawaiian farms I couldn抰 bear to.
It抯 stupid to resent anyone for gushing over this place.
Hell, this company would be far worse off without Troy handling sourcing. He抯 always ready to island hop at a moment抯 notice and spend whole weeks away from civilization, hashing out production woes with local managers and sweating it out in steaming warehouses without air conditioning.
Still, I knew this was coming.
The jagged unease that keeps knifing me in the gut every time I look at him. My own traitor mind tries to claw me back to another time and place.
揋o hit the shower so you don抰 stink up the room,?I joke. 揥e抣l reconvene in the back hall. It抯 the one place big enough for everyone.?
揝ure, boss. Have you put Destiny to work yet??he asks with a gaping smile.
I force a smile back. 揌er job shadowing for a project recently was hard enough. I抦 not sure there抯 any use putting her to work in a place as distracting as this. Although she does seem to like Development.?