My heart slams against my chest at the thought of this hellion being anywhere I抦 not.
揧ou抮e not going to do something stupid like leave Seattle, are you??I whisper.
揗aybe. Maybe not.?She gives me a coy smile.
It抯 jarring how my cock hardens jealously while my fist pulses at my side.
The peaberry coffee aroma is pervasive. Normally I抎 welcome it, but I hate how it drowns out her scent.
Eliza ladles a steaming black liquid into a cup, blows on it for a few seconds, and sips it slowly. 揌mm. I think I like it.?
She hands it to me then.
I take a small whiff and toss the drink back with a satisfied grunt.
揟astes like Kona. All the Hawaiian islands, actually. What is it??
揚eaberry beans with a dab of toasted coconut and salt.?
揝alt? What made you think of adding salt? Your father抯 prank??
She looks down and smiles shyly.
揙ut here, you always taste the salt in the air when the trade winds blow just right. This might be the best week and a half of my life. I thought about how I抎 remember it in a drink once I抦 home. If I could put Hawaii in a cup, what would that taste like? And three distinct flavors came to mind. Salt water, coconut, and coffee…？
I stare at her, mystified.
揑t抯 so rare to find someone with a mind just as fucking incredible as their body,?I say.
Her face heats with that redness I抳e come to love.
揘ot sure about that. But I need to get this fire out so I can get started on the boring stuff for tomorrow梪h, no offense.?She stands.
I help her extinguish the fire.
She passes me, heading inside.
I catch her arm and she meets my eyes.
揑抣l see you before tomorrow, right??
Her face lights up and she nods, leaning in for a kiss I抦 too happy to oblige.
But as I release her reluctantly so she can walk on ahead of me for appearances, I know how fucking deep I抦 digging my hole.
It抯 only a matter of time before someone sees us together.
Hell, it wouldn抰 take much for Destiny to spot us and start asking questions.
Then my life goes up in a puff of doubts and lies that can抰 possibly fit together.
Then I remember how stupidly reckless I am.
The next morning, I wake up at five to a blaring Taylor Swift song.
Eliza is dressed and moving to the door, her hair shining and freshly brushed.
揝neaking out on me again??I say, bolting up.
She turns and grins at me. I wait with my arms crossed while she prances back to the bed, leans over it, and kisses me passionately.
揧ou抮e not that lucky, lunk. Today抯 the big day and I have four drinks to prep for the big meeting,?she says.
揙therwise, we抎 be waking up together in an hour??
Her smile shouts yes.
I pull her face back down for another devilish kiss.
揝hould I expect to wake up to Taylor Swift every damn time your alarm goes off??
She laughs, smacking my shoulder playfully.
揂ny chance I can convert you to Metallica梠r at least Green Day??I try again.
揘one. And unless you want to look bad in front of your billionaire buddy, I抎 better get these drinks梐nd myself梤eady.?
揧ou抮e dedicated. I like it.?
揝ee ya soon.?Eliza slips out of my room.
Once I抦 up, showered, and dressed, I find Destiny lounging around at the massive dining table on the second floor that overlooks a dreamy sunrise stolen from a Monet painting.
揌ey, I know my work bores you to tears, but I need you to come to a meeting with me today.?
揥hy??she asks, tilting her head like I just asked for her wisdom teeth.
揑t抯 with Brock Winthrope, and it抯 an important negotiation,?I tell her.
揙h.?She plunks her juice glass down. 揌e抯 really hot.?
揂nd far too old for you,?I growl.
揓ust sayin? Lighten up, Daddykins.?
揝ince he has an Instagram and I can barely use it, will you come??
揧eah. But are you gonna let me talk??
揧ou抮e fifteen. I抦 not sure you抮e ready to hold your own in meetings yet. However, negotiating skills will always serve you well. Even if you do most of your talking with sea lions.?
揥hatever. You just can抰 use Instagram and your big client man has his own hashtag. He抯 got like, whole fan accounts that post pictures of him in his suit with messy hair… Doesn抰 he run hotels or something??
I almost facepalm. 揑 see his social media presence serves his brand well. Regardless, I抎 like you to come. Preferably without drooling at his 'messy hair.'?
揇ad, I抦 not a prop. If you just want me to stand in the background, what抯 the point??
揧ou抮e not a prop. You抮e my daughter. This company will still be yours one day, whether you抮e running it or leaving it to your managers while you write a book on talking to whales. You have a vested interest in its success and your continuing education.?