Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“I’m weighing my options carefully,” Alexander said. “And I believe it’s important for anyone I partner with to truly understand my resort—what makes it special and what we’re trying to build.” He smiled. “I’d like you and Chuck to visit Neptune’s Kingdom in a couple of weeks. Stay a night, free of charge. See the place for yourselves.” His eyes warmed as they landed on me. “And please, bring Raina. Brenda enjoyed talking with her tonight.”
“We’d be delighted,” Simon said smoothly, committing us both before I could even process the invitation.
Alexander clapped Simon on the shoulder, promised to reach out soon with details, and walked away with his wife.
Simon stayed at my side as we made our way through the hotel lobby and out into the night. The air was cool against my flushed skin, the parking lot bright with security lights. Away from the crowd and the music, an uncomfortable silence settled between us.
Everything that had happened tonight left me feeling overwhelmed, my mind and heart at war over the man walking beside me. He was my boss, which placed him firmly in the off-limits category. But that kiss… it had changed something inside me. Transformed a crush I was determined to ignore into something far more significant.
And still, undeniably, a terrible idea.
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t realize we’d reached my car until I nearly walked into it. I fumbled with my purse, searching for my keys, when Simon cleared his throat.
I looked up to find him standing in front of me, looking more uncomfortable than I’d ever seen him. His usual confidence had been replaced by something almost awkward—shoulders slightly hunched, one hand rubbing the back of his neck.
“I suppose we should discuss how to handle this going forward,” he said, his voice rough.
Oh, so now he wanted to talk about it? After he’d already volunteered us both for a weekend getaway at Alexander’s resort?
I took a deep breath, forcing down my irritation. I’d made this bed. Now I had to lie in it.
“I know this situation is… complicated,” Simon continued, and there was a resignation in his tone that hadn’t been there before, an acceptance that we were in this together now, whether he liked it or not. “But I’m more determined than ever to secure Alexander’s partnership.”
“Because of Chuck?” I questioned.
One corner of Simon’s mouth curved upward in a rueful half-smile. “You picked up on that, did you?”
“I’m pretty sure everyone at the table felt the hostility between you two.” I tilted my head, studying him. “I don’t know what happened with your business, but I’d have to be blind not to see you’re carrying a serious grudge.”
Simon let out a long exhale, tipping his head back to look up at the stars scattered across the dark sky. “Yeah.” When he looked at me again, there was a hint of self-deprecating humor in his expression. “I’m a hell of a businessman, but apparently my real talent is holding grudges.”
A small laugh escaped me, but it didn’t break the tension humming between us. Even as Simon made light of the situation, the easy rhythm of our usual interactions was absent. Tonight had changed something.
“The point is,” he said, his green eyes locking onto mine with renewed intensity, “we’ll have to keep up appearances until Alexander signs a contract with us and tells Chuck to go to hell.”
“I know.”
I kept my voice carefully neutral, even as my thoughts spiraled. My impulsive lie had snowballed into something far bigger than I’d anticipated. The idea of playing the role of Simon’s loving girlfriend was both dreadful and enticing—and still, absolutely, a terrible idea.
“Alexander mentioned visiting the resort in two weeks,” Simon said, taking a small step closer to me. The movement was subtle, but suddenly he was near enough that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. His face was half in shadow from the overhead light, all sharp angles and unreadable expression. “In the meantime, we should get comfortable being together outside the office. Go out in public. Now that we’re committed to this charade, we need to make it convincing.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
My fingers finally closed around my keys, and I pulled them from my purse with a rush of relief. I needed to leave. Needed space to process everything—the kiss, the fake relationship, the confusing tangle of feelings I had no business having for my boss.
Simon watched me press the button on my key fob, then stepped past me to open my door before I could reach for the handle. The gentlemanly gesture caught me off guard, and I slid into my seat without quite meeting his eyes.
He started to close the door, then stopped. When I looked up, he was watching me with an expression I couldn’t decipher.