Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Clarke’s grin seems to harness the entire power of the sun within it. Without hesitation, she smacks a kiss on my mouth.
“Hey, I got an idea,” I say, struck with sudden inspiration that’s probably foolish, but there’s no taking it back now. “Why don’t you come with me to Brooke and Bishop’s wedding Monday?”
This wedding isn’t news to her. We’ve discussed it, and she knows I’m going to St. John where Brooke and Bishop have rented out an entire resort. I’ve already informed her I’ll be gone for five days. At one point, she’d even told me she was jealous. It’s how I found out she doesn’t get to travel much. In fact, she hasn’t taken a vacation in a couple of years.
“Oh, that sounds so awesome, but there’s no way—” she starts, without even giving it serious thought.
It’s why I cut her off with a kiss, rolling her to her back. When her legs spread, I settle in between them, peering down with a stern look. “You could use some time away, Clarke. You’re the hardest working person I know. You only take off one day a week. And let’s be honest, you don’t even really take that day off since you admitted you work from home on your books on those days.”
“It’s hard running a business alone. There’s no way I can be away from the store for that long. Nina can only give me part-time hours—”
“Veronica would gladly step in, and you know it,” I admonish.
Clarke doesn’t snap a comeback because she knows I’m right. Veronica would gladly mind the store, and she’s capable of watching it well.
“Clarke,” I murmur, tilting my head and giving her a small smile. “You said you wish you could be more spontaneous, and what could be more spontaneous than agreeing to jet off to a tropical island with me for a week? We’ll relax on the sand, make love for hours on end, eat all the best foods, and, hey… drink all the fruity cocktails, too.”
“It sounds divine,” she breathes out dreamily.
“You deserve a vacation,” I continue. “I’ve already got a room there all to myself, so it won’t cost you anything. I’ll cover your plane ticket—”
“I’ll buy my own plane ticket,” she pipes up primly. It’s then I realize…she just committed.
“Yes,” I exclaim in triumph.
“Wait… I didn’t say I was going.”
“Yes, you did. You said you’d buy your own plane ticket. I’m all for equality, but I’m buying meals and a few skimpy bikinis for you to wear.”
“But I didn’t say—”
I shut her up with my mouth on hers. When I come up for air, she’s in a daze, because our kissing is just that good.
“Say you’ll come with me,” I murmur. “I don’t want to be away from you next week.”
I can see her melt, her smile turning gooey and her legs lifting to wrap around my waist. She reaches up, tugs at a lock of my hair, and whispers, “It’s a good thing you’re charming and cute. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be going.”
“It’s the promise of orgasms that changed your mind, admit it,” I counter.
She doesn’t respond, but merely slips her hands behind my neck and draws my lips down to hers.
CHAPTER 16
Wylde
I have to give it to Brooke and Bishop. They picked an amazing spot for a destination wedding. The resort is remote and exclusive, spread out over a jutting peninsula off the main island of St. John and on the edge of the Virgin Islands National Park.
Bishop described the place as low key and unplugged, noting there is Wi-Fi, but it’s spotty and only accessible from higher ground. There are no TVs in any of the rooms, but plenty of hammocks to lounge in scattered around the one-hundred-acre property.
As a member of a championship hockey team, Bishop can afford the luxury. As such, he paid an exorbitant fee to reserve the resort for the entire week for their wedding party and friends who would be making the trip. Given the size of our team, coaching staff, and support personnel who were invited—including the entire administrative and marketing departments since Brooke worked there herself—my understanding is this wedding managed to fill the entire place almost to capacity.
Despite such extravagances, I’d been amused when Bishop told me that beyond picking this place for their destination wedding, they’d made very few other choices. They’d left it to the expert staff to plan the food and wedding festivities, including choices for the cake, flowers, and decorations for the seaside ceremony that would take place on a cliff overlooking the brilliant aqua waters of Caneel Bay.
The main building where we check-in is bright and airy, with all the doors and windows open to let in the island breeze. There are potted palms and tropical arrangements placed all around to give the interior that lush jungle feel.