His Paradise

by Riley, Alexa

  “Don’t.” I point at her and shoot a look over to Peter. She’s not going to bring up what Liam and I did right now.

  “I already saw the walk of shame,” Peter says, and I can feel my face burn.

  “There wasn’t any shame,” Liam says, but we all ignore him. Well, the best that I can ignore him. That deep rumbling sound in his voice is making me tingle.

  “You staying around today?” Sammy asks him. She sticks her hip out and puts her hand on it.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re only booked for one night.” Peter flips through the reservation books like we are booked solid. I stifle a laugh at the hard time he’s giving Liam.

  Liam reaches into his back pocket and tosses a credit card down. “Book me indefinitely for now.”

  Peter picks up the credit card, “Is this thing even real?”

  I look over and Sammy mouths an oh my God because I’m pretty sure it’s a black Amex, but that can’t be right. I’ve heard those things are impossible to get.

  “Get dressed, Daddy Warbucks. Your ass is working today,” Sammy says.

  “Fine,” he tells her, but not before he leans down and plants a kiss on my mouth right in front of everyone. He pulls me to him and his hands go to my ass, giving it a squeeze. All too soon he’s breaking the kiss and leaving me breathless.

  “Don’t go sneaking out of bed without me knowing next time.” I want to say something smartass, but my mind blanks as he turns and strolls back towards his room to get dressed.

  “Bossy. I like it,” Sammy says from beside me, then leans closer and whispers, “He acts like he has the right to be. You so gave it up and now he’ll never leave you alone.” She shakes her head but has an evil grin on her lips.

  I’m not sure I want him to leave me alone, but I keep that to myself, not wanting to sound needy. I don’t even know him. I can’t stake a claim on him.

  “You finally give it up to Cyrus?” I throw back. She narrows her eyes at me. “I know he followed you out last night.”

  “He’s never getting into my pants.” She shrugs, making her dark ponytail bounce.

  “Are you two going to tell me what’s going on?” Peter leans forward on the desk, clearly wanting to hear this, too.

  “I have enough alpha male in my life. I don’t need another,” Sammy says.

  “He doesn’t seem like that. I mean, Cyrus is bit bossy at times, but he’s the sheriff and a former Marine,” I say. Besides, I think she needs an alpha male.

  “You only see the good old boy routine. I’ve seen other sides of him.” Her jaw clenches and I can tell from the look in her eyes this isn’t something she wants to talk about right now. I don’t get why she’s fighting this, but I know I’m not getting anywhere right now on the subject. Plus, if I push her she’ll have reason to push me about Liam. So I let it go. For now.

  “Come on. We’re already behind. Man the fort, Peter,” I call out and head toward the pantry in the kitchen.

  This is the place where I keep all my extra inventory of preserves and jams. Sammy thought it would be a good idea to set up a stand at the farmer’s market this week. She’s selling her pastries and small cakes and I’ll sell my jams. I’m down to do anything that could make a little extra money. It slipped my mind last night.

  I start lifting the boxes but suddenly they’re taken right out of my hands.

  “I’ll get them,” Liam says, carrying the boxes out the backdoor for me and loading them into the truck.

  “You know you don’t have to do this, right?” I tell him. “You can hang here until I get back. I mean, if you want to hang out later that is. Or if—”

  “I want to spend the day with you,” he says, cutting me off. “Plus, I’m not letting you run around by yourself with that on.” I glance down at what I’m wearing. This is what I always wear.

  “This is a beach town, you know that, right?” I laugh. Strangely, I like his jealousy, though I really shouldn’t. In fact, I should be getting pissed, but all it’s doing is making me wish we were back in bed. I don’t even care that I’m still a little tender between my thighs. The reminder makes my nipples tighten and heat floods my lower half.

  “If you don’t get that look off your face we won’t be going anywhere today,” Liam’s deep voice rumbles, reminding me what I’m supposed to be doing. I shove another box at him and he smiles.

  “You really staying for a while?” I hedge as I peek up at him.

  “How could I leave right now?” He leans in, brushing his lips against mine.

  “We should probably talk about last night. That we didn’t use any, um, protection.” I feel my face heat at the admission.

  “We’ll worry about that later,” he says, before turning and taking another box out. I’m a little surprised. I thought he might freak out or something. I was sure he’d realize the magnitude of slip we made, but he doesn't even seem surprised. As if he already knew.

  Shaking my head, I move a few more boxes over for us to take and grab some loaves of fresh bread to bring along, too.

  “Is that all of it?” Liam asks, picking up the last box.

  “I think so.” I glance around to make sure I got everything.

  “I got us shirts made!” Sammy says, tossing one at me, and I catch it midair.

  It’s a bright pink shirt with Have A Taste written across the front.

  “She’s not wearing that,” Liam says before I can.

  “Of course she is. It’s her favorite color.” Sammy looks at Liam like he’s crazy and should know this.

  “Let’s go, guys. We’re already late,” I remind them. I take the shirt with me but don’t put it on. I have a feeling the shirt is more to poke at the sheriff than anything.

  Grabbing my purse, I check to make sure I have my cell. “I’ll drive,” Liam tells me. I toss the keys to my truck to him. He opens the passenger door for me, but not before taking the shirt from my hands. Once I’m situated he closes the door and heads around to the driver’s side.

  I smile over at him. His hand goes to the back of my neck and he pulls me to him and gives me another one of those kisses that feel so natural. Like we’ve been doing it forever. It turns from sweet and soft to something more when his phone rings.

  He curses and then pulls it out of his pocket as he starts the truck. He puts the phone to his ear and I point down the road. “Center of town,” I tell him so he knows where we’re going. He nods and takes off.

  “No, I won’t be leaving today,” he says into the phone, making me wonder if that was his plan but now he’s changed it for me. “I haven’t even checked my emails, so I’m not worried about it right now,” he adds a moment later. “Of course I’m fine.” This time I can hear that it’s a female on the other end of the line. “That’s nobody’s fucking business. I’ll get to it when I get to it.” Then he ends the call.

  When I steal a peek over at him he gives me a soft smile with a wink. He’s nothing like the man who was on the phone moments ago. I’m started to notice that. He can be hard and clipped with others but not me.

  “Is there somewhere else you’re supposed to be? I don’t want you to get in trouble or something.”

  “I promise I’m right where I want to be,” he tells me, making a flutter hit my stomach. We drive into town and I have to tell him where to turn a few times.

  “You never been here before?” I ask. Our town isn't big, and if you’ve been here once you should really know where the center of town is.

  “Yeah, a few times,” he says after a long pause.

  “And you don’t know your way around here? Are you that bad with directions?” I tease.

  “I normally stay at the resort here.”

  My stomach tightens at the reminder of that place. It’s bittersweet having it here. It’s been good for the town but bad for me because they want my land. And it’s becoming clear to me they are going to get it. They’ll rip down the place I’ve called home. Then I would really have nothing left of my family. />
  He glances over at me. “I like your place better,” he tells me with a smile.

  “Thanks.” I don’t tell him if he ever comes back he likely won’t get to stay there again. I shake those thoughts away as we pull up to the farmer’s market. I don’t want to dwell on the negative today. I’m going to enjoy this time I have with Liam.

  I go to open the door, but he stops me. “Let me.”

  Before I can respond he’s out and around the truck, opening the door for me. Then he pulls me to him, kissing me right there. My face flames for a moment. The whole town will know about this now. But that slips my mind as the kiss deepens and I fall into him, forgetting everything else.

  “Do I need to get the hose?” Sammy asks, breaking the moment. Liam sighs as he pulls away and I laugh.

  “Where do you want the boxes, blondie?” He wraps his fingers around a lock of my hair, giving a playful pull, making me smile.

  “There.” I point over to where our tent is already set up, along with our tables. He nods and starts grabbing the boxes and taking them over for us.

  “I like him. He’s all over you. It’s hot,” Sammy says as she lays down a tablecloth emblazoned with our logos. We take stuff out of the boxes and set up our display.

  “You got some stuff in your car, too?” Liam asks Sammy.

  “Yeah, it’s over there.” She points to her Jeep but drops her hand when we see the sheriff heading our way. I see he’s carrying some of the stuff from her Jeep already.

  “Morning, sunshine,” he says to Sammy like she isn't giving him a death glare.

  “Sheriff, isn’t it illegal to break into someone’s car?” she throws back at him.

  He smiles down at her as he places her stuff on the table. He gets in her personal space, knowing she won’t back up. “You hear Minni is selling her bakery? Putting it up for sale real soon.”

  “What?” Sammy gasps.

  Liam pulls me to him as I watch the show in front of me. Now I understand why Sammy finds what’s happening with Liam and me so entertaining.

  Sammy has wanted to open her own bakery but thought it might never be possible. Our town already has one, so it would never work. Now it looks like she might get what she wants.

  “Just thought you might want to know.” Then Cyrus leans down and kisses her, shocking us all.

  Sammy doesn't push him away. In fact, she melts into him for a moment. Then after a second he pulls away, leaving her stunned.

  “I’ll leave you to it, sunshine.” He grabs the hem of the T-shirt she made and pulls it off over her head. She’s left standing there in a white tank top like mine with a swimsuit underneath.

  He doesn't say a word and neither does she as he strolls away with the shirt in hand. Sammy looks dazed and I can’t help but laugh.

  “There anything else I can do for you?” Liam asks me with a chuckle in his voice.

  “Coffee?” I suggest, wanting a moment with Sammy. He kisses the top of my head before heading off to find us some.

  “You could open your own bakery!” I pull her into my arms for a hug. “No more stupid talk about having to move somewhere else to open one.”

  “Yeah,” she responds, still looked shocked. “He stole my shirt,” she finally says, making me giggle.

  “Let’s set this place up. We can show everyone know how good your stuff is so you’ll be crazy busy when you land Minni’s place.” I nudge her.

  “It seems too good to be true,” she sighs. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself and think of it as mine before it really is.”

  “You’ll get it,” I try to reassure her.

  “Why is your man being all chummy with the mayor?” Sammy says, looking over my shoulder.

  The sudden change of subject catches me off-guard and I glance up to see Liam chatting to Mayor Mark Short. They look like old friends. I watch them for a few moments until they shake hands and part ways and Liam goes back to his pursuit of coffee.

  “First that black Amex I saw this morning and now this. Who is this guy?” Sammy raises an eyebrow, but she’s wary of everything and everyone. I try and dismiss it, but for some reason there’s a niggle in the back of my mind I can’t put my finger on.

  7

  Liam

  By the time I make it back with two coffees, the girls’ table has already attracted a line of people. I got stuck at the coffee shop because I didn’t think to ask how Nicole wanted it. But when the barista asked who it was for he knew immediately how she took it. That irritated me to no end, but it was made worse by the questions I got afterwards.

  It seemed like everyone in the town was in the shop asking me why I was getting coffee for “Nikki” and was I the guy at the bar with her last night. I avoided questions as much as I could until the guy handed me over two cups, telling me which one was for her and which was for Sammy. I hadn’t even had a chance to tell him I was getting them both a drink before I got bombarded by people, so he must know they’re always together.

  Everyone in this town knows one another and they’re all looking at me like I’m some alien from another planet. I’m trying not to be the asshole I know I can come across as, because this is Nicole’s town and I want her to like me. I mean, I know what I felt last night and I’m hoping she did, too. But what if everyone in this town tells her I’m the bad guy? And worse, what if someone figures out who I really am and tells her. Fuck, I’ve got to figure out a way to tell her.

  “Here you go, blondie,” I say, coming up from behind her and passing her the cup.

  “Thanks,” Sammy says as she takes hers and then sets it down so that she can take money from someone.

  “You guys got busy while I was gone,” I say, and Nicole looks back over her shoulder to wink at me.

  God, I wish I could take her to the ground right now and bury my face between her legs. I lick my lips, trying desperately to recall the taste from last night. I thought I’d get another chance this morning, but when I woke up and she was gone I came undone.

  “What can I do to help?” I ask, looking at all the people waiting to get to them. I don’t really want to talk to them, but I’d do anything to help Nicole.

  “Can you grab a few more boxes from the truck?” she asks, sounding excited. “I can’t believe we’ve already gone through so many.”

  “You got it,” I say and walk over to where I parked.

  The mayor is on the other side of the farmers market now and I hope he stays that way. I had my assistant Kathy put in a call to him to set up a meeting, but I’m rethinking everything now. Nicole has got my plans all shot up and I’ve got to figure out which way is up. When he walked over to me and said hello I spent the entire time hoping Nicole wasn’t watching. He could burst my carefully created bubble before I have a chance to come clean. And if what everyone is telling me about her is true, that kind of deception would break her heart.

  I grab the last of the boxes and carry them over to the table. I help unload them and place them on the table, but it seems like as fast as I lay them down, they’re getting scooped up. And within an hour the table is wiped clean.

  “Holy shit,” Sammy whispers when they have to turn away the last of the customers. “Nicole, we did it,” she exclaims and pulls her into her arms. “Damn, girl, maybe this will help with the payments and keep that bloodsucking bastard hotel owner from getting his clutches in you.”

  I pause from breaking down the empty boxes to glance over at the two of them. Neither of them is looking at me and a chill runs down my spine.

  Nicole leans in like she doesn’t want anyone to hear her, and I focus on the box in my hand as my ears strain.

  “I’m really happy with today’s sales, but it won’t be enough to keep me afloat long. I’m sick to my stomach thinking about it, but I’m going to have to sell.”

  This is what I’ve been waiting for. The whole reason I came to this island was to get this property and get the hell off of it. But after one night with Nicole, I’m rethinking all of it. What’
s happened to me? Am I truly a bloodsucking bastard? And if I am, is it possible to be so completely changed after a night in bed with a woman?

  “I think just folding them will be okay, Liam,” Nicole says, catching me off-guard.

  I look down in my hands and see that I shredded the box I was holding. “Yeah, you’re probably right,” I say and smile at her.

  The light in her eyes is so bright it nearly blinds me. How could I ever think of doing anything to put it out? There’s got to be a solution. Maybe she’s ready to give it up and this is a blessing in disguise for her. There’s only one way to find out.

  “Hey,” I say, coming over to her and wrapping my arms around her waist. “Why don’t you show me around the island and give me the tour from a local?”

  She drapes her arms on my shoulders and her fingers go into my hair. “I’d love to,” she says, leaning up and giving me a quick kiss. “But I’ve got to get back to the Mermaid. I’ve got to clean rooms and stock the kitchen.”

  “Don’t you have staff for that?” Why would she be in charge of cleaning rooms? She shouldn’t have to do that.

  She laughs and shakes her head. “No, it’s just me. And sometimes Peter runs the desk for me. I’m lucky that I’ve got good friends on the island to help out if something breaks or I need another set of hands. But I do the daily work, so no rest for me.”

  “Oh,” I say, trying to hide my disappointment.

  “You’re welcome to relax at the Mermaid if you want. The beach there is the best on the island.”

  I know all too well how perfect it is, but I don’t tell her that.

  “Would you mind if I tagged along?” I can’t stand the thought of her working and me sitting on a beach. She should be the one relaxing.

  “If you’d like to, yeah. It would be nice to have some company instead of an audiobook in my ears while I work.”

  It’s still early by the time we get back to the Mermaid, and Sammy says her goodbyes. I think about taking Nicole back to my room and having my way with her, but before I can let the idea take root she’s already running around and I have to move quick to keep up.