by Karen Booth
Ten
If Sarah seemed apprehensive during the flight, now she was downright agitated—trudging out of her room dressed for the beach in a pretty blue cover-up paired with sandals and a scowl. The hair that had been perfectly in place on the airplane was in a ponytail. Her makeup had been removed. Sarah didn’t wear a lot of it, but there was a difference and he liked the change. It harkened back to the only morning she’d been in his bed, and the way he’d pored over her as she slept, wondering if it was a good idea to pursue any of the ideas ruminating in his head—thoughts of kisses bestowed and returned, and every satisfying thing that it could lead to.
“Ready?” he asked.
“You’re making me do something I am literally terrified to do. So no, I’m not ready.” Clutching her handbag, she plodded toward him as if she’d been banished to the gallows.
He placed his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze while unsubtly ushering her to the door. “You’ll feel better after this. I promise.”
“What do I get if I don’t feel better? What if I feel worse? I’m already so worked up about tonight that I feel like I’m going to lose my lunch. We haven’t even had lunch.”
“You’re just going to have to trust me.”
She glared up at him when he opened the door. “You realize it’s not my inclination to trust you, at all.”
Her freckles again teased him, toyed with him. Now that they were completely alone, he wanted nothing more than to bend down and kiss her. Just get it over with so he could stop thinking so damn much and let his instincts take over. There was nothing stopping them—nothing stopping him, except the entirely foreign worry that sex might ruin what was already between them.
“You don’t trust me even a little bit?”
“This is a trick question. If I say I trust you, it’ll make your argument for letting a thin parachute carry me thousands of feet into the air over the Atlantic Ocean.”
“Biscayne Bay. And it’s five hundred feet, and that’s only if they let us go all the way up. Not much more than a football field.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll be right next to you. You can hold my hand.”
“Oh. Okay.” The faintest of smiles crossed her lips. “I guess that makes it a little better.”
“Good. Let’s go before you change your mind.”
They headed down to the lobby. John was waiting outside and swiftly had them on their way to their beach adventure. This excursion was about more than distracting Sarah from her worries. He wanted her to see this side of him. She’d remarked about the photos in his apartment, comments that made him think she didn’t understand why he did risky things. He hadn’t always been the guy who jumped out of airplanes, but once you’ve done something that you could die doing, it takes away fear.
“I want to say one thing. Part of being successful in business is learning to fake fearlessness.”
Sarah removed her sunglasses and shot him a very hot look of admonition. “Fake it? I assumed you were actually fearless. I’ve heard you on the phone. You’re incredibly intimidating.”
“I don’t have to fake it now, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a time when I was scared to forge my own way.”
“But you come from such an influential business family. Surely your dad helped you, even if you didn’t have the best relationship.”
It was Aiden’s natural inclination to steer away from this topic, but Sarah knew his history. “That’s one thing my dad offered, but I didn’t want his help. By the time I graduated from college, I was too bitter to take anything from him anyway. I wanted to prove to my parents that I didn’t need them. Now, granted, I had a trust fund that got me started, that was no small matter, but I did everything else on my own.”
“Refusing your dad’s help couldn’t have made things better with your family.”
“It didn’t. But I also didn’t feel that it was my responsibility to make things better.” If ever there had been an understatement, that was it. “Regardless, I was terrified. I didn’t know how to find the right companies to invest in or how to influence people. When a friend invited me to go skydiving in Peru, that changed my mindset. I realized that I could do anything because I had nothing to lose.”
“Except maybe your life.”
He laughed quietly. “Maybe. But when you give up a little control, you find out what you’re made of. It’s not my intention to scare you. I want to show you that you can do anything. You have no reason to be intimidated by Sylvia Hodge.”
“I can think of fifty reasons, easy.”
“No. Listen. You have a vibrant concept, you’ve demonstrated there’s a demand for your product and most importantly, you have you. There’s no substitute for a smart, creative mind. That brain of yours is pure gold.”
Sarah’s eyes swirled with wonder and emotion. Exquisite and teary, they took Aiden’s breath away. He’d played a role in her reaction and that made his heart thump wildly.
“You make it sound like I can’t fail.”
“I don’t think you can.” Aiden blanketed Sarah’s hand with his, unable to keep from touching her. He really did believe in her. After all, she’d found a way to reach him when he’d been determined to keep her away.
She turned her hand, allowing their palms to touch, wrapping her fingers around his. Her grip said that she didn’t want to let go. Neither did he. Her skin was too soft, too warm. He’d waited too long for this. He had to know where this single touch led.
“Mr. Langford, the boat you hired is waiting. Anything I can carry out to the dock for you?”
John’s voice yanked Aiden out from under the spell of Sarah. They were already in a parking lot adjacent to the beach.
“We’ll be just fine, John.” Even with the disruption, Sarah hadn’t let go, and neither had he. Was his heart about to leave his body via his throat? Sarah was giving him a glimmer of hope he wasn’t sure he should cling to. Why he was in any way unsure of himself with Sarah was a mystery. With any other woman, he knew precisely where hand-holding led...into his bed. With Sarah? They might never share more than what they just had.
They hiked across the hot white sand, sidestepping people soaking up the midday rays. The crew was waiting for them on a shiny blue speedboat, bobbing in the water. The winch, which held the line for the sail, was all set up on the back. Aiden greeted the young man standing sentry on the dock, introduced Sarah and helped her aboard.
“Here are your life jackets.” An older man handed a red one to Sarah and a larger blue one to Aiden.
Sarah placed her handbag on one of the benches lining the perimeter of the hull. Aiden removed his T-shirt and put on the life vest. His eyes connected with Sarah’s—she’d been watching, again filling him with ill-advised hope. She turned her attention to getting her flowing cover-up sleeves through the armholes of the life jacket.
“You should get rid of the top layer,” he said.
She blew out a breath. “Yeah. Okay.”
She tossed the vest aside and turned her back to him, suggesting she wanted privacy. But this gave him the perfect chance to watch. The aqua fabric skimmed the backs of her toned legs, over her pleasantly round bottom, revealing the feminine curve of her waist, and the beautiful contours of her back and shoulders. With string ties at the back and at the hips, her bikini left little to the imagination, but his mind was racing to fill in the details. Blood rushed to the lower half of his body. Heat surged. Again.
She turned and sat on the bench as the boat puttered from the dock. Aiden wasn’t sure he could sit alongside her and keep his hands to himself, so he kneeled on the bench, steadying himself with his hand. Ocean air rushed as the boat picked up speed, cooling his overheated skin.
The crew prepared the harnesses and called Aiden and Sarah over. Even with the boat jostling them as i
t bounced over the waves, it wasn’t hard to see Sarah’s nervousness. Her back and shoulders were stiff as a board as she stepped into the straps and they hooked her onto the winch. Aiden took his place next to her, the two of them sitting on the platform at the back of the boat. One of the men released the chute. The wind caught it, yanking on the line.
Sarah grabbed his thigh. “Oh, my God. I’m going to die.”
No. But I might. He swallowed hard and took her hand. “We’re in this together.”
“What a comforting thought,” she yelled, as the boat gained speed.
One of the crewmen leaned in closer, grasping the top bar carrying the harnesses. “We’re sending you up now. Give us a signal if you decide to come back down. Have fun.”
The boat engine revved. The winch creaked. The rope began to unwind and they were lifted to standing.
Sarah yelped and squeezed his hand even harder. “Don’t let go,” she screamed as their feet left the deck and they were carried up into the air.
* * *
The line unrolled, steadily carrying them up into the warm, cloudless sky above the crystalline sea. She’d never before wondered what it felt like to be on the end of a kite string, but this had to be what it was like, floating free while tethered to safety. As they reached a height that she’d been sure would terrify her, elation bubbled up from the depths of her stomach, giving way to breathy giggles.
Aiden laughed. “You okay?” he yelled, still holding her hand.
“Yeah,” she shouted. She did have to work at focusing on the freeness of the moment, rather than the fact that she and her feet were dangling hundreds of feet above the bay. She’d never willfully experienced a height like this, outside of visiting the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago and pressing her forehead against the window for a second before she clamped her eyes shut. Somehow, the tautness of the rope and the tug of the chute made it feel as though they couldn’t fall. Or perhaps it was Aiden. He did scary things all the time and he always lived to tell the tale.
Careful not to look straight down, she took in the view—high-rise hotels lining the beach, people dotting the sand and countless shades of beautiful blue composing the vista of sea. She sucked in salt air, relished the wind against her skin, and more than anything, the comfort of Aiden’s hand.
If someone had asked her a month ago if she’d ever do this, she would have said no way. Now she had to wonder why she’d never allowed herself to try. Bungee jumping was definitely not on her list, nor was BASE jumping or skydiving—basically, jumping of any kind was out of the question. But this—flying in the air with a handsome, hunky guy holding on to her? This she could do.
Aiden was such a huge part of everything she was feeling right now. He’d been so sweet in the car, giving her the pep talk that helped her step back from the proverbial ledge. Even though they were only friends, they’d grown close, and she couldn’t help but compare him to other men. Aiden, even when he made her question what she was doing, did not doubt her ability to rise to the occasion. So many men had dismissed her, especially Jason. Not Aiden. He thought of her as more. That made her see those things in herself.
She smiled. Bad memories would not dog her today. Today was full of possibility. Today was about taking risks. Aiden leaned into her, sending a zap of electricity through her. It made them pitch to one side, which made her heart race. Sarah angled toward Aiden and that became their game, back and forth, laughing, smiling at each other, shoulders touching, hand in hand. Her heart swelled with the way she felt right now—unhindered. She could do anything today.
It was hard to know how long they’d been up in the air, but all too soon the rope was pulling them back to earth. Without much trouble, their feet settled on the boat’s landing pad, while the crew rushed to bring in the sail and help them out of their harnesses. Minutes later they were at the dock and trekking back across the sand to the spot where John was waiting.
Taking her seat in the car with sandy feet, windswept hair and the blood brought to the surface of her skin, Sarah’s nervousness had been obliterated. Feeling invincible and exhilarated, she wanted to hold on to this moment forever.
Aiden handed her a cold bottle of water, which John had brought for them. “So?”
She smiled, turning away from him for a moment and watching South Beach whiz by as they headed back to the hotel. She knew the answer Aiden was waiting for. He wanted confirmation that he’d been right and she’d been wrong. Part of her didn’t want to give it to the guy who always got whatever he wanted, but he’d earned it.
She turned back. “You were right. I loved it. It was scary at first, but I loved it.”
“And how are you feeling about tonight?”
She took in a deep breath through her nose, waiting for the old nervousness to creep back in. She was on such a high that she couldn’t fathom that old negativity. She could do what she set out to do. She was going to dazzle Sylvia Hodge tonight, impress her with her gown, the photos she had ready on her phone, and prove to her that her company was worth investing in. “Honestly? I feel great. Which is scary in its own way since it’s not normally the way I feel, but definitely better than the other kind of scared.”
“A little bit of scared keeps you on your toes, but you can get rid of the rest of it. It doesn’t help you accomplish what you want.” He took a swig of his water and screwed the cap back on. That little bit of time in the sun had darkened his skin, giving it a golden glow, making him that much more touchable.
“You tan quickly.”
He removed his sunglasses and lifted his T-shirt sleeve, revealing the rounded curves of his muscular biceps. “I guess I did get some sun.” He glanced over, setting his sights on her, making her feel exposed in a wonderful way. “You did, too. Your shoulder is pink.”
Sarah turned her head. Her cover-up had slipped down and she did indeed look sunburned. “Oh, man. And I used SPF 700.”
“They make such a thing?”
She shook her head. “I’m exaggerating.” She examined her other shoulder, the one that had been closest to Aiden and shaded by the chute. “This side is fine.”
“We’ll take a look at it when we get back to the room.”
We will?
“I don’t want you uncomfortable tonight. I want you to walk into that room in that dress and slay everyone.”
The thought of slaying a room full of people was laughable. “You do realize I’m short, right? Room slaying is more for a woman who’s five foot ten.”
“All that matters is that you have confidence. And I have complete confidence that you will look stunning.”
Sarah swallowed, hard. The man was lethal. Her resolve was doing more than melting away—she was having a hard time remembering why she’d ever needed it in the first place. Would it hurt anyone if she and Aiden gave in to a night of passion? She’d promised herself she’d stay away from single dads if she were caring for their children, but maybe this was different. She and Aiden had already shared so much more than she ever had with Jason. And she wasn’t really Oliver’s caretaker. Not for long, at least.
They arrived at the hotel and rode to their floor, both quiet. Considering all of the very sexual thoughts running through her head, Sarah was terrified to open her mouth.
“We have about an hour until we need to leave. I’m going to go ahead and hop in the shower.” Aiden took his shirt off right there.
Sarah nearly choked. “Okay.” She couldn’t have moved if she wanted to. Not when the world’s most gorgeous display was right before her. Considering that she’d never touched it, she had an irrational attachment to his chest, longed to spread her fingers across it, feel his skin against her palms and soak up the glory of Aiden Langford.
“Before you get in the shower, let me check your back for sunburn. I’m worried about that shoulder of yours.”
“
Oh, okay.”
She stepped closer so carefully you’d think she was about to feed a lion from the palm of her hand.
“Turn around.”
Goose bumps dotted her skin. He swept her ponytail to the side and teased her beach cover-up from her shoulder with his finger.
“Anything?” Her voice squeaked.
“I can’t see very well. Take off this thing.”
No no no. No taking off of things. Oh, but she wanted to. She really, really wanted to. He was so close, radiating heat right into her back. He towered behind her, making her wonderfully aware of his size. She crossed her arms, curled her fingers under the hem of the caftan and lifted it over her head.
“Much better.”
She swore his voice was tailor-made for the bedroom. Why is it hotter now that I’m wearing fewer clothes?
He placed one hand on her left shoulder while brushing the right with the tips of his fingers, leaving behind a trail of white heat. His touch was heavenly and perfect. She could have stood there forever and let him ever-so-slightly caress her shoulder. “You’re a little pink, but I think you’ll live.”
That’s rich since I feel like fainting. “Okay. Thanks.”
Eleven
Sarah finished her makeup—a few dabs of powder and another swipe of deep red lipstick. “I can do this,” she muttered. “I was born to do this.” I think.
She took a final look-see in the full-length mirror. Was this dress the right call? It was certainly stunning. And if any garment, aside from a Kama nightgown, could tell the story of her design aesthetic, this was it. Still, with a neckline aimed straight for her navel, it was a bold statement. For Aiden, it was practically a lie detector test. If he showed no interest while she was wearing it? She’d know precisely how stupid her thoughts about him had been. Like most things she designed, the dress was meant to be left in a puddle on the floor at the end of the night. It was meant to leave a man with few defenses.
Not that she had a single guard against Aiden. If he made a move, it’d be painful to say no. It didn’t help that her brain wouldn’t stop obsessing on the blissful moment when he’d caressed her shoulder and only their bathing suits had kept them apart. What would he have done if she’d glanced over her shoulder and uttered the words she’d been dying to say? Kiss me.
