The Honeymoon Prize

by Melissa McClone

  “At least we know how we ended up on Starfish Island.”

  “Yeah, and I’m glad you made us an appointment for another massage.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “My muscles are tightening again.”

  Addie’s first instinct was to offer help. But her hands on his skin would not be a smart move. Random thoughts about Nick and her together kept popping up, but she needed to remember he might be her husband, but he wasn’t her Prince Charming. No matter how amazing his kisses made her feel. “I’ll see if I can get the appointment time moved up.”

  Chapter 6

  The next few days, Nick fell into a comfortable rhythm each morning with a run followed by a swim. The exercise kept him in shape and let him burn off energy. He wasn’t used to relaxing for this long or pretending to be a husband. Nick didn’t mind, either. That surprised him. But hanging with Addie filled him with contentment, a way he hadn’t felt in a long time, so long he couldn’t remember when. Maybe he’d found the key to a happy marriage his parents had missed—marry your best friend and don’t have sex.

  On the patio, he rinsed off the sand from his legs. A quick shower inside, a change of clothes, and he’d be ready for breakfast once Addie woke. After that, the work would begin.

  Not really.

  Playing “in love” honeymooners wasn’t a tough gig. He couldn’t believe they’d planned to go their separate ways during the honeymoon. That wouldn’t have been fun. Spending time with Addie was the best part.

  Kissing Addie was his second favorite. Who cared if the kisses were for the camera? A kiss was a kiss, and she was a great kisser. He kept reminding himself not to get carried away again. Emotions were easier to push aside than the physical stuff.

  He walked into the bure taking soft steps. After years of getting up at the crack of dawn, Addie preferred waking without an alarm clock. She’d also ditched wearing shoes and ponytails unless she needed her hair out of the way for an activity. All steps in the right direction.

  Island life agreed with her. Her tired eyes and stress had disappeared. The weight she’d been carrying had lifted. She looked happier, more beautiful, without the baggage of the past dragging her down.

  Nick glanced at the bed. Empty. “Addie?”

  “Bula, bula, Mr. Nick.” Out on the patio, Mama Lani poked her head inside the bure. She carried an overflowing tray of food along with glasses of juices and two tall mugs with straws sticking out, most likely smoothies. “Your wife is in the bathroom. She woke up early. So excited to go snorkeling you’d think she’d never seen the ocean before. Reminds me of one of my grandbabies.”

  Nick joined their mama bure outside. “Addie’s re-experiencing many things during this trip.”

  Him, too. The feelings for her he’d buried back in high school kept coming back. But he wasn’t about to risk their friendship for something fleeting. All he had to do was hold on and stay in control until they returned to San Diego. His upcoming job assignments would give them some distance and let their friendship return to normal.

  “Addie told me about her grandmother and what happened with the cottage.” Mama Lani set the table. “Such a shame family would do that to their own.”

  “Greed makes people do strange things.” As if he were one to talk. He’d married a friend to keep his job. Maybe Emily and he had both sold out Addie for a paycheck. The realization didn’t sit well, though he knew she was getting something from the marriage, too. “But you can’t live without money.”

  “The key is figuring out how much money you need. More isn’t always better.”

  “Life is simple on Starfish Island.”

  “Life is only complicated if you make it so.”

  “I like simple.” Which was why being friends with Addie made the most sense even if her kisses set him on fire.

  “Then live simply. Do work that satisfies you. Earn what you need. Enjoy what you have.”

  “Then you’ll be happy,” he added.

  Mama Lani’s gaze narrowed. “Happiness is a choice, Mr. Nick. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.”

  He had a feeling the woman thought he was a fool. That bothered him because Addie valued Mama Lani’s opinion. “I’ll be sure to choose happy. Easy to do with Addie around.”

  “Take lessons from your bride. Addie is young, like you, but when you look in her eyes, you can see she’s an old soul.”

  “She was always different.” He remembered when his mom had left the first time. Addie had found him at the playground and held his hand while he cried. She did the same thing when his mother returned and his father took off. “Even when we were five.”

  “Is that why you proposed in kindergarten?” Mama Lani teased.

  He hadn’t been able to imagine Addie not being in his life. She’d been a little girl but she was also the one constant in his unstable life. If he could have moved in with her and her grandparents, he would have. “Addie has always been a catch.”

  “I have no doubt.” The amusement in Mama Lani’s voice matched the look in her eyes. “You were a smart young man to realize that.”

  He straightened, pleased to receive a compliment from Addie’s new favorite person. “Thank you.”

  “Nick!” Addie yelled from inside.

  “On the patio.”

  Footsteps drew nearer. “Close your eyes.”

  He did.

  “What color do you think we’re wearing today?” she asked.

  “Black.”

  “Nope.”

  “Not purple.”

  “No.”

  He liked the playful tone in her voice. “Can you give me a hint?”

  “I’m wearing my favorite color.”

  Pink. He swore under his breath. That was a step up from purple, but several rungs down from red or orange. “Please don’t tell me you’re wearing pink.”

  “Okay, I won’t tell you, but you can open your eyes.” Addie fun pose in her bikini showed off her long legs and toned body. “Ta-da. Hot pink.”

  Sexy. Healthy. Her skin had turned a honeyed color in spite of the sunscreen she’d been applying and the wide-brimmed straw hat she wore.

  “You look amazing,” he said.

  “You’re going to look hot in your swim trunks.”

  Nick made a face.

  “Hot pink isn’t so bad,” she said. “There’s a band of white around the waistband.”

  “Well, that changes everything.”

  “Not,” they said at the same time, then laughed.

  “Jinx.” Addie pointed at him. “You owe me a Coke.”

  “You don’t drink sodas.”

  “Then you owe me a cosmopolitan. I think I’ll have a pink one. Not until later, of course.”

  “Of course.” He noticed Mama Lana setting out the food. “Guess I’ll have to take one for the team and put on the hot pink.”

  She grinned. “You’re the best fr . . . husband.”

  Panic flashed on her face. She’d nearly slipped up with Mama Lani here, but Addie had caught herself.

  “Don’t forget it.” He walked passed her, snagging a quick kiss. “But when you’re shopping for my birthday, Christmas, or anniversary presents, think manly colors.”

  “Manly, huh?”

  “Black, brown, navy blue, camo. Got my reputation to uphold.” He winked. “I’m going to shower, then I’ll be right back. Unless you care to join me?”

  Addie’s face paled, his first clue he’d put her in a tough spot. Not intentionally. Crap. The words had slipped from his lips without much thought. Acting like husband and wife was becoming second nature, even when the cameras weren’t around.

  Her wide-eyed gaze bounced from him to Mama Lani. “I . . .”

  “Kidding.” Another wink he hoped would make up for his lapse. “You’ve showered and need to eat. Long day ahead.”

  She nodded with a look of relief. “I am hungry.”

  He was, too. For her.

  Not the right response, but hard to feel otherwise. The bikini, he told h
imself, except he’d been staring at her gorgeous face and the smattering of freckles. “Save me some food.”

  “Will do.” Addie’s lips slanted in a wry grin. “I’ll take a rain check on that shower, okay?”

  Nick swallowed around a mango-sized lump in his throat. He knew she wasn’t serious, but a part of him wished she were. “Sounds perfect.”

  Much better than the cold shower he would be taking this morning.

  Out in the water that afternoon, Addie kicked her fins to keep up with Nick, who followed a school of bright green and yellow fish headed toward a colorful reef. She stared through her mask amazed at the world underneath the water. Snorkeling was becoming her favorite activity on the island. Next to kissing Nick.

  For the camera only, of course.

  But honestly, she had a good time with him no matter what they did. He was nothing but fun and games today, suggesting a challenge as they left the bure this morning. He wanted to see if they could outlast the film crew in the water. Unbeknownst to Brad and company. She’d agreed.

  Game on.

  Now her skin wrinkled from being in the water so long, but the amazing sights she’d snorkeling had been worth feeling waterlogged.

  Wes, decked out in full scuba gear, swam below them filming. Bubbles rose from his regulator but his tank had to be getting low on air. He and Conrad, filming from the dinghy, had switched positions once.

  Addie held Nick’s hand, their fingers laced together, as if they should always be that way, in the water or out. He gave a tug, then pointed with his other hand. A blue fish circling a red and orange plant a short distance away.

  She nodded, noticing a burst of air bubbles rather than a steady stream from Wes. A sigh, perhaps?

  Wes motioned to his air gage, then waved.

  Yay! They’d outlasted the crew. Well, Wes. With a smile, Addie kicked toward the little fish Nick had pointed out.

  She stared through her goggles at the fish, who stared back at her. The fish darted around the plant, then disappeared. Guess he didn’t want company.

  Ready for a breath of air without the snorkel, she raised her head out of the water, pushed the goggles on top of her head and cleared the wet hair plastered against her face.

  Nick joined her on the surface. His mask came up. The snorkel hung at the edge of his mouth. He hugged her. “A win for Team Cahill.”

  “We work well together.” The victory hug felt pretty darn good, but then again, she enjoyed every minute and activity with Nick. “Now let’s call it quits. We’ve been in the water so long my wrinkles have wrinkles. And I’m thirsty.”

  “Cosmopolitan time or another frou-frou umbrella drink?” he asked.

  She raised her chin. “I happen to like umbrellas. I’ll be taking a collection home with me.”

  “A good thing I’ll have room in my bag.”

  The film crew’s dinghy motored toward them, cameras pointed their way.

  Nick cursed. “They’re still filming us.”

  Addie sighed. “So much for beating them.”

  “Guess they want the money shot.” That was what Nick called their kisses. “How does short and sweet sound?”

  “Good.” They’d named their kisses while floating on a raft for two and being brought an endless supply of Piña Coladas. Tried and true. Short and sweet. Passionate and prolonged. Long and lustful. Hungry and hot. Explosive and everlasting. Not that she could describe the differences between anyone of them, except short and sweet. That one she could handle, even if she longed for more. Addie wiped the water from her face. “Hard to do anything else while treading water wearing snorkel gear.”

  The boat came closer.

  “Ready?” Nick asked, his arms around her.

  No, but she nodded anyway. “Showtime.”

  Addie kissed him. Her mouth moved gently over his, the taste of salt and water and heat on his lips. She loved how he tasted, how he felt.

  He tightened his arms around her, pressing his mouth against hers.

  Sensations pulsated through her. She reminded herself to kick so Nick wasn’t holding them both up.

  “I’ve got you,” he murmured.

  He sure had. Addie would never get enough of his kisses. She clung to him, opening her mouth wider and deepening the kiss. He followed her lead, pulling her closer, until she felt his heartbeat against her breast.

  Heat built within her. A growing ache, too. Need.

  A warning bell sounded in her head.

  Short and sweet.

  Oops. She kissed him once more, then pulled back, expecting him to let go of her. He didn’t.

  His charming smile made her want to kiss him again. But she knew that wasn’t necessary. The film crew had what the needed. Unlike her. She wanted . . .

  Don’t go there.

  Nothing more was possible.

  Nick grinned. “That was more hungry and hot, than short and sweet.”

  “You complaining?”

  “Not at all.” His mouth slanted. “Looks like they got their money shot and are finished.”

  Her lips throbbed from his kiss. She forced herself not to touch them. “I’m finished, too.”

  “It’s been a long day.”

  “I’m ready to go back to the bure and rest.”

  “A nap is in order. Don’t forget. We’re having dinner at the resort, then drinks at the bar. Time to mingle and meet other guests.”

  “Bored with me?” she joked, though she wouldn’t blame him if he were. Sleeping and shower time was the only times they hadn’t been together since they arrived on the island five days ago. “I won’t be offended if you are.”

  “Nope.” His arms slid from around her, making her miss his warmth. “But if we tell the crew we’re having another private dinner, they’re going to want to film us.”

  “Good point,” Addie agreed. She enjoyed their dinners alone, but not having to deal with the film crew while she ate would be a relief. “Getting out and socializing with the other guests will be fun.”

  Hours later, she stood at the bar next to Nick, wishing they’d eaten alone and were being filmed by the crew. Oh, she’d been having fun until five minutes ago when a beautiful, busty strawberry blonde woman in a low-cut blouse sat at the opposite end of the bar. Addie might have been out of the dating scene for a while, but she recognized the I-want-you signals being sent Nick’s way. She couldn’t believe the nerve of the woman.

  Who flirted so blatantly with a guy’s wife next to him?

  Addie’s blood pressure spiraled. She fought the urge to flash her wedding band and kiss Nick on the lips. Territorial, yes, but the need to stake her claim was strong, even if she had no more right to him than the flirtatious stranger.

  Nick didn’t seem to notice the attention, but everyone else, including the staff, was staring at her. Maybe Nick was ignoring the woman or pretending not to see her. They were getting good at playacting, the line between real and fantasy sometimes blurred, but Addie hadn’t forgotten their agreement. Discrete affairs were okay. A reasonable request given this was going to be a five-year marriage of convenience.

  So why did the woman’s blatant interest in Nick make Addie so uncomfortable and a little sick to her stomach?

  Maybe she thought he’d take a break from flirting around during their honeymoon. Maybe she needed more food—a get-her-through-this chocolate something or other.

  Addie touched his shoulder. “I’m going to see if any chocolate mousse is left.”

  He picked up his beer. “I’ll come with you.”

  She wanted him with her, more than anything, but this was part of their arrangement, for better or worse. Putting off the inevitable would only make dealing with women flirting and wanting to pursue Nick harder the next time. “Stay here and finish your beer.”

  His forehead creased. “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Well, sort of. She was curious to see if he flirted back.

  He smiled at her. “Enjoy the dessert.”

  Addie n
odded again. She shouldn’t be upset or disturbed or anything. Yet she was.

  She walked to the outdoor dining area, took a bowl of chocolate mousse from the dessert display, then sat at a table with a direct view of the bar where she could see Nick. Well, his backside. She kind of understood why a moth might dive-bomb a tiki torch. She couldn’t look away.

  Before she stuck her spoon into the dessert, the strawberry blonde sidled up to Nick. She held a drink in one hand and touched his shoulder with the other.

  Not wasting any time.

  Addie shoved a spoonful of mousse into her mouth. The whipped chocolate went down smoothly, but she could be eating white rice for all she tasted.

  Nick chatted with the woman. Addie could only see the backs of heads, but she imagined they were smiling, especially the woman. Addie stabbed her spoon into the mousse.

  The woman flipped her hair behind her shoulder with a practiced flair, the kind reserved for actresses, supermodels, and socialites. Nick laughed. The woman pressed her chest against his upper arm. He didn’t move away, but downed the rest of his beer as if he wanted to get out of there.

  Reality smacked Addie in the stomach. This didn’t look like flirting but wanting to fool around. She covered her mouth with her hand.

  Darn him. Couldn’t he have waited until they were off the island? If he got caught, he would blow their happy couple cover. Would Nick think sex with a stranger was worth his job and Emily’s?

  Yes.

  The Nick that Addie had known most of her life was a lady’s man, player, heartbreaker. But here on the island, she’d forgotten. Forgotten about his dating habits. Forgotten about his reputation. Forgotten about women’s response to his good looks and charm.

  She shouldn’t expect Nick to act differently. That went against his nature, but watching him now felt strange, almost . . . wrong. She didn’t understand why.

  Back in high school, when Nick had asked out one of her friends, Addie had told herself being his long-term friend was more important than being his short-term date. When he was deployed, she’d understood and supported him when he proposed to Carrie, knowing his baby needed a father. But Addie couldn’t rationalize why she wanted to dump her bowl of mousse on the woman’s head. Or why Nick needed to do this now?