Derek’s hands stilled. Then they moved, his fingertips grazing up and over her neck until both palms cupped her face. “Lost.”
“I was lost the day we met. I didn’t know where anything on campus was except my dorm.”
“Unsure. A little scared.” He kissed her. “Please try not to be either. What I told you yesterday is the truth. And I plan on proving it to you.” Derek’s hands cradled her face as he kissed her again. “Relax and enjoy our time together. Okay? If I do or say something you don’t like, tell me. If I make you angry, let me know.”
The combination of his tender touch and verbal reassurance chipped away at the apprehension drowning her. “I always have.”
“You’re one of the few. You may not have noticed, but most people go out of their way to make me happy.”
She’d seen firsthand how so many people tried to impress him in the hopes of getting in good with him or his family. “And you hate every minute of it.” She tickled a spot just below his rib cage. A spot she’d tickled countless times, so she knew just how sensitive it was. “Admit it. You’d rather have me criticizing you instead of kissing your butt.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” He grabbed her hand, making it impossible for her to torture him any more. “But I do want us to always be honest with each other. No matter what.”
Every word and gesture made it a little harder to recall the reasons being here with him like this was a bad idea.
“Stop thinking so much, Brooklyn. Go with it.”
***
The salty ocean air and sunscreen mingled together, creating a one-of-a-kind scent. He inhaled deeply, loving the combination the way some people enjoyed the smell of flowers, and considered his next move. They’d gotten past the initial uncertainty bothering her when she’d arrived. However, the comfortable companionship they usually shared remained elusive. Eventually it would return, but it would take time and patience.
He hadn’t anticipated her disbelief or her insistence he had love confused with some other emotion. In hindsight, he should have. He’d never shown her anything but brotherly affection. He’d discussed his past relationships with her the same way he would with his sister. A man didn’t do that with the woman he loved.
The past no longer mattered. He couldn’t change it, so he’d move on from it.
Inviting her over today had been his first step in convincing her he’d been an idiot all this time. Alone on the beach, away from distractions, they could both relax and not worry about her parents or the media. The longer he managed to keep those two things away, the better.
“Are you going to sit there all day?” Brooklyn called as she exited the water and paused to wring out her ponytail. She’d jumped in the ocean not long after they’d walked on the beach, leaving him to think and watch her. Neither of which he minded.
“I’m enjoying the view.”
She cast a quick glance over her shoulder before looking at him again. “You see it every day. And the water is perfect today. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Propped up on his elbows, he followed her movements across the sand from behind his sunglasses. Today she wore a dark-striped Brooklyn-style swimsuit. Although technically two pieces, it covered her figure as well as any one-piece would—her other favorite style of swimwear. He knew why she preferred them, although he considered her reasons absurd because she’d rock a bikini, which was an opinion he’d always kept to himself.
He waited until her toes, with their bright purple-painted nails, touched the edge of his towel before he responded. “Wasn’t talking about the ocean view.”
Brooklyn managed an eye roll but nothing else because he tugged her arm, bringing her down next to him. Wet skin pressed against his bare chest, heating it rather than cooling it off. “Whatever you were about to say, I don’t want to hear it.”
“You’re too bossy.” She swallowed, her gaze dropping to where their chests touched before her eyes snapped back up to his face.
“Perhaps. But I like getting what I want.”
“Please. Tell me something I don’t know about you.” She moved the hand resting on her thigh and brushed it along his arm and up to his shoulder. “I bet you can’t.”
“Are you daring me? We both know that’s not a good idea.”
“More like stating a fact. I know everything about you. There’s nothing you could share I don’t already know.”
Soft fingertips made circles on his shoulder, the innocent touch conjuring up all the ways he’d rather have her touching him. Ways that would have to wait until another time.
“You sound confident, but are you willing to test your theory, risk being wrong?”
“What do you think?”
“Okay then, how does this sound? If I share something about myself that you don’t already know, I take you shopping for a new swimsuit. And not only do I pick it out, but you have to wear it next time we’re on the beach like this or out on the water.”
“And if I already know what you share with me, what do I get?” she asked, sounding too confident.
“What do you want?”
She didn’t even pause to consider. “I get to do the same. And I already know just the kind I’ll get.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “In case you’re curious about what I’m envisioning, picture the men’s Olympic swim team.” She gave his shoulder a pat. “One of those tiny swim briefs would look great on you while we’re out here. Don’t you agree?”
“Only if you plan on making sure I get covered in sunscreen.”
“To see you in one of those, it’d be worth it. Shopping is going to be so much fun. Maybe I can find a pink one. No, even better, neon yellow.” Brooklyn moved away from him and rubbed her hands together. “I can’t wait. I’ll go this week and pick one out.” Her smile widened. “Okay, I’m ready. Out with it. Tell me something I don’t already know about you.”
The last thing he needed was a yellow—or any other color—swim brief. Since he wouldn’t be losing this particular bet, her threat didn’t bother him. “I’m allergic to pomegranates and grapefruit.”
She shook her head, her smile fading away. “What?”
“If I eat either, I break out in a rash all over my body. Not only does it itch and burn at the same time, but it looks horrible.”
“Pomegranates and grapefruit. Seriously. You’re going with a supposed allergic reaction.”
“I can prove it, but I’m warning you, I’ll be a miserable grouch for days. You won’t want to be around me. No one will.”
“Don’t tempt me. I thought you were going to share some deep dark secret. Like you sucked your thumb until you were ten or you wet your pants in the first grade. Even telling me you were deathly afraid of clowns would’ve been better than allergies.”
“I’m not a huge fan of clowns.” For the first time since she arrived, the easygoing relationship they had was once again in full force. “And you never specified what type of information you wanted.”
“Technicality. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
He watched a droplet of water slide down her neck toward where her exposed skin ended and the swimsuit top began. Leaning closer, he licked the salty droplet away, and he sensed her quick intake of breath. “You taste good.”
Since she didn’t push him away or ask him to stop, he pressed his lips against her skin and kissed her once before working his way toward her neck, leaving a trail of kisses behind him. The closer he got to her lips, the faster his own blood raced. When he reached her mouth, he captured it, using his lips to caress and communicate the love he felt.
It caught him by surprise when the tip of her tongue ran along his bottom lip, a clear invitation. He didn’t hesitate. He opened for her, their tongues mating tentatively for a moment or two. Then she touched his back and pressed her breasts into his chest, causing his blood to boil and his erection to demand a chance to join the fun. Their kiss changed, became a frantic meeting, and he fell back against the beach towel, taking her do
wn on top of him.
She stiffened, but then her body again became pliant against his and she straddled him. He groaned, grabbed her ass, holding her against his erection, and wondered how far she’d let him take things today.
Brooklyn moved against him and he tore his hands away from her ass and reached for the knot holding her swimsuit top up. It took some work, but finally he got the wet material undone. Pulling her top off meant ending their kiss. So instead, he reached between their bodies and tugged it down. The bathing suit had hidden the evidence, but with it out of the way, her pebbled nipples pressed into his chest.
“You’re killing me,” he ground out, reaching up and cupping one breast, letting his thumb rub against its nipple and loving the way it tightened more as he did.
“Am I too heavy?”
“Christ no. That’s not what I meant.” He reversed their position and pressed his hips into her as he took a nipple in his mouth.
Fingernails dug in to his shoulders, all the encouragement he needed. Slowly, he sucked on one nipple before circling it with his tongue. When she arched her hips into him, he switched his mouth to her other breast, taking his time and making sure it got the same amount of attention.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said against her skin. Her body stilled under his even though her chest continued to rise and fall rapidly. Evidently telling her the truth had been the wrong thing to do. Who would’ve guessed?
As if she only then realized her breasts were exposed, she yanked at her top with one hand. The wet material had its own ideas and stuck to her skin, forcing her to grab it with both hands and tug it into place. “Derek, I don’t think you’ve ever lied to me. Please don’t do it now.”
He’d had people call him a liar before. Just never when he’d told a woman she was beautiful. “You’re right, I never have and I’m not now.”
People on the other side of the bridge probably heard her sigh. “Come on. Let’s be honest. I’m not hideous or anything, but I’m not like my sisters. I’ll never win any beauty pageants.”
Derek ground his teeth together. “Then you haven’t looked in a mirror, because you’re beautiful, hot, sexy. Should I add more adjectives? I can. Right now, there’s nothing I want more than to strip you naked and make love to you. If this place was a little more secluded, I would too.” His condo was part of a small gated community that consisted of six condos, and everyone who lived in it had access to the beach. Although he hadn’t seen any of his neighbors this weekend, it was no guarantee they weren’t around.
Color that had nothing to do with the sun filled her face and exposed skin.
“Don’t tell me you doubt it. You can feel the state I’m in.” He pressed his hips into hers again. Before he changed his mind and risked a nosy neighbor catching them, he rolled off her. “Besides, when we make love, I plan on taking my time. Something else I can’t do out here.”
She took the opportunity to adjust her top and tie it back around her neck. When she finished, she opened her mouth as if about to say something, then snapped it shut again.
“What? Don’t tell me you still plan on disagreeing with me.”
Brooklyn patted his cheek but didn’t smile. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Then what did you intend on saying?”
“Maybe now is a good time to eat lunch.”
Not a bad idea. If he had food in his mouth, he couldn’t tell her how angry her comment made him. “Sure, and afterward we’ll take the Affinity out.”
He stood and reached out a hand. “Too bad we don’t have more time this weekend. I’d take you into New York so we could go shopping.”
Brooklyn took his hand and allowed him to pull her up. “We don’t need to go so far for a simple swimsuit. I got this one at the mall.”
He eyed the suit she wore and arched an eyebrow. “All the more reason to visit New York.”
“Knock it off. There’s nothing wrong with this suit,” she said as they gathered up the things they’d brought down with them.
“Let’s agree to disagree on this one.” He took her hand and started up the beach toward his deck. “Since New York is out, the mall will do, I guess. How does a little shopping trip one night after work sound?”
“I’ll get back to you.”
He’d expected a similar answer. She planned on putting it off, hoping he’d forget about their agreement. “If you want to tell me your size, I’ll go without you. I don’t mind.”
“The size depends on the style and the brand. You better wait until I can come with you so I can try things on. We’ll go soon.”
Derek dropped everything they’d carried back up in a heap on the deck and grabbed her around the waist. “I’m not going to forget, Brooklyn. You might as well tell me when a good time to go shopping is. Otherwise, I’ll go, pick something I like, and get every size they have in stock so you can try them on.”
“And you’d do it too,” she said, sounding resigned.
He checked his watch, another thought coming to him. “Or we can hold off on lunch and hit Long Wharf Mall and the Brick Market Place today. I can find you something in one of the stores there.” The more he considered it, the more he liked the idea. “Yeah, let’s do that. When we come back, I’ll put the steaks on the grill, and if we have time afterward, we’ll take the Affinity out.”
“Fine. If it means getting the shopping trip over with.”
He gave her a quick kiss. “Don’t be so excited.” He pressed his lips against hers again. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”
***
Located between Thames Street and America’s Cup Avenue, the Brick Market Place consisted of three parallel rows, each containing various stores and restaurants making it a tourist hot spot. This afternoon was no exception, as shoppers of all ages strolled in and out of the buildings. Even the benches were crowded as tourists stopped to rest their feet and soak up some of the sun. He’d never cared for shopping regardless of the location, and he made a point of avoiding the busy shopping districts downtown during the summer.
However, today’s shopping adventure he couldn’t wait to start.
Derek stood in the courtyard and studied the storefronts along Goddard Row. The first two stores in the row sold jewelry and a third sunglasses, but next in the line, a store called Narragansett Bay, looked promising.
“Come on. We’ll start in there.” He took a step forward. When Brooklyn stayed still, he reached for her hand.
“Are you sure we can’t renegotiate this?”
“A bet isn’t a legal contract. You can’t renegotiate once it’s done.”
“But, Derek—”
Rather than hear any of her arguments, he kissed her. On some level, it registered as a bad idea. They stood in the center of the crowded courtyard where anyone might see them. Despite recognizing it, he lost himself in the feel of her body pressed against his, her arms wrapped around his neck, and the way her hair fell over the tops of his hands.
After a while, the sound of various conversations and the movement of people around them pulled him back to the present. “You trust me, right?”
She nodded.
“Good, because I know what I’m doing.”
Although the store sold everything necessary for a day at the beach, Derek found its selection of swimwear inadequate and soon after entering they strolled back out empty-handed. He didn’t let their lack of success discourage him. There were plenty of other stores for them to check out.
“If you see a store you want to visit, say the word. We can shop for more than swimsuits while we’re here.” Derek considered their next stop. Many of the stores catered to tourists. While there was nothing wrong with that, tourism was a big part of Newport’s economy, it did mean many of the gifts and apparel they carried were intended as souvenirs.
“Did you forget who you’re with?” she asked.
Brooklyn, unlike most of the females in his family, never cared much for shopping. Still, something might catch her eye today. “Im
possible, and I remember how much you hate shopping, but there are a lot of shops around here. Something might look interesting. We already passed a few jewelry stores, and I see a fine arts store at the end.”
“No shopping for me today. I just want to get what we came for and go back to your place.”
“I like the way your mind works,” he whispered before tugging on her earlobe with his lips. “Let’s try Island Wear next.”
According the sign above the glass door, the upscale-looking boutique sold only women’s swimwear. A bell dinged when they entered and immediately the mannequin in the center of the store caught his eye. Or perhaps the bikini on it did. The crimson top tied behind the mannequin’s neck and consisted of two triangle pieces held together at the bottom by a large black ring. The black bottoms had a V-cut front and red rings held together the sides. Brooklyn would look spectacular it in.
“Can I help you find something specific?” an employee said, approaching them.
“We’re just looking,” Brooklyn said.
“Actually, I think we found what we want.” He checked the woman’s nametag. “Can she try this one, Gabby?” He pointed to the swimsuit on display.
“Absolutely. This one came in this week. It’s by a new designer from London. All her work has been very popular this month. What size do you need?”
“Derek, we should look around more first,” Brooklyn hissed in his ear as she yanked on his arm. “There are a lot of swimsuits here.”
He already knew what her expression would be before he glanced at her. “You agreed. And I think this is the one.”
The evil glare she shot him would’ve sent a lesser man running. “Fine.” She turned her attention back to the saleswoman. “It varies. Anywhere from a size six to a ten fits me.”
“I’ll grab several sizes and meet you at the dressing rooms. They’re located in the back. We also have a sarong that matches this suit if you’re interested in seeing it.”
Bidding On The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 8) Page 13
