Treasure in the Sand

by Jill Monroe

  In a rush, Cooper rose, shedding his t-shirt as he raced to join her.

  Don’t gape. Don’t gape. Do. Not. Gape.

  But wow. The man’s body was ripped. Okay, so yeah, she’d seen him plenty of times on TV and he looked pretty amazing, but nothing prepared her for the live and in person show. Tanned from years of shirtless hard work under the sun, Molly ached to run her fingers along the hard-packed muscles of his stomach and explore the small scars that crossed his chest and arms.

  He met her in the water, his gaze dropping to her breasts for a moment. “You win the swim suit competition.”

  With a laugh, she gave in to the urge to splash in the waves, swim until her feet couldn’t touch and play in the surf with Cooper. Molly took off, Cooper right beside her and they swam together, laughing and pointing out the sea life until their limbs grew heavy.

  As the sun began to set, Cooper reached for her hand. She laced her fingers with his and they slowly waded back to shore together. The orange and reds and yellows of the fading sun shrouded his face, but Molly sensed the intensity of his gaze.

  He drew her near until her breasts lightly pressed against the breadth of his chest. Her nipples tightened, and her breath grew thready.

  “I needed this,” he said.

  Molly saw the racing beat of his pulse at his neck. He traced the side of her cheek with the back of his fingers and she could no longer breathe.

  “I think I needed you,” he said against her mouth, and then all she cared about was the sensation of his lips on hers. Molly looped her arms behind his head and sunk her fingers into his wet strands. His tongue traced the seam between her lips and then slid into her mouth, tangling with hers until her legs grew weak.

  He ran his palms up and down creating a path of fire and heat between the straps of her bikini top to the strap of her bottoms. When he cupped her breasts all the air rushed from her body.

  “You feel so good. So damn good,” he mumbled into the sensitive skin above her collarbone. He licked along her neck as his fingers found the tie at her back. With two quick tugs, the material released.

  Her breasts ached for his touch. He cupped her again, this time without the material barrier. As he lifted and molded the weight of her, his thumbs circled her nipples until they grew to tight, needy points.

  She reached for the tie at the back of her neck, then threw her wet bikini top in the direction of the shore, not caring if it made it or not. Cooper’s eyes narrowed as he studied her breasts.

  “You’re gorgeous. So damn beautiful,” he breathed against her skin, then drew her nipple into the sensual warmth of his mouth. Her knees finally buckled and he dipped and lifted her in his arms, carried her from the sea and lowered her to the blanket. “Why the hell did we swim so much when we could have been making out?”

  “We were so dumb,” she told him. His back was perfection under her fingertips. Broad and powerfully roped with muscles. She imagined the mark of her nails on his skin. Liquid fire surged at the core of her as he settled between her legs. The hard ridge of him prodded at her thighs. “You feel so good.”

  He rocked against her and she moaned. Never had she felt so elemental. So primal.

  “Make that sound again, Molly. I’ve never heard anything so hot.”

  “Make me. Earn it,” she challenged, and he rocked against the sensitive bud of her clit over and over.

  “The idea of you naked in the ocean has had my blood boiling for days. I’ve never craved for a woman like I ache for you.”

  Her body shook at his tender admission. She craved his touch all over and inside her body. She swallowed and licked her dry lips. Now was the time. “Do you have something with you? Protection?”

  Cooper sagged against her, his response a groan into her throat. “Man, I suck. I left it in the car. It made sense at the time. Seemed like kind of a dick move to bring a packet of rubbers on a picnic.”

  Her thoughts drifted to the large box of condoms she’d brought to the cottage from work. How many ways would she be able to talk herself out of having sex with Cooper between the beach and home? Dozens. So maybe that was her answer.

  But he was for sure the most perfect kisser she’d ever met.

  He propped up on his elbow and gazed down at her. As the sun fully set he softly kissed each one of her eyelids closed. Delivered a naughty lick of his tongue along the side of her neck. Cooper then rolled to his back and tucked her against the warmth of his side. Molly rested her head against his chest, and listened to the steady beat of his heart until she fell asleep.

  * * *

  The warmth of the morning sun on his cheeks woke Cooper. She’d left him alone and wrapped in the blanket they’d used for their picnic.

  Molly.

  Coop scrubbed his hand down his face. Unlike his show, which began real and drifted into fake, this thing with Molly started off fake and turned…

  Hell, was it real? He didn’t know anymore. He’d meant what he’d told her as they kissed in the ocean. He needed her.

  Constantly described by the press as a loner, Coop had always accepted it. Solidified the impression by changing the woman at his side at press events frequently and depending on very few.

  Maybe instead of being a loner, he was just used to being alone.

  Something grew and built in the middle of his chest. He smiled like some goofy teen who’d just gotten a yes to prom. He couldn’t wait to see Molly.

  After picking up his discarded shirt and sliding into his shoes, Coop clumped up the blanket and tucked it under his arm. He followed the path that would lead him to her and didn’t care that he was being an idiot.

  He dumped the sandy blanket on the porch, and with a quick knock to the screen he tugged open the door. Molly looked adorable in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, her hair in a knot secured by a pencil. She sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the computer still perched on an upside down milk crate.

  She twisted to face him, and a slow, almost shy but overwhelmingly sexy smile crossed her lips. Damn, was there a time when this woman wasn’t hot as hell? Didn’t wake up his body?

  “Morning,” she said, her voice breathless like he’d caught her thinking about sex. Thinking about screwing around with him.

  “Hi.”

  “Um, I don’t know if you drink coffee, but there’s some pods in the kitchen.”

  “I’ll get some in a minute. What are you doing?” he asked and crouched down next to her.

  “Trying to research some of the symbols on the rock, but the Internet out here is so sketchy. Like this, grr…pages just stopped loading.” She groaned in frustration. “I feel like we’re close. The worst part about this is I could have had this part done in about twenty minutes on the computer at school in what it’s taken me all morning to do here.”

  “How long have you been at it?”

  “A couple of hours,” she said with a shrug.

  “Looks like you could use a break.”

  She lifted a brow. “Says the guy who puts in eighteen hour days.”

  “The Casa Blanca has WiFi. Come back with me.”

  Her expression turned wary and a touch skeptical. Smart woman. Maybe she shouldn’t trust him.

  Chapter Six

  After parking his sports car in the lot, Molly and Cooper caught a golf cart that raced along a stone walkway to the beachfront villas. Her hair ruffled in the sea scented Gulf breeze, as their cart maneuvered around guests walking on foot. After their driver pointed out the private beach, he dropped them off at the Morning Glory Villa.

  “Each villa has been named for a flower found in North Africa,” the driver told them, offering them each a bottle of cool water.

  “I didn’t realize morning glories were in Morocco.”

  “They’re pretty much everywhere. A very invasive vine. More like a weed really,” Cooper said.

  She brushed his shoulder with hers in a playful shove. “A very pretty weed.”

  “Artemisia, Saffron, Acacia and Cara
lluma are also favorite villas with our visitors. They’re all very different. Some guests come back over and over to stay in the different ones.”

  Cooper reached in his pocket and handed the man several bills. “Thanks.”

  With a wave to their driver they crossed the pave stones to the door, almost hidden by the discreet landscaping.

  Cooper opened the door with his keycard, and Molly gasped when she stepped inside. She did a full three sixty degree turn in the entryway. “Wow. I’d heard Lacey and Clay hadn’t skimped when they built Casa Blanca, but this is crazy.” She faced Cooper. “How could you have slept on the beach with me last night when you could have been luxuriating here?”

  “The beach had other inducements.”

  His words pounded her with a sharp jolt of desire. You’re here to work. But she couldn’t prevent the goofy grin she flashed him. “I thought you had a room, but this, wow, this is like an additional house. Is that a second story?” She quickly tromped up the steps, her hands racing along the wrought iron banister. Upstairs she pulled aside the heavy blackout curtain and sighed when she spotted the sea oats waving in the gentle breeze. She gazed out over the sand, dotted with yellow umbrellas. “Cooper, the view from up here is amazing.”

  “I haven’t been up there yet.”

  She pulled away from the window to stare down at him. Molly propped her hands on her hips. “Really? That’s nuts.” Then she heard his muffled footsteps on the carpeted stairs. She grabbed his hand when he reached the top and drew him to the window. “The Gulf of Mexico looks almost turquoise today. I’m so glad the palms trees weren’t wiped out here by The Demon.” The curtain fell from her hand. “Okay, this is a lot of space, but I can see why you chose this villa.”

  “You haven’t even seen the best part.”

  “There’s something better than what I’ve already seen?”

  “This is the study.” A large built in desk flanked one wall. A narrow but ornately carved mini-conference table dominated the center of the room, bordered by chairs and equipped with one of those multi-line phones Molly envisioned business execs used to make important phone calls. “I figured you could work up here.”

  “I don’t know if I would actually get any work done or just daydream in this place.”

  “Picture a one with six zeroes behind it.”

  “Ha! Yes, that would do it. There’s some stellar motivation.”

  “The bedroom is through there, and there’s a verandah that overlooks the beach. That area downstairs you blew right past has another table for dining and then a lounge area for relaxing or watching TV. May I suggest The World Overton?” he asked with his TV grin.

  “I never miss a show.”

  “You ready for the best part?”

  Was he going to say the bedroom? She nodded because she’d be okay if he told her the bedroom was the best part of the place. Very okay.

  “It’s downstairs.”

  So, not the bedroom.

  The Moroccan-inspired design she’d spotted in the lobby of the hotel when they ate at Junonia echoed most strongly downstairs. Plush rugs and draped fabrics, in the various deep shades of morning glories, gave this villa a dramatic flair. Multicolored pillows were scattered across the couches and chaise in the living area, and a gorgeous chandelier, the color of amber, hung suspended above the dining table. A vase full of gardenias left by the cleaning staff scented the air. She followed Cooper as the rich, dark hardwoods gave way to tile. He opened a side door she hadn’t noticed before, and—

  She almost lost her footing, then rushed around him. “You were right. This is the best part of the villa.” Tucked away like a private tropical paradise was a patio and an inviting pool. Blue tiles, the color of morning glories, surrounded the pool in a stunning mosaic of geometric patterns. “How do you expect me to work in this villa, Cooper? It’s like working in a dream.”

  “Six zeroes, remember?”

  She finally remembered to close her mouth and answered, “Ah yes, that’s right.”

  The smile faded from his face, and he played with a strand of her hair before tucking it behind her ear. “You’ll have all afternoon. Unfortunately I have a business meeting up at the main part of the hotel. They’re starting up a minor league baseball team on the island.”

  “The Barefoot Bay Bucks. I’ve seen articles about it in the Mimosa Times and the Gazette. Other than the hurricane, it’s all anyone can talk about.”

  “They’re looking for additional investors, which is the other reason I’m here. Hey, I bet you’re hungry. The Resort left a basket of fruit, but order some room service while I’m gone. Nate always has food at these meetings, so don’t wait on me.”

  She grabbed his forearm. “Nate? As in Nate Ivory? The billionaire party boy?”

  Cooper groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re also a fan of the guy.”

  “Well…” Then she winked. “Actually, I kind of like the adventurous sort. Maybe one that even has his own TV show. Kind of hot.”

  Cooper thrust out his chest. “Oh yeah?” His gaze lowered to her lips.

  “For sure. You know any guys who match that description?”

  Her sexy Adventure Man clutched at his heart. “That hurts woman. And here I was hoping I was winning you over with my charm.”

  “Actually, it was your very big…map.”

  “Ouch.”

  She brushed her hands together. “So nothing to fear about me making eyes at Nate. I’m guessing you party with him.”

  “Back in the day, but he’s not much of a party boy now. We play on the same softball team. Played actually. He’s no longer available.”

  Her mouth dried, and her eyes widened. “Wait a minute. I’ve heard rumors about the Niners. As in every one on the team is super rich. Nine zeroes after the one kind of rich. You’re all billionaires.”

  “I am paying you over a million dollars if we ever find your map.”

  She sunk to one of the cushy lounge chairs arranged around the pool. “Yeah… Well, I… I hadn’t thought about where the money was coming from. I guess I sort of assumed the cash was coming out of the budget for your show. I mean, you have your own TV show, so I figured you weren’t hurting for money, but…” her words trailed. “Are you actually a billionaire?”

  Coop tugged at his collar.

  “I thought you were broke when you found Mir. Are you one of those secret rich guys who only pretended to be poor?” And if yes, why?

  Cooper laughed. “No, the poor was real. My agent had to teach me how to tie my own tie. I’d never had one.”

  “Yeah. Hippy parents.” This villa. The expensive rental car. His easy way with large sums of cash. Wow, she’d been some kind of preoccupied not to have put all that evidence together and come up with super rich. Cooper Overton was investing in a baseball team kind of wealthy. What was all around her was the way Cooper Overton lived his life. He slept in only the best. Ate only the best. Drove only the best. He dated models. Was on Page Six, in GQ and scored front row seats at The Emmy Awards.

  Prickles of doubt poked at the edges of her confidence. What could this godlike man ever want with a speech path in Florida? She knew more about crayons than she did fine wine or expensive villas.

  What the hell? She hadn’t felt this kind of self-doubt since she was thirteen and no one asked her to dance at the middle school mixer. No way would she go down this road. She’d built her short career on giving children the courage and confidence in themselves to speak. She wasn’t going to get anxious and uneasy now because this guy had a lot of money.

  He hunkered down in front of Molly and took her hands in his. “I can see you’re getting a little…weird about the money. I’m about to get all clichéd as hell, but it’s true. Money doesn’t buy you happiness, it only buys you stuff.”

  She flashed him a skeptical look. “You know, only rich people say that.”

  “It’s true.”

  Molly scanned his face. His forehead was lined, and faint dark smudges darke
ned the skin beneath his eyes. No, the man crouched beside her didn’t appear happy.

  Hesitation tinged his dark brown gaze. “This money thing, is that going to be a problem for you?”

  She shook her head, and laughed. “Absolutely not. Have fun at your billionaire meeting. I’m for sure ordering room service while you’re out, and I’m getting all the appetizers.”

  Humor replaced the uncertainty that had lurked in his eyes. He smiled over at her, and Molly realized he’d held a part of himself back all this time, because what he flashed at her now didn’t just make panties melt, they spontaneously combusted. Was she finally seeing the real man?

  “Molly, I’m kind of glad you were weird about the money. Most people aren’t.”

  After ordering room service, Molly took the stairs two at a time to the study. But enthusiasm quickly turned to frustration. Every combination of the symbols she entered in the search engine came up empty—just at much quicker speeds than at the cottage.

  Thirty minutes later room service delivered her three different appetizers, two entrées and every dessert on the menu. She also ate the package of cashews that came with the room. That alone probably set him back twelve bucks. The villa didn’t skimp with one of those small fridges. Nope, full sized all the way. After indulging herself by watching an episode of one of her favorite shows on Prime through Casa Blanca’s high speed Wi-Fi, she packaged up all the leftovers and stored them in the refrigerator for later.

  Maybe her research would go easier now that she had a full stomach, but once again, nothing worked. She was missing something. Molly knew it. But what? Perhaps she was approaching this all wrong. Sometimes when she worked on ciphers with Grandpa he’d suggested she change the scenery.

  The scenery was definitely very different in that private pool Cooper had downstairs. But she hadn’t brought her swimsuit. Or a change of clothes.

  You never did get that skinny dip.

  And that pool was very private. Cooper thought he’d be gone for hours. Done!