Royal Bastard (25 page)

T
urning
this way and that in the mirror, I could see I was starting to glow a little; there was already some tanning on my light skin. By the end of next week, I would be a healthy brown, which was what I was going for. Giving my hair one last brush, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out into the bedroom, grinning as I viewed the most beautiful sunset happening just outside the room.

The colors were breathtaking, a myriad of pinks and oranges bathing the room, and for a moment, I just stood there, lost in the beauty that was this world. This was what made it all worthwhile. With a happy sigh, I walked out of the bedroom and then stopped as Connor came into my sight, dressed casually in a pair of khakis and a dark green polo shirt that matched the sultriness in his eyes. He was just as stunning as the sunset and I licked my lips, unsure of how I was going to ignore him for two weeks. Today he had stayed largely out of my way after our brief encounter, allowing me time to enjoy the water and some light reading on the deck while I worked on my tan. For that, I had to admit I was grateful, though it had been difficult to concentrate on the heated storyline of my book when I knew he was somewhere close by, out of sight, but definitely not out of mind.

“Hey,” he said, his hands in his pockets. “Whoa, you look smoking hot.”

“I, um, thanks,” I muttered, his compliment meaning more than it should. The red flowery patterned sun-dress was simple and fell to my mid-thigh, a wrap around that I liked to think hid my lumps and bumps. I’d paired the outfit with some cute beige sandals that boasted a small heel and a few silver bangles around my wrist. It was one of those dresses that I thought upon arrival that I wouldn’t wear, but now Connor was here, I felt like I needed to, I wanted to look my best. “But you can stop pretending to give me compliments to get on my good side.”

Crease lines upon his forehead appeared and he looked taken aback. “I wasn’t pretending. You look good enough to eat… I would’ve thought someone like you would be used to receiving compliments.”

“Someone like me?” I asked, raising my eyebrows and wondering where on earth he was going with this.

He shook his head. “Clearly not, then,” he mumbled, but I heard the words all the same as he moved closer. “Someone like you: gorgeous, curvy, and oh so very fuckable,” he said in a whisper, breathing out the last word near my ear.

I pushed him away and walked around him, making sure he couldn’t see the smile I was trying to hide as I digested his words. Connor Haden thought I was fuckable? He was having me on. He’d probably gone out this afternoon, scoped out the rest of the guests on the island and found that I was the only single woman available. He knew I would be an easy target, and lord did I enjoy being in his sights. But I couldn’t let this—whatever this burning feeling of desire I was experiencing whenever I was around him—cloud my judgment. This was just a holiday, no more. And he was still the ex-client that had ruined my career.

“So, I’m going to dinner now,” I announced as if the last few moments hadn’t even happened.

“I’m starving. Mind if I walk with you?” he asked, changing his tune and almost making me think that I had dreamt his last words to me.

I hesitated, the word ‘no’ on the tip of my tongue, but then his green eyes flashed; an honest kind of vulnerability. Then it was gone, his cheesy grin casting aside any sincerity that had been there. I wasn’t going to be this guy’s friend, but we were two people stuck in an awkward situation. I could be an adult about this and let him walk with me, right?

“Fine,” I finally said. He grinned again and I walked quickly to the door, leaving him to follow me.

I was fully intending on marching down the wooden walkways, away from him, but I wasn’t used to the new sandals and had to slow down. I could hear his footfalls behind me. It didn’t sound like he was making any effort to catch up, and then the thought of him staring at my ass made me stop as my sandals landed upon the soft sand. When I felt his presence next to me—not wanting to look at him—I started to walk again, but this time with Connor by my side. All around us the tiki torches were lit, giving the entire island a soft, romantic feel.

“Did you enjoy your afternoon?” he asked with slight hesitation, as we made our way to the restaurant together.

“I did,” I replied softly. “The water was so good, this place really is paradise.”

“That’s great,” he said, his nonchalance surprising me. I expected some larger than life character like at the hotel, but as of now, Connor was being very laid back. “April, I really am happy that you decided to stay, you know. I know you think the worst of me, but I hope I can change your mind.”

Who was this guy? And what had he done with all-star super egotistical quarterback Connor Haden?

“Did you get sun-stroke earlier?”

“No, why?”

“Nothing…”

After a few moments of silence we reached the restaurant doors, but before I could enter, Connor stopped and partially blocked the way. I could see the maître d’ looking at us through the glass window, waiting eagerly and smiling.

“If it’s all right with you, we should dine together.”

“But—”

“That was my one condition, remember?”

I scowled at him. I guessed I could spend one night in his company, it wouldn’t kill me. And to be honest I didn’t really relish the idea of eating alone, surrounded by mooning couples and newlyweds. Plus he was right, it was what I’d agreed to upon deciding to stay. I nodded and Connor got the door. “After you, my lady.”

The maître d’ sprang into action and immediately led us into the place without even asking us if we had a reservation or not. Though, on this intimate little island you probably didn’t need one. Connor’s hand connected with my lower back and I sucked in a breath, feeling the heat of his hand through the thin material of my dress.

“Go with it,” he said right above my ear, his aftershave filling my senses.
Oh god,
breathe April. Just keep breathing.
He was too close, turning my legs to jelly.

We were shown to a table outdoors, the soft wind ruffling loose strands of my hair as chairs were pulled out and we were seated under the rapidly darkening but magical sky. It was an enchanting place to dine, the beach merely feet from our table. This was truly a lover’s paradise and yet I was experiencing it all with a man I barely knew.

“Drink, yes?” I looked up to see a waiter standing by my side, holding a sweating bottle of champagne in his hand. “Yes, please,” Connor answered, looking at me. “I’m sure my wife would love some.”

My eyes went wide. I’d forgotten I was supposed to be pretending to be his little missus, and I sent daggers his way. “Um, okay, why not,” I responded. Hell, I might as well live it up, it was a vacation after all. Why shouldn’t I splurge? The waiter filled our glasses and then disappeared as quickly as he’d come, leaving us alone once more. Around us there were a few other couples dining too, many of them staring into one another’s eyes like I’d predicted, as hushed conversations mingled with the sounds of the tinkling of cutlery upon plates.

Connor lifted his glass and encouraged me to do the same, his eyes shining from the candles on the table. “To a relaxing vacation for the both of us. And may there also be good times ahead.” He winked at me as I lifted my glass, thinking that the toast was harmless.

“Ditto.” Our glasses clinked and then I pulled mine back for a sip, the bubbly liquid tickling my throat. “Connor?”

“Yes, my bride?” he added with a chuckle as a passing waiter skirted by our table.

I sighed but let it slide. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot,” he said, looking at me over his menu. I swallowed another sip and then put my glass down, knowing that I might just be stepping over the line with this question, but I was too curious not to ask. Hell, I deserved to know, and he had butted into my vacation, essentially tricking me.

“Why did you break it off with Crystal?”

M
y head shot
up at her question and the mention of Crystal’s name, meeting her eyes. Of all the things that had ran through my mind, I hadn’t expected that one to just come out of left field, though I should’ve known it would come up eventually. I paused to study her, deciding how to answer.

She looked smoking hot, a tad of bronze on her skin only adding to the allure that was April Matthews. Her hair was down around her shoulders and her face free of all but what looked like minimal makeup; a swipe of mascara and a light gloss upon her lips. Her cheeks were rosy from the sun and I held back a grin as I thought of what else might be red by the end of the week. Would she sunbathe nude if I wasn’t around?

Shifting in my seat, I laid down my menu and ran a hand through my hair, thinking of the best answer to give her. I guess I could tell her the truth, that I had simply decided I was bored with Crystal and didn’t want to shackle myself to her for the rest of my life anymore. It was mostly the truth anyway. I hadn’t been looking for love, but I sure as hell was looking for more than what was there.

“You want the truth?”

“There’s no point answering if you aren’t going to be truthful,” she quipped back.

“Honestly,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “I really don’t know. It just didn’t feel right anymore. There was nothing between us. It felt like I was a two-dimensional star, an actor in some TV soap-opera. There was no substance.” Her eyes widened somewhat and I realized she’d been prepared to hear one of my dumbass jokes as answer, something offhand and crude instead of what I considered the truth.

“Thought you liked being the star?” she asked and leaned her chin upon her hand. The way she stared at me, I knew she wasn’t faking being interested, she actually wanted to know more. Wanted to find out what made me tick. This was unknown territory for me. I couldn’t remember the last time even a small part of my soul was bared. The chair beneath me creaked as I shifted in my seat again, her patient eyes waiting for an answer.

“Ah, of course I do. Can’t get enough of the spotlight and all those girls… why tie myself down to just one?”

Disappointment washed over her face and she leaned back in her chair, picking up the menu. God, why did I have to go say something so idiotic? We were finally getting somewhere and I’d ruined it by running mouth off like as if I were hanging out with one of the guys on the team.

“I didn’t mean that,” I said, trying to backpedal as fast as I could. God, she made me uneasy, and it actually hurt me to think that she thought badly of me. It made me want to prove to her otherwise.

“Clearly you did or you wouldn’t have said it.”

“No, I—”

“It’s okay, Connor. Let’s just eat in peace, shall we?” she said slowly. I gave her a dejected nod and went back to my menu, hoping somehow I could turn this evening around. And though I didn’t like people in my personal business, I almost longed for her to ask more questions, to get further beneath my skin.

Thankfully the waiter appeared to interrupt the humbling silence, and we spent the next few minutes ordering our food. Once he was gone, I picked up my glass and sipped on it, enjoying the fine taste of the no doubt expensive champagne. “So, April Matthews,” I started trying to lighten the mood. “Why don’t you tell me something about yourself?”

“Oh, no, I don’t think we should do that,” she protested, fiddling with her napkin. “There’s no need.”

“Come on,” I urged. “We’re going to be stuck together for the next two weeks. We might as well get to know each other and I promise not to put my foot in it next time, okay? Would you like for me to start? Fine, I’m a quarterback for a professional football team.”

She laughed, a little too loud for the quiet restaurant, but I was finally glad to see her warm up, and I was enjoying the way it made her entire face light up. “Well, duh. Everyone knows who you are.”

“Do you watch football?” I asked, wanting to know more about her and hoping she’d let down some of those walls. She nodded and I pulled my chair a bit closer, my elbows resting upon the table. “So which team is your favorite?”

“Certainly not yours,” she smiled and titled her head adorably, some of the tension easing from her face. “I’m more of a Battle Hawks gal myself.”

“Well at least you’re pulling for a winning team,” I teased, thinking of how the San Francisco Battle Hawks were propping up the rest of the league from the bottom.

She stuck out her tongue at me and waved her hand in the air. “We’ll make a comeback next year, you wait and see. We got some pretty good picks in the draft, so don’t you worry about us, we’re golden.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I said, amused. “So what else? What would you like to tell me about yourself April? What are you passionate about?”

“There’s not much to say,” she said softly, her expression pensive. I found I didn’t like that expression anywhere near as much as I liked her laughing. This one was more thoughtful. “My life is nowhere near as exciting as yours.”

I thought about my so-called exciting life then, how much pressure I was constantly under to make a good or bad impression depending on the occasion so as to keep my name popular and relevant in today’s distracted and busy world, because after all that was where the big money was made; endorsement deals and sponsorships, and if you weren’t making headlines then you were a nobody. And then there was the almost crippling burden and expectation to take my team to the Super Bowl next season, not get traded, not get made second string, and not to get fucking injured. It was a vicious cycle and while it came with a load of perks, the nice house, the car, the women; there was still a certain type of hardship about it. But if I told her that she’d think that I was a spoiled rich man…

“I think you would be surprised at how utterly unexciting my life really is, not counting now,” I finally said, wanting to tell her all these thoughts and yet at the same time scared to even think them.

“Is that why you came here?” she asked, her voice gentle and encouraging. There was something akin to understanding in her eyes and I cleared my throat.

“Picture time!”

I looked up to find one of the hotel staff standing next to our table, intruding with a camera in his hand. Giving April a shrug, I put on the smile I was so used to donning for the media, then leaned over the table. I grabbed the underside of April’s chair and dragged it, and her, closer. She eked out a small squeal and I casually draped my arm over her shoulders, so that we were both in the frame at least.

The camera man shook his head, motioning for us to get even closer. “Kissy picture!”

“Oh no, no,” April said, shaking her head vehemently as I debated on whether or not I wanted to kiss her. No, let me take that back. I wanted to fucking kiss her, I just didn’t know if I wanted to kiss her with this guy gawking at us.

“Kissy picture,” the man said once more, insistent this time. He certainly wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

I turned in my chair to face her. She gave me a timid cautious glance, her head tilting down, eyelids batting away like crazy. With my arm on her shoulders, I let my hand cup the back of her neck then tipped her chin up with a finger so she had nowhere else to look but right at me.

I was going to make this one count, even if there was a fly-like wannabe paparazzi man buzzing around us. But as soon as our eyes connected, the restaurant, the annoying gnat, and even the other guests melted away. All I could see was her and the golden flecks in her longing eyes.

As my fingers traced up her jawline, our lips met for the first time. Her plump little mouth was apprehensive at first but thank god she didn’t try to fight me as I was just getting started. Once that connection had been made, I knew I wasn’t going to be satisfied with a peck. I parted my mouth, leading the way for her, then slowly slipped my tongue inside her sensual mouth. An involuntary moan escaped from her and I pulled her closer, my grip on her neck more demanding as I explored and teased and stole her breath away.

The sound of her moaning again sent a bolt of pure lust down to my cock, making the front of my pants tent up. Fuck, I hadn’t even needed to kiss her to get that reaction from me. Touching her was enough; I’d been hard as soon as I’d wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Her hands collided with my chest and I broke the kiss. Confusion and a flare of heat mixed like a Molotov cocktail within her eyes. She was enjoying this just as much as me. “Go with it,” I whispered to her, repeating my earlier words and daring to take her mouth again for my own, hoping that the staff member from earlier had the good sense to leave. Her hands tightened on my shirt as she tilted her head and met my lips again.