Chapter 4
Emilee
The steam from thehot shower still clings to my skin as I step onto the cool tiled floor and wrap a big fluffy white towel snugly around my body, tucking it in over my breasts. I push my wet hair back behind my ears and apply sunscreen to my face before brushing my teeth.
After Marika gave me the grand tour yesterday, we shared a light meal and a delicious cold tropical punch pitcher while sitting on the porch until the sun started to set. Then, I sent her back to her husband so I could unpack, settle in, and go to bed early. And I had the best sleep, with the night breeze wafting through the open window, the fan circling slowly overhead. I woke up feeling so relaxed and carefree. Now, I plan to make a cup of coffee, get my book, and spend a quiet day alone.
Or so I thought, until I walk out of the bedroom, head down to adjust the towel, straight into a solid wall of muscle.
“Fuck! What the hell?”
It slips out before I can catch it, an involuntary exclamation that mirrors the hitch in my chest. My heart thuds erratically as I reach to instinctively tug the short terry cloth shield tighter against my body as if it can somehow make me invisible or at least less exposed.
“Hi, there,”he says casually. “Do you come with the cabin?”
“What?”My mouth falls open. “No!”
A strange man stands four feet from me, this handsome intruder with his mouth curving into a smirk that somehow makes him look sexier—and those startling blue eyes seem to take in everything with a single glance, including the state of my attire.There’ssomething infuriating about his nonchalant once-over, though, as if he’s seen it all before, and my near nakedness is merely an amusing inconvenience.
I study him while stepping back until my butt hits the bedroom doorframe. He’s wearing a simple white linen shirt, unbuttoned at the top to reveal a hint of hair on his chest, and black, tailored shorts. Casual elegance at its finest. His short dark brown hair looks like it’s been styled by the wind, and the stubble shadowing his jaw gives him a rugged appeal that is at odds with the polished image his clothes suggest.
“Excuse me.”Struggling to maintain some semblance of dignity as I wrap my arms around my chest, my voice is laced with the kind of authority I used to wield in boardrooms. “But what exactly are you doing here?”
His grin grows into an annoying smile. “I’m Max Beaumont, and this is my cabin. And you are?”
“Emilee Thompson, and this is my cabin.”I march over to the kitchen counter, where I left my purse, and dig around for my confirmation papers, yanking them out, and holding them out like a shield.It’sgood that Marika printed the confirmation for me yesterday while she was testing the registration system.
He blinks like I’ve just brandished a blank piece of paper and mirrors my movement. His phone is aglow with his confirmation email, presented as if it were a sword.
I clutch the mine tighter, thrusting it forward until he takes it. “I booked this cabin first.”
He leans against the wall, casual yet alert, his gaze scanning the document in his hand, then shifts back to meet mine, an implicit dare in the depth of his blue eyes. He taps his phone, thescreen bright against the dim room, showcasing his booking. “Looks like there’s been a mistake, but my reservation stands. I know the owners.”
I tighten the towel around me, acutely aware of how little it covers, my heart pounding not just from the shock at the unforeseen proximity to this stranger but because my body hasn’t been lit up like this since... God, I don’t even remember how long. Even Darren’s presence didn’t garner this response.
My gaze darts between his phone and my confirmation, a silent plea for reason. “I know the owners as well. There’s clearly been a mix-up. We need to find them and figure this out.”I shift, wrapping the towel more securely around me, an armor against his arousing scrutiny.
He straightens, the lines of his body telegraphing a readiness to negotiate, yet his stance remains unyielding. “I agree. But I’m not the one dressed in a skimpy towel.”
I bristle, not at the joke, but at the undercurrent of truth and the hot, appreciative gleam in his eyes. “Funny.”
He chuckles. “You have no idea.”He circles the kitchen island, a slow, deliberate orbit that teases my body and confounds my sensibility.
Fed up, I place my hands on my hips, the towel a precarious afterthought. “Look, I don’t know what kind of scam you’re pulling—”
“Scam? I think you’re the one who’s mistaken, honey.”His tone is edged with sternness as he reclines against the breakfast bar, arms folded across his chest in a defensive posture that screams territorial claim.
“Honey?”As I stand there, momentarily frozen, the absurdity of the situation washes over me. Here I am, clad in nothing but a white towel, attempting to stake my claim against a stranger who seems as surprised to find me as I am stubborn to call this little cabin my home for the next couple of weeks.
It feels like the breeze itself is waiting, the silent witnesses to our stand-off. The air is charged, each word we volley only serving to amplify the confusion—and something else, an undercurrent neither of us seems eager to acknowledge. Well, I’m not that eager to give it a name.
“Touchy.”He scratches the scruff on his cheek, pushing away from the counter. “I’d love to take a shower and freshen up, so let’s find the owners and sort this out.”
“Fine,”I concede, voice tight with the effort to maintain composure. “But I need to change first.”
He nods, and finally, a flicker of understanding crosses his features. He takes a step back, granting me a semblance of privacy. “Make it quick.”The hint of impatience belies the patience in his posture as he turns away, giving me the illusion of solitude.
Hastily, retreating to the bedroom, my heart races from our heated exchange and how vulnerable I feel when faced with this man. I don’t feel physically threatened by him, quite the opposite. If he does know Marika and Shaun, then he won’t cause me any harm. But after what happened with Darren, I’m not interested in any overture from the male species right now.
Tossing the towel onto the bed, I grab a sundress and pull it over my head with jerky movements, sliding my feet into a pair of sandals. Emerging moments later, I find him examining my confirmation and his email side by side like a detective piecing together the puzzle of our dual bookings.
“Ready?”he asks without looking up, his voice smoother. The earlier edge of confrontation is gone, replaced with something resembling cooperation. Maybe he’s accepted the fact that his confirmation is a mistake.
“Yes.”I feel oddly fortified in actual clothes. However, I forgot to put on underwear, and I don’t want to run back into the room again.
Together, we step out of the cabin onto the sun-drenched porch. The island seems to sparkle in the tropical sun, palm trees swaying gently as if beckoning us toward the main lobby. I can’t help marveling at the natural beauty surrounding us—brightly colored flowers with large, drooping petals, the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore, and the smell of salt lingering in the air.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”Max comments, noticing my wide-eyed appreciation for the flora surrounding us.
“Yes,”I agree. “It’s stunning.”
His presence at my side is a jarring contrast to the serene surroundings, and I’m distracted by his incredibly delicious man smell. Which, in turn, reminds me that my panties are back in the cabin, tucked away in the dresser drawer.
We stroll past a family of bright-feathered birds, their melodic twittering joining the chorus of rustling leaves and lapping waves. Though the splendor of the place threatens to soften my resolve, I hold onto my stubbornness as tightly as I held that towel. This is my chance to reclaim my life, and I will not let anyone take it away from me, not even someone as infuriatingly attractive and good smelling as Max Beaumont.
As we approach the main lobby, with its white walls and high ceilings reminiscent of an elegant seaside villa, I try to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach. Inside, the overhead fans and smooth tiled floor beneath our feet provide relief from the heat outside.
“Shaun, Marika!”Max calls out, his voice firm yet tinged with frustration. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”
Oh dear. He does know them.
Shaun appears from an office behind the front desk, and Marika follows close behind. “What’s going on?”
“Emilee...”Shaun exchanges a curious glance with Marika, who looks equally flustered as she stares at Max.
“Max? What are you doing here?”
I cross my arms defensively. “Seems like we both have a booking for the same cabin. And I’d like to know who the rightful occupant is.”It had better be me.
They’re both confused now.
“I’m sure we can clear this up,”Shaun says.
“Thank you,”I reply, trying to keep my voice steady as I steal subtle glances at Max.
Marika looks at her husband. “I invited Emilee to stay with us. I must have forgotten to tell you.”
Shaun scratches the back of his head, a deep red flush creeping into his features. “Looks like I did the same with Max.”He glances at his wife. “I didn’t realize you’d already invited someone else, honey.”
“Just find Max another cabin,”I say. “That will solve everything.”
Marika bites her lip, clearly uncomfortable. “Unfortunately, there aren’t any others available right now. The resort is still under construction, remember?”
“Are you serious?”I can feel my cheeks burning as I glance at Max. The screwed-up expression on his face says he’s equally displeased, but there’s also a hint of amusement in those eyes of his.
“Look, Emilee,”Max begins, attempting to sound reasonable despite the tension between us. “It’s not ideal, but I’m sure we can make this work. I’ll take the couch, and you can have the bedroom. We’ll just have to share the common area and the bathroom.”
Sharing a living space with Max sends a mixture of apprehension and heat coursing through my body. I came here to relax, figure out my next move, and regain my sense of self-worth. How can I do that and maintain my composure while living under the same roof with him?“Is there any chance another cabin has at least a bed?”
Marika shakes her head. “I’m sorry, but no. I mean we have furniture in storage, but the other cabins are still under construction. It’s not safe to have anyone living in them.”
“Fine,”I finally concede, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I want to make one thing clear.”I spin to face Max. “I expect you to respect my privacy. No barging into the bedroom or the bathroom unannounced.”
He nods solemnly. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”