6. Eamon
Eamon
Eve is still sound asleep, her red hair fanned out on her pillow. When my eyes opened, and I realized last night wasn’t a dream, that her naked body was pressed up against mine, I wanted to sink inside her and lose myself all over again.
I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I never spend the night with a woman. I fuck them and leave them—no strings attached. But there’s something different about Eve. Something mysterious that makes me want to unravel her. To learn all her secrets.
I’m confident it won’t last. We’ll have some fun for a few days. I’ll fuck her until she’s out of my system, and then I’ll be on my way home. Speaking of home, I need to check-in.
Sliding my pants on, I grab my phone. The morning air is warm. The salty tang of the ocean lingers on the breeze as I step onto the deck. The water below glistens, a vast stretch of turquoise that would be almost peaceful if my mind weren’t already spinning.
I glance toward the villa. She’s still asleep.
I should leave her there and slip away for a while to clear my head, but something pulls me back.
I find myself dialing room service and ordering everything on their breakfast menu.
The absurdity of it doesn’t hit me until I hang up, but even then, I can’t bring myself to care.
My thumb hovers over the screen before I scroll to Seamus’s name and hit call. It rings twice before his gruff voice comes through.
“Boss.”
“How’s everything back home?” I ask, keeping my voice low as I glance over my shoulder into the bedroom. The last thing I need is Eve overhearing any part of this conversation.
“Quiet for now. No signs of movement. But I don’t trust the silence,” Seamus replies.
“Neither do I,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. The Callahan’s have been a thorn in my side for months. Their constant skirmishes on the edge of my territory are a calculated game meant to test my patience.
“You think they’ll make a move while you’re gone?” Seamus asks, the question loaded.
“They’re not that stupid,” I reply, though the thought lingers at the back of my mind. “Keep the boys on high alert. If the Callahan’s make a move, handle it. Make sure they know where the boundaries are.”
Seamus grunts in acknowledgment. “And you? Still in paradise?”
I glance out at the endless water, but it’s not the view I’m thinking about. It’s her—her green eyes and fiery hair that matches her temperament. The way her body welcomed mine as if she was made for me. “For now.”
“Will you be returning tomorrow?”
“No,” I say curtly. “I’ve delayed my flight home.”
“Anything I should know?” Seamus presses, his voice dipping into that careful tone that tells me he’s prying without wanting to seem like he’s prying.
“Nothing that concerns you,” I snap, sharper than intended. The tightness in my chest comes out of nowhere. It’s unwelcome and hard to ignore. I don’t owe Seamus an explanation. I’m the one in charge. And yet, the fact that he even asked grates more than it should.
Especially when I don’t have a damn answer myself.
“Understood,” Seamus says. “Anything else?”
“Not for now. I’ll check in later.”
I end the call, tucking my phone into my pocket as I lean against the railing. My jaw tightens as I consider the implications of staying here longer than planned. This was supposed to be a quick stop. Business, and nothing else. But then I met Eve. She’s an unexpected complication.
Once again, I tell myself it’s nothing. A few days, and I’ll be on a plane home. And Eve? She’ll be nothing more than a memory. Even as I say those words, I know they’re nothing but a lie. The truth is, she’s already under my skin, and I don’t know how to stop it.
A sharp chime breaks the silence. Room service.
I drag a hand down my face and force myself to move, grateful for the distraction. Because if I sit with this feeling any longer, I might admit just how deep it already runs.
When I open the door, I find the attendant standing there with a polished smile, a cart piled high with silver-domed plates and fresh fruit arranged like art. He offers a quiet greeting I barely register, then pushes the cart inside and begins setting everything up with practiced efficiency.
The soft shuffle of footsteps from behind catches my attention. When I glance over my shoulder, Eve is standing in the doorway of the bedroom. She’s slipped back into the silk robe, the one that barely skims the tops of her thighs. The same one she wore last night.
The morning light pouring through the windows wraps around her like a spotlight, highlighting every curve beneath the delicate fabric. Her nipples are visible through the thin silk, a quiet invitation she doesn’t even realize she’s giving.
The room service attendant notices, too. His gaze drifts toward her, lingering a beat too long.
Jealousy flares hot and sharp in my chest. Unreasonable. Immediate. Mine.
“Focus on the food,” I snap, my tone cold and cutting as his head jerks back toward the cart.
“Apologies, sir,” he mumbles, shifting uncomfortably as I step closer, taking the receipt and pen from his hand with deliberate force.
“Make sure it doesn’t happen again,” I add, my voice low and dangerous as I sign the slip and shove it back at him. “Or next time my reminder won’t be only words.”
The tension hangs heavy as I step between him and Eve, positioning myself in a way that leaves no room for misinterpretation. He quickly finishes his task and exits the villa.
“Everything alright?” she asks, her voice soft and still tinged with sleep as the door clicks shut behind me.
“Perfect,” I reply, though the edge in my voice betrays me.
“What’s all this?”
“Breakfast,” I say, gesturing to the feast.
“Breakfast?” she repeats, her lips twitching like she’s fighting a smile. “You do realize there’s enough food here to feed a small army?”
I shrug as I sit at the table. “I didn’t know what you’d want, so I got everything.”
She watches me for a moment, something flickering in her green eyes before she pads over to the table.
“So,” I say, leaning back slightly as I watch her pile fresh fruit onto her plate. “What does Eve do when she’s not sunbathing in the Maldives?”
She hesitates for a fraction of a second before answering. “I travel,” she says, her tone breezy, almost rehearsed. “My parents are big believers in self-discovery or whatever you want to call it.” She waves her hand. “So, I figured I’d see the world before getting pulled into the family business.”
“And what business is that?” I ask, keeping my voice casual.
“Acquisitions,” she says quickly. Before I can press further, she glances up at me with a pointed look. “What about you? What brings you here?”
I mirror her evasive smile, leaning forward slightly. “My family is in the hotel business. I’m here checking out some property. Expansion plans.”
“Family business,” she says, her tone teasing as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Guess we’ve got that in common.”
“Guess so,” I reply, matching her tone. “So, this traveling of yours. Is it always solo?” I ask, trying to find out if she picks up men everywhere she goes.
“Mostly,” she replies. “I like the freedom. No schedules to follow, no one to answer to.”
“Sounds lonely.”
“Not really. It’s liberating, actually. I go where I want when I want. What about you?” she counters. “Does the hotel business keep you tethered to one place, or do you get to travel, too?”
“Usually, I stay in one place,” I answer with a shrug. “This trip turned out to be a good excuse to mix work with a little pleasure.”
“Sounds convenient,” she says, lifting a fresh strawberry to her lips. She takes a slow bite, tongue catching a bead of juice before it can slip down her chin.
It shouldn’t be erotic, but it is. Far too much.
“You could say that.” It’s all I can manage, my attention glued to the curve of her lips.
The conversation stalls for a moment, the air between us thick with unspoken truths and the weight of everything we’re both holding back.
Her eyes flick to mine, steady and unreadable. “What are we doing here?” she asks suddenly.
I hold her gaze, unsure how to answer. Tension lingers as the unspoken question hangs between us.
What does happen next?