Chapter 17
seventeen
EDEN
I wake the next morning to the low hum of the air conditioning and a deep frown pulling at my lips.
Because the first thing I remember is how West practically threw me out of his bedroom last night, right after unraveling me so completely I swear I can still feel the aftershocks.
It’s as if his fingers are still inside of me. His mouth still hot against my neck.
With a frustrated breath, I throw off the covers and stomp to my own stupid bathroom. West said he’d have the housekeeper clean it first thing. Good. I’m annoyed enough not to care if the housekeeper figures out exactly what has happened between us.
By the time I’m dressed and walking into the kitchen, West is already on his first call of the day, his phone wedged between his shoulder and ear, his back to me as he pours himself a coffee.
I’m barefoot, so he doesn’t hear me come in, and I’m thankful, because it gives me a moment to center myself as I take him in.
He has his back to me, his dress shirt sharply molded to his shoulders as he makes his coffee. The same hands that wrecked me last night are now casually pouring cream into his mug like he didn’t tear me apart with a flick of them.
He stirs the cup. Takes a sip. And he still doesn’t glance my way.
I clear my throat.
Only then does he turn, his expression unreadable as he lifts the mug to his lips.
He nods at something the caller says, then mutters, “How long did they say it would take?” I don’t wait for him to finish his call.
Instead, I brush past him, deliberately close, just enough for my bare arm to graze his.
He goes still. Ha, good.
I reach for the coffee pot, pouring myself a cup without saying a word. The silence between us stretches, thick and hot, like the steam rising from my mug.
I add oat cream, and stir slowly, letting him watch me do it. Then I take a sip and meet his eyes over the rim.
He ends the call with a curt, “I’ll be there in ten. Keep me posted,” and slips the phone into his pocket.
“Morning,” he says, like last night never happened.
“Yes, it is,” I reply, sweet as syrup. “Did you sleep well?”
He pauses, like he’s trying to figure out how to deal with me.
“Very well,” he murmurs. “I spoke to the housekeeper, she’ll be here in about an hour. And I called Bennett. I was supposed to pick him up, but there’s a problem at the resort. They need me there now.”
“I’ll go get him,” I say smoothly. “I assume we don’t want him around while the housekeeper is doing her thing.”
West shakes his head. “No, we don’t.” The way he says we, like he’s testing the waters to see just how pissed I am, almost makes me smile.
Yes, I’m mad at you. And at myself for still being stupidly turned on by you. But most of all, I’m annoyed that I can’t seem to stay furious at you.
“Sounds like you’re going to be busy this morning,” I say, brushing past him to grab a spoon. “I’ll take Bennett on a grand tour of the island instead of bringing him right to the resort.”
His eyes flick to my legs, then my hips, my mouth, like he’s trying not to look but failing miserably.
“Are you sure that’s okay?” he asks.
“Oh, it’s very okay,” I reply. “It’ll be fun. Bennett strikes me as someone who actually enjoys spending time with people. Doesn’t bolt when things get awkward.”
His jaw tics. Good. He deserves to feel bad. You don’t make somebody come then throw them out of your room. Have some manners, for goodness sake.
“I’ll take Bennett for coffee at Brewed Awakenings. Introduce him to Mylene and Eileen. I’m pretty sure everybody’s going to love him.”
West grunts, but there’s a flicker in his eyes. Something almost possessive.
I take a slow sip of my coffee. “Maybe I’ll set him up on a date with one of the locals. That’s if I don’t decide he’s worth keeping around. You know, since I’m clearly on the market.”
His voice cuts through the air, low and sharp. “You’re my wife, Eden.” He lifts a brow. “You’d do well to remember that.”
Yeah, well I didn’t feel like his wife last night. I felt like his problem. I stare back at him, just long enough to make him look uncomfortable.
“How could I forget?” I say lightly.
He doesn’t answer. Just watches me like he’s trying to figure out what I’ll do next. Whether I’ll push harder. Storm off. Or – probably worse – stay.
I flash him a smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be on my best behavior. I’ll make sure he has the best day ever. That’s a promise.”
Then I put my coffee cup down and storm out of the kitchen, feeling his stare burning a hole in my back.
Or at least, I try to storm out.
Because before I reach the door, his hand wraps around my wrist, firm and unyielding. It stops me in my tracks. Stops my breath, too.
“Have a good day,” he says, voice low, rough. “I look forward to hearing all about it in our bed tonight.”
Is he being serious? I tilt my head, meeting his gaze. “Ooh, are you planning on letting me sleep in your bed this time?”
His jaw tightens. “Of course.”
“Is that wise?” I purr, reaching up to straighten his tie. I let my fingers linger a moment too long. “Because if you thought last night was hard… you’ll be begging me to leave by midnight.” I lean in, just enough to let him feel the warmth of my breath on his jaw. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Then I smile sweetly and release his tie. “Have a good day, West.” I roll onto my tiptoes to kiss the side of his mouth. “I can’t wait to see you tonight.”
He shakes his head, pulling on his jacket, shooting me a strange look as he walks out of the front door, pulling it oh-so-gently closed behind him.
I wait for him to leave before I turn toward the hallway. There are some keys sitting on the console table by the door. They’re different from his usual ones. That’s when I realize they must be the keys to his ridiculous car in his garage.
I mean who needs two cars on an island you can drive across in about ten minutes? And of course he hasn’t offered it to me. Hasn’t even thought about how I’m supposed to get to the hotel to pick up Bennett. Because why would he? West Abbott’s world revolves around West Abbott.
Well, fine. I’ll just help myself.
I pick up the keyfob that has what looks like angel wings embossed on it. Jackpot. I slide it into my pocket, already picturing his face when he finds out I’m behind the wheel of his precious car.
It’s going to be glorious.
I swing West’s Aston Martin into the hotel’s front drive like I haven’t spent the trip here panicking while trying to figure out how to use the stick shift, or kangarooing my way down the country lanes.
I don’t drive a lot. I’d rather take public transport, but Simon, Liberty’s one, elusive, cab driver aside, it’s either drive this baby or walk.
Heads turn as I come to a screeching halt in front of the Grand Liberty Hotel, then take at least five minutes to figure out how to turn the stupid engine off.
By the time I step out, I’m a little overheated, but I still can’t help but smile at the little rush I’ve gotten from actually getting here without an accident. And the big rush from stealing West’s car.
And to be fair, it’s pretty cool the way everybody’s staring at me as I attempt to lock the car.
The sun catches the gleaming hood, my hair’s doing that windblown thing, and for one ridiculous second I feel like a movie star pulling up for a premiere.
Bennett steps out of the lobby, takes one look at the car, and his jaw drops so far I’m tempted to check if it hits the ground.
“Holy crap,” he breathes, his eyes going cartoon-wide. “Is that yours?”
“Yep. West gave it to me.” I grin at him, walking around to open the door for him. It’s only a partial lie. We’re married after all. Technically half of all he has is mine. Or something.
Whatever. It’s not like I’m going to hold him to anything at our divorce.
“Cream leather seats. Wow.” He slides in and runs his fingers over the matching dash like it’s made of gold. “Do you know what engine this has?”
“Uh… a big one?” I hazard.
He doesn’t laugh at me, which is kind of sweet. “Of course. How many horsepower?”
“Um…” I start the engine and the car growls, the wheel twitching under my hands like it’s ready to leap forward and eat someone. “I can’t remember. But a lot of them. A whole herd of horses.”
His voice is full of wonder. “I’ve never even sat in something this nice before.”
“Not even with your uncle?” I ease it out of the space and immediately lurch as the engine surges. He grabs the door handle like we just hit a patch of ice.
He shakes his head quickly. “We’ve been… kind of estranged until recently.”
“Oh.” I nurse the accelerator like it’s a skittish horse, trying not to kangaroo us down the drive, the way I did when I left the North House. “So you’ve never been in any of his cars?” I ask him.
“Nope. I think he has a lot of them, though.”
The phone rings through the car’s speakers before I can ask him any more questions. West’s name flashes across the dash.
Oh, he’s found out. A little rush of excitement pulses through me. I take a cleansing breath as I say ‘hi’.
“Um, I think you have to press the button on the wheel to answer,” Bennett says helpfully.
I frown. “Which one.”
“Or just yell answer it,” he says, like he knows I’m inept, at least at this.
That’s more my level. “Answer it,” I command. And to my shock, I hear it connect on the speakers.
“Hello, little car thief.” West’s voice is a low purr. It sends a shot of something way too hot between my thighs.
“Hi,” I say, trying to sound innocent at the exact same moment Bennett chirps, “Hello, sir,” though his tone is much more embarrassed. “It was just a mistake,” he says. “I’m sure my uncle will explain.”
I look at him, biting my lip to stop from smiling. So that was the police trouble? “As you can hear, sweetheart, you’re on speaker.” So be nice to me. “I was just telling Bennett how sweet you are for giving me the Aston Martin as a wedding gift.”
West coughs. Or chokes. I’m not sure which. “Is that right?”
“It’s a very generous gift, sir,” Bennett says. “Uh, aren’t we supposed to drive on the right here?”
It takes me a second to realize that second part is for me.
“Oops,” I say, moving the Vantage smoothly – or as smooth as I can when you’re driving a car that costs more than some peoples’ mortgages – onto the right side of the road.
“Too many trips to England. Don’t worry, darling, your favorite car is safe with me. ”
“Oh, I’m glad you’re enjoying it, angel” West says, all velvety smoothness that doesn’t fool me for a second. “Though I have to say, she’s… temperamental.”
“Who, me?” I ask, widening my eyes even though he can’t see me.
“The car,” he says, but the pause before the word is long enough to drip with meaning. “She needs someone who knows exactly how to handle her. Someone patient. Skilled. Someone who knows how to control her.”
Bennett shifts his long legs.
“Well, I guess she’ll just have to make do with me today,” I say. “Look, Bennett, isn’t that the most beautiful sight?” I incline my head at the ocean. “I used to go skinny dipping there when I was younger.”
Bennett makes a strangled noise.
West’s voice drops half a shade, rich enough to curl heat low in my belly. “Stop scaring Bennet. Or I’ll show you exactly what happens to bad girls when you get home.”
I shift in the seat, tightening my grip on the wheel, and pray that Bennett can’t see the flush creeping up my neck as I think about what West did to me last night. The slide of his lips on my neck, his fingers inside of me.
The way I shattered into a million tiny pieces.
“I can’t decide if that’s a promise or a warning,” I say lightly, even though my pulse is thudding in places it shouldn’t be right now.
“Oh, sweetheart,” West murmurs, “I don’t do warnings.”
The words ripple through me, low and dangerous, curling heat in my core.
“Uh, that’s a stop sign,” Bennett says, his voice lifting an octave. I hit my foot on the brake, and we judder to a halt, the hood only a few inches over the line.
Bennett exhales like he’s just survived a near-death experience. “Wow. These brakes are… sensitive.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, easing us back into motion, “they should join the club.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to die,” Bennett mutters.
On the other end of the line, I swear I hear West’s low laugh. “Bennett,” he says, “do you know how to drive an Aston Martin?”
“No sir, but I’m a fast learner.” Bennett’s eyes light up, like he’s about to be offered a promotion to CEO. “I’ve driven stick shift lots of times.”
“Maybe you should take over then,” he says. “My wife deserves to be driven everywhere. That’s why I’d arranged for a driver to pick her up to come get you this morning. But apparently she had other ideas.”
Wait, what? He hadn’t forgotten about my lack of transportation? I push away the guilty feeling, because he could have said something. “I’m perfectly capable of driving myself,” I tell him.
“I know you are, angel. But I’d like you to be relaxed and rested when I get home.” His voice curls around me like an embrace. “I have plans for you.” The low rasp of his voice skates over my skin like it’s mapping out every inch he’s going to touch.
I hate the way my body reacts. Like it wants a continuation of last night. Right now. “Don’t worry. After a day of driving this baby, I’ll be so revved up you won’t be able to handle me.”
Bennett clears his throat again. God, I almost forgot he was here.
“Oh look,” I say. “There’s the coffee shop. Shall we go meet some of the locals?” I look at Bennett, who can’t quite catch my eye. And I immediately feel bad, because he doesn’t deserve to be caught up in our messy marital power plays.
“Uh, yeah, coffee would be great right now,” Bennett says after a beat, like he’s a condemned man being offered a reprieve.
I grin, easing the Aston Martin into a parking spot. One with open spaces on either side. “Darling, we have to go. Mylene awaits.”
West chuckles, low and knowing. “Tell her I said hello. And, angel…” His pause is deliberate, long enough to tangle heat through my chest. “Try not to kill Bennett before he’s had some lunch.”
Bennett blinks but says nothing.
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “Don’t worry, he’s safe with me. Now you go do your businessy things, baby.”
“I’ll see you tonight.” And this time, it definitely sounds like a threat. My heart rate explodes into overdrive.
I hang up, my pulse still drumming in my ears. The man can turn four words into foreplay, and I hate that my body responds every single time.
Beside me, Bennett is grabbing for the car handle like he’s a man trying to escape a car wreck.
Poor guy. He thinks I’m the dangerous one. But I’m the one in trouble – and I already know how West likes to punish me.