Chapter Thirty Ella
Chapter Thirty
Ella
“Hey, sweets. How is it going? Are you making progress?” I ask as I step into Rhia’s room the following morning.
Rhia is sitting at her makeshift desk, furiously typing on her computer.
She glances up as I drop onto her sofa and holds up a finger. “Just give me a sec,” she says, distracted.
I grab the room service menu to check out the breakfast options. Turns out the kitchen doesn’t stock parsnips, and an omelet without them is not my cup of tea. The pancakes sound good, though.
I place an order for both of us, and not long after, Rhia and I are enjoying the food with a stunning view of the azure-blue water.
As expected, she quizzes me about last night’s dinner the moment we sit down to eat. Over the years she’s learned she gets more information out of me when I’m happily occupied munching.
I tell her everything, and her eyes light up. What happened at the restaurant is right up her alley.
“Holy cow. That’s hot,” she gushes. “From now on, I shall refer to Tiero as The Maestro. Those fingers clearly know how to conduct.”
We both laugh.
“Hmm. That fits,” I say, shaking my head. “He does seem to have everyone performing to his tune.” I wink at her. “And he definitely knows when to raise the tempo.”
She grins. “You said that with way too much appreciation.”
Pointing her fork at me, she adds, “Aren’t dirty talkers just the best?”
Who could argue with that? It turned me on to the point of no return.
“It felt weird, though, being the only ones on that rooftop when the restaurant downstairs was packed.”
“You weren’t alone,” she points out. “The musicians were behind the screen.”
“Good point. I hope they enjoyed the concert.” I cringe, blushing all over again.
“Who cares? You’ll never see them again. You wouldn’t even recognize each other if you passed on the street.”
I know she’s right. I just don’t shrug things off as easily as she does.
“Have you heard from Lex?” I ask, steering the conversation back to her as I spear a juicy strawberry onto my fork.
“Yeah. He got back okay, but it’s been radio silence since.”
Her expression shifts. She scrunches up her face, suddenly serious.
“El, I think I have to go home early. I can’t get this proposal ready from here. I need to be in my office, with all my resources.” She takes my hand in hers, squeezing. “I’m so sorry to do this to you.”
My face falls. I suspected this was coming, but it doesn’t make it hurt less. We’ve been looking forward to this trip for so long. There was still so much we hadn’t seen, so much we’d planned to explore.
But this is a huge opportunity for Rhia. The kind that doesn’t wait politely until after a vacation. She has to grab it and make it work.
And then it hits me.
Just like that, there won’t be any more dinners. No more stolen kisses. No more Maestro moments.
No more him.
The thought lodges somewhere behind my ribs. I blow out a slow breath, trying to blink back the tears that are suddenly there.
“I understand,” I say, even though my heart feels heavier than it did a minute ago. “When are we leaving?”
“We?” Rhia blinks at me.
“Oh gosh, Ella, it’s bad enough I have to leave early. You stay and enjoy the next five days. I’d feel even worse dragging you home with me. I’m doubly glad now you’ve met Tiero. He’ll take good care of you.” She gives me a self-satisfied smile.
It hadn’t even occurred to me to stay here on my own. But of course she’s right.
Five more days.
Five more days of Tiero.
Five more days before I have to leave him behind and he becomes a vacation memory.
Relief flickers through me. So does something that feels dangerously close to grief.
I turn back to Rhia. “When are you leaving?”
“I booked a flight for tomorrow morning.”
I nod, trying not to look as disappointed as I feel. I was really enjoying our time together.
“Are we at least going to have some fun on your last day, or are you planning to work yourself into the ground?”
“Unfortunately, the latter. There’s too much to do and not enough time. I need every hour I can get. I see very little sleep in my future,” she sighs, getting up from the table.
“Okay. But we’re having one last dinner together. No work or men allowed. Just us.”
“Agreed.” She smiles and kisses the top of my head. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“No need, sweets. It’s all good. You go and create something that will blow them away.”
“Oh, I will.” She winks at me and heads back inside to bury herself in work.
My phone pings with a message.
Jeez. This man has a sixth sense for when I’m being abandoned by my friend.
Tiero: Am I picking you up for a day out on my yacht?
A smile spreads across my face before I can stop it. Anticipation tingles through me.
I’m under no illusion about what a “day out on his yacht” really means. It means a bed. Privacy. The kind of alone time we haven’t had yet.
Do I want to go there?
Embark on something casual, knowing full well my heart is hovering dangerously close to the edge?
I remember his lips on mine. The way his fingers moved inside me. The way my orgasm wiped out every coherent thought in my head.
Am I ready for more?
Hell yes, my body answers.
Last night, lying in bed, there wasn’t much else on my mind. I’m so wound tight with want for this man that I almost don’t care that this will never be more than a brief collision. That some piece of my heart might stay behind when I leave.
Think before you act, I scold myself.
Remember Oma’s words: Act in haste, repent at leisure.
But I am always careful. Always measured. Rhia’s right. I rarely push past my comfort zone.
Maybe it’s time.
Dating stable, predictable men and steering clear of playboys hasn’t exactly set my world on fire. And it’s not like Tiero and I are building something permanent. Whatever this is, it has an expiration date.
Maybe that’s exactly why I want all of it.
Rhia’s right. I’ll regret it if I don’t.
Why cling to some no-casual-sex rule when all I want is to have sex with him?
I’m not delusional. I know what this is.
As long as I go into it clear-eyed, without expectations beyond this trip, I’ll survive it.
Right?
Decision made, I type back.
Me: I’m all yours for the day. But I have to be back in time for dinner with Rhia.
An hour later, Tiero and I are at the marina, walking hand in hand toward his boat.
He’s dressed more casually than I’ve ever seen him. And god, it suits him.
He looks sinful in navy board shorts that hug his perfect ass and show off his tanned, muscular legs. His cream shirt hints at the hard lines beneath, just enough to make my mouth water. I can’t wait to get my hands on him.
But that will have to wait. Like always, we’re not alone.
Santino trails behind us, and another guard stands at the end of the dock.
My stomach is in knots. If the way he greeted me is any indication, this is going to be a dangerously hot day.
The second I opened the door earlier, he took one look at me in my navy sundress, stepped inside, and pinned me against the wall. His mouth claimed mine in a long, scorching hello. My knees nearly gave out, and we were both breathless by the time he finally pulled back.
The drive to the marina did nothing to steady me. His hand rested on my thigh, stroking slowly up and down, setting every nerve on edge.
I wanted to return the favor, but that felt too bold. So I traced lazy circles over his wrist instead.
If it affected him, he didn’t show it. But then, he rarely does.
Duck feet under water.
I hold on to that confession, treasuring that he let me in. I don’t think many people get that privilege.
My steps falter as we approach what I assume is his boat.
“That’s yours?” I ask, staring.
Tiero smirks. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
He looks back at the yacht with open pride. “I knew she was right for me the moment I saw her. I had my eye on something bigger. Faster. But this one…” His voice softens. “This one felt right.”
Bigger and faster?
The yacht in front of me is enormous. Easily the largest one in the marina. Then again, I don’t exactly tour marinas for fun.
I don’t know much about boats, but I know that three visible decks mean serious money. Windows line the hull, polished metal gleaming in the sun.
Then my gaze catches on the name displayed between the upper and second decks.
I stop cold.
My breath stutters. I blink, once. Twice. Then I look at Tiero.
He’s watching me. Waiting.
My heart pounds hard enough to echo in my ears.
I can’t speak.
I don’t know what to say.