Chapter 14
KAT
Jax is nowhere to be found when I re-enter the villa. The balcony door is unlocked, and a beach towel is sitting on one of the sun loungers, so I’m taking it he’s gone for a swim.
I grab my case and unpack. I may only be here for forty-eight hours, but my clothes need hanging, or I’ll require the ironing service.
I go to the wardrobe and pull open the door. Jax’s clothes hang neatly on one side of the space.
I grab a hanger and turn away, slipping one of my dresses onto it, before sliding it back onto the rail.
I bend down to pick up the next item, doing the same.
When I’m finished, I move to stow my case in the bottom, my eyes locking on our clothes hanging side-by-side.
My breath catches at the fluttering deep in my stomach. I slide the door closed and turn away.
I take in the bedroom, groaning at the sight of the tiny child-sized bed they’ve added.
There’s no way Jax is going to be able to sleep on that, and this is his villa after all.
I throw down my nightdress to stake my claim, hoping to stem off an argument later.
The internal phone rings, and I move to the bedside table.
“Hello?”
“Ms Frazer, it’s Bethany. I was wondering if you and Mr Lockwood had a preference for which restaurant you would like to dine in tonight?”
Oh shit!
That was not something I’d thought about.
“Do you have a recommendation?” I ask.
“I would suggest The Jetty. The sunset is beautiful, and you can watch the sharks and fish swimming beneath you while you’re eating.”
“Sounds lovely,” I reply.
Too tired to really care, but knowing I need to eat something. The Mai Tai I drank has made my head swim.
“Seven thirty?”
“Perfect,” I tell her.
She ends the call, and I sink down onto the bed.
After I made a song and dance about him being a family friend. There’s no way I can be seen to be eating alone. Friends dine together, and I don’t intend to set tongues wagging.
It’s six thirty now. Hopefully, Jax won’t be too long.
I head to the bathroom, undress, and step into the shower.
The warm jets soothe the aches of the journey, easing the tension in my back and shoulders.
I drop my head back and let the spray soak my hair.
Picking up my shampoo, I pour some into my palms, running my hands over my hair before digging my fingers into the pressure points on my scalp, the way my stylist showed me.
I almost moan at the sensation, the tender spots releasing.
Opening my eyes, I draw in a breath as I look out of the bathroom window. Jax emerges from the water and steps onto the terrace. His eyes lock on mine, the towel he’s just grabbed frozen halfway to his head.
My gaze drops to his broad chest and tribal tattoo, moisture flooding my mouth.
That’s new!
I close my eyes and drop my head back, placing my face under the water, before turning around and leaving my back exposed.
Shit! We’re going to need a rota. Everything in this place is fucking glass!
I finish up and turn off the water, grabbing one of the towels off the rack. I dry myself, then unwrap one of the hotel robes and slide it on.
Jax has disappeared, so I select the dress I’m going to wear and grab my makeup bag, before heading into the bedroom.
“All yours,” I say, popping my head out onto the terrace, after I spot two hairy, toned legs on one of the sun loungers.
Jax gets up, his towel wrapped tightly around his waist. My eyes drop, not missing the tent ballooning the front.
Jax follows my gaze and grins.
“Really?”
Although my heart skips a beat.
“Don’t take it personally, princess.”
I turn away, not wanting him to see my heated cheeks.
“Don’t worry, I won’t.”
I storm back into the bedroom, before remembering about our dinner reservation.
I turn almost having Jax walk into the back of me. He holds out a hand, steadying me. The tiny hairs on my arm standing up, as if I’ve been shocked.
“Careful,” Jax says, his boyish grin still present.
“Dinner’s at seven thirty. We’re eating at The Jetty,” I say, before spinning away and moving further into the bedroom.
Jax stays surprisingly silent. When I turn around, he’s gone.
As soon as I hear the shower start, I drop the robe and get dressed in record time. I place product in my hair before scooping it up.
I open my makeup bag and place it on the dressing table, beginning my regimented skin care routine.
My mind wanders to Jax standing on the terrace.
I may not like the man, but I’m not blind.
His broad shoulders and narrow hips. His height, dark hair.
The addition of the tattoo adds further intrigue.
I’m not usually a fan, but even I have to admit the dark lines swirling over his shoulder, chest and bicep. I swallow hard.
Pipe down, hormones!
It’s definitely been far too long since I’ve seen any action, if I’m fantasising about Jaxson and his tattoo!
I finish applying my makeup and style my hair. Having straight hair has its benefits. Jax still hasn’t appeared by the time I’m done, so I open my laptop as a distraction, flicking through emails, firing off answers and requesting more information where necessary.
Like my father and grandfather, I’m not a CEO who sits in her ivory tower. I get down and dirty with the day-to-day running of the chain. The FHG has continued to go from strength to strength over the past couple of years, and with this new project, it will cement our name in history.
I close my laptop as Jaxson reappears. My breath catches in my throat, and I swallow hard. Fitted jeans accentuate his long, toned legs and arse, paired with a dark navy polo shirt that hugs his chest and shoulders.
“Ready?” he asks, ignoring my gaze, if he noticed.
“Let’s do this,” I say, dragging my eyes away and pulling on my Louboutin’s.
I stand up, my sundress floating around my legs, hugging my figure.
Jaxson moves to the door, holding it open so I can step through. The heat hits me instantly, a stark contrast to the air-conditioned bedroom.
We walk in silence along the wooden walkway. The restaurant itself is situated at the end of the jetty. The sun is starting to go down, and I have to admit, Bethany wasn’t lying. The sunset is beautiful.
We’re greeted at the door of the bar area by one of the staff.
“Welcome,” he says, ushering us to a table. “Can I get you something to drink before your meal?”
Jax looks at me questioningly.
Act normal.
“A drink would be lovely. A Mai Tai, please,” I say, knowing I’ll need to take it slowly until I consume some food.
“A beer,” Jax says. “Thank you.”
We take a seat opposite one another. I gaze out at the sunset, the orange, peach and blue against the now dark water is stunning.
“This is a surprise,” Jax said.
I shift my gaze to his. “Anything else would set tongues wagging,” I say, my tone matter-of-fact.
He nods before staring out over the water.
“It’s very beautiful.”
“It is,” I say. “I’ll ensure the marketing department uses it as a selling point. Maybe offer a photographer for honeymooners and couples.”
“Do you ever switch off? Just enjoy the moment?”
His words take me by surprise.
“This is a working break,” I say.
“There’s no such thing.”
“If that’s the case, why would I switch off?”
“Everyone needs a break.”
“Worried about my well-being?” I ask, my tone sarcastic, but my stomach does somersaults.
He grunts, but remains quiet.
We sit in silence until our drinks arrive.
The shower has offered me a new lease of life, chased away some of the exhaustion, at least for the time being. I pick up my cocktail and take a sip, closing my eyes briefly enjoying the explosion of flavours on my tongue. Perfect. Strong and flavoursome, but not ridiculously overpowering.
I always test the cocktails when I visit our hotels. There’s nothing worse than a poorly made cocktail when you’re paying top prices.
Jax watches me as I return the cocktail to the table.
“Does it pass?” he asks.
“It does.”
“Everyone has to have downtime, Kat, even you. You can’t be on twenty-four-seven.”
I laugh, and he raises an eyebrow.
“It’s not a healthy mindset,” he says, making my hackles rise.
“I love my job,” I say, unsure why I’m feeling the need to defend myself.
“There has to be balance.”
“I have balance,” I snap, but stop myself from expanding as my temper flares.
I’m known for my cool, calm head with everyone else, but this man turns any conversation into a battle.
More couples enter the bar area. Jax acknowledges one who smiles as they pass.
I recognise another, older couple from my visit to the bar this afternoon.
“I have a few more questions on the project,” Jax says.
“You’re giving me whiplash, Jaxson.”
I want to laugh at the irony, but he shrugs as if reading my mind.
“If you’ve got some free time tomorrow,” he adds.
Our waiter reappears before I can say anything else.
“Your table is ready, if you’d like to follow me.”
He collects our barely touched drinks, and we follow him into the dining area. It’s a wraparound balcony overlooking the sea. Lights illuminate the water, which is filled with reef sharks and other aquatic life.
I make another mental note to pass this on to the marketing team as well.
Our waiter pulls out first mine, then Jax’s chair, placing our drinks down and opening our menus.
“Thank you,” I say.
When he disappears to get our preference in water, I look across at Jax.
“Any questions, send them across, or we can find some time to go over them tomorrow afternoon. I have a meeting with the general manager and his team in the morning, but after that, I’m free.”
Jax nods, his attention returning to his menu.
The guests around us chat, the low murmur of their conversations lightens the atmosphere.
I sip my drink and watch the fish in their carefree world, swimming beneath us, the waves gently lapping against the stilts.
“Are you ready to order?”
“I’ll have the prawns, followed by the fish,” I say.
“I’ll have the salmon, followed by the steak, rare,” Jax adds.
Predictable. Still a steak man.
Our waiter leaves.
“Your questions?” I ask, unable to take the intolerable silence when everyone around us is talking.
Jax leans forward and smiles.
My chest aches at the sight.
“Hobbies. What do you do to relax?”