Chapter 28
twenty-eight
. . .
HONOR
A laugh burst out of me when Blake’s arm closed around my waist as we walked down tree-lined the path towards the lobby.
“It’s really difficult to walk with a six-foot-three billionaire wrapped around me,” I said, unable to wipe the smile from my face.
I hadn’t been able to get rid of it for two days. Not since Blake bared his soul in that unforgettable wedding speech.
Yesterday had been a low-key day with a post-wedding recovery breakfast, then a lazy few hours spent on the beach before Blake had dragged me back to the villa to spend time alone. It had been one of the best afternoons of my life, switching between swimming in the ocean, making love in the shower, and sprawling on the couch watching mindless action movies and eating our body weight in room service snacks.
Blake’s mouth dropped to my throat, the touch of his lips against my skin sending shivers rocketing down my spine. “I don’t want you to be able to walk. Because every step you take gets you closer to that boat ride with my brother and his friends, and away from our villa where I can devour you.”
I let out a laugh, the open-air lobby coming into view. “You devoured me multiple times yesterday.”
He let out a sound of pleasure, nipping at my earlobe. “I’ll never get enough.”
His arms tightened around my waist, pulling a giggle out of me.
“Well, isn’t this the sweetest sight I’ve ever seen,” a voice drawled, the sarcastic lilt obvious.
We stalled, still wrapped around each other, Reyna standing in front of us with barely concealed disdain on her face.
“Reyna,” Blake said, tone clipped.
“Are you two still pretending you’re at all right for each other?” Reyna asked, eyeing me like I was a street turd she’d stepped in. “I didn’t miss the big reveal that you’re a professional scammer, Honor.”
My spine stiffened at the slight, but I refused to give her the reaction she was looking for.
“I guess you were so desperate to have my life, my man, and his money that you’d lie for days to get your hands on it.”
“Reyna…” Blake started, standing tall, a protective hand closing over my hip.
“No, it’s okay,” I said, placing a placating hand against his chest. “There’s nothing she can say that will get to me, because it’s all bullshit.”
Reyna’s expression twisted with displeasure. “I’m the one spinning bullshit? Seems like that’s your job. You’re the professional gold digger.”
Did this she-devil really just accuse me of being a gold digger?
Blake had told me that after he and Reyna had broken up he’d come to realize that she wanted him for his money more than she wanted him. She’d broken this man in so many ways, and she wanted to point the finger at me for having less than genuine motives? She needed to crawl back into whatever hole she’d come from.
“You’re done here, Reyna, so catch your damn flight and go,” Blake said, his voice hard and commanding. “You fucked me over. You tried to fuck over my brother. I’m not going to let you stand here and insult Honor because you’re bitter that your scheming failed to win you whatever delusional outcome you thought it would.”
Reyna appeared affronted, but I didn’t care one bit, and Blake didn’t seem to either.
I was done with her petty, garbage behavior, and the best part was that I was no longer required to be nice to her. I didn’t have to bite my tongue anymore and I was ready to let her hear all the things I’d wanted to say for weeks.
I took a step towards her, Blake’s fingers sliding off my hip. Satisfaction filled me when Reyna’s eyes widened slightly and she took a half step back.
“You can throw yourself at Blake. Act like a heinous bitch and screw over your best friend. Or say whatever you want about me, Reyna. But you’ve hurt multiple people I’ve come to care about by acting like the pernicious snake that you are.”
I took another step towards her and she backed up several paces.
“But if you’re going to throw insults my way, at least make them factual.” I tilted my head like I was explaining something to a toddler. “Blake has so much more to offer than money, and if you weren’t as greedy, materialistic, and narcissistic as you are, you would have been able to see it when you had the chance.”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
“And I don’t need Blake’s money, I have my own thanks to the company I started when I was in college. I’m a millionaire in my own right, you vacuous cow.”
I glanced at Blake, his eyebrows rising in surprise, while Reyna’s gaze twisted with hatred.
She opened her mouth to snap back at me, but Blake held up a hand to cut her off.
“Don’t bother, we’re done listening.”
He slipped his hand in mine, striding by her without a backward glance, towing me behind him. We walked out of the lobby, and down the path towards the dock. Hudson, Kelly, and the others came into view, waiting by the speed boat we were due to spend the afternoon on.
Before we stepped onto the dock, Blake stopped, swinging back around to face me. “So, you don’t work for the companion-for-hire company.”
There was no accusation in his tone. It wasn't even phrased as a question, just a statement of fact.
“You know how I said I got into the companion business in college? Well, I actually started the business in college.” I shifted on my feet, biting the inside of my cheek as I stared up at him. “When I graduated, I graduated the business too. The people I employed grew with me, along with the clients we catered to.”
He remained silent, studying me. “How come you never told me?”
I glanced down at my hands, resisting the urge to fidget. “The judgment, mostly. I meant what I said about people instantly thinking I’m an escort. Or given I own the company, they tend to think I’m some kind of madam, and with that comes a serious level of judgment. I didn’t want you judging me that way.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t have done that to you.”
“I know that now.” I pushed up on my toes and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. “But based on the way you were when we first met, telling me you’d never date a creative or that your family wouldn’t believe you’d be with someone who wasn’t in a serious job, I couldn’t trust that you wouldn’t believe the worst in me. My own family disowned me over it.”
My throat tightened at the mention of my parents.
Blake tucked me against him, wrapping his arms around me in a protective move that made me melt.
“I’m so sorry for the way I behaved when I first met you.” He pulled back to glance down at me. “I was so broken and didn’t even realize it. But you’ve opened up my world, Honor. And I would never judge you for starting a successful business from your damn dorm room. I think you’re incredible.”
I grinned up at him, his words putting me at ease. “Thank you.”
He nodded, dropping his mouth to mine.
“There’s one more thing,” I added, fighting a smile.
“Oh?” His eyebrows shot up. “I can’t wait to hear it.”
“I don’t actually go out on jobs anymore. The company has grown to the point that I’m needed behind the scenes to oversee things. But you were so particular with your requirements and demands that you scared off most of the women who work for me. I couldn’t get anyone to take the job.”
My smile stretched ear-to-ear as I took in his narrowed eyes and wary expression.
“What I’m saying is… I came out of retirement for you.”
The smile that lit up his face matched my own.
“I guess being a pedantic asshole pays off again.” He kissed me quickly. “Because it brought you to me.”
As far as vacations on a tropical island went, this one had become as close to perfect as it could get in the end.
The wind whipped my hair back from my face as the speedboat we were riding in danced across the waves in the pristine waters of Antigua.
Blake was at my side on the cushioned bench seat at the back of the boat, his arm around my shoulders, and he leaned over every so often to whisper all the naughty things he wanted to do to me the moment we got back to our suite. Kelly and Hudson were on the bench to our left, completely wrapped up in each other like the sweet newlyweds they were.
“I’m telling you, I know how to drive this thing better than you do, Jer,” Spencer shouted to Jeremy from behind the wheel.
Jeremy was seated in the passenger chair at the front across from the driver’s seat, April standing between them, looking stunning in her yellow string bikini as she clung to the handles, the boat bouncing over the waves.
Ever since the night of the wedding, Spencer and Jeremy had been caught up in some ridiculous competition to gain April’s attention. It involved a lot of male posturing in order to impress her, and she was eating it up.
“Do you think she’ll ever actually choose between them and put one of them out of their misery?” Blake said in my ear, his lips against my skin making me shiver.
I shook my head. “Why would she? She’s got it made right now.”
Blake quirked a brow at me. “Oh, you’d like Jeremy and Spencer to be fighting over you, would you?”
I shrugged. “Might keep you on your toes a little more. Get you to pay me more attention.” My smile was teasing.
His arm tightened around my shoulders as he leaned into me. “My attention couldn’t be any more on you. You’re all I think about from the moment I wake up and I instantly reach for you in our bed. I fall asleep with you wrapped in my arms, and I’m pretty sure I dream about you, too.”
I pressed a kiss to his lips, relishing the familiarity of him. “You’re right. You’re obsessed with me.” I kissed him again, teasing him. “It’s a bit much, actually.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed playfully, but our blissful moment was interrupted by Spencer calling Blake’s name.
“I’ve got a business idea you’ll want to invest in!”
Blake lifted his head, turning his attention to his cousin. “I’m not interested.”
“Come on, man! It’s gold.”
Blake shook his head, eyes landing on me once more.
“I’m not taking on any new business ventures right now.” His hand slid along my jaw, cupping my cheek and tugging my mouth to his. “I’m focusing on personal matters for the foreseeable future.”