Chapter 18 #2
I was glad that Jasper and Xavier agreed to join us for dinner.
It would keep things casual. In hindsight, I probably should’ve booked a second room so Rowan and I wouldn’t have to sleep together.
I flushed hot when I thought about wrapping my body around his all night long.
That was an intimacy that I reserved for a partner, like hand holding.
I had a gut feeling that the next two days would leave me with more questions than answers about my relationship with Rowan.
“Tell me about the business you’ve started,” Rowan asked, and I was grateful for the opportunity to focus on something other than us.
“Instead of being the employee hired by the agency, I am the agency. I vet the service hires, and I evaluate the jobs and link people to proper placement. I’ve been taking HR and business courses online in my spare time.
I still need to get myself registered. I was just getting set up when Ravi contacted me about this job. ”
“I’m so glad you took it.” Rowan pulled me in close and gave me a languid kiss.
Leaning in, I cupped his face. “Me too.” All thoughts of how this could end in disaster vanished in Rowan’s arms.
“It sounds like you can run your business from anywhere.”
“I can. I’m not sure where home is now though. I’m tired of working and living out of a suitcase, but I don’t know if I want to go back to Atlanta.”
“Because of Anton?”
I shook my head. “Maybe a little bit? Some of my closest friends have moved out of state. And I think I’ve outgrown the city. I just need to figure out where I’m going to land and put down roots.”
Rowan nodded. “I know how that is. The older I get, the more I long for one place to call home.”
“With your money, you can have any home you want.”
“I can afford to buy most any house I want, that’s true.
And I have numerous. But not one place I would call my home.
There’s a big difference.” Rowan looked at me intently, and I felt his loneliness as sure as I knew my own.
A sadness tinged his dark-blue eyes despite his small grin.
“A home is filled with laughter and love. It’s where you’re safe and inspired and content. ”
“And you don’t feel that way in any of the properties you own?”
He shook his head. I stifled the urge to wrap my arms around him. Neither of us was looking for anything more than sex, so I ignored my desire to comfort him.
“Don’t give up. I know you’ll find the home you’re looking for.”
“I know you will too.” He smiled, but it never reached his eyes and then he turned and walked away.
ROWAN
We had dinner on the patio, a feast of grilled whole snapper followed by a luscious passionfruit dessert, and I found myself relaxing into the evening.
The light conversation with Jasper and Xavier took my mind off my earlier discussion with Andrew.
After the intense rounds of sex and then our talk on the beach, I felt a longing for more.
More time, more sex, more talks. More Andrew.
He was one of a very small list of people who didn’t have any expectations of me.
And suddenly, all that talk about having a home had just come rolling out.
But I had to keep reminding myself that this was temporary—it wasn’t a romance.
He lived in his world, and I in mine. Even if there could be anything more, I wouldn’t want to expose him to the media scrutiny that was a part of my life.
Looking back at what it had done to me over the past two years, my physical and mental health, I wasn’t going to let that happen to someone I cared about.
And yes, I did care. My feelings for Andrew kept growing with each passing minute, hour, day.
I should’ve been alarmed, but it all felt completely and beautifully inevitable.
“What do you do for a living, Andrew?” Xavier asked as he poured a glass of iced tea. The sky was darker now, but the warmth of the tiki torches and the candles on the table offered a welcome glow.
Andrew took a long sip of his drink. “Right now, I’m a chief steward on board a yacht.
I’ve held similar temporary positions over the past year.
Prior to that, I worked as a manager of guest services at a hotel in downtown Atlanta.
I love the hospitality industry, and I’ve started my own concierge agency.
I’ll be finding a home base in a few months. ”
“Building a business is challenging but rewarding. My mother runs an executive search firm in Florida and has a lot of connections with high profile people in the southern US. I’d be happy to connect the two of you if you’d like.”
“That would be great, Xavier. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
Jasper looked at me expectantly. I could see the way his mind was working. How did a billionaire and a chief steward end up becoming lovers? He raised one eyebrow at me, likely making the connection without my admission.
“Rowan, Andrew told me about how you two met. I would’ve paid good money to see someone yell at you,” Xavier teased.
“What?” Jasper said.
I rolled my eyes. “I was cleaning the yacht with the crew when Andrew stepped on board. I got distracted, and I accidentally showered him with the hose. At which point he lambasted me and told me to change into a uniform.”
Jasper and Xavier laughed away at my expense.
Andrew shook his head. “I was right. The only thing you were wearing was a pair of ripped shorts, and you were distracting everyone with your body.”
“Including you?” I asked, smiling at the memory as Andrew’s warm eyes met mine.
“I’m here, and you’re here, Captain Obvious, so what do you think?” he replied with a wink.
“See?” I pointed at Andrew. “A beautiful American who’s smart and sarcastic. How could I resist falling… falling for his charms?” I murmured, flustered. God, I’d been about to confess to falling in love with Andrew. I couldn’t deny it to myself anymore.
Andrew’s grin fell, and he stared at me with such ardent perusal that my face heated.
Jasper cleared his throat. “Rowan, I meant to ask you about your latest purchase. My parents told me you bought a house in the Florida Keys.”
“News travels fast,” I finally said, clearing my throat.
“And yes, I finalized the purchase recently. It’s an old home with lots of character, and the community is great.
I’ll be near the parents, and Rafe will be in photography school in Miami, so he’ll have a place to crash when he needs to escape the city. ”
I glanced back at Andrew and noticed the look of surprise on his face. We’d been talking about properties earlier, and I’d forgotten to mention my recent acquisition. I guess my mind hadn’t been running at full capacity after two rounds of sex. Or rather, it was distracted, as usual, around Andrew.
“I’m sure Rafe will appreciate that. He’s already invited me to visit him for a weekend in Miami once he gets settled in,” Andrew replied as he sipped on his drink and stared out at the ocean.
“What?” I blurted out, and a hush fell over the table. I knew Andrew and Rafe were fast friends but a weekend? Together? I took another sip of my drink to distract myself, but all I could taste was bitter jealousy.
“Rafe said he’ll have a few bedrooms in his new condo so it’s no problem for me to stay with him. He wants to introduce me to his friends.”
I knew about Rafe’s friends. All models, all gorgeous, all horny, all the time. “But they’re models and actors!”
“What difference does that make?” Andrew’s tone iced over. “Oh, I get it. Why would they be interested in talking to me? I’m just a regular guy from Georgia. No money, no status, so no interest. Is that it?”
“Don’t be idiotic! His horny friends will be throwing themselves at you.”
Andrew’s eyes widened, and my blush deepened. Fuck. I didn’t mean to let those words out, but just the thought of anyone else touching Andrew filled me with irrational anger.
I suddenly realized that Jasper and Xavier were staring at the two of us, their eyes bouncing between us like a game of ping pong.
I had enough sense remaining to keep my mouth shut before I made a total arse of myself (too late) and prayed that someone would change the topic. Like right fucking now.
Andrew’s phone rang instead.
“Excuse me, I need to take this call,” Andrew murmured as he got up and walked away. I tracked his graceful saunter until he disappeared inside the patio doors.
“Jesus, Ro,” Jasper groaned. “You met Andrew on your ship? He works for you?”
I nodded.
“That’s problem number one. Problem number two, you just acted like a jealous ass when you told me earlier this was a casual thing.” He paused. “Is he still working for you?”
“Until March,” I replied quietly and noted the look of worry on my friends’ faces.
“Problem number three, how are you going to go back to being professionals, working together in the same yacht, day after day, after this weekend? Rowan, I don’t understand.
This isn’t like you. Why would you entertain an affair with someone who works for you?
Don’t get me wrong, he seems nice enough, but if he goes to the press… ”
“He won’t talk to the media—he’s not like that.
I know it doesn’t make sense on paper, but Andrew and I connect.
We talk about so many things, and he doesn’t want to be with me for my money or my status.
” I ran a hand over my face. “He has this way about him. People are drawn to him. Just like I am. I couldn’t help it. ”
“I see the way you two look at each other, and Ro, this isn’t a weekend thing.
And your reaction to his comment about Miami - and what you’ve just told us - proves it.
What about the media? They get hold of the fact you’re having a relationship with an employee, and it won’t be pretty.
They’re still speculating about you and Jojo.
This whole thing is going to blow up in your face. ”
I was about to make a joke about blowing but decided now wasn’t the time for my snarky sense of humor.
“I’ve already been lectured by my best friend and my brother.
Andrew and I have an understanding. As soon as we’re back on board, we are strictly professionals and friends, but that’s it.
We’ll have whatever this passion is, out of our system.
Life returns to normal.” I didn’t believe my own words, and it put me on edge. A prickly unease trickled up my spine.
“I don’t think your life will ever be the same,” Jasper declared.
I said nothing in return, but deep down, I had a feeling my friend was right.