Chapter 2
chapter
two
Heath
I’m on the other side of exhaustion.
Technically, I don’t have to wait in line, since I do actually own this resort. But there didn’t seem to be any reason for me to throw my weight around in the middle of the night, especially behind the harried-looking woman in front of me.
When it becomes clear that something is wrong with Clover’s room, I step forward to intercede. The woman behind the desk recognizes me, but I put my hand up to ward off her attention.
“What is the problem?” I ask
Clover turns to me, her big brown eyes watery. Ah, hell. I don’t do well with crying women.
“My room… my room’s not ready. It’s not going to be ready until tomorrow, even though technically it is tomorrow, but they’re not going to have it until tomorrow afternoon. Isn’t that funny? I’m going to have to sleep here in the lobby, so that’s cool.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” I say. I glance at the woman at the front desk. “Candy, is it?” I ask.
She smiles broadly. “Yes, Mr.—”
“I’ll just take her to my suite,” I say quickly to interrupt her. I glance at Clover. “I have an extra room, so you’ll have your own space and privacy. If that’s alright with you?”
She nods.
“Excellent. Now, Candy, if you can just get the keys.”
“Of course,” Candy says.
“Perhaps to make up for her troubles, you can ensure she has an upgraded room tomorrow,” I suggest.
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Clover says.
“It would be my pleasure,” Candy says. She slides the room keys across the countertop.
I swipe them, then pick up Clover’s bag and head towards the elevator. “Come on, baby girl, let’s get you to bed. I’m sure you’re as tired as I am.”
“You didn’t have to do that. But I’m very appreciative,” she says. “Truly.”
Her eyes aren’t just brown, I realize as I look down into her pretty face. They’re shot through with amber like when a shaft of light hits a glass of bourbon just right.
Everything about this woman screams red flags.
She’s looking for someone to take care of her and can’t even hold down a job.
But as much as I should probably run, I find I don’t want to.
Not only is she gorgeous with her full-figured curves, but I’ve always been a sucker for a redhead.
There’s an earnestness about her that pulls at me.
Drawing me to her like the proverbial moth to her flame.
She’s also the most interesting person I’ve met in a very long time. Spending a little more time with her might distract me from thinking about the fact that I’m going to see my ex-wife in less than twenty-four hours. An experience I’m not looking forward to.
I lead us to my suite that I keep on the top floor of the resort. As much as I might prefer to be able to just walk out onto the sand, generally speaking, when I’m here, I’m working. Checking in on things, as it were.
“The view is spectacular during the day,” I tell Clover as I set our bags down in the open expanse between the two bedrooms. There’s a kitchenette and a couple of bathrooms as well as a sitting area with a giant flat screen that lowers down from the ceiling.
I pick up the phone in the kitchen and place a quick order for some food.
Her body is aimed at the wall of windows overlooking the dark night. “This is beautiful,” she says with a hitch in her voice.
I step behind her, not touching her, but the urge to pull her to me and offer comfort is strong. “You okay, baby girl?”
She turns to me and nods.
“I ordered some food. Mind if I go take a quick shower?”
“Heath, you’ve already rescued me; you don’t have to entertain me, too.” She offers me a smile. “Go shower. I’ll be okay. A snack before sleep sounds kinda nice.”
“If you change your mind, that’s your room.” I nod to our left. “You don’t have to wait to let them in with the food. The butler can get in on his own. Come find me if you need anything.”
Her eyes glisten, but no tears fall. “Thank you.”
I take what might be the fastest shower in history. After I walked away from her all I could think about was spending more time in her presence. Despite her obvious disappointment and frustration at the hotel debacle, being near her somehow feels like the perfect sunny day.
I pull on some athletic shorts and a t-shirt, then run the towel across my head to get most of the water out of my hair. Then I go back out into the living area of the suite.
The first thing I see is the spread that the butler brought up, lined up on the breakfast bar.
Then I see Clover. She’s sitting on the couch, staring out at the view she can’t see in the dark.
She’s removed the cardigan-sweater thing she’d been wearing, leaving her in a long, flowy skirt and a white tank top that leaves very little to my imagination.
She must hear me approach because she turns her head towards me, and that’s when I see the tears.
Ah, fuck.
Her hands make quick swipes over her face, and she releases a watery laugh.
“Clover?” I ask, taking a step towards her.
She waves a hand dismissively. “Don’t mind me. Just a silly girl thing. My body only knows how to process emotions through my tear ducts, and well, it’s been a long day.”
“Doesn’t make you a silly girl,” I say. I walk over to the couch and sit next to her.
“Feels silly,” she says with a sniff.
“Aw, baby girl, you’re killing me.” I gather her into my arms and cradle her in my lap. I’m struck by two sensations as her softness settles against my body. First, her tits are magnificent. Second, holding her like this feels so very right, it’s alarming.
“Emotions are emotions,” I say, sounding like some motivational poster. “Just feel how you feel. I’ve got you.”
Her head rests against my chest, right under my chin. The scent of her shampoo tickles my nose. And goddamn, her voluptuous cleavage is right fucking there.
What the fuck is wrong with me that I’m perving on a crying woman. A crying woman who is undoubtedly young enough to be my daughter.
I’m not even going to examine why that thought has blood rushing to my dick.
I rub my hand against her back trying to simultaneously soothe her and calm down my libido.
It’s been a long damn time since I’ve wanted a woman like this.
I felt it like a kick to the gut the moment I saw her in the airport.
With her colorful skirt and wild curls. Lust had slammed into me, nearly knocking the wind from my lungs.
I’m not sure how long we’ve been sitting like this, but her breathing has slowed. For a moment I think maybe she’s fallen asleep. Then she wiggles against my lap.
Christ.
That’s all I need is her ripe ass rubbing against my cock.
“Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just excited to see me?” she asks.
I chuckle. “Can’t blame an old guy like me for getting hard when a sexy as fuck woman sits on his lap.”
She leans back to look at me. Her cheeks are streaked, but dry. “Technically, you pulled me onto your lap.”
I squeeze her hip. “Sassy mouth.”
Her smile is mischievous. “Do you really think I’m sexy?”
I rock my hips upwards to rub against her plump ass. “That’s not a banana.” If there are any warnings going off in my head, I can’t hear them.
She shifts her body so she’s straddling my lap. The yards of fabric of her skirt hike up to her thighs, giving me a peek at the pale, creamy skin there. Her palms come to my chest.
“You don’t have like a weird fetish for crying women, do you?” she asks.
I laugh. “No, baby girl, I do not.”
“Good.” Then she leans forward and kisses me. The touch of her lips is feather-light at first. But then she grows bolder, sliding her tongue against the seam of my mouth.
I groan and grip her ass, pulling her body flush to mine.
She reaches between us, moving her skirt further out of the way.
Instantly I feel the heat from her pussy through her panties and my shorts.
“Fuck, Clover.”
I deepen our kiss; our tongues meet and tangle in a practiced dance. It feels as if I’ve been kissing this woman forever.
She rocks against me while we make out. I move one hand up to cup one of her breasts. It’s full and heavy against my palm, her nipple hard through the layers of fabric.
She whimpers into my mouth and still we kiss.
When was the last time I just kissed a woman?
It’s been too damn long, I know that. But this moment with her feels so goddamn right.
Her noises of pleasure increase, and the precision of her kissing wanes as her lips leave my mouth to trail down my throat.
I want to rip her clothes off. To lay her down on this couch and lose myself in her curves.
She rocks herself against me one more time and then shudders through her release. “Heath,” she breathes.
It’s the single hottest thing I’ve ever experienced.
Her arms loop around me as she releases a mewl of contentment, then slumps against me.
I wait for a moment and then swallow a chuckle as the reality of the situation comes crashing down on me. I just dry humped her into sleep.