Chapter 7 #2
“Did you not think I should know that it was supposed to be your husband traveling with you?” he asked. “Or that this was supposed to be your honeymoon?”
“You figured that out.”
“It wasn’t that hard. You were wearing an engagement ring and were supposed to check in with your husband. So, why didn’t you just tell me?”
“I thought we both made it clear that we weren’t trying to get to know each other.” Kendra’s gaze lowered and she crossed her arms over her stomach. “And I was embarrassed, okay? I’m sorry. But we’re here, and that’s the difficult part over.”
Lucas’s heart clenched. He hadn’t meant to embarrass Kendra, but it didn’t matter now. She was right. They were here, and once they got set up in their room, he’d leave to explore the grounds, and they wouldn’t see much of each other.
The elevator doors whooshed open, and they stepped out into a wide hall lined with lanterns. At the far end, they found their suite, and Kendra unlocked the door.
The honeymoon suite was by far the most lavish place Lucas had seen, and he’d stayed in plenty of upscale hotels on business trips.
Everything was clearly designed for newlywed couples, from the large bed with curtains on rails around it to the enormous heart-shaped jacuzzi in the bathroom to the loveseat in front of the window with a view over the ocean.
They both explored before meeting in the sitting area.
“There’s only one bed,” Lucas pointed out.
“You can sleep on the couch,” Kendra replied, looking away.
“Right.” Lucas nudged the loveseat with his knee. “This thing? I’d never fit on it.”
Kendra sighed, averting her gaze from his. Her cheeks were pink again.
“Maybe I can sleep on the floor,” she said.
Lucas didn’t love the feeling that she’d rather sleep on the floor than share a bed with him. But he hadn’t exactly been nice to her, so he could understand where she was coming from.
“We can share the bed,” he said.
“Just because we’re pretending to be a couple doesn’t mean that I want to share a bed with you,” Kendra said, crossing her arms.
“I’m not too thrilled about it either, but let’s face it: there isn’t a better option. Not unless you want to admit to the hotel staff that we’re not a real couple and get separate rooms.”
“Which isn’t an option,” Kendra filled in. She turned on her heel and went into the bedroom. Lucas followed, stopping in the doorway as she surveyed the bed, hands on hips. “I guess it’s plenty big.”
Lucas didn’t reply. He watched as she grabbed a few of the many pillows and began forming a wall in the middle of the bed.
“That’s your side.” Kendra pointed. “And this is mine. And this,” she said as she pointed to the pillows, “is the demilitarized zone.”
Lucas couldn’t help himself; he chuckled. Kendra turned, glaring, but then her expression softened, and she laughed, too. Then she shook her head.
“I’m serious about the wall, though.”
Lucas lifted his hands, palms up, in a gesture of surrender. “I understand that. Although I prefer the left side of the bed, if it’s all the same to you.”
“It isn’t. You’re on the right side, and that’s final.”
“Fine.” Lucas almost smiled. He didn’t really care which side of the bed he slept on, but she was cute when she was annoyed. “Now, I’m going to grab my things and go explore.”
“Great.” Kendra looked relieved. “I need a little time to freshen up.”
“Take all the time you want. Remember, we’re not really on vacation together.”
“Right.” She sat on the edge of the bed, smoothing her hands over the sheets. “Enjoy your walk.”
“Thanks.”
Lucas headed back into the sitting room where he’d left his suitcase.
He found his swim trunks and his phone and paused, unlocking the screen.
There was more news about Omegron. He sank onto the loveseat, scrolling through several more articles about whether he was involved or not and questioning how he could not have known about the scandal.
Strangely, since meeting Kendra, he’d been so distracted and annoyed by her that he’d almost forgotten his company was in shambles.
Now, though, it all came flooding back. He read a message from his assistant telling him not to look at the news, then deleted it.
Looking at the news was the only way he could know what was going on with Omegron when no one would tell him.
“I thought you were going out.”
Lucas glanced up and his eyes widened. Kendra had come out of the bedroom.
She’d changed from her leggings and top into a purple bikini, which she’d covered with a sheer white cover-up.
Her hair was still in a bun, but it was neater now.
She looked fresh and lovely and like she’d just stepped out of the pages of a magazine about swimwear. Lucas ran a hand through his hair.
“I am. I just needed a minute.”
“All right. Well, I’m going out.”
Kendra brushed past him, leaving the faint scent of roses in her wake, and it was all Lucas could do not to watch her go.
He’d known it was going to be difficult to share a room with a woman who got on his nerves, but he hadn’t expected to also have to share a room with such an attractive one.
He’d noticed that Kendra was pretty on the flight, but now…
He really needed to focus on something else.
Kendra reached for the door handle, pulled it open, and froze.
“Hi there,” she said.
Lucas’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t see who she was talking to from his position on the loveseat, but he got the feeling that a new problem had arrived at their door. Another problem in a day that, so far, had been nothing but problems.