6. Derek
6
Derek
I know I’m playing with fire by inviting Maggie to stay with me for the weekend, but I don’t give a shit. I’ve been going out of my sane mind thinking about having her, watching her from a distance but now that she’s here with me and as we sit together on the terrace enjoying dinner, she doesn’t look all that upset to be here.
In fact, she’s smiling once again.
And answering my questions.
“I wasn’t bad at school, per se. But no one is giving out scholarships to solid B students, ya know?” She casually rolls her eyes. “You probably don’t know, but without a scholarship, college isn’t on the table so I’m working and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.” She cuts into one of the ravioli, sliding it through the sweet potato crème and picks it up before looking at me again. “Can I ask you a question?” She takes the bite and a soft moan slips out of her, causing my cock to quickly take notice.
“Sure. How else are we going to get to know each other?” I grin as she seems to like it if the blush on her cheeks is anything to go by. Unsure of what she’s going to ask, I grab my glass and take a sip of wine.
“Why did you choose resorts? Did you travel a lot as a kid?”
I laugh and shake my head. That’s a far lighter question than I was prepping to take on. “I wish. I grew up firmly middle class and the farthest I went before my eighteenth birthday was Gettysburg.” If she’d looked me up, she would know everything there is to know about me and the fact that she hasn’t only makes me want her more . “When I turned eighteen, I bought a lottery ticket and I won. Well, about ten other people and I won, and my cut was a million dollars.”
“No!” Her eyes go so round I want to laugh again. “You actually won the lottery?”
I nod. “Yep, sure did. And I bought two rundown hotels that were side by side, turning it into The Golden Swan, which was a big hit. And I just kept going from there and now here we are.”
“That was your first hotel? Impressive.” She pauses and her skin turns pink. “Not that you need to impress me, I just mean that’s quite the story.”
“Thanks, Maggie.” Every minute I spend with her makes me want her more. She’s sensible and beautiful and genuinely interested in me . “You said your mom is in pharma sales; what about your father?”
She shrugs. “Couldn’t tell you. Never met the guy. He dipped out when my mom informed him that he was going to be a father. It’s always just been me and Mom.” She glances down and then back up as I stifle a groan. “Do you have a favorite property?”
Damn, another good question. “Yes, Sapphire’s Heart. It’s a boutique hotel that’s high-end, but it feels like an inn run by an old friend.”
“I like that. Do you ever travel outside of your properties?”
I nod and hope she’ll invite herself on a trip. “Sometimes, but not as much as I would like.”
She shakes her head and pushes the plate away with a satisfied grin. “Your parents must be incredibly proud of you.”
“They are, but my father is still sending me checks every month since I paid off the mortgage. I never cash them, but it makes the old man feel better.”
As Maggie laughs, it comes out as the sweetest sound I’ve heard in a long time. “That’s so cute.” Her smile is so fucking innocent that I feel like a bastard for insisting she stay here for the weekend when knowing my control is slipping.
Knowing that I’m bound to have my way with her.
Soon.
Dinner is over and I stand, offering a hand to Maggie. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
Her brows dip and she hesitates.
I can’t help but chuckle. “I’m not going to toss you into a moat full of crocodiles, sweetheart.”
She blinks once. Then twice. Her tongue slips out and slicks across her bottom lip. “I didn’t even realize that was an option.”
“Come on, smart ass. I promise you’ll love it.”
She’s still hesitant but I get the sense she’s about to give in. “What is it?”
“My favorite feature of the house.”
Tension leaves her shoulders and she nods before putting her hand in mine. “Okay, Derek. Show me.”