Chapter 18
LUKE
The bug I put on Kate’s phone has been forwarding all her texts and emails to me.
I have to know who she’s working for and what exactly her endgame is.
The obvious reason would be to eventually kill me, but it’s really difficult for me to accept that she could really be attempting that with so many believable relationships in her life.
Could she be here as a part of the investigation into Reid’s death? I’ve been interviewed numerous times, but I wouldn’t put it past the FBI to plant a woman directly in my personal and work life to see if they could extract more information.
If the FBI didn’t plant her, it could have been Garrison. He has contacts in Russia and the US. The prospect of him using Kate to find out what I know is . . . beyond infuriating.
I can’t let my guard down, no matter how many times I feel the urge to kiss her.
My blood boils faster each time a man named Frederick Thomas sends her a text.
I’ve already had Jackson run a background check on him.
He seems clean besides a public indecency charge three years ago.
If she truly intends to go on a date with him, I’ll have to somehow send her the report—anonymously—so that she’s aware of his criminal record.
I slept on the sofa in the main cabin for a few hours, going over my proposal for Mr. Lim and sipping on bourbon. I might be a little drunk when we land in the French Polynesian islands right before dawn.
She emerges from my bedroom, looking gorgeous in a short pale blue sundress. Her long blonde hair is in loose waves around her bare shoulders. She stares at me with those wide, faux-innocent eyes for a few moments before blinking and looking away.
Don’t engage. Don’t show interest.
I allow her to go ahead of me down the stairs. We should be going through customs, but I made friends with a politician in France last year over a business deal. They don’t enforce their usual policies on me.
“Wow, this is . . . phenomenal.” Kate is taking in the sunset over the lush green forest.
We’re a few miles from the beach, but every part of the South Pacific is awe-inspiring.
“Mr. Bradshaw, welcome. Let us take your luggage,” a woman with a thick French accent greets us in a white uniform.
Several men, dressed similarly, take the bags, stowing them in the trunk of the idling limousine.
I follow Kate into the car, and we ride silently through the jungle. She gasps as we make it to the beachfront. The sunrise tinges the sky a million shades of pink, orange, and yellow, reflecting the glass-like surface of the turquoise water.
I’m enraptured by her absorption of the scenery. She’s wide-eyed, amazed by the beauty of it. I feel the exact same way about her. From her sensual frame to the luscious lips that I crave to taste, I want every part of her.
I shift in my seat, forcing my eyes away.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she says, clutching the leather.
I roll down the windows from my side, allowing the ocean air to pour into the vehicle. She turns to me, an enthralled smile spreading across her face as her eyes light up.
“Have you been here before?” she asks me.
I nod. “A few times.”
My mother loved the French Polynesian islands until she discovered my father’s penchant for prostitutes here . . . and many other continents.
She turns back to watch the scene go by. I can’t help the desire to observe her reaction. She gapes as we cruise along, leaning forward to wave at some young children on the side of the road.
Is she kind to everyone?
We finally reach the bungalows my sister wanted all the wedding guests to stay in. They’re suspended over the water, featuring glass bottoms to reveal the ocean life swimming below. We stroll down the boardwalk over the water toward one of the bungalows.
Kate is supposed to have her own little hut, but the manager informs us that he was only instructed to prepare one for Luke Bradshaw.
“What do you mean, there’s only one?” I growl at him, getting irritated as I stand outside in the rising sun, wearing the same suit from yesterday.
“Miss Kendall told me to prepare a suite under the name Luke Bradshaw. She said he would need accommodations for two in one hut. This is our finest room. My deepest apologies, sir. We can contact the neighboring establishment to see if—”
I cut him off, “No. We’ll make it work.”
I need to keep an eye on her anyway. If she does try to attack me, she could escape too easily, considering we are outside of the US. She won’t be going anywhere until I know more about why she’s here and who sent her.
He stammers another apology before opening the door for us and scurrying away. I turn to face Kate, gesturing for her to walk in first. I follow behind her.
She’s pale, looking around the room. It’s a tropical paradise.
The interior is mostly made of wood, with thick beams stretched across the vaulted ceiling.
Rattan shades cover the windows to offer privacy.
A gentle island breeze is flowing through, rustling the palm trees outside and the luscious plants in our room.
There’s a door leading to the bathroom where the window frames more of the turquoise water all around us.
The wood bedframe looks sturdy, making me picture all the ways we could test its durability.
“I’ll sleep on the floor,” I tell her, irritated that for the exuberant amount of money it’s costing me to be here, I won’t get a single good night’s sleep.
I need to be alert in case she attempts something.
I begin to unbutton my shirt. “The rehearsal is tonight.”
“Okay. Go ahead and take the bed to sleep. I’m going down to the beach.”
“Order whatever you want.” I gesture toward the touch screen menu.
She nods slowly, seeming unsure of what to do with herself. Her eyes watch me unbutton for another moment before she blushes and jerks away.
“Do you need anything?”
“Oh, no! Go ahead and sleep. I’ll be fine.”
She smiles, reaching down to unzip her suitcase. I’m surprised it’s held on this long without completely falling apart. The urge to buy her a whole new set is ridiculous and inappropriate.
I get my bag and go into the bathroom to shower off before I have to face my sister’s fiancé tonight.
After the hot water releases some tension from my muscles, I lie down to rest for a few moments, intending to stay awake.
Kate is showering.
She’s outside the bungalow in a microscopic peach bikini that makes her look practically naked. I can’t peel my eyes away from of her as she rinses sand and ocean water from her body.
I know I should give her privacy. I know this is wrong. I know she doesn’t see me standing at the back door of the bungalow like a perverted Peeping Tom.
Her eyes are closed as she turns, her backside facing toward me.
I can’t take this. Why do they make these bathing suits without proper coverage? It’s completely unbelievable how much of her skin I can see. I’m shirtless, only clothed in a pair of grey sweatpants that I’m sure aren’t hiding my reaction to her.
Look away, look away, look away before it’s too late . . .
It’s too late. She pivots back around with her eyes open. She freezes at the sight of me, and I will myself to turn and walk away.
I gather every shred of self control I have, clenching my fists as I try to talk myself into doing the smart thing and leaving her alone.
I should take my arousal back into the bungalow for a cold shower.
But I don’t.
Maybe getting closer to her is the answer. Fight fire with fire.
I advance toward her. She doesn’t move, the spray still soaking her salacious, silky skin.
She takes a tiny step back as I reach her, eyebrows raised and lips parted. We don’t need to talk about this. This is on her agenda, and I’m not interested in thwarting her efforts anymore.
My fingers reach toward the back of her head, grabbing a handful of wet hair and pulling her face toward mine. She doesn’t resist me, moving forward willingly.
Right before our lips meet, I look into her hooded eyes as I pant in anticipation. She licks her lips, eyes trained on my mouth as her hand touches my back. She releases a tiny gasp as I press my mouth to hers.
Her lips are salty at first, and then she turns to sweetness, like a piece of Sour Patch candy.
I pull her entire body flush against me, needing every inch of her to touch me.
She reaches a hand up around my neck, our height difference forcing me to bend down and scoop her up.
Her legs wrap around my waist, our lips staying locked while our tongues compete for each other’s attention.
I devour her, savoring the sensations that she sends through me. It’s like our first night, multiplied a thousand times because I know her now. I know she’s kind, quirky, and that I simply enjoy being near her.
I don’t want to wait until we go into the bungalow. She moans into my mouth as I nibble on her bottom lip.
Right before I deposit her onto the plush white patio sofa, she pulls back from me.
“Luke . . .”
I look into her blue eyes, waiting.
“I don’t understand you,” she whispers.
Her hair is wet, eyelashes blinking drips of water down her cheeks. I toss her back onto the sofa before looming over her, studying every dip and curve of her body.
“I want you. Now.” I can’t explain it any better than that, and I hope she doesn’t ask.
She searches my face before leaning up to touch my mouth again, planting tiny kisses on my lips as she trails hers down my neck and over my shoulder. I shudder at each point of contact, loving her lips on me.
I look down to see her nipples obviously standing at attention beneath the thin, wet top, and I decide to let her leave it on. The bottoms barely qualify as a barrier. My fingers reach down to rub over her center. She gasps as I make contact, her body jerking underneath me.
It’s less than a minute later that she’s begging for me to put it in her, and I’m happy to oblige her request. She grips my shoulders as I shove the fabric aside before pulling down my soaked sweatpants.
Someone is probably going to see us, but I can’t force myself to care enough to take her inside.
I position the head of my cock right at her entrance, heated anticipation licking through my veins.
“Luke, really?! Right out on the deck? Gross.” Fallon’s voice cuts into my hazy thoughts.
I’m vaguely aware of my bare ass up in the air as Kate tenses underneath me.
“Could you maybe leave and let us finish?” I shout back.
I look down to see Kate’s wide eyes as she shakes her head, squirming.
“Literally, Mom just called me to say she saw some couple screwing across the reservoir. Still want to keep going?”
I sigh, reaching down to move her bottoms back in place before pulling my damp sweats over my arousal and standing. Kate’s face is tinged pink as she slowly sits up.
My eyes find my sister with her arms crossed two bungalows over. Her fiancé, Garrison, is standing beside her with a smirk on his face. My blood immediately begins to boil at the sight of him.
Prick.
Kate finally stands up beside me, and I reach an arm around her shoulders.
“Fallon, this is Kate.”
“Hi. Nice to meet you,” Kate says, waving awkwardly. She adjusts her swimsuit, unfortunately covering herself up.
“I hope my brother hasn’t defiled you in any other public places. He’s never been very charming,” Fallon says.
“Is that supposed to hurt my feelings?”
She shrugs. “If the shoe fits. Kate, this is my fiancé, Garrison.”
The asshole waves at her. “Hi, Kate. Great to have you here.”
“It’s breathtaking. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Kate gushes, smiling back at him.
That’s about as much of a conversation with Garrison involved that I can take.
“Well, we’re going to continue on inside—without prying eyes.”
I guide her into the bungalow as Fallon disapprovingly shakes her head.
Now that the moment has passed, it doesn’t seem like the best idea anymore. I stare at her round backside as she walks into the bathroom, reappearing with a towel.
“Well, I hope your family doesn’t think I’m a slut after the peep show.”
My eyes narrow at her statement. “Why would they think you’re a slut?”
“Umm, for almost doing the nasty out in broad daylight?”
“I’m the one who mauled you. You shouldn’t feel bad for it.”
She uses the towel to dry her hair. “The girl is usually the one labeled in these situations.”
I dare someone to call her a name like that. I can’t stop looking at her as she dries off, wishing against my better judgment that we hadn’t been interrupted.
“Do . . . do they know I work for you?”
I shake my head. “Fallon would be pissed if she knew I was planning to work at her wedding.”
She would also passionately disapprove of me sleeping with my assistant—for good reason.
“We should get ready for tonight,” Kate finally says, and I realize my mind was lost in a fantasyland, where no one existed on this beach but us.
“Sure.”