He started pulling shirts out from his own suitcase and smiled. “I thought a sunset boat ride might be nice, very couple-y, you know.”
“It is indeed. Somebody’s been on Google,” I congratulated. “So what exactly should I be wearing for this sunset cruise?”
“I don’t know,” he teased, “why don’t you surprise me?” But as he headed out to the living room, he glanced back with a wink. “I stocked your closet, by the way.”
I shut the door behind him and turned with great trepidation toward the little bamboo doors. Moment of truth. His people had been fitting me all week. What had they come up with?
As it turned out...not much.
Wrong choice of words.
There were lots of clothes...just not much clothing. All skimpy little numbers.
A hundred designer bikinis, sheer cover-ups, and little, little dresses stared back at me. A huge smile started spreading up my face as I browsed slowly through the selection, hardly daring to sully the silky fabric with my unwashed airplane hands. At first, my eyes were dazzled by the sheer amount of colors, gemstones, lace corseting—you name it. Then, I saw the shoes. I couldn’t help but laugh as I saw mixed in amongst the stilettos, a number of sparkly, ballet-type flat sandals. Marcus’ influence, no doubt.
A soft knock on the door made me jump, and I spun around to attention as Marcus poked his head inside. His hair was doing something adorable with the humidity, curling up in random patches to give him a tousled bedhead kind of look. My fingers twitched by my sides, aching to scrunch themselves through the messy locks.
“You find everything to your liking?”
I realized I was holding a thong bikini and hastily dropped it behind my back. “Yeah, this will be great. Especially for the two days t
hat we’re here.”
He shrugged with an innocent grin. “I didn’t know what you’d like so I had to cast a wide net. It’s just being practical.”
I nodded in solemn agreement. “So it is.”
“Well, I’m off to the boat to get some things ready.” He cocked his head to point the direction. “The white one just at the end of our pier. Meet you there?”
“Yeah, just give me like ten minutes.”
“Take your time. There’s no rush.” He flashed another mischievous grin before ducking back outside the door. “I liked that one you were holding, by the way.”
My cheeks burned crimson, and I locked the door loudly behind him, listening to him chuckle as he headed outside. But I pictured those dimples and curls, and in spite of myself, I had to smile. Yeah, I bet he did. Well, he wasn’t going to be entirely disappointed. I reached into the closet and pulled out a hanger as a piece of red fabric caught my eye.
I had a little something in mind...
When I stepped out onto the pier, there was no part of me that didn’t shimmer in the last rays of the tropical sun. From my metallic shoes to the bronze dusting around my eyes, to the gold and crimson matted lace that snaked down my body before making itself scarce somewhere around my thighs. I’d pulled up my auburn hair so it swept gracefully across my forehead before spilling down my shoulder blades. And while I’d used very little powder or foundation, I went for a dark rose stain for my lips. All in all, I was very pleased with the effect.
We’d just have to see how couple-y Marcus found the ensemble. I reached for my small camera in my purse and took a few beautiful shots of the water. It was truly mesmerizing.
My skin started tingling with excited energy as I made my way down the wooden planks to the boat waiting at the end of the dock. Where the hell did these butterflies come from? Was I really that excited to show off a freaking dress?
My pace slowed for a moment as I acknowledged that wasn’t it.
I was excited to show off for Marcus.
Sure he was an obnoxious Forbes-obsessed mogul with an image problem and a penchant for exotic birds...but there were other things about him as well.
The way his eyes got distant when he talked about family, the way he gave both thoughtfully and thoughtlessly all at the same time, the way I felt when he tucked my hair back behind my ear...
Get it together, Bex.
I shook my head and straightened my dress as I paused outside the boat. Then, with those same butterflies rocketing around in my stomach, I lifted my hand to knock. The door opened before I could even touch it. Marcus had been facing the other way, but he turned toward me with a wide smile as he gestured me inside.
“Honey, you remember Mr. Takahari?”
Chapter 21