The version meant for honeymooners.
Everything around them screamed love and sex. Apparently, Carrie had an all-inclusive honeymooner’s package that was built around activities, events, and all things couple-related while staying in Hawaii.
Not that he was against the idea of getting away to a tropical island, but the commitment-marriage-family thing wasn’t for him, and they were currently surrounded by it.
So while he was reminded about the things he couldn’t have, he’d remind Carrie these were the things that could still be hers. If she just believed in herself again and found a man who would love her the way she deserved.
After the long plane ride of him trying not to think how her hand had crept up his leg, he was hurting for anything to numb his brain. The fresh ocean air hit his face, and at least they’d both slept—kind of—on the overnight flight. He should feel refreshed. But instead, he was on alert, checking out everything, making sure Carrie wasn’t going to get upset by any of it.
“Interested in getting laid?” Carried called to him.
He shot around, ready to say, “Fuck yeah,” when he saw her with a necklace of flowers around her neck and a woman next to her, waiting for him to take his own lei.
Still didn’t change his answer. “Yes, I’d very much like that,” he said. Because the guy in him was still aware that it’d been a while, and he was now on a gorgeous island with a gorgeous woman he’d never touch. AKA he’d signed himself up for a celibate week with a beautiful woman, in the most romantic place on earth.
Awesome.
He bent down and accepted his lei.
With a deep breath, he checked out the big resort waiting for them.
Them.
No, he needed to have some kind of distance. She was his best friend’s baby sister. He was supposed to protect her. Not to mention, the way she was clasping her hands together and looking at all the honeymoon lovey-dovey shit around here made it clear what he already knew.
She wanted love. Wanted the fantasy that came with a place like this.
Blake could help with the latter, but maintain some space while keeping an eye on her was the idea. She’d probably appreciate that, anyway. She couldn’t go after her fantasy if she felt him behind her all the time. He was only there to protect her from anything that would stand in the way of her fantasy. Including himself.
He subtly scooted away and found the concierge while Carrie looked out at the ocean, sighing to herself. He quickly handed the concierge his credit card and told him to upgrade Carrie to a bungalow suite. They were massive duplexes off the main hotel that had two bedrooms. Perfect. Close, but not too close. He needed to be able to shut himself away from her once she was asleep.
“Carrie,” he said, and her eyes snapped from the hotel entrance and the flowers to him. “We have to talk about expectations.” Wanting to make it clear he would hold true to his word and be her shadow, but come night time, once she was secure in the room and in bed, he’d maintain distance.
“Excuse me?” she said.
“I am here to keep you mentally and physically safe.” She rolled her eyes, but he continued. “So, where you go, I go. No wandering off, no—”
“Twenty-six,” she muttered.
“Huh?” he asked.
“Twenty-six,” she said loudly. “That’s my age. I wanted to remind you because you’re talking like I’m an eight-year-old.”
“You are coming off a breakup, and this island is made for men to pick up women.”
“And how would you know?” she said, raising her brows.
Never mind how he knew! “I just do. If I were some random guy, seeing you down drinks at a bar with misery written on your face, I’d absolutely try to pick you up.”
She frowned, and he couldn’t believe he’d let that slip.
“First of all, I have officially started my fantasy. Which doesn’t include you hovering like a creeper. Second, I’m going to my room to change into my suit and try out the pool. You can come if you want.”
“Great, then I’ll come to our room.”
“Um, what?”
“I upgraded to a suite. Two bedrooms. This way I can stay close while still having a respectable distance.”