The worst part is me. My reactions. I go between being hot for the guy to fearful of him.
Now, I’m in my house, the haze from the almost kiss and almost dirty talk finally starting to lift.
It’s like I’m completely blind when he’s around. I only see him. I can’t stop thinking about Cain, and as I’m about to call Mara because I need someone to talk to, my phone chimes.
I glance down, and it’s him. Cain.
Cain: Be ready tomorrow by ten.
Good, I’ll have time to work on my article tonight.
13
Layla
I will never get over how fresh the morning air is here in the mountains. Crisp with an aroma of pine. It reminds me of my childhood. Back when I used to lie in the grass beside the small trees my parents had that separated them from the world.
A hedge of them. To keep the privacy. Something they often needed as they screamed and fought. But I found solace outside alone, lying on the grass and looking up at the sky.
I inhale deeply.
I’d forgotten that I did that until now.
Tilting my chin up, I watch as a formation of clouds drifts across the sky. White and billowy rays of sunlight streak out from behind them, warming my face and making me smile.
I hear him before I see him. The sound of his footsteps crunching on the gravel give his presence away. “Good morning,” I say before looking down and in his direction. I want to soak up the sun before I have to start work.
“Good morning, Layla.”
Dropping my chin, I meet his gaze. He looks good today. Not that he doesn’t look good every day, but he’s wearing jeans and a black T-shirt today.
I like casual Cain a lot.
He’s tall and lean, and his perfectly sculpted arm muscles are emphasized by the cut of the shirt.
I want to thank the manufacturers for making it. “Where are we off to today?”
“Impatient?” Cain places his hand in his pocket as I step closer to him.
“Never . . . yet always.” When I’m standing beside him, I need to crane my neck to look him directly in the eyes.
“It will be worth it.” His voice sounds raspier than normal, almost a tease, and I swear my knees feel wobbly at the sound.
“Promise,” I practically purr, and as soon as the word leaves my lips, I want to scold myself. Sure, I’ve given up pretending I’m not affected by him, but jeez, can’t I be less obvious?
“Always.”
“Fine. Lead the way. But only if you promise to feed me after.” I move toward the car and grip the door handle. From behind me, I hear Cain’s footsteps as he heads to the driver’s side of the car.
I pull the door open at the same time he does, and we both get in.
“Hungry?” he asks as he buckles his seat belt and turns on the engine.
“Always.” My stomach chooses that exact moment to growl. Nice touch, Layla.
He chuckles. “Well then, I’m going to take you someplace special.”
“Hop to it.” I’ve gotten used to not having a clue where we are going as he drives. This place is huge and confusing. No matter how I try to keep my bearings, I can’t.
He turns onto dirt paths that aren’t roads, and it only takes me about three seconds before I’m lost. I’ll need a damn map, GPS, or compass to find my way around here. Luckily for me, Cain is a fantastic tour guide.
When the trees clear, yet again, I’m stunned. Days later, I’m still shocked that this man can leave me speechless with his designs. He’s a genius.
I throw my hands up in the air. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?” he asks.
“Make every building more beautiful than the next. What is this place?”
Then he does it. The thing I love most, he smirks. My belly flutters. Is it normal for a man to affect me like this?
Especially one who I barely know.
“This, Layla . . .” The way he says my name is even more deadly. The way his tongue drawls out the last A, I could listen to it on repeat and die a happy woman. “This is the hotel on-site.”
Despite my current status of drooling from auditory porn, his words break through my fog. “You have a hotel?”
“Where else do you think visitors will stay when they come?”
“For some reason, I didn’t imagine visitors were allowed,” I mutter. In all the times I have spent thinking about this place, never had that thought crossed my mind. But it makes sense. I don’t have anyone in my life but Mara and a cousin, and if I lived here, they would just stay with me, but I guess I’m not like most. If I had a large extended family, I could see the need for a hotel.