Andrew’s phone rang instead. “Excuse me, I need to take this call,” Andrew murmured as he got up and walked away. I tracked his graceful saunter until he disappeared inside the patio doors.
“Jesus, Ro,” Jasper groaned. “You met Andrew on your ship? He works for you?”
I nodded.
“That’s problem number one. Problem number two, you just acted like a jealous ass when you told me earlier this was a casual thing.” He paused. “Is he still working for you?”
“Until March,” I replied quietly and noted the look of worry on my friends’ faces.
“Problem number three, how are you going to go back to being professionals, working together in the same yacht, day after day, after this weekend? Rowan, I don’t understand. This isn’t like you. Why would you entertain an affair with someone who works for you? Don’t get me wrong, he seems nice enough, but if he goes to the press…”
“He won’t talk to the media—he’s not like that. I know it doesn’t make sense on paper, but Andrew and I connect. We talk about so many things, and he doesn’t want to be with me for my money or my status.” I ran a hand over my face. “He has this way about him. People are drawn to him. Just like I am. I couldn’t help it.”
“I see the way you two look at each other, and Ro, this isn’t a weekend thing. And your reaction to his comment about Miami - and what you’ve just told us - proves it. What about the media? They get ahold of the fact you’re having a relationship with an employee, and it won’t be pretty. They’re still speculating about you and Jojo. This whole thing is going to blow up in your face.”
I was about to make a joke about blowing but decided now wasn’t the time for my snarky sense of humor.
“I’ve already been lectured by my best friend and my brother. Andrew and I have an understanding. As soon as we’re back on board, we are strictly professionals and friends, but that’s it. We’ll have whatever this passion is, out of our system. Life returns to normal.” I didn’t believe my own words, and it put me on edge. A prickly unease trickled up my spine.
“I don’t think your life will ever be the same,” Jasper murmured.
I said nothing in return, but deep down, I had a feeling my friend was right.
NINETEEN
ANDREW
Tonight was a total mindfuck.
Hunter called me with the great news that Dana was pregnant. I was so happy for my friends, but for the first time in a long time, I wished I was there to celebrate with them in person. When I finally returned to the table, the atmosphere was noticeably tense. I could see that Rowan’s friends looked concerned. About the two of us? They’d figured out the whole story by now, or Rowan had spilled the beans.
Xavier did his best to steer the rest of the evening’s conversation toward other topics and I followed his direction, making jokes and easy banter. Rowan was quiet and so was Jasper, and I knew I had missed an important conversation between them. Maybe inviting them to dine with us was a mistake. They probably worried that I was like Rowan’s ex and would try to screw him over when our weekend was done.
I was still in shock over Rowan’s reactions tonight. I was flattered by his jealousy about hanging out at Rafe’s. And I certainly caught his slip aboutfalling. I heard what he didn’t finish saying and what I already knew in my heart was the truth. We had made no promises to each other, and on paper we were all wrong. But being together, talking, laughing, touching… nothing had ever felt so right to me. Looking back at my relationship with Anton, I could admit that I always held a bit of myself back. Like a part of me deep inside recognized that I couldn’t trust him with my most vulnerable self. But I didn’t feel that way with Rowan. As soon as we were together, I was completely in tune with him. I wanted to share everything with him.
Close to midnight, Rowan headed inside to make a phone call, and I went for a stroll on the beach. After I’d walked from one end to the other, I sat near the water’s edge as the lulling waves calmed my disquieted nerves. What happened at dinner disrupted our private time together and yet it had opened my eyes to everything I was feeling and was too scared to name. Suddenly, a shrill sound echoed in the air, and a burst of sparkling color lit up the night sky above me.
New Year’s Eve. A night that signaled both an end and a beginning. Where did that leave Rowan and me? This weekend was supposed to close the door on my feelings and yet they’d burst wide open. And suddenly Rowan was sitting down beside me, throwing his arm over my shoulder and pulling me in for a deep kiss. I didn’t know what the hell was going to happen next, but I wanted to stay in my happy, make believe bubble. I sank into his kiss as it swept me away like a powerful undertow. He took my mouth slowly, reverently, and all the burning passion in my heart unlocked. Rowan wasn’t the only one who was falling.
“Happy New Year,” Rowan whispered against my lips.
“Happy New Year. Did you make any resolutions?” I asked as the fireworks continued to explode above us, illuminating Rowan’s beautiful face. I was too stunned by the realization of my heart to do anything but stare at him.
“I don’t believe in resolutions. I prefer to set goals. What about you?”
“Same. But I don’t want to think about that tonight,” I said as I shifted out from under his arm and stood up. I held out my hand to him, and he didn’t hesitate to grab hold. “I just want to be with you, touch you. Make love to you.” I whispered as I drew him into my arms, cradling his face and giving him a hungry kiss that melted away any remaining tension. I could taste the wine on his tongue and another flavor that lingered that was all Rowan. Delicious.
“I’d love that but not here in the sand.” Rowan grimaced. “My dick, and every other sensitive part of my anatomy, would prefer to avoid any kind of extreme exfoliation.”
I chuckled, amazed at how this man could affect me so deeply one moment and make me laugh the very next. I was lighting up inside like the sparkling fireworks all around us. “I wouldn’t want to damage your goods. I have a great need for them over the next forty-eight hours.”
“Then let’s stop wasting valuable time.” Rowan grabbed my hand, and we ran toward the hotel, scrambling up the stairs and into our room in record time. Neither one of us reached for the light switch when we entered, the room illuminated by the New Year’s display above the beach.
Rowan stripped off his clothes as I stood and watched every movement. He turned to face the patio door, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the flex of his tight ass. Opening the door, he stepped out, and a cool rush of air wafted over my heated skin. He rested his hands on the railing, his forearms rigid with tension. The fireworks continued to light up the night sky, highlighting every sexy ridge and muscle of his naked body.
I grabbed a condom and the lube from the nightstand and made my way over to join him, placing both items on the edge of the railing within reach. The balcony afforded a perfect view of the beach below and surrounding greenery. It was lush and romantic, and I felt a yearning inside as I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his waist and notching my covered erection into his ass. His body trembled in my arms, as my clothes rubbed against his naked skin. He was so sexy like this, his body on display to me like a sensual offering under the moonlight.
“What do you want?” I asked him as he began to undulate his body against mine.