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  “On my private island.”

  Oh, boy! One private island. One sexy guy. And a whole lot of chemistry. What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?

  CHAPTER THREE

  TWENTY-TWO MINUTES LATE, Holly rushed through the airport early the next morning. Her suitcase clunk-clunked as it rolled over the tiled floor.

  She hadn’t meant to stay up late the night before, talking on the phone, but it’d been a long time since she’d heard her mother so exuberant. Apparently the Sunshine State agreed with her, especially the strolls along the beach while Holly’s aunt was off at her waitressing job.

  When her mother mentioned returning to New York, Holly readily assured her there was no rush. At the same time, she’d made a mental note to send her aunt some more money to cover her mother’s living expenses. Holly proceeded to fill her mother in on the business trip, citing her absence as another reason for her mother to remain in Florida. Her mother actually sounded relieved, confirming Holly’s belief that she needed to do everything to ensure her mother didn’t have to worry about money. And that hinged on impressing Finn.

  But this morning, if anything could have gone wrong, it had. As late as she was, Finn would think she was incompetent or worse that she’d changed her mind and backed out without a word. And because she’d been so rattled yesterday, she’d forgotten to get his cell number.

  When she finally reached the prearranged meeting spot, Finn stood there, frowning. She was breathless and feeling totally out of sorts.

  His piercing gaze met hers. “I didn’t think you were going to show up.”

  She attempted to catch her breath. “There was an accident.”

  Immediately his anger morphed into concern. “Are you okay?”

  “It wasn’t me. It was the vehicle two cars up from my cab.” In that moment the horrific events played in her mind. “One second we’re moving along the highway and the next a little sports car attempts to cut off a souped-up pickup truck with large knobby tires. The car swerved wildly across the lanes as tires screeched and the driver tried to regain control, but the car lifted and flipped a couple of times.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I never witnessed something so horrific. I...I don’t think the driver made it.”

  Finn reached out to her and pulled her close. Her cheek rested against his shoulder. “Thank God you’re safe.”

  Her emotions bubbled to the surface. The worry. The fear. The shock. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed as Finn continued to hold her. Horrific scenes of the accident played in her mind, one after the other. She knew she shouldn’t seek comfort in his arms. Although it was innocent enough, it wasn’t part of their agreement. And yet, she didn’t move.

  It was only when she started to gather herself that she noticed the spicy scent of his cologne. It would be so easy to forget about their agreement and turn in his arms, claiming his very kissable lips. Every cell in her body longed to do just that. Just once more.

  But she couldn’t. Once would not be enough. Frustration balled up inside her. Besides, he was just being nice—a gentleman. She refused to throw herself at him and ruin everything. After all, she was out to prove to him that she was an invaluable asset in the office.

  With great regret, she extricated herself from his arms, already missing the warmth of his touch. “I must be such a mess.” She swiped her hands over her cheeks. “Sorry about that. I...I’m usually—”

  “No apologies necessary.” He waved away her words. “I’m just relieved you’re safe.”

  The sincerity in his words had her glancing up at him. In that moment he’d reverted back to Finn Lockwood, the friendly man who’d taken her to his penthouse to thank her for her help with the contract. The man who’d spent the evening wining and dining her with some pasta he’d whipped up himself. The same man who’d entertained her with tales of hilarious fiascos at the office. The man who’d swept her off her feet.

  “What are you thinking?”

  His voice drew her from her thoughts. Not about to tell him the truth, she said, “That we should get moving. I’ve already put you behind schedule.”

  “You’re right.” He gestured for her to walk ahead of him.

  Her insides shivered with nervous tension. She couldn’t tell if it was from being held in Finn’s arms or the thought of soaring through the air in his jet. Maybe she should mention her fear of flying to Finn. Then again, they’d already shared more than enough for now. She would just lose herself in her work. If all went well, he’d never even know of her phobia of heights.

  * * *

  What had he been thinking?

  Finn sat across the aisle from Holly on his private jet. They were in midflight and Holly had been surprisingly quiet. It suited him just fine. He was preparing for his upcoming meeting, or he had been until thoughts of Holly infiltrated his mind. Truth be told, he hadn’t been able to let go of the memories of their night together. She was amazing and so easy to be with. Most people wouldn’t find that to be a problem, but he did.

  He refused to let someone get close to him—he would do nothing but lead them to unhappiness. Because that was what happened to the people he cared about—he let them down. And Holly was too nice to get caught up with the likes of him.

  The onboard phone buzzed. Finn took the call from the pilot. After a brief conversation, he turned to Holly, who had her window shade drawn. He presumed it was to cut down on the glare on her digital tablet. He, on the other hand, enjoyed being able to look out at the world around them. However, the overcast day hampered much of his view. “That was the captain. He said we should buckle our seat belts as we’re about to hit some rough weather.”

  Without argument or for that matter a word, Holly did as he asked. She then returned her attention to the tablet as though she hadn’t heard him. What in the world had her so absorbed?

  He gave a shake of his head and turned back to his laptop. He’d been working on an agenda for his upcoming meeting, but he’d totally lost track of his line of thought. He started reading the last couple of bullet points when his attention meandered back to Holly.

  Giving up on his attempt to work, Finn closed his laptop. He glanced over at her, which was a mistake. He was immediately drawn in by her natural beauty. He loved that she didn’t wear heavy makeup, only a little bit to accent her own unique qualities.

  There was just something so different about Holly, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on exactly what made her so much more appealing than the other women who had passed through his life. Maybe it was that she was content with her life—not looking to him for a leg up in her career. Or maybe it was that she treated him like everybody else instead of trying to cater to him. Whatever it was, he was intrigued by her.

  Realizing he was staring, he cleared his throat. “What are you reading?”

  She glanced up as though completely lost in thought. “What did you say?”

  He smiled, liking the sheepish look on her face and the touch of pink in her cheeks. “I was wondering what had you so deep in thought.”

  She glanced down at her tablet and then back at him. “Um, nothing.”

  “Must be something to have you so preoccupied.”

  “Just some work.”

  “Work? I don’t recall giving you anything to do on the way to the island.”

  She worried her bottom lip. “I was doing a little research.”

  “Do tell. I’m thoroughly intrigued.”

  She set aside her tablet. “I downloaded some background on the businessmen that you’ll be meeting with.”

  “Really? I thought you’d prefer to read a book.”

  “I like to be prepared. Clara gave me their names. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “What else did she tell you about the meeting?”

  “Nothing except that it is extremely
important and top secret.”

  He smiled, liking that Clara had emphasized discretion. Of course, Holly would learn all about his plans soon enough. “Let me know if you uncover anything noteworthy.”

  “I will.” She once more picked up her tablet.

  Why was she working so hard on this? Surely she wasn’t this thorough normally. There had to be something driving her. Was she afraid of disappointing him?

  Or more likely, she was doing whatever she could to ignore him.

  Just then the plane started to vibrate. Finn glanced over at Holly and noticed that she had the armrests in a death grip. “Don’t worry. It’s just some turbulence.”

  She looked at him, her eyes as big as saucers. “Maybe we should land until it passes over.”

  “You don’t fly much, do you?”

  She shook her head. “Never had much reason. Anyplace I’ve ever wanted to go I can get to by train or car.”

  “Well, relax. Turbulence is common. It’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Easy for you to say,” she said in a huff.

  He suppressed a chuckle. She did have spirit. Maybe that was what he liked so much about her. Otherwise, why would he have agreed to this completely unorthodox arrangement?

  Perhaps if he could get her talking, she’d temporarily forget about the turbulence. “Where are these places you visit by car or train?”

  She glanced at him with an Are you serious? look. He continued staring at her, prompting her to talk.

  “I...I don’t go away often.”

  “But when you do travel, where do you go?”

  “The ocean.”

  It wasn’t much, but it was a start. “Which beach is your favorite?”

  “Ocean City and...” The plane shook again. Her fingers tightened on the armrests. Her knuckles were white.

  “I must admit I’ve never been to Ocean City. Is there much to do there?” When she didn’t respond, he said, “Holly?”

  “Um, yes. Ah, there’s plenty to do along the boardwalk. But I like to take a book and sit on the beach.”

  “What do you read?”

  “Mysteries. Some thrillers.”

  He continued talking books and authors with her. He found that she was truly passionate about books. As she talked about a series of suspense novels she was in the process of reading, his attention was drawn to her lips—her tempting lips. It’d be so easy to forget the reason for this trip and the fact she was helping him out.

  What would she say if he were to take her in his arms and press his lips to hers?

  His phone buzzed again. After a brief conversation with the pilot, he turned to Holly. “The pilot believes we’re past the bad weather. You can relax. It should be smooth flying from here on out.”

  The tension visibly drained from her as her shoulders relaxed and her hands released the armrests. “That’s good news. I guess I’m not a very good flyer.”

  “Oh, trust me, you’re doing fine. I’ve experienced worse. Much worse.” He inwardly shuddered, recalling a couple of experiences while flying commercial airlines.

  His attention returned to his laptop. He was surprised the break had him feeling refreshed. His fingers flew over the keyboard. Some time had passed when he grew thirsty.

  He got up from his seat. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “That sounds good. But I can get it.”

  She stood up and followed him to the front of the plane where there was a small kitchenette. “I’m surprised you don’t have any staff on board.”

  “Staff? For just me?” He shook his head. “I don’t need anyone standing around, waiting for something to do. Besides, I appreciate the time alone.”

  “Oh.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I’m happy having you along.”

  “You are?” Her eyes widened. And was that a smile playing at the corners of her lips?

  “I am. You’re doing me a big favor. This meeting can’t be rescheduled. It’s time sensitive. And I didn’t want to ruin Clara’s wedding.”

  “Seems it all worked out.”

  He arched a brow. “Did it? Are you really okay with being here?”

  “I—”

  The plane violently shuddered. Then the plane dipped. A gasp tore from Holly’s lips. Her body swayed forward. He sprang into action, catching her.

  “It’ll be okay.”

  The fear in her eyes said she didn’t believe him.

  As the pilot guided the plane through a particularly rough patch of airspace, Finn held on to Holly, who in turn held on to him. This was the exact thing he’d told himself that wouldn’t occur on this trip, but fate seemed to have other plans.

  He looked down at her as she lifted her chin. Their gazes met and held. Even when the plane leveled out, he continued to hold her. The emotions reflected in her eyes were intense. Or was he reading what he wanted to see in them?

  He did know one thing—having her this close was doing all sorts of crazy things to his body. He caught a whiff of her soft floral scent and inhaled deeper. The pleasing scent swept him back to that not-so-long-ago night. Maybe playing it safe was overrated.

  The plane started to vibrate again. Her wide-eyed gaze reflected fear. He knew how to distract her. His head dipped. His lips swooped in, claiming hers. She didn’t move at first as though surprised by his actions. But in seconds her lips moved beneath his.

  Holly was amazing. He’d never met a woman who intrigued him both mentally and physically. Her lips parted and his tongue slipped inside. She tasted of mint with a hint of chocolate. A moan swelled in his throat.

  His thoughts turned toward the big bed in the back of the plane. Should he even entertain such an idea? But with the heat of their kiss, it wasn’t out of bounds. All he had to do was scoop her up in his arms. It wasn’t like it’d be their first time. Or even their second.

  There was a sound. But he brushed it off, not wanting anything to ruin this moment. And yet there it was again. He concentrated for a second and realized it was the private line from the cockpit.

  With great regret, he pulled back. “I better get that. It’s the pilot.”

  Her lips were rosy and slightly swollen. And her eyes were slightly dilated. He’d never seen a more tempting sight. And yet his mind told him the interruption was exactly what they needed. It would give them time to come to their senses.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “THIS IS YOUR PLACE?”

  Holly exited the helicopter that had transported them from the airstrip on the big island to Finn’s private island. The landing zone sat atop a hill. It was the only place on the small island cleared of greenery except for the white sandy beach.

  Finn moved to her side. “Do you like it?”

  “I do. I’ve only ever seen places like this on television or on the internet. I never imagined I would one day step foot in paradise.”

  “Paradise?”

  “Yes. You don’t think so?”

  “I never really thought about it.” He rolled her suitcase to the edge of the helipad. “I’m afraid we have to walk to the house. It isn’t far.”

  “No worries. This jaunt is nothing compared to the hour I spend each day at the gym sweating my butt off.” She pressed her lips together, realizing she’d probably shared more than he ever wanted to know about her.

  When she reached for her suitcase, their fingers brushed. He looked at her. “I can take it.”

  She wasn’t about to be treated like a helpless woman. She’d been standing on her own two feet since she was ten and her father had walked out on her and her mother. Someone had to pick up the slack. At that point in time, her mother hadn’t been in any condition.

  Holly’s grip tightened around the handle. “I can manage.”


  “You do know it’ll have to be carried over the rough terrain.”

  “Understood. I’ll count it as exercise on my calorie counter.”

  He shook his head as he stepped back. “By the way, there’s a gym at the house. Please feel free to use it. I certainly don’t make it there nearly enough.”

  “Thanks. I just might take you up on the offer.” When he gestured for her to go ahead of him, she said, “I’d rather follow while I get my bearings.”

  With a shrug, he set off down the stone path surrounded by lush green foliage.

  Her gaze followed him and he set a steady pace.

  But it wasn’t the beautiful setting that held her attention—it was Finn. His shoulders were broad and muscled, while his waist was trim without an ounce of flub. And his backside, well, it was toned. A perfect package.

  “See anything in particular you like?”

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. Had he just busted her checking him out? Her gaze lifted and she was relieved to see that he was still facing straight ahead. “Lots. You’re so lucky to live here.”

  “Only part-time. When you’re done working, please feel free to use all of the facilities including the pool.”

  He didn’t have to give her any more encouragement. She had every intention of checking it all out since she would never be back here again. “I do have to admit that this does feel strange.”

  “How so?”

  “Leaving the snow and Christmas decorations in New York and landing here where there’s nothing but a warm breeze and sunshine. Do you decorate a palm tree instead of a pine tree for Christmas?”

  He stopped walking and turned to her. “I don’t do either. I thought Clara might have mentioned it.”

  “She didn’t say a word.”

  “Long story short, I don’t like Christmas.” He turned and continued along the path to the house.

  He didn’t like Christmas? She really wanted to hear the long version of that story. Was he a real-life Grinch? Impossible. He was friendly—when he wanted to be. Social—again, when he wanted to be. So why did he hate Christmas?