My Despicable Ex - Book 2 (12 page)

She smiled. “I checked you in.”

I realized then that Jake must’ve had some effect on her for her to remember him out of all the hotel guests she checked in every day. “Have you seen him?” I asked.

“
No,” she said, but her eyes flitted nervously, and I knew she was lying.

“
Please tell me.”

“
It’s a matter of privacy, miss,” she said. “I’m not allowed to disclose a guest’s whereabouts without—”

I reached into my purse and handed her a $100 bill. “Does this help you remember?”

She slipped the bill in her pocket. “I saw him at the pool with one of the models from the photo shoot for
Cosmo,
” she whispered, “but you didn’t hear that from me.”

“
Thanks,” I said, my cheeks burning with what I assumed to be embarrassment, though it might have been a bit of jealousy.

When I walked back to the pool area, I found Jake talking to a hot blonde in a ridiculously skimpy bikini that looked like it was made out of a slingshot and two Band-aids. They were drinking tropical drinks with fancy umbrellas in them. I scooted behind a potted plant to sneak a peek. I wasn’t sure why I was spying on him, and I knew I should walk away, but for some reason I couldn’t quite understand, I was frozen, and my feet refused to budge. The blonde was giggling as she sipped her drink, her huge breasts spilling out of her five-sizes-too-small swimsuit.

This time, I knew what I was feeling was jealousy, and I knew I shouldn’t be feeling that way. I had made it very clear to Jake that we would only be friends, so he had every right to pursue romantic interests.

Suddenly, the pot I was standing behind crashed to the ground, causing Jake and the bimbo to look over at me. I bolted to the left, hoping he hadn’t seen me behind the large, green leaves of the tropical plants. I held my breath and tried to sneak away, only to bump right into him. As he towered over me, I stared straight ahead at the center of his broad chest and powerful arms, terrified to death to meet his gaze.

He smiled down at me. “Are you spying on me?”

“
No! Absolutely not. Why would I?”

“
Then why are peeking through the shrubs?”

“
Okay, maybe I was…a little. I didn’t mean to interrupt your airheaded conversation with Beach balls Bambi over there.”

“
You’re jealous,” he said. “Why don’t you just admit it?”

“
Jake!” the blonde called. “Our drinks are here.”

“
She’s waiting for you,” I said. “Just go have fun.” I turned around to leave as anger washed over me.

“
If you want to spend the rest of the day together, I can get rid of her.”

“
No, I wouldn’t wanna burst her silicone bubbles. Go enjoy yourself.”

“
I’d rather be with you, Ashly.”

“
We came here to have fun, so don’t let me ruin your fantastic date,” I said, then turned to leave.

I had no idea why I’d just sent him back into the arms of the enemy, but I didn’t want him to realize how jealous I was. I wondered if he had spent the whole day with her.
Where did he even meet her?
The thought of him spending the day with a woman like that—with any woman, in fact—only fueled my anger. The stupid laughs she squealed out while Jake was talking to her were like somebody running a nail down a chalkboard. Unable to bear the torture any longer, I spun on my heels, turned around, and marched back over to the two of them.

The woman glanced up at me. “May I help you?”

Ignoring her, I said, “Jake, I need to talk to you.”

He stood and met my gaze.

The woman lifted her sunglasses and rolled her way-too-much-mascara eyes at me. “He’s with me, honey. We’re spending the afternoon together. Who are you anyway?”

“
I’m Ashly Roberts, the one your boy-toy here is sharing his room with. Did he mention to you that we’re high school sweethearts and that we were once engaged?”

She looked at Jake. “Is this true?”

“
Every word,” he confessed, much to my surprise.

“
You’re an ass!” she screeched, swatting him with her overtanned, French-manicured hand. “You didn’t tell me you’re here on vacation with your
girlfriend
.” With that, she got up, let out a long huff, grabbed her stuff, and walked away, shaking her hips from side to side, hoping to snare her next victim.

“
I’m sorry about that,” I said. “I didn’t mean to make you look like the cheating jerk. It’s just…well, when I saw you with her, I got so…jealous.”

His intense gaze focused on me. “I don’t care what she thinks.”

“
I doubt she’s capable,” I said under my breath.

He laughed a little. “Ashly, I only care what
you
think, and I think we both know I’d never cheat on my girlfriend—not ever.”

“
I know that.”

He grinned and wrapped an arm around my waist. “How about grabbing a bite?”

I looked up at him and smiled. “I’d love that.”

My phone rang, and Jake frowned. “You know what would make me the happiest man in the world?” he asked.

“
If I didn’t take this call?” I said.

He smiled. “Whatever it is, I’m sure Nadia can handle it.”

“
You’re right,” I said, then turned off my cell phone, albeit a bit reluctantly.

“
She is just as passionate about the business as you are. Trust me, she won’t let you down.”

“
No more work,” I said. “I’ll definitely limit my calls from here on out.”

“
Great. Maybe now we can have some real fun.”

I grinned. “Let’s do it!”

Jake and I got lunch and walked around, did a little shopping, and just hung out. It was a lot of fun, especially since he didn’t hit on me. I couldn’t believe he’d ditched the big-boobed blonde just to hang out with me, and that made me feel special.

* * *

Back at the hotel, we watched TV and laughed at some old sitcoms.

“
Want to sit outside with me for a little bit?” I finally squeaked out at around ten p.m.

He flashed me a grin. “I’d love nothing more.”

We sat outside on the balcony and enjoyed listening to the waves. We joked a little and laughed. It had been a great day after the blonde bimbo fiasco, and I was finally starting to feel like I was on a vacation. Nadia called once to ask a few questions about our business, but other than that, I tried to stay off the phone and my laptop.

Back inside again, I lay on top of the covers on my bed and watched television. Jake joined me there, but before I could ask him what he wanted to watch, he started seductively kissing my neck.

“
Are you trying to seduce me?” I whispered, shivers racing down my spine. “If you are, it’s not working.”

“
No?” His lips lowered ever so gently onto mine, his black hair caressing my face here and there. “Tell me, how does a man get a love back when he stupidly let it slip through his fingers?”

“
He can’t, but they can remain friends.” I cringed inwardly at how low my voice sounded, how breathless, betraying the strong front I was trying to put up. I wanted him to keep going and ignore my half-hearted attempts at refusing his advances.

I tried to push him away, but he only gripped me more tightly, pressing my breasts against his muscular chest. His eyes penetrated mine with probing intensity, their power exuding sexuality. My heart pounded as the familiar electricity flooded through my body.
How am I supposed to fight this kind of chemistry?
It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I remembered his kiss, that irresistible, devouring, addicting collision; the taste and feel of him was absolutely divine.

“
Please stop,” I said. “This is just too much. Let’s watch that movie I just put on.”

“
How about we go for a moonlight walk on the beach instead?” Jake asked.

I raised a brow, then burst into laughter. “Last time you asked me that, we ended up doing more than walking.”

“
That was a private beach. This is completely different. There are tons of tourists out there, so I wouldn’t dream of skinny-dipping.”

“
Okay. If a walk is all it will be, I’m game.”

Our beachside stroll was beautiful and relaxing. We listened to the calming sound of the waves as we walked and talked, and the wind blowing across my hair felt so good against my skin.

After a while, I leaned against a giant rock to rest. “Let’s stop here for a minute,” I said.

“
I’d love to hear a little bit more about your clothing line,” Jake said.

I beamed, for I loved to talk about my business as much as new moms loved to talk about their babies. “Our brand name is called Reflection.”

“
That’s a great name for a fashion label.”

“
Thanks. I think people should wear clothes that make them feel good about themselves, so that when they see their reflection, they feel they can go out and conquer the world.”

“
Great concept. What are your biggest sellers under the Reflection label?”

“
I have about ten collections. Our Faith, Hope, and Charity collections are very popular in our boutique, selling like crazy. The Faith Collection mostly consists of bathing suits and t-shirts, fun summer clothes. I dot the I with a heart.”

He smiled. “Cute.”

I continued. “The Charity Collection is casual. The Hope Collection are basically fancy designs, from gowns to trendy clothes for nightclubs or a hot date. Also, all of our clothes come in all sizes, from petite to plus.”

“
And I know you’re dreaming up more collections all the time.”

I smiled. “You should see my sketchbooks. Oh, and I’m dying to do this maternity line. There are four million pregnant women out there. I wanna help them celebrate their style and look fantastic as their bodies change. I’ll have everything from athletic and sporty to casual, fancy, and even corporate business suits. Some moms-to-be work right up until their due date, and they need to look professional and feel comfortable. I plan on being one of those someday…I mean, if it ever happens.”

“
You’re driven, that’s for sure. What’s your favorite collection?”

“
I love my Starlight Collection, the specific line I market to the modeling industry for magazine shoots. That one was my idea, since I work as a fashion photographer, and the clothes have more of an eccentric flair. Regular customers buy them too. I also adore my Moonlight Collection, which is evening wear.”

“
It sounds intriguing. How do you know when something goes out of style?”

“
I work in the fashion world, so I keep up with the changing trends. Fashion is cyclical, so it’s important to know what’s in and what’s out at any given time. I’m striving to always stay current, and this trip is helping me to put an eye on global trends.”

He smiled, and we stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment. “You look so beautiful in the moonlight,” he whispered.

And then there I was, staring deeply back at him. Jake held my gaze and wrapped his arms around my waist, drawing me closer, just as I’d daydreamt so many times. I leaned against him until I felt the warmth of his skin against my racing heart, and I lifted my arm to touch his flushed cheek. He didn’t flinch or even react; he just smiled and kissed my fingers where they’d touched his lips.
Just friends...and nothing more.
The promise I’d made to myself echoed in my mind, and I knew it was for the best. Finally, I dropped my hand again, hesitating a little as regret washed over me.