Royal Bastard (23 page)

I
pushed
the door closed and leaned against it, clutching the enveloped Connor had given me—my stomach flip-flopping and my breath ragged. Why did he have to ruin my breakfast? Hadn’t he already ruined the rest of my life as well? And now this. He’d been so close, inches away from my face… and those eyes, the way he stared at me…

Determined, I shook my head. I would NOT like him like that.

With a sigh, I moved away from the door and walked over to my open suitcase lying on the bed, throwing the envelope inside. I could still feel the touch of his warm hand on my arm, the goose bumps that had suddenly appeared due to the temperature difference of our skin. But I knew it wasn’t just the temperature that had caused the reaction. If it had been, my heart wouldn’t have been racing, my mouth wouldn’t have gone dry, and fuck, my cheeks certainly wouldn’t have flushed with desire.

Unfortunately, I knew those feelings all too well as my mind drifted back in time, remembering my high school sweetheart, who just so happened to be the star of the football team, too. One bad boy was enough for one lifetime…

My eyes strayed to the envelope, my curiosity piqued over what was inside. One little look wouldn’t do any harm. Did it really contain the ticket to paradise or was it just some crude joke he was playing? I bit my lip. Did I dare to even open it?

Grabbing the envelope, I ripped it open and pulled out a brochure for a place called Echo Cay Island Resort, a plane ticket tucked inside with instructions on how to get it changed into my name.

He’d been telling the truth. It was all here. I sat on the bed with the brochure in my hands and flicked through the pages, stunned.

The flight left tomorrow evening, bound for Belize, with further details of another flight to the island itself. The brochure showed little huts out on the later surrounded by paradise, with stairs that led to crystal-clear blue water. The insert boasted about the great excursions available, from in-room massages to snorkel adventures all included in the price. It looked like a dream, once in a lifetime spot, a great place to have a honeymoon, a place that I could’ve never imagined myself being able to afford.

I couldn’t go, could I? Did I have the guts to put myself first for once and take him up on his offer and go enjoy myself for two weeks? It wasn’t like I had anything else to look forward to. I had no job, no idea where my life was heading and I still hadn’t figured out my next step… unless you counted going back home to an empty apartment and watching daytime television, eating ice cream while moping around trying to come up with a plan.

I looked down at the plane ticket peeking out of the envelope and smiled as some of the weight from the past few days lifted from my shoulders. This was totally doable. I could check out early, drive back home and then pack for the tropics. It wasn’t such a bad idea after all; I could allow myself this little break. After all, I deserved the vacation, and I’d never had the chance to go on my own honeymoon… so why not take advantage now? It was what Connor wanted, he obviously didn’t mind one little bit. I could consider it a bonus of sorts… But could I do that to another bride? Then I thought about all the horrid things she’d put me through, the nightmarish last few weeks with her constant demands and whining. She’d land on her feet, she was the type to do so, and so I started to pack my bags.

I would luxuriate in my two weeks in the sun, then write Connor a postcard, thanking him. It was the least I could do for his generosity.

* * *

“
M
s. Matthews
, would you like some more champagne?”

I looked up from my Kindle and blushed at the flight attendant, hoping she couldn’t see what naughty romance I was reading. She nodded to my glass and I quickly held it out for a refill. After waiting until she walked to the next little cubby, I grinned broadly.

This was the life.

I had half expected to be rejected when I stepped up to the ticket counter that morning, for the woman behind the desk to laugh at me and tell me that the ticket wasn’t real, that it was all just a big prank. But instead she didn’t blink twice and made the change, handing me both my passport and the ticket, then pointing out the gate I needed to be at. I handed my suitcase over to her and a few hours later I was sitting in a first class seat on my way to paradise. It was still hard to believe.

Sipping on my champagne, the delicious bubbles tickling my nose, I looked out of the window at the clear blue sky, my jitters nearly bursting through my calm demeanor.

I couldn’t believe my luck, I was heading to a tropical island, a secluded one at that, and it was already paid for. The brochure promised the drinks would always be flowing, the service always on hand, and the sea always the perfect temperature for a dip. Not sure how they could guarantee that last bit, but I didn’t care, I sure was going to enjoy it.

Idly, I wondered if Crystal and Connor would’ve been curled up together in this seat, giddy with excitement about their honeymoon if events had worked out differently. Or would they have been indifferent with each other, and nothing at all of what I would think newlyweds would be like? The latter was probably closer to the truth. The things I had learned about the couple during my time with them told me it wasn’t a happy, fairytale romance that every wedding planner dreamed of helping with. Perhaps it was a good thing Connor had broken it off, after all. I pushed thoughts of him away, not wanting to go down that road, and daydreamed instead.

My own honeymoon would’ve been different, my lover beside me on the plane, with lust in our eyes, holding hands and never wanting to be apart. There would be lots of kissing too, and not the kisses with the endless amount of tongue. No, these would be soft kisses that held the promise of things to come. I shook my head as I realized with a small groan that the man in my daydream, his face had taken on a resemblance to a certain cocky quarterback.

Once upon a time I thought I had that romance, nearly had the dream wedding and honeymoon, the type of romance that my parents showed me was possible. But then disaster struck and they were killed in a car crash, my world turned upside down when I was twenty. I’d been on the cusp of my own perfect happy ending, my high school sweetheart ready to meet me down the long aisle in our perfect little church ceremony. We were young, everyone had said so, but not my mom. She knew that you had to not waste a minute of your life, had told me if I loved him to screw what everyone else was thinking and make ourselves happy. But then, in one instant, everything changed, it had been like I was trapped inside a glass jar, upended and shaken brutally, then finally left to fall, with no parents or fiancé beside me; my heart broken as I tried to pick up the shattered remnants of my life.

And in a way, my own traumatic experience was part of the reason why I got into the wedding planning business to begin with. I wanted to give brides and their grooms the perfect day I never got to enjoy.

I shifted in the seat and moved my thoughts back to the present. I had long ago locked those memories away, knowing deep down inside that keeping them at bay was for my own good, so I didn’t have to relive it all over again. Derek leaving me after my parents died, unable to handle me at my worst, was the reason I was cautious of who I dated now. I much preferred the bookish, quiet sorts; dependable… those that I would never have to worry about breaking my heart the way he had.

Most of the men I’d dated were safe bets, all perfect husband material, but even though I had tried my hardest to make those relationships work, I ended up breaking them off in the end… I still needed the spark, craved the similar passion Derek and I had when everything was okay. Like the stirrings of desire I’d secretly felt when Connor had taken a hold of my arm. But no, he definitely wasn’t the one either, he was the opposite of safe. I was looking for a soulmate who would be the best of both worlds: stir my desires up into madness but who would also be there for me, no matter what… the perfect counterpart of the romantic sort. But that guy was proving hard to find; the elusive bastard.

Lazily I dreamed that I’d meet him while on this vacation that had fallen into my lap… but I wasn’t that lucky, it’s not like Mr. Perfect would show up and make my wildest dreams come true.

* * *

I
stepped
off of the dock and sighed happily as my sandaled feet hit the warm, soft sand of the beach. Of all the places in the world to pick for a honeymoon, now I understood why Connor Haden had chosen this place. It was the epitome of privacy and tranquility; virtually in the middle of the ocean with views to die for. The boat had left the main island, about ten miles away, and it had had to go around several picturesque and untouched archipelagoes to get to the smaller but equally pretty Echo Cay Island Resort. The resort itself was a collection of unobtrusive huts that blended in, even though they were practically floating out on the water.

“Welcome to Echo Island.”

I smiled at the man before me. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and blinding white boating shorts; he almost looked like he was ready to go yachting. He shouldered my bag, insisting that he take it and then unloaded my suitcase too. His native tongue, a sweet but lilting thick accent, made it difficult to understand him at first, but I kind of guessed what he was saying anyway.

“Thank you, the island is gorgeous.” He inclined his head and pointed to the shell path that led to the cluster of buildings down the shore.

“Pretty island for the pretty lady. This way, please.” I blushed and followed him, my excitement hard to contain. The sun was beating down on my skin, the heat already prickling the surface, and I was glad for the amount of sunscreen I’d brought with me.

A slight breeze danced and played around the hem of my skirt and as we walked the palm trees offered a nice shady path to the huts. I was itching to see the place that would be my home for the next two weeks, where I could enjoy the solitude and read the massive stack of romance novels that I’d loaded onto my e-reader… not to mention the couple of paperbacks I hadn’t been able to resist in the airport bookstore. What could I say, I was a hopeless romantic. Along with those essentials, I’d brought a few swimsuits and bikinis, a couple of tank top and short combos, and some daytime dresses. I’d even, at the last minute, thrown in a couple of my best evening wear dresses… just in case there did happen to be some eligible men on the island. But looking around now, spying a couple walking hand in hand down the beach and another up near the main building, I doubted I needed half the stuff I’d brought. I was going to be the odd one out.

My guide started down the series of wooden walkways to a door, and set down my suitcase and extra bag just inside the hut.

“I hope you enjoy your stay. Let me know if you newlyweds need anything—night or day.” I gave him a confused and awkward smile, not sure I’d heard him correctly. Newlyweds? Surely a slip of the tongue, he was probably so used to all the married couples arriving and hadn’t thought twice about changing his welcome speech.

He nodded and started back the way we’d come, leaving me to puzzle over his words, but they were soon forgotten as I took in the little house that was to be all mine. By the side of the front door, I looked over the wooden banister at the crystal clear water below. The calm waves looked so inviting, and if I wasn’t so excited about seeing inside the hut, I would have jumped over the side fully clothed.

With a giddiness that I hadn’t felt in a long while, I stepped over the threshold. My mouth dropped open. I knew it was going to be lovely from the photos in the brochure, but seeing it in real life was beyond what I was expecting. It was gorgeous; gleaming wood floors were present throughout the entrance hall and living space, and gave way to a huge viewing window with sliding doors at the far end. All I could see for miles and miles, out the window, was a thousand shades of blue.

Breathless, trying to take everything in, I tore my eyes away from the view. Dark lacquered wood wrapped around the room, but veils of cream fabric draped over the walls gave it the light it needed to balance against the glossy wood. In what would be considered the living room, right before the comfortable looking sofa, was a flat screen TV then a small but impressive writing desk. I spun around and let out a laugh. It was so perfect. I would definitely have to send Connor that thank you note.