The Rules In Paradise (Playing By The Rules) (5 page)

             
"Well it's about damn time. I was beginning to feel like I was losing my edge." His smile was slight but made me smile myself.

             
"It's beautiful out here. I've never been on a boat like this," I said. I felt the need to break the silence even thought it wasn't awkward. I knew I wanted to hear him talk more. What he said was interesting but how he said it fascinated me.

             
"Indeed it is. Unlike you I've been on many boats like this." He stopped and paused. I felt embarrassed. I had admitted that this wasn't my normal life and he had nearly bragged that this was how he lived. "Admittedly this is the best time I've had." His follow-up sentence made me feel nervous for an entirely different reason.

             
"How can you not have fun on something like this?" I asked.

             
"Simply. Usually I spend the evening entertaining people I don't particularly like. I need them to like me though so I do it with a smile on my face. Inside though I'm usually cursing their names and wish I could roll my eyes." He looked out over the water.

             
"Why do you need to get people to like you?"

             
He looked at me and gave me a small smile. "Olivia, nobody does business with someone they dislike. Because of this fact I enchant them and charm them mercilessly for the entire voyage."

             
"Weren't you lecturing me about passion? If you don't have passion for it why are you doing it?"

             
He eyed me thoughtfully for a moment. "Don't get it confused, I love my job. I truly enjoy what I do. That doesn't mean that there aren't a few things I dislike about it." He paused and we sat in silence for a few minutes. "Come, we need to head back. We'll be going back to the docks shortly." He extended his hand to help me up. The air was cool against my wet legs and he helped me over the railing.''

             
We reached the top deck to see everyone still drinking, dancing and having fun. The DJ announced that we were approaching land and this was the last song. A ballad came on and I suddenly felt like an awkward freshman, waiting against the gym wall for one of the pimply boys to ask me to dance.

             
"I'l let you lead, come on." Cole took my hand and we walked on the dance floor. I laughed nervously as he pulled me closer to him.

             
"I think you know better than to do that." He chuckled low in his throat.

             
"Ye of little faith my dear." I was extremely aware of how close his hand on my waist had pulled me to him. His other hand held mine out to the side as we danced.

             
The music quieted and finally came to a stop and the crowd erupted into applause. Charlotte and Adrian were waving over by the ramp that was being lowered.

             
"Well, I supposed that's my cue to go."

             
He gave a lazy kind of smile. "I hate that that news upsets me a little."

             
I felt my cheek redden for the millionth time.

             
"You'll still come tomorrow I hope?" He asked anxiously.

             
"Of course."

             
I nodded as I started to walk away and waved.

             
"Goodnight Olivia."

             
"Goodnight Cole."

Chapter 4

             
I woke up the next morning and nearly jumped out of bed. I quickly showered and dressed. I wasn't particularly an outdoors-y kind of girl so I didn't know what to wear. I decided on a pair of khaki shorts and a green tank top. It seemed kind of earthy, that's what hiking was about right? I padded down the hallway and was surprised to see Adrian up and around.

             
"For the record I am only doing this because Jason is completely hot and I really like him. What's your excuse?" Adrian spoke in a low, monotone voice.

             
I opened my mouth to answer and then closed it. Did I have an excuse? Why was I going? That was simple. I was going because the  mysterious Cole Cooper had asked me to and 'no' hadn't even remotely crossed my mind.

             
"I guess I'm not really sure yet." I shrugged. Honesty was the best policy and she was one of my best friends.

             
I grabbed an apple and Adrian and I headed down to meet our fellow hikers. Charlotte had told us she was not going to chance getting hurt, and we should meet her by the pool if we survived.

             
We reached the lobby and it was Jason who I saw first. He was carrying a cooler out to a Jeep that was parked in front of the lobby. Adrian's face immediately lit up, and Jason's did too. He hugged her tight and gave her a kiss that lingered for an awkwardly long time. They broke apart only at the sound of a clearing throat.

             
"I believe you both are moments from a room, if you're feeling so inclined." Cole's voice carried as he walked through the automatic lobby doors. He spoke matter-of-factly, and had an eyebrow raised almost in challenge. I took mental inventory of myself. Was I drooling? Was my mouth hanging open? Luckily I could check no for both but he looked incredible. He had on black khaki shorts and a dark blue T-Shirt. It was utterly simple but he made it look almost sophisticated.

             
"Good morning Olivia. Unfortunately the rest of our party has decided to abandon us for the salty seas today, so it will just be the four of us," Cole said walking over to me and taking my bag. I followed him toward the Jeep as Adrian and Jason spoke in hushed tones. This information kind of made me nervous. Adrian had just admitted that she really liked Jason. While they had just met they clearly were into each other. I felt like this was going to be an awkward double date, but with half of us not really dating.

             
"So where exactly are we hiking? I'm not always the most coordinated person and I really would hate to break something, or make a fool of myself. I'm not quite sure which would be worse." Cole smiled as I spoke.

             
"Do you trust me?" The question was simple, yet I was a little taken aback. Did I? The answer shocked me the most. I had heard those two words many times in the past couple of days.

             
"Yes, I do." He smiled brightly at that and opened the door for me, helping me in the front seat of the Jeep.

             
"I will take good care of you, I assure you. Nothing bad will happen to you." He closed my door gently and stopped to wave Jason and Adrian out as he walked around to the driver's side, hopping in.

             
Cole drove in silence. I watched the city disappear as we headed out to what seemed like the jungle. I heard snippets of hushed conversations coming from the backseat. We drove for about twenty minutes before pulling off onto a dirt road. I grew more and more anxious the further away from civilization we drove. I had never been outside of the tourist area in all of the years we've been coming. Somehow Cole sensed my anxiety and gave me a reassuring smile. I felt my heart skip a beat.

             
We finally parked and we all got out of the car. Adrian and I just stood back and watched as Jason and Cole expertly packed two backpacks from supplies that were loaded in the Jeep. Both men put the packs on their backs and closed up the Jeep.

             
"Shall we?" Cole motioned for me to link my arm with his and so our hike began.

             
I spent much of that first half hour gawking at what  I was seeing. Every tree was bright green. The forest floor was covered in moss and the sounds of birds and insects could be heard everywhere. It was a fascinating, green world. One minute we were walking uphill and saw bright red trees and plants and then hanging over us were palm leaves and beautiful butterflies. I felt so small in the forest, and I felt like I had been missing out just staying on the beach.

             
"Cole, this is absolutely amazing. I've never seen anything more green or peaceful."

             
He took a deep breath and looked around. "I'm not certain you ever get over the awe of this place. I've been coming here for years and every time I am taken back to the absolute beauty of how natural it is."

             
Watching him speak made me smile not only outwardly, but internally. I imagined he could be intense even talking about cartoons, but here I felt like his intensity was perfect. I glanced around and saw Jason and Adrian ahead of us, heading down the hill we had spent much of our time walking up. I suddenly felt anxious. Being here alone with him made me feel awkward, like I should be saying something.

             
"Did you mean it?" His voice startled me. I was confused at what he was asking, though I couldn't see his eyes through his sunglasses to gauge his emotion.

             
"Did I mean what?"

             
"That you trust me?"

             
"I do. I'm still alive aren't I? If you wanted to take me and murder me I would imagine it would already be done." I smiled at him, but his expression did not change. His face looked serious, but without seeing his eyes, I couldn't tell.

             
Cole turned away from whatever he was staring at and came closer to me. I could feel the heat coming from his body. I still could not see his eyes, but I knew he was looking at me. I could feel his gaze on me. His hands went out and grabbed my waist, pulling me in to close the space between us. My breath was coming in shorter gasps and I knew for a fact my mouth was hanging open.

             
"I'm going to kiss you Olivia, and I need you to tell me right now if that is not something you want." His voice was low and husky. My brain could not form words properly. I couldn't even comprehend what he had said to me. He must have taken my silence as permission as his lips crashed down onto mine. His left hand left my waist only to go up and touch my cheek. It felt heavenly to have his lips on mine. He kiss was full of need, yet still surprisingly gentle. He pulled away after a few moments.

             
"I am sorry to spring that on you, but I have needed to kiss you, just once, since the day I saw you with your friends," Cole said.

             
"Don't apologize." I knew my face was flushed. I stole a glance at him and his expression was now back to unreadable.

             
"What is it about you, that makes me want to know more? There is just something about you that makes me want to lose my mind. It is borderline infuriating." He was looking out into the distance as he spoke.

             
"I infuriate you?" I asked, only half serious.

             
"You infuriate me because I don't know what to do with you. I don't know what you're thinking. You are not predictable."

             
I couldn't help but laugh. "I believe you're wrong Cole. I am extremely predictable, and quite boring."

             
"I assure you, I am not wrong. It doesn't happen very often, and this is not a situation where it has occurred." He dismissed the conversation as he started down the hill toward Adrian and Jason.

             
"Is hiking one of the passions you speak of?" I asked after him.

             
"It is nature that makes me love hiking. I like to be surrounded by things larger than I am. It puts things in perspective for me. To understand that in the grand scheme of things I am extremely small, it's humbling."

             
"I didn't realize you knew the meaning of humble."

             
I could not see his face as I walked behind him, but I hoped he had taken it in good nature.

             
"Arrogance is only a bad thing if you have done nothing to be arrogant about. Don't forget that. I have accomplished many things in a short time and I do not apologize for that. I don't assume you apologize for your success in your schooling?"