Scattered Thoughts (Betrayed by Love Book 1) (5 page)

“What
do
you
think?”
Alec’s
voice
was
a
whisper
behind
me
that made me
jump.

“There you are,” I exhaled, quickly turning to face him.

Alec broke out in a full mouth smile. “Are you always this jumpy?”

You’d
be
jumpy
too
if
you
were
having
nightmares
almost
every
night
, my inner voice snapped. I crossed my arms, feigning insult.

“Are you deliberately trying to drive me crazy, Isabella?”

The
temperature
of
my
face
rose
and
I
immediately
looked
away to hide my crimson cheeks. “Am I?” I wondered. He’d told me earlier pouting made him crazy and here I sit, arms crossed, bottom lip
protruding.

Before
I
could
answer,
Alec
grabbed
my
chin
between
his
thumb and
forefinger,
slowly
lifting
my
head
until
my
eyes
met
his.
“Don’t say
I
didn’t
warn
you.”

I pulled away. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Alec shook his head. “Rolling your eyes, pouting, and
now
lying
.” He inhaled sharply, closing his eyes as he
did. The muscles in his jaw tightened when he said, “Someone needs to teach you some manners.”

A nervous grin crossed my face. My insides were on fire. My heart beat faster and faster still. I hadn’t even realized I was biting my lip until I tasted the blood.
Damn
it,
Izzy!
I
admonished.
This
is
so
wrong.
I
took
a
deep
breath, inhaling
slowly
through
my
nose
and
out
through
my
mouth,
over and over again until the tingling between my legs stopped.

I raised the wine glass to my lips and took a long, slow drink. “The lights and fountain are a nice touch,” I said finally.

That
wicked
grin
crossed
Alec’s
face.
“Dangerous,
dangerous
game, Isabella.” He took a seat behind me. Heat radiated from his body and before I knew it my heart was racing all over again.

Breathe, Izzy
, I chanted to myself. I took another long drink, nearly draining the glass this time. I was walking a fine line and I needed to get out of here before I completely crossed it.

Quickly, I stood. “We should go.”

Alec looked up at me, his wicked grin replaced with a blank stare.
“Okay.”
He
stood,
his
eyes
fixed
on
mine.
“This
way,”
he
said walking past me.

I emptied my glass and put it down on the table before following him out of the garden, neither of us saying a word until we were back inside the
elevator.

“Thank you,” I said finally. Alec’s eyebrow raised, unsure what I was thanking him for. “Dinner. The tour of the ship. The ride to the airport.”

“Anytime.”

I smiled, a genuinely appreciative smile. In all honesty I hadn’t had this much fun since that awful package arrived, confusion and all. I just wished it didn’t have to end. But it did.

I stepped out of the elevator and began retracing the steps we took earlier. Alec quickly caught up to me. His hand brushed up against mine, sending sparks all the way through my body. I inhaled sharply and looked away, embarrassed by both my reaction and my behavior this evening. I did my best to steady my breathing as I picked up speed. Suddenly afraid of what might happen if I didn’t get away from this man. “Dangerous, dangerous game,” he’d said and I wondered now what he
meant.

“Isabella, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I answered quickly.

Alec
grabbed
my
hand
and
stopped,
forcing
me
to
stop
too.
“Tell me. And I want the truth.”

His sharp tone caught me off
guard and had me spilling my guts. “Alec, I’m sorry.” I looked down at the marble floor, shaking my head in disappointment of my indiscretions this evening. “You’re a client and I’ve behaved unprofessionally tonight. I should go.” I pulled my hand free from his grip and started toward the exit once more.

Alec’s footsteps echoed behind me.

“Goodnight,” the security guard called out as I walked quickly past him. I waved goodbye without slowing down, desperately needing to get off this ship. I moved carefully down the gangway, keeping a firm grasp on the rail in case I tripped. Every step had my breathing quickening and by the time my feet reached the concrete I was completely out of breath.

I walked back toward Channelside Bay Plaza, doing my best to regain my composure. I couldn’t believe how I’d behaved. I was still married for God’s sake. What the hell was I doing here with Alec?

“This way, Ms. James,” Alec called out from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see which direction he was headed then changed course toward the car that was parked on the street nearby.

Preston opened my door when I approached. “Thanks,” I said as I got in. He nodded and closed the door behind me. I took a deep breath, relieved to be alone, even if it was only for a minute. “Pull it together, Izzy,” I whispered out loud.

Moments later the door opened and both Alec and Preston climbed in. “TIA,” he said coolly.

Alec turned toward me, every muscle in his jaw clenched. I looked away, rolling my eyes as I did. I had my own issues right now. I certainly wasn’t in the mood to deal with his.

“Just so I’m clear, Isabella, tours are off limits but you consider eye rolling professional behavior?”

I whipped my head back around, my look mirroring his. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

Alec narrowed his eyes and I nervously bit my lip again. He reached over and tugged at my chin, freeing the trapped piece of flesh from my teeth. “Dangerous. Dangerous game,” he said once more.

Alec’s
touch
was
so
electric
it
jolted
me
back
in
my
seat.
I
had
to stop this. Now. I pulled out of his grip and crossed my arms. “I wasn’t playing a game, Mr. Payne. You asked me a question and I answered
it.
It’s
not
my
fault
you
can’t
accept
the
answer
I
gave.”

Alec’s jaw dropped. He closed his eyes, his jaw tightening once again and I got the feeling Alec Payne wasn’t used to being challenged. “You’re right, Isabella, you should go now.”

Now you’ve done it,
my inner voice chimed in.
You’ve pissed him off.
This
is
why
you
don’t
get
involved
with
clients!
I
sat
back
in
the
cool leather seat and stared out the window, praying my unprofessional behavior tonight wouldn’t jeopardize my business relationship with Ultimate
Cruises.

We rode in silence the rest of the way to the airport. Preston pulled the car next to the curb in the passenger loading and unloading area and promptly hopped out. “Alec,” I said, turning so I
was
facing
him.
“Thank
you
again
and—”

“It was my pleasure, Isabella,” Alec interrupted. He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. Instantly my insides began to tingle and I couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped. Alec’s grin returned. “Well, maybe not
all
mine.”

Preston
opened
my
door,
pulling
me
away
from
that
tantalizing moment.
I
hopped
out
of
the
car
and
looked
back
at
Alec
one
final time.
“You
have
my
card,
sir.”
With
that
I
closed
the
door,
relieved I’d managed to get out of there before things got any more out
of hand. With a final wave goodbye I walked through the
automatic doors toward the self-check
kiosk.

When I got to my gate I sat down in one of the chairs and
pulled out my phone. I needed a distraction before I started to panic about all that’d happened today. My reaction to Alec had me on edge. I’d never imagined meeting someone like him, let alone being remotely attracted to him. I wasn’t sure what surprised me more, the fact that he was drawn to me, or that I could be drawn to someone as controlling as
him.

My phone rang. Excitedly I looked at the screen, a pang of disappointment shooting through me when I saw it was only Tim. I should’ve answered but I wasn’t sure what I’d say.
You played a dangerous game and lost!
my inner voice snapped.
You could tell him that.
I tried to shake her off but I couldn’t because, once again, she was
right.

“What have you done, Izzy?” I admonished. Dimarco had strict guidelines on professional conduct and they definitely wouldn’t approve of my behavior tonight. “You’ve worked too hard to throw it all away,” I scolded.

Even
for
the
sexiest
man
alive?
my
inner
voice
chimed
in
again,
in full temptress mode now. I closed my eyes to fully consider the question but was interrupted before I could come up with an answer.

“Flight 452 traveling to Pensacola now boarding at gate A15,” the agent announced. I pulled out my boarding pass and photo ID, gathered my bags, and got in line, more than thankful for the distraction this time.

• • • • •

It was nearly midnight when we landed in Pensacola and I still had a forty-five minute drive to Ft. Walton beach ahead of me. I meant to have Jonathan book me a room since I had to be back here tomorrow morning for a mandatory staff meeting, but in my recent absentmindedness I’d completely forgotten.

There was very little traffic this time of night, so the trip home was quick. Even still it was well after midnight when I finally got there. The house was dark when I entered, with the exception of the light in the foyer that turned on automatically when it got dark.

Drew and Anna were fast asleep and the house was quiet. I sighed with relief when I remembered Spencer’s trip had been extended. I was much too tired to deal with him tonight. I pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator and headed upstairs to get ready for bed.

I’d finally managed to get Alec out of my mind and was ready for sleep to find me. Out of habit I picked up my phone to do a final check of email before turning off the light. Much to my surprise, there was a message from Alec.

Date: April 14, 2015 10:10 PM

To: Isabella James

From: Alec Payne

Subject: Your visit to Tampa

Ms. James,

Please let me know you’ve made it home safely. I look forward to discussing what else you consider professional behavior.

Until then,

Alec Payne

CEO, Payne Enterprises