The Honeymoon Prize (12 page)

“Not happening.” Nick glanced up at a metallic sculpture hanging above the bar. The reflection showed Addie’s dessert bowl on the table, but she wasn’t there. He turned. No sign of her. Crap. His pulse kicked up. He stood. “I need to find my wife.”

Chantal’s mouth formed a perfect
O
, as if she wasn’t used to be turning down by any man.

Why had Addie left? He went to the table where she’d been eating her dessert. The spot provided a direct line of sight to where he’d sat with Chantal.

Nick cursed. He didn’t know what Addie had seen or misinterpreted, but he needed to find her.

He checked the bar area in case she’d returned. He asked the staff, but none had seen Addie leave. He would make a quick pass along the beach to check if she’d gone on a walk, then go to the
bure
.

Waves rolled to shore. A couple walked arm-in-arm along the sand. No Addie. Nick noticed someone sitting at the end of the dock. The flickering torches cast too many shadows to tell who was there, but he recognized the long hair—Addie.

Relief slowed his pulse and breathing. Tension, however, continued to bunch his muscles.

Nick walked toward the end of the dock. He had a feeling he’d screwed up, at least in Addie’s mind, and wasn’t sure what to say. His parents’ had given him a distorted view of so-called committed couples. He’d never been a good boyfriend. His attempt at being a fiancé had failed miserably. But he wanted to do better, be better, with Addie.

The moon hung low in the dark sky. Waves hit the dock. Lanterns and torches lit the area with a warm glow.

Addie sat at the end of the dock, her feet in the water. He did the same. “Why’d you take off?”

She drew a circle in the water with her big toe. “Figured you wanted to hang with new people tonight.”

“I want to be with you.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the resort. “But that woman at the bar who was talking to you—”

“Not interested.”

Addie straightened. “She had bedroom eyes for you.”

“Still not interested.”

“You like having sex.”

“True.” She’d expected him to go with Chantal. That was why Addie had left. She hadn’t been wrong to assume the worst. He’d earned the reputation, but he wanted her to think more of him. “But I’m not some animal who can’t control myself. I’ve been on my best behavior for a while now.”

“You don’t have to be.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I mean, we agreed—”

“This is our honeymoon,” he said quickly, not wanting to discuss their agreement.

She gave him a come-on look. “Fake honeymoon.”

“We got married less than a week ago and we’re here together. Sounds like a honeymoon to me.”

“Except for us sleeping apart and only kissing on camera.”

He attempted a smile. “Gotta start somewhere.”

“I suppose.”

The humor in her voice gave him hope he hadn’t messed up too badly. “You know I’m right.”

Her lips curved upward. “I thought wives were the ones who were always right.”

“Wouldn’t know. This marriage thing is new to me.”

She looked up at him. “You’re doing pretty well for a newbie. Better than I expected.”

Addie’s words filled Nick with pride. He didn’t want to disappoint her. “Trying my best for my friend.”

He hoped that was good enough.

I
n a private, covered structure a short distance from their bure, Addie sat in the rock-tiled hot tub with Nick. Wind chimes and white fabric panels hung from the side beams. Jets sent hot water pulsating against her skin, soothing tight muscles. An afternoon sea breeze cooled her face.

Another day in paradise.

She ignored Wes and Dylan putting away their gear. Filming had finished for now. She could relax after an afternoon of parasailing then floating on a made-for-two inflatable chaise with Nick while being served refreshments in the water by resort staff.

Nick leaned his head back. The rocks along the tub edge had been polished smooth to be more comfortable for guests. “How many more activities can we pack into these final three days?”

“Depends on how much footage is needed.” She stared at Nick’s profile, his strong jawline, straight nose and long lashes. So handsome. She thought about what he’d said on the dock two nights ago. So sweet. The dreamy part of her wished the honeymoon could be real, beyond semantics, but that wasn’t going to happen. She looked away, not wanting him to catch her staring. “But unless we slow down, we’re going to need a vacation after our honeymoon.”

“One without a film crew watching our every move,” Nick joked.

“Come on, you’re loving every minute of this,” Wes said with a grin. “Besides, you can’t beat the price of this honeymoon or our wonderful company.”

Dylan nodded. “See you lovebirds, tonight.”

“The lovo dinner should be an experience,” Nick said once the men left.

“Can’t wait.” Earlier, she’d watched meat and fish be wrapped in banana leaves then buried in the ground to cook. The entire resort had been invited to the traditional meal. Dinner would be served on the beach and a show performed by staff. Dancing to island music would follow. “I’m ready to dance the night away.”

“Never knew you were such a party animal.”

Oh, yeah.
Addie nearly laughed, compared to his wild tendencies she was a couch potato, but she liked to dance when she got the chance. Which hadn’t been often except when she was alone and cranked the music. She pushed foamy bubbles his way. “You don’t know everything about me.”

“True.” He raised his head, a big grin on his ace. “But I’m learning.”

Addie could say the same about him. Her shoulder twinged. She rolled her head to the opposite side to stretch out the muscles.

“Shoulder bothering you?” Nick asked.

“A little. Not bad.” She rubbed the area. “Must have done something parasailing.”

“Let me see.” He moved closer. “No bruise.”

“Just a twinge.”

Nick touched her shoulder. “Hurt?”

“Sore.”

“Your muscles are tight.” He moved across the hot tub to sit next to her. His thigh pressed against hers. “Sit forward.”

She did, then played with the bubbles on the top of the water to distract herself from his nearness and hand on her.

He massaged the sore spot. “How does that feel?”

So good she had to force herself not to collapse against him. If the camera was filming, she would have. Was it too late to call Wes and Dylan back? “Great. Thanks.”

“I’m not finished.” His expert fingers worked the muscle. “Relax.”

Hard to do when she was hyper-aware of everything Nick was doing. She closed her eyes. That counted as relaxing, right?

“Better, but you’re not quite there,” he said.

Addie couldn’t allow herself to go there. Not fully. She might not want to come back. But with each touch of his hands, tension seeped from her shoulder, replaced by a sensual hum. “If you get tired of being a bodyguard, you could make a fortune giving massages.”

“Something to consider when I get tired of traveling.”

She opened her eyes. “You’ll be old and gray by then.”

Nick leaned forward, his chest against her back, his chin over her shoulder. He wiggled his fingers in front of Addie. “But I’ll still have magic fingers.”

“They are magical.”

Like him.

“They’re yours whenever you need them.”

Addie glanced sideways, meeting his gaze, their faces barely an inch apart. Her breath stilled, but her rapid heart rate made up for the lack of oxygen.

Don’t get carried away. He was being a good friend.

Friend. Friend. Friend.

“Thanks.” She forced herself to move away. Not that she could go far in the hot tub. “I’ll have to remember your magic fingers whenever you’re in town.”

“I won’t be gone all the time,” Nick insisted, his tone indignant.

“Most of the time,” she said for his benefit as well as her own. The honeymoon was almost over. She couldn’t give into fantasies and daydreams now. Once they returned to San Diego, things would be different. They wouldn’t be together, not like here on the island. She wished that fact didn’t bother her as much as it did. But more reason to make the most of the time they had left, even if they ended up exhausted.

T
hat night, tiki torches lit up the beach. Music played, the beat of a hollowed drum filling the air. Guests danced and mingled on the sand, filmed by Conrad and Wes. Everyone was smiling, enjoying the evening, including Nick.

He sipped his beer, watching Addie dance with two of the entertainers. Her shoulder seemed better, but he would have to be more careful the next time they were in the hot tub. Touching her had felt way too good, and not in a make-your-friend-feel-better sort of way.

But Addie hadn’t seemed to mind. She looked carefree, the way he’d hoped to see her since they arrived on the island. The orange flower in her hair matched the floral print on her skirt. Her hips swung back and forth. Her hands imitated the gestures of the other dancers, about half a beat behind. Her feet moved underneath the hem of her skirt, the bottom of her tank top inching up toward the body pack of her microphone. She alternated between dancing and doubled-over laughter.

Beautiful. He would miss seeing this side of her and being together. But the fun couldn’t last forever. He would have to be satisfied with the ten days they had here.

Once they were back in San Diego, everything would go back to normal. Normal meant leading separate lives. That was why he knew his marriage plan would work when he’d proposed. His job would keep them apart. The realization unsettled him. He hadn’t thought he would enjoy speeding this much time with Addie.

Weird since he and Addie hadn’t had a let’s-hang-out friendship in years. Visits had been few. They texted, emailed, spoke on the phone, but had made up for lost time on the island.

Addie grinned at him. She flipped her hair behind her right shoulder sending the left side of her hair flying into her face. She shrugged, then laughed. Smooth and seductive, not even close. But adorable with her pink nose. She’d forgotten to apply sunscreen when they’d on the water earlier.

He raised his beer. She gave him the thumbs up sign, then returned her attention to her two dance partners, ignoring Wes and his camera.

Conrad with his red hair filmed Nick. Dylan, the sound guy, ate leftovers. He’d had to fix Addie’s microphone while everyone else enjoyed the lovo dinner.

Brad stood next to Nick. “Your bride is having fun out there.”

Nick flicked an edge of the beer label with his finger. “Addie loves to dance.”

“Why don’t you join her?”

Nick knew how to translate Brad-speak. What the guy meant was why don’t you go out there and kiss your wife while the cameras are going. “Too full from dinner.”

“Not a dancer.”

“I dance.” Brad acted as if he knew everything about them but Emily had provided the information, not Addie or Nick. “When the time’s right.”

The music, too. He preferred slow dancing. Only a fool turned down the opportunity to have a feminine body pressed against his and moving together.

“Addie must be used to dancing on her own,” Brad said.

Nick’s muscles tensed, but he needed to remain cool, play this smart and determine what Brad thought he knew. “What do you mean?”

“Addie mentioned you travel for your job.”

Nick’s relief was palpable. Brad and crew didn’t know anything. “I do.”

“Must be hard being away.”

“Addie makes coming home easy.” A memory formed in his mind. “I—”

“What?”

“Nothing. Something I remembered.”

“About Addie?” Brad asked.

Nick nodded.

Brad motioned Conrad to come closer with his camera. “Tell us.”

The day seemed like yesterday, not years ago. Nick thought this story would let people see what a special person Addie was.

“After my first deployment, I took leave and flew to San Diego. Addie and her grandmother, who was in a wheelchair, were waiting for me at the airport along with a hundred others. She’d asked people to welcome home a soldier while they waited for their loved ones. She passed out balloons, American flags and signs to whoever said yes. I can’t imagine how many days she spent making the stuff. Getting out of the airport took forever. Everyone wanted to shake my hand, say thank you, give me a hug.” He’d been so touched and full of pride, not to mention affection for Addie. “It was cool.”

“A good girlfriend.”

“She wasn’t. My girlfriend, that is.” The words came out disjointed, rough, because the words Addie and girlfriend appealed to him in a way they hadn’t in a long time. Old feelings resurfacing, he told himself. “She was a girl and my friend, but we weren’t romantically involved.”

Like now, he reminded himself.

“The two of you are perfect together,” Brad said, to which Nick found himself nodding. “Why weren’t you dating back then?”

He knew the reason—their friendship. He’d put that above all else. He still did. “I . . . it wasn’t the right time.”

“They say timing’s everything.”

“Addie and I are proof of that.” A guy grooved his way toward Addie like she was the lost treasure he’d been searching for his entire life. Nick shoved his beer bottle at Brad. “Time to dance with my wife.”