“Yeah,” I snort, “but that was before you got upgraded to Mrs. Brooks today. How could I possibly introduce you asmy friendafter that? That would be rude.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and levels me with an eye roll that should not be as sexy as it is.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I smirk.
“Like what?” she challenges, trying to look intimidating as she lifts her brows.
“Like you’re going tohandle meor something.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, holding back a smile. She tries to hide it, but the heat in her eyes is impossible to miss. The way she chews on her plump lip has me salivating like a damn dog.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she mutters, turning for the master bedroom. “I need a break from you,” she quips before disappearing inside.
God, what I would give to follow her in there. To press her up against the shower wall—warm water running down our bodies as my hands map every inch of her smooth skin.
Just knowing she’s on the other side of the wall from me, undressing and…
Fucking hell.
My jaw flexes as I force myself not to picture Meadow naked in the shower, her hands sliding over her silky skin.
God help me.
I didn’t think this through at all.
This is going to be the longest seven days of my life.
SEVEN
Meadow
I startle awake to the sound of my own snore.
Damn, I must have been exhausted because I never snore. At least I don’t think I do…
My tongue feels like cotton, and my neck aches from falling asleep at a weird angle. At first, I almost forget where I am. As I try to peel open my eyes, I think I see glimpses of my Chicago apartment, my childhood bedroom, and my godforsaken office.
I blink a few more times, then I see it. The glow of the full moon hangs over the inky blue ocean through the expansive windows.
I feel like I’m in a dreamlike state as I watch the sea move in silver waves, gently dancing beneath the sky. I still can’t believe I’m waking up from my afternoon nap to this view. If someone had told me six months ago that I’d be staying at a luxury resort in Turks and Caicos, I would have thought I was being pranked.
I rub my eyes, trying to wipe the sleep away, then squint at the glass.
“Holy shit,” I whisper to myself, pushing my messy hair out of my face. “How long was I out?”
The last thing I remember is getting out of the shower, scrolling on my phone for a bit, and then losing consciousness.
The room around me is washed in soft blue light, everything tinted in cool glow. The master suite is huge—way too big for just one person.
A king-sized bed takes up the center of the room, the white duvet rumpled where I face-planted without bothering to pull the covers back. There’s a cushioned bench at the foot of the bed, a pair of nightstands with bamboo lamps, and a cozy lounge chair by the window with a coffee table beside it.
I let out a deep yawn and stretch my arms up, having no idea what time it is. Judging by the darkness outside and the navy shadows tinting the room, it has to be late. The warmth of the shower after a long day of travel, paired with the emotional whiplash of everything going on with Owen and me, must’ve worn me out.
Lovely.
I’ve been in Turks and Caicos for like five minutes and already managed to sleep through my first evening like my retired Nana, who does crosswords for fun.
My stomach growls, loud enough to echo off the walls of the quiet room. No wonder my stomach is groaning at me; I haven't eaten since the peanut butter granola bar I had on the plane.
