“Thank you. You’ve thought of everything.”
He quirked one corner of his lips up. “I told you I would. You’re doing me a favor, so I’m taking care of you.”
I hid my reaction behind the coffee, because I was all reaction. From there on, he took care of me in a way that no one ever had. We got to the airport, and it was like I was a queen. We were shown into the VIP section and when the plane came, our first class seats.
“Champagne?” he asked when the fight attendant came by.
“It’s not too early?”
“Not if you want it. I can get you something else. Or maybe a mimosa if you feel the need for something breakfasty.”
“That sounds nice, actually.” So he got me a mimosa and one for himself, and we toasted and laughed. I liked it so much I wasn’t so sure I’d make it out of this favor with my heart intact.
Chapter Eight: Jack
From the moment I picked Mona up at her apartment to the moment I brought her back when this was all over, my goal was to give her whatever she wanted, to know what she wanted even before she knew herself. To make her realize I wasn’t her enemy or a jackass and that I was, in fact, someone she could see herself being with, maybe even falling in love with.
I tried not to think that far in advance because that could get me into trouble. Instead, I just focused on making this a favor she would not regret.
I watched her while I walked her into the resort, her hand tucked into my arm like it belonged there. She couldn’t stop laughing at the pink hotel, but it turned out she liked it. She said it made her feel like a princess on the top of a wedding cake, and then she laughed like a maniac. I thought I was good.
She waxed rhapsodically about the turquoise of the wide sea all around us, the swaying palm trees, and the smell of flowers and salt in the air. I let her into our suite. “It’s not a honeymoon suite,” I said. “I hope you’re okay with that.
She looked around as the attendants brought up the luggage. It was a suite that fronted the water, with a step down to a private deck with a lap pool and a view of the wide sea and sky. The room itself was in tasteful shades of tans and pale green, with natural textures, light and airy.
“Hmph, I don’t know if it lives up to our last room.” She laughed. I could tell she was nervous.
I opened up a door. “This is your bedroom.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “My own room? That doesn’t seem so . . . honeymoonish.”
I grinned. I knew she thought I was going to pull something this week, but she had it wrong. The game was just to spend time with her. I wasn’t making any moves on her. I was not the jackass she thought I was. “We’re only fake boyfriend and girlfriend, remember? Did you think I was going to pretend there was only one bed left in this whole resort so I could sleep with you?”
“Again.” She crossed her arms and glared at me.
I walked across the room. “My room’s over here. No games. If you want to sleep with me, just sleep or more than sleep, that’s going to be your choice. We don’t lie to each other.”
Her chin went up. “That’s true; even when we hated each other, we never lied to each other.”
“So you can trust me. And I can trust you.” She nodded. I nodded back. “Good, then. You get yourself ready—we have a welcome luncheon in about a half hour. Wear something nice but tropical. It’s not too formal. We get to enjoy some sightseeing afterwards.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. I’ve got an outfit.” There was a twinkle in her eye that could either be big trouble or exactly what I was looking for.
When I knocked on her door later, she came out in a white crocheted halter top that showed off acres of her golden brown skin, smooth as velvet, and a long red and gold patterned skirt that brushed the floor and floated around her ass and legs. My mouth went dry.
“You look beautiful, Mona.”
Her eyes flashed up at me, surprised, as if she didn’t expect compliments, and I was sorry about that. She deserved all the compliments. I held out my arm to her and she took it.
“You look handsome, too, you know.”
I was so glad she was here. No matter what happened, I was glad she was here. “Are you ready for the show? You’re about to be playing the role of the dashing, world traveling billionaire and photographer’s girlfriend.”
“Who better to keep that jackass in his place?” She winked at me, and I laughed, leading her out of our suite and onto the covered patio where lunch would be held. I was introducing her to some of the other photographers, people I’d known for many years, when a voice with a lilting accent called my name.
“Jack, mi amor. It has been so long.” She swept towards me, her long white sundress trailing out behind her like a sail as everyone turned to watch. She was tiny and exquisite, and her dark hair was bobbed and curled to show off her diamond sharp cheekbones.
“Valencia, how good to see you,” I started before she was upon me, kissing me once, twice, three times on my cheeks in the Spanish fashion, and then once more, right on my lips, which was not the style at all.
“Where have you been, mi amor? I have been waiting for you.” She wrapped a manicured hand around my bicep and tried to cart me away from my colleagues. Before I could attempt to extricate myself, Mona was there. Tall and golden as she was, she looked like some sort of Amazon come to save me.
“Hello, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” She stood in front of Valencia and stuck her hand out.
Valencia scoffed. “Don’t mind us, querida; we’re busy, now.”
I got my arm free then and put it around Mona’s waist, the waist that I’d avoided touching before because it was so bare. “Valencia, this is my girlfriend, Mona Sky-Jones. Mona, love, this is Valencia Espantoso. She runs some of the top galleries in Europe, and this is her event. We’re here at her invitation.”
Mona cocked her head at Valencia and looked her up and down. It was as if I could see the thoughts inside her head. So, he didn’t make up a reason for needing a fake girlfriend. Here’s the reason right here. This woman is a predator and is trying to trap him.
She leaned into me and put her arms around my waist. “Thank you so much for inviting us,” she purred in a voice that sent shivers through me. “We’re having a lovely time.”
“How wonderful; perdoneme. I see someone I must talk to.” Valencia disappeared into the crowd.
“Thank you,” I whispered in Mona’s ear. She was still close enough for that, and I took advantage of it. “You saved me.”
“So she’s the one hunting you down like a prize buck. I thought you were making up an excuse to get me to come on this trip with you.” She looked put out, like she would have liked the excuse.
I shrugged. “I was not. I genuinely needed your help.” That wasn’t the only reason, but I liked throwing her for a loop.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Well, I do like helping people who are in trouble, and she,” she pointed her finger in the direction Valencia had gone, “is trouble with a capital T. I suggest you don’t let yourself be caught alone with her.”
I bent down to whisper in her ear. “You’d better stick close by me, then.”