“No need to be sorry. Are you having trouble with your door?” I nod over to it and the key in her hand. There’s emergency lighting in the hall, but it’s minimal.
“The stupid thing won’t scan.”
“Why don’t you come in here until the generators kick on?”
When she nods, I feel a sense of relief that I wasn’t expecting.
“How do you know there are generators?”
My hotel room door closes automatically as I curve my arm around her waist and lead her through the pitch-black hallway.
“A hotel like this has them. It’s just a matter of time before the power is back on and we’re on to the next activity in today’s itinerary.”
She lets out a humorless laugh. “You must be dying for the beachside limbo in this weather.”
As if on cue, another round of thunder sounds in the distance. Lindsey’s muscles tense, and I try to take her mind off the storm.
“You wouldn’t believe how flexible I am.”
This time when she laughs, it’s genuine. “I think that might be something to see.”
It’s total darkness, but I have a feeling her cheeks are burning. “Are you asking for a demonstration?”
“No, I mean, oh god, I’m going to get fired for sexual harassment.”
“The ink isn’t even dry on my HR paperwork.” I make a tsking sound.
“It’s okay. The shame of losing this job is enough to keep my mind off the storm.”
Her words feel like a little confession, and I like that she’s telling me secrets. “Come in and sit down. Are you hungry?”
“How would I even begin to eat in the dark?” I can hear the smile in her words even if I can’t see it.
“That’s not what I asked.” And as if in answer, her stomach growls. “I’ll take that as a yes. Come over here with me. They sent up enough food to feed a small army.”
“I guess I didn’t realize how long it’s been since I last ate.”
“Sit right here.” I take her hands and help her sit on the sofa where I was about to eat dinner. “I think I can remember where everything is.”
“This should be entertaining.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” I tease, reaching for the fork.
“Isn’t being on an island in the middle of nowhere during a hurricane adventurous enough?”
“True.” I pause as I cut off a piece of chicken. “But I’m going to take a guess and say you didn’t plan for this to happen.”
“It’s like the island is laughing at my efforts.”
“I’m going to touch your face, so don’t jump. I want to make sure I don’t poke you with the fork.”
“Okay,” she answers slowly.
My fingers graze across her jaw, and she’s completely still as I hold the chicken directly in front of her mouth. “Eat.”
She makes a happy sound as she does, and I like it. “Are you going to feed me the whole time?”
“It’s easy enough, and I don’t mind.” She’s silent as I give her another bite. “So tell me why you think the island is against you.”
“I don’t know, maybe I’m being dramatic because of the storm. I thought this weekend would be a good way for me to meet the department heads, and it has been. It’s just that I wanted everything to be perfect even though I know that’s an impossibility.”
Once again, I feel like she’s sharing more than she intends to, but maybe the dark is allowing her to say what she’s truly thinking.
“Perfection is the enemy of progress.” I take a bite for myself using the same fork, and I don’t understand why I have this need to be so intimate with someone I don’t even know.
There’s never been a person in my life that I’ve formed attachments to. After losing my parents when I was young and being raised by an uncle that didn’t want kids, I learned early on that attachments had the ability to make someone dependent and weak. I’ve had friends, but most of them I’ve lost touch with after focusing on my business for so many years.
I’ve never given a thought to being with someone long term because I don’t want children, and I certainly don’t want a wife. Yet here I sit in the dark wanting to get closer to Lindsey. My legs are pressed to hers, and I keep touching her chin with my fingertips. Each time, they linger a little longer and brush against her soft skin.
“You would know all about progress. I hear you’ve made quite the name for yourself.”
“And yet, you don’t know who I am. I must not be making enough of an impression,” I tease.
“That’s not a reflection of your talent, just on my interest in biometric science.”
“Why run the company if it doesn’t interest you?” I need to know more, and somewhere in the back of my mind I wonder if our time is running out.
“Because I love my brother.” She shrugs like it’s the only answer she needs, and it’s probably the only answer I’m going to get.
“In all the talks I had with Darian, he didn’t mention you or you taking over.”
“I think it was all decided rather quickly.” At this she lets out a little laugh, and it sounds like an inside joke.
“So in other words, love is what brought you to the island?” I feel myself moving closer without telling my body what to do.
“Yeah, I guess if you want to sum it up that way.” Her sounds and the sweet scent of pineapple and coconut envelop me.
“Darian must really care about you to hand over the keys to the kingdom.” I feel her shrug against me.
“I think Darian cares about everyone but himself. But if he believes I can do this, then I can. Because he’s the smartest person I know.”
“I’m sitting right here.”
“Hmmm.” She pretends to think it over, and I realize I’m smiling. “I guess we’ll find out.”
“Oh, we will.”
When did I move so close to her? I can feel the heat radiating off her body against me, and I want to lean in so I can press my lips to hers. Can she hear my heart beating in my chest? It’s like a drum in my ears telling me to taste her, to touch her, to make her mine.
A distant humming begins, and suddenly the lights are on. I stare at her, seeing just how close we are, and her eyes are wide as if she’s realized it too. But neither of us moves away as we sit there with our eyes locked.
“I…um…” She swallows and finally looks away. “I guess the storm passed.”
Outside the window, the dark clouds still loom, but she’s right. The wind has died down, and the rain has eased. I’m both relieved and disappointed because she won’t have a reason to stay anymore.
“Why don’t we give it a little longer?” I suggest.
She looks up and slowly smiles as she nods. “I’d like that.”
Chapter 5
Lindsey
I stand close to the mirror, putting on my mascara. I take my time doing it how the twins taught me because I was never big on makeup. Growing up it was more about getting food in your stomach than buying pretty things.