Page 55 of Grand Escape

This got me a kiss. I dove into it, trying to prolong it. Keeping things physical with us maintained the good feelings, and the impending heartbreak was already giving me chest pains.

“But I do, Ry. I want to.”

Leaning my forehead into his, I breathed in his scent. Adam was all good. He didn’t know it, but he was pure golden goodness.

“You’re a good guy,” I said, not meeting his eyes. “But I thought you were kind of a dick the first night.” Laughing, I added, “A hot one, though.”

“Funny, you were the bright spot of my trip as soon as I got here. I was so excited to have someone challenge me rather than placate me.”

Honestly, when Adam and I met, I knew he would get under my skin, so I’d tried to harden my shell even more. Obviously, it didn’t work.

He smirked at me. “I don’t even care that you beat the hell out of me when running.”

I would have blamed my youth, but his mouth met mine. This time, he let my tongue slide inside. We stayed like that for a while, our bodies grinding, sweat building on the back of my neck. I started to pull his shirt off, thinking I’d gotten my way.

Grabbing my hands, he pulled in a deep breath. “Dinner.”

“Ugh, stubborn.” Without thinking, I said, “This may be the only time I wished they’d let us order room service.”

Adam grinned at me. “I can order room service.”

Well, it wasn’t like everyone at the hotel didn’t already know I’d gone and involved myself with a guest—and a hot one at that. Adam was a kind man, and I was going to ruin it. Eventually.

After thinking about it a moment, I asked, “Do you have two fluffy robes and a big bathtub next to a window with an ocean view?”

“Yep, I happen to have all those things,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.

I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face. There was time to ruin things later.

“I also happen to have seen some fancy bath salts,” he said. “And—wait for it—the window opens and you can hear the ocean.”

“Mmm.” I was salivating. Not that my place was crap, because it wasn’t. It also wasn’t a luxury villa with amenities.

“Are you opposed to staying in and renting a movie on your last night in paradise?” I teased. Winding my finger around a strand of hair, I channeled my inner Olivia Newton John in Grease in her tell me about it, stud moment.

Adam let out a sigh. “Oh, I guess someone has to do it. I’ll be the one to stay in my room rather than muck around this gorgeous island,” he said, pinching my ass and pulling me closer.

I bent and placed a closed-mouth kiss on his lips.

Slapping my ass, he said, “Let’s go. The sooner you’re in that big tub, the sooner I can get you in and then out of a robe. What those other people don’t know is, you’re way better than any Caribbean island.”

“Ha, I thought you were wining and dining me,” I said, finally pulling myself out of his arms. Standing, I combed my fingers through my hair, then ran my index finger under my eyes.

“I’m definitely wining and dining you. We’re ordering the whole room-service menu, and we can eat all night, in between—”

“Watching a movie,” I said, interrupting with a wink.

“If that’s what you kids are calling it these days. Now, let’s go.”

It was the first time our age difference of slightly over a decade had been mentioned, and I decided it was best to leave it hanging there. Whenever Adam got over his tremendous loss and grief, he’d surely be ready to settle down. This was a fun fling for both of us, and I refused to think of it in any other way.

“One minute. I need some presentable clothes. I’ll be ready in a few,” I told him.

Slipping into my bedroom, I took a quick minute to close my eyes and gather my extremely runaway thoughts.

A while later, after soaking in Adam’s glorious tub and using some of every bottle of potion and bath salt left by housekeeping, I was wrapped in a plush terrycloth robe and drinking a glass of rosé.

Sea air floated in through the window, its shutters slightly ajar. A room service cart overloaded with numerous entrées and sides was parked in the middle of the room, along with a chilled bucket of wine. I plucked a roasted carrot from a plate and nibbled on it while taking in my surroundings.

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