Page 3 of Double Booked

I laughed. Fuck it, I was just going to go for it. “It doesn’t happen often. Anyway, I don’t know how to vacation very well and you said it’s been ages since you’ve vacationed either so maybe we can be vacation buddies and figure it out together?”

Colton studied me for a brief moment and my stomach clenched before a slow grin spread across his face. “Vacation buddies. I like that.”

I bit down my sigh of relief and started rambling. “Great! I mean good. Umm, anyway, my assistant booked me a jeep to take around the island tomorrow so maybe we can grab breakfast and see where the day takes us?”

“A jeep trip sounds great. What time should I meet you for breakfast?”

“What about 9am?” That should give me plenty of time to get some writing in before he got there. “There’s a little cafe around the corner from the resort that’s supposed to be very good.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Colton flagged down the bartender and settled up our bill, pointedly ignoring me when I tried to pay for my drinks. The slight tick in his lips at the side of his mouth had me rolling my eyes but I tucked my card away. I would pay for breakfast tomorrow. We exited the noisy beach bar and headed towards the elevators. There were two sets to the two different resort towers and I was on the first set. I was feeling unsure if I should invite him up or not when he pulled me to a stop. I looked up at him and he smiled.

“I want it to be clear that the only reason I’m not asking you up to my room right now is we both been drinking and I want you sober for all the things I want to do with you.” He said in a husky whisper that had my stomach clenching.

“You’re very confident.” I said back softly, not sure how to respond.

“And I’ll show you I have every reason to be. But tomorrow. Good night, Riley.”

He lowered his lips to mine, giving me every opportunity to step back but I tilted my head to meet him. The kiss was slow and sweet but my head still spun and I locked my knees when they went weak. Fuck, if this was how a kiss from him affected me, a vacation fling might just ruin me.

He pulled back after what could have been a few seconds or a few hours and a self-satisfied smile spread across his face at my dazed look. I smiled and shook my head at him and he gently pushed me toward my elevators. “I’ll see you tomorrow. 9am.”

I was still smiling when the elevator doors closed on his handsome face. Maybe taking a vacation wasn’t all that bad.

CHAPTER 2

RILEY

Meira got out of the squad car and stretched her arms overhead, groaning when her shoulders popped. She really needed to stop scheduling redeyes to the next crime scene. The crisp Boston air had Meira zipping her coat up to her chin. She really hoped this wasn’t a serial killer and she could head back to Louisiana soon.

I stopped typing. It definitely was going to be a serial killer because my character, Meira, caught serial killers across her now ten book series, but I needed to start laying the groundwork for that before she made the decision. I lifted my coffee cup to my mouth as I thought. I frowned into my mug. Damn, empty. I must have drank more than I thought.

“Out of coffee?”

Colton stood next to the table. My eyes darted down to the clock on my computer. Had that much time passed? I easily lost track of time when I started writing, but no he was early.

“Unfortunately,” I answered him, waving my empty cup.

“How about I go get you a refill while you finish up. Payment for interrupting your flow.”

“You don’t need to do that, I can go with you.” I said, “I’m not sure how much flowing was going on.”

“No, I’m early. Do you know what you want for breakfast? I can go ahead and place our orders while I’m up there.” The cafe was an order-at-the-counter type and then the food got brought to our table.

“Umm,” I scanned the menu on the wall behind the counter. “I’ll take the yogurt and fruit bowl, please. And another mocha. Thanks!”

He scooped up the mug I was using and dropped it in the dish bin next to the counter before starting to place our order. His back was to me so he didn’t see me ogling him. He was wearing tan cargo shorts with a blue Hawaiian shirt that I bet wasn’t his usual style but he filled it out nicely. He really did have a fine ass.

He turned back around, two mugs in his hand and I glanced down at my manuscript to avoid being caught staring. I think I half expected him not to show up this morning, that I had imagined how much fun we had last night, how easy he was to talk to. He seemed like the perfect package and I was… well I could be a lot as my exes used to tell me. Plus he looked like a god and I was… well, decidedly average. I mean, I would call myself pretty but there wasn’t anything special about me. Curly brown hair that was a pain to take care of and a size 14 body. I had an ass and boobs but also a stomach. Guys that looked like him didn’t usually go for women who looked like me. Especially not with a job as demanding as mine. But this was just a vacation fling. I should just enjoy it while it lasted.

I glanced up as he placed one mug in front of me. I flashed him a quick smile as I typed a note to myself to add the indicators of a serial killer to my manuscript before I closed my laptop.

“If you need to keep working, I really don’t mind,” Colton said, taking a sip of his coffee as he leaned back in his chair. “I know I’m early, a habit from my dad who drilled promptness into Justin and I.”

“No, it’s fine. I hit a stopping point just when you got here. I need to go back and review some of my research notes before I can keep writing.” I took a sip of my coffee. “Justin’s your best friend, right?”

“That’s right.” Colton smiled softly, his eyes warm. “We’ve been best friends since kindergarten.”

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