Page 33 of Beauty and the Boss Man

He smiles. “Oh, I’m not complaining. I’ll never give up a chance to have you in my arms. Besides, I would have done it if you hadn’t just to get rid of him. But are you starting to believe me when I say you’re beautiful?”

I shake my head. “As I told him, it’s a lack of options. I’m one of the only women here.”

“No, you’re stunning.” He turns me around, so I’m facing the sea of people that’s filing in. He wraps his arms around my stomach and leans in to whisper, “Do you know how many men in this room would love to take you to bed?”

“Uhm…one.”

“No, sweetheart. That’s how many are going to take you to bed tonight.”

I swallow the lump in my throat at the mere thought of him taking me to bed.

“We have to wait until tonight?” I ask with a slight pout.

I feel his body shake with laughter. “I guess we don't have to, but I had something else in mind if you’re interested.”

“I’m listening.”

“Well, I was thinking you and I could head down to the beach for a while.”

“The beach?”

He nods. “It should be pretty dead since everyone seems to be in here. We can grab a couple of drinks and relax for the afternoon.

I smile from ear to ear. “Sounds perfect.”

We leave the room as discreetly as we can and make our way back upstairs. Each of us heads to our own room to change clothes. I’m tempted just to tell Aiden to move his suitcase over here since the only time he ever leaves me is to change clothes or shower.

Maybe we can just shower together—to conserve water, of course. That’s the only reason I’m even thinking about it.

I chuckle at how even in my head, I don’t believe myself.

The moment I unzip my suitcase, dread washes over me. I completely forgot about the fact that Veronica switched out my swimsuit. The item that replaces my modest tankini is a tiny hot pink bikini.

“Fuck you, Veronica,” I mutter.

I consider telling Aiden I changed my mind about going to the beach. I’m sure that I could convince him that staying in bed all day is a better idea.

But I do want to swim in the ocean. Who knows the next time I’ll be in a tropical paradise? I don’t want to wait another thirty years for this opportunity.

Upon further inspection, I see that Veronica did leave my cover-up in here, so at least I’ll have a little bit of a shield. And hopefully, Aiden’s right, and there aren’t a ton of people down there.

Without wasting any more time, I change into the bikini and put the cover-up on over it. I walk into the bathroom and throw my hair into a high ponytail. I put some drops in my eyes to help deal with my annoying contact lenses and then use my razor to shave a couple of patches on my thighs, which I missed in the shower this morning.

Soon after I finish, Aiden is knocking on the door.

When I pull it open, I see he’s wearing a pair of red swim trunks and a gray ribbed tank top.

It’s so weird seeing Aiden Montgomery, a man who thrives in the cold, in beachwear. But I’m not complaining.

He looks sexy as hell.

“Hey, are you ready?” He asks with a smile.

“Yep,” I say, grabbing my room key and asking him to hold onto it for me.

When the door closes behind me, we make our way down the hallway, and I say, “You know you don’t have to knock on the front door? Our rooms are adjoining.”

“I told you I wouldn’t use it without your permission.”

---