Page 38 of The Plus-One Deal

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Claire made atchnoise.

“You going to get that?”

I checked the screen. “I’d better.”

I set my float on the table and hurried out to the lounge. While I’d been out exploring the island, Joe had harvested a new crop of problems, all of which required my urgent attention. I dealt with the day’s woes as fast as I could, eager to get back to Claire and our what-ifs, but by the time I was finished, she’d fallen asleep. She was stretched on the bed nuzzled up to my pillow, and I lay down next to her, not quite touching her body.

Claire sighed, maybe sensing my weight on the bed, and she turned over and cuddled into my chest. I murmured her name, but she didn’t wake. Maybe I should’ve eased myself free of her arms, pulled the covers up over her and left her to sleep. But her breath was warm on the side of my neck, her arm heavy and comforting across my back. She felt right in my arms, so I pulled her closer. I closed my eyes, too, and let myself drift. I let myself dream this was our life, this room, this resort, this embrace every night — and at least forthisnight, it all felt true.

CHAPTER 15

CONRAD

We woke the next morning to both our phones buzzing, Claire’s on the nightstand, mine on the bed. She lifted her head at the same time I did, and we came face to face, all of a tangle. One of her legs was tucked between mine, one hand on my hip, one pressed to my chest. She pushed away, startled, and I sat up straight.

“Sorry,” she said. “Whose phone is that?”

“Mine. Yours. Both of ours.” I grabbed hers and passed it over. She passed me mine, and I went to answer. Then, I saw her assistant’s name on my screen. She must’ve seen Joe’s on hers, because she was holding it out.

“No, this one’s yours.”

We traded back and slid off opposite sides of the bed. Claire ducked out to the balcony. I took the lounge.

“Morning,” I said. “Tell me it’s good news.”

“Great news,” said Joe. “You can fly out tomorrow.”

Outside, Claire whooped, doubtless getting the same news. I felt the same stab I’d felt on our hike, when Sunny had sent her that text full of hearts. Nonsensical jealousy pricked at my heart, of New York, of Timeless, of every claim on her time. Everything she cared about that wasn’t me.

I turned away from her, squelching the feeling. Jealousy, stupid — what was I, twelve?

“I’ll see you then,” I told Joe. “And line up those meetings. Both of those acquisitions, I want to move on them tomorrow.”

“When do you want them?”

“Set the first one for two. If I’m not back by then… No, you know what? I will be. Worst-case scenario, I’ll join by video call. Let them think I’m so busy I take meetings in the sky.”

I hung up and tossed my phone aside, half-jubilant, half-sorry. Out on the balcony, Claire was texting. She had a smile on her face like she’d just shared a secret, maybe a juicy one. Maybe about me.

I wondered if she was talking to Sunny, and if she was, what she’d said about me. Annoyance stirred in my guts at the thought she’d risk my reputation, airing our business over unsecured text. Then a worse thought occurred to me — what if she hadn’t mentioned me at all? What if she was laughing at some stupid meme, not thinking about me or our last day?

Her phone chimed again and she tapped on the screen. A frown crossed her features, then went away. She looked up, caught me staring, and strolled back inside.

“Verity texted. She’s heard the good news. She thought since it’s our last day, we should go out with a bang.”

I stifled a groan — Verity again? Couldn’t we haveoneday that was just about us? Then I swallowed my pique. We hadn’t come here for us. We’d come here for Claire, so she could land her client. I forced a warm smile.

“What was she thinking?”

“A cooking class.” Claire grimaced. “It shouldn’t take long. After that, our last night…” She looked away, reddening. I sidled closer.

“Our last night, what?”

“Whatever we want. We’ll make the most of it.”

A cavalcade of images stormed through my head, some sweet, some raunchy, all me and Claire. All just the two of us, on the beach, on the terrace. On the roof, in the hot tub, beads of water in her hair. Crystal drops on her lashes and her freckled shoulders, drops I’d kiss off her, then on down her arm. Down to her fingertips, then up to her neck. She’d moan like she did when she licked a fresh ice cream, a small, brokenaahof pure satisfaction. Her lips would part and I’d kiss them, and?—

“Conrad?”

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