Page 7 of Obsessed Heir

“Oh, my goodness.” A striking woman in white makes her way around the glass stand holding the ship’s directory. “Holly Reed, you’re positively fabulous.”

The woman addresses Holly but doesn’t spare a second for the bright-red dress Holly chose for the occasion. Her attention is fixed on me, and she’s all but salivating.

“Hello, Bronwyn. Glad you made it,” Holly says with the familiar smile.

Bronwyn O’Neal. The vivacious up-and-coming fashion model is set to do a layout for the website. Her harried assistant, a tall blonde woman, waits nearby. She’s weighed down with two bags and a rolling suitcase.

“And you. Barron,” Bronwyn adds with thinly veiled excitement. “It’s a pleasure.”

I offer a nod, but nothing more to encourage her. Not that it slows her down. She quickly looks around for a chair.

Holly planned for this situation. She had all the other bar-height tables and chairs removed to discourage anyone from trying to join us. The sheer curtains sectioning off this area are looped together, cording us away from the seats on either side.

“Oh my.” Holly motions toward the newest arrivals, creating space between us and Bronwyn as she turns.

“Who?” The face is familiar, but I can’t place him.

“Football player.”

“Ah.” Not being a fan, I’m not likely to recognize the individual players.

“With…not-his-wife,” she says as an afterthought.

Something that will be a common theme, I assume. With the first level having what Holly describes asofferings of a morecarnal nature, there’s bound to be drama at some point. I only hope we have enough security.

Bronwyn turns back, her lips pressed together in amusement. “Well, I wanted to see if we could chat for a bit,” she says, moving into my line of sight.

“I’ll check the calendar,” Holly intervenes. “What did you want to discuss?”

“I was going over the layout with Steven when I bumped into him at the airport.” She turns to me. “He agrees the camera loves me.”

“I’m sure.”

“Just imagine it…” Bronwyn picks up a hand, spreading her fingers. “Bronwyn O’Neal.” She reaches my side, stopping mid-step to turn her body away. Then she relaxes her shoulders, offering a view of her delicate jawline and high cheekbones. “The face of Maiden Cruise lines.”

There’s no denying she has a beautiful profile, along with everything else she has on display. The white dress’s claim to modesty is a gauzy, transparent layer over her chest that does little to actually cover her. The entire look is calculated to leave her at a crossroads of innocence and tease.

“Yes, I can already picture it.” No imagination needed. The plunging neckline manages to hold in what’s likely an expensive boob job.

She smiles, relaxing her body as she glances over with triumph in her eyes. Then she schools her expression into an unmistakable invitation.

Holly’s expression remains impassive. After years in the business, she’s had plenty of practice at keeping her thoughts to herself when needed.

Bronwyn presses her shoulder to my arm. She runs her tongue along her bottom lip. “I’m at your?—”

Holly’s phone rings. “Excuse me.” She presses the button.

I turn back to Bronwyn, more curious than anything else about what she’s planning to offer. She smooths away the wrinkles at her brow. Setting her hand on my forearm, she starts again. “I’m at?—”

“James, what’s wrong?” I stiffen at the mention of his name. Bronwyn curls her fingers right past where I rolled back my sleeve. Neither action will distract me from what might be happening.

James is sidestepping people as he rushes down the corridor. “I need to find…” Holly stretches out an arm, waving so he can see her. He puts the phone to his chest and cuts through the seating area.

There’s a thousand moving parts at the moment. Having the ship’s steward trying to track us down doesn’t bode well.

“This can’t be good.” Holly draws in a breath, preparing herself. James, however, comes straight to me, stopping next to Bronwyn.

“Mr. McClelland.” His Adam’s apple bobs as he tries to catch his breath. “I need a word.”

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