Page 31 of Falling for Mr. Grump, the Big City Billionaire

She laughs, bumping her shoulder against mine. "I mean it. You're... different than I expected."

I glance at her, catching the soft smile on her face.

My heart does that stupid flip again.

"You're not so bad yourself," I admit. "For a small-town food truck owner."

Skye rolls her eyes, but she's still smiling. We stop at the edge of the pier, looking out at the moonlit water.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she whispers.

I look at her, at the way the moonlight plays on her curls, at the soft curve of her cheek. "Yeah," I say, my voice rough. "It is."

She turns, and suddenly we're face to face.

Close. Too close. I can see those flecks of gold in her eyes, smell the faint scent of her perfume mixed with sea salt.

My gaze drops to her lips. They part slightly, and I hear her sharp intake of breath. I lean in, drawn by some force I can't explain or resist.

Our lips are just inches apart when a loud group of teenagers runs past, laughing and shouting.

We jump apart, the moment shattered.

Skye clears her throat, her cheeks flushed. "We should, uh, probably head back."

"Right," I nod, trying to ignore the disappointment coursing through me. "Back to the inn."

The rest of the walk is quiet and almost awkward.

I can’t stop thinking about her lips.

When we get to our rooms, we stop for a moment.

And then Skye turns to me with a soft smile, a mix of emotions playing across her face. “We’re here.”

I nod. “We’re here.” Then a thought enters my head. “Can I have your number?”

“Uh, why? We’re not friends, remember?”

I grin. “We’re not friends yet.”

She chuckles slightly and tells me her number.

Then. "Goodnight, Troy," she says softly, before disappearing into her room.

I stand in the hallway for a moment, staring at her closed door. My lips still tingle from the almost-kiss. My mind races with everything that happened tonight.

As I enter my own room, one thought keeps circling in my head.I'm in trouble. Deep, deep trouble.

Because despite everything - our differences, my mission here, the complications - I can't deny it anymore.

I think I'm falling for Skye Martinez.

And I have no idea what to do about it.

Chapter eight

SKYE

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