Page 34 of Chasing Paradise

And, suddenly, all the blood that was rushing through my body from the adrenaline started to pool somewhere… really inconvenient.

Wick’s gaze triangulated between my eyes and mouth, making my lips part and my heartbeat thrum harder as his lids went heavy, as a heat filled their green depths.

My own traitorous gaze slipped down to his mouth as desire pinged off my nerve endings.

He was seconds from leaning down, from pressing his lips to mine. When we both heard footsteps approaching.

Andthank Godfor that.

I couldn’t let this guy kiss me.

I was pissed at him.

Right?

My head whipped over, finding a short, well-built man standing there in a lightweight white linen button-up and shorts, his tanned skin gleaming in the sun, his dark, amused eyes looking down at us.

“Is this your house?” I asked, yanking against Wick’s hold. But he was like a vice. He only released me when he wanted to. I scrambled out from under him. “Because you’re harboring a fugitive. He’s wanted by the law, just so you know. You don’t want a criminal like him in your home.”

I mean, he was a white-collar criminal. But this guy didn’t know that.

“It’s not his house,” Wick said as I got to my feet. “It’s my house.”

“What?” My gaze shot to him, still on his knees on the porch, looking up at me.

“This is my house.”

“No, it’s not.”

“It is.”

“Got the deed and everything. To the house. And the island.”

“Theisland?” Did I have sunstroke or something? There was no way he was claiming to own the house and the whole damn island.

“You’re bleeding,” Wick said, gaze on my knee.

“Yeah, it hurts like a bitch from falling on it too. What do you mean you own—”

“Come on,” Wick said, getting to his feet.

“Come where? Into your remote island house that may or may not have some creepy serial killer room? Yeah, no thanks.”

“There’s a shower. Powdered teas and juices I can turn into drinks. Food. Somewhere soft to sit. Booze.”

“Coffee?”

“Afraid not,” he said, actually looking apologetic. “Come on,” he said, making his way to the door, sliding it open, then holding an arm out to invite me in.

“Who is he?” I asked, nodding toward the man who was still standing there silently, watching us.

“A friend. Of sorts. I’ll explain it all. But let’s go inside first.”

I knew I should object.

But God, a shower, powdered iced tea, and something other than fruit and protein bars sounded like heaven.

So I squared my shoulders and limped toward the door. But I made sure I gave Wick a solid glower as I moved past him.

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