Page 25 of Made For You
“You’re late,” I said as she came closer. My default tone came out as I forced myself to keep my arms weighted at my sides. Her eyes dimmed just slightly, but her smile widened as she stopped a foot or two away from me.
“Sorry about that. I scheduled a massage, and I was enjoying it so much--” she rambled on, but I was focused on the fact that someone had their hands on her body, smoothing oils over her skin. I didn’t want anyone touching what was mine.
“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching out to touch my arm, but I flinched in reaction.
“I’m fine.” Usually, I could hold back my reaction to someone touching me, but hers had been unexpected. “So,” I prompted, hoping she’d end my misery and accept my proposal. “Did you make a decision?”
She took a deep, shaky breath, and my eyes darted down to the rise of her breasts behind the deep v-cut of her dress.
“At first, I was adamant at turning you down. What you wanted me to do was ridiculous.” Hope flickered in my chest, blossoming into a full-blown fire as her words sunk in. “But then I thought about it, and I figured if I could help you, you could help me.”
“What is it you want besides money?” I asked. I’d never met anyone like Aurora, and she continued to bewilder me.
“I have a proposition for you, Talon Beckett, if you’d like to hear it. Accept mine and I’ll accept yours.”
The little gleam in her sparkling brown eyes left me more than curious, in both a good and bad way. What is it she could possibly want from me? Was money not enough? I supposed I could up the amount for her, but one million seemed adequate. Did she want more luxury? I knew my cousin was materialistic, but I didn’t imagine Aurora being that way. But what did I really know about her?
I didn’t know how to respond and instead replied with my trademark grunt as the captain of the boat I chartered asked if we were ready to go. Dean stepped over to speak with him as I held out my hand for Aurora.
“Want to join me, Aurora?”
I watched in fascination as she licked her lips and glanced down at my outstretched hand. It took everything in me to keep it from shaking. I’d never been this nervous around a woman before.
“Um… okay. Though I really should get back to the hotel.”
“We won’t be out long.”
Nodding, she placed her hand in mine, and I clasped her delicate fingers. Everything about her seemed small and fragile.
As we walked over to the boat, she glanced around the dock. Twinkling lights canopied the walkways, making it appear like we were walking in the stars.
“You know,” she began quietly as we approached the boat, as if offering a piece of herself no one knew. Her breath fanned over my cheek as I leaned down to hear her. “You can call me Rory. Everyone else does.”
“I think Aurora suits you,” I said in return.
As the captain spoke up and assisted her into the boat, our moment was broken. I followed closely behind, though not taking Dean’s assistance. The asshole even held out his hand with a cunning smile.
A table was placed out on the front deck with a light meal, and I ushered Aurora over to a seat, pulling it out for her to sit in. When our arms brushed, I tried to ignore the fact that her nipples pebbled beneath the slip of a dress she wore.
I was fucking awe-struck.
“Sir, are you ready for us to proceed?” a voice asked from behind me, and I nodded, then swiftly took my seat across from my guest.
The boat started off slowly, as I had instructed. I’d booked a casual cruise around the bay. Nothing too extreme. Just something to do while we ate dinner and discussed the contract, if she was interested in saying yes.
The breeze off the ocean rustled the tablecloth, and I watched as a shiver passed through Aurora. The skin on her arms erupted into little chill bumps, her nipples beneath her dress becoming even more visible. I tore my eyes away from them as I slipped off my suit jacket. Moving around the table, I draped it over her shoulders and relished the thankful smile she sent my way. As I settled back in my seat, I huffed a small chuckle when I noticed she slipped her arms fully into the jacket and was currently cuffing the sleeves to expose her hands.
It was fucking adorable.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, and the hair around her shoulders fanned out as she shook her head.
“Can we talk about… things first? My stomach is in knots.”
“Of course.”
“If—and that’s a big if…,” she began, then inhaled deeply. “If I say yes, I’d like to review the entire contract first, and I’d like you to agree to be my date at my ex’s wedding,” she said in one long breath.
I was astounded. That was it? All she wanted was for me to be her date at her—
