Page 42 of Recipe for Temptation (Madewood Brothers 4)

“Are you going to pick your tongue up off the floor?”

He snapped his gaze up and looked at her face. He hadn’t realized he’d been staring at her breasts the whole time.

“Sorry, I—” He took a deep breath and regrouped. “Damn. You look fantastic.”

“Fantastic enough for wherever we’re going?” Her body fidgeted, and her eyebrows perked up. “Aren’t you going to tell me what we’re doing?”

“It’s a surprise.”

He stood and walked over, and put his hand on her hip.

She took his gesture even further and pulled him closer. “You look pretty fantastic, yourself.”

He’d dressed in a pair of white linen pants and a purple-checkered button-down shirt.

She nuzzled his neck, inhaling deeply. “But I do prefer how you look with your clothes off.”

He growled. They were on the same page when it came to where their clothes looked best. On the floor.

He smacked her ass, partly to shake her out of the smoldering desire that had flared between them as soon as she embraced him, and partly to keep his own mind focused. “You ready?”

She nodded and threaded her arm through his.

He gestured to the door, holding out his hand. “Your romantic evening awaits, my lady.”

They walked through the hotel, turning a few heads. Yes, he could definitely get used to having Penn on his arm. If nothing else, for the ego boost. As far as anyone else knew, they were ideal for each other. Deep down, he knew Penn cared about him. She’d displayed that time and again over the last three years. They’d developed a real friendship, and over the last few days, nurtured a sexual chemistry he’d never experienced with anyone else. But that didn’t mean she was equipped to handle his baggage for the long haul. It might tear them apart. Which made his growing feelings for her all the more dangerous.

But he had to try.

They walked

side-by-side, being sure to keep their distance until they were behind closed doors, and were greeted at a small boardwalk by Jason, the hotel staff member who had arranged the evening.

“Mr. Murphy. Everything has been prepared just as you asked.”

She gasped, and her eyes turned a shade of cobalt as she caught sight of the small hut positioned on a low cliff above the water. “Is that where we’re going?”

He nodded, shook hands with Jason, and handed him a fifty.

Cole motioned Penn ahead of him, but he stayed back and whispered to Jason, “Remember, no interruptions until tomorrow morning.”

Jason handed him the key. “Of course, sir.”

“Cole, this is so beautiful.” Penn had stopped to admire the foliage that lined the boardwalk. “Look at these flowers.” Her hands brushed across the lush pink blooms. Off to the right was a rock garden. Between two of the biggest rocks sprang a slow trickle of water that fed into a pond below where several koi swam around, their mouths opening and closing as if they were trying to have a conversation.

The thatched hut was sitting on a deck that had been built into a rock cliff a good twenty feet above the water. Waves crashed directly below them. Pretty damn romantic, especially for his first time trying to pull off something like this.

They walked up the small set of carved stairs that led to the hut’s door, a set of California shutters which he unlocked and pulled wide, opening up the space to the warm Hawaiian breeze.

It was a lovers’ paradise.

“Oh, my,” Penn whispered as she went inside.

At the back was an oversized pillow that acted as a mattress, surrounded by several other small pillows and blankets. The shades of yellow, pink, and blue brightened up dark walls that were made up of what looked like bamboo.

In the middle of the room, a table had been set up for two. A silver bucket sat on a rolling cart beside the table, chilling a bottle of champagne, along with a bottle of Jack Daniels.

On the other side of the table was a makeshift kitchen. Jason had set up a small grill, and a second rolling cart was laden with all his ingredients and cooking utensils.

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