Page 40 of His Long-Lost Baby

I smile at her enthusiasm. “You’ll have a front-row seat.” I pause, then add, “Plus, it’ll give us a chance to explore Hawaii and have some fun.”

Billie smiles back at me, and I feel my heart skip a beat. Maybe this won’t be such a difficult trip after all. Maybe we can just focus on work and enjoy each other’s company as colleagues.

But as the flight progresses, I find myself unable to shake the feeling of attraction towards her. Every time our eyes meet, I feel a shockwave run through my body. I can tell she feels it too, by the way she bites her bottom lip and looks away.

As the plane begins its descent, Billie tenses. There’s a bump, and she yelps and grabs at my knee.

I feel her nails digging into my skin, but the pain is nothing compared to the way her touch sets me on fire. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

“It’s okay. Just a little turbulence,” I say, trying to hide the way her touch affects me.

But Billie doesn’t let go. She squeezes my knee harder, and I feel the heat of her body radiating towards me.

I turn my head to look at her, and her eyes meet mine.

“Oh, God.” She withdraws her hand just as the wheels meet the ground. “I’m so sorry.”

I try to ignore the disappointment I feel as she pulls away from me. It’s for the best, I tell myself. We’re colleagues, nothing more.

But as we make our way to the hotel, I find myself struggling to keep my thoughts and desires in check. Billie seems to sense my tension, and she stays quiet as we walk.

Once we arrive at the hotel, we’re greeted with stunning views of the ocean and the lush landscape of Oahu. The beauty of the place is breathtaking.

“Wow,” Billie says, looking around with wonder. “This place is incredible.”

I nod, barely able to focus on anything but her. “It’s amazing.”

A smiling woman comes forward. “Mr. Garris, it’s so wonderful to have you here. I hope your flight was a pleasant one.”

“Yes, thank you…” I glance at her name tag. “Kiana.”

One of the perks of being so well-known is that hotels bend over backwards to accommodate you. I haven’t had to check in at a front desk in years, as Terri makes sure everything is covered before I even reach my destination.

“May I get you and Ms. Hackett anything before I show you to your room?” Kiana asks.

“Room?” Billie’s voice pitches, and we glance at each other.

Kiana’s smile flickers. “Yes. We have the captain’s suite all set up for you.”

“Oh, no.” Billie blushes furiously, and I feel myself turning warm.

“There must have been a misunderstanding,” I say. “We need two rooms.”

Kiana’s face falls, and her eyes flicker between us. “I’m sorry, Mr. Garris. We’re fully booked this week. The only available accommodation we have is the captain’s suite.”

I can’t even force myself to look at Billie. What if she thinks I did this on purpose? That I invited her to Hawaii in an attempt to bed her?

That would be… well, exactly something I would do. Once I see something I like, there’s very little that can stand in my way.

Except for when it comes to this woman. This time there are important boundaries in place — which is why we really need at least one solid wall between us.

“You’re sure there isn’t anything?” I raise my eyebrows.

Kiana shakes her head apologetically. “I’m afraid not, Mr. Garris. What with the conference and all, we’re completely booked.”

I take a deep breath, trying to think of a solution. “Is there any way we could have some kind of partition or screen put up in the suite? Just something to separate the main room from the sleeping area.”

Kiana considers this for a moment, then nods. “I can certainly see what we can do. If you wouldn’t mind bearing with me for a few moments.”

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