Page 6 of One Night With My Grumpy Professor Daddy

“Adorable!” Thanks, I’m going full-on combination of sexy meets boho Caribbean beauty… I figure when in Rome, right?

“I love picking outfits over the phone. But I swear you’re going to pay my next bill. I laugh pick up a purse that’s just big enough for the essentials, my phone, and some cash.

“OK, I’m off now. Byeee.”

“Wait!” She yells before hanging up, “So I don’t have to hear about this Mr. Amazing anymore find you some fine ass man to fuc-”

“Really, Daphne, bye.”

Heading to the venue, my spirits soaring. A party? Exactly what the doctor ordered. I came to this island for one thing—letting loose, having a blast, and leaving all the serious crap behind. Approaching the beach is like stepping into a party paradise. Music pulses through the night beneath the starlit sky—bodies sway in rhythm with the beat.

Before I know it, I’m swept away by the mood, my body moving effortlessly to the groove. I grab a drink from the waitress moving through the crowd, but I have to consciously make sure not to overdo it because, honestly, I’m not entirely recovered from yesterday’s show of events. But hair of the dog has worked for some, I guess. I dance wildly with not a care in the world, tossing my hands in the air, sipping until I catch a delightful buzz, and reveling in the carefree atmosphere.

“What’s your take on the party?”

I glance up, thinking I’m about to politely turn down another admirer, only to lock eyes with someone familiar. It’s Carl, our dark-haired tour guide.

“It’s a blast, Carl! Thanks for the tip!” I yell over the music. “Are you having a good time too?” I ask, but as the words leave my lips, I realize it’s unnecessary. Two sets of hands encircle his waist, and he shares a passionate kiss with a sexy shirtless dude.

Well, well, well. He’s hot.

For a moment, my eyes widen, and an amused grin spreads across my face. Carl, with his impeccably ironed shirt and nerdy glasses, didn’t strike me as someone who swayed in that direction, but hey, love has its surprises.

A thought goes through my mind—it’s a familiar one. I don’t have to ponder for long before it clicks. Daphne had said something like this earlier today. Even though she meant it as a joke, my mind wanders back to the mystery man from yesterday. Is he a regular at these parties? I shake my head, highly unlikely with that sharp navy-blue suit of his.

“Hey there, gorgeous.”

For a quick second, I entertain the idea that the universe heard my thoughts and brought him here for me, but reality quickly sets in as I turn around. I take a good look at the man behind me. blonde hair, a cute smile. I would have probably considered him attractive on a typical day, but I have someone else on my mind.

“Would you like to dance?” He asks with a wink.

“No, thanks,” I reply. I keep dancing, but I don’t expect to feel someone so close to me. I look behind to see blondie dancing really close, like we’re together. Even though I keep inching away from him, he doesn’t take the hint; the dude’s relentless. And I’ve seen lots of serial killer movies start like this. So, I just slowly inch away from him, away from the dancing crowd, till I lose him.

A wave of nausea hits me. I think a combination of the booming music, the heat from the dancing bodies, and the strong smell of alcohol is getting a bit too much. I stumble out of the crowd, desperate for some fresh air. I keep walking till I get past the party, past couples getting it on and other partygoers, to a more secluded part of the beach. I’m almost at the edge of the beach, near what looks like some sort of cave, when I stop taking in my surroundings.

I enjoy the cool ocean breeze, and the crashing of the ocean that dulls the booming music of the party to a distant memory, and the way my hair is picked up in the breeze is so freeing. The unmistakable sounds of footsteps come from behind me, and I stiffen. I’m a single woman in a dark, secluded corner; not many good scenarios start this way. My heartbeat picks up, and I’m suddenly aware of the clammy feel of my palms.

It’s probably nothing, Ava, calm down.

For a second, I think about the asshole from the party, hoping he didn’t follow me here. I look around, but it’s super dark, so I can’t see much. At this point, all I hear is my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I notice the movements again, and that’s when I know I’m truly not alone.

Unable to stop myself, I call out. “Is someone there?”

Chapter four

Drake

I’ve always had a thing for the ocean.

It’s a reflection of me, cool and calm on the surface but hiding a storm underneath. I know it looks like I’ve got it all together—a billionaire single dad handling my business despite the loss that’s torn me apart. Guilt eats at me; memories of grief and that haunting moment—my baby girl in those icy hands—keep rippling through my soul. Pain shoots up the side of my face from clenching my jaw too hard, but the memories won’t quit. Staring at the ripple of the waves, I wish the ocean could just let loose—to show the world not to judge on looks alone. Maybe I should’ve seen it coming—maybe I should’ve fought my old man harder. Then, none of this would’ve happened. But if I never married her, I wouldn’t have my precious Zoe.

“Hey, who’s there?” A soft voice slices through the walls I’ve built in my mind. I close my eyes, stretch my legs out, and take a deep breath, hoping if I pretend not to hear, they’ll just walk away.

“Oh, hi there, it’s you!” The voice calls again, sounding closer this time. I’m in no mood to deal with any reporter or fan right now. Besides the conference, one of the reasons I’m on this private beach is the solitude. Nobody knows me here, and that’s exactly how I like it—I needed this break. Even with all its seclusion, I’m never really free from the damn paparazzi on Star Island; Miami has a way of bringing shit to its boiling point.

Though the voice is a bit familiar, I honestly couldn’t care less who the owner is— all I want is for them to go. But that’s out of the question when I sense them inching closer, taking a seat beside me on my blanket.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” The soft voice disrupts my solitude again. “I mean the ocean,” she continues, despite my silence, “It’s so calm, you never know what’s hidden in its depths. It’s kind of scary, really,” she giggles. Most people would’ve taken my silence as a rejection, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Either she’s used to having her way, or she just doesn’t care. I finally open my eyes and look at her. I don’t see all her features, but I see enough to recognize she’s that beauty from yesterday. Her face looks ethereal under the soft glow of the moonlight.

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