Sleeping with the Enemy (An Enemies to Lovers Collection)

“We have been approached by a large wine conglomerate that wants us to supply them with our new red wine,” I felt a little out of breath trying to talk and keep up with her.

“Ah,” Carla nodded. She didn’t seem out of breath at all. “We are getting ready to sell off that part of the farm.”

“I know,” I told her, “but as you know, our parents don’t exactly get along and your father refused to speak to my father.”

“As I hear it,” Carla looked up at me, “it’s your father who won’t talk to mine. In fact, I know that your father sent his farm manager to take the meeting to ask if we’d lease him that piece of land.”

“That’s not what he told me,” I frowned.

“Trust me,” Carla looked at me with raised eyebrows, “I was in that very awkwardly uncomfortable meeting. My father asked me to sit in to be a neutral party in deciding to lease the land to a Winters or not.”

“I did not know that,” I looked at her apologetically. “I apologize for my father,” I said gallantly. “Truth is, my father has not been in the best of health lately. He and my mom are going to be retiring soon.”

“I know that too,” she shocked me by saying. “That is why I asked my assistant to make an appointment for me to go see him the week I get back from the wedding.”

That shocked me and I nearly choked on the water I was taking a big swig of.

“Are you okay?” She looked up at me with her large brown eyes. “You shouldn’t drink and run. Rather stop to take a few small sips,” she advised me.

“I’m good,” I put the cap back on the bottle. “I’m sorry my father did not tell me about you making an appointment with him.”

“When last did you speak to him?” Carla asked me.

“When I left yesterday morning,” I told her.

“Well then, maybe you should speak to him again,” She told me as we ran back toward the hotel. “I will tell you what I was going to tell your father.” She stopped at the end of the track facing the hotel entrance. “I need to see the plans you have for the land and then I will determine if leasing it will be worth our while until such time as we find a suitable buyer for the land.”

“Really?” I looked at her surprised. “Okay then, I’ll have a chat with my dad.”

“Great.” Carla did a cool down stretch and we walked toward the hotel.

As we got to the steps, some dick came running out of the hotel and knocked right into Carla who, in turn, knocked into me. I caught her and steadied her, bringing her up close to my body so we both didn’t lose our balance.

“You okay?” I asked her.

She looked up at me and something flickered in her eyes. Her cheeks were pink and I could see her pulse beating erratically in her throat.

“I…” Carla swallowed, blinked, and then jumped back away from me.

As she jumped back, her foot skidded on a puddle of water and her arms flared out as she topped backward.

“Whoa,” I grabbed her and yanked her back against me.

Our eyes met and held. I could feel her soft warm body pressed against mine. I had a sudden urge to plaster my lips over hers, pick her up, and take her up to my room. What the hell?

“You are okay?” I asked her instead.

“Yes,” Carla nodded and carefully pulled herself out of my arms. “Thanks for saving me…” she gave me a small smile, “twice.”

“It was that texting-while-running dick’s fault,” I told her and wouldn’t you know, I got a genuine smile from her.

We rode the elevator up to our floor together and parted ways with a promise to meet in the lobby at the designated time. I felt good at having been able to discuss the land with her and I was actually looking forward to spending time with her.

CHAPTER 5

Carla

I had to tie my hair back in a messy bun to hide the chunk Damon had cut out of it the day before. I wore one of my favorite new sundresses, which matched my large brimmed sun hat and Gucci sunglasses. I loved how the sun dress buttoned all the way down the front with shoestring straps. The dress fell softly down to the waist with the skirt slightly flaring down to just above the knee. It showed off my summer tan while being nice and cool for the balmy heat of Hawaii. The dress was white with a soft rose hue to it.

I wore new rose-pink sandals and stuffed a knitted sweater into my purse as a girl could never be too prepared. I put a touch of mascara on my lashes and pink gloss on my lips. I was ready for the day, and I felt good. I always found that when I felt good in what I was wearing, I could face down anything. Like the demon—Damon—I had to spend most of the day with. I couldn’t believe that he’d messaged me about a third club he needed to go see about a poker night. Was he kidding me? Luckily, all the activities only started this evening for the ladies and I had already checked and double checked most of my arrangements. I only had a few more things to get sorted out.