“I have no ideas right now.”
“I’ll talk this through with our PR team.”
“How did this get out of hand so badly?” I ask.
It’s more of a rhetorical question at this point. Exhaustion creeps into my bones, and I barely pay attention to what Preston says on the way to the airport. I guzzle down soda, trying to keep a headache at bay. I’m dehydrated as hell.
Thank God, Preston arranged for a private jet today. The press would have been all over me after the panel fiasco, and I have no energy to keep lying through my teeth. I love my job, but the PR aspect of it drives me insane.
I can’t wait to be back at the resort. I wonder if Summer will still be awake.
Chapter Fourteen
Alex
Hours later, I climb the steps to my beach bungalow. When I enter my room, a basket on the windowsill catches my attention. There is a bottle of red wine in it and a note.
After the day you’ve had, I figured this would help.
Summer
I laugh out loud, the first real laughter for today. I forgot the entire thing was streamed live and that she said she’d be watching. Pulling the phone out of my front pocket, I dial her number. It’s not that late.
When she picks up, I can practically feel some of the tension bleed away from between my shoulder blades.
“Hey! You’re back?”
“Just walked into my room, found your basket. You give me too much credit. I can’t drink an entire bottle on my own. Can I come over to your room? We could sit on your porch. Drink and talk. Or just talk.”
“Umm, I’m already in bed.”
I sleep naked, she told me that night. Is she naked now? The thought sends a shot straight to my groin.
“And I have neighbors. My porch is not safe. Do you want me to come to your bungalow?”
“Yes, come here, Summer.”
“Okay. I’ll get dressed, and I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Fuck, she is naked. After hanging up, I head straight to the shower, trying and failing to chase the memory of her naked body, of that deliciously trimmed pussy out of my mind. I rub soap everywhere, toying with the idea of rubbing one off, but there is not enough time until she gets here.
I barely have time to put clothes on before I hear a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
She steps inside, looking like a little angel in her short white dress, with a black ribbon around at the center of her waist. I walk straight to her, but instead of kissing her cheek, I wrap my arms around her waist, burying my head in her neck.
“I take it that was much worse in real life than the video,” she says softly, lacing an arm around my neck.
“Yeah. I’m so glad you came.”
She shivers lightly, and I pull back, already missing her scent, the softness of her skin.
“Do you want to order some food too?” she asks.
“I ate on the plane.”
She scrunches her nose. “I never eat on planes. Makes me queasy at landing. Shall we take the wine on the porch?” she asks.