Summer Escape with the Tycoon

“I’ll see you soon,” she said quietly.

He came over to the side of the bed and sat down. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

She nodded, because she was, even if her mind was going a mile a minute. “I promise I’m fine. More than fine.” That was true, too. It was being more than fine that had her tied up in knots.

He leaned over again and touched his lips to hers. “Thanks for the slumber party,” he said, then winked at her. She couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that rose in her chest at his impish expression.

“Next time we’ll braid each other’s hair.”

“So there’ll be a next time?” His voice was so hopeful that she knew last night was not “it.” There were four days left of this trip and four days they could enjoy each other. How could she say no when she didn’t really want to?

“No promises,” she said softly. “But this doesn’t feel over yet, does it?”

He jumped up and grinned. “So. Breakfast. One hour. And then it’s off to hike in the rain forest.”

When he was gone, Molly stretched in the bed and sighed. This was too amazing to be real, wasn’t it? At some point, there was going to be a thud, because there always was. She’d been here before. Oh, not with the fling but with relationships. There was a period of time where it was magical and then reality stepped in. Thud. Next thing you knew, it was all over. She’d seen it too many times—in her own life, and every day in her career.

She got out of the bed and hit the shower, then dressed in skinny jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt. Walking through the forest didn’t require her to dress up, and she put her hair in a perky ponytail and put some lip gloss on her lips in lieu of full makeup.

Breakfast was coffee and pastries filled with fresh blueberries and white chocolate; not exactly healthy but incredibly delicious. They sat together in the van, then hiked through the incredible Cathedral Grove old forest, with trees so tall it seemed they touched the sky. The guide took a photo of four of them “hugging” one tree just off the trail, and even then their fingers barely touched as they tried to reach around the circumference.

* * *

Thanks to the late night and the morning hike in the fresh air, Molly fell asleep in the van during the afternoon drive, which took them to the west coast of the island and the town of Tofino. The resort was small but lovely, with a day spa that catered to the whims of the guests. Molly went ahead with a facial and a pedicure, followed by a heavenly hot-stone massage. Anticipation curled low in her belly when she thought of the night ahead. Would they go back to her room after dinner, or perhaps stop in his?

Later, she stood in front of the full-length mirror in her room and looked herself over with a critical eye.

The silky panties and bra still fit the same, but she felt stronger and leaner, either from the physical demands of the trip or perhaps, she thought, some renewed confidence in herself. She turned sideways and squinted at the little belly just below her navel. It seemed...normal. Not perfect, but why did it have to be perfect? Why did she? She ran her fingers over the skin there and shivered, remembering Eric’s hands last night. He hadn’t complained about her figure. Her face heated. Nope. He’d done just the opposite.

She went to the closet and took out her best little black dress and highest heels. The dress was a silky, stretchy number that plunged down to just above the middle of her bra and stopped about three inches shy of her knees. Modest enough to be appropriate, but also sexy as hell. She pulled it on without her body shaper underneath and slipped on her heels. She dug out her curling iron and added some loose curls, then shook them out with her fingers and left her hair down. Her eyes, carefully shadowed and mascaraed, glowed back at her in the bathroom mirror. This was a different Molly. A freer one, on her own terms.

It was a woman she liked a lot. Smart. Sexy. Not afraid to take a few chances.

And right now, that chance was probably sitting downstairs at the bar, waiting for a dinner companion.

She grabbed her small purse and pressed her hand one last time to her belly, then let out the breath she’d been holding. It was now or never.

Dinner tonight was different. There was no will-they-or-won’t-they? vibe, or any careful conversation to lead up to that do-you-want-to-come-in-for-a-drink? moment. Instead, Eric gave her a once-over when she approached the bar, his dark eyes lit with approval. “I’m going to like taking that off you later,” he murmured as he kissed her cheek.

She grinned and whispered back, “I’m not wearing any Spanx.”

He laughed as he took her hand and led her to their table. “Oh, dear. What would your mother say?”

“Oh, nothing. I’d just get the look.”

“What look?”

She did her best impression and he chuckled again. “Ah, I see. The look that says, ‘Darling, really? Are you sure that’s your best look?’”

This time she laughed out loud. “Oh, you nailed it. Anyway, tonight I decided it was time for me to be, well, me for a change.”

“Again, good choice.” They ordered wine, and when it arrived, Eric lifted his glass and they touched rims before drinking. The waiter came by to take their orders, and after he was gone, Eric caught her hand in his and rubbed his thumb over the soft skin at the base of her thumb. “You know, back there I thought you were going to say you weren’t wearing any underwear.” His eyes twinkled devilishly. “Instead you’re just not...”

“Strapped in?” she suggested, and then turned his hand over and rubbed along the same spot with her thumb. “Well, to be honest, I am wearing underwear, but not much.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed.

“You started it,” she said, biting down on her lip.