“Please.” She leaned in. “So how’s this kiss?”
“You say it’s the best kiss of your life, and I tell you that I plan on making the next one even better.”
“And do you?” she whispered.
“What do you think?”
Her gaze sharpened. “I think a man who likes to talk as much as you must be good with his mouth.”
“I love it when strange women compliment me.”
“Now I’m strange?”
“Can I finish my story?”
“Sorry.” She covered her mouth with her hand and giggled. “Please go on.”
“We date for at least six months. You fall in love with me despite my twin brother’s best efforts to steal you away. We get married, have ten kids and a dog named Fido. I inherit my grandfather’s multi-million-dollar fortune, and with you by my side, we solve world hunger.” Brant took a long sip of his beer and waited. “That being said, you should probably give me your number now.”
She hesitated and then reached for his hand. “I’m too intrigued not to.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, but…” She pulled a pen out of her purse and scribbled a number on the palm of his hand. Then she blew across the wet ink on his palm, causing his entire body to go up in flames. “There’s one part of that story that’s wrong.”
“You sure about that? I mean I did live through this once already.”
“Yup.” She stood. “It’s just a slight alteration.”
“Rewriting history. I like it.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in. “I give you the best kiss of your existence.” Her lips pressed against his, then her mouth slightly parted as her tongue slid into his mouth only to pull back. “And you lose sleep wondering if I’m going to call you back.” She shrugged. “Everything else…spot on.”
“Yeah.” Brant didn’t know what else to say. He was still thinking about the kiss when she walked out of the bar, just as Bentley tugged open the door, checked her out, and rolled his eyes at Brant’s expression.
“Who the hell was that?”
“Your future sister-in-law.”
Brant squeezed his eyes shut. He never forgot that kiss. And she didn’t call right away, but when she did…
When the first date happened.
When a second date followed.
Life clicked into place.
Brant’s focus shifted. His world was altered because suddenly everything wasn’t about him, it was about them.
And just like that, the sadness of the memory, the burn of her lips, quickly switched to anger.
At her. At himself. At the world.
Twelve hours. He had twelve hours before he had to report to the resort, and he was already drunk and well on his way to breaking something else in his apartment. With a curse, he picked up the documents and started to read, only to throw them back down and walk into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.
It was going to be a long night.
By the time the limo picked him up, he was exhausted. The seventy-minute ride was too short. When they pulled into the massive driveway with its twenty-foot water features and hacienda-style architecture, his eyes burned and he was shaking.
Unsure whether it was nerves or the fact that he’d gone through a twelve-hour period without drinking anything but coffee, he bit back a curse and cracked his neck.
He was staying at the resort for one week, and he had only that week to assess operations and give his suggestions to the team at Titus before they made any big decisions with the resort and its staff.
And even though he was exhausted, he was also excited.
And a hell of a lot relieved. He’d escaped his grandfather’s clutches and joined forces with the one woman in the world who could probably rule and unify every nation out of fear alone.
Funny how things worked out.
His lips twisted in a satisfied smile. It was like a working vacation.
Every guest was given a printed itinerary, from the minute they arrived until the second they left. Then again, Azul was known for four things.
Their exceptional service.
Their high-end clientele.
Food.
And last, their spa.
The resort was part of a twelve-chain boutique that was newly acquired by Titus Enterprises in order to expand its rapidly growing luxury hotel brand.
Brant covered his mouth with a yawn and glanced at his watch just as the car was put into Park. The door was jerked open after four seconds.
Not bad. Anything under six was acceptable. He made a mental note and took a step out onto the Spanish-style blue tile.
Interesting.
The minute he locked eyes on the staff he knew something was wrong. One woman’s eyes widened, while the man next to her stiffened.
All in all, four employees were staring at him like…they were afraid.