I poured a cup of coffee for her and positioned it on the edge of the tray next to the vase of flowers.
I took careful steps to the bedroom. She was right where I left her. Her back moved with deep breaths. The skin on her shoulders was golden and freckled from the sun. I studied the curves of her back, how they dipped at her hips and swelled over her bottom. God, she was gorgeous even asleep. I shook my head.
I placed the tray next to the bed, but she didn't stir. Couldn't say I blamed her, after three rounds of mind-blowing sex I was feeling exhausted too. I pulled the T-shirt I had thrown on over my head, stepped out of my jeans and crawled into bed next to her. I felt her body align against my back and within minutes my eyes closed and I slipped into sleep.
I shot out of bed, unsure of the time. I heard light laughter over my shoulder.
"You ok?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah. I don't usually sleep in like that." I turned to see Sydney smiling at me.
The breakfast tray was almost empty. "Thanks for bringing me food."
"Have you been awake long?" I asked.
"No, just long enough to eat."
I checked my phone. I had emails piling up, and a few missed calls from the office. I rolled out of bed. "I'll be right back."
I dialed Mark and stepped into the living room. "What do you have for me?"
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning." I still hadn't checked the time. The morning was a fog. Between waking up at five to help Sydney with her story, to the shower that moved into bed, and then climbing back in to sleep, my body was out of sorts.
"Congratulations again on the Cove deal."
"Thanks, I appreciate everyone's efforts yesterday. Now the real work begins."
"That's why I'm calling."
"Go on." I waited.
"We have two sub-contractors lined up in San Antonio who are interested in bidding on the resort. Do you want me to drive down and meet with them?"
"God, no." I wasn't about to let Mark scout anything. "I'll take care of it. Tell them I'll be there to meet in the morning."
"Yes, sir."
"Have Kelly set up my hotel and set up the meetings. I need an hour in between each appointment. I don't want them running into each other."
"Yes, sir. We can handle that. Will you be driving or do you need a flight?"
I calculated how long it would take for me to drive to San Antonio. Sydney peeked around the corner of the door, my sheets wrapped around her chest.
"I'll drive. Call me when it's done."
I tossed the phone on the couch.
"Is that how you get so much accomplished?" She walked into the living room.
"As a matter fact, it is."
She pulled the corners of the sheet around her shoulders, and I realized how much I wanted to pull it down. But I had a full day's worth of work to do. I couldn't jump back in bed no matter how much I wanted to.
She settled onto the couch.
"What do you have planned today?" I asked.
"I'm waiting to hear from my editor about the story. I'm sure I'll have follow up to do."
"Right." It wasn't as if just because I had granted one interview for her she would no longer have to follow the story. "The story is never over is it?"
The smile faded from her face. "We agreed last night we wouldn't-"
"Sydney, I understand. It's your job."
One side of the sheet fell from her shoulder. I sat next to her. "I have an idea."
"What's that?"
"I have to leave this afternoon for San Antonio. Come with me."
"Go with you to San Antonio?"
I nodded. "It will be fun. Road trip."
"You don't really strike me as the spontaneous type." It looked as if she was analyzing my face, trying to read my next move.
"There you go again with your interpretive journalism. I'm the definition of spontaneity. Thought I proved that this morning." I winked.
"And how would you suggest I take off from work with no warning?"
"I'm sure you just delivered a Pulitzer award-winning article. That should give you some negotiating power."
"The newsroom doesn't work like that. Would you give that poor guy you were talking to the day off for doing something great?"
"I'm not giving him the day off for anything. He's new."
"Exactly. I'm new too. I don't get to take off on vacation whenever I feel like it."
I pulled her into my lap, letting the rest of the sheet fall away. I brushed my lips against her collarbone. "Then, I only see one option for you."
"And what is that?" Her arms circled my neck.
"I think you've caught your first Texas bug."
She leaned back on the pillow, the perkiness of her breasts drawing me on top of her. I changed my mind. I had enough time for this.
"Call in sick?"
"If that's what you want." My hands ran along her hips.
"I think you're going to be very bad for me." Her voice was raspy as I pushed her knee to the side and kissed between her legs.
"I hope so, baby."
10
Sydney
My body was sore in places I didn't know existed. I let the hot water run over my shoulders and down my back. I ran a handful of shampoo then conditioner through my hair before lathering my legs in shaving cream. These were all the things I would have done last night before going home with Mason if I had known. I giggled. How would I have known anything like that was even possible?
I pulled the blade over my shin, careful not to press too deeply. The foam bubbled at the drain and disappeared with the water.
I dried off and looked at my reflection in the mirror. My full lips felt swollen. My hands ran over my breasts, feeling the extra tender spots lashed by his tongue and teeth. I sighed looking at the blue marks on the inside of my thigh. When he had landed there after breakfast I almost squirmed out of his hands, but it didn't take much coaxing to relax on the couch and let him show me what he was capable of. I should have written a piece for Cosmo instead of the News & Record. The world was missing out on Mason Lachlan's real skills.
I hooked my towel behind the door and walked to the closet. I had an hour before he was supposed to pick me up. There was enough time to get dressed and pack for an overnight excursion.
Although I was wondering with Mason if one night would turn into two. He felt unpredictable.
He had been right about Alice. When I called in to say I had a sore throat, she was surprisingly nice. The piece had bought me at least one day's worth of capital. Hey, I was starting to sound like I knew something about business.
I threw a few sundresses into my bag along with a pair of strappy heels. I walked back to the bathroom to get dressed and dry my hair. I thought about tonight. Sex was a definite, right? Should I pack something? My PJ drawer was embarrassing. I hadn't met a single guy since I moved to Padre, so it wasn't like I had been busy resupplying my lingerie collection.
A man like Mason had good taste. High dollar taste. I rummaged through the drawer, throwing tank tops and boxer shorts to the side. These all screamed college girl. After last night I wanted to show him my complete feminine and sexy side. Way in the back was a balled up satin number with more straps than actual fabric. I had never worn it, but bought it at one of those sex toy parties my roommate threw before graduation. It would have to work. I folded it neatly and tucked it inside my bag.
I stepped into a pair of white shorts and pulled on a silk tank that had a deep V-cut in a bright shade of tangerine. For the first time since moving here I felt like an actual islander. I was headed out of town, traveling for the night. It was my first Texas trip. I closed my makeup bag and tossed it on top before zipping my suitcase.
Mr. Spontaneous would be here any minute.
I had never called in sick before. True, I had only been an employee for a few months, but it felt the same as it did when I skipped school senior year of high school. Everyone did it and the teachers had accepted years ago it was a senior tradition, but that didn't mean I didn't feel guilty about it. I was supposed to be the good one. The one who followed the rules. Last night I think I broke every rule I had.
I heard a knock and walked through my studio apartment to open the door.
"Ready?" Mason's eyebrows arched. His shoulders filled the doorframe. He was dressed in a blue button-up shirt. Holy hell, I didn't know his eyes could turn that shade of blue.
"Yes, let me grab my bag."
"I'll get it." He stepped past me, taking in my one-room apartment.
"It's temporary." I fluffed the pillows on my bed. I didn't even have a couch. "Until I find something else."
I had moved into the studio my second day in South Padre. It was part of a string of studio units on the sound side of the island.
He walked to the dresser and picked up a picture of Hailey and Gracie. I ran over to snatch it from him. "That's personal." I laid it face down.