Chapter 6

• I knew this was coming. But still, my heart starts to crash against my ribcage, and sweat is pooling at the base of my spine.
• I force the words out. “I didn’t come here to rehash the past. If you keep being difficult, I’ll find someone else.”
• Her eyes narrow. “You can’t. You told the receptionist I was your girlfriend.”
• I shrug as if she didn’t just reopen the gaping wound festering in my chest.
• “I’m not discussing this. You’re in, or you’re out. But I need to know you won’t use our history to derail my case.”
• Her lip pushes forward into a pout, but there’s nothing girlish in the way she prods her finger into my chest. “If I help you, and you solve this, you will tell me why you acted like the asshole everyone thought you were.”
• I grimace at the reminder but nod even though I can’t imagine a time she’ll forgive me. “We have a lot to go over before the party starts. I need you to be ready for anything.”
• I look her over. “I especially need to know you can relax around me. This has to look convincing. If I touch you, don’t flinch.”
• At the way her cheeks flush as her eyes drift a little lower than polite, I have to hold back a smile.
• “It won’t be an issue,” she says.
• Even as she says it, I know it will be.
• Because as much as I try to deny it, having her this close to me is going to be more than an issue.
• It’s going to be all kinds of trouble.
• ***
• ISABEL
• I don’t know what I was thinking about agreeing to do this. Well, I do know. The wad of cash he handed me, and the lure of both him and the Creme Brulee French toast would have been too much for any mortal to resist.
• I blink, skin heating as every last delicious thing he did to me that night I ambushed him and kissed him flashes to mind.
• The memory should have faded as all memories do, but for the strangest reason, I can still feel him pressed against me.
• I can hear the waves crashing on the shore, the pounding of my heart, and the intoxicating way he said my name as if it were reverent.
• I swallow hard and have to remind myself that the man in the room is not that same, sweet, intense boy who gave me my first orgasm.
• Whoever Grayson Cole was eight years ago, there’s no trace of him now. It’s like he erased all the things I liked about him and is hiding them under layers of muscle, attitude, and tattoos.
• But it's more than that. His movements are efficient. It's like everything he does is precisely measured as if he has little time to spare, and he thinks time is too valuable to waste.
• I have no idea how he wrangled such an elaborate suite or has access to more cash than I have in my savings account.
• I’m almost afraid to ask him who he’s working for.
• My imagination is fighting a raging battle that I’m sure to lose. Couple that with the hormones beginning to wash over me, and I’m no longer sure this will be worth it.
• He broke my heart once. I can’t let him do it again.
• As he ends the call, I’m almost convinced I need to walk out the door and just let this story and him go.
• My battered ego can only take so much rejection, and try as I might to cover it, I’m in dangerous territory.
• If Gretchen had any idea I’d be forced to work alongside him, I have no doubt she would have canceled her trip and come rushing back here to make sure I’m not alone with him.
• But I will be alone with him—a lot. And I won’t be dressed in jeans and sneakers like I am now.
• He wants me to look sexy.
• But if I’m dressing up, and playing this game, that means he’ll be playing it too.
• A groan slips past my lips as I mentally picture him wearing a tuxedo. My imagination goes into overtime thinking about him whisking me away for a slow dance in a dark corner somewhere.
• I take a step back, cheeks burning hot as I bang into the coffee table. “I think we need to set some ground rules. Maybe make a list of ‘do’s and don’ts.’”
• His eyebrow raises, and I see a flickering of amusement cross his face before he nods. “Such as?”
• I pull my shoulders back and hope he doesn’t hear the shake in my voice. “You can put your arm around me, and we can hold hands. But no kissing. That’s non-negotiable.”
• He squints at me. “Fine. We’ll keep it PG-13 for now. But like I said, I need to know you can be ready for anything. If the circumstances change, I need to know you can think on your feet.”
• A trickle of anxiety drips down my spine as a warning. “I think now would be the time to tell me why you’re here.”
• I’m expecting another brush-off, but he nods. “I’m here for Carlton Stanford.”
• My jaw slackens in disbelief. “Carlton Stanford as in owns half the beachfront property in Haven Beach including this hotel, Carlton Stanford? What has he done?”
• He nods slowly, eyes locked on mine as if trying to read my reaction. “I can’t tell you that yet. But I need to know you can keep calm under pressure.”
• My knees give out, and I toss the envelope filled with cash on the sofa I’m slouching into. “I can’t believe Mike agreed to this. Last I heard Carlton Stanford wanted to buy The Standard so he could turn it into the Stanford Standard.”
• Grayson’s eye twitches, but he doesn’t say a word in his defense.
• I blow out a breath and shake my head. “You aren’t going to say anything? If Stanford takes over and he finds out we helped you, we’ll both lose our jobs.”