Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
But it’s a tempting thought. And one I indulge in a little as she packs up and leaves.
“The jewelry,” I say when she leaves the large box behind.
“That is yours, Mademoiselle,” she says with a wink. “Purchased by Mr. Drake.”
I don’t even know how to deal with that, so I just turn back to the mirror and admire the stunning red dress hanging off my body.
Jericho knocks on my door a few minutes later. His eyes bug out for a second when he sees me, but then he slips his professional mask back on and nods. “Good evening, Miss Howard. I’m here to escort you to your dinner date.”
“Where’s Adrian?” I ask with a nervous laugh. “Am I eating alone?”
“It will all make sense in a moment,” he says, offering me his arm.
I appreciate it, since these heels are a little high. He brings me to his golf cart and we drive through the resort, passing beautiful couples on their way to dinner. The sun is setting and the lights around the resort are glowing, giving this whole place a magical vibe.
Everything is so grand and lavish. So pristine and well cared for. There are no drunk college kids here or towers of empty cups. No massive families wearing matching travel shirts, no wet towels left behind on the pool chairs, or crazy lineups at a packed buffet. This is all luxury. Everyone here must be in the one percent. Except for me.
Although, with my new jewelry and dress collection, I might be. I don’t even want to think about how much all of that is worth. It’s going to make me break out in nervous hives.
Jericho drives me past the resort to a long dock where a massive yacht is parked, lit up and glowing like a floating palace, the water around it shimmering in golden reflection.
“Is Jeff Bezos here?” I ask with a laugh.
“No, but he vacations here on occasion,” Jericho says. I turn to see if he’s joking, but he’s not. Of course, he’s not.
He drives onto the dock and I can’t believe my eyes.
Standing at the end of it, framed by the setting sun painting the vast sky in streaks of blue, purple, red, and orange is Adrian. The breeze plays with his hair, the sky behind him on fire, and for one ridiculous second I think: if the perfect man existed, he would look exactly like this.
I swallow hard as we approach. He’s so beautiful it’s intimidating. No man should look this good in real life.
He’s wearing a navy suit, perfectly tailored to his tall, broad frame. The crisp white shirt beneath is open at the collar, just enough to show a tease of tanned skin.
His jacket is unbuttoned and he looks relaxed and at ease, but everything about him still radiates confidence and control. There’s a white pocket square tucked neatly into place—clearly a man who pays attention to the small details—and a silver watch gleaming on his wrist.
And that look—sexy, possessive, a little dangerous. It completes the outfit better than any accessory ever could.
If effortless power had a dress code, this would be it.
That suit doesn’t just match my red dress—it was made for it.
For us.
For this exact moment where luxury and desire collide, and he looks like the man every woman dreams about—but tonight, he’s only mine.
Jericho stops the golf cart and Adrian walks over to help me out.
“Thank you,” I whisper as he offers his arm. I take it, steadying myself, as I step onto the dock.
I stand up as he steps back, looking me up and down slowly. That look in his gorgeous blue eyes… I’ll remember that look forever.
“I thought I knew beauty before tonight,” he says in a low throaty voice. “I was wrong. If the stars have any sense, they won’t come out tonight with you outshining them. You are breathtaking, Maya.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. I hope I can be as graceful and elegant as this man deserves.
But then I take two steps and my heel wedges between the wooden boards and I stumble forward, about to nose dive into the ocean.
Adrian catches me and we both laugh at how embarrassing I am. It cuts the tension and reminds me that this isn’t some rehearsed movie moment and this gorgeous man isn’t some fictional dream guy. It’s real. It’s Adrian. The man who can make four hours on an airplane go by in a flash. The man who I can’t stop thinking about. The man I’m crushing hard on. The man who just might be the one for me.
All of this extra stuff is fun, but I have to remember the most important thing here. Our connection… that can’t be bought.
“Maybe we should save the swimming for tomorrow,” he says with a grin.
I shake my head and laugh. “Probably a good idea. Any life jackets on that thing?”