LITMIR.BIZ

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gave her a nod that oozed of discreet professionalism. “Would that be a king bed or two queens?”

      “Preferably a king,” Alex chimed in. “But I’ll take whatever you have.”

      “Let me see if we can accommodate you.”

      As Everly tapped away on his computer, Alex looked down at Nicola and gave her a wink. Her belly fluttered. God, what was happening to her? Within one hour she’d suddenly become a wanton woman. But she couldn’t help it—that chiseled face, those eyes…she just wanted to lose herself in them. In him.

      “It appears that we have only one room left. It is the honeymoon suite, so perhaps too spacious for your needs?” He was good—there wasn’t a trace of irony on his face.

      “That will do just fine,” Alex replied, plucking his wallet from his back pocket and producing a credit card.

      “As you wish.” Everly hit a button on the computer, and a sheet of paper spit out of the printer. He slid it across the counter toward Alex along with a pen. “Just sign here, please.”

      Nicola blinked at the price tag printed at the bottom of the page. For one night, the room cost about as much as she made in a month. But Alex barely seemed to notice. “Thank you,” he said, scooping up the folder that contained their key card.

      “Enjoy your stay,” Everly called after them.

      “I most certainly will,” Alex replied, and then he had Nicola around the corner and heading up the stairs with his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. They located their room on the top floor—the only one there—and Alex tapped the key on the lock.

      Though they were undeniably here with one purpose in mind, Nicola couldn’t help but take a moment to stare when Alex opened the door. It was the most gorgeous space she’d ever set foot in. The floor was polished mahogany, which matched the single beam running along the vaulted ceiling—the only dark contrast to the whitewashed walls and ceiling. Soft faux-fur rugs flanked either side of the bed, and a zebra-print one lay at the foot of the floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace. With a fireplace being wholly impractical in this climate, a giant vase of pink-and-white tropical flowers had been placed where the logs would go. Through a door on Nicola’s right, she could see a sitting room arranged with soft pink-and-white armchairs, and to her left a black-and-white-tiled bathroom that was bigger than her kitchen featured a claw-foot tub at center stage.

      And directly in front of her was the bed. Four iron posts that were taller than her tapered to points, where they supported a gauzy white canopy that swept down into two graceful curtains. The bed was made up with white linens, on which rested a wooden tray holding a champagne bottle, two glasses and a vase of pink roses. And behind it all, like a picture postcard blown up to life-size, was a flawless, expansive view of the beach and ocean.

      “I feel like I’m dreaming,” Nicola said, bringing her hand to her chest. “Is this for real?”

      “I’ll tell you in a minute,” Alex replied, leaving her side to cross the room. Walking to the bedside table, he opened its drawer and pulled something out. Pressing it to his chest with an exaggerated sigh of relief, he slowly held it out to her. “It’s actually a dream come true,” he said with a sinful smile, holding out a box of condoms.

      Nicola smiled back at him, but the physical distance between them had given her just enough time to escape the fantasy for a moment. Because that was what this was—pure fantasy, something that didn’t happen to ex-schoolteachers who’d lost their job because the world had accused her of wrecking the home of the world’s third-highest-paid actor. It didn’t happen to women whose best childhood memories were of a fourth-grade teacher who saw an underfed, grungy little girl and decided to take her under her wing for one precious, life-changing year.

      Who it might happen to was someone who’d grown up being told by her father that all she was good for was attracting a man, who had believed him and then gone out and done something to prove just that—something that the press had dug up to haunt her.

      What if Alex found out? What if he already recognized her but was just keeping it mum so he could have a little fun with her?

      Alex was in front of her again, pushing a strand of hair off her face as he stroked her cheek. “You okay?”

      Nicola gave herself a shake. “Yeah, just… I don’t know.” She shook her head. “This is crazy. I don’t do this sort of thing.”

      Alex placed a finger under her chin. “Neither do I,” he replied.

      “Really?”

      “Really.” Nicola was relieved when, as if sensing exactly what she needed, Alex ran a hand lightly down her back instead of kissing her. “Talk to me,” he said softly.

      Nicola took a deep breath and locked her hands around his waist. “I’m having an amazing time. But…do you know me?”

      He blinked at her. “Not nearly well enough. But I sure like what I know of you so far.”

      “So you don’t…” recognize me?

      But she couldn’t say the words—too dramatic, too vain-sounding. And if his answer was no she’d have a lot of explaining to do, which was the last thing she wanted to do right now.

      He tilted his head at her. “Don’t what?”

      She shook her head. “Nothing.”

      “Hey.” Alex ran his hands down her shoulders to grip her upper arms lightly. “If this is feeling weird to you, I totally get it. We don’t have to do anything. But even if that’s the case, I still want to spend time with you. I think you’re amazing—in so many ways.”

      His eyes were pulling her in, making all her fears melt away. He was perfect…too perfect.

      He swept his arm out toward the room. “There are more ways than one to enjoy a beautiful hotel room. I see a bottle of champagne over there with our name on it. Can I tempt you?”

      Nicola relaxed a bit. “Sure.” After following him over to the bed, she sat down on the edge while he connected his phone to the speaker system on the nightstand. The smooth sound of R&B filled the space.

      “This okay?” he asked.

      She smiled. “My favorite.”

      Alex popped the cork on the bottle and poured them two glasses. “To underwater rescues,” he said with a self-deprecating grin, holding his glass up. “May I never put you through that hell again.”

      Nicola laughed and took a small sip. “It wasn’t that bad.”

      “So you’ve seen worse?”

      “I didn’t say that. But you’re not the first person I’ve had to…lend a hand to.”

      “So kindly put. Well, I’m glad I went through with it. There were some incredible creatures down there, and the fish weren’t bad, either.”

      Nicola smiled, drawing a leg up on the bed so she could face him. Even though the sexual tension between them had eased a bit since their time together on the beach, she could still feel an electric jolt shoot through her body every time their eyes met.

      “Have you always taught diving?” Alex asked her.

      She shook her head. “No. I was a real teacher in my previous life. First and second grade.”

      “Previous life? That sounds—”

      “Just an expression,” she said quickly. “I became a scuba instructor when I was nineteen and used it to put myself through college. I first went snorkeling when I was ten, after a teacher got me enrolled in a summer camp. I loved it right away. We lived fairly close to the beach, so I used to go off and escape to my underwater world every chance I got.” She smiled at the memory. “It’s still my go-to stress release. And then a few years later I discovered diving—a whole new world. My family couldn’t

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