Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 31
The last-minute pay bump had definitely been worth it.
And, I’d done a good job with keeping things strictly professional. Minus the times my eyes lingered on her when she walked out of my office. I mean, the girl was gorgeous in a skirt. That much was for certain. But, no personal conversation had come up between us, which could be a good thing.
Also a bad thing, too.
This trip to Hawaii was going to be tame compared to my other business trips. It would be quiet and less structured. And that meant more quiet and alone time with just the two of us. Nothing romantic, but enough for minds to wander. And since we did have a history--recent history--I wasn’t sure what that meant for our personal relationship.
You knew this was going to happen.
I shook the voice out of my head and cleared my throat, watching the world roll by as we made our way to the airport, with the driver humming to himself. I didn’t mind his songs. He had a lovely voice, but it also made my mind wander.
Besame. Besame mucho.
I felt a warmth grace my lips, and a shiver work its way down my spine. My eyes closed as I drew in a deep breath, trying to shove away the first time my lips ever met hers.
Como si fuera ésta noche la última vez.
I let the first time my hands fell to her bare hips overwhelm me, tingling my palm and my fingertips as I gripped at the suit pants tightening against my thighs.
Besame. Besame mucho.
I smelled her perfume with me in the back of the taxi. I felt her hand drifting along my collarbone. My cock pulsed, ready to spring to life as my toes curled inside my loafers.
Que tengo miedo a perderte, perderte después.
“Mmm, Kari--.”
“We’re here!” the driver announced.
My eyes shot open, and I drew in a sobering breath. Swallowing down the growl on the tip of my tongue, I flexed my toes in my shoes. And I watched as the driver signaled for the gate to open. Quickly jamming my hand down my pants, I rearranged the growing erection I had and settled back down, trying to push away the heat that had gathered in my gut.
Then, I saw her.
Karina.
With two coffees, a bag slung over her shoulder, another one sitting at her feet, and her outer form looking more impeccable than it had the last time I saw her.
And it was five-thirty in the morning.
“That’ll be--.”
I interrupted the driver by handing him a hundred dollar bill.
“Can you help that woman get her stuff onto the plane? On me?” I asked.
He plucked the bill from my fingertips. “Sure thing, sir.”
I stepped out of the car. “You look a bit bogged down. Need any help?”
Karina smiled brightly as she walked up to me. “Here’s your hot coffee with a shot of white chocolate and your muffin as well as the breakfast wrap.”
“Didn’t I say one or the other?”
She shrugged. “They both looked spectacular. So, I got you both. If you don’t eat one, I’ll eat the other.”
I nodded. “Fair enough.”
She turned around. “Oh, no, no! Sir, that’s not--.”
I placed my hand against her shoulder. “It’s okay. I gave him some extra cash to help.”
Her eyes fell to our connection, and I quickly removed my hand. The entire transaction made me clear my throat. I was so damn flustered.
“I gave him money. He’s fine,” I said.
Karina nodded slowly. “Uh-huh. And who’s going to help you with your bags?”
“My secretary, of course.”
She offered me a soft smile, and, together, we unloaded my things. When we boarded the plane, I could’ve sworn I heard her gasp. It put a smile on my face. The plane was my pride and joy. A company investment that helped us soar to a new height, with every pun intended. It was the best move Stonewater Realty had made regarding the expansion of our real estate empire, and Karina would get to experience it.
And I’d get to experience it with her.
The flight attendant helped get our bags into the overhead storage before we got comfortable in our seats. As Karina sat in front of me with her back to the bulkhead of the plane, I saw a weariness cross over her face. She didn’t look tired. But, she did look nervous.
“It’s okay. I’ve hired the best pilot I could find. We’ll be safe on the flight,” I said.
She nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Have you ever been on a plane before?”
She grinned. “Already forgot about Romania, I guess?”
I lifted my coffee. “Right. Yes. Guess I should go ahead and chug this down, so my brain starts working.”
“But, Romania was the first time I’d ever been on a plane. And, let’s just say it wasn’t a good experience.”
“How so?”
“Turbulence so bad it made me sick. And, once we flew out and made our way over the ocean, we hit two air pockets that made me feel like we were headed straight for the water.”
My nose curled. “That… sounds like a terrible trip.”
“It was. I would have stayed in Romania had I not been in the middle of my college career at the time.”
I chuckled. “Just said ‘fuck it,’ huh?”
She smiled at me before it quickly faded. And she, too, cleared her throat. “Anyway, I’ll be okay once we get there.”
“It’ll be a good flight over. Besides, there’s only so much work I can give you while we’re up in the air.”
“That’s--actually very comforting, thank you.”
We both fell silent and sipped our coffees as the plane took off. I saw Karina white-knuckling the chair arm beside her, and part of me wanted nothing more than to hold her hand. I had to stop it. I had to stop torturing myself. I knew hiring her might’ve been a