Page 14 of Hooking

“And what the hell is this operation supposed to entail? Kiss another guy in front of me at a bar while you grind up on him? Oh wait, you already did that then,” Brooks counters, and I can’t help but chuckle.

Hayley and Brooks by no means had an easy start to their relationship. He had his head up his ass because of his trust issues, and Hayley hid her son’s true father identity, as well as who she really was. I can count on my fingers the number of times they broke up, but they always managed to come back to one another. No matter how stubborn one another was.

“Okay, you two. I’m going to let you duke this out and get back to my villa,” I say, as they continue their banter, hanging up without either one of them noticing.

I roll my neck to relieve some tension as the cool island breeze fills my lungs. It’s warm but no longer as scorching hot as it once was. With the island sun setting along the horizon, I make my way back to the villa. Pushing open the door ever so slightly, I slip back inside quietly, walking toward the kitchen, opening a bottle of fresh champagne, and pouring a heaping glass.

I put the glass to my lips, taking a sip as a voice sounds from the patio. “There you are,” Channing says, walking through the double French doors dressed in a pair of flat-front khaki shorts and a crisp white tee that does nothing but hug his muscular body in all the right places. “I was beginning to think I needed to call the U.S. Embassy because you’ve been kidnapped.”

I swallow the lump in my throat as the nerves work their way through my system. Yet, my traitorous body heats under his gaze as he studies me. I chug the rest of the contents in my glass before placing it in the sink and turning to face him, my hip leaning against the granite countertop.

God, he’s gorgeous.

Wait, can you say that about a man? Yes. Yes, you can. Especially when it comes to talking about Channing Halloway. The way his tousled sandy-blond hair falls slightly in his face, as he leans with both arms against the granite countertop. His muscular arms flexing under his weight as his blue eyes bore into mine. My mind drifts to the hotel room. The night we spent together so long ago. The things he did to me. The way my body heated and nipples peaked as he nipped, licked, and teased them with tender bites. I tug my bottom lip between my teeth as I feel my arousal building.

Shit.

Snap out of it, Cassidy.

“Uh, I decided to take a walk,” I say, as I try to clear my mind from the past.

He nods before pulling back, rapping his fist on the counter twice. “Everything okay?”

“Yup,” I say, quickly. Almost too quickly. “I’m just going to shower really quick, then we can go eat.”

I don’t give him a chance to respond as I turn on my heels and rush toward the bedroom. Swiftly, I shut the bathroom door and lean against it. My breathing is ragged coming out in short breaths as I try to get my indecent thoughts to go away. But who am I kidding? Channing is every girl’s wet dream and no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to stop my attraction to him.

My phone vibrates in my hand with a message as I turn to start the shower.

Hayley: Operation Sex Kitten!! Go get ’em, tiger!

I can’t help but laugh as I strip out of my clothes. Stepping in the hot stream, the water slides down my back, soothing my tense muscles. I lather my hair with shampoo as I think about what Hayley and Brooks said. Have I really been that blind to not see that the reason Channing pushed me away is because he wants me just as badly as I want him?

I mean, I’ve been fantasizing about the guy ever since our night together. I know… it sounds completely wrong of me to be fantasizing about another man when I was getting married to someone else, but how could I not? Channing is HOT, and the chemistry we had was explosive. It’s pretty hard to forget. I would never act on it though… unlike Vince who obviously couldn’t keep it in his pants. But maybe Vince cheating on me was a sign—a sign for me to give into those fantasies. See if what Channing and I had could be more.

That’s it.

I’ve made up my mind. It’s time I go after what I want, and what I want is Channing Halloway. No more hiding my attraction and feelings for him. Brooks and Hayley are right. He wants me as much as I want him, and goddamn it, I’d be a fool to let it slip through my fingers once again.

I finish my shower and retreat to the bedroom. Okay, Operation Sex Kitten. Well, that shouldn’t be a problem considering I never repacked my suitcase with more appropriate outfits. I scrounged through my suitcase, pulling out a long white maxi dress with cutout sides and a back that dips so low, underwear isn’t even an option.

After quickly blowing out my hair and donning some natural makeup, I finally emerge from the bedroom. Channing is on the couch, tapping away on his phone. However, when he senses me, his head lifts ever so slightly. He looks amused, wearing his signature devious smirk, but it vanishes as fast as it appears, leaving behind a scowl. His jaw tightens as his eyes roam the length of my shapely body. So not the reaction I was hoping for.

“Are you ready to go?” I ask as if I couldn’t be bothered by his reaction. With a slight nod, he stands from the couch and opens the front door, holding it for me to pass through.

I walk a few feet ahead of him. A confident smirk on my face. I’ve gotten under his skin. It’s completely obvious. Let’s just hope that Operation Sex Kitten doesn’t blow up in my face by the end of this week.

I’m not sure my heart could withstand another blow.

Chapter 6

Channing

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

She’s trying to kill me. The moment she walked out of the bedroom in that fuck-me-ten-ways-to-next-Sunday dress, I knew I was toast. And believe me when I say this. I like to think I’m a gentleman who can be prided over some self-restraint every now and then. But one look at Cassidy, every bit went out the window.

The moment she returned to the villa, my phone pinged with a message from Brooks. I thought for sure it would be another threat, reminding me to keep my hands to myself, but the words that practically jumped out of the screen had me wondering if he knew this exact moment was about to happen.

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