Page 68 of Wreck Me

'Yes,' he grits out.

I glance around the restaurant, still looking for answers. 'But why go to all this trouble?'

'Because I want to make you happy.'

His simple admission might just be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.

Chapter Thirty-Three

JAMES

‘Let’s walk the beach,’ she begs, pulling me towards the sound of crashing waves instead of towards the car.

‘I thought you were horny?’ I slap her ass and she squeals.

‘I am, but it’s been years since I walked the beach. Indulge me, please!’ She links her arm through mine and nudges my ribs.

The simple pleasure she takes in the little things is so refreshing. She’s so refreshing.

It’s only been a few weeks but already I’m dreading the end of our arrangement. Unfortunately, like all good things, it will have to come to an end.

Scarlett’s made it clear she wants to travel the world, but my life is here. I can’t leave. Not with the business to run. I jokingly asked her to stay until the next acquisition and she shot me down without hesitation. Which is why I have to make the most of now.

We stroll the pavement until we find a small set of steps leading to the sand. The wind whips Scarlett’s hair across her face. I reach forwards to tuck it behind her ear. She stares upat me with those doe-like eyes and something hot and tight squeezes my chest.

‘Thank you for tonight.’ She beams.

‘Thankyou.’ I inch forwards to drop a quick kiss on her lips but I can’t seem to drag myself away. My tongue invades her mouth, tasting, teasing and tickling her tongue. Her hands reach round to the nape on my neck, tugging me into her. If I get any closer, I’ll consume her entirely.

Though truthfully, she’s the one consuming me.

Consuming my every waking thought and invading every dream.

It would have been so easy to creep into her bed last night when I finally finished up in my office. But it was far safer to go to mine.

I might be one of the wealthiest men in the country, but the one thing I can’t afford is to catch feelings for her. And sharing her bed, holding her while she slept, waking up to those huge piercing eyes, would take everything to another level. A level that’s too high and too dangerous to even contemplate. Because if I fall from a height of that magnitude, it’s going to hurt like hell. And I promised myself I’d never put myself in that position again.

Though truthfully, I’m already in trouble.

Because I’m supposed to be parading this woman around Dublin to convince everyone I’m finally settling down and mending my ways, but all I want to do is keep her to myself. Monopolise every minute we have together. I have to go away again next week. Sean is working on a deal to acquire a large plot of land in Switzerland and Caelon’s working on the purchase of a hotel in Monaco. Both of them are insistent we have to leave immediately before someone else snaps up the opportunities.

The only opportunity I want is to spend more time with the woman I’m afraid I’m falling for.

It fucking terrifies me.

Her fingers rake through my hair and over my scalp. It feels so natural. So real. I tear my lips from hers. ‘Scarlett, we need to go home now, or else it won’t just be you who gets to witness the re-enactment of the shower scenario.’

Her tinkling laughter fills the air between us, and seeps under my skin, straight to the heart I forgot I owned.

‘Come on then. It’s probably past your bedtime anyway,’ she teases.

‘I guarantee, you’ll be tired before I am.’ I slip an arm around her shoulder and guide her back towards the car.

The house is silent when we arrive home. Tim, Rosa and the others must have gone to bed. Scarlett tugs at my hand, pulling me towards the stairs but I refuse to budge.

‘Come to bed,’ she beckons impatiently.

‘Who said anything about bed?’ I glance towards the games room. ‘Let’s go play.’

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