Page 76 of Taking the Heat

‘What?’ I was aghast. ‘Wait—why would I want to do that?’

‘Hear me out. We’ll both go, exactly at midnight. You enter your door, I’ll enter mine, bang on twelve. That way, we’ll know if we’re paired together.’

I fidgeted, uneasy. ‘What if we’re in different cabins?’

‘Then we’ll know that too. Your cabin will be empty, or someone will already be in there who isn’t me. Either way, you leave.’ He smiled at me, encouragingly. ‘You can do this, okay?’

‘Okay …’ I still wasn’t sure. ‘You haven’t been in your cabin yet either?’

‘Once, but it was empty,’ he admitted.

‘That doesn’t mean I’m your partner.’

‘It doesn’t,’ he said. ‘But if it is me in your cabin …’ Chris lowered his lids at me dangerously. ‘Then I will ravish you all night long.’

Involuntary responses sparked all over me, from the blush in my cheeks to the clenching of my thighs. ‘I’ll do it.’

***

At the bungalow later that evening, I felt floppy and light. Whatever was in those steamy spring waters had left me feeling like I’d won a million bucks.Ha.

Or maybe that was just being around Chris. My gorgeous man stayed by my side as we all devoured ribs and mash, eating like savages, the alcohol flowing.

Everyone seemed to be happy. Jen was back in flying form, spinning loud stories to Henry and Meghan, while Nik sat across from the Irish girl, his face infatuated. Toshi and Clara had a loud, good-natured argument about whether or not sashimi was gross, Clara pro, Toshi con. We were all laughing and buzzing. I should have known it was too good to last.

Miles jumped up. ‘Who wants to playWhat You Don’t Know?’

‘Nobody!’

‘Let’s jump in, shall we?’ He had to yell over the noisy dinner crowd, trying hard to ignore him. ‘I want to head Down Under tonight.’

Chris and I locked eyes, catching the Aussie reference immediately.I have nothing to hide,I thought, trying to send a confident look at Chris. No secrets.

‘Our favourite on-again-off-again Australian couple are currently on again,’ trilled Miles. ‘But will that be the case after they learn a little more about each other? After all, they seem so perfect! Same country, same city … but Chris isn’t your average bloke, are you, Mr Coffee?’

‘Fuck, not now …’ Chris swore, his hands balled up.

‘Baby, what is it?’

Miles sang off tune. ‘I know! I know!’

‘Miles, I have no idea what you’re on about,’ I yelled, ‘but I want to hear it from Chris.’

‘But, my dear, he’s had plenty of chances to tell you all about himself! Now, it’s my turn!’

The screen flashed on. Magazine and newspaper covers appeared, each of them with Chris’ picture. He wore suits in most of the pics, while the headlines screamed ‘Australia’s Coffee King!’ and ‘Hottest Entrepreneurs under 30!’

The last one made my heart skip a beat. Chris stood behind a cappuccino machine, wearing his black t-shirt, grinning wolfishly at the camera. ‘Christopher Carson: Melbourne’s richest man!’ ran under the pic in heavy capitals.

While I tried to process this, Miles rattled on. ‘It’s such a shame you haven’t told Tara about your massive wealth and business empire, Chris. Did you know she’s a sucker for a rich man …?

The screen changed, showing Henry and I on the catamaran. ‘Don’t go in the fantasy cabin,’ Henry beseeched. ‘I want to be with you, Tara. I think we could really have something special. I want to take you around the world, I want to show you off on my arm, I want to build you a castle and make beautiful children with you.’

A shot of Henry reaching for me was edited in. ‘But I loathe the thought of you having to expose and sully yourself for this sake of money. So, I want to pay you not to go into the fantasy cabin. Just let me look after you, be my one and only and I will make your dreams come true.’

Watching myself was an out-of-body experience as I answered, ‘Henry … I would love to accept.’ Then I leaned in and kissed him, our limbs intertwining in a passionate embrace.

Chapter 25

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