Page 4 of Price of Paradise

He appeared genuinely concerned and it touched her. “I will, and be nice to Viola while I’m gone.”

Nothing more was said as she walked out the door. Mae wasn’t sure what had just occurred, but she had the feeling she’d just barely escaped something potentially dangerous to her self-control. Another moment in Gunner’s presence and she would’ve flung herself into his arms and begged for a kiss.

“No begging. No kissing.” Unless it’s a gorgeous stranger in Miami.

Chapter Two

Gunner stared at the clock on the bedside table. One in the morning. “Fuck,” he grumbled, shoving the blanket off. He got up and slid into a pair of grey joggers. Hell, he wasn’t getting any sleep anyway and he knew why. Mae. She’d be in Miami by now. It was the same time there as in Columbus. Was she asleep or was she with a man? The latter made him want to punch the wall. He resisted the urge. Barely.

Gunner picked up his phone from the nightstand, then left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. He opened a cupboard and took out the bottle of scotch he rarely touched. If he got drunk, then maybe he’d be able to sleep. Maybe it’d erase the image of Mae wrapped up in the arms of some faceless stranger. He poured a generous portion into a glass and gulped it down, then poured another before peering over at his phone. No messages. No emails. On impulse, Gunner tapped on Mae’s contact and stared at her smiling picture. What could it hurt to send her a text? He was her boss and her friend. It was completely reasonable to find out if she arrived safely.

I KNOW IT’S LATE. HOPE THE FLIGHT WENT WELL.

Gunner tapped the send button, then waited. Nothing came. “Because she’s in bed, dickweed,” he reprimanded himself before placing his phone down. As he began pouring another drink a chime filled the quiet room. He slammed the bottle down and snatched his cell phone up with embarrassing speed.

TURBULENCE. ENOUGH THAT I’M CONTEMPLATING RENTING A CAR FOR THE RETURN TRIP.

Had she been afraid? The notion didn’t sit well with him. Instead of texting, Gunner called her. She answered on the second ring with a drowsy hello.

“You okay?” he asked, getting straight to the point.

“I am now,” she replied. He heard some shuffling, then, “I don’t mind admitting I did a fair amount of praying.”

He let go of some of the tension riding him, then leaned against the counter. “My flight to Georgia was that way. No fun at all.”

“I remember that trip,” she replied. “You went to your Uncle Frank’s funeral, right?”

“Right,” he answered, not surprised she remembered. The woman remembered everything. “Jake and I both went. He slept right through it, lucky bastard.”

“God, I’m still a little shaky,” she admitted in a low tone.

He wondered what she’d been doing before he’d called. “Were you asleep?”

“No, just reading a book.”

Good, no man in her bed. Then again she’d only just arrived. The reminder didn’t help his mood. “What are your plans tomorrow?”

“Reading by the pool while sipping on something fruity and entirely overpriced.” She sighed. “I can’t wait.”

“Be careful,” he warned, imagining her in a cute little bikini. “You’re very fair-skinned, Mae.”

She laughed and the sound was like a lick of fire down his spine. “You’re a broken record. And for your information, I packed a ridiculous amount of sunscreen. Trust me, I’ve got it covered.”

“You always plan ahead,” he complimented, wondering again how he would make it a week without her.

Silence met him and Gunner thought he’d lost the call. Finally she said, “Why are you awake?”

“Couldn’t sleep.” Because his pretty assistant had left him.

“Oh,” she murmured. “What did Jake want earlier? Was it to do with your father’s estate?”

“It was.” Gunner picked up his glass and went into the living room, then sat in the recliner before adding, “He’s starting the process of selling it.”

“That’s probably good, right?” Mae asked, her voice softening a fraction. “Put it all behind you once and for all.”

Mae knew about his past to some degree. When he’d gotten the call about his father’s fatal heart attack Mae had been there. He’d unloaded on her and she’d listened without judgment. “We’re both happy to close that chapter of our life. I’d been dragging my feet.”

“I would imagine it brings up a lot of things that are uncomfortable,” she said, giving him an out. “For both of you.”

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