Page 53 of Paradise in Progress
Dragging my thumb across the answer button, I bring the phone to my ear as I scoot higher up the bed, the white sheet pooling around my waist. “Yeah?”
“About time you answered,” Dad barks on the other end, stern and impatient, like he always is with me. Now I’m really glad I ignored his call earlier. “Are you sleeping through my calls? Just because you’re at a tropical resort doesn’t mean you’re on vacation.”
I adjust my position on the bed, the slightest bit self-conscious about being naked while speaking to my father. The sheets rustle against my legs, the cool fabric contrasting the warmth of my skin—which is heating by the second. The urge to snap back with a sarcastic comment has me biting my tongue.
“Of course, sir.” Scrubbing a hand down my face, the rough texture of my trimmed beard meets my palm. My dad has a knack for making me feel like a kid again every time we talk.
His voice drones in my ear, going on about my responsibilities in the company, how deadlines are suggested, and that he’s extremely frustrated the building plans haven’t been approved yet. Once again, he’s threatening to fire Kennedy and, once again, I’m reassuring him that they will be approved by the end of the week. Kennedy is doingthe best she can, given the circumstances, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting him fire her over something out of her control. Not when I’ve had a front-row seat to witness how hard she’s fighting for our company.
I should be taking this call seriously—it’s one of Dad’s biggest complaints, my lack of dedication, but my mind is elsewhere. Through the open bathroom doorway, I catch a glimpse of Kennedy’s bare back as the sound of the shower echoes softly in the background. She moves with a casual grace as steam billows around her. The sight of her flawless skin brings me back to last night—the arousal in her emerald eyes, the daring light in them when she told me to submit to her, and the way her moans filled my ears. Everything about Kennedy Reed is sexy. She exudes confidence that would make lesser men crumble at her feet.
The memory of her breathless laugh, her satiated smile, and the way her eyes danced in the dimly lit room makes my pulse quicken.
Fuck, this woman.
Waking up with her snuggled into my chest, her red hair cascading over the white sheets, and our legs tangled together felt like an alternate reality. One I never wanted to wake from.
Too bad life doesn’t work that way.
Squealing from the bathroom interrupts my daydream. I jolt upright, ready to burst into the bathroom, when she comes sprinting into the bedroom, completely naked, her phone clutched to her chest. A brimming smile spreads across her face, causing her freckles to dance.
“Babe! The plans got approved!” she shouts, eyes wide with excitement, but it’s the term of endearment that hasmyeyes widening.
I almost missed it. Almost. One word caused my brain to short circuit, but as soon as it caught up, the weight of it hit me. Did she mean to say it? The way the word rolled off her tongue, all casual and sure, she might as well have called me “hers.” And I know to most, it’s not a big deal, but to me, it felt like everything.
Realization of what she just called me flashes across her face as she bites down on her lip, uneasiness marring her features. It’s as if she didn’t mean for the word to slip. But her features quickly change. With a quirk of an eyebrow, a sly grin tips the corner of her lips, Kennedy gives me a small shrug as if to say ‘yeah, I just called you babe. What are you going to do about it?’
I can’t help but grin, her energy infectious. My dad’s irritated voice in my ear breaks the silence. “What the hell was that?”
I quickly cover the phone with my hand, muffling our sounds as she dances around, still buzzing from the news. “Uh—nothing, just…the plans. She just got the email. They’re approved,” I explain, trying to keep my voice steady as she bounces around, completely carefree and very much unclothed.
I never want to go a day without seeing her like this.
If only there was a way to freeze time.
Informing my dad that I will call him back later, I end our call and toss the phone haphazardly on the bed as I continue to watch her.
I'm paralyzed in this spot—unable to take my eyes off her. Barefoot, red hair messy from yesterday’s curls, naked as the day she was born, she’s twirling, dancing, laughing—so full of happiness it’s impossible not to smile.
I lean against the headboard, arms crossed over my chest, watching her with this stupid grin on my face.
God, she’s beautiful.
I’ve never seen her like this, and it does something to me, makes that slow-burning attraction flare into a full-blown inferno. Every step, every spin, it’s like she’s putting on a show for me.
Only, I know she isn’t. It’s almost as if she’s forgotten I’m here and this is the real Kennedy. No walls, no guards, just her.
Her hips sway and I’m gone. It’s all I can do not to reach out, grab her, and worship every inch of her flawless body, but I’m perfectly content to just watch. I know how happy she was to land the lead on this project and how worried she was about losing it, especially with my dad threatening her.
Then it happens. Her foot catches on a shoe, and in slow motion, she’s flailing, arms windmilling as she goes down. I’m already moving, heart in my throat, ready to catch her, help her, do something—but before I can even get to her, I hear it.
Laughter. Her laughter is bright and loud as she sprawls on the floor, totally unbothered by the fall.
I pause, torn between concern and amusement, until her eyes find mine, twinkling with mischief. “I’m fine,” she says, still laughing, and I can’t help but laugh too, shaking my head. Of course she is. That’s her, always full of surprises. The chemistry between us is electric—I can feel it buzzing in the air—and now I’m standing over her, rock hard at the sight of her naked below me, holding out my hand to help her up. There’s no use in playing it coy by trying to hide how badly I want her, not with my dick standing at full attention.
“You sure you’re okay?” I ask, my voice a little rough, the words coming out huskier than I intended. Her hand slides into mine, warm and soft, and when she’s back on her feet, we’re standing too close. Tooclose not to kiss, but just far enough to keep the tension simmering between us.
“Never better,” she says with a wicked smile, her gaze lingering on mine. And damn, I want her.
