Page 81 of Crossing the Line
He wiggles his eyebrows. “Is that so?”
“Um-hmm.” That sounds too syrupy, so I break eye contact so that my lady parts can settle down. They’re too excited. So without further delay, I crawl into the back seat of Hercules’s SUV.
James is behind the wheel. After we say good morning to each other, the privacy window rolls up. And now Hercules and I are all by ourselves.
* * *
So far,we’ve been getting by on a lot of small talk. He’s finishing up letting me know that he tried to talk Mason into getting himself checked on several occasions. It’s just as Lake has claimed. Her fiancé is stubborn.
Now it’s my turn, and I’m ready to ask what or who’s in Canada. But before I can say anything, Hercules asks me about Treasure. “Is she really engaged to Simon Linney?” He’s watching me with intense focus.
I pause, wondering why he wants to know about Treasure’s love life. “Why do you ask? Does Orion want to know?”
“No.” Eyebrows ruffled—he’s still waiting for me to answer his question.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
His frown deepens. “You don’t care for Simon Linney?”
I shrug indifferently. “I never met him, but his reputation precedes him. And then there’s the matter of Treasure’s picker, which is terrible.”
Hercules tilts his head from one side to the other as though weighing my words. It looks as if he has something to say.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he says in an unconvincing way.
I squish one eye thoughtfully. “You don’t want to speak ill of your brother?”
Hercules belts a laugh. “No, that’s not it.”
I laugh too. “Then what?” I ask after we simmer down.
“It’s something you said on our way to the Hamptons.”
My eyes expand as I nervously try to chase down my words. I was nervous that night. I could’ve said anything. “What did I say?”
“You said she’s been cut off, financially?”
Air cools my eyes as they expand. “I did?”
Eyes dancing around my face, Hercules chuckles. “It’s okay, PG. Her secret is safe with me.”
I press my hand on my chest as I sigh with relief. “Good because she’ll kill me if she knew I told Orion’s brother.” I drop my hand and relax a bit more. “But you still haven’t told me why you care about Treasure’s finances.”
Hercules winks at me. “In due time, PG—in due time.”
My mouth is caught open. All the mystery behind our trip and how it applies to Treasure is driving me crazy. But Hercules takes me by the hand and weaves his large fingers between mine. I forgot what I was thinking as our eye contact deepens. We’re looking at each other longer than we should. Then, my eyes fall to his lips, and I gulp. His lips are so scrumptiously swollen. He has a delicious mouth, perfect for kissing. My sex is drumming. My pulse is racing. I want out of my clothes. I want him inside me, now.
But fortunately, we arrive at the airport before anything can happen. There’s so much room in the back seat of his SUV. I’m wearing my black lace panties and on purpose.Scheming Paisley.Right now, the crotch is soaking wet.
* * *
On Hercules’s private airplane,I’m less flustered by being near him. Before boarding, he assured me more than once that his inquiry about Treasure will make sense soon. He asked me to please go with the flow. It was hard to yield, but I said I would. We sit across from each other. The large aircraft has six big armchairs on a platform in the middle of the cabin and the same sort of chairs along the sides. Hercules says there’s a bedroom on board with a full bath. He even offers me a tour. But I graciously decline. No way do I want to see a bed on his airplane. I recall Lake’s birthday cake analogy, and that bed is birthday cake.
Right now, I’m avoiding looking at my traveling companion. Maybe I should have sat beside him. My gaze betrays me and sneaks a peek at him. But I quickly shift my eyes down to the cappuccino in front of me. What a face he has—extremely handsome. However, I realize that instead of beating back my desire for Hercules, I should be more focused on figuring out what’s behind this trip we’re taking. Keeping my mind on that might be the best way to stave off lust.
“So, Hercules,” I ask, lifting my cappuccino to my mouth. We’re not being served a full breakfast because Hercules said we were going to eat at our destination. “Where are you taking me?”
