Page 45 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

Her cheeks flush deeper crimson than the cold weather warrants. “I don’t do flings. I don’t make out with random strangers. We have jobs to do, and there isn’t room in my life for anything else.”

I tuck my knuckle under her chin, raising her gaze to mine. “That’s a pretty little speech, but who said anything about a fling?”

Her mouth drops open.

“And I wouldn’t call us strangers. You felt something when you kissed me, and it scared you.” I cup her cheek. “Don’t be afraid of me.”

“You aren’t scary. I just don’t have time for men.” The wobble in her voice tells me she’s lying.

“We make time for the things that are important to us.”

She dodges from my grip and snatches her towel from the log. “I need to get to work.”

I press the thermos and bag of food into her hands. “I don’t give up.”

“I’m sorry if I bruised your ego but—”

I press my thumb to her lips. “Don’t lie to me, and I won’t lie to you. I like you more than is sensible. Your passion for the estate hypnotizes me. You could do infinitely better, but I want you to wantme. I want to help you realize that there is no other woman in the world more amazing that you. I can only do that if I get to know you.”

“I’m not a science experiment.”

“No, you are a beautiful woman whom I thoroughly enjoyed kissing. I plan to repeat the activity at our soonest convenience. Enjoy your breakfast.”

I don’t look over my shoulder until I open my car door car. She’s wrapped in her towel, teasing the foil off a breakfast burrito. She takes a hesitant bite before dropping her head back in what I interpret as joy. If food is the way to break down her walls, I will deliver a Michelin-worthy meal every day until she talks to me.

Chapter 13

Zoe

Landon’s persistence is enough to make me want to give up my daily swims, but I don’t know what I would replace them with, so I do my best to ignore him. At least he’s not trying to swim with me anymore. That lasted all of three days before the cold drove him out of the ocean for good.

But what we lack in quality time, he makes up for with ridiculous gifts.

On the day after his last swim, I woke to a knock on my front door. A delivery man asked for my signature while another unloaded a brand new, fully-loaded, baby-blue Jeep Grand Cherokee into my driveway. A cashmere coat, new cell phone, three dive suits, and four dozen red roses were in the trunk. Cookies, tacos, and an entire cow’s worth of steak were delivered to my front porch over the next six days.

I can’t pretend his attention isn’t softening my resolve, so I send an SOS to Emberly and Kelsey to meet me at the Red Wood Saloon in Pine Ridge. I need them to talk sense into me, and I can’t risk Rainwater Bay’s gossips overhearing.

I can’t get the kiss with Landon out of my head—okay, it was a full on make-out session, but we’re not splitting hairs here.

It’s been a week. I should be able to disengage that part of my brain. The part that replays the tingles created by his soft lips, strong hands, and undivided attention. Theway my cheeks heat when I’m supposed to be cooking dinner and my mind wanders back to the firelit library. The burn in my chest as fierce as the char on the steak I ruined.

No. Stop it.

The fire he creates in me needs to be outlawed. No good comes from feelings this intense.

I purposely avoided the estate, which Lucky was quick to point out at last night’s town council meeting. I swear that woman has nothing better to do than watch my every move.

At least she doesn’t know about the kiss.

Damn, why are my cheeks getting hot again?

It’s not like we can do anything on the property until Collin’s team repairs the road. What should I have done? Driven my pretty blue present up there and sat on a stump while the excavator fished my Mini Cooper out of the ravine and placed rocks to shore up the road?

Instead, I finally took a copy of the blueprints to Earl and listened to him complain about how Pine Ridge is a better location for Landon’s resort since they’re the bigger town.

Doesn’t matter.

Landon is my problem, not his.