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She opens her mouth, probably to throw some smartass line at me, but then she pauses—her eyes catch on mine, and for a second, the teasing fades and silence stretches.
Her gaze drops—quick, involuntary—to my mouth.
She catches herself and looks away just as fast, but not before I see it. That flicker. That want she’s trying so damn hard to bury.
I take a slow step toward her.
“Careful, Tornado,” I say, my voice lower now. Rougher. “You keep looking at me like that, and I might think you want me to break a few rules.”
Her breath catches. Just barely, and her body goes visibly still, like she's waiting to see what I’ll do next.
I close the space between us. Not touching her—yet. But close enough that she can feel the heat rolling off me. Her chin tilts up, her lips part slightly. I can almost taste the tension between us.
She’s not running.
I lean in—close enough to graze her ear with my words.
“For the record… I’m excellent at following rules.”
Then I pause.
“But I’m even better at breaking them.”
I pull back slowly. Her pulse is fluttering at her neck, her breath shaky. She swallows hard and clutches her coffee like it’s the only thing grounding her.
“You’re insufferable,” she mutters. “Enjoy your alone time while it lasts, Carter.”
I watch as she disappears into the cabana.
Yeah, this is going to be an interesting ten days.
CHAPTER 5
Ivy
I practically bolt before I say or do something I’ll seriously regret.
The breeze hits my face, but it does nothing to cool me off. My skin’s flushed, my pulse is still hammering, and Carter’s words keep echoing in my head.
"I’m excellent at following rules. But I’m even better at breaking them."
God, who says things like that? Who leans in like he’s going to kiss you, teases your throat with his breath, and then just walks away like it didn’t mean anything?
I sip my coffee too fast, burning my tongue. Serves me right.
The moment I sink into the plush cabana, I take a deep breath, letting my gaze sweep over the pristine white sand. Even with the storm clouds gathering on the horizon, the view is breathtaking—wild, untamed, yet oddly serene. The rhythmic crash of the waves soothes something restless inside me, and for the first time since arriving, I feel like I can actually breathe.
I take a moment to check my emails before dialing Vanessa. She answers on the second ring, her voice sharp with expectation.
“Tell me you’re calling to say you finally left that man and checked into a different hotel.”
I sigh, tucking my legs beneath me. “If only it were that simple.”
Vanessa groans. “Okay, spill. What happened now? Is he being extra annoying, or just his usual level of insufferable?”
I hesitate, staring out at the water. “Neither? I mean, don’t get me wrong—he’s still arrogant, still way too smug for his own good. But…” I trail off, unsure how to put it into words.
“But what?” she presses.