Page 28 of Faking the Pass

Surprise Gift

P resley

Rosie’s face was flushed and beautiful. No one on earth would have suspected she was anything other than a radiantly happy bride.

No one would suspect there had been nothing behind that kiss at the altar—at least on her part.

I had gotten a little carried away with it, prompting Merc to advise us loudly to “get a room” there at the end.

But I hadn’t been able to help myself. It had been a long time since I was allowed to kiss Rosie James. Rosie James Lowe .

In spite of the name change, that might have been the only chance I was going to get to kiss her, although she hadn’t seemed to mind too much that I’d dragged it out as long as public decency allowed.

Then again, Rosie was an actress.

There had been moments during the ceremony—like when I’d first seen her come through the chapel door—where I’d actually forgotten it was all pretend.

It might have been because my mind was blown at the sight of Rosie in that dress.

I was pretty sure it violated every rule of proper wedding day decorum to sport a huge erection in front of dearly beloved friends and family, but that was what tuxedo lapels were for.

I’d folded my hands in front of me and tried not to visibly drool as she’d made her way toward me at the front of the chapel.

During our first dance, it had been a bit harder to hide my usual reaction to her. I needed to have a word with my sister-in-law later about counseling my bride to arrive for our fake wedding wearing the sexiest white dress I’d ever seen.

It molded to Rosie’s lush curves, and the silky fabric practically begged me to run my hands all over it. And beneath it.

Which I was not allowed to do.

Fuck. Me.

I couldn’t blame Jessica entirely though. Rosie would probably have looked too sexy for my comfort in any dress.

As good as it had been to spend time with my family today, I was almost eager to get back to my place—our place—and work out.

After dancing so close to Rosie, there was way too much energy charging through my body, and I needed an outlet for it.

I wonder how many guys jerk off in the shower on their wedding night?

Probably not too many. It was kind of a sad prospect, but I also couldn’t keep walking around sporting a Sequoia every time Rosie entered a room.

Yep. A little distance would be helpful. All those closed doors in my house might actually be a desirable thing after all.

The string quartet stopped playing, and the family gathered to exchange goodbyes.

“Whatcha gonna do now ?” Merc asked in a low voice.

He knew the situation, so I wasn’t sure why there was such a mischievous grin on his face. After that toast he’d made earlier, I was tempted to wipe it off for him.

“You know we’re sleeping in separate rooms,” I said. “I’m gonna go home and work out and then get some sleep.”

He chuckled. “That’s what you think.”

What? Had Rosie confided in him about some newfound desire to share a bed with me or something?

The mere prospect had my dick jumping off the bench and rushing to the sidelines, ready to play.

Dad interrupted the mental and physical firestorm with an announcement.

“There’s just one more thing before we call it a night.”

He reached into his tuxedo jacket, and everyone else started grinning.

Oh God, I hoped he wasn’t planning to give us some money—which was completely unnecessary. My father had played well in his day, but he’d never gotten rich from his football career.

On the other hand, my latest contract had me making forty million a year for the past few years. I really didn’t need or want his money.

None of the Lowe boys were hurting financially—except maybe Dylan—but his day was coming, I knew it. He was too talented not to be a star player.

Dad didn’t draw his wallet or a cash envelope from his coat. Instead, he extracted a folded sheet of paper and handed it to me.

Mom waited with her fingers clasped just beneath her chin as I read the print by tiki torch light.

It was a trip itinerary. For a flight leaving tonight.

“A gift,” Dad said. “Your mother and I bought the plane tickets. Your brothers arranged the rest.”

“When we heard you weren’t planning to take a honeymoon trip, I had a fit,” Mom explained. “And you can’t be mad at me because I’m the mother of the groom. I have a right to plan something special for my son—and my new daughter.”

She hugged Rosie, who appeared shell shocked. I was, too. I definitely hadn’t expected a gift like this—or to go on a honeymoon trip with Rosie.

“Wow. I don’t know what to say, you guys. It’s so generous.”

I threw a side glance at Rosie’s pale face. “But I’m not sure we can go anywhere right now. I’ve got to report to the Nauticals for team meetings in about a week. And the civil case…”

Dylan pointed at me. “You said the hearing was delayed for at least a couple of weeks. Anyway, since you’re leaving tonight, you can squeeze it in before all that stuff.”

He lifted his eyebrows and grinned in a way that let me know his choice of the words “squeeze it in” hadn’t been accidental.

Asshat. He was paying me back for all those wedgies.

Rosie didn’t seem to notice his double entendre.

“Tonight?” she said. “But… I’m not packed.”

She looked like she might be on the verge of fainting.

“Yes you are,” Jessica said with a huge grin. “When you came over here to get ready in Danielle’s room, I went to your place and packed your bags for you. Presley’s too. They’re waiting in Wilder’s SUV. You’re welcome.”

“I put some other things in there to help you travel incognito,” Wilder said.

“There’s a wig for you, Rosie, and a pair of big sunglasses.

We bought out first class, but I’d still suggest keeping the disguise on during your flight—probably until you get into the car that’s picking you up at the airport in Jakarta.

It’ll have darkened windows. When you get to your destination, you won’t need disguises. It’s a private island.”

“You’re going to love it,” Jessica added. “It’s where Wilder took me to keep me safe from that unhinged stalker—and it’s where we fell in love.”

She lay her head against his arm, and he kissed the top of it.

“I was in love with you since you were fifteen,” he corrected. “But it was where we—”

Cutting himself off, he darted a glance at his parents and redirected his sentence.

“It’s where Jess and I got to know each other better,” he said while his brothers snickered.

“You’ll have everything you need there,” Wilder told us.

“Fully stocked kitchen, a home gym, snorkeling gear, hiking gear. And most importantly, total privacy. You’ll be able to relax, and the celebrity press won’t have any idea where you are.

Even if they found out—which they won’t—they couldn’t get to you.

That place gives new meaning to the word ‘remote.’”

He turned to Presley. “My Sunseeker Predator is at the marina in a coastal town called Bagedur. I know you can handle it. And you’d better—I love that boat. That’ll get you to the island.”

Presley shook his head then gave his brother a brief hug. “It means a lot that you’d share your secret getaway spot with us. I know you never let anyone go there.”

“Hell, I want to get married now just so I can see the fucking place,” Merc says.

“Language,” Mom scolded him.

“Sorry mom,” he said. “Anyway, you guys have a great time. Don’t forget the sunblock when you’re running around naked.”

“We’ll keep an eye on your place, Pres,” Dylan vowed. “Don’t need to worry about a thing. I’ll only throw one or two ragers.”

“A private island!” Danielle hopped on her toes, clapping. “Are you excited, Rosie?”

Though she looked more terrified than excited, Rosie smiled at her friend then at my parents and Wilder and Jess.

“It’s a dream come true.”

“Well, we’ve got to get you to the airport,” Mom said. “Your flight leaves in an hour and a half. It wouldn’t do to miss your own honeymoon.”

On the island

So yeah… distance would not be happening.

Not for the next week anyway. There was exactly one structure on this gorgeous tropical island.

And while my brother’s private vacation home was luxurious and high tech and incredibly well-stocked, it was maybe half the size of my house in Eastport Bay.

None of us (except for Jess of course) had ever seen it, until now.

Wilder had only brought her here because there’d been a deranged fan set on either marrying her or murdering her, and her brother Hap—Wilder’s lifelong best friend—had begged him to keep his little sister safe.

Jessica was more famous than all of us put together. It was hard for her to go anywhere in the world and not be recognized.

Wilder had to literally go to the ends of the earth to protect her.

And this place was definitely the ends of the earth . It put the R in remote.

By the time Rosie and I reached the house, we’d flown for twenty-two hours and then driven for five from Jakarta to Bagedur. That plus the boat trip from Bagedur to the private island, and all either of us wanted was to fall into bed.

Of which there was one.

Yep. One bedroom.

One bed.

Fantastic. I’d dozed a little on the plane, but I was exhausted, and my shoulder was aching. The love seat in Wilder’s office was not looking tempting right now.

Maybe I’d just sleep on one of the pool loungers. I’d probably wake up with third degree sunburn over one half of my body, but whatever. I was tired enough not to care.

Rosie discovered the ugly truth just after I did. She walked quickly from doorway to doorway, peering inside each room.

“Only one of these is a bedroom,” she said in disbelief.

“Only Wilder ever slept here—until he and Jess came out here together,” I told her.

“Oh. Well there’s got to be a couch somewhere.”

She peeked into the office. “I’ll sleep in here. That sofa will be fine for me.”

“It’s not a sofa. It’s a loveseat, and even as short as you are, your feet will hang off the edge. I know you’re exhausted. Take the bed,” I said.

“What about you? The whole bottom half of your body would hang off that tiny little couch.”

“I’m not really that tired. I slept on the plane,” I lied. “I think I’ll explore a little and maybe catch a nap later.”

Rosie looked me over, taking in my beard shadow. The bags under my eyes were probably heavier than the ones I’d carried in here from the boat—which was saying something.

Jessica must have packed everything in my house.

“Liar,” Rosie said. “Let’s just share the bed. We’re both so exhausted there’s absolutely zero chance of anyone disturbing anyone else’s sleep.”

I’d have loved to agree with her, but even when I was half-dead, Rosie was capable of getting a rise out of me.

When I watched her kick off her shoes and pad to the bed, I couldn’t keep my focus from dropping to her perfect ass, and the groan of pleasure she let out upon sliding between the sheets would have made any man picture smooth, naked skin.

Still, she was right—I had been lying about not being tired.

Carrying the bags up the stairs from the beach had used up my last energy reserves. I could barely keep my eyes open.

Almost on autopilot, I followed her into the room and dropped onto the bed beside her.

On top of the covers.

I didn’t need them anyway. I didn’t need anything but this soft pillow and about ten hours straight of solid shuteye.

We’d worry about the one bed situation tomorrow.