Page 24 of Mr. Green

This is a private cruise with dinner. It’s cost me five grand, not that I’d tell her any of that. “Your money is no good here. This event is my treat.” Then I lean down so I can whisper in her ear. “I have ulterior motives.”

“Ulterior motives?” She leans in subconsciously.

“Yes. I’m determined to see your dimple pop up tonight,” I say, while I graze the side of her cheek. She blushes, turns, and starts walking to the elevator again. I shake my head.

I’m hoping this is the way to Lana’s heart. Maybe she’ll finally let me in tonight.

Chapter 16

Lana

Okay, heart—let’s get one thing straight. He may know you love whales and asked around about you, but it doesn’t mean we can give in to him. It’s probably just an act. A very long act of trying to get into my pants. So, don’t even think about liking him. You’re not ready to let someone in, even though he’s sexy, caring, sweet, and fuckable. God, I bet he’d be so good at fucking.

Goddammit!

He’s always left me mesmerized. I need to focus on something other than Grant. Literally anything else would do. Okay, think—a recipe. A recipe for a chocolate cake. A chocolate cake Grant could eat off me with his handsome mouth.

This isn’t working.

He’s swoon worthy, smart, attractive as hell—all the things I’ve liked about him since I was younger. I can’t believe I still have a little crush on him after all these years.

You pathetic little girl.

Even though my usual type is a nice clean-cut guy, he makes the man bun and beard look fucking delectable. Not that I’d ever admit it to anyone. I need excuses not to like him. Excuses to give my friends and to remind myself to stay away from guys—especially guys like him.

We’re in a town car on the way to the marina where the boat tour will take us. I just have to make it to the boat. There’ll be lots of people there. I won’t be able to focus on Grant. I’ll have to focus on all the people I have to avoid. I’ve never been so excited to be in a crowded place before. These are desperate times.

The car pulls to the marina in front of the boat, and to my dismay, there are no other people around.

What. The. Fuck.

“Where is everyone?” I look up at Grant, fidgeting with my hair. Maybe I should stay in the car and go back to the hotel. My head turns to look through the car window at the boat, waiting for people to appear.

“It’s just you and me, Sunshine,” he says as he leaves the car and comes around to my door. He offers me his hand. I step outside without taking it.

“I didn’t realize you would make your murder so easy for me to attain.” I look over my shoulder at him.

“You’re not going to murder me with your precious whales out there watching,” he tells me as he closes my door.

“You don’t know that. I could be a serial killer. I bet the whales would help me. They’d find a shark to eat the evidence of your body away.”

“That’s a bit dark for you, Sunshine,” he proclaims as he strides towards the boat.

“Stop calling me that!” I shout after him and then follow behind while the pine scent lingers in front of me. “I’m not a fucking ray of sunshine! I’m dark and mysterious and ominous.”

He stops walking and looks at me with a curious look, stroking his beard. He’s taking up too much freaking air. I play with my hair and shift from foot to foot as he keeps staring.

“I wouldn’t describe you that way,” he says after making me wait an eternity.

“You don’t know me.” I shrug.

“I’m thinking you don’t know you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I furrow my brow.

“Anytime you show your dimple, you’re not any of those things. I’ve seen your dimple numerous times—whenever you see your family, when a friend says a funny joke, when you watched your mom cook. I know there’sanother side to you just waiting to come out and play.” He has the nerve to look up and down my body for the second time tonight like he’s a vampire waiting to suck my blood. I’ve never seen that look directed at me and it’s the sexiest thing someone has ever done to me. I gulp.

My ex looked at me, but it was never passionate. It was like a “more than friends” look but not “the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen” look. He was missing desire behind his eyes. I hadn’t noticed it until Grant looked at me with a relentless look of longing.