Page 22 of Undeniably Unexpected (Boston’s Irresistible Billionaires #6)

It didn’t mean anything. I know that. I said something that resonated with him, and he was moved by it in his already emotional place, and that’s all it was.

If I’ve learned anything about Loomis Powell over the couple of years that I’ve known him, it’s that he’s not interested in me.

Bad boys never are, and he’s a self-proclaimed one. Which is fine by me. Great even.

I clear all that away and stand to take in?—

“That’s the cottage?”

Loomis chuckles, dragging a hand through his hair. “I was expecting… more.”

I tilt my head. “Same.” When I asked Stone about it, he simply shrugged and said he hadn’t been here since he was a kid, and that it was mostly a love nest for his parents to come to and escape. But nest is an accurate term.

I mean, it’s a beautiful house. Two stories with full porches on both floors, a formidable hurricane-proof-looking tin roof, butter-yellow shaker wood siding, and large windows with shutters.

It’s straight out of Southern Living magazine, especially with all the trees and flowering shrubs surrounding it, keeping much of the grounds and the cottage hidden from view.

But… it is a cottage.

And therefore, it’s small.

The island is too, for that matter, though I do catch a glimpse of a lush-looking pool area, a large sprawling garden that appears well groomed, and a beach. So much for having privacy and not being on top of each other.

It’s also too late to back out now, so I’m just going to have to roll with it and stick to the plan.

The boat bounces against the dock, which upsets Fen. He starts crying, and Loomis takes him out of his carrier and holds him against his chest with one hand while he uses his other on the railing to brace them both. The boat is tied off, and we’re helped onto the long dock and up toward the house.

“Welcome to Casa Del Sol,” Pedro says with a beaming, prideful smile.

Our bags are delivered inside and upstairs with a question about bedrooms that momentarily throws us both until we answer that we’re staying in the same room since we’re here to be a couple. We can move suitcases later, but upon entering, our suspicions are confirmed.

It’s small.

The kitchen is the largest space on the first floor, boasting top-of-the-line appliances and gleaming stone counters along with a breakfast bar that seats four on the island.

The living room has a long sofa and two chairs on either end with a coffee table in between them and a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.

Off to the side is a desk with an unplugged monitor, a dining room with a table that seats six, a half bathroom, and a storage room where the laundry is. That’s it.

“Come on. Let’s check out the rest of our temporary love nest,” I tease, only it falls flat, unlike my hair in this humidity. That’s all over the place and more in line with my nerves.

Wordlessly we follow Alicia and Pedro up the winding, metal staircase that’s a bit of a hazard for Fen. A point Loomis proves when he rolls his head and says to me, “We’ll need to get gates.”

“Absolutely,” I agree, and it makes me smile. He can say whatever he wants about himself and his past, but he’s an amazing dad. He hasn’t had the easiest of lives despite being a movie star now. Honestly, I’m in awe of him. Where he sees weakness, I see strength.

“Here we are.” Pedro practically bows as he waves us into the master bedroom that has a dark wood, four-poster king bed, a dresser, a mirror, two nightstands, and a massive en suite with a double vanity, a walk-in shower, and a humongous soaking tub that legit might as well have my name spray-painted on it in glittery gold.

“Thank you so much,” I tell them, glancing around as they set our suitcases in here. “This is amazing.”

I noted we passed three other closed doors up here, and I’m hoping at least two of them are bedrooms because otherwise, this shit could get awkward fast.

“Yes. Thank you.” Loomis shakes both their hands. “I think we’ve got it from here.”

“We’ll be back tomorrow to return the boat,” he tells me in Spanish, and I nod. I assumed they’d have to take it to get back to the mainland.

Quietly they excuse themselves, and then it’s just us, staring at each other, my heart thrumming so loudly I can hear it in my ears.

Loomis turns to me, and I turn to him, and our eyes lock.

And suddenly that silence between us is thumping louder than my heart, even with the baby in his arms. It’s like that moment on the boat stuck with us and carried itself up here, making my breasts feel heavy and my skin prickle with sweat and awareness.

“I should go check the other bedrooms,” he says thickly.

“Yes,” I agree, my voice barely above a whisper. Another long beat where we stare at each other and then both simultaneously look toward the bed.

“Right then.” He swallows audibly, his throat rolling.

Thankfully, Fen starts to squirm and snaps the tension that has been mounting between us. “I know, lad, but I can’t set you down. Those stairs need a fortress blocking them. Come. Let’s go find your room.”

They had mentioned that a portable crib was set up for Fen somewhere, but when we open the door beside my bedroom, we discover the main bathroom. The next room has a queen-sized bed in it, and thank God, right? I mean, could you imagine if there wasn’t another bed here?

“Brilliant. I won’t lie. I was worried there for a moment.”

“Yep. No sharing a bed for us.”

“Were you planning to seduce me with your fake girlfriend charm?”

“Only if you were lucky,” I shoot back.

We lock eyes again, and something in his gaze makes me need to bite my lip and squeeze my fists.

I clear my throat and turn back to the room only to spin around because looking at that bed right now isn’t helping anything for me.

My nipples are trying to slice their way through my bra and shirt just to get him to notice them.

The next room is the smallest of the three and has the portable crib set up along with a twin bed shoved against the wall. No sharing beds or bathrooms. Phew. Crisis averted.

“This will be great,” I exclaim. “A bit cozy, but better than being cooped up in Boston.”

“It’s perfect,” he agrees, but his voice is rough, and he’s not looking at me anymore. “I’m going to see what they have here for supper.” With that, he takes Fen and flies back downstairs. I don’t chase after him. I need a bit of a breather after the day we had and the things we talked about.

I head into my room and glance around before I unlock the balcony doors and step outside, taking in the Gulf of Mexico and the pink and gold sky now that the sun has just set.

Loomis was right. It’s perfect. Even if it already feels too small for the two of us.