Zander woke up the next day, his thoughts as tangled as the sheets wrapped around his legs.
Effie lay next to him, snuggled against his back, like a trusting little kitten.
He’d slept fitfully, tormented by his past and tortured by his current reality. Never in a million years had he dreamed he’d meet anyone like Effie. Kind, compassionate, sexy as hell, intelligent…She was the total package. And, his fucking feelings were growing hot and hard for her. Yet, he couldn’t let her in. He’d proved that fact by being cool and aloof to her after leaving the zip-line park.
When they were in the hot springs, he’d experienced the kind of shared connection he’d always longed for with Trisha—a perfect skin on skin encounter of the sweetest kind. But, then, reality snapped into his brain. He’d paid for her companionship. This encounter was supposed to ease him back into the dating game—test his mental stability to see if he could cope. But, with Trisha’s call and the discovered underwear, he fell right back into paranoia. Kent was right. He was a jackass by falling for Effie. He should have kept things casual.
He slid his finger underneath the sleeve of his biotech arm and scratched. His stump itched underneath the prosthesis. Usually, he slept with his fake-arm off so he could give his skin some air. But, not with Effie by his side. No way. He’d never take off this frigging piece of technology while in her presence. He wouldn’t even take it off to shower. This vacation home didn’t have a lock on the bathroom, and he couldn’t risk her walking in on him.
He sighed. It was a huge mistake to get a sugar baby. She deserves so much more. Christ.
Hoping not to wake her up, he slid his legs off the bed, pulled on the shorts that lay on the floor, and turned to look at her.
Her mouth parted, her breathing deep, she looked like a beautiful angel—an angel who would surely break his heart when their three months were up. He shook his head, then tiptoed downstairs.
“Morning, stud,” Kent said. He sat on the sofa next to Charlie. A cup of coffee stood by his side.
Charlie’s legs were slung over Kent’s. She didn’t look up from her tablet. Her uncombed hair draped over her arms.
Kent stroked Charlie’s legs with his two, perfectly normal hands, driving home the point that Zander could never do normal things anymore—like feel a woman’s skin with his dominant hand.
“How was the zip line?” Kent flashed his new challenging smile at Zander.
Zander didn’t feel like answering. “I thought you two were going to bring home fish?”
He crossed to the kitchen where he retrieved a mug from the cupboard.
“We didn’t catch any. We ended up eating take-out, then we went to bed early and watched some movie Charlie wanted to see.” Kent’s fingers brushed the inside of Charlie’s thigh.
Charlie closed her eyes briefly. “Mmm. That feels good,” she said, quietly. Then, her eyes opened. “Yeah, it was some chick-flick. It wasn’t that good. I barely remember it.”
Kent smirked. “That’s because I was distracting you.”
She looked at Kent, the corners of her mouth curving slightly. “I’ll say. And then we made good use of the rest of the night, didn’t we?”
She inclined the side of her face in his direction.
Kent flashed her a wicked smile. “Sure did.”
He leaned closer and kissed her proffered cheek.
“Huh,” Zander said, not caring one bit what they did or ate or watched.
He poured himself some coffee and stepped toward the island where a pan of cinnamon rolls and a bowl of chopped fruit sat. Several bowls were next to the food, along with some silverware. He scooped some fruit into his bowl and proceeded to eat.
A few minutes later, Effie trekked down the stairs, fully dressed in short-shorts, revealing her sexy legs, and a Big Bang Theory t-shirt—not one of the shirts he’d bought her. Her expression looked grim.
Zander tensed. He glanced at Kent who had turned to stare out the window. Good.
Effie’s gaze slid to Kent, too…then back to Zander. Her mouth pressed into a tight line. She remained silent as she crossed the room and entered the kitchen area.
Glancing at the rolls and fruit—not at him—she said, “I need something a little more substantial for breakfast. Do we have any eggs?” She strode toward the fridge and pulled it open. “I don’t see any. Can we send Antonio out or whatever you billionaires do to manifest food?”
Kent snorted.
Zander glared at him.
“What?” Kent said. “That was funny.”
Zander turned to Effie. “Let’s go get some breakfast.”
Still standing in front of the open refrigerator, she side-eyed him. “All of us?”
He shook his head. “Just you and me.” He rose and stepped behind her, putting his hands on her upper arms. “I’d like to apologize to you,” he said, quietly, hoping Kent couldn’t hear.
“Whatever,” she snapped. She slowly let out her breath. Her shoulders dropped. “Okay,” she said, gentler. She leaned back ever so slightly, barely letting her weight sink into him. “Then what will we do?”
“Let’s take the kayaks out today. Head out to the river,” Kent called. “Charlie and I will occupy ourselves here while you two eat. You can have Antonio pick us up when you’re done.”
Effie stiffened. She shut the refrigerator door and stood statue-still.
Zander grimaced. “How does that sound to you, Effie? We don’t have to do it.”
“Am I going to be dropped in a rushing river? Like the kind you showed me on our first date?”
He rubbed her arms softly. “No,” he said, gently. “I wouldn’t do that to you. We’ll be in double kayaks. I’ll be in the back, guiding the boat. You don’t even have to paddle, although it helps.”
She huffed out a breath. “Okay, if that’s what you want.”
So, we’re back to her having no opinions. I liked it when she told me she wanted the skin on skin in the hot springs.
Zander turned her around to face him. “What do you want?”
She slowly shook her head. Her moist eyes conveyed everything he feared—she didn’t want to be here. She didn’t want to be with him.
“We can do whatever you want, Effie, really,” he said, sensing Kent drilling a hole in the back of his head.
She swallowed and smiled slightly. “Kayaking’s fine. I’ve never done it, but I trust you’ll take care of me. You won’t let me drown.”
“Never,” he said, a rush of feeling thawing his frozen heart.
As soon as they left the house, Effie’s shoulders fell away from her ears. Sitting inside the limo on the opposite seat as him, she eyed him thoughtfully before speaking.
“What is it that makes you one way when we’re alone, and another way when we’re around others…around Kent? Are you ashamed of being with me?” She blinked rapidly as if holding back tears.
Shit. That’s what she thinks?
“God, no, I’m not ashamed of you, Effie. Kent and I are…” He scanned his mind for a plausible excuse. “It’s work stuff. There’s some old shit that’s come up.”
“Uh huh,” she said, her shoulders once more hunching around her ears.
“Look,” he said, scrambling to recover some points. “I’m really, really, really not ashamed of you. More like ashamed of myself and my behavior.” And wanting to protect you from my ex. “Can we leave it at that?”
“Sure,” she said. “If that’s how you want to leave things.” She turned to look out the window.
Over the next hour, from breakfast to the drive back to the vacation rental, they veered into the small talk zone, a wall the size of Mount Bachelor growing between them. Finally, on the way back, their conversation turned to Effie’s favorite movies—Star Trek and the Avengers—then to her favorite books—Understanding Pathophysiology and The Minds of Champions.
Zander chuckled. “Not what I expected. I thought you’d say something like Fifty Shades of Grey.”
“Me? No.” She added, with a laugh, “I also like The Anatomy of a Superhero. It’s a physiologist’s look at what kind of physical components could conceivably translate into superhuman abilities.”
Zander angled his body toward her. He loved her bright mind. “That’s fascinating, Effie. What did you learn?”
“That with lots of stretches of the imagination, and a few mutations, some of those abilities are possible.” She finally smiled at him. “What superhero would you like to be?”
The kind who could leave his past behind. “I don’t know. Batman, I guess. I could see you in the Wonder Woman outfit, though.” He chuckled.
They stopped at the house to pick up Kent and Charlie.
Zander scooted closer to hold Effie’s hand.
When they arrived at Dunes Kayak Adventures, alongside the gently flowing river, he exited the limo after Antonio assisted Effie from the vehicle.
Kent and Charlie emerged last.
“I’ll go get the boats,” Antonio said.
“We’ll help,” Kent said, inclining his head toward Charlie.
Zander nodded. “Good. Thanks.”
Antonio, Kent, and Charlie strode away, toward a small building with a “Dunes Kayak & Canoe Rental” sign on it.
Zander captured Effie’s hand in his and urged her toward the water’s edge.
“The river stays nice and calm for several miles. There might be a couple of class II baby runs, but, we’ll take them nice and easy. We’ll be in a double kayak, anyway, so I’ll be navigating from the rear. All you have to do is paddle.” He turned to look at her profile.
She appeared mesmerized. “This is so pretty, Zander. What a world you’re introducing me to. For a HMM you’re not so bad.”
“A hmm?”
A smile appeared on her face. “That’s a secret code.”
“Are you ever going to let me in on the secret?” he asked, standing at her side.
She blushed and shook her head.
He focused on the view. The deep green water rolled by in a lazy meander, gentle ripples breaking the surface. Abundant trees lined the shore, along with grasses and shrubs.
“A river awaits us,” he said, turning to smile at her.
She returned the smile. “Then, let’s go.”
“Yo! Zan. Your chariots await,” Antonio called.
Zander looked upstream to see Antonio, Kent, and Charlie standing next to two sleek double kayaks, one bright blue, the other, red.
He trekked toward them, Effie close beside him.
“You’ve got water and snacks up there,” Antonio said, indicating the forward hatch.
“Thanks,” Zander said.
“And your best buddy by your side,” Kent said. He stepped closer and clapped Zander on the back.
Zander’s brow furrowed slightly. “Right.”
My control-freak best buddy. He shrugged and went to help Effie get ready, assisting her with donning her portable flotation device.
Once Effie was comfortable with paddling techniques, they entered the water.
Kent and Charlie paddled by their side.
“It’s a great day to be out on the water, right, Zan?” Kent said.
“Sure is.”
“I missed this…being in the great outdoors with you,” Kent said. “Let’s let this weekend be the start of our renewed bond with nature.”
Effie’s shoulders tensed.
“I’m enjoying it, too,” Zander said, noncommittally.
“Let’s have a race, what do you say?” Kent said.
“Nah. You go on ahead if you like. I want to enjoy the ride with Effie.”
Zander’s attention focused on Kent.
For a few moments, their gazes locked like two warring elks.
Finally, Kent broke the tension and said with a smile, “Sure thing. You gotta get your money’s worth before the use-by date is up, right? Maybe later.”
Then, he and Charlie paddled ahead, with Kent pulling strong, forceful strokes.
“Asshole,” Zander muttered.
Effie’s body turned to stone.
“Don’t listen to him,” Zander said. “He’s an asshole but he’s just being protective.”
“What do you need protecting from?” Effie said.
“Some mistakes I made. Now, let’s enjoy the water, okay?”
Once Kent and Charlie had disappeared, Effie’s granite-like posture softened. Her head swiveled as she gazed at their surroundings. “This is so beautiful. I wish we never had to leave and go back to ‘reality’ as you put it yesterday.”
You have no idea. A familiar sense of wonder and peace flowed through Zander. He loved the great outdoors and all its majesty. He’d take this over a boardroom meeting any day. And to be immersed in it with Effie? Heaven.
A curious thought tickled his mind. I could quit my job, leave the company to Kent to run, and take Effie around the world on extraordinary adventures. We could hike Mt. Everest, explore Nepal… He quickly crushed his fantasy. Don’t be ridiculous. This is a three-month experience.
An hour into their paddle, Zander navigated the boat toward a sandy shore a few yards ahead. “Let’s get out for a bit.”
“Okay,” Effie said.
He steered the kayak parallel with the shore and said, “I’ll get out first and steady the boat for you, okay?”
The kayak gently rocked in the lapping waves.
“Sounds good.”
Zander pushed free from the boat, slid his legs out, and stood in the foot-deep water, securing the boat. “Put your hands on the sides of the opening and push your hips out. Wiggle your legs free and straddle the kayak before you stand up.”
Effie did exactly as instructed, then swung one leg over the side, so she stood next to the kayak. “So, what do we do with the boat?”
She clutched her yellow-tipped paddle by her side.
“You get the loop at that end, and we pull it ashore.” He pointed to the front of the boat.
“Got it,” Effie said. She tromped through the water, splashing her way along.
Once they got to shore, Zander retrieved the pack of food and water from the hatch. They sat in the sun, nibbling munchies, re-hydrating, resting their behinds on a grassy patch.
“You seem happy,” Zander said, side-eying her. He crumpled up his energy bar wrapper and pitched it into the pack.
“I am. I love it out here.” Her smile lit up her entire body. She lifted the water bottle to her lips, tipped her head back, and took a long gulp.
“And that makes me happy,” he said, savoring her beautiful neck. The sun glinted off her blonde locks, lending an ethereal quality to her appearance.
She lowered the water bottle and placed it next to her. “I’ve been thinking.”
“I imagine you think a lot,” he said, smiling.
“I do, but this is about you.”
He tensed. “What about me?”
“I realize we don’t know each other all that well. And the circumstances of our knowing one another at all are…um…unusual,” she said, blushing.
“They are,” Zander said.
She hesitated, perhaps choosing her words carefully.
He studied her cautiously, fearing what she might say.
“You…” she said, drawing out the word.
“Me,” he said, eyes narrowing.
She pressed her lips together and swallowed. “Okay. Here goes.” She met his gaze. “Look, I don’t know what it’s like to lose a limb. I’ve thought about it a lot and, well…it must be a horrible experience. I mean, a part of your body is missing. A part you used without questioning. An essential piece of you that helped you be the adventurer I imagine you were.” In a quieter voice, she said, “You’re still that same adventurer, Zander, I know you are. It’s in your blood to explore.”
His breath caught in his throat. He’d fully expected a tongue lashing for being her lover one minute, and a dick the next—not compassion for his missing limb.
She continued. “And, I know you paid for my time. But, I’m extremely loyal to people who matter. And, you matter, Zander.” Her eyes grew luminescent as she gazed at him. “If you ever want to…” She inhaled sharply. “Well…I’m here for you if you ever feel like sharing. No matter what. You have my word on that. I’m a really good listener.”
He blinked rapidly for a second or two. Then, he rubbed his high-tech arm. The memory of losing his limb bubbled up from his unconscious mind, where he’d kept it buried.
Gazing at her face, he licked his lips, pursed his mouth, and then rolled his lips between his teeth. “I…”
I can’t do this. His courage waned. He retreated from the moment.
“Anytime, Zander,” Effie said, looking at him intently.
“Thanks,” he said, eying the kayak. After a moment, he leaned forward as if to stand. “Well…let’s get going.”
Effie subtly shook her head.
With a huge sigh, Zander relaxed onto his seat. He couldn’t risk letting her know about his insanity. But, maybe he could let her know about his accident.