Chapter Eleven
Essie prepared breakfast for Ross and even got to score a few points with Chef Scott by asking him for advice on Ross’s preferences, and by helping the chef with prepping the crew’s breakfast. She was putting the finishing touches on Ross’s tray as Simon gave her a gentle ribbing.
“He won’t like it,” Simon said, his tone light and teasing as he referred to the fruit kale smoothie she added to the tray.
“You wanna bet?”
Simon looked her up and down, then shook his head. “Nah. The money would be too easy. You do yourself a favor and heat one of your sweet pastries from last night. I know Ross, and no matter how much fruit you try and sweeten it with, he’s not drinking that green smoothie.”
Essie rolled her eyes and took the tray. “I’ll just leave and take that as a compliment on my baking, Chef.”
Simon laughed.
As Essie made her way toward Ross’s office, she once again almost literally ran into him as he came down the stairs. “Hi. I was just bringing this to you,” she said, keeping a tight hold on the tray and her unsteady emotions.
His sudden appearance towering on the stairs surprised her. He was clean and freshly showered in easy sweatpants, which hung low on his hips, and he wore a finely threaded cotton tee, which defined his muscles well. He was no less powerful from when she saw him at the heavy bag that morning, and his clean, freshly showered smell and close presence set her off-kilter. Thankfully, he reached out and took the tray from her hands.
“Come, have you eaten?” he asked.
“I have.” She’d grazed from her homemade muesli while prepping, and she had her own shake before heading up, too. Their exuberant workout session made her more famished than normal.
“Well, please still join me while I eat. Chat awhile?”
She studied him for a moment. It wasn’t like she really could say no. He’d paid for her time for the duration of this trip. And, honestly, it wasn’t like she wanted to say no. “Of course. But don’t you have work to do?”
He turned to head up the stairs, but instead of turning left and going toward his office, as she expected, he continued up and went to the large salon. “How about we sit outside? You’ll find that it’s warmed up. We’ve had to take a detour, and we’ll be making a brief stop along the way at my resort in Bermuda.”
Essie looked at him in surprise. “But isn’t that way off our course? How long will it delay the trip?”
Ross put the tray on the table nearest the doors to the outer deck and then opened them wide, letting in the fresh air. The view of the open water was stunning. The sun had fully risen and the water glistened a gorgeous crystalline blue through the large windows. “Don’t worry, it won’t delay us long. And it will give me a chance to show you my resort. You’ll get an idea of what I’m planning, with the partnership of these investors.” He readied to take a seat, but pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit first.
Essie came over and, instead of sitting, gave him a small shove into the chair. “I thought on the way to Miami you would get a little relaxation. Seems you found a way to find some extra work.”
Almost instinctively, Ross pulled her down onto his lap. The easy snug fit had them both looking at each other with a bit of shock. Ross reached up and brought his finger to her cheek. “I didn’t go looking for this work. It came and found me.”
Essie knew she should get up, push back, act affronted, something. But sitting on Ross’s lap, doing exactly what she was doing in that moment, was the only thing she wanted to do, and right where she was, was the only place she wanted to be.
She took in his dark eyes as he looked at her with a raw, unrestrained desire, the type she had never experienced. “I swear, you make me do the most unprofessional and inappropriate things, Ross Montgomery. When I’m around you, I feel like I’m somehow not my usual self.”
Those sexy as hell lips quirked a little at that, and she wanted to kiss him again.
“Is that so bad?” he asked.
Essie thought for a moment. “It sure isn’t good. What must you think of me? What must the crew?”
He let out a low, husky growl as he pulled her in close and nuzzled at her neck, sending the most decadent thrill sizzling throughout her body.
“Why are you so worried about what the crew thinks, or what I think for that matter?” he asked as he leaned back a bit and looked up at her seriously, and maybe a little too deeply. “Why not think about yourself and what you want and feel—do you ever do that?”
Once again he read her and came back with a too-clear summary. She was always caring what others thought and putting their needs before her own. Wasn’t it just what she was saying was her downfall and what she had to change most about herself? Essie looked at Ross now and came out with the truth. “No, I usually don’t ever do that.”
He ran a hand lazily up and down her side, the shivers turning into lazy waves that lulled her into some sort of Ross Montgomery spell.
“Is there any particular reason you don’t?”
Suddenly he felt too close to home, and Essie wanted to dodge the subject. She shimmied around and reached for his tray, pulling it toward him while trying to get up. Essie pulled the cover off the plate, and once again Ross pulled a skeptical face. Essie laughed. “Really, again? What were you living on? Drive-through breakfast specials, too? You really have to change your palate.” She hoisted herself up.
“Aww, come on now,” Ross said as Essie went around to the other side of the table.
“Come on, yourself. Pouting isn’t cute on a CEO. For lunch you’ll join me in the kitchen. I think a lesson is in order.”
Ross surprised her by grinning as he held up his smoothie. “Fine. I welcome joining you in the kitchen. I’ll show you where the fryer is and we can dispose of whatever monstrosity made this.”
Essie rolled her eyes. “That is incredibly healthy and delicious.”
Ross laughed, shaking his head. “Well, I finally found the one thing you can’t cook.” He sipped at it again and grimaced. “You didn’t really cook this, did you? You’re pulling one over on me.”
“Well, technically, it’s not cooked.”
Ross cocked his head to the side as he put the smoothie down and dug into his omelet and salmon. “Well, therein lies your problem. Food is meant to be cooked.”
Now it was Essie’s turn to frown. “Why is that a rule?”
“It’s my rule.”
“And what? Your rules are somehow law or something?”
He shrugged before taking a long pull of coffee. “Or something.”
Essie leaned back, crossing her arms. “You are annoyingly self-assured.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve heard that, and you have to know I can’t say I take it as an insult.”
“I’m not saying I meant it as one.” Essie let her gaze wander from him as she looked out at the view. Jayce walked by with an easy wave. It was a glorious day and she suddenly longed to go out.
“I’m glad to hear it. Usually it is not said so kindly.”
Essie looked at him once again, and there was a hint of something in his eyes. A certain longing. A hurt. For a moment she couldn’t help but wonder if it was a woman bringing that look into his eyes. She wanted to ask, but she knew it wasn’t her place. And then he blinked, and as she’d seen him do before, his expression quickly changed and he was cool. Not emotionless, but there was no sign of the brief hint of hurt she had seen. Just the smooth assurance he usually exuded.
“The sun is getting strong. Would you join me for a stroll around the deck? We never took that walk last night.”
Essie looked at him and thought of Misha and her ever-so-obvious setup. She wondered if he was in on it, too, and felt her lips twist. What if he was? Would that be so bad? What was the harm in having some fun for a change? She’d earned it, working pretty much nonstop this past year. “Fine, but you’ll join me in the kitchen after we go out.”
“Of course,” he said, getting up and heading for the deck’s open doors, confident in the knowledge she’d follow. When she didn’t immediately, Ross paused and turned back, putting out his hand. “Please walk with me awhile, Essie?”
Fighting not to overthink, Essie reached out and took Ross’s hand in her own, ignoring the smooth, easy fit. “Okay, Ross, show me around. But after that, it’s my turn and in my kitchen, and you’re my student. So I’m in charge?”
He grinned. “Deal,” he said with a mischievous look in his eyes. “How about we seal it with a kiss?”
Essie pushed at him playfully, but followed it by pulling him down until his lips met hers once again. She kissed him until she felt they both needed to jump into the water and cool off. Ross’s low moan followed by his erection when she rubbed against him was her clear indication she’d gotten the best of him. She pulled back and looked up into his eyes. “I told you, Ross. You make me do the most improper things.”
He smiled. “And once again, I’m so glad for it.” But he pulled away from her and took her hand again. “Still, I don’t want to rush you. At least not an hour into our first full day together. Besides,” he said, taking a breath, “if I don’t slow down, I may embarrass myself.”
Essie couldn’t help the inner smile that showed on the outside with that one. She knew she was good-looking enough and did fine with men. At least no one was kicking her out of bed or turning her down, but no one was openly expressing to her that she made them feel out of control. It was nice, if not surprising, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was some sort of line. She looked at Ross and tried to hide her skepticism.
“Sure. Let’s walk. Tell me about your project.”
As they walked, Ross told her about the resort he was building. It was an offshoot of his Bermuda resort. But closer to Miami. Essie was amazed at the size and scope of the project and the fact that it sounded like a mini utopia, sort of a Fantasy Island for the new set. If he could pull it off, it would be great. Not that she’d see the likes of it. It sounded like “if you have to ask the cost, you can’t afford it.” Single residences, with private chefs, twenty-four-hour maid and concierge service. All top-notch. No amenity spared and, he’d added, practically no wish, within reason, denied. Essie couldn’t help the heat that rushed to her cheeks as her mind wandered to the types of hedonistic fantasies she could explore with Ross in a place like that.
They made their way back toward the main salon area, and Ross and Essie took lounge chairs on deck to relax in the sun awhile. Essie turned to him. “The island sounds fabulous, and like it’s a huge undertaking. I can see why you’ve been under so much stress with that in the works, plus your other holdings in the city. What made you take it on? Your resort in Bermuda is already successful.”
Ross’s expression got serious for a moment before he spoke. “I don’t know. Bermuda is wonderful, but I’m ready to expand. In New York I can always go up, and, believe me, I will. But my father made his mark in resorts, and I know he always wanted to do something like this. Could never do something like this. I’m going to be the Montgomery to make it happen.”
Essie frowned. “Have you spoken with your father about it? Is he one of your investors?”
Ross’s eyes grew cold. “No. He’s given up on that part of the business. Told me I was a fool to do it. I plan to prove him wrong. Once and for all.”
Something in Ross’s voice let her know she’d gone far enough with the questions for one morning. She gave him a smile. “Well, you’ll need your strength to do that. What about we hit the kitchen?” She stood and then reached out a hand to pull him up, but Ross pulled her back down on top of him. Her body hit his with a gentle thump.
“I’d much rather spend time learning more about you, Essie.”
His lips were strong and self-assured. There was no tentative pretense in this kiss. Ross pulled her into him, his large hands roaming up her thighs and cupping her behind perfectly as if he had some sort of claim to stake as he rubbed her against his hard body. He coaxed her lips apart and his tongue expertly intertwined with hers, stroking against hers until her body was aflame from her toes on up.
Essie let out a moan when he moved a hand from her behind to the underside of her breast. His thumb teased over her nipple in a circular motion and her most intimate spot went instantly to liquid. “Hell, the things you won’t do to get out of cooperating,” she said, her voice a hoarse whisper as she pushed up against his chest.
Ross chuckled. “I didn’t get this far by playing fair.”
Essie came to her feet, taking gulps of air and smoothing down her hair. She looked down at him with narrowed eyes. “No, I don’t think you did.”