Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
He shook his head at what he’d gotten himself into. “I’ll do my best.”
She smiled at him, all earlier tension gone. With her makeup-free face, she was more beautiful than any woman he’d had on his arm at the varied fundraisers and galas he’d attended. Women with full glam makeup and sexy dresses didn’t come close to Nikki.
Man, he was fucked.
“Let’s go.” He climbed out of the vehicle and came around to meet her.
She hooked her arm in his and they went shopping.
Nikki spent over an hour in various souvenir shops, where she bought herself beaded necklaces and bracelets, including a set for Maggie, which stumped Asher. When he’d asked, she’d informed him that the older woman had been kind to her, checking her leg and making sure she had round-the-clock Benadryl and ibuprofen.
Which was more than her own mother had ever done, a statement that stayed with him. Even if Asher’s mom hadn’t been present mentally and later physically, he’d always had Serenity. Who he’d never appreciated as much as he now realized he should have.
“Ooh look!” Nikki held up a long tie-dye dress against herself. “Yep. I’ll take it!”
She purchased that item along with other dresses and resort wear without trying things on. He assumed as a model, she had an eye for what fit her. At their next stop, a gallery, she bought an original painting of the pink sand both Eleuthera and Harbour Island were known for, exclaiming how it would go perfectly in her room in New York.
As soon as she’d said the words her room, the excitement in her eyes had dimmed. She’d muttered something about the damn pictures taken there and she’d shut down, her happiness gone.
He was determined to get it back and see her smile.
Asher loaded her purchases into the SUV, and they walked to the café he had in mind for lunch. “So this place is relaxing. It’s owned by a husband and wife who grew up on the island,” he said as they strode up three wooden plank steps surrounded by palm trees. “Don’t expect a quick meal. We’ll probably be here for a couple of hours.”
Which made him wonder why he’d chosen this restaurant. Didn’t he have work to do? As opposed to watching her eyes light up like the color of the ocean when it turned more green than blue.
“Sounds perfect!” Nikki practically bounced with happiness as he’d hoped.
He admired her ability to put the shit in her life out of her head and enjoy the here and now. He didn’t know many people with that ability. Hell, he always had fifty thousand things going on in his mind and was aggravated with about half of them.
Yet the last hour or so, walking around town, listening to Nikki ask the shopkeepers questions about their items for sale, watching her expressive face as she learned more about the island and its people? He hadn’t thought about anything other than her.
He pulled open the door to the restaurant and let her walk in ahead of him. They were greeted by a pretty young woman with glowing brown skin and braids that fell to her waist. Asher recognized her as the owners’ daughter.
“Hello, Mr. Dare. It’s so good to see you back,” she said with a welcoming smile.
“I’ve told you, it’s Asher. You’re home from school. You graduated?” he asked.
She nodded with a proud tilt to her chin.
Asher turned to Nikki. “Nikki, this is Aayla. Aayla went to culinary school in the States.” He gestured back and forth between the women. “And Aayla, this is my… friend Nikki.” He stumbled over what to call Nikki.
But she grinned at the woman who wasn’t more than a couple of years older than her. “It’s nice to meet you.” Nikki took a step closer. “I love your necklace.” A small clock face sat on a gold chain.
“Thanks! I bought it when I was in New York,” Aayla said.
“And I bought things in some gift shops here to wear at home.”
The women chatted some more until Aayla picked up paper menus. “Come. It’s still quiet. There’s a spot out back overlooking the water.” She led them outside to a table for four.
Asher gestured for Nikki to take a chair facing the shoreline, and she delicately sat down, making sure her short skirt covered her ass. Jesus.
He’d planned to take the chair across from her until Aayla placed the second menu on the spot beside Nikki. “So you both have an ocean view,” she said. “Can I get you drinks?”
“I’ll have a virgin piña colada, please,” Nikki said.
The nonalcoholic choice took him by surprise.
“Mr. Dare?” Aayla asked.
He glanced at the drink menu in a Lucite holder. “When in… the Bahamas,” he mused. “I’ll have a Long Island coquito.”
“Great. Do you want to look at the menu and order or I can have my father surprise you?”