Or maybe it wouldn’t. Kelly Prentiss was a hell of a beautiful woman. Even in the office, she was a head-turner. When they’d go out for meetings in restaurants or to meet potential investors, she definitely got the attention of men.
“Ready to go?” she asked, holding onto her straw bag.
At least she had on a cover-up that he couldn’t see through. She’d tied the wrap around her waist and pulled her hair up on top of her head. Just a few pieces fell down along her neck, caressing her creamy skin.
He seriously had to think of anything else so he didn’t give away exactly what he was thinking. These damn lip bottoms didn’t hide a thing.
“Let’s go.”
“I also have the butler bringing more drinks,” she said as she headed toward the patio. “I told him we’d be on the beach so he is bringing them down there along with some snacks.”
She thought of everything. If he wasn’t so turned on by her, and angry with himself for allowing those unbidden emotions to slip in, he’d be impressed with how she continued to stand by him.
He couldn’t deny that he would’ve been lost these past five years without her. From having his back in board meetings to rallying around him emotionally during the crisis, Kelly was one of the strongest, most loyal women he knew. She was absolutely invaluable to him in all aspects of his life.
He followed her down to the beach and to the cabana they had. Kelly sat her bag down and reached for the tie of her wrap. Luke adjusted his sunglasses and slipped off his flip-flops, turning them over so the sun didn’t make them too hot.
When he glanced back up, he nearly choked.
“What are you doing?”
Kelly glanced to him, her hand in her straw bag. “Getting sunscreen,” she said as she pulled out the green can.
“What the hell is that suit?” he demanded.
She glanced down, then back up. “You told me to get a new one. You like?”
She did a slow turn. The top barely covered her nipples and the back... Luke swallowed...was a damn thong.
“No, I don’t like,” he growled. “You’re my assistant.”
Kelly laughed as she sprayed her arms. “Does my status change with each suit?”
Luke rubbed his jaw. “You can’t... I can’t—”
She stopped spraying and stared at him.
“This isn’t right,” he bit out.
“What?”
He motioned with his arms, pointing toward her very tempting display. “All of this. You, me...all of your bare skin. You’re my assistant.”
Her lips quirked in a grin. “You keep saying that, Luke. I’m well aware of my job title, but right now neither of us are working. I assure you, if I was another woman on vacation with you, this bathing suit wouldn’t be a problem.”
She went back to spraying herself, totally ignoring him. Luke clenched his jaw. Nobody ignored him. And when the hell did she get so mouthy? Was she trying to drive him out of his mind?
Luke moved around the cabana, his eyes locked on her gorgeous body. He stopped inches from her and she instantly stopped spraying to stare up at him.
“Need some spray?” she asked, holding up the bottle.
“I need you to stop this,” he commanded. “What are you doing to me?”
“Forced vacation, remember?”
He jerked his sunglasses off and tossed them to the cabana bed before doing the same with hers. He wanted total honestly and he needed to see her eyes to try to get a read on exactly how she was feeling.
“You bought this suit to be spiteful.”