“The tulips will be here on Tuesday, in tight bud condition, with a guaranteed arrival of no later than 3:00 p.m. That gives me time to put together the bouquets and boutonnieres without the heat forcing the flowers open prematurely.” She sighed. “I have Arvin speaking to the resort’s contracted fishermen about harvesting the scallops, but he’s not sure what they’ll be able to gather this time of year. We may have to add them to the seafood croquettes, but there will be shellfish in some form or another.”
Liam hooked his arms behind his head and watched Ella pace the length of the deck. “You need to relax, Ella.”
She sucked in a short breath, tension carving deep grooves in the soft skin beside her lush mouth. “I’ll relax when this wedding is a success. There’ll be time and opportunity then. But right now? I can’t. Too much is riding on luck showing up to play for my team, and in my experience she tends to avoid critical situations where I’m involved. She’ll show up afterward and be all, ‘What? You needed me? My cell never rang.’”
Liam smiled. “You’re sexy when you’re strung out.”
“You think so?”
“I do.”
She shook her head and laughed softly. “Then you ought to find me completely irresistible by Monday night.”
“It will work out the way it’s supposed to, Ella. Trust me on this. And I find you irresistible right now.”
“Sweet talker.” Her smile faded. “If all that mattered was an exchange of vows, I’d agree. But there’s so much more to making a bride’s dream manifest as reality. I was under the impression she wanted butterflies, not birds, released at the close of the ceremony. Now I find out she wants four dozen birds released with the kiss. So while I figure out the best place to release the butterflies that will arrive Monday, I have Arvin trying to source the birds. It’s all last-minute, of course, and all he can come up with are pigeons. Not quite the same effect as white doves soaring free.”
Sitting up, Liam straddled the hammock and motioned her forward.
She moved toward him like a cautious cat, lithe and smooth but ready to bolt if threatened. “What?”
He wiggled his fingers in an impatient gesture. “You need to take a few minutes and relax.”
“I don’thavea few minutes to relax. I ‘relaxed’ last night and slept through my alarm this morning.”
He stood and moved toward her, silently celebrating when she held her ground and squared her shoulders. This woman was no shrinking violet. It made the battle of wills sharper and conquest that much sweeter...no matter who won. And Liam wasn’t averse to being conquered now and again.
Pulling her into his embrace, his hands skated down her back, over the expanse of bare skin and, cupping her butt, pulled her into his semierect cock. “If you won’t take a break for your own well-being, take one for mine.”
Ella slid her arms around his waist at the same time she twined her right leg around his left. “You’re bribing me to slack off on your sister’s wedding.”
“No.” He lowered his head and nibbled his way along her jaw to her neck, down and then down some more until he reached her collarbone. A quick nip drew a sharp intake of breath from her, and his cock swelled hard and fast. “I’ve no doubt you’ll handle what needs handling.” Taking her hand, he rested it on his erection, his nostrils flaring when she closed her hand over his length and stroked him through his shorts.
Ella’s breath came faster, scalding the skin of his neck. Backing toward the bedroom, she tightened her hold on him and whispered, “And what about you, Liam? Do you need to be handled?”
“By you?” he asked. “Always.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
ELLA’SPHONEBUZZED.Face buried under her pillow, she blindly searched the tabletop until she found it, but the call went to voice mail before she managed to answer.
“Don’t you dare leave this bed.” The commanding male voice was still laced with sleep. “Whoever it was will call back, and whatever they want will keep until then.”
Sunlight slipped through the window, softened by the gauzy mosquito netting that surrounded the bed and created a haven within the tropical paradise. “Says the man who left me without even a note yesterday morning.” She stretched until her muscles shook and then went limp, letting her arms flop onto the expansive mattress. One hand made contact with her lover’s arm.
He grunted his objection.
The temptation to lie there until noon was too real. “I need sustenance.” She weakly clapped her hands. “Breakfast in bed, man. Make it happen.”
The bed shifted. Small electronic notes indicated Liam was placing a call. Still, it surprised her when his sleep-roughened voice greeted the person on the other end with “And good morning to you, Marise. This is Liam Baggett. I’d like to place a room service order, please.” A pause. “Crepes with fresh cream and strawberries, fruit, granola, Belgian waffles, sourdough toast, bacon, orange juice and a carafe of regular black coffee.” Another pause. “That’s it. Just charge it to my room. Oh, and if you would have the meal set up on our patio, that would be lovely.”
Ella’s stomach rumbled in appreciation. The man certainly had good taste. She rolled onto her back and draped one arm over her eyes as the beep of the phone said Liam had disconnected the call. “How long before I can put caffeine in my system?”
He chuckled. “Twenty minutes.”
A warm hand slid across her abdomen, and she sucked in a sharp, short breath. “Too long.”
“Just long enough for me to distract you,” he countered, reaching for her.