Bree Read online

  “I couldn’t agree more.” He studied her more closely than he had upon meeting her, noting her delicate face had high exotic cheekbones, full rounded lips over even white teeth, and smooth skin that glowed with pale gold undertones. She might very well be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Why in the world was she still single? That was hardly a question to ask someone he barely knew, but maybe at some point, as he got to know her better, he’d find out what her story was.

  Bree held up the bottom of her floral sundress and walked farther into the water, letting the waves cover her knees. When he followed her, she looked over at him and laughed. “You’re getting your pants all wet.”

  “They’ll dry.”

  She raised a finely arched brow at him. “The men I’ve known wouldn’t dare get their thousand dollar jeans soaked with salt water.”

  He was momentarily speechless in his surprise. “I’m not ashamed to say mine cost a fraction of that. Maybe you’ve been seeing the wrong kind of guys.”

  She seemed to contemplate that for a moment before saying, “You might be right about that. The men I’ve dated cared more about how they looked than having a good time. Or me for that matter,” she added a few seconds later. “Guess that’s why traveling around the world alone hasn’t been so bad. Although, it would be nice…” She let her words trail off, but he knew what she was going to say. She’d come here for the same reason he had—to meet that special someone.

  “Those men must’ve been fools.” He didn’t know why he said that. The words just seemed to slip off his tongue, and when her cheeks turned pink, he quickly added, “Were your travels for leisure?”

  “Some were, but mostly for business.”

  “What do you do?”

  She hesitated a moment. “I work with my dad. You might have heard of Wilson International. We build and renovate golf clubs, hotels, and resorts. We’re in the process of building one now right here in Bali.”

  “Of course I’ve heard of Wilson.” He should’ve made the connection. He’d read an article not too long ago about the billion-dollar business, but he never imagined he’d be matched with the gorgeous heir. “That would explain why you chose this location. A little work with your leisure, am I right?”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “Not at all. I’d probably do the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

  “Really? Everyone I know wished I wouldn’t work while I’m here.”

  “Working in moderation is fine, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your having fun.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s been the story of my life. All work and practically no play. I guess if I met the right guy that would change.” Biting her lip, she looked away.

  “I’m starving aren’t you?”

  “I’m beyond hungry.”

  “Why don’t we head back to the villa and order some food?”

  “Race you!”

  Before he could answer, she was out of the water and bolting across the sand with her long, dark hair blowing around her like strands of ebony. It didn’t take him long to catch up with her. He hadn’t expected such playfulness in someone so sophisticated and elegant, but he liked it and hoped it would continue for the entire week.

  Chapter Seven

  Bree collapsed on the lounge chair, breathless. Jayce sat down on the other one, and when he stretched out his long legs, his feet hung over the end.

  “What would you like for dinner?” he asked, taking off his sunglasses and setting them on the glass table that sat between them.

  “The sushi here is fabulous.” She’d been craving tuna all day.

  “You eat raw fish?” His tone was coolly disapproving.

  “Of course. You don’t?”

  “Nope. I prefer a nice juicy steak.”

  Bree’s stomach churned. “I don’t eat meat.”

  “Another reason we’re not a match.”

  She didn’t fail to catch the note of disappointment in his voice as he got to his feet and then strode inside. A minute later he was back carrying two glasses of fruit juice.

  He handed her one as he said, “Dinner should be here soon. I ordered you a sushi platter. Is that okay?”

  “Perfect. Thanks.” She took a sip of the drink and studied him over the rim of the glass. His windblown hair was sticking up at odd angles all around his head, and his jeans, caked with sand along the hem, were wet all the way up to his thighs. Most men she knew wouldn’t be caught dead looking that way. They would’ve run straight to the bathroom to fix their hair and change their pants. Nothing less than perfection would do for the men she’d dated. Not Jayce though. He didn’t seem the least bit interested in his appearance. Maybe it was because he was secure in his own skin. And why not? He didn’t need hair gel or fancy clothes to improve his appearance.

  He walked over to the edge of the deck and rested his elbows on the railing. “I never imagined anywhere could be this beautiful.”

  Bree got up and stood next to him. The sky was ablaze with vivid streaks of crimson and the ocean was lined with gold. “I have to agree. I never seem to get enough of this island. And if you want to see something magical, just wait a few minutes. Right after the sun sinks over the horizon, the sky will turn purple and cobalt and then a star-studded black. It’s beyond amazing.”

  The way his deep chocolate eyes delved into hers made her wish for a brief second that there might be a possibility of romance between them. The backdrop was perfect for it. But then reality came rushing back to tell her the thought was utterly ridiculous. The last thing she needed was a brief fling. If she’d wanted that, she could’ve found it at home. Luckily, her mind was taken off of such foolishness when the sun disappeared. She pointed up at the gorgeous sky. “Look!”

  Jayce followed her gaze with a broad smile. “It is amazing.”

  They stood there in silence for a while, until the waiter wheeled in a table covered with a white linen cloth. On it was their meals and a chocolate fondue surrounded by a variety of fruits, including pineapple chunks, strawberries, and banana and kiwi slices.

  She could hardly wait to delve into her dinner. As soon as the waiter left, Bree took a seat at the table. However, Jayce went into the kitchen.

  “Hurry up. I’m starving,” Bree yelled after him.

  A minute later he returned carrying a bottle of ketchup. “Can’t eat without this.”

  She grimaced. “You put ketchup on your steak.”

  He sat down across from her. “Yep. I put it on pretty much everything.”

  “What a way to ruin a good meal.”

  He chuckled. “You don’t hear me criticizing the way you eat your food.”

  “That’s because there’s nothing unappetizing about it.” Bree dropped some wasabi into a bowl of soy sauce and stirred it.

  “What do you call sushi?”

  “Delicious,” she said, using chopsticks to pop a piece of spicy tuna roll into her mouth.

  Jayce rolled his eyes as he squirted some ketchup on his plate, and then cut into his steak. A thick red juice ran out.

  Bree’s stomach revolted, and she quickly covered her mouth to keep from spitting out her food. After forcing herself to swallow, she cried, “It’s rare!”

  He shrugged. “So. Yours is raw.”

  She sucked in a deep breath, trying to control her nausea. “That’s different.”

  He raised his brows at her. “Really?”

  “Really.” Bree took a long drink of water and waited for her stomach to settle down before taking another bite, making sure not to look at his plate. “Tell me about your farm?” she asked, setting down the chopsticks.

  He leaned back in his chair. “What do you want to know?”

  She was baffled by his question. Most guys loved talking about themselves. “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve never been on a farm. How many cows do you have?”

  “Three thousand.”

  She took a quick breath of utter astonishment. “Three thousand?”

 
“That’s right.” His eyes suddenly filled with fierce sparkling and he seemed amused by her shock.

  “That’s a lot to milk.”

  His laugh was rich and infectious, and before she knew it, she was laughing with him. While they ate, he explained the entire milking process, and Bree hated to admit that she was interested in it.

  When they were finished with their meals, she said, “I’m stuffed, but not too full for a little chocolate.” Bree dipped a strawberry into the fondue. “How about you?”

  “I’ll have a little fruit, but not the chocolate.”

  She stared at him in astonishment. “You don’t like chocolate?”

  “Nope. Not even a little.”

  “Well, that leaves more for me,” she said, dunking a pineapple chunk into the bowl.

  “And one more reason we’re not a match.”

  She didn’t know if he was trying to be sarcastic, or funny, or something else, but he was starting to annoy her by saying that. Maybe it was because she was exhausted, or perhaps because they weren’t a match. Whatever the reason, she said a quick goodnight and headed up to her room.

  A little while later when in bed, she checked her cell phone to see if Dawson had returned her call. No surprise that he hadn’t, and that annoyed her even more, so she called him again. “I know what you’re doing,” she said into the phone. “You’re avoiding me because you don’t want to hear how badly you messed up with my match. But you’re not going to get off that easy. Jayce seems like a nice enough guy, but we have absolutely nothing in common, and the more time I spend with him, the more obvious it becomes. Even if he didn’t live in Nebraska, he wouldn’t be the right guy for me. You’re lucky if I last here the week.”

  After venting, she felt a little better and fell asleep as soon as she turned off the light.

  Chapter Eight

  Jayce had expected to fall right to sleep. The bed was beyond comfortable, and he was beyond exhausted, but he found himself tossing and turning. Maybe it was because he was overtired. Or maybe it was because he couldn’t stop thinking about Bree. He knew there wasn't a chance for a relationship, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy her company. She was unlike any woman he’d ever known, and if he wasn’t careful, he feared his heart might win over common sense. There was no doubt he was going to have to keep reminding himself not to fall victim to her charm.

  At some point, his lids grew too heavy to keep open, and he drifted off to sleep. The next morning he woke later than he’d wanted. Bree was already out on the deck having breakfast. There was a plate full of pastries in the middle of the table, another filled with fruit, a pitcher of orange juice, and a pot of coffee.

  “Good morning.” She shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked up at him. “Hungry?”

  “I’m more of a cereal kind of guy.”

  “There should be some in one of the cabinets. They keep this place well stocked.”

  Jayce wandered into the kitchen and found a box of corn flakes, but the only milk was rice milk, and he wasn’t about to use that, so he headed back to the deck with a bowl of dry cereal.

  “What’s that?” Bree asked when he sat down.

  “Corn flakes.”

  “I know that. Where’s the milk?”

  “There isn’t any.”

  She frowned. “I thought I saw a carton.”

  “It’s rice milk.”

  “That’s good. Did you try it?”

  He poured himself a glass of juice. “Nope. Don’t need to. I like regular milk. Not skim. Not fat-free. And not rice.”

  Her gentle laugh rippled through the air. “Well, that’s easily remedied.” Bree reached for the resort cell phone that was beside her breakfast plate and asked for a carton of milk. After she hung up, she took a few more bites of her croissant, and then leaned back in her chair. “What would you like to do today?”

  “I’ve always wanted to go snorkeling.”

  She shot him a dazzling smile. “That sounds perfect.”

  When the butler arrived with the milk, she said to him, “We’d like to charter a boat for the day. A glass bottom one, if available.”

  “I will arrange that for you, Miss Wilson, and call you with the details,” the butler replied.

  “Thank you.” After he left, Bree said, “We’ll sail around the island. There are lots of hidden beaches and private reefs to discover.”

  “Should be fun.” While he ate, Bree went over to the end of the deck and called her dad. Jayce could tell by the look on her face that she was worried about him. “Everything okay?” he asked when she came back to the table.

  Fear glittered in her eyes. “My dad has a heart condition. The night before I left to come here, he had a dizzy spell. He told me he was fine and not to worry, but of course, I do, and plan to check on him periodically.”

  “I’m sorry. I hope he’s going to be fine. I know how important family is.” Jayce couldn’t keep the sadness from his voice, and Bree picked up on it.

  “Do your parents live on the farm with you?”

  “They did.” A flash of grief ripped through him, and he swallowed hard the lump in his throat. “They died three years ago. A car accident. Hit by a drunk driver.”

  She let out a small gasp and sank into the chair beside him. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks. But at least they were together. They would’ve wanted that. I don’t think one could’ve survived without the other.” Memories of them flashed through his mind. His breath hitched in his throat, but he knew they were in a better place, and that thought comforted him. “Every Friday night was their date night. They went to dinner and the movies, but that night they never came home.”

  Bree reached over and put her hand over his. Her skin was soft and warm and felt good against his.

  “They kept the romance alive for thirty-one years.”

  Although Bree blinked quickly, it was clear there were tears in her eyes. “They were lucky. I don’t think many can claim that. I know my parents couldn’t. My mom was a nightmare. She left when I was four, and I haven’t seen her since, but I’m sure that’s a good thing.” Although she put on a tough facade, the pain in her eyes was apparent. “We should probably get dressed,” she said, changing the subject and taking her hand off his. “We could get a call at any moment that the boat’s ready.”

  Jayce helped her pile up their dishes and carry them into the kitchen. As he watched her go upstairs, his heart went out to her. He’d had his parents for most of his life. She only had her mother for the first few years. That had to have hurt her, even if she didn’t know it, and may have something to do with why she was still single.

  Chapter Nine

  Bree slipped into a white one-piece swimsuit, then threw on her favorite denim cutoffs, and a pair of light-soled flats. She was glad they were chartering a boat today. Being out on the water always cleared the cobwebs from her head. And they were especially bad after the conversation she had with Jayce. Her mother was a sore subject and one she rarely talked about. But it had seemed necessary to tell Jayce a little something about her past, as he'd dared to tell her about his parents’ accident.

  She’d just finished packing a large tote bag with a change of clothes, a kaftan in case they decided to go ashore and have dinner somewhere, a utility jacket in case it got chilly, a towel, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen when the resort cell phone rang. She answered right away and was happy to learn that their boat was ready and waiting at the main dock. Bree’s mood immediately improved and there was a spring in her step as she went downstairs to tell Jayce.

  He was sitting on the living room couch, looking more handsome than ever. His chino shorts were rolled up slightly, giving him a casual sailor look, and he had the first few buttons on his cotton short-sleeved shirt undone so that a portion of his chest showed. On his feet, were a pair of classic boat shoes. He looked like one of the fashion gurus she used to date, and nothing at all like a dairy farmer from Nebraska.

  “Don’t forge
t your swim trunks,” she advised. When Jayce lifted his shirt, exposing his six-pack abs, and then pulled down a bit of his shorts to show her he had them on, there was no way to still her racing heart. “The boat’s ready. We need to go,” she said quickly, hoping her cheeks hadn’t turned red as they tended to do when she got flustered.

  Jayce slipped on his sunglasses, then grabbed the sweatshirt that was draped over the arm of the couch.

  “Want me to put that in my tote bag?” she asked.

  “Sure.” He handed it to her, and she stuffed it into her bag.

  The walk to the dock was a short one. Bree immediately spotted the butler standing in front of a luxury yacht. He helped them on, then introduced them to the captain and other staff members.

  They stayed up on deck for a while, enjoying the sun and gorgeous scenery, then they went below to view the underwater flora and fauna through the boat’s glass bottom.

  Bree was watching Jayce as much as she was the fish. It was nice to experience this with someone who never had before, and the expressions on his face were priceless. However, she was a little sad too, knowing after this vacation, she’d be traveling alone again.

  After about an hour, they went back up on deck to give snorkeling a try, but no sooner had they gotten up there than the wind picked up and the waves became choppier, causing the rolling and pitching of the boat to increase.

  Jayce’s skin turned a sickly shade of grey-green. “Where’s the men’s room?” he croaked.

  “Down below, to the left,” she instructed. When quite a bit of time went by, and he hadn’t returned, she went to find him. “Jayce,” she called while knocking on the bathroom door. “Are you okay?”

  “Do you call being sick as a dog okay?”

  “Oh, no. That’s awful. What can I do for you?”