His Off Limits Best Friend - Vivian Wood Page 0,40

Romeo Spider 1600 he’d rented.

“Oh wow,” she said as she traced her hand over the convertible. “A 1966?” she asked.

“Alright, what don’t you know?” he teased her, and nodded for the hired attendant to take their larger bags ahead to the house.

“Who doesn’t know that?” she asked. “Besides the fact that the Duetto is what Dustin Hoffmann drove in The Graduate.”

“Ah, Mrs. Robinson,” he said. “One of my first crushes.”

She looked at him with a raised brow.

“My father loved that movie,” he said. “Big surprise. You want to drive?” he asked, and surprised even himself.

Her eyes got big. “No!” she said. “I… I don’t like driving abroad. It makes me too nervous.”

“Suit yourself,” he said. The sun still lit up the sky, barely.

“Where are we staying?” she asked as she tied a silk scarf kept in her purse around her hair. She looked like a young Anne Bancroft, he realized. Save for those eyes that pulled everyone close.

“Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo,” he told her. He was slightly ashamed by how poor his accent was compared to hers. That was a first. It had been a long time since he’d felt bested by anyone.

“Never heard of it,” she said. Sam’s hand soared just beyond the door as she let the wind carry her. “Not that I expected to,” she added.

“Well, it’s no Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, but it should do,” he told her. She slapped him lightly on the arm and laughed.

Sam took in the city with sheer wonder. He’d forgotten what that was like, to be so thrilled and awestruck at being somewhere new. To not feel like he had to act nonchalant and unimpressed with everything in life. Connor soaked it up happily and let himself experience the city through her eyes.

As they checked in, the man at the front desk eyed Sam without reservations. “Your, eh… sister?” he asked Connor. It seemed half in hope, and half in confusion that he’d booked a suite with two bedrooms.

“My fiancée,” he said quickly.

“But, monsieur, you have the Exclusive Room,” he said.

“Yes…”

“It has the, eh, two bedrooms? Are you expecting more guests?”

“No. We just like our space,” he said. Sam had wandered away slightly and stared up at the soaring glass dome ceiling supported by elegant white columns which featured swirls and lattice-like details.

“Yes, I understand,” the man said with a nod. “Pierre will escort you.”

“Pierre,” Connor whispered to Sam as they walked toward the private elevator. “Your boyfriend’s here.”

She rolled her eyes. “You caught me,” she said.

“I can see you really do make full use of your French,” he said.

As they crossed the foyer, a teenage boy on holiday with his parents meowed at Sam. She jumped and gave the kid a funny look. “What was that?” she asked Connor.

He laughed. “Meowing is the catcall in France. And, apparently, Monaco.”

“Well, that’s weird!” she said.

“Your suite,” Pierre said, as he threw open the double doors in a grand gesture.

“Oh, my…” Sam’s voice trailed off as she took in the incredible ocean views. “The beach is right there!” she said. Below them, the last of the setting sun was reflected in the waters.

“Would you like me to show you—” Pierre began, but Connor shook his head and handed him his tip.

“No need, I’m familiar with the suite,” he said.

“It’s incredible,” Sam whispered to him. She stood at the glass that overlooked the beach, and he came up behind her.

“Go get ready for dinner,” he said into her ear. “There are a few options beyond what James packed for you, waiting in your en suite.”

“You’re crazy,” she said, but turned to him with eyes filled with wonder.

18

Sam

Sam had crashed right after dinner the night before, jet lagged and drained from the spikes in adrenaline. However, it ensured her clock got back on schedule and when she woke up in the morning, it was to a note from Connor which asked her to choose a bikini from the dresser for a day on the beach.

She couldn’t help but try on every single one. From Minimale Animale sexy monokinis with mesh overlays to bright printed cutout bikinis from Agent Provocateur that made her feel like Sofia Vergara, she couldn’t choose.

However, when she looked at herself in the mirror, shyness suddenly overtook her. She tried on a simple bikini, distracted by the fact that all of the bottoms James had chosen rode up her ass into makeshift G-strings. Is this the look here? she wondered.

“Connor! You out there?” she called.

“Yeah, you ready?”

“I don’t know,” she said.