A/N
So this is just a quick short update because y'all have been asking for one. I hope you enjoy it! Any feedback is appreciated.
Authors POV
Cheryl made a few important phone calls that couldn't wait another day. She called her assistant and asked him to order a new phone to be shipped to her overnight as well as to cancel her credit cards since she'd left her purse somewhere at the resort.
When she'd finished with the calls, she hung up the phone and found that Jonathan had entered the room at some point during her last call. He'd brought a bottle of whiskey and sat down directly across from Cheryl, placing it between them. "Need a drink? You look like you could use one."
Cheryl waved away the offer. "The only drink I could use right now is water. Alcohol just dehydrates you."
Jonathan rolled his eyes. "You never loosen up, do you? It's a wonder that your little gal pal didn't run away screaming as soon as you opened your mouth."
Funny. Kimberley hadn't though she was a stuck up bitch. She scowled at Jonathan. Her adventurous friend sometimes got on her nerves with his attitude. Jonathan would move mountains-or destroy companies-to help his friends out, but sometimes the man needed to learn to shut up.
"We got stuck in an elevator."
Jonathan snorted, knocking back his drink. "Is that how you got left behind? I was wondering if that shit manager of the place had neglected to tell anyone that you were there."
"I fired him a few hours before the evacuation." So no, Cheryl hadn't been really surprised that no one had come looking for them.
"So . . . the girl. You said her name was Kimberley?"
Cheryl nodded absently, thinking of her wind-tossed hair, her lips and her brilliant smile.
"Cute girl. She's with you, I take it?"
Cheryl's eyes narrowed possessiveness ran through her. "Why?"
Jonathan raised a hand. "I was just going to comment that she wasn't your regular type."
"What exactly do you know about my regular type?"
"They're friendlier, for one. That girl looked like she was ready to chew you up and spit you out once she found out you owned the place. You lied to her?"
"She saw me and assumed I was the manager. I decided not to tell her the truth. Seemed easier."
"Well, I guess she's not a gold digger," Jonathan commented. "She did look pretty pissed, though."
"She'll get over it. The lie was to her benefit."
"If you say so. You know her better than I do. What did you say she did for a living?"
"Nothing."
Jonathan frowned and then leaned forward to pour himself another drink. "What do you mean, nothing?"
"I mean she does nothing for a living. She's a waitress at a diner."
"Ah. I'm starting to see why you kept your identity a secret. Afraid she's going to look to you to keep her in the lifestyle that she needs?"
Cheryl thought about that for a moment, frowning to herself. Actually, she didn't see Kimberley like that at all. She'd been so pleased with the smallest of things-like this morning's breakfast. If anything, she seemed uncomfortable with wealth. She'd been looking around Jonathan's beach house in pure dismay. It would take her a while to get used to this lifestyle, cheryl figured.
She rather liked the thought of Kimberley in her life. She wanted kimberley in arms, snuggled up next to her in the car, in her home . . . in her bed. She liked that visual very much. And kimberley was a waitress, so it wasn't like she'd be giving up a career to be at her beck and call. An smile curved Cheryl's mouth.
"She's not like that, Jonathan. She's different. Trust me."
"If you say so. She seems nice enough, the few minutes she wasn't glaring at you." Her friend shrugged and picked up the liquor bottle, moving back to the cabinet by the window.
"I'll make it up to her," Cheryl decided after a long minute. Maybe she'd take her to another beach resort. A real one, not that rundown rat trap Island.
But Jonathan was still staring out the window. His lips twitched, and he glanced back at Cheryl. "You said she won't hold a grudge?"
Cheryl shook her head.
"And that she's different from most women?"
"Where are you going with this, Jonathan?"
Jonathan grinned and thumbed toward the window. "She's definitely different, I'll give her that. I'm thinking she was so overcome at the news of your wealth that she felt the need to run. Your ladylove just escaped in a cab."
Cheryl jumped to her feet, moving to the window. Sure enough, there was a cab pulling away from the house. Damn it. She'd run away. Why? Cheryl didn't understand. "Where do you think she's going?"
"Away from you?"
She glared at Jonathan. Bullshit. Her Kimberley ? Running? Something was wrong. "Go tell your driver to follow them."
Jonathan gave her a look she couldn't make out. "You're joking, right? She's a free woman. She's allowed to leave. Why don't you call her and apologize?"
Cheryl didn't have anything to apologize for, damn it. She scowled as she picked up the phone, then dropped it again. "I don't have her number."
Cheryl watched the cab disappear into the distance. The time they'd spent together on the island had been perfect. Why was she running now that they were back on land? Was this punishment because she'd lied to her? A challenge of some kind? Did she want to be chased?
Little did she know that Cheryl tweedy never backed down from a challenge. And her leaving without even saying good-bye? That was definitely a challenge.
Except kimberley likely didn't realize that it only made her more attractive to me, Cheryl thought. If there was any further proof needed that kimberley wasn't after her money, it was this. Kimberley had wanted her when she was a nobody. Now cheryl needed to find her again and prove to her that she'd still want her, regardless of the fact that she was really a billionaire.
And cheryl could be very convincing when she wanted to be.
***
