Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(25)

“He is.”

“Good. Get his number and catch up again with him outside of here,” she tells me.

“I will. Promise,” I tell her. And with that, she and Axel walk out of the bar hand in hand.

“We’re going to dash too. We have a meeting to prepare for tomorrow, so …” Camryn states. I roll my eyes at her because the look on her face says there’s no meeting. “Have fun, you two” She gives us a wave and yanks Nate out of the bar as quickly as she can.

“Was it something we said?” Alex asks as I sit back down—now it’s just the two of us.

“Seems like everyone else was a little preoccupied tonight,” I say, finishing off the rest of my cocktail.

“Do you want to get out of here and check out the beach?” Alex asks. I must give him a look because he adds, “It’s the best place to see the stars.”

“Sure.”

Alex holds out his hand for me to take. Those stupid butterflies wake up again. No. Not yet, not while we’re still on the island.

“You look like a fucking vision in this dress,” Alex whispers in my ear as soon as we get out of the bar. The flutter tickles deep within, but I shake it off. Do not fall for this guy, Ivy. You only have a couple more days of free sex before heading back to your boring and lonely life. You need to make as many memories as possible before heading home because this is all you’re going to have.

His hands move down over my body, strong fingers grip my ass as the two of us laugh happily as we stumble out of the bar and head toward the beach. We’re not drunk at all, but I know I’m definitely tipsy.

“Why can’t I keep my hands off you, Ivy?” Alex whispers, wrapping his arms around me. I don’t want him to keep his hands off me either.

We stumble toward the beach, laughing and giggling hand in hand. Alex finds us a double sun lounge, and we plop down against the soft fabric. Both of us fall backward and stare up into the inky black sky, which is littered with millions of tiny lights.

“You don’t get anything like this in London, do you?” Alex states as he looks up into the night sky.

“No, you don’t. I’m usually so busy I don’t often look up,” I muse.

“Me either,” he agrees.

We sit in comfortable silence for a long time staring up at the vast universe above us.

“I can’t remember a time when I’ve stopped like this. Really stopped and looked up and appreciated everything around me,” Alex says, breaking the silence. “Even when I’m on vacation, I have a phone against my ear or I’m conducting meetings in my room.”

“Anytime I’m on vacation it’s to decorate someone’s holiday home. I don’t get to enjoy the beautiful surroundings,” I add.

“We sound like workaholics.” Alex chuckles.

“I haven’t had a chance to look at work since arriving here,” I confess, which for me is quite liberating and totally unusual.

“I haven’t either,” he says, turning to me with a smirk dancing across his lips.

“What you’re saying is two workaholics need to come to a sex resort to not work because that’s the only way people like us can switch off?” I turn and smile at him.

“Sounds crazy but it’s true. I haven’t checked in with the office once,” he adds, shrugging his shoulders.

“Is it the resort or your beautiful host distracting you in your room so you can’t work?” I joke with him because it’s the truth. Granger has kept me distracted when I’m in my room.

“Probably, and a certain woman distracting me while outside my room as well,” he adds with a wink.

Smooth, Alex, real smooth.

“Why are you still single? I’m assuming a man like you has women falling at his feet back home.” I roll over to my side while asking him the question.

“Work, it’s as simple as that. I date, yes, but I guess no one has distracted me long enough to choose them over work.”

“I get that. This is your business, your family’s legacy, and you don’t want to be the person to ruin what your parents have built over the years.”

“Shit! You really hit it on the head there. You plucked that right out of my subconscious. It’s my greatest fear … letting my family down,” he says, a small frown falling across his face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to …” I quickly apologize.

“No, you’re fine, no apology needed. No one has, I guess, taken the time to think about my thoughts like that,” Alex says as he rolls over onto his side too, so we are facing each other. “I like that you get it,” he adds.

“I started my own business so I wouldn’t have to rely on anyone for money unlike my mother,” I confess. Again, why is this man pulling out all my darkest secrets so easily?

“I’m assuming your sister is the same?” he asks.

“Yeah, we both are. Our childhood was interesting,” I tell him. Alex waits for me to continue, but when I don’t, he doesn’t press for more.

“Well, you and your sister have created amazing businesses. I take my hat off to you. You’ve created something out of nothing. I was handed mine.” He shrugs his shoulder in a self-deprecating way.

“It’s just as tough taking over from the old guard as it is starting afresh. People don’t like change,” I say, which rewards me with a smile.