The Billionaire’s Marriage Of Deception

At least he’d left Amanda a cell phone with his number programmed into it, and they talked every night over the course of the next week.

“Hey you. How’s the weather treating you?”

“Really? Are we already reduced to talking about the weather?”

“No. We could talk about that ridiculous body of yours but I’m trying not to be a creep.”

Amanda laughed, “Pot? Meet kettle. Ridiculous body indeed.”

“Oh, so you do like my body. I thought I caught you checking me out once or twice; objectifying me. I have a fine mind too you know.”

“Whatever man. I gotta go back to doing absolutely nothing. Time’s awasting.”

“Call you tomorrow?”

“Whatever. If you want.”

Their conversations were as easy and light as they’d been around the dinner table, occasionally straying into personal territory but nothing too serious. Amanda both welcomed the chance to get to know Michael better and dreaded finding out that this was still just some elaborate hoax. Granted, there had been bad guys at the island and Wyatt had sent five guys who were with her around the clock now. He was also doing a background check on Michael but so far he had come up with a big pile of nothing. It was frustrating. If there’d been any doubt that she was getting over Calvin though, it was erased every time the phone rang and a grin spread over her face when she saw it was Michael.

The new resort was even fancier than the previous one, and they’d put her up in the most secluded and luxurious “cottage” Amanda could have imagined, she really should get one of these for herself. There was something to be said for having your own private residence at a holiday destination; for one thing, setting up adequate security was much easier. At least this cottage had an in-ground pool behind it so she could swim and sun herself without fear of being dashed on the rocks along the coastline. There was a charming little garden behind the pool, too, with fruit trees that she hadn’t quite gotten up the courage to try yet even though the housekeeper had assured her the fruit was delicious.

Two days before Amanda was supposed to head back home, she was lying on a bright yellow float in the middle of the pool, the trashy paperback she’d been reading open on her chest as she rested her eyes for just a moment. When she heard a noise from the gate that led out to the garden, she jerked her head around, heart suddenly pounding. None of the resort staff should be approaching from that direction, and her security should have stopped everyone else. What if it was—

Michael stood at the gate, tall, lean and muscular in cargo pants and a blue button down shirt; his chocolate arms on display. “Hi,” he grinned.

Amanda sat up so fast she nearly tipped over the float, grabbing at the book so it didn’t fall in the water. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Michael’s face fell. “I thought I’d surprise you?”

“You did.” Amanda shook her head to clear it. “Not that I’m not glad to see you, it’s just that you didn’t say that you were coming, so I wasn’t expecting you. That’s all.”

“Oh.” The smile slowly started to return, dimples popping into Michael’s cheeks. “I suppose you have everything all planned out for today already?”

“Not really.” Amanda waved the book around, then thought better of letting Michael see that she was reading erotica in case that was too lame. “I was going to call this guy later on, that’s all.”

“Oh yeah?” Michael kicked off his sandals and started unbuttoning his shirt. “What guy?”

Amanda’s eyes were drawn to the bronzed skin being revealed as Michael’s long fingers moved down, button by button. “He, um, I just met him, actually. He’s really tall and he’s, I don’t know, like a secret agent or something, but he’s pretty cool and easy to talk to.” She absently licked her lips as the shirt started to fall off of Michael’s broad shoulders, and she had to do a quick mental check to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating from the sun or something. “He seems like he’d make a good friend, even aside from the saving my life thing.”

“A good friend, huh?” Michael let the shirt slide off of his arms and moved forward to drape it over the nearest lounge chair. He gestured at the pool. “You mind if I join you?”

Amanda blinked. “Um, no?”

Michael grinned, warm and bright. “Good. It’s hot out here,” he said as he started to unbutton his pants. “I could use a dip to cool off.”