“Jon? Jon who?” I asked, concerned.

“Nox who?” she replied.

“Touché.”

Yes. Who the hell was I to judge her and Jon, Ron, or Don? I wasn’t any better.

THE SUN CONTINUED to rise in the east and set each night beautifully in the west. With each passing day, Alex’s career goals and Alexandria’s ghosts slipped further and further away, evaporating into Charli. Between days with Chelsea and days and nights with Nox, there was nothing I’d ever enjoyed more.

While Chelsea and I spent time together at the pool or in our suite, I admitted my growing feelings for Nox, the ones I didn’t want to face. I didn’t want to admit the way my heart beat faster when I was around him or the way things that he did or said made me feel special, because with each tick of the clock, our time together waned. If our vacation were an hourglass, the bottom had more sand than the top, and I knew I couldn’t turn it over.

“Girl,” Chelsea said one morning as we were putting on our normal breakfast-by-the-pool attire—bathing suits, cover-ups, and flip-flops. “Don’t overthink it. That’s the beauty of it. No commitment. Besides…” She wiggled her eyebrows. “…don’t you think the non-committed sex is steamier?”

I shrugged as I threw the sunscreen in my beach bag and looked for my Kindle.

She reached for my shoulder and spun me toward her. “What?! You haven’t done the dirty deed with Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome?”

“It’s only been three days.”

“Which means there are only two more nights left. Jeez, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. That poor man must be suffering a serious case of blue balls.” Her voice lowered. “Are they blue?”

I hadn’t seen them, so I couldn’t answer indisputably, but I’d been close to them and their impressive third wheel, with only the material of his slacks, jeans, or bathing trunks in between. I’d even rubbed my hand over him and felt his size and power trapped behind the clothes. I’d also had that same restrained power against my body, pushing against the small of my back, my tummy, and thigh. I’d been with him in the private pool on the balcony of the presidential suite with warm, glowing water surrounding us as my legs wrapped around his torso and arms around his neck. It wasn’t that I was being a tease. We’d been almost there.

He’d caressed my breasts and even sucked my nipples. The mere thought of his lips against my skin caused them to harden. I’d unashamedly arched my back and allowed him access. More than that, I’d wanted more.

I wasn’t sure how to explain it, to Chelsea or to me. I was different here in Del Mar than I’d ever been. The way Nox’s body reacted to mine didn’t scare me. For the first time I could remember, despite our obvious difference in size and strength, his hunger empowered me. He made me see that it was me who affected him. I had the ability to arouse this powerful man with the deep velvet voice. When my small hand rubbed against him, I was the cause of the guttural growl. The way it rumbled from the back of his throat sent shivers down my spine. With his chin in the nape of my neck, it sounded like a predatory lion.

When I wasn’t with him, I wondered what it would be like to have someone like Nox in my life—my real life.

Could Alex do it? I didn’t know the answer.

Nox and I had both made a conscious effort to limit the information we shared. We worked to stay away from our backstories and agreed to live in the here and now. I’m not sure which one of us laid down that rule, but we were both following it.

That didn’t mean I hadn’t gleaned a little personal information here and there. From what I’d picked up, Nox hadn’t been with one singular person for a while. He’d dated. He had beautiful women who adorned his elbow to functions for both pleasure and work. But that was all they’d been—accessories. He didn’t mention his no longer wife, and I didn’t ask. Were they divorced or had she passed? I didn’t know.

It would break our rule.

I also didn’t know what he did, other than ran businesses.

Often he’d spend the morning in his suite working long distance. Noon in California was already three in the afternoon in New York and the close of the day in London. He could have almost a full day’s worth of phone calls and web conferences complete before I was ready for lunch. A few times he’d left the resort, but never for long.

“His balls aren’t blue,” I responded matter-of-factly.

“And you know this because…” She paused, but when I only looked at her with wide eyes, she continued, “…you’ve seen them and you… Oh! I know. You’ve at least given him a—”

“Chelsea, stop! I’m not giving you the gory details.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Gory? So he’s a looker but doesn’t have the equipment?”

“Stop. He has the equipment. I believe. I mean from what I’ve observed.”

She shook her head. “If you leave Del Mar without getting laid it’s totally your fault. And if you ask me, that man will be the best you’ve ever had. Stop letting Alex get into your head. You have three more days and two nights as Charli.” She straightened her shoulders and looked at me over the rim of her sunglasses. “Don’t come home tonight.”

“Hey, it’s my suite. I can come home,” I responded playfully.

“It’s in my name.”

She had me there. “Even if we, you know…”

“Have wild-ape-crazed sex?” Chelsea offered.

“Do it,” I corrected. “I’m not spending the night. He gets up at some ungodly hour to do whatever it is he does. Besides, I’m not taking the walk of shame down that private hallway.” I visibly shivered. “The doormen who work that desk and private elevator already know my name.”

“No, they know Charli’s name. And I bet they already think you’ve had crazy-gorilla sex every time you leave the suite.”

“Gorilla? I thought it was ape?”

She laughed. “Well, they both can do it hanging upside down.” She kissed my cheek as we stepped into the hallway. “Give that some thought and I bet you don’t come home tonight.”

EARLY THAT EVENING, I winked at Chelsea as I smoothed the black silk material of my dress. “I can’t believe I’m really doing this.”

“Who are you doing it for?”

I turned toward her and gained strength from the sparkle in her hazel eyes. “Me.”

Her smile broadened. “Right answer!”

“I’m not sure I’ll even tell him.”

“Where did you say he’s taking you? I mean he took you to that rooftop place last night, Pacifica?”

I nodded like a giddy teenager. “The resort had a driver for us and oh… the place was gorgeous. The view was amazing. Tonight he said he has a car and we’re going up Highway 101 to Oceanside.”

Her eyes were wide. “Charli may not be getting laid, but she’s doing some fine eating.”

“Tonight’s 333 Pacific.” I lowered my voice. “I Googled it. That’s why I bought this new dress.”

Chelsea crossed her arms and inspected me from head to toe. “And you’re rocking it, too. You look beautiful. Remember what I said. Charli has come a long way, but you’re still not Chelsea. Wasn’t that the plan?”

I inhaled deeply and the tightly fitted bodice of my dress pulled against my breasts. With only thin spaghetti straps, the way the dress accentuated my curves and held tight to my breasts was what kept it from falling. The lightweight material flowed to just above my knees.

The week of relaxing by the pool had left my normally pale complexion a nice golden brown. Even though my hair had red, the deep brown from my mother’s side prevailed, giving me the bonus of vibrant hair without the disposition to freckles and sunburns. As long as I was faithful with my hat and sunscreen, the sun and I played nicely together.