Barefoot Bay: Silhouettes on the Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Chris Keniston Read Free Book Online Page A

his current wife?"
    Chase nodded. "My aunt Eileen was my cousin Adam's math teacher. Adam really sucked at math, so he constantly goofed off in class."
    "And your uncle constantly met with the teacher." C.J. smiled. A sweet smile that made him want to smile back.
    "They were married as soon as the school year ended. And, just in case you're curious, Adam's an actuary."
    C.J.’s sparkling brown eyes rounded like chocolate coins. "I thought he sucked at math."
    "So did everyone else. We're not sure if he started getting math because his stepmom was a math teacher who made him pay attention or—"
    "If he sucked at math so his teacher would become his stepmom."
    Chase nodded. "Yeah."
    "So basically what you're saying is, with this many grandchildren in attendance, I don't have to worry about being interrogated by your grandparents?"
    "Absolutely." At least that was his plan.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Now C.J. understood why they were called villas. Propped against a tiny sandy hillside, at least a hill by Florida standards, the detached dwellings might have fit in with the resort’s Moroccan-themed architecture, but, to her, they looked like they belonged on any vineyard in Tuscany. Two stories high, this particular villa touted three bedrooms, two living areas, a study, a laundry room, a full kitchen—though she couldn't imagine anyone who could afford to stay here would take the time to do their own cooking—gleaming hardwood floors, and a killer view of the ocean. The three-quarter wraparound balcony called to her.
    "Housekeeping put you in the master bedroom." Chase stood behind her at the edge of the expansive living room.
    She could see from his reflection in the glass that he'd been watching her. Even when not meeting head-on but deflected by a shiny piece of glass, knowing his eyes were on her sent tiny bursts of sparkly tingles up her spine. Only business , she reminded herself and her traitorous tingles. "I don't need the master."
    Leaning against the wall, ankles crossed, and looking sexy as hell with his crisp white shirt rolled up at his forearms and his sunglasses perched atop his head, allowing her to soak in his steel blue eyes, Chase shrugged. "The secondary bedrooms aren't a hardship."
    C.J. spun about, glancing left and right, then up the stairs.
    "All bedrooms are upstairs. Master's at the end of the hall. Your clothes are already unpacked and put away."
    "Someone put away my things?"
    "Not someone. The maid."
    "Since when do hotel maids unpack for the guests?"
    "Since Lacey decided to offer villa guests the use of a private maid and cook if requested. The Colonel always requests the personalized service."
    And why didn't that surprise her? For a guy who retired as a colonel, Chase's grandfather sure behaved an awful lot like a five-star general accustomed to having the tiniest detail of his day handled by other people. Of course a great deal of his grandfather’s behavior probably came more from the Ivory money than his years in the military. Maybe.
    Turning slowly, she paused to look head on at Chase. Sometimes she wished she could be more spontaneous, like her sister. Maybe then she could throw out the rule book and renegotiate their business . When she'd first considered her sister's odd acting job here as performing for some rich old lecher, making it clear that there would be no intimate benefits seemed critically important. Even when she'd first met Chase and discovered, instead of old, he was rather easy on the eyes, she still felt the need to protect herself against the lecher factor. Now, staring at Chase Ivory—handsome, smart, considerate, and, yes, charming—she concluded that negotiations were highly overrated. "I'll check out the rooms."
    Chase didn't move, didn't speak, only nodded.
    Upstairs she made her way down the hall and peeked into each of the bedrooms. The first one was of average size and in light and breezy shades. The next one, a little larger, had a set of keys and a man's