**Cat POV"Is this all too much for you, Cat?" Luke asked me. I wouldn't meet his gaze. My mind was far off, thinking of how my best friend had betrayed me again. "Cat, look at me," Luke urged, squeezing my arms. Slowly, I turned my eyes to his. "I'm tired," I admitted. "Please tell me, is all of this too much? Because if it is, just say the word. I can have you on a flight back home in a few minutes. No questions asked," he offered. For a moment, the offer sounded really appealing. I gave Luke a half smile, grateful that he was looking out for me. Then I shook my head. "No. I can't leave the project. Now that I've met the lead architect. I'll be okay as long as I stay away from the main event.""I wish this wasn't happening while we were here. I know it can't be easy," Luke said apologetically. I shrugged indifferently. "You could have told me this was happening before we met at the airport." Luke bowed his head and nodded. "I know. I should have. Or, when
**Cat POVJason and I drove up and down the coast, seeing the ocean from multiple views, including clifftops. It was absolutely gorgeous.Then he took me to where the locals currently lived. They'd put together a small city for themselves, but many of the buildings were poorly constructed and not adequate shelter against the elements. I could see why they needed an upgrade. "The architecture here is pretty unique," I said, pointing it out to Jason. "Yeah, the locals have a very distinct style. If you want to take notes, you can use these styles for the new development," he suggested. "That's a great idea," I said. I spent so much time looking at the buildings, I hardly noticed the people or the little shops they had set up. "Cat, come on. There is a seafood restaurant right over here. It is the best kept secret on the island and probably the best seafood in all the Caribbean," Jason said, grabbing my arm and tugging me along. "I thought you said you packed lunch," I
**Cat POV"Luke, where's Victoria? Simon wants to talk to her about business," Barbs said, standing up. Luke pursed his lips, but he only spared Barbs a quick glance before looking back at me. "Come on, get ready. We're already going to be late," he said, pointing to his watch. "Late for what?" I asked, creasing my brow. Luke pulled out his phone. "Didn't you get any of my texts?""Um… no." I grabbed my phone from the kitchen and scrolled through my notifications. I didn't have anything from Luke. "When did you send them?""I sent a bunch throughout the day," Luke explained. I shook my head. "I didn't get any. Oh… I was driving around the island, I probably didn't have reception.""Well, we are going somewhere special, so dress like it," Luke said, nodding to my bedroom. My cheeks warmed, and I looked down. He was being more forward than I expected, especially in front of my friend. "I want to talk to Victoria, Luke. Is she over at your Villa?" Barbs asked.
**Cat POVLuke shot up from the table, lighting more candles. The room filled with a soft, orange glow. I stayed put, my body feeling cold when the windows started rattling the house. "Are there shutters on the windows?" I asked when I looked over and saw the glass visibly wiggling in the frame. "Not yet. I haven't storm-proofed this property," Luke reminded me. The window at the end of the table blew open. The wind whipped around the room, shaking the paintings on the wall and making the tablecloth flutter. Luke ran over to the window and forced it closed. He shoved a nearby bookcase in front of it. The other windows started rattling just as violently. I stood up from the table and went to Luke. "We can't block off all the windows," I said. Another clap of thunder shook the entire house. Boom! Crash!I felt a tremor through the floor. "What was that?" I asked in a hushed voice. I was holding tightly to Luke's arm, looking around like I expected the
Luke's hands gripped my butt, and he lifted me up, sliding me onto a counter or cabinet in the closet. I couldn't tell what I was sitting on. The smooth wood was cool on my backside. He kissed my neck, and I tipped my head back, moaning as I popped one button at a time off Luke's shirt. It was pitch black, making all my senses heightened. He brushed his fingers along my thighs and my skin shivered, puckering with goose flesh. I sighed and shuddered, my fingers curling tightly around the edges of his half-unbuttoned shirt. Luke's lips brushed my ear. He nibbled on my earlobe and then whispered to me. "Is this okay, Cat? Do you want this?""Yes," I gasped, my hands tightening around his damp shirt. His breathing became ragged, and his hands squeezed my thighs almost painfully. He pried my legs apart forcefully. My stomach fluttered and dropped, and I moaned again. Luke nuzzled my neck and started kissing and nibbling along my throat. Heat pooled between my
Cat POVWhen I woke up, I found that Luke and I were tightly curled together in a ball on the pantry floor. It was cold, but his warm skin was keeping the worst of it away. Outside the pantry, I could hear the pitter-patter of light rain outside but the roar of the wind was gone, and I couldn't hear any thunder anymore. "Luke," I whispered, shaking him gently. He grunted and opened his eyes. "Ugh, it is still so dark," he groaned. "We're still closed up in a closet," I reminded him, laughing lightly. "Oh, right. I was dreaming about something else," Luke said with an amused tone in his voice. He placed his hand on my bare back, and I started, still unable to see what he was doing. "I thought you said storms were quick and violent around here. This wasn't a quick storm at all," I said. "It sounds like things have calmed down. Let's go take a look." I heard Luke stand up and jiggle the doorknob. When he opened the door, a stream of dim sunlight came in. I
Cat POVThe helicopter hovered above us, and a thick line came down. Luke grabbed me and pulled me out of the way. I didn't understand at first, but then a guy came gliding down the line. He landed hard on the ground and lifted the visor on his helmet. "Luke Carter?" he asked, pointing at Luke. "That's me," Luke called over the sound of the helicopter. "Are you well? Are you injured?" the man asked. Luke nodded and shook his head. "We found shelter through the storm. We didn't have any reception and our phones died.""I have an emergency kit if you need it, but this helicopter can't bring both of you back to the resort. Do you want to go one at a time?" the rescuer asked. I grabbed Luke's arm. "Neither of us should be alone out here.""We're not separating," Luke shouted over the loud helicopter. "Your father sent us to find you when he couldn't get you on the phone all night. Almost all the roads are washed out, but we can send a rescue vehicle that is equip
Cat POV"You're joking, right?" I asked. Luke shrugged. "No, not really.""Well, you can't be serious. That would be… I'm not even invited!" I said, throwing my arms out to the sides. "Cat, what better way to stick it to Aaron than show him that you're happy and moving on?" Luke asked, grinning a challenge at me. "But… I… but Victoria will be there, too. She's Fiona's friend, and she's still your pretend girlfriend," I argued when I realized Luke was serious. I couldn't believe that he had suggested it. Go to Aaron's wedding? Though, there was some logic in his suggestion. "It would be inappropriate. I'm Aaron's ex. I don't belong there. Besides, we both know Victoria will be there, and you haven't told her the ruse is over," I said. "This storm is a big setback on the project. I'll have plenty of time to repair things with Victoria's father on the land sale, with or without her blessing. There's no need to continue that façade." Luke took my hand and brushed h