Chapter 81

“How about we grab a coffee somewhere?” Emily blurted out, clearly unwilling to let their conversation end so quickly. Every second in his presence was a thrill she wanted to stretch out indefinitely. A private coffee date with him? She couldn’t help but hope it might lead to something more.

“Sure,” the man nodded.

Emily led the way. “There’s a nice little café down the hill. Let’s head there. Oh, and I haven’t caught your name yet?”

“Gabriel Thorne.”

Just as she suspected, a relative of William’s, probably his brother, Emily thought.

A breeze swept past, carrying a faint, crisp scent from Gabriel, like the first snow on a mountain ridge. On this lush, tropical island, it was intoxicating, pulling her deeper under his spell.

Inside the café’s private booth, as they settled in, Emily fanned herself, feigning warmth, and undid a button on her black blouse, letting the deep, pale curve of her cleavage spill into view.

Don’t judge her for being forward. With an average guy, she wouldn’t even show her collarbone, but sitting across from her, pouring coffee, was a man who looked like he’d stepped out of a myth. A god. She worried even flashing him might sully his pristine gaze, yet the urge to tempt him, to taint him just a little—no, a lot—was overwhelming.

If she could get a straight-laced officer like Travis to lose control and fuck her senseless, her confidence surged at the thought of what she might spark in Gabriel. Any man with a cock could get hard, right? She couldn’t help but fantasize about him stirred for her.

“What did you want to talk about, Mr. Thorne?” Emily took the coffee he offered, her fingertips brushing his.