Reckless (Fractured Farrells: A Damaged Billionaire Series Book 2) (5 page)

The sight of the majestic reptiles even managed to get Robert to leave her alone as he tried to snap a few photos with his phone.

From there, she steered the boat to the secret beach. It was no secret to the locals, but most people stayed away.

The water was the perfect depth so that she could pull the boat up close enough to the beach to allow the passengers to hop out into the shallow water while the motor didn’t skim the bottom.

Malia allowed them to wander around as she anchored the boat and unloaded the food and drinks.

Before she could maneuver the cooler out of the boat, Robert was behind her. “Why don’t you let me take that?”

She was torn between refusing any form of help and making the rich boy do manual labor, but she ultimately decided to hand him the cooler. Knowing her unreliable sense of balance, she wouldn’t be a graceful sight as she hauled the cooler out of the boat. She was really good at not falling, but there would definitely be some swaying and stumbling involved.

After she collected the rest of the supplies, she jumped out of the boat, getting half of her shorts soaked in the process but managing to keep the bags of food above the water. She half expected Robert to start harassing her again once she was on land, but he was on his phone instead, speaking harshly to someone as he went to stand behind a grove of trees where she couldn’t hear him.

Colin and Jean were already making themselves comfortable. Jean set down towels for them to sit on while Colin met her halfway to take the bags for her. They certainly were a chivalrous group, which was surprising considering who they were.

Malia glanced over to where Robert was still on the phone. He paced in a small circle as he ran a hand through his hair. It was damn depressing to see someone so stressed out in a place so beautiful. “Does Robert spend a lot of time on his phone?”

Jean settled onto the towel next to Colin as he opened up a soda for her and handed it to her. The gesture was subtle but oddly sweet. She didn’t have to ask him or tell him what kind she wanted. He already knew and was taking care of her. So many other couples she’d brought out ended up with the women waiting on the men and serving them. It was nice to see the role reversal. Especially with a guy who looked as macho as Colin did.

Could he really be one of those hotshot executives like Robert?
For that matter, Robert didn’t look like a normal executive. Unless it was normal for executives to bench-press over two hundred pounds no problem.

“From what I can tell, Robert is always working,” said Jean.

“It’s not his fault,” said Colin. “He’s always been the go-to whenever there’s some mess. Bet you that’s what he’s dealing with now.”

Malia looked over her shoulder again and back to Jean. The supposed sister. Every article or news clipping Malia had ever read about the Farrells never mentioned a sister. “It’s nice of him to arrange all this. Are you all a close-knit family?”

Colin let out a snort of laughter as Jean averted her eyes before she took a deep swig of her pop. “Not that close. I’m hoping we can have some sort of normal relationship.”

“Normal how?”

“Well, it’s kind of strange, but I’m Robert’s half-sister. We didn’t know we were related until after our father died, so we only met a few months ago.”

No wonder Malia hadn’t realized. Her obsession with the Farrells had finally died down in the past few years and, unless it was front page news, she really didn’t pay attention. Well, Jean didn’t seem too messed up. Maybe spending most of her life away from the family had allowed her to escape unscathed. “It’s really cool that you are trying to have a relationship. Lots of people barely stay in contact with the family that they have, let alone new family they never had any relationship with.”

“I’m still not convinced this whole thing is going to work,” said Colin, resulting in a playful elbow to his gut from Jean.

“I told you this would be worth it. Robert’s a good guy. I can tell.”

“You think,” corrected Colin.

Malia dug her feet into the sand as she studied the two. Obviously Jean had more faith in Robert than she did. Maybe somehow the Farrell sons had escaped the disastrous effects of the family name.

“Tell him that if he doesn’t sign the damn contract, I will personally come down there and make him sign the fucking thing!”

Malia tensed at Robert’s harsh words and turned to see him hanging up the phone and walking over to the group.

In a flash, his charming smile was back in place, no sign of the angry demands from a second ago. “Sorry about that.” He sat between where Colin and Jean were huddled. “Did I miss anything?”

That perfect mask was right back in place.
Nope. Robert was just as much of a Farrell as his father.

––––––––

R
obert was itching to get back to New York. It was some strange torture to be stuck in paradise while shit was hitting the fan back home.

The land deal in LA that he’d been working on for the past seven months was about to fall through for no reason at all. He’d had all the bankers and lawyers and agents ready to go, and for some fucking reason, the seller was about to back out and he couldn’t do anything while he was on this island.

Nathan and Alex were already on their way to the airport to hop on a plane to smooth things over, but Robert didn’t like being this far out of the game.

“Is everything okay?” asked Jean.

Before Robert could answer, he noticed the warning look Colin gave him. Obviously he didn’t want Robert to stress out Jean with work problems. “Nothing Nathan can’t take care of,” he said with a forced smile. “Now, I heard there was jerky.”

The rest of the lunch was spent with casual, shallow conversation. Malia and Jean talked about the must-see places on Oahu, and Malia told them about the fishing techniques used by the native islanders on this very beach.

By the time they packed up to head out to the sandbar, Robert was halfway to being calm again. Listening to Malia speak had a strange calming effect on him. She looked so natural sitting on a beach, it was hard to imagine her in the hustle and bustle of New York.

Her tan skin practically glowed under the sun, and she smiled as she gave her historical and geographical lessons about the island. A sign that she truly loved where she was. He was so used to being surrounded by people who either always worked or just worked for the weekend. It was strange to be around someone so...content.

He helped her load up the boat and watched her as she pulled in the anchor. If he knew some way to help her pull it in, he would’ve done that too, though he couldn’t deny the joy he got simply from watching her.

She had the body of someone who never stopped moving. Her legs were strong from walking or biking everywhere, and she could handle the heavy cooler with ease as she positioned it on the boat. The best moments were when the sun shone just right and her shirt became semi-transparent, allowing him to see through the billowy tank to the outline of her fit body.

It probably made matters worse that he knew what that body would feel like in his hands. Pressed up against him.

Well, not as well as he’d like to. He hadn’t had a chance to fill his palms with the weight of her breasts or to lift her up until she wrapped her legs around him as he held her up by her ass.

Robert turned away as Colin and Jean got back into the boat. He’d have to keep his fantasies about Malia confined to when he was alone in his hotel and could have as much time as he wanted to indulge.

By the time she brought the boat to a stop on the sandbar and set the anchor in, he was more than ready to get into some cold water. Jean and Colin were the first ones in, and it looked as if Colin was finally going to take the chance to get Jean to himself as they walked through the shallow water to explore.

“You said the sand is exposed at low tide?” Robert stared into the crystal-clear water below them.

“Yep.” Malia sat down at the front of the boat and pulled out a book to read.

“So you’re back to one-word answers now?”

She glanced up at him and tightened her lips. “I just don’t have a lot to say.”

Robert crossed to the front of the boat and took a seat next to her. The sudden tension in her body was unmistakable.

“For fuck’s sake, Malia, can you give me a chance?”

She inched away from him as she opened her book, flipping the pages as though searching for where she left off. “I gave you a chance, Robert.”

“No, you didn’t. The second you saw me this morning, you wrote me off and you haven’t given me more than two seconds to make it up to you.”

She rolled her eyes and set the book down. “Maybe I don’t want you to make it up. You’ll just have to get used to the idea that someone doesn’t like you, as shocking as it might be.”

Robert let out a bitter laugh. “You think that’s why I’m so bothered by your reaction?” Malia didn’t answer, so he continued. “I’m so used to people hating me that every time I step outside my apartment, I’m surprised when someone isn’t there to hold some sort of protest. I’m just really confused how I can go halfway across the world and still get the cold shoulder from people who barely know me.”

Malia started to say something before she stopped herself. She sighed as she considered him, and for a second, he thought she was actually starting to warm up to him. “Why don’t people like you?” she finally asked.

Well, fuck. Did she have five hours to listen to all the reasons?
But he could give her the bare-bones explanation. “My father amassed a vast empire and huge amounts of money by being a horrible person and I’ve spent my entire life working for the son of a bitch. Now that he’s gone, I’m the head of one of the most evil corporations that has ever existed.”

Her brows drew together and she was quiet again. He wasn’t sure what he expected from his little confession, but it wasn’t silence.

“So you aren’t like Walter then?”

He let out a low whistle. “That’s it.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know who I am. What I am.”

“The Farrell reputation precedes itself, Robert.”

“So the second I handed you my card, I ruined any chance of anything happening between us, didn’t I?”
Mother fucker...

Malia fidgeted in her seat. “There was no chance of anything happening between us before that. Remember when I told you repeatedly that I needed to leave?”

“My memory is a bit fuzzy. Is that before or after you stuck your tongue down my throat?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t make me slap you in front of your sister.”

He leaned in. “I dare you to try.”

She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair, pushing the loose strands of hair out of her face. “Only you would turn me threatening to slap you into flirting. Go swim, Robert. The water is great and this is a fantastic place to relax.”

“If it’s so great, why don’t you come in with me?”

“I’m working. I can’t play.”

“Come on. Jean and Colin are too busy to judge you for having fun.”

Malia glanced out over the water and he knew he was starting to sway her.

“Who were you on the phone with earlier?”

Robert sat back and considered how much to tell her. “A deal was supposed to be finalized today but the seller is backing out at the last minute.”

“Isn’t that a normal business thing? Deals fall through all the time.”

“Not this kind. We’ve been in negotiations for seven months.”

“So did he give a reason?”

A woman’s squeal came over the sound of the waves. He looked out to see Colin and Jean playing in the water.

“Come in the ocean with me, and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

For a moment, she didn’t say anything, but then she set her book down and stood. “All right, Farrell. I’ll play your game.” Without waiting a second longer, she pulled off her shirt and started to push her shorts over her tan legs.

Robert had to bite his lip as he tried to commit the image to memory. He only had a few minutes to savor the sight before she climbed over the edge and hopped into the shallow water.

Suddenly realizing that he was alone on the boat, Robert pulled off his white shirt and followed her into the water. If he stood, the water stopped at mid-thigh, but Malia was swimming to the other side of the boat.

Once he reached her, she turned around. “Okay, spill the beans. What is really happening?”

He didn’t know how he could be in one of the sexiest situations of his life and was being forced to talk about one of the least sexy topics.

“Last week, a corrupt congressman in California was arrested. A string of his emails was released to the press and it came out that he helped my company cover up an oil spill about ten years ago. So I’m in the middle of a shit storm of bad press and the seller doesn’t want his name associated with mine.”

“Did you have anything to do with the cover up?”

“I was just out of college ten years ago. I was lucky if Walter would let me open his mail, let alone clue me in on the shit he was involved in.”

“Well, if the press thinks you’re scum, you have to do something to convince them you’re not, right?”