The Honeymoon Arrangement (11 page)

Callie stepped over a pile of shoes as she headed to her dresser. ‘No point,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘While I was trying to decide what to pack I realised that I have far too many clothes—’

‘Seriously? I would never have guessed that!’ Finn said from the doorway, thinking that if he went in he might not find his way out.
Ever
.

Callie ignored his interruption. ‘And I decided that I need to clean out my wardrobe. That pile is for Rowan, that pile is for the secondhand shop, and that pile is to be donated.’ She waved her hands around the room.

Finn leaned a shoulder into the doorframe and crossed his arms. ‘Damn …’ he muttered again.

Callie yanked open a drawer in her dresser and Finn’s mouth went dry as she tossed a pile of rainbow-coloured thongs and bras onto a chair. They were skimpy and frothy and ultra-feminine.

‘I get samples from the designers I do business with,’ Callie said, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was
mentally stripping her in an attempt to see what she wearing under that sexy, stylish dress.

It would probably be the same sexy deep pink, he decided. Callie was nothing if not colour co-ordinated.

‘I can’t remember when last I actually went to a store and bought clothes. That’s why I had so much fun shopping for you.’

With difficulty Finn raised his eyes to her face and tried to look as if he had heard her. But he was a guy—distract him with sexy lingerie and his brain headed south. With his blood. And his hearing.

‘Ah—got it.’

Finn watched as Callie pulled out a large jewellery box and, cradling it in both hands, walked back towards him. She skirted the bed and sat on the side closest to him, on top of a pile of jackets, putting the box down next to her. A wistful, sad, wary look passed across her face and he straightened, all thoughts of sex and lingerie gone. This box meant something to her, and he wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad something. Probably a mixture of both.

Then, very surprisingly, she stood up, picked up the box and thrust it towards him. Finn caught it as it hit his chest and she dropped it from her grasp.

‘Look in there and see if you can find something that I can wear. If there isn’t anything then I’m afraid you’re out of luck. I’ll be downstairs.’

Finn frowned as she slipped past him and ran down the stairs. Putting the box on the bedside table, he switched on the light and flipped the lid. His breath caught at the blink of gold inside. It was a pirate’s treasure box, he thought, bubbling with thick gold chains and bracelets and the occasional flash of a precious stone in a pendant.

Lifting up a handful of chains, silver and gold, some with pendants and some without, he saw that there were smaller boxes below and dumped the chains on the bed.
The first box held earrings—mostly old-fashioned, but there was a nice pair of diamond studs he could see Callie wearing. The next box held rings, and he pulled in his breath as he ran his fingers over the jewels.

Of the eight or so in the box there were at least four that would pass as engagement rings, and three had matching wedding bands. One ring fascinated him: it looked older than the others—a big diamond, with spikes of platinum radiating in another circle embedded with tiny diamonds. A thin band sat under the diamond and he presumed that was a wedding band.

Finn held it under the light and on the inside could just make out the date: June the sixth, 1909.

That’ll do
, he thought, tucking it into the pocket of his pants.

He quickly replaced the boxes he’d taken out and dumped the tangle of chains back inside the larger box. Snapping the lid shut, he walked across to the near empty cupboard, found a shoebox and tossed the shoes inside on to the floor. Sliding the jewellery box into the shoebox, he used his height to stretch up and hide the box behind another pile of shoeboxes.

He wondered why he was bothering. If any thieves broke in and found themselves in Callie’s bedroom while she was away they’d think she’d been ransacked already and leave.

Finn tried to close the cupboard doors and wondered why Callie wouldn’t deal with the box herself. Why would a woman who obviously loved clothes—and, he presumed, accessories—ignore a box full of such amazing jewellery? Why couldn’t she even open it to look inside for a ring she needed?

Strange. But interesting. Curiosity, he reminded himself, and he didn’t need to indulge it. Not where Callie was concerned.

Finn rubbed the back of his neck, thinking that she couldn’t do the jewellery box and he couldn’t do his bedroom. Maybe they deserved each other.

Finn left the room and jogged down the stairs. He found Callie sitting on a chair in her hallway, legs crossed and her foot jiggling.

She looked up at him with those amazing reticent eyes. ‘Did you find something?’

‘Lots of things,’ Finn said, keeping his voice easy. ‘That’s quite a little treasure trove you’ve got there. That box should be in a safe, by the way.’

Callie lifted a bare shoulder. ‘I wouldn’t know. I’ve never looked inside.’

‘Why not?’ Finn asked the question although he knew that she wouldn’t answer.

‘It’s complicated and I have my reasons.’ Callie stood up and held out her hand. ‘Let’s see it.’

Finn pulled the two rings from his pocket and dropped them into her hand. He watched as she stared at them. She looked as though she was trying to place them, but after she’d given the tiniest shake to her head she picked the wedding ring up to take a closer look.

‘It’s really pretty.’

‘It has a date in 1909 inscribed on the band,’ Finn told her.

‘It must be my great-grandmother’s—Seb told me that some of the family pieces were in the box,’ Callie replied, sliding both rings over the ring finger on her left hand. ‘They fit. Yay.’

‘Good.’ Finn smiled lazily. ‘That was easily sorted. Just promise me you’ll get the box into a safe deposit box or just a safe. There were quite a few bigger and better diamonds and precious stones than that one.’

Callie shifted on her feet. ‘Maybe.’ She nudged a suitcase with her foot. ‘Shall we go?’

‘Yep.’ Finn looked at the pile of suitcases on the floor and sighed. Okay, they were going for a while, but two large cases and a carry-on seemed a bit excessive. But judging by what had been left behind she probably thought that this was—what had she called it the other day?—a capsule wardrobe. He thought it looked like backache waiting for a place to happen.

‘Okay, grab your stuff and I’ll wait for you in the car,’ he said, teasing her.

Callie looked surprised, then confused, and then her eyes cleared as he realised he was joking. ‘Carry on like that and I’m going to cut you off from fake sex.’

Finn slung the tote bag over his shoulder and pulled the bigger of the two suitcases up onto its wheels. ‘Fake married for two seconds,’ he grumbled as she opened the front door for him, ‘and I’m already on rations for sex I might not even get. This is a tough gig.’

‘You were the one who wanted to get married,’ Callie reminded him. ‘Didn’t I tell you that it was a bad idea? I’m sure I said something about it being a long stupidity …’

Six hours later Callie stood in the tasteful lobby of the Baobab and Buffalo, sipping a welcome glass of champagne while Finn took care of the details surrounding their stay at this first six-star resort.

According to their itinerary they would be staying in the honeymoon suite for one night before being moved to another room for the rest of their three-night stay. Since bookings at the Baobab and Buffalo were harder to come by than hen’s teeth, and since this entire ‘honeymoon’ was sponsored—and fake—Callie knew that they were in no position to complain.

And, really, what was there to complain about? The resort was utterly fantastic. The main building was built in grey stone and lavishly but tastefully decorated. Judging
by the discreet signs, there was a business room, a library, various lounges and dining rooms. Callie walked across the lobby, intrigued by the double-volume doors and the view beyond the glass.

Stepping onto the long veranda, she gasped at the endless view of bush beyond her. Wild and wondrous. There was a watering hole for wildlife at the bottom of the cliff below, and verdant green terraces led to an infinity pool that seemed to cling to the edge of the cliff.

Well, wow
.

Callie turned at a touch on her shoulder. ‘Mrs Banning?’

Callie turned and looked into the eyes of a gorgeous redhead. ‘No. I’m Callie—’ Then she remembered that she was supposed to be married and flushed with embarrassment. Her brain kicked up a gear as she tried to explain her gaffe. ‘Sorry—I’m still operating on my own name.’

The redhead grinned. ‘I absolutely understand; I’m recently married myself. I’m Clem—welcome to the Two B.’

Callie had read her fair share of celebrity magazines and instantly recognised this ex-model, who’d once been engaged to one of the world’s most notorious musicians. From socialite to living on an upmarket game reserve. Now
that
was a life-change.

‘Thank you. It’s beautiful.’

Clem sighed. ‘It really is. I’m still in awe of what Nick’s managed to build here.’

Clem jammed her hands in her khaki shorts and gestured to a dark-haired man who stood at the other end of the veranda, talking to a man dressed in the same uniform of khaki shorts and navy polo shirt.

‘That’s Nick and his right-hand man, Jabu. They are the heart and soul of the Two B. Sorry, that’s what we call this place. The Baobab and Buffalo is such a mouthful.’

Callie watched as Nick and his wife exchanged a look across the veranda that blazed with passion and lust. Callie
felt as if she needed a fan or a long drink of water when they finally looked away from each other, but Clem turned back to Callie, acting as if she
hadn’t
just eye-bonked her husband.

‘What are you hoping to do here? Or are you just planning to hibernate in your room and … well, do what honeymooners do?’

How the hell was she supposed to answer that question? She didn’t even know the answer to any of the questions
she
had with regard to her and Finn’s relationship—the fake one or the real one!

Were they going to sleep with each other?
Duh
. That was a no-brainer—as soon as they had to share a bed they’d be all over each other … there was no way they’d be able to resist. And that would be the start of their three-week fling. It would be hot and sexy and rollercoaster-crazy and she had to remember to keep her emotional distance.
No spilling the secrets of your soul, Hollis!

Callie frowned at the rogue thought. What was wrong with her? She had always been able to separate sex and emotion—why was she worried that she wouldn’t be able to do it with Finn?
Because you like him
, Callie admitted reluctantly.
Because you’d like to be his friend, have him be yours
. And that meant taking a step away from being ‘safe’ and unattached; it would take her into uncharted territory …

‘Callie?’

Callie blinked at her hostess. ‘Sorry, I zoned out. Tired …’

Clem laughed and patted her arm again. ‘No problem—I understand. I was so exhausted after my wedding day I could barely string a sentence together.’

Yeah, that wasn’t it
. Looking into Clem’s beautiful, open, happy face, Callie felt the urge to spill her secrets.

Actually, I’m not really married. I’m running away from reconnecting with my long-absent mother
.

And I want to sleep with Finn; he’s exciting and intriguing and the first man in for ever who I can imagine myself falling for. But I’m scared that he’s the one man that I will like more after I’ve slept with him—not less. I already like him more than I should. Hell, I knew that I liked him more than was wise on the plane home from JFK—and this is all very scary for me. And he’s on the rebound and I never, repeat never, sleep with men I can fall for
.

So I’m confused. And more than little terrified
.

And I really don’t like being either
.

Callie suspected that Clem would understand.

Callie sighed her relief as she saw Finn walking towards them, a Two B butler two steps behind. She gathered her wits and made the introductions. ‘Finn Banning—meet Clem. She and her husband own and run the Baobab and Buffalo.’

Clem’s eyes narrowed slightly and her smile was a little cool. ‘You’re the journalist doing an article on us?’

Hmm, it seemed that the fiery redhead wasn’t fond of journalists—then again, with her history with the profession Callie couldn’t blame her.

‘I am,’ Finn said easily, his hand resting low on Callie’s back, his fingers just above her butt cheek. It was a very possessive, familiar gesture—one perfectly suited to a newly married man.

‘We don’t normally allow reporters to write about the Two B; we’re booked for years in advance and don’t need the publicity. We’re doing this as a favour to the owner of
Go Travel
who’s a regular visitor.’

Clem kept the smile on her face but there was a note of protectiveness in her voice that was unmistakable. Finn’s fingers flexed on Callie’s back and Callie knew that he’d heard Clem’s warning too.

Finn sent her an easy smile. ‘I’m morally bound to write on my personal experiences and I already know that my
experience here will be utterly fantastic. We’re so lucky to start off our honeymoon here.’

Clem relaxed and Callie released her pent-up breath. Finn casually sipped from the glass of champagne he’d been handed on walking through the front door.

Clem nodded at the papers in his hand. ‘I’ve tweaked your itinerary to showcase the best of what we can offer honeymooners—which is an utterly unique and memorable experience.’ Clem pulled a face, humour back in her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, it doesn’t leave much time for long, lazy mornings spent in bed, but it will be exciting and amazing.’

Wow. If all the lodges were going to pull out the stops the way Clem was doing then Callie was in for one hell of a holiday.

‘We’re grateful for your personal touch,’ said Mr Charmer at her side.

‘Then Sarah, your personal butler, will take it from here. Enjoy your stay,’ Clem said, before turning away to walk towards her husband.