She held up a hand. “Please don’t give me a hard time. She stopped by as a friend, and I could use one of those right now.”
His eyes softened in understanding. “I know. I didn’t expect to see anyone here. Are you packed?”
She nodded. “I just have to put a few things in my toiletry bag.” Thanks to the travel involved in her career, she always had a cosmetic kit ready to go. “I take it Asher agreed to let me stay at his house?”
Derek put a hand on her back and they walked to her bedroom. “It took some convincing but he’s meeting us at the airport. He’ll take you to the island and stay with you until it’s time for you to come home.”
“What?” Nikki spun around to face her brother. “You can’t be serious. I don’t know him and I’ll feel like I’m invading his space.”
It was Derek’s turn to hold up a hand, pushing off her objection. “I still don’t believe anyone will figure out where you are, but I’ll feel better knowing you won’t be alone. I trust him. Asher knows his staff, and he’ll be aware if anyone sneaks onto the property who isn’t allowed. Do this for me?”
She frowned but couldn’t say no. Not after her brother had gone to the trouble to arrange this getaway for her safety.
“Look at it this way. Mom and Dad won’t know where you are either.” His lips lifted in a smirk, and she couldn’t help but laugh, too.
“Okay. I’ll do it for you. Because you’re the best brother, Derek. Seriously.”
Nikki then left a message for her agent that she was disappearing until things blew over, only telling her she’d be in touch when she was ready. There was no one else she needed to call. She finished packing and they took the private elevator downstairs to the garage where he’d parked his car.
At Derek’s direction, she lay down on the back seat, so when he pulled out of the parking garage, none of the paparazzi lurking with cameras could see her. He waited until he was certain they weren’t followed before telling her she could sit up.
On the ride to the airport, she remained silent, her thoughts consumed with her soon-to-be host. She was well aware the man probably had to be talked into staying with her on the island. His most recent dealing with her had been years ago, but she’d been hysterical after being detained by airport security and customs agents, her mother’s yelling had been ringing in her ear, and she’d been a bitch to both Asher and Derek. She’d never seen him again to apologize, and it was way too late to bring it up now.
Yet Derek had asked him to drop everything and babysit her because she’d ended up with naked photos splashed on the internet. She cringed at what Asher probably thought of her. As they pulled into the airport hangar, she could add one more word to describe what she was feeling.
Nervous to face Asher Dare.
* * *
Asher stood in the airplane hangar and checked his watch, a Patek Philippe Mariner he’d purchased when he’d made his first million on his own, without the family hotel business income included. Derek and his sister should arrive any minute, and he braced himself for the week to come. With any luck, she was a sunbather who’d enjoy the beach, prefer solitude, and leave him to work and do his own thing.
Escorting her around the nearby town and sharing meals could get awkward. What did he have in common with a twenty-one year-old?
His cell rang, and seeing it was his brother, Harrison, he answered the call. “Hello?”
“Hey,” Harrison said. “I just got to Mom and Dad’s and they said you took off. Sorry I missed you.”
“I had to go meet a friend who needed a favor,” Asher said as Derek’s black Porsche SUV pulled in. “I’m headed to the island for a while.”
Nicolette stepped out of the SUV, and Asher expelled a sharp breath at the sight of the long legs in high heels that hit his vision first, followed by a black miniskirt and a royal-blue tight, cropped top that accentuated her full breasts. His gaze traveled to her face, and despite her eyes being covered by large sunglasses, he knew she was beautiful.
Last time he’d seen her had been four years ago. He’d scrolled past the nude photos online today out of respect for his friend. But Nicolette’s delicate features, olive skin, and gorgeous, long, silky dark hair took his breath away.
“Ash? You do remember we’re coming in for the parents’ anniversary this weekend, right?” Harrison asked.
Asher had forgotten his brother was on the phone. “Yeah,” he muttered, not hearing a thing his sibling had said. “Gotta go. I’ll call you later.” He disconnected and slid his phone into his pants pocket.
Derek had lifted a Louis Vuitton suitcase from the back of the SUV and pulled it along with him as he and his sister approached. She stopped a few steps behind him.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Derek said, coming to a stop in front of him.
“It’s fine,” Asher assured him.
“Nikki, come meet Asher.”
The beautiful brunette stepped beside her brother. “Nikki.” Derek placed a hand on her back. “Do you remember my friend Asher?”
“It’s been a while,” she murmured, a blush staining her cheeks. Obviously she recalled their last time, too. “Thank you for helping me out.”
“You’re welcome.” He inclined his head, studying her from head to toe.
Did she always travel in fuck-me pumps? And why had he thought of that description? Now all he could imagine were those long legs wrapped around his hips as he did just that. To his friend’s younger sister.
He would have to keep reminding himself how inappropriate sleeping with her would be. Assuming she would even be interested. He had first-hand knowledge of how awkward a large age gap could be. His father, Michael, had been thirty-four when he’d married Savannah, his stepmother. Between a seven-year age difference and the fact that she’d been the family nanny for nine years, the outside world assumed they’d been sleeping together all along.
At twelve years old, Asher had been too young to understand all the innuendo involved, but he sure as hell knew what teasing and bullying felt like. Even if the other kids were merely repeating things their parents had said, they’d meant to make fun of him and his family. To make him feel small and shitty. And they had. Michael and Serenity had been a scandal in their community, and Asher grew up wanting to avoid repeating the past.
If Asher and Nikki’s twelve-year age-gap similarity didn’t work to dull her sex appeal, he’d rely on his own morals and character. He wasn’t willing to break Derek’s trust, no matter how gorgeous and fuckable Nikki might be.
Knowing he couldn’t adjust his cock, discreetly or otherwise, he turned toward the plane. “You ready?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder to where she stood with her brother.
“Yes. I just need to say goodbye.” She hugged Derek and they spoke in hushed tones.
Then her brother kissed her cheek and stepped back. “I’ll talk to you every day, and I’ll keep you up-to-date about what’s going on. Stay off social media.”
She cringed and nodded.
Matt, Asher’s pilot ever since he’d purchased the jet, walked down the stairs and took the suitcase from beside Derek, returning to the plane to put it in the cargo hold. Jeremy, the co-pilot, was already on board.