Free The Honeymoon Prize by Melissa McClone Page A

lunch. It’s waiting for you on the beach. Make the most of the cove, then paddleboard back to the resort. We’ll see you this afternoon.”
    They picked up Wes, then the boat motored away.
    “Good riddance.” Nick looked at Addie, who was jogging through the water toward the beach.
    Nick followed. He would downplay the kiss, especially his reaction, and focus on them successfully pulling off being honeymooners, even though he had forgotten about the crew and cameras being there.
    But she didn’t need to know that.
    And wouldn’t.

Chapter 5
    O h, no. She’d kissed Nick. Kissed him so many times she’d lost track. Worse, she’d been all over him. Literally.
    Addie’s feet hit the sand. She wanted to run except she hadn’t a clue where to go. Beyond the sand were palm trees and greenery. This was a secluded cove, reachable only by water, no path to the resort. That meant she was stuck here on a sigh-worthy beach with the gorgeous guy who’d nearly kissed her out of her bikini. Worse, she wouldn’t have minded. Physical awareness of him buzzed through her body.
    So. Not. Good.
    She plopped down on the blanket the resort had laid out for a picnic. A canopy of ivory fabric provided shade. A champagne bottle chilled in a silver bucket.
    Better not drink too much. Nick’s kisses made her tipsy enough. Though chugging champagne might be a way for her to forget about what she’d done, captured on film, for all to see.
    Any normal woman would have kissed Nick, maybe twirled a lock of his hair with her finger, and rubbed his back, not gone after him with reckless, wanton desire, complete with tongue action and legs wrapped around him. Her cheeks burned.
    What had she been thinking?
    She hadn’t been. That was the problem. She’d given into the moment, into stupid teenage fantasies of kissing Nick, without a thought to what she was doing as a woman being filmed for a reality TV show.
    Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
    The worst part? She had no idea what she was going to say to Nick. Her friend. Her platonic friend.
    Was there any chance of a volcano erupting nearby? She’d happily sacrifice herself because that was the only way she could save face.
    “Addie,” Nick yelled from the water.
    She didn’t look his way. She . . . couldn’t.
    Not with her heart pounding, her breathing ragged, and her face heated, likely the shade of a hothouse tomato. The way he’d touched her had sent explosions through her. She hadn’t wanted to stop. A part of her wished they hadn’t.
    Lust or temporary insanity? Maybe a combination.
    “Hey.” Nick emerged from the sea like Poseidon himself, water streaming down his athletic body, over muscles, tattoos, and gleaming skin, making her mouth go dry. The gold band on his finger shone, mocking her reaction to his kisses and reminding her, like their marriage, whatever happened between them wasn’t real. “Hungry?”
    “Yes.” As long as more of his tasty kisses weren’t on the menu. Another one might push her over the edge or make her want to get naked. She rubbed her aching forehead. Maybe the sun was affecting her brain and common sense.
    “Me, too.” He shook his arms, sending droplets of water spraying, then sat next to her on the blanket. His smile wasn’t forced, no lines of worry around his mouth or forehead. He looked the same, as always. Of course, kisses were no big deal to Nick. They were a regular part of his life followed by sex.
    Unlike her.
    She imagined the neon-colored words “Take Me Now” stamped on her forehead and glowing brightly. All due to a few kisses. Hot ones, but still . . .
    Pathetic.
    Burying her head in the sand might be a more achievable option than finding a volcano.
    “Being in the water for a long time is hard work after paddleboarding. You get tired and work up an appetite.” He reached for the picnic basket. “Let’s see what’s for lunch.”
    Oh, Nick. Her heart melted. He wasn’t going to bring up the kiss or anything else. Of course