TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

At least when he was diving forty to sixty feet under, he didn’t have to deal with emergencies, ghosts, or anybody telling him he’d screwed up.

Carm’s nerves were shot by Sunday morning. Not about Angelina’s birthday party, which was completely under control, but about seeing Tony for the first time since he’d seen her coming out of Marc and Angelina’s hot tub naked. That scene had fueled many a fantasy over the past few nights, which probably accounted for why she was a wreck about seeing him again.

Had he had erotic dreams about her?

Tony had certainly claimed her interest. Among the many fantasies flitting through her mind, she’d imagined them together in the Caribbean scuba diving, taking strolls on the beach, swimming nude in the pool. And he wasn’t even coming to the islands with her.

Diving together locally might be a possibility sometime. The thought of being able to scuba dive anytime she wanted without taking a trip to the Caribbean thrilled her. How had she not known about this sooner? She’d always equated scuba diving with tropical locales.

But tomorrow afternoon she’d be digging her toes into sand and tropical waters while on Turks and Caicos, and couldn’t wait to get there.

Sharing her trip with Tony might have been fun, but it was a moot point. Tony had to work this week; firefighters couldn’t take off on a whim.

A quick glance at the clock told her she’d better get a move on with the wrapping if she was going to get to the hotel in time to supervise the setup. Her manager and staff would have everything done to perfection, but she still liked to check everything out before an event. All occasions at the resort were important to her, but even more so when it involved her family.

Carm silenced her phone, wanting no further distractions. Tony had texted that he was on his way more than two hours ago, and she’d texted back for him to meet her in the Piñon Room where the party would start in another two hours. He’d offered to help her with decorations and game setup and, while she didn’t really need him, she looked forward to having a little time alone with him before everyone else showed up.

Careful, girl. Tony isn’t as interested in you as you are in him.

He’d tried to warn her that he wasn’t a long-term kind of guy. While her biological clock had begun ticking, it wasn’t like she’d be ready for the altar and motherhood for a few years. So then why not spend time with someone she enjoyed being with, someone who made her laugh, someone who could keep up with her hiking and climbing activities? She could have a little fun before settling down, couldn’t she? After all, she’d deprived herself of too many years of dating by focusing solely on her career.

But Tony seemed to have an aversion to pursuing anything with her. Was it because of their family connections? Sure, it might be awkward seeing each other after they broke up, but if they kept the relationship from their families, who’d be the wiser?

After wrapping the gift for her sister-in-law, she filled a box with the other things she needed to bring to the hotel. Picking it up to carry to her car, Carm was surprised to see Tony parking his truck in the guest spot for her unit as she left the condo. Her heart fluttered as he exited his truck, then she saw his expression. Bleak would be a good word for it. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he didn’t appear to be in a partying mood whatsoever. What had happened since they’d flirted with each other in the kitchen at Angelina’s Thursday night?

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “I was going to meet you at the hotel.”

“Well, hello to you, too,” he snapped, his forced smile not reaching his eyes. “Didn’t you get my text?” He took the box full of party decorations and prizes and the wrapped gift sitting on top of it from her. “Let me carry that.”

With her hands freed, she pulled out her phone. Sure enough, there was a text from Tony saying he’d meet her at the condo to help take over anything she needed to get to the hotel.

“Sorry. I had my phone silenced.”

He cocked his head. “That’s unusual for you.”

She shrugged, surprised he’d noticed that about her. She had to admit she did usually have one eye on her phone so as not to miss an emergency or something important. “Yeah, well, my phone has been blowing up lately, and I needed a little peace and quiet to get ready for the party. Besides, they’re going to have to get used to going to Sandro when things go wrong.”

He cocked his head in confusion.

“I leave on vacation tomorrow.”

“Oh, right. You’re headed to the Caribbean.” He seemed a little envious, and she couldn’t blame him. “Let me put this in my truck then we can head over.”

“You’re sure? It’s no trouble for me to drive myself over.”

“My truck’s warmed up. I’ll bring you home after the party.”

“It is a little chilly for August.” It was barely 60 degrees this morning, unseasonably cool but nothing like it would be in a couple of months. The thought of another goodnight kiss warmed her in places she dared not acknowledge, not that she was certain there would be one. “My body is so ready for the warm Caribbean beaches and tropical waters.”

His gaze skimmed over her, and suddenly she was no longer cold.

They crossed the lot, and Tony placed the box in the extended cab behind the passenger seat. Then he took her by the elbow to give her a boost onto the high seat. He walked around the front of the truck and settled in beside her before starting up the truck. “When do you leave tomorrow?”

“Late tomorrow morning.” Carm laughed. “Which is not soon enough. I began