The world started to swirl around Eleni. What was happening? Did Matteo request for her to work for him and then withdraw his own request? It didn’t make sense. However, if James agreed for her to switch places, then this decision had to greatly displease Matteo. Otherwise James wouldn’t have done it.
Her eyes flicked to Matteo. He stood there working his jaw, avoiding her eyes.
Great. Her new daily duties would not only involve diving into deep waters, but now she also had to stay enclosed in the same space with Matteo. All day. Which of the two would be more dangerous?
She touched her chest. Her heart was stomping, as if it wanted to break through the bony cage. Well, the answer was clear.
James’ eyes bounced between Eleni and Matteo. He apparently enjoyed the palpable tension in the air.
He rubbed his hands together. “I see it’s going to work out just perfectly. All right. I leave you both to discuss the details of Eleni’s new assignment.”
After James left, Matteo cleared his throat. “At least you won’t be serving the Russians anymore.”
Warmth crept into Eleni’s neck. “Yeah, that’s a benefit.”
It was an aspect she hadn’t considered. Did Matteo make his original request out of charity? Did he think she wasn’t capable of handling the tipsy millionaires? Or was there a more profound reason?
Matteo patted her shoulder. “I’m glad you aren’t sad about the change. Go and get all dried up. After lunch you can come over to the diving center and I’ll get you sorted out.” He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more, but then closed it again.
Eleni tried to read Matteo’s face. It bore an indecipherable expression. His blue eyes sparkled in the sun like two gems. Eleni’s knees became weak. Someone save me. This man was trouble for her, and from now on she had no way to escape from him.
Matteo turned to leave. “See you in a bit then.”
Eleni gawked at his back, clutching the towel around her waist. There was no question, the most dangerous deep blue for her might not come from the ocean after all.
Chapter 13
Matteo made another cross on his map. His shoulders slumped forward and he sighed. All black. The page was starting to look like some crazy sudoku. He still had to check Rosalie’s lead though.
He took out his phone and texted Luke.
“Let’s postpone tonight’s call. There’s no news under the sun. But I might have a hunch. Keep you posted.”
The sound of the door opening hit his ears. He folded the map and stuck it into the drawer.
“Good morning.”
It was Eleni’s voice.
His heart gave a jump. Why had he ever thought it would be a great idea to have her working here? He should have known her presence was going to be pure distraction for him.
He turned to face her. “Morning to you. You’re punctual, as always.”
She winked at him. “Cath throws me out of bed each morning for some yoga exercises. So it’s not entirely my merit that I show up on time.”
She walked to the chair beside the window, and hung her bag on it. A streak of sunlight illuminated her face.
Matteo’s throat thickened. The Triquol sun agreed with Eleni. Her skin was more tanned than the first day when he met her at the airport, and her hair now glowed in a golden hue. His eyes travelled to her lean legs, and his mouth went dry. What was wrong with him? He’d seen other women in much less clothing without enduring the same effect.
“Oh, come on now, open!” Eleni exclaimed.
She was forcing her bag’s zipper, which didn’t want to open.
Matteo stepped over and moved her gently to the side. “Let me take a look.”
As he touched her naked arm, a zap burst through him, as if he’d touched an unsecured plug. His eyes met Eleni’s. Her lips parted slightly and she swallowed hard.
She handed him the bag. “Here you go.”
Matteo started to fidget with the zipper. His hands were still tingling from Eleni’s touch. Did she feel it, too? Or was he the only one becoming mad with desire to prolong their spontaneous physical interactions?
The zipper gave away and the bag opened. Eleni flashed a grateful smile, one that illuminated her face. His pulse quickened. He needed to give her more reasons to beam at him like that.
Eleni took the bag and fished out her phone. “So, what’s today’s adventure, boss?”
“We have to go to one of the diving sites and check the underwater conditions. It’s been booked for a night dive, but I need to make sure it’s suitable for that.”
Eleni folded her arms around her chest. “You want me to come on the boat? Shouldn’t Hugo do it?”
Matteo snorted. “Hugo can’t swim.”
Why was she trying to get out of this task? Was the idea of staying with him on a boat so unbearable?
Eleni’s eyes widened. “Get out. How can he work for you then?”
Well, that’s James’ sense of humor. It’s hard to believe the hotel manager wants this dive center to be a success. He scratched his chin. “You’ve personally witnessed how carefully James considers personal aptitudes for each job.”
Eleni clenched her jaw. “Yeah. But I don’t have to get into the water, do I?”
Was she afraid of coming because of what happened on the beach? Did the waves scare her that much? Relief flooded through Matteo. Maybe it wasn’t his persona that discouraged her after all.
He shook his head. “No, if you don’t want to, you don’t. But you might change your mind once we get there.”
Eleni cocked her head to the side. A tiny curl escaped her bun from the movement. How would she look with her hair down?
“Why? Where are we going?” she asked.
“To the Purple Rain. It’s a site with more than twenty underwater tunnels. All traveling into the Khalima Mountain. Magnificent scenery.”
And possibly the location of the Pearl. Matteo’s breathing became shallow. No, he wasn’t that lucky. But still, it was better to check everything. Plus the night divers needed to be absolutely safe, so he could kill two birds with one stone.
“Why is it called Purple Rain?” Her voice sounded flat.
Matteo’s heart swelled. She wasn’t very enthusiastic about the trip. He didn’t want to force anything on her, but Hugo wasn’t capable of assisting him. Maybe if he described the destination with the passion he felt for it?
“It’s because the area is home to a large population of Magenta. These have an eye-blinding purple color, and since they swim in large groups, the water acquires a purplish glow. It’s a unique sight.”
Eleni relaxed her posture. “I used to love boat trips…but it was before—” She bit her lower lip and then continued, “Anyways, I’ll do my best to help you out there.”
Again this before. Before what? What happened to Eleni that made her fear the ocean? Matteo itched to know. But it was better not to pry.
He rubbed his hands together. “Fine, then let’s get ready.”
A phone beeped.
Eleni reached into her pocket and pulled it out. She peeked at the screen and her eyebrows furrowed. Her lips shifted into a frown.
Matteo watched her from the corner of his eyes. Who could have written to her? Was it bad news? He forced himself to look away. It wasn’t his business.
The interest that each bit of news related to Eleni released in him wasn’t healthy. He wasn’t supposed to react this way to anyone on this island. His time here wasn’t a long-term commitment.
He shook his head and checked his bag again. Nothing was missing. They were ready to go. He drew in a deep breath. He would focus on securing the dive site and on the search for the Pearl.
Nothing else matters.
Chapter 14
Eleni drew back underneath the shadow of the boat’s roof. She pressed her palms to her cheeks. They were boiling. Not even the breeze blowing from the open water managed to chill her skin.
Her eyes drifted over to Matteo, and she
swallowed. Of course, with the sight of him standing half-naked at the steering wheel, it was hard to maintain cold blood.
Man, he’s hot. No, that wasn’t what she meant. The weather was hot. Not him.
She dared another glance at Matteo’s back. His dark hair danced in the air, his muscular shoulders were pulled back as he turned the boat to the left.
Okay, maybe he was hot, too. But she shouldn’t stare. Not only was it a terrible idea to get involved with anyone on the island, but now Matteo was her boss. She had already gone down that road. And how well did that work out for her?
The text she had just received popped into her mind.
“Lenie, we need to talk. I can’t exist without you. The school isn’t the same since you left. When can I call you? I miss you. Connor.”
Where did this even come from? Was it truly Connor who wrote it? Or did Laura help him? She shouldn’t hope that it was Connor. But if she was honest, a small part of her still did.
She shrugged her shoulders and focused her attention on the emerald water. Anything to get her attention away from that stupid text.
The ocean stretched out beneath the boat was a perfect mirror bearing no resemblance to the angry monster a couple of days ago. Eleni sighed. At least one thing was going well today.
As she peeked into the waves, she noticed a bunch of small fish following the white foam the boat left behind. Maybe she should ask Matteo how far they had to travel, but for that, she’d need to stand up on the wobbly deck. Better to just lean back and wait.
Her eyes wandered again to Matteo. He looked completely in his element on the boat. His hands turned the wheel effortlessly.
How would it feel if he pulled her close with them? Oh, no, what a thought. Boss. Yes, he was her boss. Nothing else. And a woman should never fall for her boss.
Then why did her knees feel so weak this morning when his hands brushed against her naked arms? She recalled Matteo’s gaze. His pupils had been dilated. For a second there, Eleni had thought he felt the same energy pass between them as she did. But probably he didn’t. It had been her mind playing tricks on her.
Her gaze travelled to Matteo’s legs. After all, looking wasn’t a crime now, was it?
Connor had always been very fit, but he used to spend half of his days in the gym. However, Matteo’s lean but strong figure wasn’t the result of artificial equipment. This was a body forged by real interaction with nature.
Her breath hitched as she watched him maneuver the boat. She wasn’t falling for Matteo, was she? No, it had to be only the jitters from being out in the open waters again.
“We’re almost there.”
Matteo turned and caught Eleni gaping at him.
She cringed inwardly and dropped her chin to her chest. Maybe she could pretend she was observing the oxygen bottle beneath her seat? Or her sandals? Anything but Matteo’s butt.
Matteo steered the boat toward a large ensemble of rocks surrounding a wide lagoon.
“We can’t drive in any farther. The boat could get stuck on a rock.”
He switched off the engine and stepped over to the anchor. He lowered it carefully into the water. Then he approached Eleni and grabbed his bag. He took off his sunglasses and loosened his pants.
Eleni’s throat dried out, and she turned her head to the side. She wouldn’t be caught gawking again. When she looked back, Matteo was in his bathing suit. Eleni needed all her self-control not to stare at his chiseled muscles.
Matteo reached into his bag and fished out his goggles. He cleaned and rinsed them and then positioned them on his forehead.
Eleni gasped. “Aren’t you going to gear up for the dive? Put on a shorty at least?” Yes, covering up would be a great idea. The heat waves from the sight of his naked flesh were becoming more and more distracting.
Matteo adjusted his goggles so they sat just below his hairline. “No, the water is warm today. I’ll be free diving. If I need to check out the underwater tunnels, I can’t wear a bulgy oxygen tank.”
Eleni pointed at his fins. “Are you at least going to bring these with you?”
He grinned, his dimples deepening. “Nope.”
Eleni’s jaw dropped. “So Cath was right. You’re crazy.”
Matteo threw back his head and laughed. “That’s what she’s told you? Yes, she’s probably not far off from the truth. But I prefer to be as natural under water as I can. I only take the goggles because the salt burns my eyes.”
He waved at Eleni. “You should come with me and try it.”
Well, now he was definitely insane. She wasn’t going to come. It was one thing to jump into the water to save a life, and another to go swimming for pleasure.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Matteo stepped closer. The boat shifted under his weight. Eleni reached for the fence, but her hands slipped. She was about to fall down when Matteo’s hands caught her.
He held onto her hips with a steady grip. “I’ve got you.”
Eleni peeked up at him, and her heart gave a loud thud.
She wriggled out of his grasp. “Jeez, thanks. You’re overdoing your duty of saving me.”
Matteo shook his head. “Not duty, just pleasure.”
He wasn’t smiling, but his voice had a playful undertone.
Their eyes met. The blue of his irises melted in with the ocean behind him.
He cocked his head to the side. “Please, come with me. You won’t regret it.”
Eleni looked at the water. It played in an enchanting lilac hue. Just as Matteo had anticipated.
Her chest fluttered. What if she tried it? She used to love the ocean. My little dolphin. That’s what her father still called her when he wanted to be particularly affectionate.
No, it was better not to. She turned back to him. “I can’t, I’m sorry. I…I don’t like to swim anymore.”
Matteo’s eyebrows drew together. “But you’re an excellent swimmer. I saw it. You have a feel for the ocean. You have it in your blood.”
“Had it,” Eleni corrected in a low voice.
Before the water took her mother. Her jaw quivered and tears swelled up in her eyes. She tried to blink them away. Without success.
Matteo rubbed his neck and stood without saying a word.
Then he reached out and hugged her. “It’s fine. Whatever happened to you, it’s in the past.”
He grazed the skin on her nape with his fingertips.
Despite the sadness invading her soul, Eleni’s body reacted to his touch. The small hairs on her neck stood up, and her heart hammered.
Matteo locked a finger underneath her chin and forced her to look at him.
His eyes had a kind, patient look, but he didn’t speak.
Eleni didn’t know why or how, but the words started bubbling up from her throat. “I lost my mother on a boat trip when I was nine. She slipped, hit her head, and fell over the railing. She was such a good swimmer, but she couldn’t make it. We realized what happened too late…” Her voice wavered.
“Shhh,” Matteo whispered. “I’m so sorry. Boat accidents happen. It wasn’t your fault.”
Eleni’s throat constricted. No. He didn’t know. How could he? It was all her fault.
She squeezed her fingers into a ball so strongly, that her knuckles became white. “You don’t understand. It was. It was my fault.”
Matteo’s strokes stopped, but his hands didn’t let go of her.
“Do you want to know what happened?” Eleni murmured.
“If you want to tell me, yes.”
Eleni inhaled. She hadn’t spoken of this with anyone. Not since years ago. Why did she want to share it with Matteo now? Was it the gentle rocking of the boat, his strong embrace, or his tender tone of voice? She didn’t know why. She just wanted to.
She cleared her throat. “We went for a snorkeling trip. Before getting into the water, I threw a tantrum because one of my dolls went missing. The captain and my father started to look for it under the deck. Tha
t’s why they didn’t see my mom in time.” Eleni’s voice became only a whisper. “That’s why she couldn’t be saved.”
There it was. A truth she had been carrying so long. Her mother died because she cared for a stupid doll too much.
Chapter 15
Matteo couldn’t believe his ears. Did Eleni truly think she had caused her mother’s death? She’d been nine years old. Nine! She did nothing wrong, only behaved as a child would have.
He lowered his head, and pressed his forehead against hers. Their lips were only inches away, and he could feel her warm breath.
“Eleni, you were just a child. Nothing of what happened is your fault.”
She peered up at him, her mouth twitching. “Weren’t you listening? I made it impossible for my dad and the captain to save my mother. Me and my dumb doll.”
Matteo inhaled. He had to be careful with his words. “You know, memories are often treacherous fellows. They make us believe what we want to believe.”
Eleni angled her body backwards. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that on a snorkeling boat there are always more people than just the captain. Were you and your parents the only passengers on the boat?”
Eleni held her breath for a second. “No, there were at least a couple of others that I recall.”
Matteo nodded. Just as he thought. Eleni had put all this guilt on her own shoulders for years for nothing. It was an accident, a tragic accident. Why didn’t she realize that?
“You see? There must have been others from the crew or the guests who followed the events. Even if you and your father weren’t on the deck. There had to be something more involved. Maybe your mother’s fall was so bad that it became fatal from the start.”
Eleni picked at her fingernails without saying a word.
Matteo touched her shoulders. She didn’t pull away, so Matteo kept his hand on her skin. “Did you ever ask you father what really happened that day?”
Eleni jerked her head back. “No, he doesn’t like to talk about it.”
Loving The Boss (Gems 0f Love Book 1) Page 8