“Oh, sweetheart,” he said as he stroked her hair. “How does Dalton not recognize your value, and how long do you plan to fight?” Zale shifted them so she was leaning against his chest facing the sea. Her heart beat faster as he rested his face against her hair. He breathed her in, then released a deep breath that had her sinking back against him. She’d never had a man breathe in her scent before like she was the most enticing sweet in a bake shop. She loved how primal the action was.
“I’m not sure. I wish I could say with conviction that I’ll stay until I can make a real change, but the lack of concern from others wears on me. My father owns a large share of the company, but some of my cousins and my aunt and uncle are also stakeholders. They don’t think about the day-to-day operations or if people are being treated well, but they do pay attention to the Dow. It’s disheartening. And don’t even get me started on the board. A group of golf buddies.”
“Have you ever thought of starting fresh at a brand that shares your vision? One that would value your talents and ideas?” He smoothed her hair, and she melted against his palm. “It must be mentally exhausting to be constantly showing your family the way, only to have them continue on in the wrong direction.”
“Oh, it is. As I’m sure my neighbors can attest to. Sometimes, I have to scream into my pillow after board meetings.” She grinned when a smile split over his face. “I’ve never considered a move before. It just always seemed like this was my path. It’s what I’ve always wanted.” Something stirred inside her. Perhaps moving to another company would be a good idea, but how could she walk away from her family’s business? It was all she’d ever known, and something she’d desperately wanted to be part of from a very young age.
Zale nodded, and for a moment, he seemed deep in thought. They’d been on the beach for nearly an hour. She leaned into him, and the sound of his heart was a sweet symphony, his scent a decadent celebration. They sat quietly, the only sounds the rush and sway of the waves and their soft breaths.
Even if a relationship wasn’t going to work out between herself and Zale, it was time she decided what she wanted out of life. Coming here had changed her. She might need to go in a different direction from her parents and grandfather, because she was a different type of person. She valued the people in her life more than the amount of her bank account. She craved more experiences and fewer material things. She wanted to have a positive impact on the world, and that was something she wasn’t going to accomplish at Dalton with the board blocking her path.
*
The next morning came too fast. She’d never been so conflicted. Zale and Mila were on her mind nonstop. Maybe, deep inside her heart, a part that she’d ignored for so long—the nurturing side of her—ached to come out. The other day when she’d watched Mila, it was painfully evident that her life was missing someone to love and be loved by. Now there were two people she cared for, and they were practically made-to-order. Life would've been less complicated if she'd never met Zale and Mila. She could've continued drifting along in an emotional coma, all her energies focused on the next board meeting or resort opening.
Gemma glanced down as the shrill ring of her cellphone echoed through her hotel room. On a sigh, she picked up her phone.
“Gem, how are you faring out there?” Her grandfather barked out the words in his typical gruff tone.
“Did you receive my email? I’m looking forward to discussing the possibility of an affiliation with Carris Retreats when I return to work tomorrow.” Her energy was sapped, mood foul. She could hardly tell him she was falling for the hotel owner himself.
“Yes, but I had expected you to push back over the course of…what is it at this point, two weeks? The budget I gave you was a fortune.” Disappointment rode on the trails of his voice.
She leaned back in the chair and forced herself to take a slow, deep breath. “Some things are beyond price.” She laughed, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Can you believe it?”
Carris just wasn’t meant to be theirs. If she were in charge, they wouldn't acquire another property until they fixed their current flaws. But she wasn’t.
“What do you mean? Do you realize how important this trip is for your career?” On the other line, the sound of a keyboard clicked. He couldn’t even give her his full attention when he was lecturing her.
“A full sale isn’t the right deal for Dalton or Carris.” There was silence on the other line. “But an affiliation would give our guests something exciting and new. All we’d have to do is provide access to our marketing department, the loyalty program, and a few other minor things.
Carris would pay royalties per booking.” Instead of holding her ground like a competent professional, she wavered and struggled to fill in the deep grooves of unspoken disappointment. “If you need to put up another New England hotel, I'm sure there are nice spots on Cape Cod. We could build from scratch instead.”
“There’s only one place the board wants, and it’s a harborside view on Martha’s Vineyard.” He sighed deeply, not bothering to hide his frustration.
“I’m sorry the sale didn’t come to fruition, but these things happen.” Gemma pinched the bridge of her nose.
“That was the only piece of real estate on the island with a million-dollar view. I don’t think the board will accept anything less.” Her grandfather’s voice carried a hard tone of regret. “I went out on a limb for you, Gem. You should’ve informed me earlier that you couldn’t close the deal, so I could break the news to the board.”
“I did inform you, and I gave you an alternative option. It’s no fault of mine if you decide to ignore correspondence because it doesn’t exactly match your specifications.” A lump formed in the hollow of her throat, and she gripped the sides of her phone to keep herself from tossing it across the room. “You’ll be celebrating my failure along with the board, using it as an excuse to ignore the hard facts that Dalton is far from the best and needs to be mended from the inside out. You must see that, don’t you?”
“Dalton is the most profitable hotel chain in the world. What more could we want?” The bite in her grandfather’s tone made her take pause and stare down at her phone.
“A workplace that is prized for seeing the value in its employees. One that’s a cornerstone of sustainability. There’s so much more than profit, and I’m never going to make you see it.” Tears burned behind her eyes. She couldn’t break now, not when she’d been strong for so long. The perfect employee, the studious granddaughter, the child who spent more time with her au pair then her parents. She’d never brought undue attention onto herself, and carefully dressed and acted as she was expected to. Well, she wasn’t perfect and she found the flawed and real version of herself far more noteworthy than the refined and aloof business woman she’d fought so hard to become.
“The company’s fine as it is. Our stakeholders are happy, the board is content, we have more than enough capital to continue expanding.”
She couldn’t comprehend the obliviousness in her grandfather’s words, the complacency that he accepted so seamlessly. “I love you, Grandpa, but I don’t love the direction of the company or its rigid refusal to change based on the greed of the five men at the top. The board has the power to do good, you have the power to do good.” Everything inside her hitched with fear, but underneath the layer of distress was the heady stir of empowerment clawing its way to the surface. “I regret that I’m stepping away from the family business.”
There was a sharp intake of breath and a muffled curse. “You’d never leave Dalton.” His words were curt, and the complete conviction in his voice made her want to scream.
“You may have been right a few days ago.” She straightened her shoulders. In such a short time, Zale had changed everything. “But now I see how wrong I was.”
There was a hiss of breath, and the flick of a lighter. “What are you talking about?”
“I need to follow a new path where my opinions are valued.” There was silence on the other line, and she ig
nored the rapid churning in her stomach and forged onward. “I may have learned from you, but I’ve taken the best of those teachings and found my own way—a better way, a more honest way. I’ve only just realized that to apply them I have to leave. Consider this my notice, Grandpa. Maybe we can meet for dinner, just as grandfather and granddaughter when I return home.”
“You can’t leave your legacy.” The fact that he’d ignored her offer to connect on a more familial level made acid burn up her throat.
“It’s not my legacy. I have a different calling. Talk soon.” And with those parting words she hung up the call and pressed a hand to her belly.
“Oh, God. What the hell have I done?” Her voice cracked in the empty room. The world around her suddenly seemed so vast and all-consuming. Gemma's stomach rolled and pins and needles snaked up her back. She had effectively turned her life upside down in one phone call. Tossed the career that had been her identity and source of value out the window. Part of her wanted to redial her grandfather and plead for forgiveness, while the other part of her was proud that she’d been brave enough to let her position be known. It felt good to finally be the one in control of her own future. To answer to no one but herself.
But what if she failed?
How does Dalton not recognize your value?
Zale's words replayed in her mind, anchoring her. No, this wasn't the time for regret or fear. She needed to make own her decision because no matter what happened, she'd taken a stand not only for herself but for the next hard-working employee who challenged her grandfather. She'd been fighting to change Dalton for years, but what if the most impactful action was to move on? The finality of her words would leave a deeper groove than any board meeting debate ever could.
Zale had taught her something important. Something that shamed and disappointed her. She’d allowed herself to be undervalued. Now that she understood her worth, it would never, ever happen again.
Chapter 15
Gemma sat in the passenger seat of Zale’s car, worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth. He insisted on driving her to the airport, asking to leave an hour earlier than necessary to make a quick stop. Butterflies batted against the wall of her stomach, and she rested her hand there to calm the twist and tangle inside her. She still hadn’t told Zale she’d resigned from Dalton. It was still too raw, too fresh. For once, Gemma just wanted time to do things on her own terms, to enjoy life without talk of work and deadlines. Telling Zale meant he’d ask questions about her plans for the future. Would he think she was out of her mind if she told him what was in her heart? That after two short weeks she’d fallen madly in love with him and his spirited daughter? She puffed up her cheeks and blew out a breath. Waiting and wondering was driving her crazy. She had to tell him how she felt, whatever the end result may be.
Gemma leaned back against the headrest and snuck a look at Zale. He was so beautiful with distinctive features that were all his own. And those eyes. She'd never be able to forget the clear depths of his eyes. Now that she’d officially emailed a formal resignation to her grandfather, maybe she wouldn't have to forget anything about Zale or Mila. She could stay on Martha’s Vineyard and make it her home, and them her family. Okay, slow down. She’d just admitted to herself that she was in love with Zale, even though she suspected she had been all along. Nervous energy balled inside her stomach as she thought of the good people she’d left behind, and how she'd cut ties with the company she'd built her life around, all to step out on a plank with hopes and dreams bigger than any career move or sale could ever fulfill. She wanted to be Zale’s wife and a mother to Mila. Did she dare hope her wish could come true?
Whenever he was near, she had an overwhelming urge to fan her face to cool off the wild thoughts swirling in her usually very proper mind. The way he locked eyes with her and listened intently when she spoke or smiled as if he only did so for her made her feel more special in a couple of weeks than she had in a lifetime. Zale was someone she respected down to her core, someone with strong values. So long as he was by her side, she knew she could tackle anything because Zale understood her. He wasn’t intimidated by her aspirations and drive—only now that ambition had turned toward a family, not a career.
“What are you thinking?” Zale asked, keeping his eyes trained on the road.
A burst of heat traveled from her cheeks to the tip of her ears. Would he think she was pushing him to fast?
“Where are you going?” The scenery had changed to rocky coastline, and a white lighthouse towered up ahead.
Zale chuckled. “I asked first.” The smile stayed on his lips, and when he looked over at her, there was no mistaking the affection in his eyes. But love? Could his demanding schedule compete with a relationship? Her calendar was clear for the time being, but she didn’t plan to stay jobless for more than a couple months.
She sighed and played with the hem of her skirt. “I was thinking of my past, and what the future might be like. How you and your mother—who is so sweet and lovely—built a life here, made a place to call home. I’ve never really had that. Of course, there was always a house, an apartment, or a condo. I was grateful for the opportunities I was given, but one thing I wasn’t provided was a nurturing childhood.” And how sad did that sound? “Before my parents separated, they were busier tending to a packed social calendar than their only child.”
“Oh, kósmimá mou.” Zale sighed and stroked his hand down the length of her arm. He put on his directional and turned into a sandy lot next to the lighthouse she’d seen from the road. Once he was parked, he turned to her with a look that was both intense and a little sad. “Despite how they made you feel, you are deserving of every bit of care and affection.” His gaze dropped to her lips, which she realized were parted. “Of love.”
Tingles spread from her core to the surface of her skin. Calm down, he didn’t say he loved you. But was he trying to imply his feelings for her? Before she could analyze his words, Zale’s lips claimed hers hard and fast, and her body responded instantly. Warmth spread between her hips, and she was all too aware of the silk cups of her bra pressing against her sensitive skin. There was something almost possessive about the kiss, like she was his and no one else’s. In his arms, she felt cherished, desired, whole. He broke away, breathing hard and trailed kisses over her jawline.
Zale placed his hands on her shoulders and gently nudged her back, so their eyes met. “With me, you’ll know nothing else. I swear it.” The way he said it, like an oath, made her heart race. He dragged her back against him, showing her with his lips and tongue a promise of what was to come.
Gemma cupped her hands against the back of his head, loving the way Zale looped his arms around her waist. She lost herself in Zale, and when they both came up for air, she wasn't sure how much time had passed.
With a fleeting kiss on the tip of her nose, he got out of the car and reappeared to open her door. Zale held out his hand, and she tucked hers inside. “I was afraid the lighthouses wouldn’t be accessible after Esmerelda. You can’t leave without seeing a view of the Vineyard Sound. That and there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Should she tell him that she didn’t want this to be just a trip? For now, Gemma kept that information to herself; it wasn’t the right moment. Zale opened the heavy looking door to the towering beacon and held it for her. While he was exchanging pleasantries with the lighthouse keeper, she peered up. Stairs swirled as far as the eye could see. It was dizzying.
Zale laughed at something the other man said. He seemed to know everyone who lived here. She was still mesmerized by the architecture, imagining the glow of the lighthouse guiding sailors home to their loved ones, when Zale placed a hand on the small of her back. Together, they walked up at least three flights of stairs. She was winded when they reached the top, but the view was worth the workout. This was the place she’d tell him how she felt. There would be no better time or setting than at the top of this tower that had weathered storms and time. Below, strips of green and gol
d shore were dotted with low-lying vegetation that framed the calm water as far as the eye could see.
She gripped the iron rails of the observation deck and a gust of wind whipped at her hair and skirt. Two strong arms encircled her from behind. She should be looking at the scenery but couldn't help staring at Zale’s large, capable hands braced on the outside of hers. The contrast of his golden, sun-kissed skin next to the much paler shade of hers was just as entrancing as the view. On a whim, she circled so they were face to face, and rose up on her tippy toes to kiss him. His aftershave mingled with the saltwater wind, and she filled her lungs with the fresh, inviting scents. The soft brush of lips quickly turned to a slow smolder. Lips parted, tongues danced, and she glided her hands up to his broad shoulders. Her toes curled in her heels, and a low sound reverberated in the back of her throat.
“Zale,” she murmured, and he broke the kiss to glance down and brush the hair out of her face. He always seemed to be thinking of her and her comfort. “There's something I’d like to tell you.”
His brows creased together. “Anything.” As if sensing her unease, he pivoted so his back was to the water blocking the most of the wind. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
She sighed and met his gaze. “I’ve resigned from Dalton.” Zale’s brows shot up, and his hands paused on her arms.
“When?” His voice was edged with awe, and he leaned in closer to her.
“Last night. My grandfather wouldn’t agree to an affiliation. Wasn’t even willing to let me present the idea. His decision wasn’t the reason I quit. At least not entirely. I decided there was another opportunity to explore. Something truly special.” She drew in a breath, taking courage from his comforting, masculine scent. She had to tell him how she felt. She’d found a home of her own, a place she belonged, and not just on Martha's Vineyard, but where ever Zale and Mila were. Her heart sprinted in her chest, and her legs suddenly felt too weak to hold her, but she thrust her shoulders back and looked him in the eye.
SEDUCTION AT THE STARGRASS Page 13