by Nina Singh
He wanted to tell her there was no reason to be so uptight around him. He wanted to show her how to relax. His motives were pure and simple. Perhaps that would make her rethink her decision to eventually leave the company. She didn’t have to constantly toil to get ahead. He wanted her to see that.
Work hard. Play hard. She definitely seemed to have the first part down. He knew for a fact she’d stayed very late at the office last night finishing up last-minute details she didn’t want to delegate before leaving.
“I get the sense you don’t take many vacations.”
“Well, I told you about that jewelry designers’ conference in San Diego.”
“That was a business trip, Jenna. On behalf of the company.”
She shrugged. “Sure. But I made time to visit the zoo one afternoon.”
So maybe there was hope for her yet. She was a tough cookie, tougher to crack than any woman he’d ever dealt with. He couldn’t help but think how pleasurable it would be to see her enjoy herself. She was one of those rare people who truly deserved it. Though she clearly didn’t believe so. He found himself both curious and intrigued. What kind of personality would this highly accomplished, intelligent woman have developed if she’d had even the simplest of breaks in life? How much more dynamic and spirited would she be?
“I’m afraid you will have to do some social mingling while we’re there,” he told her.
She pursed her lips. Clearly she didn’t like that concept. “How so?”
“Opening a new site requires much more than pushing paper around in an office. Much of it requires networking. The resort employees are very friendly and outgoing people; you’ll be working with most of them. You don’t want to appear to be the standoffish stiff suit from Corporate.”
Sure, it was a bit of an exaggeration, but not exactly a lie. It would help to have her get to know the resort employees and the regular guests. Though pushing the matter could be very dangerous ground he was treading. He couldn’t seem to help himself.
“Like going to this island party, you mean?”
“Parties are considered by most people to be fun, Jenna.”
“I’ve never had much time for them.” She tilted her head in his direction: her implication was clear. Unlike yourself.
He was quite aware how well-documented his social life was. “Believe it or not, most of those galas I’m photographed at have some type of business angle. Nine times out of ten, I’m not there because I want to be.” And lately, each party had been more tiresome than the last. It was becoming harder and harder every time to feign a level of interest he simply didn’t feel.
She raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you looked downright pained in that latest photo. The one on the yacht where you’re popping open the bottle of champagne, surrounded by bikini-clad socialites. How do you stand it?” Her tone held such mock seriousness he couldn’t help but laugh. Surprisingly, his laughter earned a small chuckle from her as well.
“Those photos aren’t always what they seem,” he responded.
Her mouth tightened into a thin line. “Well, most of the parties I’ve attended, I wasn’t there to enjoy myself. I was there to work, serving or to clean up afterward.”
“Is that how you helped pay for your education? Working at social events?” he asked. No wonder she didn’t associate social events with anything remotely pleasurable. And no doubt she’d watched her mother cross the line far too many times with all sorts of partying. Jenna Townsend had never been afforded the opportunity to simply have fun and enjoy life, not even as a child.
She nodded. “One of the ways. I did all sorts of odd jobs. Mostly waitressing. The catered parties paid better than, say, waitressing at the diner.” She turned back to him as the aircraft began to taxi down the runway. “Your parents were particularly generous. I worked some of those swanky backyard barbecues your mom and dad were known for. I think you were off at college by then.”
Had she? She’d never been at any of the ones he’d been present at. He wouldn’t have missed her.
“I would have noticed if you were there,” she said, surprising him.
“You would?”
The red stain of her cheeks grew deeper. “Of course. You were a minor celebrity in school. Big man on campus.”
“I guess I was a bit driven, even back then.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Yeah, well. It’s not like I was doing it for me.”
She studied him with interest. “Who else?”
Cabe shrugged. “My parents were very busy people. I figured out at a very young age that I could either get their attention by rebelling and getting into trouble. Or I could try and excel at everything. I chose the latter.”
Funny, he’d never admitted that to anyone before. But he wanted Jenna to understand that what outsiders saw of his life as a teen wasn’t the complete picture.
“Did you so much as ever get detention?” she asked with a sly smile.
“I think once. It wasn’t my fault. I was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“That happened to me a lot,” she responded.
“Getting detention?”
She shook her head. “No, being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Cabe was about to ask her to explain, but Jenna turned and looked out the window as if she’d prefer the conversation to be over.
Perhaps she was right—sometimes the past was better off left to stay there. Though he remembered those years well—all the parties his parents held that Jenna had referred to. Including memories of the first corporate outdoor luncheon he was allowed to attend. He must have been around age fifteen or so. He’d been so nervous, making sure to say all the right things and behave in all the right ways.
The Jordan Golden Boy.
He’d acquired the moniker right around that time as well, due to his stellar grades and lightning-fast skills on the basketball and tennis courts. Accomplishments he worked his behind off to achieve. All to make himself worthy of the Jordan family.
When he’d first found out that he was a Jordan in name only.
* * *
What had she gotten herself into?
Mistake. This whole trip had been a mistake. She’d been a fool to take on this assignment. She’d been a fool to think she could play in Cabe Jordan’s league on her own terms.
She was only going on this trip and working on this project in order to get the achievement on her résumé. Not for some kind of working vacation. Cabe had to realize she wasn’t the type to do island-wide parties.
As if traveling in his private jet weren’t enough, she might have to accompany him to a lavish tropical extravaganza. With fireworks! How was she supposed to act distant and unaffected? How was she supposed to avoid falling under Cabe Jordan’s spell? He was charming enough under the most innocuous of circumstances.
By the time their jet landed, Jenna still hadn’t figured it out.
Cabe stood and offered her his hand. “Ready?”
Of course not. But she simply nodded and let him guide her out of the aircraft, his hand placed gently at the small of her back. She knew he was just being courteous. But his touch wreaked havoc on her senses. The man had absolutely no idea of the effect of his presence. Didn’t he see how women around him practically swooned at his feet? The flight attendant being a perfect example.
Yet somehow she was supposed to ignore the way his hand on her back sent a tingle clear down to her toes. Or how he so casually vowed to “show her a good time” while here.
She nearly tripped over the last step as they disembarked.
“Are you all right?” Cabe said behind her.
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just much hotter than I’d anticipated.” That was no exaggeration. A wall of heat and humidity enveloped her as they walked
toward the small stucco building that housed the island’s airport. Her smart, fitted suit jacket instantly clung to her skin.
“It’ll get better,” Cabe assured her. “The airport is always ten to fifteen degrees hotter. You’ll feel more comfortable once we’re closer to the beach with an ocean breeze to temper the heat.”
And what was going to temper her reaction to Cabe Jordan? She’d said too much on the flight over, drifting dangerously close to “pity me” territory—something she’d sworn never to do over the years. She wasn’t about to start now. Not even if Cabe’s significant charm had her tongue loosening.
And what was his story? All those things he said about having to prove himself growing up. His accomplishments had seemed to come so easy to him when they were kids. Maybe that had all been an illusion. Not that it was really any of her business. Cabe was her boss.
A sleek town car awaited them outside once they were through with customs. The driver was a pleasant tall man with skin the color of mocha coffee. He kept up a steady stream of conversation with Cabe as he maneuvered the busy streets. Based on the familiarity, Jenna guessed he was Cabe’s regular driver on the island.
Jenna found herself too distracted by the scenery outside to focus on their conversation. Among lush, green mountains and the majestic sight of the ocean, the roadside sat peppered with run-down, decrepit shacks. Such poverty among such beauty. On a much smaller scale, it reminded her of the way she’d grown up—the days when they weren’t sure they’d be able to eat while just a few miles away stood the glamorous, ritzy grandeur of downtown Boston. Well, she’d fought tooth and nail to climb out of that bleak existence. And she was proud of it. She’d done it on her own, through hard work and discipline. Unlike her mother, who still to this day waited for the right man to come along and save her—a rich, powerful man. Well, that idea hadn’t really worked out for any of them. Jenna knew better than to fall for such fantasy.
Within forty-five minutes they arrived at the resort. After the striking displays of poverty on the roads they’d just passed through, it was like entering a different world.
A guard outside a tall, metal gate pushed a button to let them through.
“You have a few minutes to freshen up,” Cabe told her. “Then I’d like to show you around, particularly the shopping center attached to the resort. You can see where the new store is to be built.”
“I won’t need that much time,” she answered, grabbing her things off the seat. “I’d like to get started as soon as we can.”
He lifted his head and stared at her, as if studying some unfamiliar object. “I know we’re in a bit of a time crunch but there’s no need to be quite so rushed, Jenna.”
She shrugged. “I’m just anxious to get going, that’s all.”
“Well, we’re on island time now. Things always move slower down here. You may as well relax.”
As if that was possible, Jenna thought, watching him remove his jacket as the car came to a stop outside the entrance. His shoulders strained against his well-fitting tailored silk shirt. Deft fingers removed his cuff links and he rolled up his sleeves to reveal toned, tanned arms. His days on the Caribbean had certainly given him a good dose of color.
She tore her gaze away. None of this was at all conducive to relaxing in any way. The driver helped her out of the car and she emerged to the light sounds of steel-drum music in the air. The aroma of exotic flowers hit her as she stepped out. They were surrounded by lush plants and thick greenery. And large colorful flowers like she’d never before seen. She wanted to run up and inhale the scent of every single one.
A tall, statuesque woman with a thick braid down her back approached them. “Mr. Jordan. So nice to have you back,” she said to Cabe with a glowing smile.
“Glad to be back, Seema,” he answered. “Though I wish it were for a more pleasant reason.”
Her smile wavered. “More snags?”
“I’m afraid so.” He gestured toward Jenna to join them. “But this time I have some help. Meet Jenna.”
Jenna put her hand out to greet the woman but she had other ideas. Jenna found herself gripped in a tight hug.
“Welcome to the Paraiso Resort. So glad to have you here, Miss Jenna.”
“Please. It’s just Jenna. And I’m very glad to be here.” It surprised her how much she meant it. The woman’s friendly warmth magnetically drew her in.
“May I show you to your rooms?” she asked them both while a bellman grabbed their bags.
“We’re right behind you,” Cabe said.
Jenna tried to take in her surroundings as they were led away. Paradise. She had entered paradise. A piece of pure heaven. She could hear the gentle waves in the distance. The clear crisp air refreshed her despite the muggy heat. She loved her hometown city of Boston but this was an entirely different world.
A world full of beauty. To think, she’d almost turned down the opportunity to come.
She had to admit it to herself. Cabe was right to bring her here.
* * *
Cabe let himself fall slightly behind as they walked through the resort to the hotel room area. Seema was giving Jenna a raving summary of all the resort’s amenities and attractions while Jenna listened carefully. He took a deep breath, finally allowing himself to relax. The scent of the ocean, the crystal-blue sky and the characteristic local friendliness worked their usual magic and he felt the tightness in his shoulders give way little by little.
He could hear the gentle crashing of waves and the sounds of laughter coming from the beach. A small salamander darted out and ran in front of them on the path. Jenna shrieked and jumped back, clutching her chest. In the process, she barreled right into Cabe. Realizing the intruder was a small lizard, her panicked expression turned to one of amusement. She laughed out loud, prompting him to laugh with her.
Instinctively, his arms went protectively around her middle. “Close call,” he said against her ear. “But you’re safe.”
“You didn’t tell me I might be ambushed by small green creatures on this island,” she admonished with a chuckle.
“I was just hoping for a chance to rescue you.”
“I hardly needed rescuing,” she countered. “I was just startled, that’s all.”
He smiled at her. “Right.”
Seema gave them a curious look. With hesitation, he finally let Jenna go and they continued walking.
Life could be so simple in the Caribbean.
They were finally here. After his colossal mistake in Boston, he wasn’t so sure he could pull it off. Getting Jenna here was one thing. Now he had to get the project off the ground with her help, all the while trying to convince her to stay in his employ afterward. Employees like Jenna were hard to come by. And if she left, he’d have no one but himself to blame.
She couldn’t leave the company. He didn’t want to have to explain her loss to his parents.
His mom and dad put a lot of faith in him, their only child. So far, he liked to think he’d done well by them and made them proud. What he’d told Jenna on the flight here was the truth. He’d had two choices as an adolescent growing up. He could gain attention through rebellion or through accomplishment. Otherwise, his parents barely seemed to know he existed. Their grief had been encompassing and powerful, as it still was to this day. He chose to be an achiever because he realized at a young age just how lucky he was.
In his position, mistakes were out of the question. He couldn’t afford the luxury of making any.
He watched as Jenna rubbed the back of her neck and nodded at something Seema told her, her face squinted in concentration. Even from this distance, Cabe could tell she was processing all the information about the resort, making mental notes. She really was one of a kind.
No matter what it took, he wasn’t about to lose Jenna Townsend.
CHAPT
ER FOUR
“WOULD YOU LIKE to walk the rest of the way along the beach?” Seema asked her with a pleasant smile.
Jenna turned to Cabe, who gave a small shrug. “It’s up to you. Though you should know, your shoes will definitely get sandy,” he said, pointing to her smart navy pumps.
As if she cared. Right now, Jenna could think of nothing better than to feel soft, Caribbean sand between her toes.
“Why not?”
They took a right and the pathway led them through a network of buildings, bungalow-style structures with wooden steps spiraling up to tall doorways. The sounds of the ocean grew gradually louder and soon she could see the gentle lapping of the crystal-blue water and the golden silky sand that framed it.
She felt like she was in a travel catalog, each page a new and wondrous scene of bright, colorful images. Why had she never traveled here before? Money was always tight and her student loans were the top priority, but surely she could have scrounged and scraped and somehow over time pulled it off. How had she allowed herself to miss this part of the world for her whole adult life?
Without a cloud in the sky, the sea gleamed like liquid jewelry. She wanted so badly to run in and dive under the water, fully clothed. The image made her smile. She dared a glance at Cabe. Dear Lord, he’d undone a couple of his top shirt buttons and it took all her will to look away and not stare at the revealed patch of tanned golden skin.
Seema suddenly stopped, forcing Jenna to look around her at the reason. A procession of well-dressed men and women followed a small girl in a white lace smock toward an elaborately decorated archway on the beach.
A wedding. The scene took Jenna’s breath away. A small band played reggae music next to rows of wooden chairs. Four bridesmaids dressed in calf-length, silky maroon gowns made their way down the path in front of them. Instead of shoes, their feet were adorned with golden chains and sparkly gemstone jewelry. The effect was both exotic and bohemian.
Jenna couldn’t help but let a small “ooh” escape her lips. The women were all so lovely.
“Would you like to stay a moment and watch?” Seema asked her.