Heating Up Hawaii

by Carmen Falcone

  The sound of the door swinging open, followed by a baffled gasp, startled her. She opened her eyes as wide as she could to soak up the scene past Luc’s shoulder.

  Brad stood at the door, holding a coffee cup with one hand, while the other covered his mouth. “I’m sorry, Shirley told me earlier you’d be here…” He blushed.

  Luc readily straightened his shoulders, unlinking himself from her.

  Penny didn’t want to face him or Brad. Her whole body felt like the ocean when strong and opposite currents abruptly collide. Cold humiliation washed off the heat that rode her the moment before. She managed to slide to the edge of the desk, and when her feet touched the floor, distress filled her.

  “Penelope,” Luc said in a harsh, raw voice. But she didn’t listen, and began to walk toward the door, her eyes fixed on the wall.

  “Excuse me,” she whispered to Brad, who moved to the left so she could wiggle out of his office.

  As soon as the way cleared, she took a deep breath, and prayed that her still willowy legs didn’t let her down.

  She strode out of that office as if her life depended on it—because in many ways, it did.

  Chapter Five

  Penny’s heart raced as she walked past the maintenance crew on the floor. They greeted her with a friendly hello, and she did her best to return it with a smile. After all, it wasn’t their fault that she had acted like a complete idiot and now searched for a place to process her thoughts.

  Going up to her suite was out of question. Luc could find her there, although she wondered if he’d even look for her. He might, though–to smooth things over, to make sure she kept her mouth shut and didn’t bring any scandal to his hotel. Something of the sort. She doubted Luc would have noble reasons to look for her, after the way he’d behaved. Hell, after the way I behaved.

  She pushed the button to call for the elevator, and when it reached the floor, a couple of employees signaled it was going down. Since besides her and Luc, only a few other employees or contractors from out-of-town occupied the south wing, she had grown accustomed to seeing the same faces. She usually enjoyed the camaraderie, but not now. She wiped the tears that bordered her eyes with the back of her hand. Her only wish lay on finding some solitude even if just for a moment.

  She badly needed to go somewhere quiet.

  Penny pressed her lips hard, and as the elevator stopped at the lobby level, she simply went with the other employees and got out. Guests from the north wing scattered the lobby, and her gaze zipped around the restaurant, the elegant boutique, and the pool area she could see from the glass panel. It was the beach that caught her attention.

  It could have been a mirage. The reflection of the strong sun on the deep blue waters, the promise of the solitude she wanted. Without thinking twice, she headed outdoors.

  She took her shoes off, carried them in one hand as the other clasped the short rail. She stepped down, soon her feet dove into the sand, and the crisp, fresh ocean air invaded her senses.

  Only after she walked away from most beach goers sunbathing on the oversized chaise lounges provided by the resort, did she allow herself to ponder.

  Damn Luc.

  He’d haunted her thoughts when he’d been away. He’d taken a gorgeous woman out on a date, and now that he was back and probably bored, he had the audacity to use a double entendre and crawl under her skin. And she had fallen for it.

  The fresh memories from his touch still raced in her mind, and lingered on her skin. She touched her lips, tender from his kisses. What would have happened if Brad hadn’t shown up like that?

  She gasped. She knew exactly what would have happened.

  “Penelope.”

  A chill zipped down her spine upon the sound of his voice, which was not too far from her. She turned around, and there he was. Luc stomped in the sand, still wearing his shoes. He managed not to look ridiculous as he made his way to her with his light grey pin-striped suit on.

  With a head shake, she resumed her pace, like she had a chance. Within a few seconds he caught up to her.

  “We need to talk.” He appeared in front of her, and she almost collided with his chest. She tried to go around him, but he seized her elbow. Not to bring her close to him, but rather to ensure she wouldn’t go anywhere. Typical.

  “I want to do things to you, Luc Leoni. But talking doesn’t rank among them.” Her anger rose from a place deep inside her soul.

  “After what we’ve just done, that’s obvious.” He said nonchalantly, an expression of satisfaction shadowed his eyes.

  She couldn’t believe he smiled. The bastard smiled. Why did he always do that at the most inappropriate moments? Because he finds embarrassing me quite entertaining, that’s why.

  “You know damn well that’s not what I mean.” She yanked herself a couple of steps away from him. She needed the distance. Seeing him again after the sexual outburst they just shared didn’t ease her rattled emotions.

  “Relax, Penelope. I talked to Brad, he’s very discreet.”

  Discreet. The word soared in her ear. Hadn’t he asked for her discretion once? And she’d almost gotten the short end of the stick. No. Not again. “Really? What did you tell him?”

  “I explained that he witnessed a rekindling of sorts. That we are old friends.” He ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh.

  “Well, I might have to set him straight, then.” She placed both hands on her waist, her fingers biting into her dress. “I don’t know what I was thinking…obviously I wasn’t thinking. But there is no rekindling.”

  Another condescending smile curved his lips, a blend of amusement and mockery. “Ma petite, why the denial?”

  Because I’d rather suffer now than later.

  She could deal with sexual abstinence. She had for two years after their affair in NYC. Another whirlwind romance with an expiration date with Luc, though, she couldn’t handle. Didn’t want to.

  “I really need this assignment to have a positive outcome, and it won’t if you maul me like you just did over there.”

  “Maul you? I wasn’t the only one.” He pointed at his mouth. She raised her eyes to find the swollen, purple-colored cut on his upper lip.

  Did I do that to him? She clenched her palms, the impulse to touch his branded flesh was one she couldn’t— wouldn’t— indulge. He grinned, his relaxed features showed no signs of shame whatsoever. In fact, his eyes flashed some kind of primeval male pride.

  “Whatever.” She threw her hands in the air.

  “There’s no need for drama, Penelope. We are older and wiser, and I don’t think a casual fling can come in the way of your talent.”

  Casual fling.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but then hesitated. His words sank in. He glared at her with curiosity, as if although he wondered why she resisted him, he knew it wouldn’t be for long. What was the purpose behind his behavior, or misbehavior more like it?

  And then…it hit her. He’d wanted the fling all along. Not because she was an essential part of his life, or they shared a special kind of chemistry. He wanted her, maybe for self-assurance, to prove to himself he could have her again.

  She swallowed the burning pain in her throat. “That’s why you hired me? Because you wanted to sleep with me?”

  The past few days had done her well. She had restored her confidence, being away from Charles and the Dallas office, and Darren. She’d been doing what she loved to do, what she was good at. Even his trip had made her that much more comfortable around the work place. Yet now, he just threw her under the bus, and kept driving. She wouldn’t allow him to destroy her calling.

  “No.” He hesitated. “Not at first. I do need help with this resort, but the way you’ve talked about canceling your wedding.” He cleared his throat, “I thought that since you are disenchanted with the whole institution—”

  “That I’m an easy lay, because I didn’t believe in my doomed marriage?” She felt her temper rise. “I don’t know what I believe in these days, bu
t it isn’t in you, Luc.”

  “Be honest. I’ve been thinking about the same thing you have,” he said, defiance dripping on his voice.

  She closed her eyes momentarily. A growing anger skated up her body and knotted her throat. She rubbed her temples with her fingers in a failed attempt to calm her nerves. Wanting to avoid blurting out all the emotions that were about to choke her.

  Who was she? She was a woman with her feet dug deep in the sand, raising her voice like a fool, while Luc had the power of overtaking the conversation with a simple glance.

  Penny opened her eyes with a start. Not anymore. She wasn’t going to run away from this conversation solely to give him the upper hand and cowardly secure her position. “Have you? Because the only thing on my mind is how I need for this assignment to go problem-free so I can get a list of references from you.”

  His jaw clenched. “Why is that list so important? I’m sure you must have some kind of clientele, working for Charles.”

  “Because I want to leave his firm, but I need some good contacts. I won’t take any of my current clientele, it wouldn’t be ethical. When he learns I’ve started my own boutique PR firm, he’ll drag my name in the mud anyway,” she blurted out.

  She raised her hand to cover her mouth, but it was too late. She’d told him, of all people, her plan. In a perfect world, to share her professional ambitions with Luc would be natural–after all, if there was a soul capable of understanding her desire for professional independence and self-reliance, by God, it had to be him.

  However, the lack of sympathy in his eyes warned her that the world was far from perfect.

  “Charles wanted to fire you. He hasn’t because he doesn’t want to hurt his son. And you are working toward leaving the firm.” He concluded.

  “I asked to leave after the cancelation. Since I had some big accounts then, Charles asked me to stay. I agreed and offered to pay for all the cancelation fees for the wedding.”

  He crossed his arms, and his dominant figure stood against the sun like a bronze sculpture. She instantly thought of those statues she’d seen when she backpacked in Europe, with confident lions and big manes that reminded her of the gladiator era. “How self-sacrificing of you.”

  She could have slapped him right there and then.

  “Will you also take a step back from the friendship Darren has imposed on you?”

  “I’ll keep in touch, but I’d like to see less of him, yes. We can’t be friends right now.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you plan on opening your own firm?” Strained resentment oozed from his voice.

  “I didn’t see the point.” She shrugged but a strong, cold chuckle from his cynical lips made her believe she wasn’t getting away with it. “Okay, I was afraid you’d try to mess it up.” She forced her tremulous lips into a smile. “Which is stupid anyway. Right?”

  He took one step toward her, studying her face. “You called me names in the past because I’d asked you not to broadcast about our affair just so I could get the opportunity I’d been waiting for. You made it seem as if I was the evil bad man, asking you for discretion when it was so obvious I needed it. And now, you tell me that you’ve been using your ex-fiancé to keep a job just to stab him in the back when he’s no longer needed.” He threw the words at her like rocks.

  Penny shook her head. “It’s not like that. I canceled my wedding, but that had nothing to do with my skills at the firm.”

  “We are not that different, Penelope.” His left eye twitched.

  “I am not using Darren. He’s going through a rough patch and I can’t afford to be selfish. However I told him reconciling wasn’t an option. I never led him on. What you did to me was different.”

  “How?” He raised his voice.

  How?

  “Can’t you see it, Luc?” she cursed herself inside when her voice broke. “I loved you. I stupidly fell in love with you, and you wanted to turn my feelings for you into a hidden secret. I could keep the secrecy, but for me to hear from Allegra how she wanted you and not to say anything about us? I’m not that cold blooded.”

  “Do you know that it took me a whole year until I found someone else to pitch my business idea to? An entire year, Penelope.”

  “I didn’t know.” She crossed her arms. Just as certain as the seagull that flew above the coconut tree, just as certain as the hard seashells leaving their imprint against the shore only to be washed away, she knew they would never see eye to eye.

  “I’m sorry that you had to wait, Luc.” She unfolded her arms, the damp palm of her hand rubbing against the other.

  He glared at her, his eyes remote and distant. Then he stepped away.

  “Waiting for things is no longer an option for me.” He threw the words at her like stones, only to turn around and leave. She picked her shoes from the sand and clasped her hands around them. Why wasn’t she relieved?

  ***

  “Where is he?” Penny asked Brad, who had been assisting the cameraman in finding a good place for the interview. They’d all agreed on the lounging area located in the colorful gardens, with a beautiful infinite view of the ocean. A clear vase with long, pink orchids accented the low timber table surrounded by luxurious oversize wooden chairs.

  “He just flew in and went to his room to change,” Brad answered.

  “To change, huh?” said Brooke Okole, the reporter who could easily moonlight as a swimsuit model. Brooke checked her flawless makeup for the third time with her small mirror.

  The cameraman gave them the thumbs up. “The lighting is perfect. We can’t wait much longer.”

  Penny nodded. The weather was agreeable; the sun potent but not overbearing.

  “They’ve already shot indoors. Now all they need is Luc for the interview. I’ve tried calling him in his room, but no answer.” Brad stepped closer. Two days had gone by, two days in which she hadn’t heard from Luc as he traveled somewhere to do something which really didn’t matter to her.

  “I’ll go get him.” Penny said.

  “Are you sure?” Brad queried, friendly concern lacing his voice. Since walking in on them, Brad hadn’t asked her anything, and she had been too wrapped around her own feelings to bother to explain.

  “I am sure, Brad,” she said firmly. What she didn’t want was for anyone to tiptoe around her because of Luc. For anyone to think she’d be unwilling to perform her duties just because of a personal matter. That had been her Achilles heel before, and she’d be damned if she let it happen again. She couldn’t afford to.

  Off to the lion’s den. Well, to the hell with whatever had happened. They were adults and professionals, and had to get along somehow. Plus, as his PR she needed to see what he wore, to make sure it blended with the tone she wanted to set for the interview. She needed to show her skills more than ever.

  She took a deep breath before knocking firmly on his door.

  Nothing. She knocked again, and no response.

  She tapped her heel on the floor.

  Maybe he’s in the shower. She shook her head, shutting out the images of his naked body underneath a steamy downpour of water. She was about to knock again, when the door swung open, and her hand hung mid-air. Luc wore a nicely tailored gray business suit, his hair pushed back and his face shaved. He looked prim and proper, although the dark gleam in his eyes warned her otherwise.

  “We’ve been waiting for you at the gardens, for the interview. We’ve called.” Her voice had a pang of annoyance, hiding all the effects he provoked in her. The endless flutter in her stomach. All her nerves on full alert. Her nostrils, intoxicated by his freshly showered scent.

  “Of course.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I was on a conference call.” He opened the door wide, and returned inside. She followed.

  He reached to turn off his laptop, and her eyes trailed down his suit and handmade Italian leather shoes. “I don’t like what you’re wearing.”

  He frowned. “I can live with that.”

  “
No. I mean, it’s too formal. We are setting an informal tone, so you’ll look more approachable.” If he hadn’t arrived so late on the day of the interview, she would have gone over that with him. But due to his distant expression, this was not the best time to rub that in his face. Maybe later. “May I go in your closet?”

  He nodded with a sigh, obviously annoyed. The woman in her knew he’d look good in anything, but the PR in her wanted him to look as charismatic and sellable as possible.

  His cell phone rang, and with a motion he signaled she could get started. Without further delay, Penny marched through the hallway and went across to his closet. His spacious suite had a floor plan identical to hers. However, there was an aura of masculinity in his, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It could always be the blend of his aftershave with his purely male scent lingering in the air.

  The closet looked similar to hers, although while hers had items of clothes and accessories scattered, Luc’s domain was tidy. A couple of suits still covered with the dry cleaner’s plastic hung by several long sleeved shirts, but none of them fit the occasion. She saw a half-opened carry-on bag on the bottom rack, next to more Italian leather shoes.

  “Luc?” she called, but all she heard was his voice, still speaking in French with whoever had called. Penny glanced at her watch.

  Her fingers pulled the first drawer open.

  Oh, his underwear. Of course.

  She closed it after a quick glance at the silky boxers.

  Definitely, that level of intimacy wasn’t part of the plan. She looked for a different shirt, something a tad more casual. Then she opened the second drawer. A couple of ties, extra cell phones, passports and one leather bound book filled the drawer. What caught her attention, though, lay in the back. A couple of sheets of construction paper wrapped in a rubber band. Penny stretched her hand and touched them, and the ragged edges felt rough against her fingers. They were kids’ drawings, she realized, the circles and lines in red, blue, and yellow juxtaposing one another.

  The sound of footsteps made her close the drawer in a hurry. The last thing I need is to be caught snooping.