Out of all those compliments she was going to focus on that? “Come on. Get it together. You are a PR maven. Do some work on your own PR and stop dissing yourself. You heard what Holokai said even if you don’t believe me.”
She said nothing and he nudged her firmly in the arm.
“I am a strong and powerful woman,” she muttered.
“Self pep talk, nice. What about, I eat men like Rick Hunter for breakfast. Say it.”
She dropped her head and practically mumbled the words. “I eat men like Rick Hunter for breakfast.”
“This is just like business. Close the deal. Walk over there and let him approach you.”
She stood and walked to the bar, doing as he’d told her and dawdling just enough so that by the time she got there about ten different men had tried to buy her a drink and Rick’s eyes were practically glued to her back. Dom watched the surfer break off his conversation and head directly towards Maya. Goal.
“You need another beer?”
Dom rubbed his chin to try and hide how blatantly he was watching Maya and glanced at the woman who’d sat down next to him. It was Brooke, one of Maya’s BFF’s and judging by the glint in her eye, his chin rubbing wasn’t fooling her for a second.
“I guess I could handle one more,” he said and took the proffered bottle, condensation already coating the glass from the warm evening.
“So. You’re working with Maya. But you’re not starting a surf line which makes me wonder why you’re here.”
Dom almost snorted his first sip of lager.
“Hit a nerve did I?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m working with Maya, yes. How do you know I’m not starting a surf line?”
She shrugged. “You don’t exactly fit in.”
Dom raised an eyebrow. He could see why Maya was friends with the woman. “Pretty sharp aren’t you?”
“I like to think so,” she said and gave him the full benefit of her very white smile.
This was the woman Rick wanted over Maya? He tipped his head to the side. She had a great look. A bit rock and roll for the usual Wolfe Clothing thing, but Holokai wasn’t exactly clean cut. Maybe… “You’re a surfer too?”
“Yep. Trying my damndest to get a trophy this time. I like shiny things.”
“Good for you.”
“So you are starting a surf line?”
He laughed. “Ten points for trying. No. Not a surf line.”
“But something?”
“Something. You disappoint me, I thought you came over here to keep me company while I’m obviously left bereft and friendless. Not to schmooze your way into a sponsorship deal.”
“I came over here to find out if it was you behind Maya’s new look. But I could tell by the way you were watching her that it was. The schmooze was just an added bonus. Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
“Indeed.”
“So. It was you? That turned B into that picture of spunky-delicious?”
Spunky-delicious. Dom looked for Maya in the bar and saw her hard at work flirting. Her fingers caressed her wine glass and she held her head high and slightly back, neck exposed and a wicked, wicked, grin on her face as she flirted with Rick. Spunky-delicious wasn’t far wrong. “I guess it was. Although I was going for cute rather than edible.”
“Well whatever you were going for, it’s sure pushing Rick-the-dick’s buttons.”
“Rick-the-dick?”
Brooke nodded to the surfer with Maya. “She’s got total hotpants for him,” she said then clapped a hand to her mouth. “Oh shit. You’re like a client aren’t you? God, I’m such a blabber mouth. Sorry. Just pretend my vocal cords don’t work.”
“I know about her crush. It’s okay.” He chuckled. “Rick-the-dick though. How’d he get the nickname?”
“Oh it’s nothing official. More an addition I’ve decided to add to his trophy titles. He’s nice enough. I just don’t like the cut of his surf wax. The whole straight and
sensible routine Maya thinks she’s fallen for? I don’t buy it. He’s more staid and slow than solid and sage. He’d be terrible for her, she needs to get out of her shell, not hide in there with him.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow. “Don’t hold back now.”
She put a hand to her mouth again. “There I go again. I told you to pretend my vocal cords didn’t work.”
“It’s fine. Honestly. Refreshing actually.”
“Phew.” She took a long pull of her beer and cocked her head. “So why’d you do it?”
“Do what?”
“The make over? If I thought I could have got her into a dress like that I would have tried ages ago. So why and how the hell did you make her go along with it?”
“It was part of our deal. I help her, she helps me.”
“Helps you how?”
“It’s a work thing.”
“Uhuh.” She sounded anything but convinced.
Dominic looked over at Maya again and watched her pull out every one of the behaviors he’d suggested. She looked alive, vital, beautiful and Rick was lapping it up like a hungry Labrador. If he could have growled and raised his hackles, Dom figured he’d have probably frightened everyone away from the booth. You’re just helping her out. Didn’t mean he had to like who she chose to utilize his help on though. Still. Best he act supportive even if he wasn’t. Brooke seemed the type to keep asking questions if she didn’t like the answers she got dished up. “Seems to me being in PR is all about flirting.”
“Maybe for some. But for Maya it’s more about being smarter than everyone else and knowing what they want before they even know it themselves. Smiling a bit to get people talking, sure, but batting her eyelashes and throwing her head back like that? It’s not her. Or it never has been before.”
“You don’t like it?”
She looked at him with wide eyes. “I love it. I just wish she wouldn’t waste it on that dude. Like I said, he’s not all bad, but she could do so much better.”
Can’t disagree with you there. Brooke definitely had a certain something-something.
If he could get Holokai on board for this campaign, maybe they’d use her for a few shots. Dom’s mind flickered through the possibilities then came back to rest on her moniker for Maya’s surf-crush.
“So there’s nothing sinister about Rick-the-dick?”
“Not sinister. Not really. He dated a few girls that were beyond ditsy for a while and if you ever try and have a conversation with the guy you leave feeling like someone opened up your head and poured in some concrete. But he’s nice enough. Talented on the water, but mostly from sheer strength and determination rather than flair.”
Dominic scratched his head. “So Maya wanting to do the whole baby-daddy thing with him? What’s the deal?”
“I’m not sure she’d be happy with me spilling her innermost secrets with a client.”
“I’m the one who managed to get her to cut her hair remember?”
“True. But still.”
“Well if you don’t want to help out your friend…”
Brooke took a long pull on her beer and checked that Maya was still busy with Rick.
Dom looked too and there was no mistaking the excellence of his training methods. Maya had the surf champion leaning over his glass in an effort to get closer to her. His stomach curdled at the thought of her wasting all that energy on someone substandard. Leave it.
“I’m no shrink but if you ask me, this whole Rick obsession is about her dad.”
“Daddy issues? Is that all?”
“Oh no. Not daddy issues he was mean to me once, but daddy issues, he stole all my money, drove my mother away and would probably keep trying to bleed me dry if I let him have a sniff of where I kept my credit card, daddy issues.”
Dom held up his hands. “Right. Shit.”
“You nailed it there. I think the guy is a right shit. But I’ve known B like, forever, and she has always, always, wanted to please the douchebag. She nailed school, university, her ca
reer is cranking, but all her pop wants to know is if she can help him out a little. The guilt trips I’ve seen him pull.”
“He doesn’t have a job?”
“He has a job now. He does catering on film sets, just the making and serving of food, but he makes a living. It’s just that his living and his gambling don’t quite equate to staying in the black much of the time.”
“And Maya helps him out.”
“Yep. Always has, always will probably. But with him sucking all their finances dry, for like, years, they never had a home for more than twelve months. No, that’s not true, I think they lived in a house for about four years before her mom called it quits. But he’d pay the rent for a bit, then run out of ready cash, and they’d be evicted. They were never destitute, Maya always had an after school job which she kicked in, and he had plenty of jobs here and there, but they spent a lot of time in people’s spare rooms in between. A lot of time. I guess it’s been good training for B living out of a suitcase. I don’t think she’s ever actually owned her own wardrobe.”
Crap. And here he’d been, giving Maya grief for her clothing, when truth was, her whole life had been stuffed into that suitcase for years. Not much room for great clothes when you were forever on the move.
“Why’d she take on a gig like this then? Why not work for a while and stay put so she could buy herself a wardrobe?”
“We’re family, her, me and Summer. Stuck together through a lot. If she can’t rely on her Pop, maybe she wanted to make sure she had someone she could trust around? Like I said, I’m no shrink. She makes good money this way too. Better than she would if she was starting out back home. Means she can send a bunch of it home with him.”
Dom clicked. That would explain why she wasn’t worried about his money. Made a nice change to find a woman who didn’t care what he made. But supporting a problem gambler? Seemed off. “She supports her pop’s habit?”
“She used to. Not willingly of course. But now she just pays the rent and bills directly. No expenses. No cards. I saw her once when he convinced her to let him buy a new car and he borrowed her credit card. Cleaned her out in one week. Crushed her.”
“Shit.”
“Right again. Nothing like your daddy whipping the rug out from under you to give you a few trust issues. She’d been saving for a place of her own. And then, boom. Gone. Now she’s stuck on this crazy life plan with timelines and everything all mapped out. And she’s flirting with Rick-the-dick over there instead of someone better.”
Indeed. “She doesn’t have great taste in men then. She mentioned something about a long line of idiots.”
Brooke’s eyes bulged again. “Wow. You guys have been having some serious heart to hearts. No wonder you managed to get her to cut her hair and wear that dress. Have you got a golden tongue or something?”
“Or something.”
“Huh. Heads up. Here she comes and he’s right behind.”
Dom stiffened and then forced himself to relax. He was supposed to be casually interviewing the guy to see if he’d fit the Wolfe campaign at some point this evening. Might as well get it over and done with.
“Dominic, I’d like you to meet Rick Hunter. Rick, this is Dominic Wolfe.”
The surfer put out a hand and Dom took it firmly. Maybe a little too firmly, but Maya’s surf crush took it without flinching.
“I’m going to the bar. Anyone need anything?” Brooke shuffled out to make room for Rick, linking her arm through Maya’s casual as you like, but Dom saw her give her girlfriend a little tug. Giving me room. Nice work. He was definitely going to have to think carefully about including the woman in one of his campaigns. She had a whole pile of cool tucked into that dark hair and long cuff tattoo. More than he could say for Rick-the-dick. Time to make nice though, if only so he had something to report to Maya. “You’ve been doing well in the competition I hear?”
Rick nodded. “Not too bad. Some stiff competition this year though.”
Dom waited for the other man to add something, anything, to get the conversation flowing easily like it had with Holokai. You’ve already decided you don’t like the guy. Give him a chance. “Any surprises out there in the water? Or on dry land?”
“The water’s been good. A bit messy here and there, but nothing unmanageable. I’ve hardly been out of the water or my bed to be honest. I don’t tend to do much partying when I’m competing.”
Snore. If he’d been given the heads up by Maya to be on his best behavior, Rick had taken it to a new level of too-polite-to-be-interesting. Cutting to the chase time. “Involved with anything green these days? Seems to be all anyone wants to talk about. Lot of nice words and not much eco action though if you ask me.”
“Oh I’m not very political. One of my sponsors is into the whole eco thing and I like to do right by them, I mean the ocean is where I make my living, but I’m not the protesting type. It takes energy away from what I’ve been put here to do.”
Dear. Gawd. No spunk. No spine. No way was this guy getting near anything to do with Wolfe Clothing. Sure he had a pretty face, the camera would love his cheekbones, but the camera saw everything and if there was nothing beneath the surface, well, the campaign photos would be empty. He didn’t get what Maya saw in him.
“You two had a chance to exchange notes on all the ladies?”
Brooke was back with Maya in tow.
“We only had eyes for you two,” Rick managed smoothly, and Dom remembered that it had been Brooke’s number Rick had been after initially. Now though it seemed things had changed as Rick gave both women an equally all-encompassing up and down appraisal. Keeping your options open. Douchebag.
His phone rang and Dom went for it out of habit. Looking at the screen he put it back in his pocket. His ex was not someone he needed to hear from right now. She might still be one of the managers at Wolfe Clothing, but a call from her at this time of night meant nothing good. “I think I’ve heard what I needed to. Might be time to head off for me,” Dom said, hoping Maya caught the hint.
“Good idea. Think I’m going to hit the hay too. Big day tomorrow,” said Brooke.
Rick looked at his watch. “Man. You’re right. Should have hit the hay a while ago.” He turned to Maya. “But I’ll see you soon?” Maya smiled, coyly and Dom wasn’t sure whether to be proud of his student, or worried about what he’d created.
Chapter Seven
He should have put her in a taxi and gone back to his computer but Dominic walked Maya back to her hotel. They walked in silence for a while as they strolled through the warm evening, the full moonlight reflecting off the ocean streaming over the side walk. It wasn’t far. Dom looked up and realized they’d reached her hotel. But none of the lights were on. Odd.
Maya pushed through the main doors but in the foyer it was pitch black.
“Hello?”
A man with a clipboard came rushing over. “Sorry. Power out. Which room are you in?”
“14B.”
The man ran his finger down his clipboard then looked up. “There was a flood. Water got into some circuits.”
“And her room?” Dom stood tall and the man cringed under his glare.
“Was where the flood started. I’m sorry, do you have anywhere else to stay? Or I can make a booking for you somewhere else.”
“You’re kidding?” Maya’s voice was calm but Dom could hear the tension underneath.
“I know. I can only say how sorry we are. Some of the rooms are okay. No power, but if you only need to sleep it’s okay.”
“And it’s not like the place has air conditioning,” Dom muttered under his breath.
“But your room.”
Dom had had enough. “She’ll expect a full refund for the rest of her stay. Someone will be over to collect her things in the morning. If anything is damaged, she’ll expect you to pay for it.”
“Wait, what?” Maya said.
“You’re staying with me.” He turned and started out of the hotel.
“But—”
“You heard him. Your room is toast. You’ve got your laptop haven’t you? So let’s go.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Yes you can. I have a spare room. And I have a ton of work to do. Having you right there will be more efficient. Should have thought of it before.”
“Oh. Right. I guess, if you don’t mind. You’re sure?” Was that a glimmer of disappointment he saw in her? Dom dismissed it and nodded. It was dark in the foyer after all. What does it matter anyway? It didn’t. This was more efficient. And it wasn’t like his spare room was being used for anything else.
But back at his apartment he couldn’t help affecting a blithe tone to cover up the hint of something…that was eating at his guts. “So, how was your baby daddy?”
Maya rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not sure that name’s any better than Prince Surfalot. Can you not just call him Rick?”
“How was Rick?”
“I could ask you the same thing? Do you think he’d work for your new line?”
The shrug was involuntary but Dom regretted it as soon as his body had finished moving. This was better wasn’t it? Talking about business? “I’m not sure. I didn’t get to compare him to anyone other than Holokai really. I saw a few of the others on my list, but not to speak to. They were chatting with media.”
Maya nodded. “I’ll organize something for tomorrow if you still want to meet them all.”
Dom shook his head. “Not all of them. I can already tell I like Holo and I liked the look of one of the others, but I think we can forget the rest unless you feel strongly about any of them.” He left the last comment open, waiting to see if she’d take the bait.
She just pursed her lips. “It’s up to you. It’s your campaign. But I think it’s always good to have as many options as possible in case, you know, something comes up.”
Dominic sighed. It was exaggerated for effect and it worked just the way Dominic had wanted it to.
“Okay, okay, yes, I had a good time with Rick. And yes, you are a flirting coach genius. And yes, I think you should consider him in your campaign, but not because of my sad crush, but because he has a great track record. It’d be remiss of me not to put him forward for you to consider.”
Making over Maya (Hot Tide Book 2) Page 9