Dealmaker, Heartbreaker

by Rochelle Alers

  “What are you thinking about?”

  She blinked slowly. “This jet belongs to your company.”

  Noah nodded. “We always use it for business travel.”

  Her mouth softened when she smiled. “Is this a business trip?”

  Lines fanned out around Noah’s eyes when he smiled. “It will be if you agree to go with me to one of WDG’s vacation resorts.”

  “How many resorts do you have?”

  “Only two.”

  “You say only two like answering someone who’s asked what time it is.”

  “It didn’t start out that way. When I was a kid, my family alternated years flying down to the Caribbean for the week between Christmas and New Year’s with holding a week-long celebration in New York. One day, my grandfather decided it was time to build a house in the Bahamas large enough to accommodate the entire Wainwright clan. But then he changed his mind when he read an article in a travel magazine about hundreds of private islands that were up for sale. He negotiated with the Bahamian government and bought one close to twenty acres and constructed an airstrip for those wishing to fly in. He built the house and then a number of villas for vacationers. Once Giles resigned his commission in the military and joined WDG, he established the international division and has been busy buying and selling islands to those with enough money and who want their own private playgrounds.”

  Viviana’s hands tightened on the armrests when the jet picked up speed before lifting off. “How often do you go there?”

  “I just got back. WDG’s broker lives on the premises, and it’s where we always conduct business. After we leave the island where the wedding is taking place, we can catch a boat and go to Emerald Cove.”

  “Why is it called Emerald Cove?” Viviana questioned.

  “Technically, the Bahamas are in the Atlantic Ocean but are near the Caribbean Sea where some of the waters are more green than gray. The water near my family’s resort tends to appear green, hence the name. If you don’t have anything planned back in Wickham Falls, we can extend our stay for at least another week.” He held up a hand. “You don’t have to give me your answer now. We’ll take it day by day and see how well we get along.”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “You doubt we’ll get along?”

  “I’ve made it a practice never to make presumptions, because it just might backfire.”

  “If that’s the case, then I’ll wait until after the wedding to give you my answer.”

  It was the second time she would make Noah wait for her answer. In the past, she would’ve jumped at the suggestion or invitation, but that was the old Viviana. She had been so willing to please other people, even to her own detriment. When she’d asked her aunt why boys and men tended to take advantage of her, Viviana was shocked when Aunt Babs said she was no different than her deceased mother. Annette had fallen in love with Emory, and despite his inability to take care of his family once he’d spiraled downward, she’d never stopped loving him. Viviana was aware that her mother’s sister hated what Emory had done to his wife and children, but she’d never heard Babs say a bad word against him out of respect for Annette and her niece and nephew.

  Viviana gazed out the small oval window to avoid staring at Noah. Everything about him was so very different from the men in her past that there were times when she believed she had conjured him up. That he was the prince in the fairy tales she had read as a child, when she pretended she was a princess and they would live happily ever after. And once she’d entered adolescence, she’d graduated to romance novels.

  They had become her guilty pleasure, and there had never been a time when there wasn’t a paperback in her bag. Her reading taste did not change in college.

  Her musings were interrupted when the blue-suited male flight attendant came to take her breakfast order, and after a sumptuous breakfast of a spinach and feta omelet, prosciutto-wrapped melon and flutes of mimosas, she reclined her seat into a bed and fell asleep.

  Viviana was totally disoriented when she felt someone shake her awake. She opened her eyes to find Noah leaning over her. He had covered her body with a cashmere throw. “Are we there yet?”

  He smiled, his teeth very white in his sun-browned face. “Soon. You have to sit up because they’re preparing to descend.” He helped her pull up her seat, and she fastened her seat belt. With wide eyes, she stared out the window at the ocean surrounding lush green islands. As the jet began its descent, she saw a stretch of beach, red-tiled roofs of buildings and a section of the island where a number of boats were moored.

  Her gaze swung back to Noah’s as she stretched her arms over her head. The midriff top displayed more skin on her rib cage. “How long was I asleep?”

  Noah found himself staring at the expanse of silken skin on Viviana’s midsection. Did she have any idea of how tempting she was? He hadn’t slept with a woman in months before meeting Viviana for the first time in August, and although he had gone through long periods when he had been celibate, he hadn’t found himself as tested as he was now.

  “Well over an hour.”

  She smiled, bringing his gaze to linger on her full parted lips. “I hope I didn’t snore.”

  He winked at her. “You didn’t.” Viviana ran a hand over her hair and tucked several strands behind her ears that had escaped the plait. Noah liked her hair when she didn’t wear a braid or ponytail. Unbound, it reminded him of photos of Cher with a cascade of black curls floating around her face and shoulders. The investigators had uncovered photographs of her mother and father, and it was apparent Viviana had inherited their best physical characteristics.

  Noah was filled with an awakening sense of pride that he could claim Viviana as his for six days, and perhaps even longer if she agreed to an extended stay at Emerald Cove. And he knew bringing her with him as his date was certain to generate a lot of talk among his friends. The last time he brought a date to a wedding had been more than two years ago.

  The plane landed smoothly, and the pilot taxied along the runway until coming to a complete stop several hundred feet from a large building, where they would be processed to enter the island. Passengers from another aircraft were also deplaning and making their way toward the building where they would have to go through customs. When the light with the symbol to fasten their seat belts was extinguished, Noah unbuckled his belt and waited for Viviana to do the same.

  He reached for her hand as she gathered her wristlet. He thanked the flight crew and assisted Viviana as they walked down the stairs, stepping onto the tarmac which held the heat from the blazing tropical sun. The flight crew had set their bags on the tarmac for them.

  Noah waved to a young man holding up a sign, who had a dolly loaded with other bags. He wore a name tag identifying him as Charles. “We’re going to the Governor’s House.” He pointed to the bags near the jet. “Those are ours.”

  Charles nodded. “I will wait until you are cleared through customs, then I will load your bags on the van going to the Governor’s House.”

  Noah inclined his head. “Thank you.” His friend’s fiancée’s family had chosen the resort because it was smaller than the others on the island and everything was inclusive. He gave Viviana’s fingers a gentle squeeze. “I hope you packed sunblock.”

  She nodded. “But of course. How far is the resort from the airport?”

  Noah led her toward the building and removed his passport from the back pocket of his sand-colored linen slacks. “It’s about a fifteen-minute drive from here.”

  She glanced up at him. “You’ve been here before?”

  “Once, when I decided to do some island-hopping.”

  “You must have been quite the party animal back in the day.”

  Noah stared straight ahead as the line moved slowly. “I must admit I’ve done my share of partying.”

  “How hard?”

  He gave Viviana a sidelong glanc
e, wondering how much he wanted to tell her about his past when he’d come to know hers based on the investigator’s report. “Very hard.”

  Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “Have you gotten it out of your system?”

  He smiled. “Oh yeah. It was either stop or burn out completely.”

  “What made you stop?” she asked.

  “It was a combination of things,” Noah said. “My father had started talking about retiring, and I knew it was time for me to step up to the table and do my part. My parents weren’t very happy about my lifestyle, and constantly reminded me of it.”

  “Where were you living at the time?”

  “I have a suite in the house where I grew up.”

  Viviana gave him an incredulous stare. “You still live at home?”

  “Yes. I decided why move out when all my needs are met.”

  “In other words, you have help.”

  Noah registered the condescension in her voice and wondered if she harbored some disdain for wealthy people because of how her ancestors had treated those who’d worked in their mines. “Yes. I’ve grown up with household employees,” he said, stressing the word. “Many of whom have been with us for many years before they retire with a generous pension.” He paused. “Can you answer one question for me?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Does it bother you that I come from a wealthy family?”

  She’d answered his question with one of her own. “Does it bother you?”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Noah said, as they moved closer to the officials checking and stamping passports. “I must admit it has a lot of advantages, along with some drawbacks.”

  “What do you consider a drawback?” Viviana asked.

  “That people believe you’re unscrupulous and would do anything to hold on to your wealth.”

  “Are you referring to the Wickham Falls Wolfes?”

  “You said it, Viviana, not me. It’s true my grandfather did things to build his real estate empire I probably never would’ve imagined doing. That’s something he has to deal with when searching his conscience. One thing I refuse to do is apologize for being a Wainwright. Every New Year’s Eve, we host a fund-raiser and earmark the monies raised to a particular charity.”

  She met his eyes. “So, you do give back.”

  He smiled. “Big-time. What is money for if not to spend? None of us can take it with us.”

  Viviana nodded. “I’ve heard people say they’ve never seen an armored car following a hearse to the cemetery.”

  Noah laughed. “Well, it’s obvious the pharaohs did not know this when they were buried with all of their worldly goods.” He squeezed her hand again. “You need to rid yourself of the guilt of the Wolfes who were SOBs.”

  “That’s easy for you say, but folks in The Falls have long memories when it comes to us. It was one of the reasons why we didn’t go to the local schools. I don’t know how Leland was able to take the isolation when he transferred to the high school, but somehow he endured it.”

  “If your brother became an Army Ranger, then he had to have the mental fortitude to survive that intense training. Don’t sell yourself short, sweetheart. You’re much tougher than you think. If not, then you would’ve left Wickham Falls.”

  “I don’t know why, but I’ve never thought of leaving.”

  “If you were to move, then you’d have start over from scratch with a new home and employment. There’s no doubt you could get a position with a hotel chain, but is that what you want when you have the advantage of being your own boss and growing your business?”

  “I know once I reopen the B and B it’s going to be a success because I’ve changed a lot since running the boardinghouse.”

  Noah wanted to tell her that he liked her just the way she was and there was no need for her to change. It was why he found himself falling in love with her.

  They made it to the head of the line, and he handed his passport to one official, while the other asked for Viviana’s. He paid the nominal entrance fee, and they got their passports stamped and walked over to where Charles waited with their luggage.

  They followed him to a van filled with other passengers waiting to go to the resort and got in. Charles slipped behind the wheel, started the engine and then drove away from the airport as Viviana slipped her hand into Noah’s. They shared a smile before he looked away.

  Chapter Six

  Viviana heard the tapping on the door connecting her suite to Noah’s. She was awed by the layout of the resort, with three hundred sixty degrees of unobstructed views of the beach and ocean. Each villa was environmentally friendly and constructed with natural materials found on the island, from the bamboo walls to the thatched roofs.

  She walked barefoot across the highly polished mahogany floor to open the door. Noah had changed into a pair of white linen shorts and matching short-sleeved shirt. He’d slipped his feet into a pair of tan woven sandals. His arms, legs and feet were so tanned that the color nearly matched hers.

  “Please come in. I just have to comb my hair, and then I’m all yours.” Once they’d arrived, Viviana hadn’t bothered to unpack. Showering and shampooing her hair had taken precedence. After slathering on a layer of sunblock, she slipped on a pale pink crinkle-cotton sundress and bone-colored ballet flats. “What’s the matter?” she asked when she noticed Noah staring at her with a strange look on his face.

  “Do you plan to put your hair up?”

  “I will, but only after it dries. Why?”

  He moved closer until they were only inches apart. “Because I like your hair when you wear it down.”

  Viviana ran her fingers through the damp strands that fell over her shoulders like curly ribbons. “You like long hair.”

  “Not as much as I like you.”

  She felt her pulse quicken, and Viviana knew Noah had confessed what she did not want to acknowledge. She found herself talking about anything inane to keep from telling Noah how she had come to emotionally depend on him. And she did not need a therapist to tell her the men she had chosen to share her life with were a substitute for her father, who hadn’t been there for her. Not only were they much older but they immediately recognized her neediness. They were willing to put up with her clinginess because it boosted their egos when seen with a much younger woman.

  She wanted to feel differently about Noah, but there was something about him that wouldn’t allow her to lower her defenses to trust him completely.

  Viviana closed her eyes when she saw his darken to a deep moss green. “You like me, and I like you.” She opened her eyes. “Where do we go from here?”

  Cradling her face in his hands, Noah pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We’ll take it slow, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. That means we have all the time in the world to figure this out. I know you’ve been hurt, and you’re probably still hurting, so it’s going to be up to you to let me know when you’re ready to let me into your life.”

  Viviana rested her head on his shoulder. “You’re already in.”

  Anchoring his hand under her chin, he forced her to look at him. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  “Yes. Okay. I’m more than willing to let you drive this relationship to wherever you want it to go. And because we’ll be spending a lot of time together here and back in Wickham Falls, as the expression goes, the ball is in your court.” He winked at her. “I’ll be outside on the veranda.”

  Viviana smiled. Now she knew the ground rules for their relationship. It would be the first time she would be able to control the direction in which she wanted a liaison with a man to go. She was in the process of getting her life back on track, and she did want anything to derail it.

  Returning to the bathroom, she sprayed her hair with a detangler and massaged it in, and then picked up a wide-tooth comb and ran it smoothly through th
e damp strands. Viviana washed her hands and dried them on a towel stamped with the resort’s logo. Everything in the suite focused on a guest’s convenience and satisfaction. They’d provided a collection of beauty products available to clients in upscale spas. A brochure in the room outlined the amenities, ranging from beauty and feminine products, bathrobes, swimwear and a salon for haircuts, facials and manicures. There was even a boutique for casual and evening wear.

  She slid back the door leading out to the veranda and found Noah sitting under an umbrella at a round table and talking with several men. They were all holding drinks. Closer to the beach, a group of women had gathered under a nearby thatched gazebo and sipped from colorful, frothy beverages. Noah’s back was to her, but he glanced over his shoulder and stood up when he saw the gazes of the other men move toward her. She gave him an inviting smile with his approach. Viviana curved an arm around his waist as his eyes lingered on the unbound hair flowing down her back.

  “Is the hair okay?” she whispered. The look in his eyes confirmed his approval.

  “Yes. Come. Let me introduce you to the ones who came down early.”

  Viviana noted four pairs of eyes watching her as Noah draped a proprietary arm over her shoulders. She knew in a single glance that they were more than curious as to who she was. The women who’d also seen her left the gazebo to join their male counterparts. She noticed all of them wore wedding rings and wondered if Noah was the only one among the group who was still single. As she waited for Noah to make the introductions, Viviana saw the women had linked arms or held hands with their husbands.

  Noah pulled her closer to his side. “Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me the greatest pleasure to introduce you to Viviana Remington. I’m not going to tell her your names because she’ll have several days to get to know who you are.”

  “Why don’t you let the lady speak for herself?” said a tall, slender man whose fair skin was turning a bright red from the hot sun.