But after spending time with Amber, seeing her strength and resolve, I knew she was different from Tanya. Much as I'd loved my fiancé, she didn't have an inner core of strength. I saw that now, didn't see it then. Tanya had issues. Shit, we all did. How we dealt with them defined us. Tanya took what she believed was an easy path of escape, but turned into a deadly road.
I learned my lesson from that relationship and didn't let anyone come close to my heart, especially not an employee. My money would not be the cause of another tragedy. I enjoyed women on a temporary basis, didn't let anyone become serious. A perfect strategy.
Until now.
The minute I saw Amber, standing there in her thin t-shirt with a picture of an upside- down cat, I knew she wouldn't be a one-night stand. As soon as I breathed in her scent, the desire to claim her, to make her mine, flooded my brain. It took all my willpower not to take her against the wall right there.
But the look in her eyes stopped me. Made me slow down, move easy. She'd been hurt, and I wouldn't add to her pain. I'd show her how lovemaking should feel.
Amber was unlike anyone in my world. Way the hell different from the women I casually dated. She didn't want to take my money unless she earned it through hard work. Didn't expect life to be handed to her on a shiny silver platter. She wouldn't be easily corrupted, wouldn't lose herself or forget the important things in her life. And tough. Damn. That look in her eyes when she got that message from the detective. She planned to throw herself into the hunt, that was for sure. Whoever fucked with her sister didn't realize what he got himself into.
I didn't know how a relationship with her would progress, but I knew I had to begin. Had to make the move. It was time. I'd never turned away from a challenge, never given up on something I really wanted, and damned if I started now. After seeing Juan and Chris together, then Mariana and Daniel, shit. All this work I'd done to accumulate properties and build my business, what good was it without someone to share with?
An empty spot in my soul cried out for attention. Amber coming into my life now was not a coincidence. I might get my heart broken, again, but better than living a pathetic half-life. Fate? I made my own fate. Lady Luck came to those who worked for it, who weren't afraid to take chances.
CHAPTER NINE
Music would be good at our meet and greet. I went to find Elena, the housekeeping supervisor. We'd met only once, so this would be a good opportunity for me to spend time with her. She shared an office with the other managers and as I looked around the small space, I made a few notes for improvement. The carpet smelled musty, and the walls needed a fresh coat of paint. New desks would help perk up the environment. When a workplace looked good, workers felt better, I'd learned.
"We don't have an official sound system," Elena told me. "Mostly, our guests are tourists and vacationing families. Business people don't book here often and the wedding parties hire their own DJs."
Another note, for a possible source of revenue to explore. Why not expand to include more business meetings and conferences? Bay Paradise Resort wasn't huge, but it could accommodate a good-size group, especially on weekdays when vacation bookings were lower.
"My son, he's got a portable stereo system he never uses, with good speakers. Not real loud, but you can hear it okay in a smallish room. He's got a spare MP3 player too, I'm pretty sure. I'll get him to bring that in tonight when he comes to work. I'll tell him to make up a list of party songs. Not some of that trash he listens to. You make sure the stereo is safe each night, okay?"
I assured her I would lock the Reef room and thanked her. We went over a few more details about the set-up, then I was off to talk to the executive chef and restaurant manager, Ian. Though he wouldn't be making the food, he would supervise the caterer and handle any problems that came up. He shared this office also but spent most of his time in the café. He answered my questions politely but seemed stressed and overworked and I had to agree again, leasing out the restaurant would be best.
If he was let go, Ian would find work, no fear of that. From what I'd seen in the local newspaper, a good chef could easily get a job anywhere. Or, Ian's position might be modified. I knew Nathan wanted to keep the good employees around.
Nathan. Damn, I'd gone a whole hour barely thinking about the man. And I didn't want to start now. I absolutely didn't want to remember that look in his eyes, like a hungry animal, when he told me he wanted dessert with me. Or that predatory smile when he told me he'd get what he wanted. I'd hurt his feelings, pissed him off too, turning him down for dinner, but once I'd told him no, told him I wanted to keep our relationship professional, I knew I'd done the right thing.
At least my Bratty Inner Child was happy. Starting a thing with Nathan, setting myself up for pain, not safe. Not at all. It would only turn out badly. As intense and beautiful as our night had been, it couldn't continue. I'd have that one memory to treasure and had to hope Nathan would let it go.
He would, once he realized what I already knew. We were from two different worlds, ones that didn't belong together. We got along great in our roles as boss and assistant, and shouldn't expect any more than that.
Pushing down a knot of ridiculous pain that wanted to take over my heart, I set out to find Chris. I had to get to a store for a suggestion box. I sent her a text, asking her if there was a place to buy party supplies, and she responded at once with a phone call.
"Hey there! Are we having a party?"
"Kind of. We're going to put on an informal meet and greet, for all the employees to visit with me and Nathan. I need to make a box for comment slips to go into."
"Oh, I know what we can use. I just got a delivery with a cardboard box, perfect size. We'll buy wrapping paper and fix it up pretty. I can make it, if you want, and bring it over."
"You're not at the hotel today?"
"I don't have any regular shifts today. I'm on call for driver."
I looked out the window at sunshine and blue skies. I could still see Nathan's gaze and worse, that half-grin, directed at me, turning my insides all melty. Could almost feel his fingers trailing along my skin, bringing up goosebumps, making me want to run to him. Tell him I changed my mind. Take him back to my bed and wrap up in his arms.
"I want to get out for a while. How about you pick me up, we'll go to the store, and I'll buy you an ice cream. So, is there a place that sells party supplies on the island? I want to get streamers, balloons, some decorations."
"Oh no, we'll go to the dollar store. They've got all that stuff. When do you want me to come by?"
"The sooner the better."
"Okay, give me an hour and a half. And hey, I'm going to skip the hat and bow tie today, all right? And drive my car and not the Rolls?"
"No problem."
I printed out the list of employees and their work schedule for the weekend. I wanted to make sure we were in the Reef room to catch everyone. I came up with times that Nathan and I would be available to meet and greet, emailed it to him and put together a cute flyer for the employees, requesting their presence.
Then, I designed slips for the suggestions, printed out twenty pages, and was cutting them into strips when Chris texted me she was out front. Happy to have avoided Nathan for the afternoon, I climbed into her car and off we went.
"I hope I'm not taking you away from your school work."
"Are you kidding? I'm so tired of reading, my eyeballs are about to pop out. I'm glad you called; I need a break. Sounds like you do too, huh?"
"Maybe a little. I'm having a good time, getting a lot done, but it's nice to get outside on a gorgeous day. I'll bet it's hard to work sometimes, with the weather like this."
"It sure is, but that's the goal. Work hard now, have time and money to play later. And we get enough playtime. Me and Juan…" she clamped a hand over her mouth.
I laughed. "Tell me about you and Juan."
"Man, I don't want to get him in trouble."
"Nathan doesn't care, really, and I sure don't. How long have you
been dating?"
"Almost a year now. I'm so sorry about that, you catching us all naked. I hope you didn't need to bleach your eyeballs or anything."
"No, don't be silly. It was cute." And stimulating, for Nathan, apparently. I kept that to myself.
"We're both so freakin' busy, with classes and work. He's going to school to be a software engineer. The guy is a genius. He lives with his family on the mainland, and I've got these roommates in and out making noise. We can't ever get privacy. We're not always sneaking around screwing like rabbits, honest. Last night, we hadn't seen each other for a while, we thought we were pretty well hidden."
"Really, it's no big deal. Tell me, isn't it awkward working together sometimes? And aren't you afraid of what might happen if you break up and still have to work with him?"
"We thought about all that, believe me. We were friends first, before we dated, so we knew everything about each other. Well, not everything. We're still finding out stuff, and it's fun." She flashed me a grin. "We swore, standing in the water under a new moon, if shit didn't work out, we'd still be friends. We'd break up before we hated each other. But we had to take that chance, you know? There was something here," she patted her ample chest over her heart, "that told me, he was the one. I had to go for it."
I sighed. Louder than I meant to.
"You still thinking about doing Nathan?"
Don't blush, don't blush.
"Hot damn!" She pounded the steering wheel. "You already did Nathan. I knew you looked happy and well-fucked this morning."
What was with these women, picking up on my sex life? I'd have to be super careful if I ever wanted to sneak around and have an honest-to-goodness affair.
"Don't you dare say one word to anyone. It happened, once, and it won't happen again."
"Oh, come on. Why not?"
"Because he's my boss and didn't we just have this talk earlier? Sex is sex. A one-night stand doesn't make a relationship. He was in the mood, so was I, we scratched an itch. That's all."
I couldn't tell her that Nathan wanted me. Said he wanted me. She'd tell me to go for it. After her success with a guy she loved, of course that would be her suggestion. But Nathan and I were different than her and Juan. Nathan was so far out of my league, but she and Juan were a perfect fit. And I didn't want to make that comparison because I was afraid it would come out sounding mean.
"Listen, you think guys like Nathan don't want women like us. And maybe you're right. I don't know the dude. But I'm telling you, love is wacky. You never know who will steal your heart. If the guy's interested, at least give him a chance."
"Hey, can we stop at that drugstore first? I need more of my body lotion. Pretty sure the dollar store doesn't carry that brand." Time to move the conversation away from the topic of love and relationships. And far away from Nathan.
We took our time, goofing around in the drugstore, then the dollar store. I got votive battery-operated candles and holders, balloons, and a bag of confetti. Most people probably wouldn't sit long at our little get-together, since they'd be going to their shift, or on lunch break, or leaving. Nathan worded an invitation to say he would very much like everyone to stop by for a few minutes. And he'd also told them, they each would receive an envelope with a raffle ticket, and the prize was a hundred dollars. Now that would draw them for sure if free food and drinks didn't do it.
I still needed to label and stuff those envelopes today, and decorate the Reef room, so we stopped at the grocery store where we bought cases of soda and water, then headed back to the resort. Chris stuck around for a while and we made the suggestion box. She helped me decorate, avoiding her homework just a bit longer, before she had to leave. Elena's son delivered the stereo and MP3 player, with a playlist of upbeat, non-trashy tunes. I'd grabbed frozen dinners and a few more munchies from the grocery store, so I finished up and headed back to my suite. The weekend would be long, with more crazy hours, and I still wasn't caught up on my sleep, so I got to bed early.
Of course, as soon as I lay down, everything that happened the night before came crashing into my mind. Tomorrow, I'd have that statue in my hands. What it would tell me, I didn't know, but it would force me to take the next step. Get the list Chuck Taylor promised to send and hire a PI with my bonus money from this job.
If I made it to the end of this job. I told Nathan no and I suspected he didn't hear that too often. He seemed to take my refusal like a mature adult. So far. And it wasn't easy for me to turn him down. But I had to. I couldn't let him in my life now, with so much else going on. Couldn't let myself get distracted, or my heart broken, like I knew would happen if I spent time with him.
Wouldn't. No matter how much my body longed to hold him again.
Would. Not.
Friday
Another beautiful day in paradise. I was getting used to waking to this view and even got up twenty minutes early on Friday so I could enjoy a cup of coffee and sit outside to gaze at the water. I'd do this every day, if I lived here.
We scheduled our meet and greet to begin at noon, and I still had a few things to do. The caterer would deliver food starting at eleven-thirty and refresh it as needed. Housekeeping would bring coolers of ice and I'd put cans of soda and water bottles in those. The suggestion box turned out great, and the balloons, streamers and the confetti we'd spread around on the tables gave the place a festive feel. I suspected most people would come in, grab their raffle ticket and food, say hello to me and Nathan, then take off.
Which was okay. People had little time to socialize, and I figured they'd be hesitant to talk to their new management company, anyway. Along with the raffle ticket, Nathan had come up with a "welcome to Cameron Industries" letter I'd also stuffed in the envelopes. If nothing else, our efforts would show the employees, Cameron wanted to get to know them and to make improvements.
When I arrived at the Reef room I saw Nathan already there, his phone to his ear, pacing. I watched him, my heart speeding up a notch. Damn it, I wish he didn't affect me this way. He moved so smooth, so sure, like a leopard prowling his territory. I wanted to hurry to him, to watch his eyes light up and feel his arms wrap around me. Instead, I observed him for a minute, waiting for my heart rate to return to normal. How would he greet me? I'd pissed him off the last time we were together. Would he hold a grudge? Give me some attitude?
Having worked with him for this long, I knew better. He wouldn't act like that; he'd keep his cool. No matter what his personal feelings, the job came first. This was a business project, one he wanted to succeed.
I shifted my sparkly notebook to my other arm. Maybe I should get my laptop. I'd appear more professional. And my hair. I should put it up on my head, get rid of the ponytail. Wearing this uniform made me feel casual enough. I could take steps to appear more professional, set the tone for the day.
As I debated, he caught site of me and smiled, then motioned for me to come to him.
"Fine. I'll get with you on the details later. Goodbye." He touched his phone, then put it on a table. "Come here, I want to show you something. Good morning."
"Afternoon," I corrected. "What's this?" I looked at his open laptop.
"This is the report of your sister's robbery and attack. And this," he pointed, "is someone accessing the file the next day."
"Detective Taylor, probably. So?"
"Not the detective. Whoever opened this bypassed official channels. Through a cyber back door."
I frowned. "Who would do that?"
"You tell me. Did you ask anyone else to look into your case?"
"No, and if someone did, Chuck would have let me know. How did you get this info?"
"I have friends. Friends with skills."
I put my hands on my hips. "And why are you digging around in the first place?"
"To see if there's anything that's been missed on the night your sister was attacked. It might help, having a fresh set of eyes view the file."
"I don't want your help, I told you. I'll hire a private detect
ive. He can do his own digging."
"He won't have access to this, trust me."
"No, I don't want to trust you. I don't want you involved in my life. At all." My voice rose but I couldn't help it. "I want you to drop this. I appreciate you having the statue sent to me, but that's enough."
"Listen." He took my arm but I snatched it away.
"Am I in the right place?"
We both turned at the sound of the voice across the room, to see a woman in a housekeeper's uniform, standing in the doorway.
"You sure are." I hurried to greet her. Hopefully, the music drowned out our argument.
I introduced myself, showed her the food and handed her the envelope with her name on it. She promised to fill out a comment slip and drop it off in the suggestion box, which I'd put in the employee break area. Nathan came to join us.
"I'm Nathan, from Cameron Industries, the new owners of Bay Paradise."
He shook hands with the woman and she giggled, a shy grin lighting her face.
"We've heard about you."
"What have you heard?" He frowned.
"Uh, just stuff." Her smile fell and she took a step back.
"I'm sure everyone here has been talking. That's what people do when new owners take over." I nudged him with my foot.
He must have realized, scowling at employees didn't promote goodwill. He cleared his throat and smiled. "You've heard all good things, right?"
Her eyes opened wide and I swear, the woman looked about ready to faint. That smile, when he turned on the charm, was pretty dazzling. Packaged with his piercing eyes and sexy body that looked good in whatever he wore, Nathan made an impact.
"I just heard you're the new owner, and you're going to make improvements around the place."
"That's right. So please, fill out the comment slips with any questions or concerns you have. I want to hear them."
"Okay." She giggled again, we chatted for a few more moments, she picked out a sandwich, and left.
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