It's Not a Date

by Heather Blackmore

  Jen reached over and closed the lid of the laptop. “I rather prefer it.” She gently laid the device on the floor behind Kade.

  The glint of playfulness immediately returned to Kade’s eyes. “I had planned on working during the ride.”

  Jen grinned and turned onto the road. “How’s that working out for you?” Jen was pleased to see that Kade’s harrumph was for effect. Kade didn’t seem to be in any hurry to retake the computer.

  “What’s the panel on?” Kade asked.

  “Raising venture capital.”

  Kade smiled wryly. “I hope they’ll be serving coffee beforehand.”

  “I know, right? I’m only on it because I recently landed seed financing for my company and one of my investors recommended me. The panelists run the gamut of fund-raising experience, and I’m the newbie.”

  “What time’s your panel?”

  “Right before the keynote speech tomorrow. Seven, I think?”

  “P.M.?”

  Jen laughed at the surprise in Kade’s voice. “Yes. P.M. The agenda’s in my purse, if you want to grab it. Why?”

  Kade snatched Jen’s purse from the backseat and immediately found the folded pamphlet. She indicated the light above her seat. “Will it bother you if I turn this on?”

  “Not at all.”

  Kade scanned the document. Then she started to shake her head. She returned the pages to Jen’s purse and turned off the light.

  Jen could still see her shaking her head, her silhouette outlined by the streetlights. “What’s wrong?”

  “My assistant misled me about the timing of some of these panels. I thought the main networking and conference events were in the morning, followed by breakout sessions. I thought I’d be on a plane by afternoon.”

  “Time for a new assistant?” Jen suggested.

  Kade laughed. “It’s complicated.”

  “Isn’t accurate calendaring one of the basics of the job?”

  “She thinks she’s looking out for me.”

  “By screwing with your schedule?”

  “By forcing me to take a day off. Now I have nothing on my plate until tomorrow night, my colleagues think I’m out-of-pocket so they won’t be pinging me, and I can’t turn around and go home in the meantime. Who knows? Maybe she thought I’d share a hotel shuttle and meet a new friend, or rent a car and go on an excursion. Make me wing it to see what shakes loose.”

  “In her defense, it is Maui.” Jen heard Kade take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Is it really so bad, having a day to enjoy one of the most beautiful places on earth?”

  “I like routine. Schedules. I’m not much of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of gal.”

  “Well, you’re in luck, because I excel at spontaneity and can work with boundaries. How about this? If you’re not completely beat by the time we get to the Ritz, let’s grab a seat at one of the poolside bars, enjoy a cocktail, and, so that your assistant approves, talk about anything other than work. Then tomorrow morning, if you’re not already sick of me, we’ll meet for breakfast at a time you designate, and we’ll come up with a plan for the day that involves plenty of sunshine and beautiful women.”

  “You’re not some sort of chaperone my assistant hired to keep me from working, are you?”

  “Are you really that pathetic?”

  “Guilty.”

  “What kind of work do you do that you have to be constantly doing it? I mean, I’m a CEO and I take time off. Whole weekends, occasionally.”

  “Not that I don’t want to delve deeper into the incredible laziness you just copped to—because, wow, weekends—but it might color what you think of me, and I’m enjoying my status as”—here Kade punctuated the air with her hands as if reading from a news scroll—“‘woman in technology who fails to use technology to read conference agenda.’ And by the way, how did you get a rental car?”

  “It was the craziest thing. Are you ready? It’s called…” Jen took her time as if revealing a major secret. “A reservation. And nice deflection on the work question.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Do you really think it would change my mind about you if I knew what you did?”

  “Does Miranda McArthur really intimidate you?”

  “Oh, shit. You’re not Miranda McArthur, traveling under a pseudonym, are you?”

  “You think I run a company that excels at helping consumers make travel plans, yet I can’t even rent a car?”

  “Fair point. I don’t know what any of these business leaders look like. I know a lot of names, but if they’re not Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates, I wouldn’t know them from Adam. You’re making me nervous.”

  “And you drive like my mother.”

  “A woman who has obviously done a few things right, so I’ll accept that as a compliment, Miss Avoid the Subject.”

  Kade pointed toward the pedals. “When she talks, she tends to pull her foot off the gas, like she has difficulty multitasking.”

  “I do not take my foot off the…Wow, I totally do that.”

  “That’s okay. It’s just that much longer until the cocktail you’ve promised me.”

  “So you’re game even though having drinks with a stranger wasn’t on tonight’s agenda?” Jen was tempted to ask Kade for her assistant’s address, so she could send a thank-you note.

  “I’m taking a walk on the wild side.”

  Jen reached for Kade’s hand and squeezed it softly. “It looks good on you.”

  “It’ll look better once you have a few drinks.”

  Jen appreciated Kade’s self-deprecating humor. It gave her a kind of accessibility Jen wouldn’t have necessarily pegged her for when she first saw her strut to the rental-car line. “If I have a few drinks, I’ll be under the table.”

  “Perfect. I like when people look up to me,” Kade quipped.

  Jen glanced at Kade. “I appreciate your covert strategy to take my mind completely off my panel tomorrow.”

  Kade grinned. “Let’s not limit ourselves. Your mind doesn’t have to be the only thing to be taken completely off. Should we return to the underwear conversation?”

  Jen smiled and shook her head. “What panel?”

  Chapter Two

  Upon arriving at the Ritz-Carlton, Jen parked in the temporary-registration zone and left her bag in the car. Kade assumed it was because she preferred to self-park close to her room, once she learned where it was. But as Kade was checking in, she saw Jen standing to the side, already out of line. Kade waved her over. “What room are you in?”

  “No vacancy. Apparently the conference is pretty popular. And with the usual tourism…” Jen shrugged.

  “You had a car reservation but not a hotel reservation?”

  “No need. There’s lots of vacancy on the west side, and I figured I’d see what struck my fancy. Since I’m here, I checked, but frankly this place is a little steep for my company’s travel budget anyway. I’ll stay for that drink and then head out.”

  Kade glanced at her watch. “But it’s late. You don’t want to go to hotel after hotel trying to find a room at this time of night, or drive after drinking.” She spoke to the clerk who was checking her in. “Make that two keys, please.” She turned to Jen and offered her the key card she’d been given. “I’m in a two-bedroom suite. Stay with me.” Kade flushed. “I mean, take the other room.”

  Jen shook her head and lightly pushed the card away. “Thank you, but I can’t foist myself on you like that. Let’s have that drink and figure out when to meet in the morning.”

  “You’re not foisting yourself on me. I’m offering. There’s plenty of room. I won’t even know you’re there.”

  Jen cocked her head, unleashed a slow, sexy smile, and moved directly into Kade’s personal space. Her straight, natural-blond hair fell past her shoulders and framed a face of smooth, pale skin that seemed divinely inspired to highlight her blue eyes, which were pinning Kade where she stood. With effort, Kade held her ground. Jen was making it difficult for her to
appear unfazed, when half of her wanted even less distance between them, and the other half wanted to escape to somewhere emotionally safer.

  “That’s not a challenge, is it?” Jen asked. She took Kade’s hand in both of hers, traced her palm with her thumb, and whispered outside of the clerk’s earshot. “To see if I can get you to notice me?”

  Kade sucked in a breath, hoping Jen couldn’t feel the shiver that ran through her. Hell, the simple caress practically had Kade arching into her like an affection-starved cat. Having experienced Jen’s engaging personality while they bantered throughout the long drive, Kade had been noticing far more about Jen than her good looks. She had an innate beauty that drew Kade in and an intrinsic decency all the more notable by how rarely Kade came across it during her typical workday. Kade would have to be made of ice not to notice her, but she hadn’t extended the offer out of a desire to get Jen into bed. She wanted her to know how much she’d appreciated her kindness.

  She pulled Jen to a standstill several feet away. “I could never be in a room with you and not notice you. So if you can accept that I’m attracted to you, the room is yours. No strings. You have my word I won’t try anything.” Kade once again offered Jen the key card. “And it might not be good for your reputation to be seen sharing a room with me, so I suggest waiting a minute between each of us entering.”

  Kade felt Jen scrutinize her at length. Finally, Jen pinched the card, but she didn’t take it from Kade’s hand. “I don’t know who you are, Kade Delaney, but I can tell you that when I choose to spend time with someone, I don’t give a damn what other people think. I’ll either get my bag and valet the car and we’ll walk together to the room, or we’ll say good night here.”

  Few people spoke to Kade so authoritatively. Most deferred to her. Apparently, Jen’s friendliness didn’t also translate into her being some shrinking violet, and Kade’s interest shot up several more degrees. Kade nodded once and let go of the card.

  When Jen returned from the vehicle, they walked in silence to the room. Kade opened the door and flipped on some lights. “Take whichever room you’d like,” she said. “I’m not going to get too comfortable, or I’ll never make it down for that adult beverage.” Jen went in one direction, Kade headed the other, and they both returned to the foyer at the same time.

  The walk to the hotel lounge was also silent. Though it was too dark to see the ocean, the pool below the lounge terrace was illuminated an inviting blue, and the humidity was milder here than at the airport. They opted to sit at the lanai fire pits, which cast a warm glow amid the surrounding soft lighting. Once they ordered their drinks, Kade addressed the tension that had settled between them. “You’ve gone quiet on me.”

  “What did you mean about my reputation?”

  Kade should have known her comment would disconcert Jen, if not outright concern her. “I thought that might be bothering you.” Where to start? And why? It wasn’t like this was going anywhere. Jen could have been on a connecting flight from God-knew-where. They probably didn’t even live in the same state. “We agreed: no work talk.”

  “So that was about your reputation.”

  Kade shook her head. “Someone might think you’re angling for special treatment.”

  Jen smiled. “Sexual favors?”

  Kade frowned at Jen’s making light of it. “I’m trying to keep your best interests in mind.”

  “And I appreciate it.” Jen covered Kade’s hand with her own. “I do. But since I’m the head of my company, I don’t see how being seen together could possibly mar me professionally.”

  In reality, Jen was right. Kade was speaking theoretically. Kade had never heard Jen’s name in conversation and didn’t know the name of her company. Furthermore, Kade’s sexual orientation wasn’t common knowledge, so unless they pawed each other publicly, an observer wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that they were more than friends. While it was still possible Kade’s concern for Jen could come to fruition, it was highly unlikely.

  The server set their drinks down and promptly left. Jen held up her glass. “To a nearly full day off.”

  Kade clinked glasses with Jen and took a sip. “You’re not going to attend any of the afternoon sessions?”

  “Are you?”

  Kade shook her head. “No. I’m only here for the post-dinner events tomorrow.”

  In a faux Southern accent, Jen asked, “Then, pray tell, whatever shall we do, sugar?” She looked Kade up and down as she said this but spoke so playfully that Kade knew she wasn’t suggesting they spend it naked in each other’s arms. At least, Kade thought so.

  “Have you been to Maui before?” Kade asked.

  “No. You?”

  “Not in years.”

  “Is there anything in particular you want to see?”

  “Am I allowed to flirt again?”

  Jen edged closer. “Encouraged, even.”

  “Then yes. You, in a bikini.”

  “You don’t have to be on Maui to see that.”

  “Where do I have to be?”

  “If any of these shops were open, our room.”

  Kade wondered if Jen purposely skirted around mentioning where she lived. “Suite. We’re sharing a suite, not a room.” She took a healthy sip of her drink.

  “Do you want to be sharing a room?”

  Kade nearly spit out the liquid. She dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Knowing she was blushing, she folded the napkin multiple ways to avoid looking at Jen. The universe was once again conspiring against her, but this time it seemed to have a good sense of humor. She was as interested as she was outmatched. She met Jen’s eyes and smiled. “I’m so out of my league with you.”

  “Why?” Jen’s expression was open and attentive.

  Kade laughed. “You’re intelligent. Gorgeous. Driven. Funny. Warm…” She suddenly snapped her fingers and pointed at Jen. “And married.”

  Jen smiled. “Single.”

  “Ten kids.”

  “Three houseplants.”

  Another thought occurred to Kade. She finally had her. She crossed her arms. “Player.”

  “Never had a one-night stand.”

  “I rest my case.”

  “What case are you making?”

  “That you’re too much.”

  “You’re overthinking.”

  “I’ve been told worse.”

  “Breakfast tomorrow. We’ll come up with a must-see list complete with timetable and dinner reservations.”

  “Don’t you want to mingle at the conference dinner?”

  “I’ll have plenty of opportunity when they serve drinks after the keynote. I’d rather have dinner with you.”

  Kade rapped her fingers on her glass. She couldn’t come up with a good reason why she shouldn’t join Jen for the day, and it made her uncomfortable. A warm hand covered hers and stopped her tapping.

  “Stop trying to make excuses. You’re unexpectedly free. Deal with it. Breakfast. What time?”

  “Nine.”

  “Nine it is.” Jen finished her drink and stood, holding her hand out to Kade, firelight dancing in her eyes. “Let’s go to bed.”

  Kade knew she was being baited, so she simply shook her head and gave a little snort as she accepted Jen’s hand. True to her word, Jen showed no worry or hesitation in holding onto it during the entire walk back to the room.

  In the suite’s entryway, Jen tugged her close and held her, thanking her for the accommodations and the drink. It was the kind of tight, lingering hug that Cassie used to give, and it made Kade feel special. Only with Jen, there was more. Kade had never paid attention to the press of Cassie’s breasts against hers or wished her hands would travel. But with Jen, Kade’s body was attuned to a pang of arousal, reveling in the feel of Jen’s body wrapped in hers and imagining where Jen’s fingers could roam. A faint apricot scent from Jen’s hair enticed her to nestle even closer, which she denied herself.

  Although she contemplated making a move to see if Jen would be receptive to the idea of
sharing a bed, she wouldn’t break her promise to not take advantage of the situation. When they broke apart, Jen stretched behind Kade’s head to remove her hair tie, which brought their faces tantalizingly close. She ran a hand through Kade’s hair and followed it with her eyes, as if contemplating the same idea Kade had. As she reached the end of the long strands, she toyed with them and shifted her gaze back to Kade.

  “You’re very difficult to say good night to,” Jen said.

  “You’re making it hard for me to keep my word.” Kade steadied herself by holding onto Jen’s hips.

  “I didn’t make the same promise you did.” Jen smoothed the back of two fingers down Kade’s cheek.

  “No, you didn’t.”

  Jen cupped Kade’s chin and kissed her softly on the mouth. “Sweet dreams, Kade.” Then she walked into her bedroom.

  Kade felt bereft. Certain only that whatever she dreamed tonight would be far more racy than sweet, she headed for the shower. She always felt like she needed a full-body disinfectant each time she sat in an airplane seat, and now she also needed to channel her arousal. She quickly stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the hot spray. As she lathered herself, she let her hands move slowly and caress her body in a much more sensual way than during a typical shower. The reason was maybe thirty feet away.

  In her mind, Jen was touching her, Jen was bringing every nerve ending to attention, Jen’s seductive smile was tearing at her defenses and self-discipline. Good Lord. With one simple kiss, one fleeting sampling of her marvelous mouth, Jen had reduced Kade to a whimpering puddle of need.

  Kade pinched her erect nipple and bit her lip, trying to remain quiet even though the water and walls would shield her sounds. The film from the soap bubbles helped her palms and fingers glide easily along her skin. She imagined Jen’s mouth on her breast—sucking, teasing, nipping. She twisted the showerhead to its pulsation setting. She let her fingers venture lower, through the curls at the apex of her thighs, until they met her swollen center. And then she stilled her movements.