John McCallister glanced up from paperwork sitting on the desk. A crease formed between his black eyebrows when he saw Quinn. “Did she pass the test? Please tell me she didn’t give you a happy ending.”
Quinn sat in the chair opposite his father and nodded. “She passed. I never want to do that again, just so you know. I feel dirty and disgusting, like a real pervert. Also, she hates me.”
“This is your job, Quinn. If you’re going to take over for me, you have to do distasteful things sometimes.”
“Besides that, Mom would kill you if you asked a pretty young girl for a happy ending, so I got elected for the job.”
John laughed. “Damn right. She’d skin me alive.” His good humor drained away. “I know you hated this, but it was important to know what kind of moral fiber Larissa Benner is made of. We can’t afford another scandal.”
No kidding. A new scandal could shut down the resort. “I still can’t believe Vanessa was having sex with clients for extra money. We trusted her. Treated her like family.” Quinn shook his head. “Don’t worry, Dad. It won’t happen with Miss Benner. I’m sure of it. She was mortified by the request. Once I told her she would only get the job if she did the deed, she walked out on me and told me good luck finding someone as good as her for the job.”
“That’s perfect. If she says no to you, she’ll say no to any clients who think they can pay for the special services Vanessa provided.”
Quinn nodded his agreement. “Larissa’s more likely to punch them than stroke them.”
“I’m surprised by that,” John admitted. “Every time I talk to her she seems nice, but timid.”
“Not when she’s angry. She told me off with a lecture about sexual harassment.” Quinn grimaced, picturing the anger and hurt etched into Larissa’s pretty face. “Even though she’ll be working here, it’d be best if I keep my distance. We don’t want her deciding to make a complaint against me.”
Leaning back in his chair, John folded his arms across the paunch of his slightly expanding belly. “There’s no hiding from this situation, son. You’re the boss. You have to face her. Go tell her the position is hers and invite her to sit at the family table during tonight’s party.”
“No way. She won’t go for that. She probably won’t even speak with me if I show up at her room.”
“That’s why you need to explain to her how Vanessa broke our trust. If she’s as smart as I think she is, she’ll forgive you and take the job.” John glanced to the wall above Quinn’s head. “People will start heading to the beach soon. Go make nice with Larissa and offer her the position. Take a packet explaining her benefits and make sure she knows her family can stay free during the second week of January.”
It was a clear dismissal and John’s voice was firm. He wouldn’t allow Quinn to pass the conversation off to someone else. “I’ll take care of it.”
Quinn crossed the hallway to his office, grabbing the benefits package paperwork from the filing cabinet. Hopefully the good news would pave the way for Larissa’s forgiveness like his dad thought it would. She appeared to be a levelheaded woman, but what he’d done would be hard for a wholesome girl like her to get over.
However, she wouldn’t have to deal with Quinn on a regular basis. As far as Quinn was concerned, not seeing her much after tonight would be a good thing. He found himself thinking of her entirely too much already, wondering what it would be like to kiss her, and he had his hands full learning everything he could before his father’s retirement next year.
Quinn would offer her the position and make sure she understood why he propositioned her. That was where his involvement with her had to end.
Larissa Benner was a distraction he didn’t have time for.
Chapter 2
Larissa plucked another tissue from the box beside the bed. All the work she’d done the past three months, proving she was right for the position, and it had been for nothing.
Now she had no job, no benefits, and no prospects. It was a disaster. Last time she spoke to John McCallister, she was confident he would offer her the job. He liked her, and furthermore, he reported that the resort guests gave her glowing reviews.
Why did Quinn have to pick her for his special massage? It wasn’t fair. Now everything was ruined. With a sigh, she dropped the tissue in the trashcan beneath the nightstand.
Packing hadn’t taken long. The single suitcase she owned was next to the door, ready for the morning plane. Now she just had the rest of the night to fret over her future.
The small room only contained a bed, a dresser, and a tiny bathroom, but it felt like home from the moment she arrived on the island. She would miss it here. The housing complex for employees wasn’t on the beachfront like the guest rooms, but Larissa lived on the sixth floor and the ocean was visible from her window. At night, the crashing waves lolled her to sleep. It was peaceful and just what she had needed.
Returning to her parents’ home in Iowa would be hard. At least she knew they’d take her in, since she was jobless and homeless now.
A loud knock sounded on the door, startling Larissa. Scrubbing at the tearstains on her cheeks, she kept quiet. It was probably her friend, Janie, and Larissa didn’t want to explain what happened. Maybe she would think Larissa wasn’t home and go away.
After a few seconds, the knock repeated. “I know you’re in there. Open up.”
Quinn? Anger erupted in her belly. How dare he show up at her private room! She marched across the floor and yanked the door open. “What are you doing here? If you’ve come to make more inappropriate requests, I will report it to your father. He just might believe me, so you’d better leave me alone.”
Quinn shook his head, actually seeming a bit sheepish, which surprised her. “I didn’t come for that. I apologize for having to ask earlier, but I needed to make sure you’d refuse to do it. That was a test for you, not a true desire on my part.”
For a second, it felt like the floor fell out from beneath her and Larissa gripped the doorframe. “What are you talking about? You wanted me to refuse?” She didn’t dare have renewed hope... not yet.
Quinn smiled and held out a packet of papers. “The job’s yours, Larissa. We had to make sure you were truly the right person, and that’s why I acted the way I did in the massage studio. I’m sorry. I’m really not the creep I acted like today. I promise.”
Blindly, she reached for the papers, not looking away from Quinn’s grey eyes. “The job’s mine? I’m confused. I thought my test was getting you to your happy ending.”
A door somewhere down the hallway opened, and Quinn turned his head in the direction of the noise. “Headed to the dinner party?”
“Yep. Wouldn’t miss it, Mr. McCallister.”
Larissa recognized the voice of her friend.
“I came to see if Larissa’s ready to go,” Janie explained.
“Why don’t you go ahead without her?” Quinn asked. “She and I have to talk business.”
Janie appeared in Larissa’s line of vision. Her black hair in its tight curls was a little disheveled, as always, but Larissa believed that was why so many guys liked her. Janie looked wild, fun. Her black skin was a warm chocolate shade that the men couldn’t seem to quit touching, and she never wanted them to stop. She probably wouldn’t have had a problem performing the massage Quinn requested. Good thing she was a lifeguard and not a massage therapist.
Janie shrugged, meeting Larissa’s eyes. “Catch up with me later, okay?”
She nodded, not certain she wanted Janie to leave her alone with their boss. Quinn claimed he hadn’t really expected her to get him off, but she wasn’t sure she believed him. Helplessly, she watched Janie walk away.
Quinn took a step forward, catching Larissa off guard when he shoved his way into the room. “I have some things to explain to you, but we can’t be overheard.”
She wanted to refuse him entry, but she didn’t really have a choice. However, if he made another move on her, she’d kick him in the balls. Job or
no job, she wouldn’t tolerate anything like that.
She crossed to the window, staying as far from Quinn as she could. After setting the papers on the bed, she folded her arms tight to her body and leaned against the wall. “What is it you want to talk about?”
Seeming to understand her agitation, Quinn stayed on the opposite side of the bed. “Have you ever heard the name Vanessa La Fabre?”
“Sure I have. That’s the massage therapist you needed a replacement for.”
“Correction,” he said. “That’s the therapist you are replacing.”
She glanced again at the packet of papers. It seemed he was serious. Perhaps he wasn’t the handsome bastard she’d imagined, but somewhat of a professional. “I appreciate the offer of the job, but I’m not happy with what you did. Why would you do that to me? It’s...” She shook her head.
“Awful? Disgusting? Prickish?” Quinn smiled halfheartedly and shrugged. “I know, and I am sorry, but this is business, and the island is more important than your hurt feelings. Vanessa was performing those services for guests, unbeknownst to the family, and it almost cost us the resort’s reputation. If news of her actions had gotten out, everyone here would be out of a job. Understand?”
Larissa widened her eyes, shocked. “She did that? Why would anyone...? That’s unthinkable.”
Quinn laughed, the sexy tone of it sending another shiver of attraction down Larissa’s body. “I’m happy you think that, but I hope you understand that we couldn’t just take your word for it. Dad wanted a test sure to strain your ability to resist, to make sure you would always resist. We’ve been careful to give you only female clients this season, but you’ll start getting more males now that there will be fewer workers here. They might pressure you for that sort of thing. We want you to report anyone asking for it, and definitely don’t do it.”
Larissa’s stomach churned. Even though she was mad at Quinn for doing what he did, she could understand it. They had to be sure they could trust her. “Do I have to be polite and try to convince them for a different type of massage like I tried to do with you?” She couldn’t see massaging a man once he asked for a happy ending. It would be torture to touch him, knowing what he’d be fantasizing about.
To her relief, Quinn shook his head. “Absolutely not. You’re to kick them out and call me or my father immediately. They’ll be banned from the spa and if they have a problem with it, we’ll ban them from the island. We won’t tolerate that behavior toward our employees. I don’t want this to alarm you, but you need to know of the possibility. It might never happen now that Vanessa is gone, but if it does, we’ll have your back.” He took a step forward, but Larissa shrank away and he stopped. “You’re part of the McCallister Paradise family now. Welcome aboard.”
Larissa forced herself to return Quinn’s dazzling smile. While she understood intellectually why he came on to her, she still wasn’t sure she liked being alone with her handsome boss. “Thank you, sir. I’m glad to know you aren’t the complete creep you seemed to be, and I’ll gladly accept the position.”
After all, that was the important thing. She got the job. She’d have insurance benefits and the salary was nice. Not to mention her room on the island was part of her wages. It was a dream job, and she wouldn’t let the discomfort of earlier spoil her happiness now.
“I’m glad to hear that, Miss Benner.”
Quinn seemed rather formal all of a sudden. Larissa raised an eyebrow, though didn’t question him.
“Now that that’s sorted,” he said, brushing his hands together as if to wipe away the earlier part of the day, “I’m hoping you’ll allow me to escort you to dinner. Dad requested that you sit at the family’s table.”
Dinner with her bosses? She’d only talked to John McCallister a couple of times and didn’t know any of the rest of the huge clan. Also, she must look horrible. She’d been crying for a half hour and still wore her work uniform.
“I didn’t plan to go to the party,” she admitted. “I’ve been packing since I left the studio. I’m not dressed or anything.”
“Because you’ve been too busy worrying about not having a job, which is my fault.” He frowned. “Get ready. I’ll come back in twenty minutes to escort you down to the beach. It doesn’t matter if we’re a little late. The line for food will be slow moving, so dancing and limbo won’t start until later.”
Although she had misgivings about going with Quinn, it was a huge party. Everyone on the island would be there. He wouldn’t try anything, and it was a lot safer than being alone with him in her room.
She nodded her acceptance. “Fine, but if we’re going to spend the evening together, we can’t be so uptight. I’d appreciate it if you called me Larissa, like you did earlier.”
His ready smile burst forth again. “Of course, Larissa.”
She didn’t know if it was intentional, but the way he said it still caused her heart to race. Her name had never sounded so seductive.
“I’ll be back soon.” He turned and opened the door, glancing back as he stepped into the hallway. “Oh, and call me Quinn.”
Chapter 3
Quinn returned to his room and changed from his usual business suit into black slacks and a deep purple dress shirt. He left the top buttons undone and skipped the tie. Looking in the mirror, he realized his hair was a mess and he smoothed it down, practicing smiling at himself in the mirror.
He didn’t know why he cared so much what he looked like. This wasn’t a date, after all. Smoothing things over with Larissa and welcoming her to the McCallister Paradise family was his job.
Not that he’d be against dating her if he had more time to pursue his own agenda instead of always working. She’d looked so distraught when she first opened the door, Quinn’s first instinct had been to take her in his arms and kiss her pain away. That was a dangerous fantasy he didn’t have time to entertain. He needed to be careful around her so as not to get distracted.
Camille’s parting shot, while taking half of Quinn’s assets in the divorce, had been to say he’d never love a woman half as much as he loved the island and his ‘damn office.’ The fact that her leaving didn’t hurt had proven to him she spoke the absolute truth. He’d never been too concerned with Camille’s happiness if it interfered with his job.
So why did Larissa’s opinion bother him so much? He’d been with a few other women in the three years since his divorce, usually a seasonal employee who was looking for a good time but nothing serious. They’d have a few nights of fun, and then Quinn could get back to the business of working, with no interference or distractions.
Larissa would live on the island full time, even in the slow season. It would be dangerous to think about her too much. No—he definitely couldn’t date her.
Tonight sure felt like a date though, and part of him wanted it to be one. When Quinn passed through the lobby of his building and spotted the vase of white roses on the front desk, he didn’t even hesitate in grabbing them. White roses seemed to suit Larissa’s wholesome beauty.
It was quite the distance back to her building, since his room was in one of the lavish beachfront properties, but Quinn walked rather than taking the four-wheeler. He didn’t want to mess his hair up again, and also didn’t want to rush Larissa. She’d seemed hesitant enough about allowing him to be her date—escort!—tonight.
The sun was just starting to set, and Quinn lengthened his stride, suddenly anxious she’d miss the view of the sun meeting the ocean. With the wispy clouds surrounding the island, the colors would be breathtaking in a few minutes.
It surprised Quinn that sweat coated his palms as he rode the elevator to her floor. This sure felt like all the nerves of a first date. What was he thinking?
He smiled at his reflection in the mirror-like surface of the metal door, knowing he was halfway there to talking himself into pursuing Larissa. What could it hurt, really? She was attractive and seemed sweet. Maybe there could be something worth looking into with her.
The slow se
ason started tomorrow. Even though Camille had been right about work being the most important thing to Quinn, there wouldn’t be as much to do from December to the end of February once he finished the energy consumption project he currently worked on. He could afford to relax some next month. Have a little fun.
When he reached Larissa’s door, he knocked lightly. “It’s Quinn. Are you ready?”
The door opened immediately, and she stood in the waning light coming from the window.
Quinn’s mouth dried out and his pulse rate rose. “You look beautiful.”
Larissa smoothed her hands across the skirt of a white summer dress. “I’m glad this is okay. I didn’t know what to wear to eat dinner with my bosses.”
The earlier evidence of her crying was gone, and she’d pulled her hair into a flirty ponytail. A touch of blush graced her high cheekbones and her lips shimmered with a hint of pink gloss.
An overwhelming urge to lean forward and kiss her took over again, and Quinn actually leaned in slightly before remembering they weren’t on a date. And she definitely wouldn’t want to kiss him after what he did today.
Larissa’s eyebrows narrowed. “You’ve got a funny look on your face. Are you sure this is okay? I can change into slacks or something if that’s—”
“No, no. Don’t change. You’re perfect.” He thrust the vase of roses between them to keep himself away from her lips. “I saw these and thought they’d look nice on your dresser.” Without asking permission, he pushed past her—inhaling the scent of her lightly flowered perfume—and crossed the room. He centered the flowers on the dresser.
“Thanks, I guess,” she said, not sounding impressed.
He yanked his head around. “What do you mean, you guess?” His voice came out sharper than he intended, and Quinn winced. That wasn’t the way to make friends. Or get her to kiss him tonight during the fireworks.
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