"Like fuck you will!" Jay glared. "This is a luxury resort and it'll fucking stay that way while I own it. We have chefs, not cafeteria cooks." He waved at the main course now sitting before him.
Gaia fought to keep her patience. "That's why I propose purchasing the resort. The changes will occur after the property has changed hands."
Jay swallowed a large mouthful of food. "No changes and no changing hands. I'm not selling."
"Mr Felix, when the mine reopens, and it will, we'll be increasing production as we plan to mine several of the other nearby islands. One ship a week will become one a day. Dredgers will circle your island, making your pristine wilderness into a tiny oasis in the middle of a busy mining port. All the traffic will scare away the fish, the birds and any other wildlife that makes this reserve so unique, until there's nothing left. No one will want to stay here. Your resort will go bankrupt and then I'll move in and buy it from the receivers at a bargain price." She flashed a smug smile. "Be reasonable. Mine is the best offer you'll ever get for this place."
What unsettled her most was Jay's answering smile. "You do that, and I'll close down the resort. No staff, no guests, just me and maybe some temporary staff when I'm here. And an environmental monitoring crew, to record the damage until I take you to court."
"My lawyers are the best," Gaia insisted. "You can't possibly win."
"I don't have to," Jay replied. "All I have to do is get enough media attention for the court case to reach the ears of the environmental regulators in Perth. Maybe Canberra, too. And the protestors. Do you even know how many endangered species we have up here? Dolphins. Whales. Birds. Some kind of lizard. And if you screw with the ocean, you'll have the fishing lobby up in arms as well. Don't underestimate the power of fishermen in Western Australia. There's the commercial ones who are rich enough to challenge you on their own, but everyone who takes a rod or a tinny out on the weekend has a vote. Everyone fishes in WA. And politicians know that." His eyes darkened. "You forgot about the local Aboriginal communities, too. They might not have had much power when Lorikeet Island mine opened, but now they own every damn island in the whole Buccaneer Archipelago. Nothing happens on these islands without their say-so. Me and the guys at the pearl farm, we have an agreement. A lease with them, with conditions, but they're still pissed off about losing Lorikeet Island. They won't let you have any of the others."
"But...that's bad business. Closing your business indefinitely on the chance of getting public support to stop me? It could take years. Think of all the money you'll lose!"
"I'm a rock star, not a hotel tycoon. My business is making music. If I run out of cash, I'll just record another album, or go on tour again. My fans fucking love me. When you and your mine are gone, my island will still be waiting for me. Even if I have to wait until I retire. You're the one whose business will be in trouble when half the state decides they hate you and what you're doing up here. And I'll make sure they know what's going on."
She shrugged. "We'll see. Money can make any problem go away."
It was Jay's turn to choke. With laughter. "What fucking tower have you been living in where they let you believe THAT?" He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. So crude. "You can buy things. Not people. Not opinions. And not my fucking island."
Gaia forced herself to smile, even as her heart sank. "We'll see, Mr Felix."
Another snort. "No, you'll see, baby. My answer's no and no amount of begging will change my mind."
"I've never begged in my life!"
Jay winked. "Maybe that's where you're going wrong. You should try getting down on your knees some time. A bloke can be a bit more friendly when you do that, instead of ordering him around."
Gaia frowned to hide the tumult inside. She should be angry. She should be furious at this man for refusing her and even suggesting she do anything for him on her knees. But a thrill twisted in her belly, making her wonder what it might be like to get friendly with this man. He was a bastard, but his body combined with that voice...
For the first time in her life, she lowered her eyes and forced herself to eat the rest of her meal in silence. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a reply. At least, not until he offered her some sort of satisfaction first.
FOURTEEN
When the next day dawned, Gaia wished the sun would go back to sleep so she could, too. Her night had been filled with dreams of Jay Felix and the things she wanted him to do to her. At this rate, she'd have to buy herself a marital aid...a...vibrator, like some lonely spinster who couldn't find a partner to share her bed for a night.
Gaia shook herself. No. Absolutely not. A billionaire didn't need a battery-operated substitute for a man. She merely snapped her fingers and men came running. She'd find a member of the hotel staff willing to fulfil her wishes and Jay wouldn't be a temptation for her any more. Admittedly, it didn't look like this place had a pool, but surely there were some attractive young men working here. The resort uniform of shorts and short-sleeved shirts certainly gave a girl the opportunity to get a good look at the available talent.
The doorbell chimed, alerting her that her breakfast had arrived. Gaia slipped into a robe – hers, not the hotel's – and made her way to the door to allow the room service attendant to make his delivery.
He had nicely toned calves beneath his shorts, she noted, deciding that the rest of him looked suitably fit for her tastes. He certainly wasn't as skinny as Harrison, that was for sure.
"Will there be anything else, ma'am?" he asked.
Gaia favoured him with a seductive smile. "How might a single girl go about acquiring some male company for an evening here at the resort?"
To her horror, the young man laughed, then tried to hide it with a cough. When he'd managed to compose himself, he said, "You might want to try the hotel bar, the Jungle. It won't be open until the afternoon, but most resort guests like to watch the sunset from there as they grab a few drinks."
She hadn't expected him to be too bright, but most male staff at the other resorts she'd visited recognised a hint when they heard one. Evidently Australian resorts were different. Fine. She'd lay it on thick until he did understand. "And what if I'm not interested in the resort guests so much as the resort staff?"
His eyes turned cold. "Then you're out of luck, ma'am. The resort has strict rules about staff who fraternise with guests. It's grounds for instant dismissal."
Gaia waved away his worries. "How would they even know what happens in the privacy of a guest's villa?"
"Oh, they'd know, ma'am. The security here is the best, because that's what our guests expect. You enjoy your day." Before she could say a single word in response, he hightailed out of the door.
Of all the impertinent...had a delivery boy actually refused to sleep with her? What was wrong with the people on this island? No respect whatsoever.
It must be the influence of the owner, Mr Rude Rock Star himself. Humph. Him and his talk of begging last night, after he'd refused to consider her offer for his island. She'd show him. Today, she'd confront him, turn on her most charming smile, and seduce him into her bed and out of his island.
Business was war, after all, and all was fair in love and war. That bastard was about to find out just what sort of ammunition she had in her arsenal...and he wouldn't be able to resist.
Because if he did...she'd become the first billionaire to buy a vibrator, and that definitely wasn't going to happen. Not to Gaia Vasse.
FIFTEEN
Gaia glanced in the mirror one last time. Did the wrap dress have to show quite that much cleavage? Perhaps she should wear it with one of her shell tops underneath, like she usually did. With so much of her breasts on display, she feared she looked like a common prostitute. Not that she'd ever seen a prostitute in the flesh, but she'd seen enough movies...
No. She'd seen the pictures of Jay with his many fans in the newspapers. After his concerts, he'd been photographed with girls showing far more flesh than the soft swell of her breasts on either sid
e of this plunging v-neck. Most of them left very little to the imagination. If that was what Jay preferred, then perhaps she could flatter him just a little by giving him what he wanted. Then she'd be more likely to get everything she wanted...
Was his bottom as firm to the touch as it looked?
Gaia caught the blush blooming on her cheeks before she turned away from the mirror. It was now or never.
Doubting the directions the receptionist had given her, Gaia glanced at the names of the villas as she passed them. Hers was Maxima, beside Pinctada, then there was Albina, Margaritifera and Akoya, before the path led off into the jungle, without a sign to tell her whether it led to the owner's villa or not. She hesitated for a moment, before marching around the corner. A sign half-hidden behind a palm frond pointed the way to Villa Penguin. It looked official enough – but why on earth had the man called his house after a waddling bird, instead of a pearl, like all the others? Perhaps she'd ask him. Knowing Jay, he might not have had any reason at all for doing it. After all, if the man was crazy enough to close his business and wait until protestors had closed down her project...who knew what other insane ideas he had?
No. He couldn't be that crazy. His comments last night had been a bluff to get her to increase her price, she'd decided some time between one erotic dream and another.
There must be a point to the penguin, too. No one did silly things just for the hell of it.
Gaia marched up to his front door and rapped on the glass. She waited for a few seconds, hearing nothing from inside the villa, before knocking again. And again.
Still nothing.
She perched on one of the outdoor chairs on his veranda. Was he home and ignoring her, or was he somewhere else on the island? Perhaps she should try the windows. This villa looked like a smaller version of hers, which meant floor to ceiling windows with a view over the ocean or into the jungle. If she peeked through a few windows, she'd soon see if he was home or not. And if he was deliberately ignoring her...
Squeezing between the end of the veranda and a spiky shrub taller than she was, Gaia crept toward the first window. The blind was down, so she couldn't see a thing. She cursed under her breath and tiptoed further. The next window gave her a clear view of his empty kitchen. Was he still asleep at this hour of the morning? Surely he hadn't slept as badly as she had.
She bypassed the frosted glass door she guessed led to the bathroom, the same as the one in her villa. A path led from this door into the jungle – presumably, it ended at the beach like hers. The next window should be the master bedroom, if she'd guessed correctly. Gaia crossed the path, ducked behind a palm tree and peered through the window into a darkened room.
A firm hand grabbed her bottom. She jumped, but the grip tightened and didn't let go.
"Spying on resort guests is definitely against the rules," a male voice purred in her ear. "But if you tell me what you'd hoped to see, peering into my bedroom like that, maybe I'll see if I can give you a private show later that'll make all your dreams come true."
Her bottom grew uncomfortably hot under his hand. The heat spread rapidly to her core, reminding her of last night's lascivious dreams. "Unhand me," she demanded, but her voice was too breathless to sound properly imperious.
"Tell me why you're sneaking around my house, and I will."
Gaia twisted out of his grasp, so she could glare at him. "I was looking for you." Too late, she remembered her intention of seducing him, but she forced herself to smile in the hope that it might help.
Jay spread his arms wide, once again showing off the fact that he wore nothing but a pair of wet board shorts. He must have come straight from a swim. "Here I am, baby. Have you thought about what I said last night and decided begging might be in your best interests? You wouldn't be the first."
No, she certainly wouldn't, Gaia thought, unable to take her eyes off his body. Why did she want this man so much? Damn it, she was here for his island, not him!
Fluttering her eyelashes and feeling ridiculous, she said, "I wanted to invite you to take a walk on my private beach with me."
Jay shrugged. "I can come for a walk, yeah." Not quite the enthusiasm she'd been hoping for, but at least he'd agreed.
Gaia led the way back to the main path, hearing the pad of Jay's bare feet following her. Then it faded.
She turned to find out why he'd stopped.
Jay stood on the path to Villa Akoya. "Where are you going? This is the shortest way to the beach. At least, it is as long as you're wearing those." He jerked his chin at her feet.
Gaia glanced at her heels. Did the man honestly expect her to go barefoot like him? While wearing this dress? Evidently, he knew nothing about fashion, but then, few men did, in her experience. She summoned a gracious smile. "Show me the way, then."
Her eyes zeroed in on his backside, outlined clearly by his wet, clinging board shorts. Actually, given their rosy colour and the shape of what was underneath, it made her think of the mango she'd eaten for breakfast that morning. Ripe, firm, but sweet enough to make her mouth water for more. Would he taste as sweet if she sank her teeth into him?
Gaia choked back a giggle at her own silliness. What kind of crazy woman bit into a man's bottom? Moreover, who thought he'd taste sweet? He'd taste salty, surely.
She looked up to meet Jay's quizzical gaze. "You right there?" he asked.
Gaia mumbled a non-committal reply, then swept past him before he spotted her rapidly heating cheeks.
She followed the sound of crashing waves to a narrow track leading off into the jungle. On her first step into the creamy sand, her shoe sank in to the sole, followed by the other one. She struggled out of the sand, only to sink again on every step. This track was torture. "I'd prefer to go back to my place and my private beach," she announced grandly.
Jay tramped past her, having no trouble with the sand beneath his bare feet. Big bare feet, too. "Why? All the private beaches are connected, with just a bit of jungle shielding each from the other. They're really just one long beach that ends at the top of the island. This is faster. Or it would be, if you'd take those stupid shoes off. You don't need shoes on this beach. The sand's like velvet, it's so fine. And still cool, seeing as the tide's only just heading out now."
Gaia's toes curled at the thought of taking her shoes off. She hadn't had a pedicure in weeks. There would be chips in her nail polish. No way was she revealing her imperfect toes to this man. It'd ruin everything she was trying to achieve. Not to mention, all the girls in the movies she'd skimmed over this morning kept their heels on. Seducing a man properly depended on wearing the right shoes.
Ignoring him, she slogged on.
"Have it your way, then." He overtook her almost effortlessly.
"Aren't you going to walk with me?" she demanded.
With an exaggerated sigh, he stopped. "That would be a lot easier if you weren't slower than most snails. Fine. I'll try to keep to your pace, but only if you tell me why you're insisting on going for a walk when you're evidently not enjoying it."
Gaia forced down her irritation as she attempted a coy smile. "After last night, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I wanted to spend more time with you. Alone." Eyelash batting. More eyelash batting. Couldn't forget the damned eyelash thing. And that pouty thing the girl did with her mouth...
Jay burst out laughing. "This seduction thing you've got going would be real cute, if it wasn't straight out of a bad porn film. You been watching the adult movie channel all night, drinking champagne and fantasising that Mr Moustachioed pool man was me?"
Gaia's mouth dropped open and she couldn't seem to close it. How had he known?
"You're not the first, baby, and you won't be the last, I'm sure. Can't say the same, though. I get so much of the real thing, I don't have time for fantasies." His grin left her in no doubt that he was telling the truth. His gaze slid from her face to the horizon. "Fact is, I've had so much sex lately, I'm taking a bit of a breather. My girl's so hot for me I need some rest, if you kno
w what I mean, so I'm performing at my peak for her."
Jay Felix had a girlfriend hidden away in his house, while he was out here with her? That explained the room with the blind pulled down. So that's why he wasn't interested in her right now. He had some little playboy bunny waiting to fulfil his every desire.
But that bunny was nobody compared to her.
"So where is she, then? This perfect playmate of yours?" Gaia spread her arms wide. "I don't see her. Just you, me and this romantic beach, begging for a bit of...action. What do you say?" She winked.
Jay laughed so hard he choked. "Shit, you should really lay off the movies. You know porn's not real, right? She's not here. She had some business to deal with back home, and she got delayed. As soon as the media shit storm's died down around her, we'll be hot and heavy again like you wouldn't believe. It's hard to believe she was a virgin the first time I had her, but she was. So much for chastity, though...once she starts, Flavia never wants to stop. She's the first girl I ever had who could wear me out, and that's saying something." His eyes turned misty. "Takes her half the night to manage it, though."
Half the night? Hours. What Gaia would give for hours in bed with Jay Felix... Dreamily, she took another step and splashed into water, coming to an abrupt halt. "What on earth?" She tried to pull her shoe free, but it was stuck fast in a shell-lined hole. A wave broke over her foot, filling her shoes with seawater. They'd be ruined.
"Crab hole," Jay said.
Crabs? As in live ones with claws? They were fine once dead, steamed and garnished on her plate but...still alive?
Gaia tugged frantically at her foot, but the shoe was stuck fast. As if this wasn't bad enough, the rainclouds overhead took that moment to dump their cargo in a shower of stinging drops. Stuck, nearly shoeless and fast becoming soaked, she turned to Jay and begged, "Help me!"
"You didn't say the magic word."
The Rock Star and the Billionaire Page 4