She stared at him. An insolent grin curled his lips as he stood there with his arms folded, just out of her reach. The rain didn't seem to faze him at all. Of course it didn't. He was wearing a pair of wet board shorts, not designer clothing that was rapidly becoming as ruined as her shoes. She swiped at her brimming eyes, hoping he couldn't tell the difference between tears and rain. Her hand came away smudged grey. Now her makeup was running, too. This was a disaster.
"Please," she forced out through gritted teeth. When he didn't move, she wailed, "Please help me."
Still he stood there. "You know, you could just take your shoes off. It's just a quick run up the beach to shelter."
And leave them behind? Never. "Please help me."
"Fine. But you owe me." He lowered his head and barrelled into her, like the madman was trying to tackle her. The next thing she knew, she was lifted into the air, thrown over his shoulder like a doll, her bare feet kicking air.
"Put me down!" she demanded, struggling.
"Do you want my help or do you want me to leave you here? Quit wiggling and I'll help you home. If you knee me one more time, I'll drop you on the sand and you can find your own fucking way home."
Gaia took a deep breath and stilled. Yes, he'd thrown her over his shoulder, but her body was screaming for more. She wanted him to carry her home and help her out of her wet clothes and have his way with her, over and over and over again and...
Her toes touched paving as he set her on her feet again. Gaia surveyed her surroundings and was shocked to see she was on the steps to her villa – right outside the frosted glass bathroom door.
She could scarcely breathe. No man had ever done that to her before. She wanted him to do it again and so much more.
"You're welcome," Jay said, before striding off. The pouring rain soon hid him from sight.
SIXTEEN
Jay Felix had someone else. He'd rejected her for someone else.
As Gaia scrubbed herself in the shower, she couldn't think of anything else but the mysterious girl. Jay appeared in the media with dozens of girls, but never had he been linked with just one. Had she missed the media statement somehow, while she'd been too busy dealing with work?
Slipping into dry clothes, Gaia found the number of her media manager and placed a call. She didn't wait for the woman to finish her greeting before Gaia barked, "Stephanie? I need you to prepare a brief for me on someone. I need to know everything about this girl who's currently dating Jay Felix."
"Jay Felix? You mean rock star Jay Felix? He's not with anyone that I know of. That'd be big news in the media, for sure, if that tomcat ever settled down. He makes Mick Jagger look chaste, and the guy's not even thirty yet."
Gaia didn't have the patience to deal with Stephanie's shortcomings. "He said she's been the focus of media attention at the moment, so you must have heard of her. Flavia or Chastity or something. He said something about how he was her first, so you'd be looking for someone who hasn't been romantically linked with anyone famous until him. Find her, Stephanie. I want to know everything about her." And once she did, she could show Jay why the girl wasn't worthy of his time, and he should pick her instead.
"Flavia? Chastity? Never heard of a girl called that. Oh, there was that virginity auction girl a few months ago...her name was Chastity. But that's all died down now. I've never heard of someone called Flavia...unless it's that girl in the viral video...you must have seen it. But that has nothing to do with the rock star. Just a cheating groom who – "
Was Harrison not the only staff member who'd been watching that wedding video at work? "I don't care what you do. Find her, and find out everything there is to know about her. Send your report to my email. By tomorrow." Gaia terminated the call without a farewell.
SEVENTEEN
Stephanie had outdone herself, Gaia decided, as the perused the report over breakfast. The media manager had unearthed a gold mine of dirt on the girl. Not only was she the bride in the video that had cost Harrison his job, but the girl herself was no better than a common whore who'd sold her body for cash. To a certain rock star, in fact. No wonder the man didn't want to sell the resort if he could afford to pay a million dollars for a prostitute.
Time to take a different tack.
As if on cue, her phone rang. Gaia lifted the receiver to her ear. "Yes?"
"Ms Vasse, I have Mr Felix on the line for you, as requested," the receptionist said. A few soft beeps sounded, followed by the sound of someone breathing into the receiver. Not the receptionist.
"Hello, Jay," Gaia purred. "I have a proposition for you."
"Another one? No, you can't have my island. No, you can't have me, either. And no, I don't want to take you for another walk on the beach while you're wearing stupid shoes."
Gaia gritted her teeth. The tide had taken her shoes, she'd found, when she returned to retrieve them. Why hadn't he taken a moment to pick them up for her after helping her? But she didn't say it. "Have you ever been to Lorikeet Island?" she asked instead.
"No. It can't beat Romance Island. That's why we have a resort and your island's a mining pit. Or it was." There was no mistaking the taunt in his tone.
She forced herself to stay calm. "I've arranged for a helicopter to take me out there today to assess the damage. I'd like you to come with me."
"Why would I want to do that?" he drawled.
If he wanted to be difficult, fine. She'd learned business negotiation techniques before she'd learned to read. Now she had his attention, she needed to get him interested. "I'd like to show you what my company is trying to save. The mine is only a small part of the island, and only one island out of over a thousand in the Buccaneer Archipelago. As long as the mine remains open, Vasse Prospecting protects the whole island group and much of the surrounding ocean. It's part of our operating conditions."
"I'm listening."
Good. Now she needed to arouse his desire to help her. "We've been protecting the islands for more than sixty years, when we started rehabilitating Lorikeet Island from the damage it sustained during World War II. It would still be bare rock if it weren't for my grandfather's vision. He dreamed of one day retiring on the island, which is why he allowed a resort to be built there, but he died before he could create the paradise he'd planned. My mother incorporated the resort into the mining camp so she could keep them maintained, respecting her father's wishes for the island. She never really liked the island, but I've always loved my grandfather's dreams. Except...I thought keeping it for himself is too selfish, when paradise should be shared with the world. What you've seen of Lorikeet Island so far is my mother's lack of vision. Let me show you what I have in mind."
She could hear his breathing, so she knew he was still there. Trapped in her spell. Good. Now for the final touch to overcome his doubt.
"Mr Felix, spend the day with me at Lorikeet Island today, and I swear, if you don't want to do business with me and help me achieve the future these islands deserve, I'll leave you and your island alone." Having delivered her killing blow, Gaia held her breath.
"If I don't want to make a deal with you by the end of today, you'll stop pestering me? If I just spend one day with you?"
"Yes." She wished she could see his face. By the time most men started repeating her offer, she knew she'd closed the deal, but Jay was an unknown quantity.
He sucked in a breath. "All right, then. "
Yes! Gaia wanted to cheer so loudly it would be heard at Lorikeet Island, but she restrained herself. "Meet me in the hotel foyer at ten, then. And bring your boots."
EIGHTEEN
Gaia hated her steel-capped boots. From the weight to the clomping sound they made with every step to the sheer hideousness of wearing work boots, she wasn't sure what was worse. Safety standards being what they were, though, she was dressed like a common miner. Long sleeved shirt and long cotton pants, tucked into her hateful boots, and all topped off with a broad-brimmed hat. All she needed was a shovel and someone might mistake her for a ditch-di
gger. Good thing she had no intention of seducing Jay today – the only sexy thing she could do in these mundane clothes was a striptease as she took them off. Something she'd never stoop to. What if someone saw?
To her surprise, Jay was already waiting for her, wearing shorts, a polo shirt and – she glanced down – a well-worn pair of boots. So the rock star did own shoes after all.
"Boat's not here yet," he said, jerking his head toward the jetty.
Gaia smiled. "We're not taking a boat. We'll be flying." As if to punctuate her point, the sound of an approaching helicopter thumped in the distance.
They both watched the aircraft circle overhead before settling down behind a screen of palm trees.
"Come on." Gaia set off toward the helipad. After a moment, she heard Jay scuffing along behind her.
The pilot held the door open for her, so she climbed in before beckoning to Jay, who stood beside the gate with a mulish look on his face. "What are you waiting for?" she demanded.
"Yeah...I don't like helicopters much at the moment. Not after the last one I was in crashed."
Gaia tutted. "You have nothing to worry about this time. I've secured the best helicopter pilot in Western Australia, I'm told."
"It wouldn't have crashed if you hadn't decided to jump out of it while it was in the air," Shou growled.
The rock star jumped out of a flying helicopter? He was more of a thrill seeker than she'd thought.
"I wouldn't have had to if you hadn't tried to – "
"Boys!" Gaia interrupted. "This is my expedition. You – " she pointed at Shou " – are contracted to fly me and my guests wherever I ask you to. And you wanted to see Lorikeet Island, which means no jumping out early, right?"
Jay snorted. Gaia waited, but it seemed to be all the response she was going to get.
"Well then. Let's get going." She settled in her seat as Jay rounded the cockpit to the door on the other side.
Jay climbed in.
"And one other thing," the pilot said, eyeing Gaia, then Jay. "There will be absolutely no sex in my helicopter. You got that?"
Jay laughed. "Sure thing, mate. I'm not sleeping with her. When Flavia gets back, though...you better keep your bird in the air, because if she wants another round in here, I'm not going to refuse. That girl takes her membership in the Mile High Club very seriously."
Gaia hid a smile. If she had any say in it, the rock star's cheap tart wouldn't be coming back to the island any time soon. In fact, she'd go into hiding for a long, long time.
"I bet you've never had sex in the air."
Gaia turned to find Jay's eyes on her as a blush crept across her cheeks. "Of course not."
"I'm sure Shou would be willing to fix that for you. I mean, I might've broken his baby in for him, but I bet he's dying to try it out for himself. You two could fly off into the sunset, engage the autopilot and...maybe he'll let you hold his stick for a bit." Jay laughed at her discomfort.
"For your information, I don't have sex with every man I meet. Unlike some people," Gaia snapped.
Jay stretched, his fingers brushing the ceiling. "I don't know who you mean. Can't be me. I mean, I can't recall the last time I had sex with a man. How about you, Shou? Something about you Xan should know?"
The pilot pressed his lips together, but didn't respond.
Gaia focussed on trading her hat for her headset without mussing her hair too much. When she saw Jay had donned his headset, she whipped out her phone and held it out for a selfie. "Smile for the company magazine," she said, forcing herself to follow her own order as she snapped a few pictures.
She was surprised to find Jay had grinned through every shot. At least the man had decent media training.
Tucking her phone away, she addressed the pilot: "Can we go over the itinerary for today?"
He levelled off, so the entire Buccaneer Archipelago spread out before them, before he replied, "Sure. Flyover of Lorikeet Island and Yampi Sound, before landing on our temporary helipad. Baz took it out by boat this morning. His fee – a couple cases of beer – will be billed to you at the resort. After landing, you'll be free to explore the island. Lunch is already aboard, thanks to the resort's catering department, and depending on our schedule, you can have it at Lorikeet or Baz has offered the jet boat to access some of the sand cays as part of your afternoon charter."
Gaia nodded in approval, then realised the pilot couldn't see her. "And we'll arrive at Lorikeet Island...?"
"Right now on our right. I'll do a high flyover first, then approach from the east, like a plane would for landing, and fly low over the island in a couple of passes to give you a better look before we land. Baz picked a spot on the road for a landing pad, he said, but I'm not sure how close it is to the camp, or even what state the rest of the road's in. Here we go."
Gaia leaned in toward Jay, pointing out the window. "That's the port, where the ships come in to collect our iron ore." The rust coloured piers, topped by a conveyor, stood out in strange contrast to the turquoise sea. Maybe it was because the sea wall was missing and the tide appeared to be in, licking at the island with every wave. Yet the island didn't look as bleak as the first time she'd seen it, only two days ago. Was it the company, or just the absence of threatening clouds? Gaia wasn't sure.
She swallowed painfully. "The mine was there, where that deep water is now." If she stared at it hard enough, maybe she could will the wall back into being.
"I know," Jay said. "I told you, I can see the mine from the highest point on Romance Island. I've watched the trucks creeping down the incline, smaller than the toys I used to play with in the sandpit as a kid. I wouldn't mind taking one of those full-sized Haulpaks for a spin."
"You can't. We only employ female drivers." Gaia almost laughed at the surprise on Jay's face. "What, you thought only men worked at Lorikeet Island? We learned early on that women are better drivers. Fewer accidents means less down time and fewer injuries. It's more efficient that way."
"There weren't any women in the evacuation boats, " Jay said. "Not that I saw, anyway. Maybe if they were really butch, I might not have noticed them, though."
"The last shift of drivers didn't make it to the island before the evacuation order came. They're first to leave and last to arrive, always. I thought it was because it took some time for the miners to extract a full truckload of ore, but it's safety. Some of the guys out there...they're men who don't get along well with other people. Men who don't have many qualifications or skills, and a surprisingly large percentage of them have done time in prison. Car thieves, backyard drug dealers and violent criminals, for the most part, and some of them...aren't safe around women. Aren't safe around most people, to be honest, which is why the mine site's completely dry. No alcohol whatsoever. Anyway, the drivers have their own accommodation block, up near the garage. You can't even see it now – it backed onto the cliffs below the airstrip. Most of that was buried in the landslide when the rain loosened up the airstrip and it slid down the hill. Hard to believe there was a cliff there, higher than the one where my grandfather first started mining." Gaia's pointing finger drifted from the muddy slope to the terraced cliffs above the port. "We'll have to bring in more mining equipment to dig out the trucks. The equipment sheds are under water now, along with everything in them."
"Where's the mining camp?" Jay asked, leaning over her to peer out the window.
Gaia felt unusually hot, with him so close, but she tried to hide the tremor in her voice as she replied, "Down there, under the mud. There's nowhere for them to stay, which is why I need your resort."
Jay grunted and shifted back to his seat. He surveyed the island for a moment, before he said, "So, what are those buildings?"
"Those old Queenslanders?" Gaia dismissed the fibro homes, raised on stilts like the old colonial buildings in Broome. "Full of asbestos. Why the storm couldn't have buried those instead of the newer buildings, I don't know. They were built during World War II when there was a secret army base out here. They camouflag
ed them to keep the Japanese planes from spotting them, I'm told. Instead of being torn down, they were refitted to be part of the resort, back in the eighties, but nobody uses them now. And some idiot in town got them heritage listed with the local council, so now we can't touch them. Maybe if I'm lucky, they'll collapse in the next storm."
"Not likely, if they've stood there for seventy years. They built to last back then."
Gaia sniffed. "Built to kill, more like. That's how my grandfather died. Asbestosis destroyed his lungs. He never got to retire out here like he'd planned." The helicopter rose over the ridge and communications tower that marked the highest point of the island. The ridge narrowed into a low-lying peninsula, bracketed by two spectacular beaches, which ended in another rise of rock. This was topped by her grandfather's private villa, overlooking the ocean. "You can see the whales from there."
Jay peered out the window. "I don't see any."
"They're only here half the year, I think. I don't know. My grandfather's villa houses some whale researchers when the whales come up. They observe them and count them and...whatever else it is researchers do." She drew herself up proudly. "As long as the mine remains open, we can support projects like whale research. Yampi Sound is unique. We have the largest population of humpback whales in the world – more than thirty thousand, the latest reports say – and they all come up here to breed, every year." There. Chew on that, Jay Felix. Protesters would be beating down his door if he forced her to cut the budget on whale research.
"Yeah, I know. I've watched them humping from my house. Bet your grandfather pulled chicks really easily, too. I mean, he wouldn't have to ask girls back to his house for coffee or to see his etchings. They could come out here to watch whales humping to really get them in the mood."
Gaia's cheeks heated. "I'm sure he did nothing of the sort."
Jay laughed. "Your mother had to come from somewhere. From what I hear, he wasn't exactly young when she was born, either. He had to throw a sweetener in there somehow." He leaned in. "Go on, tell me the thought of whales doing it in the water doesn't make you hot."
The Rock Star and the Billionaire Page 5