by Susan Hayes
“You’re lovely, Lexa. When the men of this island find out the new owner of the marina is a stunningly beautiful woman, they’re going to be lined up out the door to buy bait and rent Jet Skis. Just you wait and see.”
“With all the beautiful women I’ve seen wandering around? I don’t think they’re going to notice a chunky short stack like me.”
“We’ll see.” Sam just waived off her comments and headed up the ramp that led to the office.
As he opened the door a man looked up from his desk and smiled in recognition.
“Hello, Sam. Didn’t know you’d be by today.”
“Simon, this is Alexandra Fox. Lexa, this is Simon Johnson, your operations manager.”
That was when reality finally kicked in, and Lexa had to take a deep breath as she stepped forward and held out her hand to meet her employee. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Johnson.”
“Please, call me Simon.” He took her hand and instead of shaking it he lifted it to his lips and pressed a feather-soft kiss to her knuckles before releasing her again, his fingers stroking over her palm. He was in his midthirties, with the weathered, tanned skin of a man who had spent years outdoors. His brown eyes were hooded, and his brown hair was swept back from his face with some kind of gel, revealing a widow’s peak and the beginning of a receding hairline.
“I just took Lexa on a tour of the marina and thought we’d drop by,” Sam said.
“It looks like everything is running like a top out there, thank you for taking such good care of the place,” Lexa said and then said the last thing she’d expected. “I was hoping that you’d be willing to let me shadow you for a few days and get a bit of a feel for how everything works. I’m free starting this afternoon, would that be all right?”
Sam blinked in surprise and then beamed, clearly pleased at her idea. Simon also looked surprised, but he nodded almost immediately. “Of course, Lexa.” He lingered over the pronunciation of her name and the resulting sound made Lexa wish the office was a little bit bigger so she could put more space between them. “It would be my pleasure to show you around and familiarize you with the business your father left for you. Of course, a lovely lady such as yourself would not wish to dirty her hands with the day-to-day aspects of the business, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know anything about the marina.”
“I don’t know about that, I’m used to working every day,” Lexa responded as she fought the urge to wipe her hand on her jeans to remove the lingering sensation of his touch.
At that moment the door opened again and Lexa stepped back as a plump, matronly woman swanned into the area. “Oh, wonderful! Sam and Simon, just the two men I needed to see and here you are in the same place. I simply must talk to you about the upcoming auction. You are going to be donating the romantic dinner cruise like we talked about? Of course you are. You fellows always say yes to me because you know I always get my way in the end.”
Lexa stared as the elderly woman patted Sam’s cheek like he was a little boy. “You’re such a dear. Carrie and David will be attending the auction with you, won’t they? And you, Simon. Have you found someone to go as your plus one?” Lexa found herself the focus of the old woman’s attentions next. “Oh, hello. Well aren’t you a lovely thing. Wherever did you find her, Simon? My name is Gladys Humphries, my dear, and who might you be?”
“Alexandra Fox, ma’am.” Lexa felt like she was back in grade school and was being called for attendance.
“Oh. Oh my! Sam, you found her.” Lexa found herself suddenly engulfed in a peppermint-scented embrace. “You came home, dear! How wonderful. You must come to my charity auction. I’ll have an invitation delivered tomorrow. After all, the marina is yours, so of course you’ll want to be there for the auction of your donated item. I’ll see to it right away. Now, do you have anyone to go with?” Lexa felt her left hand being lifted and Mrs. Humphries chirped in triumph as she tapped Lexa’s bare ring finger. “Not married! Oh how wonderful. My dear girl you are going to be quite the belle of the ball!”
Lexa opened her mouth to speak and found herself shushed by a wave of the other woman’s hand. “No, I won’t hear it. You’re coming and that’s final. Sam, make sure she comes, you hear me? I shall be so very cross with you if I don’t see her there. Oh, this is going to be such fun. Now, I’m off again, so many things to organize and so little time.”
And just like that it was only the three of them in the office again.
“Is she always so…” Lexa waved a hand at the door.
“Always,” Sam confirmed, looking slightly pained.
“I know this is sudden, but would you like to be my date, Lexa?” Simon asked and Lexa was too startled to do more than blink at him. “I assure you, she will make sure you’re there one way or another, and since you don’t know the way, I could drive.”
Uncertain how to say no without causing awkwardness, Lexa nodded. “All right. Thank you, Simon.” Then she groaned. “I don’t suppose this is a blue jeans and runners sort of event, is it?”
“Not even close,” Sam informed her sympathetically. “I take it you’ll be going shopping?”
“Right after I finish signing those documents of yours tomorrow morning.”
“Then I shall leave you in Simon’s very capable hands.” Sam nodded first to Lexa and then Simon. “Until tomorrow.”
Lexa watched Sam leave with mixed feelings. She’d wanted something to do to keep herself away from her childhood home, which was filled with memories she wasn’t ready to face yet. Not to mention she wasn’t in a hurry to face her new reality as a wealthy woman with a house, a car, and a fucking trust fund. It all felt more than a little surreal. But now she was committed to spending the afternoon with Simon, and after he’d asked her out, she wasn’t sure that shadowing him was such a great idea anymore.
“Alone at last.” Simon smiled and stepped back as he gestured Lexa to take his chair behind the desk. “Why don’t we start with the rentals side of things for today? Have a seat and I’ll walk you through our booking system and online reservations. It’s all a little complicated, but I’m sure I can show you enough you’ll see how things work.”
As she slid into the chair, Simon leaned over her, close enough his breath warmed her ear. “Now, if you’ll just grab the mouse, Lexa, we’ll get started.”
Three hours later Lexa was out on the fuel dock, having finally convinced Simon that she needed some fresh air and to stretch her legs. The plan had only been partially successful, as he’d decided to turn her walk into a chance to show her the fueling dock and introduce her to Arty, one of the dock boys that manned the cash register and helped customers coming and going with the rental boats and Jet Skis.
“So which of these boats is involved in the auction?” Lexa asked and turned away from Simon to gesture to the row of boats, both power and sail, that were tied to the dock.
“Oh, none of those. We use the Fox’s Fancy for special tours sometimes.” Simon glanced at her, curious. “Didn’t Sam tell you? It’s yours now.”
Lexa was getting sick of surprises, even the very good kind. “I own a boat named the Fox’s Fancy? Which one is she?”
“Not so much a boat, as a uh, well…” Simon smirked as he pointed to a forty foot cabin cruiser that was tied up several jetties over. “That’s her.”
“Holy shit. You’re kidding, right?” Lexa stared at the gleaming white hull and bright red trim, her eyes finally catching the boat’s name emblazoned in red and gold across the stern.
“Not at all. Your father purchased her about five years ago after the economy went to hell, I gather he bought her for a song. We offer tours and overnight trips for the tourists mostly. And of course, we do cruises for most of Mrs. Humphries’s charity drives, two or three a year. That woman is a force of nature.”
“So I noticed.”
Lexa tensed as Simon reached up to brush a stray tendril of hair back from her cheek before moving his hand away, but when he hovered inside of Lexa’s
personal space, she took a deliberate half step away from him.
She realized he wasn’t going to give up when he leaned in again and said, “I know we have a date for the auction, but if you are not doing anything later this evening I would like to take you to dinner. We could discuss the marina of course, and get to know each other better. After all, I am the man who runs your business, and I hope to have a close relationship with you.”
He gave her a wink and Lexa groaned inwardly. Clearly he wasn’t going to be easily deterred and Lexa really didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she also wasn’t interested in going out with someone who worked for her.
“Actually I think I’m going to turn in early tonight. The last few days have been pretty hectic. Thank you for the invitation, but I think it might be a bad idea for us to go out, Simon. After all, you are my employee.”
“We’re both adults, I’m sure that our working relationship would not be affected by—” Simon’s next words were drowned out by the sound of a boat coming into the dock, and Lexa was grateful to see it was one of the rentals. “Ah, some of our customers are returning. Just let me see to this and then we’ll finish our conversation.”
“I’m sorry, Simon, but our conversation was over. I’m simply not comfortable with going out with you.” She caught a flash of dark irritation in Simon’s eyes, but it was gone a half second later and she couldn’t be sure she’d actually seen it at all. Before she could move away from him an athletic looking woman with light brown hair and a very annoyed expression was up on the gunwale of the arriving boat and she leaped across the gap to the dock before the boat had even finished docking. She had an odd shaped bag in her hand and there was no doubt she was very pissed off with the two men still onboard.
“Trinity! Where do you think you’re going?” the boat’s driver demanded, looking more than a little irritated himself. The other man stood with the bowline in one hand, watching the woman go with a scowl.
“Away from you, for starters,” the woman muttered just loud enough for Lexa to overhear. She strode quickly along the dock and made straight for Lexa and Simon. “They’re all yours.” She growled to Simon and then watched him with narrowed eyes as he headed over to deal with the newly arrived boat. “I am so done with men right now!” She shot another frustrated look back at the driver, her hazel eyes glowing with annoyance. “Ever have one of those days when you think it might be best to just stay single forever?”
“I’m having one of those days myself,” Lexa said and grinned up at the much taller woman as she introduced herself. “I’m Lexa, Lexa Fox.”
“Katrina Cross. But you can call me Trinity.” The other woman introduced herself and Lexa decided to take a chance. She lowered her voice so that Simon couldn’t hear and said, “I don’t suppose you have any pressing need for me to go with you to the office? I’d rather not still be here when the man I was just talking to gets done helping your friends.”
Trinity’s scowl was banished by a grin that screamed trouble in big, capital letters. “I’ll do you one better. I’m in desperate need of a drink. Care to join me?”
“Oh, well, I should…” Lexa started to say and then remembered she was the owner here and she didn’t have to answer to anyone, especially not Simon. “You know what? I’d love to. I’ll let Simon finish up with them.”
“Good. I’ll drive.”
“Simon, I’ll be back for another session tomorrow, but I’ve decided I’ve really had enough for today!” Lexa called out and then waved at Simon, who didn’t look at all pleased that she was leaving.
They made it to a sweet looking convertible before one of Trinity’s men got back within earshot and demanded to know where they were going, and Lexa had to choke back a laugh at Trinity’s response. “I’m going for a drink with my new friend. And no, you aren’t invited. This is going to be a penis free evening!”
Well this was certainly turning out to be an interesting day, Lexa thought to herself as she reached for the seat belt. The engine was revving and Trinity was grinning like a lunatic as she tore out of the driveway, leaving the men to gawk at their receding taillights.
They had just made it to the center of town when out of the blue Trinity asked, “Have you met Reece yet?”
“Who? Uh, I don’t think so.”
“The chick that runs the cupcake shop.”
“No. I haven’t been back on the island that long. This is only my second day back in twenty years.”
She felt the weight of Trinity’s gaze on her as the other woman absorbed that bit of information. “I take it there’s a story there.”
Lexa nodded. “One that definitely requires alcohol.”
“Got it. Hold on one sec.” With that Trinity grabbed her cell phone and called someone named Amber, who was clearly a friend of hers. Within two minutes she’d gotten Amber to agree to meet them in one of the most adept bits of manipulation and outright bulldozing Lexa had ever witnessed and Lexa wondered if she was related to Gladys Humphries. The thought made her laugh out loud.
“What?” Trinity asked.
“You totally just railroaded your friend.”
“Yeah, but she lets me” was Trinity’s laughing response.
“I’ll have to remember that about you.”
They came to a flying halt right in front of a place called Naughty Sprinkles and Lexa’s mouth began to water. The air was thick with the scent of vanilla and sugar and calories of the wickedest kind. The wicked theme continued when Lexa spotted the logo on the door. A dominatrix cupcake? Her mother hadn’t been entirely wrong about this place after all.
“One more stop before we get our drink on,” Trinity told her and Lexa decided that adding cupcakes to the night’s plan sounded like a brilliant idea, after the day she’d had. She’d earned a little decadence. The cozy shop was busy, which wasn’t a surprise given the sheer volume of edible sins available behind the counter. She was about to take a closer look when she spotted Gladys standing at the register and groaned. The last thing she needed was another run in with Gladys Humphries. God knows what she’d wind up agreeing to if the woman cornered her again. She was about to fade back into the crowd when Gladys turned and saw her there. Shit, too late to run now.
“Oh! Well, hello there, Alexandra. How nice to see you out and about. And who is your friend?”
An idea sparked in Lexa’s brain and she went with it, trying not to laugh. Let’s see how Trinity fares when facing a railroading master!
“Ah, this is Katrina Cross. Katrina, Gladys Humphries.” She made the introductions and took a step back so she could watch the show.
“Alexandra, dear, have you told Katrina about our upcoming auction?”
“No, I—” Lexa was cut off midsentence and gratefully slid out of the way, pretending to look at the displays of cupcakes as she listened to Trinity’s demise. Kudos to the old lady, she really was a master. Trinity never stood a chance, and by the time Gladys left a few minutes later she had promised Trinity an invitation and gotten her to agree to some kind of one-on-one training session as a donation. As the door shut behind her Trinity looked at them all with an expression of shock on her face.
“What the fuck just happened?”
They laughed about that all the way to the bar.
Chapter 4
It had ended up being a merry group of ladies that descended on the place because Trinity had been able to convince two of her friends to come along too. Reece and Gaby had joined them, and they’d added Trinity’s friend Amber to the group almost as soon as they’d grabbed a table near the back corner. The place was done up in a nautical theme, with canvas and wood everywhere you looked, but the food smelled good and the drinks menu was longer than Lexa’s arm. Just her kind of place.
The moment Lexa set eyes on Amber, she saw why Trinity had insisted she join them. She had the look of someone who’d seen hard times. Lexa knew the look well. There’d been a time she’d faced it every time she looked in a mirror. From what she overhea
rd of their conversation, Amber was getting out of a bad situation and Trinity had gotten her set up on the island to start over again.
Lexa was enjoying her cocktail, a mix of rum and fruit juice and she had no idea what else, but it tasted delicious and had chased all the stress and tension of the last few days right out of her head. It was a good thing she was walking home tonight because she planned on being much too buzzed to even consider driving, and she was far from done drinking.
Hell, I could afford to buy the whole bar a round and not even blink.
More than anything else, the sudden transition from a have-not to a can-have-anything had Lexa feeling like she’d lost control of her world, and it wasn’t a sensation she was enjoying.
She took another long drink from her glass and gave herself a mental shake. This was not the time to be maudlin or brood over her situation. She had no one to answer to, a chance to break free and be a little wild, even if it was just having a few too many drinks with some new friends.
She glanced around the table at the women with her. Reece was the sort of beauty you saw on magazine covers, flawless skin, red hair, and legs that were possibly longer than all of Lexa put together. Reece was another newcomer to Sunset Point, but she did have family here. Her aunt owned the cupcake shop they’d stopped at earlier, as well as being the town’s mayor, while her uncle was the chief of police. In fact, out of the whole group only Lexa and the lovely Gaby were island born.
When Gaby’s friend Quinn had arrived, Lexa had done a double take. The woman was breathtakingly pretty, and she was also so pregnant that Lexa wondered why she wasn’t already in labor.
“Oh wow, you’re…”
Quinn laughed. “Big as a whale? Don’t I know it. I’m ready to pop any day now. My husbands were complaining that I was working earlier.”
“Husbands?” Amber asked, and Lexa realized the girl didn’t know anything about Sunset Point’s history.
“Yes. Me and my three husbands own Mama Lupe’s down the street.”