by Tia Siren
It was official: Riley had him all twisted up, and he barely knew her. He had to talk to her at breakfast, to confess who he really was and ask her to ask her dad about a deal. Then he had to break off their boating date. It would leave him looking like the biggest jerk of all time, but he hoped it wouldn’t stop her from talking to her father. He’d figure a way to explain it to her. He’d be nice, honest… whatever it took.
Frustrated to the point of insomnia, Gray rolled off the bed and went out to the balcony. He found his father sitting there, a glass of wine in one hand and a cigar in the other. Gray sighed. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“Haven’t tried,” Jon admitted. “You?”
“Nope,” Gray said as he took a position near the railing.
Jon lit the cigar, and rich smoke drifted toward Gray.
Gray cleared his throat and said, “Dad, I have an idea.”
“Yeah?”
Gray nodded. “I’ve been thinking about that timeshare company, the international chain. You know they want access to some of our rooms. It would still be our resort, but we could book more people who might not come here otherwise and—”
“At a reduced cost,” Jon cut in to point out.
“True,” Gray continued, angry that his father was always so short-sighted and stubborn, “but we’d make up that loss with food and drinks. The markup on those is high, and we could add some non-motorized water sports equipment and offer day trips on the boat, maybe fishing outings or sunset cruises for a few couples or even one couple if they wanna shell out a few extra bucks.”
“You know how I feel about anyone being on Maggie.”
“I know, Dad, but—”
“No, Grayson! That damn boat is haunted. You also know how I feel about ceding our rooms to a timeshare.”
Gray did know exactly how his dad felt about that boat. He decided to let that go and concentrate on the first suggestion, hoping he’d see it as more favorable. “Well, the timeshare would be a good upfront payment. We still get paid rental rates, too, on top of the buy-in. I mean, the rent would be lower, but in the long run it’d put us on top. Dad, I know you hate the idea, but it could bring in some much-needed revenue right now. Use your eyes and brain, Dad. We need more staff, more steady reservations. The place is gonna fall apart all around us if we don’t start generating more money and bring on more help. Our reviews on the websites are getting worse by the day, and people are claiming we have horrible customer service. We aren’t giving our customers what they’re paying for, and they’re calling us out on it. I just read on Yelp the other day that—”
“Gray, let me smoke my cigar in peace,” Jon said, holding up his hand.
“But, Dad, I think—”
“I mean it!” he said, great hardness in his tone that indicated how serious he was.
Gray, furious and thwarted, just stared at him. He could not keep the bitterness out of his own voice when he retorted, “So instead of seeking solutions, we’ll just beg and borrow, hoping the other resort will be built and float this one?”
“You’re going too far, Gray.”
“And you’re going nowhere!” Gray yelled before he stormed off. He was going too far, but it was where his father needed to go.
Chapter 9
Riley went down to the formal dining room for brunch the next morning, whistling some off-tune song. She was one of the few guests in the resort who went solely for the food; state law forbade alcohol from being served before noon, unless there was food involved, though, so there were a lot of hungover, ready-for-more-drinks faces crowded into the booths and chairs seated before the white linen-draped tables.
Not only that, but Gray was busy serving Bloody Marys, Champagne, and other mixed drinks from behind the bar. He saw her and gave her a small smile.
Riley’s heart leapt, and she smiled back before ducking her head and giving the room a quick once-over to see if anyone had noticed the smile passing between them. She tapped a finger on the table, torn between two delicious-looking entrées.
Suddenly, a glass of Champagne appeared at her elbow. Gray smiled down at her and gave her a quick wink.
She smiled back, but her apprehension grew. He was taking a big chance, and she didn’t want him to get into trouble or lose his job because of her.
He leaned close. “Hey, I just wanted to say you…” Suddenly, he stopped, his face changed, and he bolted upright.
Riley followed his eyes. The man she had identified as the owner was standing near the bar, arms crossed and eyes fastened right on them.
Gray gave her a tight nod and hurried off.
Riley looked down at the menu again, hoping she had not just gotten him fired. In an effort to look as if she’d actually ordered the bubbly, she lifted the flute to her lips and drank deeply, wincing when the dry liquid hit the back of her throat. She was thirsty, though, so she gulped down the entire thing without stopping, then set the long-stemmed glass down. As she did, her eyes met those of the man who was staring at her.
His eyes narrowed, and he said something to Gray, who nodded and poured another glass of Champagne.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a server appeared and asked for her order.
Riley felt slightly dizzy, a little off balance. She ordered the ultra-rich breakfast of a cheesy omelet, potatoes, pancakes, and fruit. She knew it was a mistake, as she’d had too much to eat the night before. Not only that, but the Champagne was making her slightly ill.
She inhaled slowly, trying to focus. She needed to help Gray with his ruse, and she didn’t want his boss to think he was flirting with her while he was on the job.
To her dismay, the server set down another glass. She sipped at it tentatively, trying to quell the nausea. When her breakfast arrived she picked at it, but her stomach rebelled. She finally managed to make an escape and headed straight toward her room.
Sickness floated up along her tongue, and Riley staggered into a bush just as Gray exited the dining room, his head turning right and left as he looked for her. “Riley?”
She held a hand up. “It’s okay. I don’t drink much…in the morning.” She actually didn’t drink much at all, but she didn’t want to sound like the lamest human being on the entire planet.
“You need some cold water or something?” he asked.
She straightened, and little black and red dots danced before her eyes. Her head throbbed as she offered him a sheepish smile. “At least I didn’t toss all my cookies,” she said. “I’m afraid somebody’s gonna be mad when they discover the bit of mess I made, though.”
“You’re not the first to do that here. Hell, you’re probably not the first to do it today.” His eyes surveyed her face. “Hey, about going out on the boat—”
“I’m fine. I swear.” She gave him a smile and hoped like hell there wasn’t anything gross stuck in her teeth. “It’s nothing. I’ll see you at one. You’d better get back in there; I saw the owner giving you the Jedi death stare.”
Gray paused. His eyes went from her face to the ocean just beyond as he seemed to waver on his feet.
Riley’s heart lurched in her chest. Great. Is he back to being an asshole now?
“I’ll see you at one then,” he said, and gave her a final smile and turned away.
She shook her head. “Well, he didn’t break our date after he saw me puke on a hydrangea, so he can’t be all bad,” she muttered to herself as she headed back to her room for some Tums, a toothbrush, and a shower followed by a fresh change of clothes.
Riley stared at her reflection. She knew she looked good in a bikini. She worked very hard for her body, and it showed. She just never showed it to anyone. The dark blue swimwear and tiny white shorts and light pink tank-top was the perfect ensemble for boating. She brushed her hair until it shone, then put it up in a deliberately messy bun. Her red lip stain would last for hours, in spite of the saltwater, but she went back and forth on the eyeliner awhile before ultimately deciding against it; no matter how waterproof it claimed to be, it al
ways ended up making her look like a raccoon in the hot sun.
It was already baking outside, and steam rose from the concrete pavement and sand where the clear blue sky had released a brief sprinkle. There was a cooking-metal scent in the air from the heat, and she wrinkled her nose as she walked past the resort to the public dock. She stood there, examining the boats. Maggie really was a stunner, with sleek lines and brilliant white hull. Even more brilliant, though, was Gray standing near the bow, with his hand up to shade his eyes.
A thrill ran though her body as she dashed toward him. “Hey there!”
“Hey! You made it,” he said, wearing a huge smile and holding out his hand for her to take.
As she took his hand, all her worry instantly evaporated. Suddenly she wanted to go out on that boat more than she had ever wanted to do anything else in her life, satanic sea turtles and Jaws aside. “Wow. It’s just beautiful,” she said, looking around as Gray helped her aboard.
“She,” he corrected gently. “She was my grandfather’s, then my mom’s.”
“Oh. Was your mom named Maggie?”
“No. That was my grandmother. The boat’s her namesake,” he said with a sweet smile.
He led her to a seat, then cranked the engine. They slid out of the berth and Riley watched as Gray tilted the controls, steering them deftly along the shoreline while keeping it in sight. The sun beat down on her arms, and she sighed with happiness. The day had gone from weird and slightly awful at breakfast to wonderful, and she was grateful for that. They rocked on the waves and she clutched the seat back, afraid of tipping over for a moment, but the boat easily crested the swells and rode forward.
Eventually they headed out to sea, passing jet skis and other boats as they went. Riley held her breath when Gray finally stopped in a small spot close to several slightly larger boats and a few actual yachts. Music wafted across the dappled water, splashing off the waves. She smiled as Gray took her hand and helped her to her feet. It took a moment for her to regain her balance, but once she did it felt good to stand on the vessel with him; freeing, in a way. Gray led her to the railing and they stood there, staring down at the blue waves.
“How deep is that water?” she asked, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“Pretty deep.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I’d love it if the resort would let people come out on boats, for day trips or cruises. I was just saying so last night.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “That’s a good idea. Why don’t you tell the owner?”
His lips compressed. “Oh, I did. That was who I was talking to.”
“And he doesn’t agree?”
“He never thinks much of my ideas. He can be a real…control freak when it comes to this place.” He said the words casually, but it was clear that they stung.
Riley asked, “Does he know about your business degree?”
Gray shrugged again, and his silence betrayed his pain.
She reached for him, looping an arm around his smooth, tan waist. “His loss then. What other ideas do you have?”
He gave her a startled look. “You really wanna know?”
“I asked, didn’t I?” She gave him her most encouraging smile.
“Well, I think we should build a dance floor outside, near the sand, maybe take out that stupid barbecue pit nobody ever uses. Back in the day, people actually bought groceries and kept them in the suite kitchens, but only a few still do that.”
“Yeah, I don’t see anyone using the grills much anymore, no matter where I go.”
“Also, there’s this timeshare that wants to buy into the two floors that still have full or mini kitchens. I think that’d be awesome, because we really don’t have enough help to keep things running the way we should. Everyone is overworked like crazy. Some of the maids are working double shifts, and they can still barely keep up. It’s not fair.”
“How many hours do you work?”
“Ten on a slow day,” he said quickly. A vertical slash formed between his eyes. “The night bartender’s stealing, too. I know he is, but I can’t prove it.”
“You know, as a guest, I agree with you. No offense, but it doesn’t seem like anyone working at the resort really wants to be here. It makes it kind of hard to enjoy the place. You’re a good bartender; I’m surprised you haven’t looked somewhere else.”
His grin was rueful. “No offense taken. I used to be excited about my job, but that was years ago. Now I just sort of dread it. The maids and the groundskeepers feel the same way.”
“You’ve been tending bar for years, huh?”
Gray rubbed his bottom lip over his teeth. “No. I used to do other stuff. I worked on the landscaping team for a few years, then with maintenance for a while. Now I’m tending bar. I guess I should just be glad that job was open when I came back from college, or I might be washing sheets as we speak.”
That confused her. “Why don’t you just work somewhere else? I mean, there are dozens of resorts around here.”
He looked away, avoiding her gaze. “I know. After this summer, if things don’t change, I’m gonna look into that.”
“Still hoping to be promoted in-house?”
His lips tightened even more. “Something like that. I know it’s a lost cause, but I-I still keep thinking and hoping they’ll eventually figure it out. I have some good ideas, skills, and a lot of plans that could actually work.”
She completely understood, because no one in her father’s many companies would listen to her either. They always dismissed her, thinking she was spoiled and benefitting from nepotism. She was, to some extent, and all they had to do was go over her head and around her to get things done. She was sure they would act the same way when she actually started working there, and that upset her greatly.
“Look,” Grayson said as he flicked his wrist, “let’s forget all that. How about we go swimming?”
Riley cast the water a doubtful glance. “Now? As in…right here?”
He smiled. “Where else?”
“Um, but sea turtles and sharks and—”
“It’s not so bad,” he said, giving Riley a kiss that instantly made her weak in the knees. “I promise. C’mon. I’ll show you.” He stripped off his shirt and headed for the small deck by the steps.
Riley gasped as he plunged into the sea, sending a wave of water up in the air. Her heart hammered in her chest as she scanned the indigo water for a sign of him and found none. Where was he? She crept closer to the ladder, her heart in her throat and her whole body shaking. “Gray?” she said weakly. It wasn’t that she would have minded giving him mouth-to-mouth, but she was more worried he was going to become shark bait.
Finally he bobbed to the surface, his body glowing under the sun. He waved at her and did a quick breaststroke back to the boat before climbing the ladder to stand before her. The waves continued to slide across the hull of the boat, rocking them gently. The sun was high overhead, and his body was slick and wet. He slicked his hair back with one hand, and his lips lifted in a smile. “See? Just jump. It’s no big deal.”
For her, though, it was a huge fucking deal, the biggest deal ever. What he wanted from her was something she could not give, something she did not have to give. He wanted her to be brave, and not just brave enough to jump off the back of a stupid boat. She knew that the longer she stayed near him, the more he changed her. She had no choice in the matter, really, because their time together was coming to a swift end. She had to go, and he had to stay behind, and her heart hurt just thinking about it.
“I see.” She moved toward the back of the boat. The little platform and ladder seemed to mock her as she stared at them. That’s it. I’ve officially gone insane, she decided as she stared down into the deep blue sea. She was a good swimmer, but she had never been out so far before; she was in over her head in more ways than one.
Gray gave her a push, and Riley went overboard, arms flailing and a scream issuing from her mouth. She landed in the blood-warm water, her feet kicki
ng frantically as a wave caught her and then pinned her beneath its watery weight. Terror filled her, and she was sure he’d just committed manslaughter. All kinds of crazy thoughts ran around her head: What if he is really a hitman hired to do me in? What if I drown and he goes to jail for murder? What’ll Mom and Dad say about the whole thing? I told you so?
Gray found her soon enough, and his strong arms hauled her to the surface as she kicked and shrieked, coughing and spluttering out saltwater with every swear word. He held her tightly, and she stopped fighting and resisting as he consoled, “Riley, I’m here. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would scare you so much. I was right behind you along you. Just relax for me, okay?”
“Go to hell!” The words came out on a long exhale, but she quickly softened. The water was filled with teeming life. Fish darted around her legs, and she stared down into the crystal depths, fascinated despite the gravity of the situation. “Holy shit. What was that?”
He looked down. “Manta ray. C’mon. Let’s get you back on the boat.”
Now that she was in the water, though, she was content to stay there, but her horror had yet to abate fully. “O-Okay,” she said with a shiver.
Gray swam next to her with one arm still around her as they made their way back to Maggie.
She collapsed on the deck, torn between terror and wonder.
“Check it out!” Gray said, pointing out at a school of dolphins.
She turned her head in time to see the leaping, frolicking, friendly-looking creatures rush past the boat. It was such a joyous sight that all her fear instantly subsided.
She turned to Gray, and he took her face in his hands and kissed her, bringing the taste of salty water to her mouth and helping wipe away the last vestiges of her confusion and fright. His lips were warm and firm. His tongue dived deep into her mouth, and she followed every thrust of his tongue with one of her own. Her breasts flattened against him, and his hands went to her wet hair. He tugged hard on the cascading locks, making her hair and scalp ache slightly. That little pain thrilled her, enticing her nipples to jut upward, simultaneously hard and tender, aching to be touched, icy and throbbing as his hands passed across her chest in a gentle, fast stroke before he crushed her to his chest again and tugged her face even closer.