"It's a good enough story that we don't need to exaggerate." Cory grinned at her. She considered the position of his shins with a tilt of her head, making him chuckle. She picked a cherry tomato off her plate and flung it with deadly accuracy at his forehead instead.
"Now, now, children." Bryce caught the tomato as it bounced off Cory's skull, "settle down. You've got to work together."
"Quite," Olivia said. "You've had your fun at my expense," she told Cory directly. "Now can you just let it go—at least when I'm in earshot?"
"Fair enough." He shrugged amiably. "God knows I make an idiot of myself regularly enough that you'll soon have plenty of ammunition for return fire, anyway."
"I can certainly attest to that," Rosie agreed. "I have a million embarrassing stories about him from our schooldays I can share if he keeps being obnoxious, anyway."
Cory's blue eyes widened comically. "I'll behave," he said hurriedly.
Olivia had to laugh at his schoolboyish dismay. "You better." She pointed her fork at him.
"Yes, ma'am." He saluted her smartly. She didn’t miss the warmth in his eyes as he looked back at her; a matching heat bloomed low in her belly. Pressing her knees together, Olivia looked away from those mesmerizing blue eyes and prodded at her lunch with her fork. Strangely enough, she no longer felt hungry.
Bryce and Rosie mercifully started talking, filling in the silence, and Olivia was content to just listen to their chatter. She glanced up at Cory through her lashes and found him pushing his food around his plate as well. He seemed to sense her eyes on him and looked up at her.
Their gazes caught and held.
She half expected him to make a quip or some sarcastic remark, but he just stared back at her, holding the fork still in his hand. For an endless moment they stared at each other, oblivious to the chatter and noise around them.
This is a terrible idea, Olivia thought. I have to work with him.
Cory smiled, the expression almost shy.
Oh, fuck it. Terrible idea or not, I'm not going to live like a nun for the next twelve months.
She smiled back.
Shortly afterwards, Rosie said apologetically that she had work to do, and Bryce left to take a new-divers class in one of the resort pools. They headed off leaving Olivia and Cory still staring at each other over the remains of their lunch.
"Do you have somewhere you need to be?" Olivia asked finally.
"Not until four thirty. Um. Luke actually asked me if I'd show you around a bit, but... if you'd rather someone else, I'm sure I can rustle someone up."
Time to make the call, Olivia.
"I wouldn't rather anyone else."
Cory's smile was slow and sure, warming through her. "Good," he said softly. "That's good. C'mon, then."
He offered a hand as she stood. Olivia debated taking it and decided she'd given the resort staff enough gossip for her first day. Besides, if she stepped a little closer, she could thread her hand through his arm instead and rest it on the pleasing bulge of his biceps. She got a few interested looks as she made her way out of the dining room on Cory's arm.
A row of golf buggies was parked behind the resort. Cory handed her into the passenger seat of one before going around to the driver's side.
"Please tell me that you don't drive like Rosie," Olivia thought to say suddenly, grabbing the dash as Cory started the engine.
He burst out laughing. "I promise I don't drive like Rosie. She's a maniac. Never has passed her driver's test; she can't drive anywhere except here or on Hamilton, with the golf buggies... and she's banned from driving one here too."
"That's a relief." Olivia took her hands off the dash before saying tentatively, "I've never learned to drive. It wasn't really necessary living in New York. The subway goes everywhere. Maybe you could teach me?"
"Sure," he said cheerfully, "want to start now?"
She laughed. "No, let me figure out my way around from the passenger seat first. I don't think I can concentrate on trying to drive while gaping like the tourist I am."
"Gotcha. Well, if you're the tourist, let me play tour guide." Cory slowed the golf cart as the path they were on intersected with another; he looked left and right before turning left. "First thing to note for when you do start driving: all our paths here are two-way and we drive on the left here in Oz."
"Noted," she agreed. "What's that?" She pointed off to the left at a small white building standing alone on a small rise.
"One of the wedding chapels. We have three, and an average of just under two weddings a day here. We have facilities for a lot more, and that's part of what Luke wants you to push in the marketing, I know... that this is one of the best wedding destinations in Australia."
"I can see why," Olivia agreed as Cory pulled the buggy off the path into a small parking area near the chapel. They got out and walked up to the small building. On closer inspection, she could see it was open on three sides, facing out over a small palm-fringed cove. The white sand and blue water were a stunning backdrop.
"Wow," she breathed, taking in the surroundings. "Just wow."
"Yeah." Cory placed his hands on the low railing at the side of the chapel, looking out over the water. "I see this view every day and I never get tired of it."
"I can imagine." Leaning into the railing as she stood beside him, Olivia gazed out at the ocean in wonder, taking in the colors in the water as the depth changed. "I've never seen anything like it. So many colors!"
"Beautiful," Cory agreed, but he was looking down at her now, not out at the water. Lifting one hand from the railing, he gently brushed a strand of curly, brown hair back behind her ear. "I was knocked sideways when I saw you walking down the dock today, Olivia," he said quietly, "and I feel like maybe you feel the same way, a bit."
She turned big dark brown eyes up to his but said nothing. He plowed on stubbornly. "Physical attraction is one thing, and I could put it to one side easily enough, but... everything about you has hit me for six. The way you dived back in to find your passport; the way you put me in my place for laughing at you. This might be crazy because we have to work together, but I'm seriously attracted to you. And I'd like to make that clear now, before we even get started. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings. If you're not interested, or if you want me to keep my distance because we're work colleagues, I can respect that, but I need you to set a boundary here. Because I don't want there to be any boundaries. I feel like you've been giving me some signals, but I need to make sure I'm not misinterpreting you."
He was being incredibly honest and direct, laying his soul bare to her with the heartfelt words. Olivia took a deep breath. "I think I might feel the same way. Except... what does 'hit for six' mean?"
Cory's serious expression dissolved and he let out a hearty chuckle. "It's a cricket term. Like... hitting a home run in baseball."
"You do know that hitting a home run has another meaning altogether, right?"
"I know." Slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away, he put one arm around her, settling it lightly on her waist. "We can take this as slow or as fast as you like, Olivia."
She looked up at him and smiled coquettishly, turning to face him fully and lifting her hands to set them on his shoulders. "Slow's never been my style."
"I'm really glad you said that," Cory murmured, arm tightening around her to draw her close. He sank his free hand into her curly hair to hold her head still as he bent to kiss her.
Cory's mouth was hot and sweet-tasting as it moved over hers; gentle at first, at least until Olivia nipped his bottom lip. He let out a little growl at that and deepened the kiss, tongue sliding into her mouth possessively. She slid her fingers into his blond hair and gripped, nails scraping at his scalp, going up on tiptoe to push her body firmly against his, crush her breasts against the hardness of his chest.
They were both breathing raggedly when the kiss finally ended. Cory's hand shook as he brushed his knuckles over Olivia's cheek and traced a fingertip over her kiss-swol
len lips.
Neither of them spoke; words would have ruined the moment, and they knew each other too little as yet to really know what to say. Instead Cory dropped his hand from Olivia's face reluctantly as she took a step back. He smiled as she slipped her hand into his.
"Why don't you give me the rest of the tour?"
Chapter Four
Sunfish Island was bigger than Olivia had realized. She'd studied the official literature, of course, and looked at photos and maps on the internet, but there so much of it had to be seen in person to be appreciated. Every turn in the path seemed to bring a new stunning view, another delightful residence or grouping of cabins.
"This place is just incredible," she said as Cory drove them into another part of the resort, where he pulled up within sight of a sparkling lagoon pool fringed with palm trees. "Just... I mean, I knew it was beautiful from the photos, but photos just don't do it justice."
"That's where you come in." Cory hopped out of the golf cart and gestured her to follow as he headed over to the thatched-roof bar beside the pool. "I personally think we need TV advertising. Sunfish Island had a reputation here in Australia as a cheap family place to go, back in the nineties and early two thousands. There's almost nothing now that was even here back then—a cyclone eight years ago put paid to most of the old buildings. The cabins we live in are among the few survivors."
"I see." Olivia slipped onto a stool beside Cory at the bar and waited as the bartender made drinks for a couple of guests. "So the existing reputation has it marketed to the wrong kind of clientele, because although Sunfish is family-friendly, it's five-star and certainly not cheap these days."
"Exactly. Plus, we need to get known outside of Australia. The Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Russian tourist market is huge these days, and they're prepared to pay for top quality."
"Hey, Cory." The conversation was interrupted by the bartender, a petite, beautiful young woman with dark brown skin and long braids.
"This is Olivia, Nessa. She's our new marketing manager. Nessa is the best bartender on the island," Cory confided.
"Ahem!"
"Beg your pardon, in Queensland. In Australia! Probably the world!" Cory grinned and Nessa laughed.
"Better. Nice to meet you, Olivia." She leaned across the bar to shake hands.
"You're English," Olivia realized after hearing her accent.
"I certainly am. Been out here ten years and you'd have to drag me away kicking and screaming." She slid a coaster in front of each of them on the polished timber bar. "What can I get you?"
"I'm on duty later, so just a soda water for me, thanks," Cory said cheerfully. "Like a beer, Olivia? Or a cocktail?"
She'd dearly love a cold beer, and said so. Nessa set a bottle beaded with condensation on the counter beside a clean glass.
"One of our local lagers, give it a try."
One sip told Olivia that Nessa had made the right call; she took a long draught to soak the parched feeling in her throat and sighed with pleasure. "Lovely. Thank you."
"Welcome." Nessa gave her a bright smile and darted away to serve another customer who approached the bar, her long braids swinging.
"What's the policy regarding staff using the resort facilities?" Olivia asked as Cory take a long drink of his soda water, his throat working as he swallowed.
"Perfectly fine as long as you don't drink alcohol while you're working, are never inebriated on resort premises, and don't prevent a customer from using the facility. So if it's busy, find somewhere else to go, basically." Cory shrugged. "The resort is overstaffed and underoccupied at the moment, so it shouldn't be an issue." He lowered his voice. "We don't pay for soft drinks 'on tap' and you pay only cost price on other drinks, so it's a really good deal. We're very well looked after here." He nodded towards Nessa, who was expertly making a cocktail. "I prefer this bar because Nessa runs tabs for all of us on sight—she's much more relaxed about it than the other bartenders. Plus, it's only a five-minute walk from the staff accommodation."
"It is?" Olivia blinked, looking around. She'd gotten completely turned around on the tour, then. She could have sworn they were a long way from the main resort, but looking around now, she could just see the dome of the main building above the palm trees. "Oh, I see."
"I'll show you the path later. This is the closest swimming pool to the cabins too, and you can also swim at the beach down there." Cory pointed.
"It's safe?"
"Beach swimming? Yes, it's really shallow up to about a hundred meters out, and this isn't stinger season. No sharks, either. You should wear reef shoes, though, because there can be sharp coral and stonefish, which you do not want to step on."
"Venomous?"
"Yes. Spines on their backs. The pain is hideous, I'm told." Cory shuddered. "We've never had anyone stung here, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful."
"I shall consider myself properly cautioned." Olivia smiled at him. "I did read up on Australia's wildlife before I accepted the job."
"And you weren't put off? Brave girl."
They both chuckled.
"Tell me about you, Olivia. I know enough about Hunter Enterprises to know the bosses would have hired the best. So why was the best willing to give up what was clearly a very lucrative and respected position in New York and fly halfway around the world to spend a year here? Because love this place though I do, it has to feel like the back of beyond to a sophisticated city girl like you."
His blue eyes were clear and calm as he watched her. Olivia took a deep breath, puffed her cheeks on the way out, and took another long sip of her beer.
"You're not starting with the easy questions, are you?" She smiled to take the sting from her words. "I guess we should start this off being honest with each other, though." Another long sip of beer, and she looked away from his clear blue eyes, which seemed to see right into her soul. "I had to get out."
He only listened, doing his best to be quiet and really pay attention to not just her words, but the emotions behind them, as she continued.
"I'd been in the rat race since my teens, since my parents enrolled me in an exclusive Manhattan prep school. There was this intense pressure to be the best, the smartest, the most popular. Some girls couldn't handle it; they cracked, took drugs, slept around. I thrived on it." Twirling her beer bottle in her fingers, she said, "I was always top of the pile. I was the one who got the internships, the scholarships, won the awards. Everything came so easily. Got picked up straight out of Stanford Business School to work at the top marketing firm in New York, made associate in two years, became the youngest partner in the firm's history on my twenty-sixth birthday."
Cory said nothing, just watched as Olivia talked. Her voice had no real pride in it as she talked about her achievements; she might have been reciting a grocery list for all the emotion she showed. Her eyes flicked back to his. "And with all the success came money, more of it than I really knew what to do with... and the perfect partner to share it all with."
He'd wondered if that would come up. There was no way a woman as beautiful and successful as Olivia hadn't had men falling at her feet.
"Brad Cochrane. Or as my friends dubbed him after the breakup, The Cockroach." She gave him a little half smile. "One of Wall Street's finest."
"Wait a minute," Cory suddenly put two and two together. "I know that name. Isn't he that guy who was recently convicted in the biggest money-laundering case in history? For the Mexican drug cartels?"
"Bingo." Olivia made finger guns and pointed them at him. "As his fiancée, I was suspect number two. Took me months to clear my name. Most of my assets are still sequestered, and almost all of my legitimate clients suddenly really wanted to work with other partners at the firm. I was asked to take a leave of absence... and then the contents of my desk got delivered to my apartment in a UPS box."
"Jeez, Olivia, that must have been absolute hell," Cory said quietly. He couldn't even imagine what she'd gone through, her professional reputation ruined by so
mething that had absolutely nothing to do with her at the same time as her relationship collapsed under a tissue of lies. "I'm so sorry."
She drained the last of her beer and set the glass down on the bar. "I sued for wrongful dismissal... and lost. There was a clause in my contract about not bringing my good name into disrepute, and my name had been smeared all over the news in connection with Brad's. Even though I had nothing to do with his shit, I still lost everything. My job, my reputation... and after the lawsuit, there was no way any firm in New York would ever hire me again. All because I had the shitty taste to fall for a con artist."
There was really nothing Cory could say. What had happened to Olivia was deeply unfair. She gave him a wan little smile.
"So you see, I really didn't have all that many options when John Hunter called me. I'd just pitched a marketing campaign for his California winery when all the shit went down. He liked it, called to take me up on it, and was seriously unhappy when he found out I wouldn't be able to handle the campaign after all. He asked me to handle it privately, which I did... I had no idea when or if I'd ever get another job at all, and the lawsuit had eaten most of my savings. The launch went off really well despite everything, and he offered me this job. The rest, as they say, is history."
She shrugged, looking away at the ocean again. "You know, I don't regret it. It was killing me slowly, the constant pressure to dress the part, be seen in all the right places, be friends with all the right people. This"—she swept a hand around, indicating their peaceful surroundings—"maybe here I can find out who Olivia Stratten actually is when she's not under pressure to be perfect."
Cory bit his lip on the remark that almost spilled from him. Olivia turned to him, her eyes dancing with mirth.
"Maybe that's why I feel so comfortable with you already. You definitely don't know Perfect Olivia."
"I wasn't gonna say it." His grin broke out, though. "You did look like perfection walking down the dock. I was very intimidated."
"Until my clumsy ass fell in the harbor." She snickered, eyes alight.
Finding Cory (Island Escapes Book 1) Page 3