Unfortunately, his eyes were burning from lack of sleep and he couldn’t stop yawning. Any brilliant thoughts weren’t going to come to him during this state of exhaustion.
“Why don’t you lie down?” Kelly suggested. She removed her glasses and stared across the aisle. “I can move from the couch and take the captain chair. We still have a few hours before we land.”
Luke shifted his laptop aside and came to his feet. “No need for you to move. I’ll just stretch out right here.”
He took a seat next to her and adjusted so his feet were propped up a little.
“I never knew this couch did that,” she said with a laugh.
“That’s because we’re always working, but each seat has its own recliner.” He settled in deeper and laced his hands over his abdomen. “I won’t fall asleep. I rarely do these days.”
“Don’t worry if you do,” she assured him, staring down at her screen. “I’ll wake you when we’re close.”
He shut his eyes, focusing on the way Kelly pecked away at her keyboard and the hum of the engines. She said they had a few hours left, but he still couldn’t guess where they were headed. Maybe the mountains for some resort idea or perhaps the coast to get some inspiration from a cozy town. Wherever they were headed, Kelly must truly believe this could help break ground on a new beginning...
“Luke.”
He jerked awake, blinking against the brightness, and realized he had indeed fallen asleep.
Turning his attention toward Kelly, he adjusted his seat to sit straight up. “How long was I out?”
She shrugged as she put her laptop in the case. “About two hours.”
Damn, that was a good nap and now he at least felt refreshed and revived.
Wait. Two hours? Where had they flown to? He’d been awake a while before he’d actually fallen asleep. Hadn’t he?
No matter where they were, Luke couldn’t wait to meet this potential investor. Every time he approached a prospect, Luke couldn’t help but think this was the one that would save his ass.
Not that he was in jeopardy of losing his position within the company. He was too powerful and too wealthy to be pushed aside. But damn it, people were trusting him to bring the family business back in a major way. Luke didn’t intend to fail and he didn’t intend to do half the job, either. He would find the best investors and he would make Wingate Enterprises even more lucrative than ever.
Luke fastened his seat belt as the plane started the descent. “You must be like a security blanket or something, because I haven’t slept more than two hours in a row for a while.”
Kelly turned to face him with that stern look she always gave just before she lectured him. He’d gotten used to that look. It actually used to terrify him, but he knew his assistant only meant well. She watched out for everyone around her.
Which made him wonder who ever watched out for her?
“You can’t save the company if you can’t take care of yourself,” she scolded. “Which brings me to the reason for this trip.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Kelly bit down on her bottom lip for just a moment as she held his stare. Something was off. There was a niggle in his gut that seemed to be shooting off red flags, but he didn’t know what he should be warned about.
“Kelly?”
“This is for your own good,” she told him.
Dread replaced that niggle. “What have you done? Where are we?”
She tipped her chin and squared her shoulders. “We’re in Oahu for five days of rest and relaxation.”
“What the hell?”
“And there’s no investor,” she added. “Just you, me, and a private beach bungalow.”
Two
Luke stepped off the plane and was greeted with a lei.
“Aloha, Mr. Holloway. Aloha, Ms. Prentiss. Welcome to Oahu.”
Still confused as his anger continued to bubble up, Luke stepped aside as the young Hawaiian man, who was dressed in a crisp white suit, placed a lei on Kelly and then gestured toward the large silver SUV.
“Please, come this way,” he offered. “We will get your luggage and take you to your resort so you can get started on your romantic getaway.”
“I’m not going to any resort,” Luke gritted out before turning to Kelly. “What the hell is going on?”
He overlooked the fact that the man seemed to think he and Kelly were a couple and had come here for some lover’s retreat. But his mood soured even further when he noticed another man approaching the plane, presumably for their luggage.
Kelly’s eyes darted from him to the driver as she offered a slight, nervous smile.
“Could you excuse us a moment?” she asked. “You can go ahead and gather our things.”
Once the men were gone and working on the suitcases, Kelly focused back on Luke.
“You lied to me,” he accused.
And that’s what pissed him off the most. She’d never lied to him, but this was beyond lying. She’d been purposefully deceitful. How in the hell had she planned all of this without his knowledge? Using his own jet? His own pilot?
They’d flown all the way to Hawaii and he’d been utterly clueless and way too damn trusting. She had to have had help, and this reeked of Ezekiel. There was no way Kelly could’ve handled all of these details, let alone the financial aspect of this, without some major backer...
Like his meddling, yet well-meaning brother.
“This is for the best,” she explained. “I’ve never lied to you before and I’ve never done anything like this. Don’t you see that’s how serious this whole thing is? You desperately need a break.”
Luke heard her words, but that didn’t calm his frustration and anger. What had gotten into his loyal, honest assistant? Or maybe he should be asking who?
“Did Ezekiel talk you into this?” he asked.
Kelly’s eyes widened as her dark red strands blew across her cheek in the warm breeze. He could tell by her reaction that she didn’t want to rat out Zeke, but Luke wasn’t stupid.
“He told me to make sure you relaxed and ordered me to not let you steamroll me back to Royal before this vacation time was over,” she explained. “So, you and I are both going to take a break and recharge. You’ve been working yourself to death and Zeke and I are not taking no for an answer. Now get in the car.”
Luke blinked. He knew Kelly was a strong, determined woman—that’s one of the reasons he valued her as an employee and his right-hand woman. But she’d never directed that attitude toward him. This side of her was new and he wasn’t so sure he liked it.
Well, a commanding woman could be sexy in the right circumstances, but not when it was his assistant bossing him around like a toddler at the commands of his own brother. Luke would definitely be giving Zeke an ass-chewing about all of this.
“You can’t make me stay.”
Kelly took a step forward, coming toe to toe with him. Those green eyes seemed even darker now as she narrowed her gaze.
“You’re right, I can’t make you,” she agreed. “But Zeke asked me to do this. He’s gone to all of this trouble and your schedule is cleared for the next week. Please, do this for me. Take care of yourself so you can take care of Wingate.”
The conviction in her tone had his anger subsiding somewhat. He still didn’t like being tricked or hijacked or whatever the hell this was, but he also knew his brother wouldn’t have enlisted the help of his assistant or gone to great lengths to get him away from the office if he wasn’t worried.
Still, that attraction that had slapped him in the plane, coupled with sleeping so well next to her, would quite possibly lead to them crossing a line they could never return from.
“Can we get in the car?” she asked, her eyes pleading.
Luke glanced to see the driver had loaded their luggage and was waiting by the back d
oor to allow them in. With a heavy sigh, he headed for the SUV. He assisted Kelly before climbing in after her.
Once the door was closed, he glanced over at her. She stared straight ahead, legs crossed, and those glasses back in place. This was his most valued assistant, but she’d been much more than that. She’d stuck by his side through hell in both his personal and professional life.
Never once in the five years that she’d worked for him had she ever asked a thing from him. She’d been so damn noble and now she was clearly worried about his mental state because of all the stress. Luke swallowed hard. She obviously believed following his brother’s orders was the way to go, but Zeke wasn’t aware of this stirring deep within Luke. Zeke wasn’t the one turned on by his assistant’s demands and her sexy little glasses.
But Kelly turned to face him, imploring him, clearly concerned for his well-being, and he would have to be an absolute jerk to ignore all of these efforts. A few days away from the office wasn’t something he ever did, especially during such a critical time. However, his brother might have a point. If Luke could rest and possibly recharge his mind to start fresh, maybe that was the way to go.
Hell, he felt like he’d tried everything else at this point, maybe he should spend a few days in paradise with a gorgeous woman. Not that he could let anything happen between them. Because risking anything with this woman would be a recipe for disaster. She was too invaluable to him and the company.
And, while he did decide to stay, that didn’t mean he was happy about being lied to.
“Who else knows you kidnapped me?”
Kelly laughed. “Kidnapped? Really, Luke, there’s no need to be so dramatic.”
“What else would you call it?”
“A much needed getaway.”
He didn’t know the last time he’d had a vacation, but that didn’t mean he wanted one with his smoking hot assistant. Working with her in an office setting was one thing, but being in a romantic bungalow on an island resort was a whole different story.
“This might not be the best idea,” he told her. “Us sharing a room.”
She stared at him for a moment before turning and shifting to face him fully.
“Listen, we’re obviously both adults and we’re professionals. Besides, we have a house, it’s not like a hotel room with one bed. Unless you’re afraid you can’t keep your hands off me,” she joked with a wink.
Oh, hell. That wink and smirk shouldn’t affect him, but he couldn’t ignore that unwanted pull of attraction. How could this work? What the hell was his brother thinking?
“I’m just kidding,” she told him. “Don’t look so scared. But I do have to tell you about one rule Zeke was adamant about, and I have to agree with him.”
He raised his brows. “Rule? You mean after all this craziness you two concocted, you only came up with one rule?”
“For now,” she replied with a grin. “No electronics.”
Luke waited for her to tell him she was teasing. When her smile vanished, he realized she was indeed serious.
“You cannot actually think that’s going to fly with me.” He laughed, then sobered. “How can I check in with work or my brother?”
The brother he wanted to berate for meddling in his life.
“I assure you, Zeke has everything under control back in the office and there’s nothing for you to check in on. That’s the whole point of relaxing.”
“I won’t be without my phone,” he insisted.
Kelly tipped her head and smirked. “Oh, there will be no phone, no laptop, nothing. You will unwind, you hear me? We will get massages, food and drinks delivered to our private bungalow... And we will have our own beach and our own personal butler, as well. The point of this is to remove yourself from reality.”
He stared, wondering just how far removed from his real life he had to be. “I’ll give you the laptop, but not the phone.”
Kelly laughed, and he found that anger bubbling up once again. He was not going to be bullied through this entire situation.
“I will be taking all of it, putting it in the safe, and only I will know the code,” she informed him. “This will be a complete reboot of your system. Got it? You will relax and you will have a good time. I’m here to make sure of it.”
The thought of spending five days in a private beach house with his sexy assistant didn’t sound like the smartest move he’d ever made. Not that he would ever make a move on Kelly. He valued her too much and would never disrespect her in such a way.
But, damn, being on the beach also meant he’d be seeing her in a swimsuit. If he thought she looked sexy on the plane with those little glasses and polished toes, how would he handle wet spandex wrapping her luscious body?
“Hell,” he muttered. “I brought suits...not the swimming kind. I have nothing for a beach vacation.”
She threw him a smile. “No worries. I’ve taken care of that part.”
Something about that saucy grin terrified him and he had no idea what in the world he’d gotten himself into. He should’ve turned right around and gotten back on that plane. Kelly could have stayed and had all the vacation she wanted, he’d even give her paid time. Hell, he’d double it.
But somehow he’d ended up in the back of an SUV heading toward what some would say was a romantic, tropical getaway with his stunningly beautiful assistant.
Seriously. What could go wrong?
* * *
Kelly’s heart beat faster as they were escorted to their bungalow. The walk through the opulent gardens and tall palm trees flanking the narrow path seemed even more exotic than she’d imagined.
Before Zeke booked this place online, he had shown it to her to make sure it was okay. Like she was going to turn down a free vacation with the one man she’d wanted for years? Any place would’ve been perfect, giving her the chance she’d been too afraid to take in Royal.
But now, well, they would be alone and there was nothing stopping her. Kelly had gotten online and called the resort, giving strict instructions for her and Luke to be left alone. She’d also gone ahead and set up times for food deliveries, massages, and two excursions to get Luke to lighten up even more. She’d promised Zeke she would do anything to make his brother decompress, and she wasn’t going to let him leave this island until she saw an improvement.
As they got closer, the soft lull of the ocean waves lifted her spirits and calmed her nerves. The bright pink hibiscus trees lined the path of lush greenery. Then their home away from home came into view.
An absolutely adorable thatched roof covered the bungalow. The ocean was just on the other side, and she knew their private beach would have beautiful white sand. She couldn’t wait to get inside.
“Would you like to explore on your own or do you need a tour?” their guide asked as he stood outside the door.
“We can take it from here,” she told him, reaching in her purse for a tip.
“I will have your bags brought down at once,” he said, taking the tip and nodding his thanks. “You just need to type the code and the door will unlock. It automatically locks for your safety. Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any needs. Welcome to Malie Villa.”
Tranquility Villa. So perfect. That name had pulled her in as soon as Zeke shared it with her and, once she’d seen the online photos, she’d been hooked. Never in her life would she have thought to come to a tropical paradise like this. It wasn’t like she had a significant other to travel with...she also hadn’t been looking. Luke occupied way too much of her headspace.
Kelly typed in the code and opened the door. “Welcome to your vacation,” she said, gesturing for Luke to enter. “I’ll even let you choose which room you want.”
“Wonderful,” he murmured as he stepped inside.
Kelly closed the door once she was in and her breath caught in her throat. The view was even more breathtaking than any phot
o she could ever see.
The entire back wall was comprised of folding glass doors that had been left open to allow the ocean breeze to filter through. There was a private infinity pool and an outdoor eating area. The open living room seemed cozy with all the white furniture with green accents. There was an eat-in kitchen to the right and bedrooms to the left. The entryway had a small Christmas tree all decorated with pineapples and flamingos.
“I’ll admit, this place is gorgeous,” Luke stated, turning to face her.
Kelly smiled. “Did you think your brother or I would choose somewhere subpar to make you miserable? You deserved the best.”
“I didn’t think you’d take me anywhere,” he countered.
Kelly shrugged. “Well, now you know we’ll do anything for you. Even if that means looking out for you when you don’t look out for yourself.”
He stared at her a minute and Kelly fully realized just how alone they were. They’d been alone at work, at lunch meetings, even in a plane when going to meet investors. But they had never been alone in such a capacity as this. There was something...very intimate about being in a romantic bungalow on an exotic beach with a man she’d been fantasizing about for years.
Could she actually pull this off?
If he was still peeved about being swept away on a forced holiday, she was going to have a difficult time taking a leap of faith with this man that she wanted as more than a boss. She would be sleeping only feet away from him. So close, yet so damn far...
Kelly could never, ever admit her feelings to Luke in a traditional setting. She valued him not only as her employer, but as a friend, and she wouldn’t risk her position at Wingate.
When Zeke came to her with a proposition to get Luke out of the office under the ruse of taking him to see an investor, Kelly knew she couldn’t let this golden opportunity pass her by. This was the only time they’d be together outside of the office for non-Wingate business. There would be no better option...and what better place than a romantic, tropical setting?
Tempted by the Boss Page 2