‘Shame we have to work,’ she said, drowsy and flushed in the aftermath of their morning lovemaking, and he smiled a long, slow smile.
‘Work? I don’t think so. For once in my life…’ His tone was oddly quizzical. ‘I think I’m going to take some well-deserved time out…’
CHAPTER NINE
TIME OUT WAS…a holiday.
Max hadn’t been kidding when he’d told Mia that time out was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him. When was the last time he’d jettisoned work in favour of relaxation?
They spent three nights in Maui. They were driven to local beauty spots as Mia’s foot healed. There was over one hundred and twenty miles of coastline and over thirty miles of beach. They went to South Maui and sat with an elaborate picnic at one of the tables at Makena Beach, watching the people and the activity, and the deep turquoise sea and the billowing clouds, blowing fast in a blue sky.
She was discovering just how the world of the truly rich worked and it was nothing like anything she’d seen in her life before. People jumped at his command. After their first night together, the following day he had announced that he wouldn’t countenance her sleeping separately from him.
‘We could…er…get the hotel to unlock the adjoining door,’ Mia had suggested.
He was used to obedience. He spoke, people listened and then they duly did as they were told.
She could understand how Izzy had fallen into line with all the laws and regulations he had laid down over the years.
She wasn’t his sister, however, and, although she was his employee, they were now on a different standing, in a different place, and she was not going to succumb to the overwhelming power of his personality.
At least, she certainly wasn’t going to join the troupe of yes, sir people who surrounded him.
She fought to stick to sleeping apart but an open door between their suites had been a recipe for a very disrupted second night.
He’d come to her bed and scooped her up, had carried her to his, and then had duly delivered her right back to her own bed. But she missed him. If he wanted to have her right there at hand, then it was a two-way street, because she wanted the same thing.
By night three, all notion of sleeping apart had duly been abandoned.
‘You’re very bossy,’ she’d told him at one point, and he’d burst out laughing.
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. No one’s ever called me bossy before.’
‘That’s because they’re all scared of you,’ Mia had retorted without blinking an eye, which had resulted in yet more mirth.
‘Everyone but you,’ he had said softly.
‘When you come from a large, noisy family, it doesn’t pay to be shy and retiring.’
But she was uneasily aware that the power of his personality and his assumption that he called the shots was an almost irresistible force and, quite often, she just relished basking in his alpha male strength.
They left Maui on the very same private jet that had delivered them there, flying in to Kauai.
He’d booked yet another luxury five-star hotel.
Now, as the jet disgorged them into brilliant sun, and humidity that made her clothes instantly stick to her back like glue, Mia tilted her head up to look at him.
He took her breath away. Especially now that her thoughts were no longer forbidden. She was allowed to admire him; she was allowed to appreciate his superb masculine beauty. The very slight breeze ruffled his dark hair, which was longer now, and her breath caught in her throat. He was in a white polo shirt and a pair of light grey shorts that just about hit his knees and loafers, and he looked every inch pure sex on legs. His fingers linked through hers was a vibrant reminder of the bond they now shared.
Over the past few days, he had expanded his wardrobe. The prospect of actually going to one of the many designer outlets and trying anything on had clearly bored him to death so he had simply snapped his fingers and got someone to do the leg work, returning with everything he’d asked for. He’d simply glanced at what had been bought, nodded and got someone else carefully to put them away.
‘You’re so spoiled,’ Mia had said, although his complete expectation that he could be spared all manner of what he called ‘dreary, non-profitable nonsense I can’t be bothered with’ was somehow incredibly appealing and very amusing.
‘Why do what other people can do better?’ he had countered. ‘I’m a lousy cook, so I have a personal chef, and I dislike shopping so I get someone else to do it for me. Seems to make perfect sense, as far as I’m concerned.’
‘This hotel we’re booked in,’ Mia said now, as they were escorted from the opulent confines of the jet to a similar level of opulence in a shiny black Range Rover.
‘Yes?’ Once inside the car, he turned to her and raised his eyebrows. ‘I’m beginning to recognise a certain tone of voice. It usually warns me that your school mistress hat is about to be donned…’
‘No idea what you’re talking about,’ Mia sniffed, and he grinned.
‘Have I ever told you you’re very sexy when you’re wearing that particular hat?’
‘I admit I am about to offer a suggestion which you may or may not like…’
‘Would I need a stiff drink to deal with what’s coming?’
Mia looked at him but trying to maintain any hauteur was out of the question when she saw the warm, teasing glint in his eyes.
Had she ever felt this comfortable with any guy in her life before? Even Kai?
‘It’s fine staying in posh hotels, but you know Izzy had something else in mind for your hotel. In fact, there’s a hotel she specifically visited this island to stay on. She was so enthusiastic about it afterwards. Showed me photos. Well, I think it would be a nice idea for us to go stay there. I know it might be a bit inconvenient, because you’ve booked this place we’re heading to for a couple of nights, but…’
‘I could go with that,’ Max said thoughtfully.
‘Really?’
‘Really,’ he said, voice wry. ‘Why the doubts in the first place?’
‘You like your comforts.’
‘Who doesn’t? Mia, answer me truthfully. Would you rather be in this car or standing in a queue waiting for a bus to trundle along, in soaring heat and insane humidity.’
‘I never minded before,’ she said stoutly. ‘I happen to be very accustomed to taking public transport to get everywhere. Or cycling. In soaring heat and insane humidity.’
‘But, my darling, that was before you met me.’ His voice was low and lazy and teasing.
Mia shivered.
Had she changed? Had she grown used to his world? No, she was still the same girl she’d always been, even if this girl was now moving in a different world. What had changed was that this girl now had fun. He could make her laugh the way no one else could and every second in his company thrilled, challenged and excited her. But what was going to happen when she packed her bags and left that world behind?
He had said that this was time out for him, and he hadn’t been lying. Work had been left behind in Oahu. He touched base with his sprawling empire for a couple of hours, often in the early hours of the morning. They didn’t talk about the hotel or any of the myriad things that needed doing.
What had started as a four-day trip had very quickly blossomed into a ten-day plan.
‘I can do whatever I want.’ He had shrugged when she had asked him about that. ‘Working all the hours God made does confer certain advantages. Freedom of movement is one of them.’
She’d been guiltily thrilled at that, but time was moving on and was she digging a hole for herself by settling into this uber-lavish life he had handed her on a plate? Shouldn’t she be remembering that there was no such thing as a free lunch and that, when the time came to say goodbye to all of this, she might just find it harder than she could ever have imagined?
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Shouldn’t she be remembering that when the time came to say goodbye to him she might just find it impossible?
They had fun. The lovemaking was intense and extraordinary. They seemed to physically fit one another like a hand in a glove. They talked and laughed but no mention was ever made of anything beyond the moment. He had no expectations that what they had was going to last. When he spoke about returning to London, she was noticeably absent from any of the scenarios.
She had talked herself into taking what was on offer, because she deserved to have a bit of fun in her life for once, but had she bitten off more than she could chew?
He was a man of the world, experienced when it came to picking up women, enjoying them and then moving on without a backward glance.
She was wet behind the ears in comparison.
‘I’m the same person I always was,’ she said now. ‘I haven’t changed.’
‘No?’
‘Have you?’ She turned the question to him. Suddenly, it felt very constricted in the back of the car. He looked at her through narrowed eyes and she flushed, wondering whether he could read what was going through her head.
‘Not getting where you’re going with that question,’ he drawled, and the teasing warmth she had grown accustomed to was absent.
Suddenly, she wanted nothing more than for this sudden tense atmosphere to go away. What was the point in trying to find out whether there was more to what they had than this? Gut feeling told her what would happen if she pressed the point. He would walk away. She knew it.
With sudden clarity, she recognised what she had wilfully been hiding from herself. She had developed feelings for him. Strong feelings. Feelings that went way beyond lust, desire and all those other convenient descriptions she’d been using.
Lust and desire were passing viruses. Once she’d established that with herself, she’d had no trouble reasoning with herself that she was in no danger of being hurt. But now…
His fabulous eyes were on her face, incisive, penetrating and looking for…something she had no intention of revealing.
‘You don’t work as much as you used to,’ she said, deflecting his question. ‘Do you think you’ll slow down when you get back to London?’
‘Not a chance of it,’ he murmured, dropping his eyes, his long, lush lashes shielding his expression for a few seconds before he looked at her once again. ‘This is a holiday, but holidays don’t last for ever…’
‘You’re so right.’ She smiled while something inside twisted painfully, because if this wasn’t telling her like it was, just in case she started getting ideas, then what was? ‘The reason I asked is… I’ll be very happy indeed to go back to my usual life. I miss my surfing and, believe it or not, all this luxury travel is terrible for a girl’s figure!’
‘How so?’
‘Not enough exercise and too much fine dining. I shall end up the size of one of those humpbacked whales in Maui if I’m not careful! Also, I just thought about my backlog of work. Neither of us has been up to speed with work-related issues.’ Work-related issues? She sounded like a business manual!
‘I’m assuming there won’t be a lot of fine dining when we shift location to whatever resort you have in mind?’
Mia began to relax. Somehow, they’d skirted around what had suddenly felt like a contentious issue, and she was pleased to be back in known territory.
Except…something had been added to the mix and she would be an idiot not to pay heed. He’d reminded her that all good things would have to come to an end.
‘And as for your other work,’ he said, ‘I don’t think taking a breather for a few days is going to cause any insoluble problems with whatever work you might have on at the moment, will it?’
Mia frowned and thought about a couple of her outstanding projects. She had been in touch with the clients, explained the situation, and had emailed them various landscaping ideas. It would take time to order in just the right plants anyway, and they had been happy to wait until her return.
That said, pride clamped firmly round her fragile heart, stiffening her backbone. If he could issue his opportune reminders, then surely she could respond in kind?
‘I’ll set aside some time later to deal with any outstanding issues,’ she murmured.
‘And let me know if you run into any roadblocks…’
‘Why would I do that?’ she asked, surprised.
‘I’m extremely good at sorting out road blocks, my darling.’ He sent her a slow, curling smile that made her shiver and sent a shot of hot adrenaline racing through her bloodstream.
From tension to blistering excitement in the space of five minutes. Was it any wonder she had landed herself in more hot water than she could ever have imagined? She wasn’t adapted for an emotional life lived in the fast lane.
‘Really?’ she murmured, keeping her cool and giving no inkling to her tumultuous emotions. ‘And how would you solve those sorts of roadblocks?’
‘I’d get whoever was kicking up a fuss to get in touch with me.’
‘Now you sound like someone from the Mafia.’ But her eyes were glinting with helpless amusement.
Max laughed, his gaze resting on her face, looking at her as though she were the only person on the planet. ‘Nothing so dramatic,’ he drawled, feathering his finger on the inside of her wrist and setting up a ferocious fire trail of response inside her. ‘Or dangerous. I would merely give them enough money to persuade them that I need my woman by me for a few uninterrupted days.’
His woman. Giddy thought. Also foolish, because she wasn’t his woman…she was his passing interest. ‘A few uninterrupted days’ said it all.
‘Well,’ she said crisply, ‘I’m sure it won’t come to that. I have very understanding clients, and in Honolulu people are patient when it comes to getting work done.’ She paused and looked at him seriously. ‘But if I do encounter any problems—’ she grinned, lightening her tone ‘—I’ll make sure not to tell you! The last thing I’d want is for any of them to be scared away by a Big Bad Wolf!’
She looked ahead as the car slowed and realised that they were here. Destination reached before the conversation could go down any more tricky roads. ‘Looks amazing.’ She directed her dancing eyes at him. ‘Make sure you lap up the luxury. You never know where I’m going to take you tomorrow!’
Max gazed at the ocean in front of them. It was after six. Behind them, nestled in swaying trees, was a beast of a motorbike that he had rented a couple of days ago so that they could tour the island and get to all the places that Mia had told him in no uncertain terms he needed to see if he were to fully understand his sister’s vision for the hotel.
He hadn’t ridden a motorbike since his university days. Along with his vague plans to see something of the world before settling down and joining the rat race, motorbikes had been ditched when his parents had died and he’d had his wake-up call.
Along from the trees, via a network of winding paths through coconut palm trees and giant firs, was the eco-hotel where they were now staying.
When he’d first seen it, he’d thought they’d made a mistake and landed up at someone’s house. A triangular children’s drawing of what a house should look like, with a red roof and weathered turquoise walls and wide shallow steps leading up to a heavy wooden door. Around them, there must be a million different types of tree and bush and flower and fern, all pressing against the open clearing around the hotel, for hotel it was, as he soon discovered once they were inside.
There was an air of casual professionalism about the place. The floorboards shone and there were plants everywhere. There was no air-conditioning, which they considered a threat to the planet, but instead overhead fans. It was tiny in comparison to the places he was accustomed to, and although clearly busy it felt uncrowded, with everyone having their own space, and most people out exploring the great outdoors.
&nbs
p; A constant breeze blew through all the many open windows and the dining was informal, with a choice of individual square white tables or else a long, gleaming communal table for anyone wanting to socialise with other guests and listen in to the various speakers they had on a twice-weekly basis.
It was out of his comfort zone, but then what wasn’t ever since he had landed in Hawaii?
He gazed down at the woman lying curled into him. The silence between them was comfortable, peaceful. They’d biked straight here from the lush waterfalls they had visited earlier. They were tired but still too wired to head into the hotel.
‘Fancy a dip?’ She turned to him and he frowned.
‘What, now?’ He looked out to the ocean which was black, streaked with silver from the full moon.
‘Sure.’ She sprang to her feet, lithe and supple and sandy and utterly bewitching.
‘No chance.’
‘You’re not scared, are you?’ she teased. ‘You don’t have to worry. I’m an expert swimmer. I’m used to the sea, in the daytime and at night.’
‘You’ve done this before?’ Max asked gruffly.
‘Of course, I have! Lots of times. Don’t forget, this is my home. I grew up with the ocean all around me. I don’t scare easily when it comes to the sea.’
She was already stepping out of the small denim shorts she was wearing, reaching to strip off the cropped white tee shirt. Her hair was all over the place, half over her eyes as she looked down at him, laughing.
And he looked right back at her, and all he could see was a vision of her being consumed by the deep, black ocean. The rush of protectiveness that attacked him was so fierce that for a few seconds he couldn’t breathe.
His heart was hammering and he had all the symptoms of a man in full panic attack mode.
He wanted to leap to his feet, hold her tight and keep holding her. He wanted to keep holding her until she was persuaded never to enter the water again at night, never even to contemplate the idea, never, indeed, to stray far from his possessive gaze.
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