“Oh, I’m sorry.” She lifted the glass of ice water to her mouth and sipped. “But I decided not to leave.”
His jaw hardened. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Mr. Holliday.” She placed the glass back on the table. “I’m staying right here, and I’m going to follow through with my assignment.”
“The commercial?” he asked in a tight voice.
“Yes, the commercial.”
“But I told you I wasn’t going to do it. That’s why I had wanted you to leave.”
“I know,” she linked her hands together again on the menu, “but then I realized you are not my boss. Your father hired me, and so, I’ll leave when your father tells me to go.”
Steele released a breath slowly, and his baby-blue eyes changed colors, becoming darker. “Miss Kidman, I told you before that I’m not going to be in the commercial, and I won’t change my mind.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. I was hired to make a commercial about Cupid Island Resort, and your father specifically requested that you need to be in the commercial.”
Steele’s nostrils flared, but Ivy wasn’t going to back down. That had been the story of her life, and she was determined to change it one way or another.
He drummed his fingers on the table. “You’re a very stubborn woman, Ivy Kidman, but I’m just as hard-headed, which you’ll see if you keep fighting me on this.”
She released a light chuckle, feeling more powerful by the second. “Then it looks like we’re evenly matched.”
He leaned on the table toward her. “Don’t make me throw you out of my resort.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip, trying not to laugh. “With your father backing my project, I highly doubt you’ll get very far.”
The waitress returned to the table with Ivy’s lemonade, her gaze jumping back and forth between Ivy and Steele. “Are you ready to order now?”
“Yes,” Ivy said quickly. “I would like the grilled salmon with Pilaf rice, and steamed vegetables – whatever you have.”
The waitress wrote down Ivy’s order before turning her gaze to Steele. He didn’t look at the waitress, and Ivy tried not to feel uncomfortable by his scrutiny. After a few silent moments, Ivy motioned to the waitress. “Mr. Holliday, she’s waiting for your order, or… have you decided not to join me for dinner and listen to my idea for the commercial?”
His hands bunched into fists, and Ivy noticed his breathing had become ragged. It was quite comical to see him trying to stay calm and professional in front of his employees and guests.
He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, turning his gaze to the waitress. “Make that two orders of grilled salmon and rice.”
The woman nodded and wrote it down on her notepad. “Would you like anything to drink?”
“Yes,” Steele quickly added. “Bring us a bottle of Merlot.”
The waitress smiled. “Yes, sir.” She turned and left.
Ivy arched an eyebrow at him. “How do you know if I’ll like Merlot or not?”
He shrugged. “If you don’t, that will leave more for me.”
“As long as it will relax your temper, I’m sure you can drink as much as you’d like.” Ivy gave him a fake smile.
“Then I suggest you have some too. If anyone needs relaxing around here, it’s you.”
She chuckled. “You’re not used to women disagreeing with you, are you?”
He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “Why do you say that?”
She rested her elbows on the edge of the table and leaned forward. “Well, I watched you talk to a few women at the airport and on the plane, and of course with the waitress just now, and women seem to fall all over themselves to please you.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Maybe not to you, but I think you’re not used to stubborn women which is why you seem to have a tantrum every time we talk.”
He laughed lightly, but Ivy could tell it was fake. She wouldn’t let his charm win her over, even though she wondered what his face would look like when he smiled genuinely since she hadn’t seen that yet.
“Oh, believe me. I’ve been with stubborn women before.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Have these women ever won an argument?”
“Of course not.”
“Umm…” She tapped her finger on the base of her glass of lemonade. “So, are you always this cocky or does your arrogant charm just come naturally?”
During his long pause, he kept his gaze on her. It wasn’t pleasant, and she wondered what was going through that thick skull of his. She could tell that he thought the world revolved around him and that all women would automatically melt when he charmed them with his good looks. Of course, with him being the son of a billionaire, he was probably raised thinking everyone should bow before him.
“I’ve noticed,” he said slowly, “that you tend to speak your mind quite often.”
“Congratulations, Mr. Holliday. I see you are very astute.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “When it comes to women, I notice everything.”
A laugh bubbled up from her throat, surprising her when she released it. Whether he was being funny on purpose, she wasn’t sure. Did he know that men never noticed everything about a woman? But in his mind, he thought he was one in a million… or a billion.
“If you say so.” She sipped her lemonade.
“You don’t believe me?” The tone in his voice sounded wounded.
“No, not really.”
His jaw hardened and he drummed his fingers on the table. “Let’s get down to business, Miss Kidman. What can I do to make you leave the resort?”
She took a deep breath, calming her growing ire. “You can let me film the commercial your father hired me to do.”
He stared at her for a few silent moments. The way his gaze slid over her face and hair made her slightly uncomfortable.
Steele shook his head. “That’s never going to happen. In fact, I know women like you, and all it takes is a little charm before you’re bending to my every wish.”
Inwardly, she boiled. She absolutely loathed men like him. She snorted a laugh. “Would you like to make a bet on that?”
“Gladly,” he said, with confidence in his voice. “Should we shake on it?”
“But we haven’t bet anything.”
“We don’t have to. Just knowing I was right will be victory enough for me.”
“Challenge accepted.” She reached her hand across the table.
As he slid his palm against hers, butterflies danced in her stomach. In silence, she groaned. Perhaps she would have to rethink her strategy. At least she knew that touching him wasn’t a good thing at all.
One way or another, she was going to win.
FIVE
Did I make a mistake?
Steele’s stubborn pride had gotten him into messes before, and he hoped this wasn’t one of those times. When it came to women, he knew what he was doing. Women came easily to him, and they’d do anything for him. He didn’t dare admit that he’d never met a woman like Ivy Kidman. His ego wanted to believe he could somehow change her mind about staying and giving up the crazy idea of making a commercial.
Although doubts of him winning clouded his mind, he did enjoy seeing the lighter side of her personality. He liked seeing her more playful and smiling – even if she thought she had the upper hand, which of course, she didn’t.
As he watched her, he noticed other things he liked. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a sharp mind and a quick wit. He liked the way her eyes twinkled, too. He also liked her confidence. At least she wasn’t one of those women who gave in so easily.
Another thing he liked was that they shared the same taste in food. His favorite dish was the one she’d ordered, and even though she hadn’t admitted to liking Merlot, he wouldn’t doubt that she liked the drink too.
The waitress brought the bottle of Merlot and two goblets. He popped the cork and poured the d
rink in the glasses. Ivy didn’t stop him which was a good sign. After setting the bottle of Merlot on the table, he lifted his glass in a toast.
“In our upcoming adventure, may the best man – or woman – win.” He grinned.
Her smile stretched as she lifted her glass and clinked it against his. “I agree.”
Their gazes locked as he sipped his drink. Her hazel eyes were so pretty tonight. It must be the way the chandeliers hit the Merlot and reflected in her eyes. Dang, they were nearly melting his resolve.
He quickly stopped his thoughts. There was no way he could think like that, especially if he wanted to win. Somehow, he needed to find her weakness.
He set his glass on the table, and she followed. “Do you have an idea for the commercial?”
Her eyebrow arched. “I thought you didn’t want me to make one.”
“I don’t, but you can at least tell me about it. How else are we going to pass the time until our meal arrives?”
“Fine, I’ll tell you.” She moved her finger along the bottom of the glass but kept her gaze on him.
“In your idea, what role do you see me playing?”
“Well,” she said, linking her fingers on the table, “since this is your island, there will be a scene where you are greeting the guests.”
He tapped his fingers on the table as frustration began to build inside him once more. “No, that won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want my face showing.”
Scrunching her forehead, she took another sip of her drink. “I don’t understand, Steele. Why don’t you want your face in the commercial?”
“Let’s just say I’d rather not.” He didn’t want to tell her the truth. It was hard enough for him to admit his lack of confidence.
“Are you camera shy?” she asked. “When I had looked up your island on the internet, I noticed that there were no pictures of your face.”
“Exactly… and for a good reason.”
“But why, Steele? You have a gorgeous face – better than most models and movie-stars, in fact.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad you approve, but I’m adamant about this. My face will not be in the commercial.”
“That’s what you think.” Her voice hinted of humor. “But I have ways.”
His heart plummeted. He couldn’t allow her to do that. Unfortunately, he might have to tell her why. Slowly embarrassment crept inside him. He’d had this insecurity for years now, and he absolutely hated talking about it. Maybe he should let her know. He was sure she had a heart somewhere inside her, and if that was the case, she’d understand his fear.
He rubbed the side of his nose – the place that had been broken when he was fifteen years old. His mother had wanted Steele to get reconstructive surgery, but when he’d told his friends, they all called him sissy. He definitely didn’t want their ridicule, so he’d chosen not to have the surgery. Since then, he had hated to get his picture taken. If he thought his nose was crooked, everyone would notice too.
“If you care at all for my feelings, you won’t,” he said in a tight voice.
Her playful expression disappeared. “Why? What’s wrong with your face?”
“My crooked nose sticks out like a huge zit on a teenager’s acne face.” He tried to add humor, hoping it would remove the stress building up in his chest.
She chuckled, but then she stopped quickly as confusion crossed her features. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” He lifted the goblet to his mouth and drank, mainly to hide his nose.
“Steele, I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. Why do you think your nose is crooked? It looks perfectly shaped to me.”
His chest shook with silent laughs. “Then you must be blind.”
She motioned her hand. “Come closer so I can get a better look.”
Steele didn’t know if that was a good idea. He’d be able to smell her better and look closer into her eyes. For some reason, his mind hadn’t told his body to stay in place because he leaned toward her.
“See right here?” He pointed to the bone that poked out of the side of his nose.
She leaned in and narrowed her gaze on the target. “No, I don’t see it, Steele.”
He couldn’t believe how blind she was. He took her fingers and lifted it to the side of his nose, placing the pointy finger against the bone. “Do you feel that? That’s the broken bone.”
“Seriously? I don’t feel a broken bone.”
Her fingers moved over the bridge of his nose before sliding slowly down his cheek in a soft caress. Warm tingles danced over his neck and shoulders, creating an odd stirring sensation inside his stomach.
She took his fingers and lifted it to her nose, placing his pointy finger along the bridge. Her skin was so soft and so warm. He tried not to think that way, and instead, he tried to study the spot where she wanted him to touch.
“My nose has the same bone, Steele.” She smiled. “And I’ve never broken my nose.”
He frowned as he drew his finger along the bone. She was right! It was the same shape as the lump on his face.
“Who told you that your nose was broken?” she asked, pulling away until he dropped his hand.
“I was playing hockey when I was in tenth grade. Another kid’s stick smacked my nose. Both my eyes turned black and blue and my nose was swollen. My mother took me to her doctor, and he told me my nose was broken and that I’d need reconstructive surgery. Unfortunately, my friends teased me for even thinking of plastic surgery, so I never had it done.”
Memories of the past nearly swallowed him. Peer pressure was hard as a teenager. With his parents not getting along, he needed his friends during that time.
“That’s so strange,” Ivy said, “because your nose doesn’t look broken at all. Maybe it healed itself over the years.”
He shrugged. “I doubt it because I see it every time I look in the mirror.”
“Well,” she sighed, “until I can convince you otherwise, I suppose we’ll have the camera behind you while we’re shooting the scene in the commercial so that nobody sees that gorgeous face of yours.”
He couldn’t stop the grin from pulling on his mouth. Twice now, she’d referred to his looks as gorgeous. He’d never thought he was ugly, however, there was no way he’d think of himself as gorgeous, either. “Once again, I think we might have to get your eyes examined.”
“I have perfect vision.” She wagged her eyebrows. “And I have the test results to prove it.”
He laughed. “Then I’ll take your word for it, but I’m still not having my face in the commercial.”
“I suppose I can work that into a scene.” She paused briefly. “So, does that mean you aren’t going to fight me on this?”
“On the contrary, my dear pushy woman.” He grinned. “Besides, you still haven’t told me about your idea.”
Their conversation stopped as the waitress brought in their meal. His stomach grumbled and his mouth watered. Being a lover of fishing, he also loved a great cooked salmon. Steele’s father made sure the restaurant had the best chef.
“Thanks, Paulyn,” he told the waitress.
The blonde woman who was in her mid-twenties smiled. Her face turned beet red before she quickly turned and left.
Chuckling, Ivy picked up her fork and pushed the lemon off her fish. “I think that girl has a crush on you.”
“Probably, but I don’t date my employees.”
“That’s a good rule to have.” She cut a piece of the fish and took a bite. Closing her eyes, she smiled as she chewed. “Hmm…” She looked at him. “I’ve never tasted anything so heavenly.”
“Everything in the restaurant is the best, especially the chef.”
“I’m beginning to believe that.”
After taking two bites of his food, he dabbed a linen napkin to his mouth and looked at Ivy. “So, tell me about your idea for the commercial.”
This time when she smiled, it reached her
amazing hazel eyes. Once again, he couldn’t believe how pretty she was.
“I actually didn’t think of this idea until the helicopter was landing.” She set her fork down and folded her arms on the edge of the table, leaning toward him. “Picture a man and a woman who are not together, but they are watching other couples on the island dog-sledding. Snow is lightly falling around them. The other couples are laughing and having a great time. The man and woman glance at each other from across the way. In the next scene, the man and woman are standing together as they are being taught how to ski. They laugh and are obviously enjoying themselves. The man falls over, and the woman helps him up. As they stand so close together, you can see the spark of interest in their eyes.”
Shaking his head, Steele held up a hand to stop her. “I disagree. Why does the man have to fall over? Why can’t the woman fall over, and he helps her up?”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “Really? What era are you from, Steele Holliday? It’s all about empowering women in this day and age. We’ll get a better response from the female population – who, I might add, are the majority of the ones who look for resorts like this – and so, we’ll go with the man falling over.”
He laughed. “Okay, continue.”
“In the next scene, the two are being playful in the swimming pool, and then they get a massage together. The last scene they are bundled together under a blanket, riding in a sleigh through the snow, pulled by one horse. Light snowflakes are falling all around them. They gaze into each other’s eyes before moving in for their first kiss. The narrator says, “If you’re not in love when you come to Cupid Island, you’ll definitely leave holding someone’s heart.”
As she described each scene, he pictured himself doing those things with Ivy. It was hard not to think this way. Excitement danced in her eyes as she told him about her idea. He’d love to show her all this resort had to offer, and even teach her those things she didn’t know. He also wanted to teach her how to ice-fish, which was his favorite pastime.
He really should dislike her commercial idea or at least find fault with it, but he couldn’t. He easily pictured himself in the commercial – the back of his head, anyway. He also knew his father would love the idea.
Cupid Takes a Wife Page 4