She smiled up at him. “I’ll take you up on that. Now go sit down so I can concentrate on getting your meal together.”
Miracle of miracles, he left her alone and she was able to time it, so everything was finished and hot at the same time. When she walked out into the dining room, he was scowling over his computer.
“Hit Save, because I’m going to close the top of that and if you don’t move fast enough, I’m going to get your fingers,” she said.
He slammed the lid down himself. “It’s not like I can do anything.” He pushed it away from him across the table.
“That’s the point.” Selena placed the plate in front of him. On the surface it looked like a cheeseburger with fries. She smiled sweetly at him. Blaine regarded her with suspicion.
“This isn’t beef, is it?” he said.
“Just try it.”
“Please tell me these are at least French fries.”
“As you can see from the ripples in them, they’re crinkled cut.”
Blaine took one and chewed it thoughtfully. “This is not a potato.”
“It’s a turnip.”
“What do you have against potatoes? It’s a vegetable.”
“You can have a potato tomorrow. I just thought you should expand your horizons. I’m a very good cook. I’ve worked at Michelin-starred restaurants.”
He took another fry. “What’s the burger? Tofu?”
“Black bean.”
Blaine opened the sandwich and peered inside. “This looks like bacon and cheese. I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s not.”
“The bacon is seasoned seitan, a wheat gluten, and the cheese is made from cashews.”
His lip curled up in a sneer.
Selena heard Anton’s voice in her head. Stupid, woman. Can’t even make a simple meal. You’re pathetic.
“Take a bite, wimp,” Selena snapped.
Blaine raised an eyebrow. “The turnips are good. I still prefer potatoes.”
She couldn’t help but feel her old mentor over her shoulder, judging her and finding her meal lacking in presentation and taste. “Noted,” she bit out. Why did she suddenly feel like crying?
With a fatalistic sigh, he took a bite of the burger. She watched him as he chewed thoughtfully. He took another bite. “It’s all right,” he said, grudgingly.
“Outstanding,” she said to him. All right, my ass. It was masterpiece. Selena grabbed her purse and left, leaving the mess for the morning. Wishing she could slam the door, she had to settle for stomping into the elevator. She hoped he choked on that delicious burger and that Anton would stay the hell out of her head.
CHAPTER FOUR
NORMALLY, BLAINE WOULDN’T be caught dead doing a sunrise yoga class on the beach. But he was up, his body still trying to adjust to the time change and he was jonesing to check his email. Of course, there wasn’t an internet to connect to, and the wellness center had a block on cell phone signals unless you had the password. He strolled down to the where his paper map—how quaint—showed where the class was taking place.
Things were looking up. He was the only man there. Straightening his shoulders, he sucked in his stomach. He might not be thrilled about being benched for two weeks, but there was a lot to be said for getting laid on the beach. His eyes were immediately drawn to a curvy brunette, who had her long hair up in a high ponytail. Her spandex shorts clung to her ass and Blaine rushed over to take the spot next to her.
“Hey,” he said, and then froze when he saw it was his prickly chef. She was wearing a sports bra and he fought to keep his eyes from dropping to her cleavage. So that was what was under that chef’s jacket. Yowza.
“I’m surprised to see you here.” She continued with her stretching after a brief sneer in his direction.
“Told you. I don’t sleep.” He caught his ankle in a runner’s stretch and was surprised he didn’t pitch face-first in the sand. When was the last time he went running? Probably before the Pilot Project. “Look, I didn’t mean to be a dick last night. Your food is fantastic. I just like to break balls. I could see it was a sore spot with you and I figured I’d yank your chain a bit.”
She regarded him for a minute. He gave her his best self-deprecating grin.
“It’s okay,” she said finally, giving him a small smile. “I guess I don’t have much of a sense of humor about my cooking. I get a lot of pushback from guests who want fried, fatty and heavy food for every meal. And let’s not forget the ones who hate vegetables because the only way they’ve had them was boiled to death.”
“I can’t lie. I’d rather be at work, but if I had to be trapped at a resort in paradise, there’s no one I’d rather have cook for me.”
“You figured that out after two meals?”
“You had me at tofu lasagna.” He put a hand over his heart and gave her what he hoped was a sincere look. Blaine was laying it on thick because he didn’t want her to be mad at him.
She smiled widely at him. “I’m so glad you decided to try yoga.”
“Me too,” he said. He hoped he had been forgiven about teasing her about the cheeseburger. It hadn’t been Wagyu-beef good, but it had been tasty.
“What do you want for breakfast?” She raised her arms over her head and stretched to one side and then the other. “You didn’t seem too thrilled about my eggs Benedict.”
“Pancakes, bacon and sausage,” he said, just to be a buster.
“How about orange crepes with bacon?” she countered.
“Real bacon?” He squinted.
“Nitrate free.”
“Deal.”
“But you’ve got to work for it.” She gestured to the yoga class. “I want to see you sweat.”
“You do, huh?” he grinned at her sudden blush.
“Okay, people. Aloha,” the perky instructor said, clapping her hands to get their attention. She stood in front of a festive display of a Hawaiian Santa on a surfboard with a flock of light-up flamingos in front of him.
“Aloha,” the class responded back.
This was going to be the easiest bacon he’d ever earned. He might even squeeze in a nap while they did asanas to the sun and sand. Or maybe he’d admire Selena’s sleek poses as discretely as he could.
Instead, for the next hour he twisted and bent, holding poses until his muscles were shaking. Yoga was not for the weak. Next time he had the bright idea to exercise, he was just going to jog along the surf line. He’d at least have a chance of looking like a stud and not a loser. By the time they got to the last pose, he just remained on his knees with his chest in the sand and his face on the ground. He managed not to whimper like a downward dog.
“You okay?” Selena said in his ear.
“I’m just going to stay here until lunch.”
“You don’t want to do that. You’ll miss my crepes. Come on, I’ll help you up and treat you to a power smoothie.”
He turned his head—even that hurt. He pried one eye open. “Will that make all the pain go away?”
“No, but the hot tub should do the trick.”
“Oh yeah,” he said. Groaning, he pushed himself up to his feet.
She grabbed his arm to steady him.
“I got this.”
“Just checking, tough guy.”
They walked slowly back to the elevators. He hoped she didn’t think he was a weakling just because the yoga class rang his bell. Blaine might not have kept up with his jogging, but he used the company’s weight room every day. He’d flex for her, but it hurt too much.
“Here you go,” she said when they got to the elevator.
“Where are you going?” He cupped her elbow. “I was promised a power smoothie, whatever the hell that is.”
“I need a shower first.”
“Shower at my place. I’m just going to hop into the hot tub.”
/> She looked down at herself. “I need to be in uniform if I’m in your suite.”
“Who’s going to know? It’s just after the ass crack of dawn.”
“It won’t be when I leave.”
“Okay,” he said. “But if you want to keep a spare set of clothes in the suite, I’m okay with that.”
“Why would I do that?” Selena crossed her arms.
Blaine shrugged. “Wishful thinking.”
“Keep wishing. I’ll be up soon.”
He watched her walk away before calling the elevator down. Damn, she had an ass that wouldn’t quit. He got into the elevator and his legs decided standing was overrated and he slumped against the walls. Staggering out into his suite, he chucked off clothes until he got to the balcony. Easing himself into the hot tub, he jammed it on full force and submerged. When he ran out of breath, he gradually floated to the top. Staring at the sky, he wondered if it was as blue in Michigan under all the smog and pollution. He wouldn’t want to trade a place like this for Detroit either.
It was almost lunchtime there. He would have grabbed something from the food trucks outside his building or maybe a sandwich from the cafeteria before eating at his desk. He wondered if Paul was redoing the trials again and this time documenting what was wrong with the code.
This was stupid. He could fix it in a few hours if he had that information. As he was stewing in the hot tub, he was also getting angrier. He was an adult. If he wanted to spend a few hours of his vacation making sure that he wouldn’t be under an avalanche of shit when he got back, that was his prerogative. He had to get out of the resort today. There had to be an internet café around here somewhere. If he only could search and see where the closest one was. Maybe he could have his concierge Micky-something look that up for him?
“Careful,” Selena said, coming out onto the balcony with what looked like a piña colada in her hand. “Your face is going to freeze that way.”
She was dressed in crisp linen slacks and a denim chef’s jacket. Strands of black hair curled around her face, escaping that braid of hers.
“How many of those things do you have?” he asked, gesturing to her jacket and taking the glass from her.
“Tons,” she said.
“I liked you in your yoga outfit.”
“I’d wear that all day if I could.”
“I’d let you, if you come work for me. Of course, you might be a little cold.” He took a sip. It was a virgin piña colada with something creamy and vanilla tasting in it. “Why is the rum all gone?” he said in his best Captain Jack Sparrow impression and waggled the glass at her.
His smile froze on his face at the flash of raw lust that crossed her face.
“Come here,” he said, every aching muscle in his body forgotten as the blood rushed to his cock.
“I’ve got to get breakfast started,” she said breathlessly, and rushed back into the kitchen.
Blaine let out a slow breath. There was no way he imagined that. Unless all the vegetables and exercises were making him hallucinate. He wasn’t ruling anything out. But because he was too sore to go chasing after her, he sipped his pitiful piña colada. It was pretty good even though it didn’t have any rum in it.
Leaning his head back, he tried for a Zen moment of relaxation, but his cock was throbbing too hard as he played back that sizzle in her gray-blue eyes. He wanted to wrap her long braid around his fist and pull her in for a kiss or hold her steady while she slid those sweet red lips up and down him.
“Blaine?” Selena cleared her throat.
He put everything he was feeling in his gaze and she swallowed hard. “Breakfast is served.”
Without breaking eye contact, he lifted himself out of the hot tub and stood there dripping wet and naked in front of her. Her eyes fluttered closed, but her breathing was shallow. He leaned in close and whispered in her ear.
“Thanks.”
Grabbing a towel, he then wrapped it around his waist. The crepes and bacon smelled like heaven and he was tearing into them before he consciously realized what he was doing. Just feeding one hunger instead of another.
Selena poured him a cup of coffee. She was steadier than he felt right now. “Did you give a thought about lunch or does the chicken stir fry sound good?”
She sounded good. He stared up at her. “Are you going to make me eat that brown rice shit?”
Her lips twitched, and the tension popped. “I could be persuaded to serve it over jasmine rice.”
“I’m good at persuasion.” Blaine stood up and his entire body felt a thrill when she didn’t move back. “What do you want?”
“The list is long.” She giggled nervously and took a step back.
He let her go, even though it went against all of his instincts. Blaine wanted her, but he was very aware that she was technically employed by his business partners and in essence, him. She would have to make the first move, even though it would kill him.
“Let me think about it,” she said.
“Take all the time you need.” Blaine watched her leave, trying to erase visions of him making love to her over every surface of the penthouse suite.
It took him a few moments after she left to remember he still had bacon to finish. Returning to the dining room table, he poured himself a refresher on his coffee and sank into the chair. His phone was useless, so he flipped through the paperwork Selena left him last night.
He confirmed that there weren’t any computers, internet access, or televisions on the property. He did have an in-room phone, though, in case of emergencies or questions. Taking his coffee over to the phone—a handset with a rotary dial, how quaint—he picked up the receiver and dialed zero for the lobby.
“Yes, Mr. Stephens,” a soft male voice said.
“Yeah, I need a car brought around.”
“Would you like to book a tour of the island?”
“Not today. I need to get out for a few hours.”
“What would you like to do?”
Blaine stared at the phone. He wasn’t used to twenty questions. “I’m looking for an internet café.”
“I’m sorry, sir. We don’t have a shuttle or a service for that.”
Holding on to his temper with an iron grip, Blaine said, “I don’t care. Just get me a car. I’ll find one myself.”
“If there’s something you need, we can arrange it to be delivered to your suite.”
“Deliver the car to the lobby and that will be fine,” he said in measured tones.
“I’m sorry, sir. I can’t do that.”
“Sure you can. I’ve got a credit-card number. Hell, give me an outside line and I’ll get one myself.”
“That’s against the rules, sir.”
“Let me speak to your manager.” Blaine was about to go “all Karen” on this guy.
“Of course, sir. One moment.”
Seething, Blaine slammed his coffee cup down on the table. A muscle throbbed in his eye and pain lanced through his chest. He tried to calm down. He was overreacting again. This was all just a misunderstanding. He wasn’t a prisoner here. He could come and go as he pleased. He didn’t care what his brother and Paul cooked up for him as a punishment. He was a damned adult and if he wanted to have a plate of nachos and a beer while surfing the internet, he was going to do it.
“Mr. Stephens, this is Titus Dukes. I’m the general manager here.”
“Look, I don’t want to be a jerk. I need a cab, or a car—I don’t mind renting one. I just need to go for a drive.”
“That can certainly be arranged.”
Blaine’s locked muscles relaxed. See? Maybe his brother was right. He had sun, sand and surf. If he could finagle some hot sex, he’d come back to Detroit a new man.
“Where would you like to go? You have a surfing lesson at eleven.”
“I do?” He went to go bac
k to the table to see his itinerary, but the short cord on the phone stopped him. Damn thing.
“Shall I reschedule?” Titus asked.
“Yeah, that would be great. Tomorrow would be good.” Today, he just needed to see what was going on with his company.
“Are you looking to do some shopping?”
“Yeah,” Blaine said. He wasn’t going to get trapped into admitting he wanted an internet café. That way led nowhere.
“Very good, sir. Your car will be ready in the lobby in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you,” he said. But Blaine had a feeling he had been outmaneuvered.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE LAST PERSON Selena expected to see wandering around downtown Lahaina was Blaine Stephens. Even if he hadn’t had a surfing lesson, touristy shopping areas didn’t seem like his style. She, at least, had an excuse. Mikelina and she were shopping for stuff to put in welcome baskets that one of Mikelina’s clients had requested. It wasn’t Selena’s job, but it gave her an excuse to talk to her about the crazy attraction she had to Blaine and just what the heck she was going to do about it.
“Can you believe this?” Mikelina said, holding up a pair of kitchen mitts covered in mushrooms and Anton Koslov’s Bolete logo. “He’s everywhere.”
“He’s always been a whore,” Selena said, shaking her head. “If they paid him enough, he’d put his logo on dog food.”
Mikelina wordlessly showed her a bag of Bolete gourmet dog food.
“I can’t.” Selena threw her hands in the air. Realizing too late, that she was attracting attention, she looked up and caught Blaine’s eyes. She couldn’t comprehend the flush of excitement that washed over her as he determinedly made his way over to them.
“Hello, hottie alert coming in fast,” Mikelina said.
“That’s Blaine.”
“The pirate Viking?” Mikelina squinted to get a better look. “What the hell are you waiting for?”
“Professionalism?”
“Overrated. Besides, he’s as hot for you as you are for him.”
“How on earth can you tell?”
“Honey, he’s plowing through the crowd like a drowning man and you’re a life preserver.” Mikelina put a pair of pineapple oven mitts in her basket. “I’ve got this. You’re going to have your hands full in a minute.”
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