Holiday Hookup

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  He did, but the damage was done. They were in the elevator. He let her lead him up to bed, but she resisted when he tried to pull her down with him. “You need to rest. I’ll be back tonight to make you dinner. How does eggplant parmesan sound?”

  “It sounds perfect.”

  She brushed a kiss over his lips that left him wanting more. “Rest and we can revisit that kiss if you’re feeling up to it later.”

  “Count on it,” he said.

  He was dimly aware of her leaving. He must have slept because a buzzing in his pants jolted him up in surprise. Reaching his hand in his pocket, he pulled out Selena’s phone and saw it was his brother.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “Are you near your computer?”

  He groaned. “No, what did you do now?”

  “I think we figured it out. We figured it all out.”

  Blaine jumped to his feet and pounded down the stairs.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  WHEN SELENA COULDN’T find her cell phone, she didn’t immediately panic. She must’ve left it upstairs in the backpack or maybe in the pocket of her chef jacket, which was currently stuffed in the bottom of her laundry duffel bag. She had been spending so much time at the penthouse, she was behind on her chores. While Blaine was resting from the zip line, she needed to do some laundry.

  There was a knock on her door.

  “Come in,” she said, thinking it was Mikelina. She regretted her decision when Titus walked in.

  “I’ve been calling you and you haven’t been answering.”

  “I’ve been busy. What do you want?” Selena was getting tired of his keeping-tabs-on-her bullshit and she didn’t care if she snapped at him. She had a hellish day worrying about Blaine.

  “Yes, I’ve noticed how busy you’ve been with Mr. Stephens.” He frowned and crossed his arms. “I shouldn’t have to remind you that the Maui Wellness Center forbids fraternization with clients.”

  That was it. She didn’t care how much of an ass he was going to be to her, she had been dying to set him straight for a long time. “I shouldn’t have to remind you, that I’m a contractor and I do not work for you. I work for Kirk Diamonte. My job is to cook three meals a day for Mr. Stephens. And I’ve done that when the schedule required it. You have no reason to fault my work or ask me questions about my personal life. But now that you’re here, what are you going on about?”

  “You were in Makawao today with Mr. Stephens.”

  “So?” She pushed past him carrying her large duffel bag full of laundry and her detergent. “Out,” she said with a jerk of her head.

  Titus backed up, but she saw that he had two security guards with him. “What’s going on?”

  “When I was told that one of our guests was hurt off-site, I called to inform his emergency contact. Imagine my surprise when she said that his girlfriend—you—had already told her, and that she had spoken to her son already. That was your first mistake.”

  “It wasn’t a mistake.”

  “But you couldn’t stop breaking the rules, could you. I warned you about using the internet. But it’s not you, is it?” Titus looked down at his iPad. “It says you’re online right now.” He picked up his phone and dialed. “Your phone is ringing, but I don’t hear it.”

  “I must’ve misplaced it. It’s probably back inside.” Selena didn’t know why she was lying. They both knew exactly where her phone was.

  “Your phone is being used as a hot spot.”

  That asshole. After promising her that he would rest and stay off the computer for the rest of the day, as soon as her back was turned, he used her distraction with the day’s events to do what he wanted anyway.

  “I can’t have a contractor breaking the rules of the Maui Wellness Center and putting our guests at risk. Kirk agrees with me. He’s waiting to have a similar discussion with you. Please pack your things and go. I’m shutting off all access now, so Mr. Stephens is out of luck. Both for overnight activities and for internet use. If you’re not off the property in one hour, I’ll call the police.”

  “I was hired by Mr. Stephens’s—Blaine’s family to be his personal chef,” she said.

  “You will be replaced.”

  She couldn’t even call Kirk to tell her side of the story because Blaine had her phone. Maybe Mikelina could give her his number.

  Titus stood outside her door while she packed and escorted her off the property flanked by the two security guards. It didn’t take her long to pack up her things. She had two suitcases; her knives and her phone were upstairs with Blaine.

  “I need to retrieve a few things from the penthouse.”

  “I’m sorry. You are no longer allowed in the guest rooms anymore.”

  “I have important things that I need for my job up there.”

  “Leave us a forwarding address and we’ll make sure they get packed up and sent to you.”

  “No,” she said and went toward the elevator.

  Titus snapped his fingers and the two security guards blocked her.

  They smiled at her apologetically. “Sorry. You have to do what he says.”

  “Fine.” Her hands were shaking, and she was on the verge of tears.

  In addition to wanting to chew out Blaine, she was terrified that she was going to lose her important knives, and that her bakeware would be damaged in the mail. She didn’t want them shipped haphazardly. She wanted to take them with her, but there was nothing she could do with the two large guards flanking her as she dragged her suitcases through the lobby. She couldn’t even call Blaine, because the wellness center wouldn’t put her through.

  She had to wait until she flagged down a taxi. “This is a crazy request,” she said, “But can I borrow your phone to make a call? They kicked me out. They wouldn’t even let me get my phone. They fired me.”

  “Don’t cry, sister,” the driver said and disconnected his phone from the charger.

  First, she tried her phone, but it rang and rang and went to voice mail. It figured. He’d never answer her phone. But once he figured out he was cut off from Wi-Fi, he might get curious enough to answer an unknown number.

  She racked her brains for a few seconds trying to remember Mikelina’s number. Selena was so used to just tapping on her name and having it automatically dial her number. But Mikelina had the same number ever since they went to school together, and Selena managed punch in the numbers.

  “Please answer. Please answer. Please answer,” she said.

  “Who’s this?”

  Selena was relieved, even though it wasn’t Mikelina. “Bastien, it’s Selena. I got fired. I don’t have my phone. I need help.”

  “Fired? Where are you?” he asked.

  “I’m down the road from the center. Can I speak to Mikelina?”

  “She’s in the shower now, but let me tell her that you’re holding and what happened.”

  “Where do you want to go?” the driver said.

  “Bastien,” she called. “Are you guys staying at the wellness center?”

  “Shit no.” Bastien barked out a laugh. “I need internet access, and I like to watch TV.”

  “I’ve got nowhere to go tonight. Can I stay with you guys until I make other arrangements? It won’t be long.”

  “Not a problem—come to the Wailea Beach Hotel. Penthouse.”

  Penthouse. Of course. “Okay,” she said. “Thanks. I’ll explain everything once I get there.” Selena handed the phone back to the driver. “Thank you.”

  “Your boss seems like a real asshole.”

  “I seem to attract them.”

  * * *

  Blaine looked up with a grin when the elevator doors opened. But then the smile slid off his face as he recognized Titus and a male chef standing in the hallway.

  “Where’s Selena?” he asked.

  “Selena’s co
ntract has been terminated.”

  “By whom?” Blaine said. “My brother hired her, not you.”

  “She violated the terms of her contract and has been escorted off property. I’m here to collect her things and mail them to her.”

  Titus looked at the phone on the table and snatched it up. “What else?”

  “Go to hell. I’ll bring her things to her. Give that back.”

  “It’s not your responsibility.”

  “Put it back on the table.” Blaine shot to his feet.

  “If you put your hands on me, I’ll have you arrested.”

  Blaine pointed to the table and Titus tossed the phone back on it. He straightened his polo shirt and said, “Leif will be your chef for the rest of your stay. He’ll follow the menu that Selena had submitted.”

  “This is bullshit. Where is she?” Blaine asked, clenching his fists.

  “She left in a taxi. Too bad you can’t call her. I hope it was worth it,” Titus said and made the mistake of turning his back on him to leave.

  The old Blaine would’ve tackled him. The old Blaine would have liked nothing better than to wipe that smug smile off his face. Blaine even went as far as to shift his weight and clenched his fist. He was drawing back his hand when he realized that this time, he could get into some serious trouble. Titus would call the cops.

  Selena had tried to stop him from resorting back to bad behavior, and even though he failed her terribly, he wouldn’t give Titus the satisfaction of having him arrested. He forced his fingers to relax and Titus left with all his teeth. This time.

  “How does eggplant parmesan sound tonight, Mr. Stephens?”

  “No,” Blaine said. “Just go.”

  “Is there anything I can get for you before I go?”

  “Can I use your phone?”

  “I’m sorry, sir...”

  “It’s against the rules,” Blaine said, at the same time Leif did. “Yeah, thanks. I know.”

  Once Leif left, Blaine packed his bags. He wasn’t going to stay another minute in this shit show of a wellness center. He made sure he had everything Selena left in the suite. Her knives, her phone, her bakeware and her clothes.

  He had been such an idiot. He never should have gone online again. He didn’t think that Titus would notice. He got her fired and now she was out there somewhere with no phone. She’d call her phone eventually. And when she did. He would be ready. But first, he had to get out of here, get the block taken off his phone or buy a new one.

  He heard the elevator opening and he cracked his knuckles. This time Titus wasn’t going to get a second chance if he failed to give him what he wanted. But when he got there, he saw it was Mikelina.

  “How is she?” Blaine asked.

  “She’s upset. She needs her phone, but she’s more worried about her knives.”

  “I have them here. Everything that she kept here is in this bag. I was going to bring them to her. I wouldn’t let Titus have them.”

  “Thank you,” Mikelina said. “That will mean a lot to her.”

  Mikelina had brought bags and packed Selena’s things in them, carefully.

  “Did she get fired from Five Diamonds?”

  Mikelina nodded.

  “Damn it. I’ve got to talk to her. Where is she?”

  “She’s staying with me and my fiancé for tonight.”

  “Does she need money? I can help. Please let me help. I’m checking out of here tonight. I can get us a room. Two rooms. She must be so pissed off at me. I’m so damned sorry this happened.”

  “Selena knew the risks and the consequences of her actions. But thank you again for not letting Titus take them. He’s a vindictive prick.”

  “I’ll call her as soon as I get cell service back.” He had made a point of putting her number in his phone.

  Mikelina bit her lip. “She’s really mad at you right now.”

  “I deserve it, but I can explain.”

  “I don’t need to know.” She held up her palm. “I can’t stay long, otherwise Titus will be on my case too. Give her a few days to calm down.”

  “I’m leaving tonight.” There was no way that he could stay here for even a few more days knowing that Selena was in trouble. “I should’ve flown back sooner.” He shook his head. “I don’t want to leave it like this. I have to see her.”

  “Fine. I’ll tell you what. Go to the lobby at the Wailea Beach Hotel at nine p.m. tonight. If she wants to see you, she’ll be there. But if she doesn’t, you’ll have to accept that.”

  “Thank you.” He sagged in relief. “I’ll be there.”

  “She might not be.”

  That’s what he was afraid of.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “YOU DON’T HAVE to see him if you don’t want to,” Mikelina said.

  “Yes, I do,” she said. “You know I do.”

  “I have no problem with sending him on his way,” Bastien said.

  “Thanks.” She gave them both a hug. “For everything. But I need to at least say goodbye to him.”

  “Is it the big goodbye or is it see you later?” Mikelina asked. “Because I think you should at least hear him out.”

  “I will.” Selena had spent the last few hours getting her life back on track. She did laundry, borrowed Bastien’s laptop and looked for apartments in Paris that she could afford. She had a few that she was going to visit in a few days, but she probably would have to get a roommate. She was still working out the details.

  Her conversation with Kirk Diamonte hadn’t been what she expected, though.

  “Did you break the rules?” he had asked.

  “Yes, but...” was as far as she got.

  “Did you provide your client with internet access?”

  “I did.”

  “My hands are tied, then. I can’t demand that you finish out your contract there. If you want to cook for him at another of my properties, I can make the arrangements.”

  She had blinked in surprise. “You’re not mad at me?”

  “Selena, you’ve been with me for several years. We’re lucky to have you. If you broke the rules, I trust that you had good reasons.”

  “I’m not fired?”

  Kirk had scoffed. “No. I’ve been hearing rumors that Titus takes advantage of his position in several alarming ways. I’m removing the Maui Wellness Center from our property catalog.”

  “If it’s all the same to you,” Selena had said. “I’d like to end the assignment. Do you have anything in the Paris area? I’m headed that way.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Kirk said. “No matter what happens though, I’ll give you a good reference.”

  At least, she was technically still employed and she had a tentative line at a new gig. It was more than she had expected. She had let Titus get to her and that pissed her off. Nobody got to rent space in her head anymore. Not Anton, not Titus, not Blaine.

  At nine that evening she went down to the lobby and almost went right back up when she saw Blaine on his laptop.

  “Seriously?” she asked.

  He jumped up. “I have a room here. I couldn’t stay at the wellness center a moment longer.”

  “Congratulations on getting the block off your phone,” she said dryly.

  After closing his laptop, he put it in his bag. “Do you want to go up to my room for some privacy or do you want to get a drink at the bar?”

  “Let’s start in the bar,” she said, not trusting herself to keep from jumping on him as soon as they were alone. She was mad, but they were about to be apart for a long time. Possibly forever, depending on how this conversation was going to go.

  They took a table with the ocean view. Tiki torches lined a walkway down to the beach. Blaine ordered a beer and she chose a glass of wine.

  “I’m so damn sorry,” he said.

&nb
sp; “For what?” Selena was curious what he thought his biggest mistake had been.

  “For getting you fired.”

  “I’m not fired.”

  “But Titus...”

  “He can kick me off the property, but my boss is Kirk Diamonte, who your family paid to hire me.”

  “So technically, you’re still my chef?” Blaine got a thoughtful look in his eyes.

  She smacked his arm lightly. “You should be sorry for lying to me.”

  “I didn’t lie.” He looked affronted.

  “You were on the computer as soon as my back was turned.”

  “My brother called.”

  “So?”

  “He said he found the solution to the car’s problem. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep until I saw if he was telling the truth or not.”

  “Was he?”

  “So far so good.”

  “Congratulations,” she said.

  “I’m worried about you,” he said, reaching across the table for her.

  She let him hold her hand. “Don’t be. I’m going to be fine.”

  “Come back to Detroit with me for the week.”

  “And do what? Watch you work? Cook your meals in the company’s cafeteria?”

  “If you want. Or you can hang out in my apartment. I’m not ready to say goodbye to you.”

  Selena felt the ice around her heart melting. “Technically, I am still on the job.”

  “Don’t do it for the job. Do it for me.”

  She sighed. “I’m an idiot, but I guess I’m not ready to say goodbye to you either.”

  “Titus is such an asshole.”

  “No arguments from me.”

  “Are you angry at me?”

  “It’s a real mess. I was angry at you. But mostly I’m angry at myself. I broke the rules and I didn’t want to face the consequences.”

  “Yeah, but I forced you to break the rules.”

  “You didn’t force me to do anything. It was a trade. I wanted to help you relax, eat healthier and realize that you have a lot more to offer than just being a corporate drone—even if you do own the corporation. And I wanted the money that you were offering for the internet service.”