Chapter 3

River left the paved main street and wandered toward the ocean. He took off his sandals as he reached the wet sand and dug his toes into the soft material. The turquoise ocean waves topped with white spray rolled onto the beach, filling the air with a salty taste and the distinct rumbling sound.

He loved the water and under normal circumstances he would have fetched his surfboard and hit the surf. River smiled at the memory of when his friend Chase Paxton, a professional kite surfer had visited him last year. They’d raced each other in the waves for hours until Chase’s girlfriend, Pearl Davids, had called a stop to their friendly combat.

But today, he had no time for play. He urgently needed to find a new assistant. Aged twenty-four, he was the youngest of the six Armstrong siblings. He’d never attended college, because he just wasn’t the type to stay indoors and study, and founded his own scuba diving company during his senior year at high school. 

 The first years had been tough, but now Moana Diving was a thriving enterprise. He was supposed to leave Aruba the next day to pick up guests on Curacao, but without an assistant, the trip would be a nightmare. He had his hands full with the navigation, and diving preparations, he just didn’t have the time nor desire to mingle and make small talk with the guests on top of it. And the mere thought of filling dozens of forms and having to deal with the various customs officials was enough to give him a headache.

He sighed as he walked along. There’s got to be someone around who needs a job. On a whim, he pulled out his phone and dialed his brother, Preston, a billionaire hotel owner. Preston had contacts all over the world, he might know of someone who needed a job.

“Hello? River, is that you?” Preston’s deep voice answered the phone on the first ring.

“Yeah, bro. How’s things?”

“Me? Happily in love. What about you?”

“God, you’ve become so cheesy,” River teased as he rubbed his beard. “I was wondering…”

“Ah…calling for my help, baby brother?” Preston said.

River rolled his eyes. Preston was the second oldest and had this disgusting habit to rub their six years age difference in River’s nose. His obnoxious ribbing had caused more than one black eye back in the days they were boys.

“Actually, yes. Remember the temp employee I hired? I caught her stealing money.” The breeze blew a strand of hair into River’s eyes and he pushed it away.

“Did you tell the agency that they needed to send a replacement?” Preston asked.

“Yeah.” River gave a dry laugh. “That didn’t work out so well. You wouldn’t believe the nightmare of a clerk they have running the temp agency – what a crooked place. They refuse to send me a replacement unless I pay for the entire contract first.”

“What? Can they even do that?”

“I guess so. He claims I need witnesses to prove she’s a thief.”

“Hmm…how can help?” Preston asked.

“Well, I was hoping…man, do you know someone who needs a job and can be on the island by tomorrow morning?”

Preston barked a laugh. “You don’t want much, do you?”

“Man, I’m screwed. I’ve got a charter out of Curacao tomorrow and no assistant.”

“Isn’t there someone on the island that can fill in?”

“Not that I trust or isn’t already working somewhere else.”

“Well, you know I’d help if I could, but on such short notice…what you’re asking is impossible.”

“Yeah, I figured it was a long shot. I’ll figure something out. It’s not like I haven’t done it before. What’s a week of no sleep anyway?” River grimaced into the phone. He had managed in his early years when there was no money to pay employees. But then, his guests had been more the hands-on type, not the affluent travelers who paid good money for a high-end cruise and expected 24/7 entertainment in addition to the dives.

“Keep your chin up. I’ll ask around. I’m pretty sure I can find someone in a week or two.”

“Yeah. Thanks, bro.” River hung up and stared out at the ocean for several minutes before heading down the beach to his favorite bar. Alcohol and diving didn’t mesh, so after today, he wouldn’t be able to touch a drink for several weeks. Might as well go commiserate over a cold beer. I certainly deserve it.

Crazy Drinks served regular bar drinks as well as a variety of tropical concoctions that the tourists on the island loved. It was set back on the beach far enough there was never a concern about the tide, and elevated about four feet off the soft sand. The palm leaf-tiered roof atop the wooden pole resembled an oversized parasol and blended perfectly with the coconut palms surrounding it.

A bamboo lined circular bar with weathered wooden barstools completed the place. It was the perfect tropical hang-out, set against a backdrop of a breathtaking oceanscape. White sands, and turquoise sparkling water that turned into dark blue until it faded against the immaculate azure sky.

River loved watching the sea; it had an instant calming effect on him. Since he’d switched living with his parents for living on a boat several years ago, he needed the soothing sound of lapping waves to feel at home.

 “Hey, Joe,” he called to the owner and bartender as he leaned on the polished countertop. Joe had become a good friend during the last years. Usually the two of them would hang out together to pick up girls whenever River was in Aruba.

Joe was American, with dirty blond hair, blue eyes, and a healthy tan from working his own bar Crazy Drinks most of the days. He lived the relaxed expat life, after having left behind a stressful job on Wall Street and buying Crazy Drinks. He was one happy dude tending his own bar, never saying no to a cool beer or a hot chick. A man after River’s heart.

“River! My man, what’s going on?” Joe slapped him on the back.

“Employee problems.”

Joe popped the top off of a beer and sat it in front of him. “What about that temp girl you hired?”

“I fired her this morning. Caught her stealing from me.”

“Stealing? That’s tough. I can handle a lot of employee problems, but dishonesty isn’t one of them.”

“Yeah.” River downed half of the bottle in one big gulp.

“So, what are you going to do?” Joe fixed another beer for himself and returned to lean on the bar across from River.

“I haven’t figured that out yet.” River shrugged, putting the bottle to his lips once more.

Joe started to speak, but his cell phone rang and he answered it. “Sweetie?”

River narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t remember Joe ever giving his phone number to a girl. The woman on the other end of the line was obviously furious. He could hear her screaming at Joe through the phone, helped along when Joe held the phone away from his ear while she screamed at him some more.

“What’s she mad about?” River asked when Joe finished the call.

Joe made a face. “My girlfriend. She found out I wasn’t working last night but dancing and doing a little sand surfing with a cute blonde here on vacation.”

“Since when do you have a girlfriend?”

“A few weeks. I didn’t think she’d get so riled up.” Joe finished his beer and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

River snorted. “You’re a dumbass. Never tell a chick she’s your girlfriend, or she expects fidelity. They’re funny like that.”

“I was kinda bored of having to pick up a new chick every night. It’s nice to come home to find a warm bed, if you know what I mean?” Joe wiped his hands on a grungy bar towel.

“In that case, you have to stop screwing around.”

“No can do, boyo. Too many beautiful chicks. Can you watch the bar for about an hour?” Joe asked. “I need to go calm her down before she does something stupid.”

“Sure. No problem.” River looked out at his only love, the ocean. He would never settle for just one woman, if he could have all of them. Why?

“Thanks, man. I owe you.”

“Yeah. Go make up and stuff.” River slipped behind the counter, watching Joe hurry away. He didn’t understand why the man had a girlfriend if he wasn’t going to be faithful to her. River would never stoop so low, which was why he kept it quality casual so no one got hurt. Usually one – or two – girls in every harbor like any self-respecting sailor would have, but he always told the women upfront that he only had room in his life for wild sex. No more. No less.

River poured a few drinks and leaned back against the bar, contemplating what to do about his employee problem, when he observed the sexy woman from the employment agency picking her way down the beach. That glorious mane of hair floated around her sagging shoulders, her face hidden from view. His body stood at attention and reminded him about his earlier plan to hit the sheets with her.

“Hey!” he called to her, waving her over toward the bar.

She stopped, looked up at him with her hand shading her gorgeous face, and then she appeared to recognize him and gave a little wave before her hand slapped to her side again. After long moments of indecision she turned and walked toward the bar.

“Hi there, beautiful. We at Crazy Drinks have the best drinks and the best views.” River put on his most charming smile, the one his sister Vivian had categorized as knock-the-girl-out-before-she-knows-what-happens Armstrong grin.

The woman bit her lip and then nodded.

“I’m River by the way.” He gestured for her to sit on the barstool that gave her the best view of the headland merging with the ocean in the distance. And him the best view of her tight ass and perky breasts.

“Pippa. Thanks.” She mounted the barstool and River’s breath stuck in his lungs. Holy mother of sexy things, this woman is more than gorgeous. She’s all-out stunning.

“Weren’t you at the employment agency earlier today?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Judging be the way she scrunched her beautiful pug nose she’d had an experience similar to his.

“That clerk was such a self-righteous asshole!” River blurted out, before he could stop himself. A classy woman like her might not appreciate his dirty language.

“I would have used a different word, but yes.” She smiled at him and his cock sprang to life, hardening against the zipper of his jean shorts.

“You look like you could use a drink. Can I offer you one on the house?” he asked, trying to get his body under control. From the minute she’d stepped up to the bar, his libido shot through the roof, doing all kinds of crazy things to his body. Strange, really. She wasn’t his usual type. He enjoyed chasing women with big boobs, blatant sex appeal they didn’t mind flaunting, and who knew how to play the game.

Pippa didn’t appear to be any of those things. She had a classy and elegant aura around her, and she most certainly played way above his league. Her face showed a shy smile, and her expressive blue eyes held him captive with their mixture of strength, sadness and longing. But her body with those small, perky breasts beneath her white spaghetti strap shirt, and the hottest ass he’d ever seen peeking out from her cut-off jeans, heated his blood temperature to the boiling point.

River desperately needed to get his hands on her smooth-looking creamy skin, ruffle her waist-length hair and kiss her full, red lips.

“A water would be perfect, thank you.” Her words brought him back to reality.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yes. Really.” She threw her long her behind her shoulder with a movement of her head, exposing her soft-looking neck.

River sucked in a gasp. I need to get a taste of her. To stop himself from grabbing and kissing her, he reached beneath the bar and produced an ice cold bottle of water. Then he poured the liquid into a glass and adorned it with a fresh lemon. “Here you go. Anything else I can do for you?”

Pippa hesitated for a minute, but then she stood up a little straighter and met his eyes. “Actually, yes. You could give me a job.”

“A job?” River asked perplexed.

“Yes. I have to apologize. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but overhear some of your conversation with the clerk this morning.”

“The clerk is an idiot.” River wasn’t about to apologize for making a scene in the agency.

“I tend to agree.” Pippa cast him the most beautiful smile, a smile that knocked him straight in the solar plexus. “Anyway, I might be the solution to your problem.”

“Oh, yeah? Do you have any references?” River was more intrigued than he should have been.

“No, I don’t. But I overheard your requirements and I can meet all of them. I’m a great organizer. I speak six languages fluently, and above all…I’m honest to a fault.”

“Is that so?” River hedged, not sure if she was a gift from the heavens or a trap to cause him more grief. “You probably also overheard that I’ve been burnt before. With out references or testimonials…” He made a wide gesture while he shook his head.

“I understand.” Her shoulders slumped into a picture of misery. Her apparent dejection knocked River’s breath away. All he wanted was to stroke her head and tell her everything would be fine. He looked away, ignoring the tender emotions she’d inspired.

“Please? Give me chance.” Her sweet voice reached his ear and he turned to look at her again. Their eyes met and zings of hot energy pooled in his groin. It was outright stupid. Suicidal even. He shouldn’t indulge her. He should tell her to go sell her sob story somewhere else.

But he didn’t do either of those things.

“Talk,” River said in a gruff tone.

She blushed, but straightened her spine and returned his glance. “I really, really need this job. I don’t have references, certificates or diplomas. I never even attended college. But I have organized more events that I can count. Spending most of my youth travelling across the world with my parents has taught me to speak six languages fluently…and to make myself understood in about a dozen more. And I’m good with people. Small talk, smiling, making your guests feel comfortable. All that.”

While River’s body had already formed its opinion about the woman sitting in front of him, his mind tried to figure out whether he could trust her or not.

“The temp agency didn’t have a job for you?”

“No.” A loud sigh came from deep within her chest. “The clerk wouldn’t even add my name to his database because of my lack of paperwork. Please. Give me a chance. You won’t regret it. I promise.” Her blue eyes begged him.

God, I’d give anything to have her begging me to split her wide open instead.

“I don’t know…without references...”

“Please. You would really be helping me out.” Her full red lips formed a pout and melted his last ounce of resistance. River had never been able to resist a beautiful woman. Especially not one that sent his testosterone into overdrive.

“Can you start tomorrow?” he asked on a sigh.

“I most definitely can. At what time?” A beautiful smile crossed Pippa’s face and her eyes shone with relief.

Damn her. Damn me. “Okay. Come packed tomorrow morning at eight. Meet me at the entrance to the marina down there.” He pointed toward the end of the beach. “I’ll give you a one week trial period. If you’re doing okay and still want to stick around, we’ll discuss a longer term of employment. Is that okay with you?”

“That’s perfect. I’ll be there in the morning. Thank you.” Pippa smiled at him, the joy and happiness in her eyes kicking his libido up another notch. Damn, she’s beautiful!

 “Nah, don’t thank me yet. You might end up hating me for giving you this chance.”

“No. You’re going to thank me for doing such a good job. See you in the morning.” She stood, stepping down on the sand, before she turned one last time and called, “Thanks for the water.”

“Don’t mention it.” River watched her walk away, a little skip in her step that hadn’t been there before. I hope I didn’t just screw myself.