Reese

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At first, when Adrian had kissed me, I’d been concerned that maybe that was his modus operandi. Was that the way he acted with every decent-looking female employee he hired? He hit on me so quickly, asking me to dinner after a single board meeting, so naturally, I’d assumed that was par for the course for him. And that was the main reason why I stopped him. But he said he’d never done that before, that I was the first. There was no reason not to believe him because he stopped when I asked him too. He also assured me he would keep it professional, even though he did like me. Still, I worried things would be awkward at work between us.

But awkward wasn’t an issue.

As it turned out, that day, and the two days following, Adrian was non-existent. In fact, he never even showed up at the office. When he dropped me off at my apartment, he didn’t mention anything about not going into work. I hadn’t deliberately sought him out until I had a question about the budget. But when I went to his office, it was empty.

When I asked Janet where he was, she said he had a last minute flight to the big island for some technical meeting that had suddenly come up. She said he left directly from his home and hadn’t come in.

I was relieved his absence wasn’t because of the kiss, then I felt stupid for even thinking it had been. To think I might mean that much to him was silly and it was equally silly to think that he would notify me when he was going out of town. Adrian was a powerful CEO of his own company, and I was a young woman just starting out with her first job. Why would he alert me when he was going out of town? My position had nothing to do with his dealings with other offices. My job was to focus on the interior design of the hotel. And considering I told him I wanted to keep things between us on a professional level, he had no reason to contact me about his whereabouts.

That kiss had been amazing. I almost wished I hadn’t stopped it. I could almost still feel the softness of his lips. I honestly did enjoy his company and surfing with him was a blast, not to mention how I had melted into that kiss until I suddenly came to my stupid senses.

It was Saturday morning, and I’d yet to stock my fridge since I’d moved in. I’d eaten takeout every night since except for that dinner with Adrian. It was time to head to the grocery store.

After loading my cart with necessary staples like juice, milk, cereal, lunch meat, and bread, I headed toward the vegetables when I heard my name. I turned to see Victor, coming toward me.

“Oh, hi.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Reese. I hope Adrian isn’t working you too hard. It would be a shame to have all your time here in paradise taken up by work.”

I gave him a small smile. “No, he isn’t.” Hardly at all since he left town, but I kept that to myself. In fact, with Adrian gone and my pending questions, I hadn’t been able to get much work done at all.

“That’s good to hear. I’m glad I ran into you because I’ve been thinking about what I said the other night about seeing Ulalena and I’d love to take you. I can get a couple of tickets to the show tonight if you’d like to go.”

“Oh. Um ... that’s very thoughtful of you.” Victor was attractive for sure and a complete gentleman. And I liked the way he dressed. Casual, like Adrian, with a sexy vibe the way his shorts hung low on his waist and his tight dark blue T-shirt that said Kauai on the front, as if he were a tourist. 

I know I’m the one who stopped the kiss with Adrian, but his lips have been the only thing I’ve been able to think about since Wednesday morning. If I went out with Victor, maybe he would be able to take my mind off of my boss. Perhaps another man was just what I needed.

But from the vibes I picked up from Adrian at dinner the other night, I didn’t think he would be happy if I went out with Victor. Though as my boss he really had no say in such things. But I didn’t want to jeopardize my position at Waterscape Properties. Maybe I should give things with Adrian time to cool off before I started adding dates to my social calendar, except I didn’t know many people on the island to hang out with and the musical did sound fun.

I glanced up at Victor to tell him I would go when the tip of his tongue briefly slipped out and over his well shaped lips before he sucked them both into a tight line as he studied me waiting for an answer, which made me think about kissing Adrian. Dammit. I was pathetic because, maybe, just maybe I was developing a tiny crush on my boss, so maybe I should hold off on going out with anyone at all until I could get my head straight on my shoulders. Heck, I was the new girl in town; I should take things a little slower than this.

“I’m sorry, I already have plans tonight,” I lied, though maybe the lie held some truth to it, that is if you considered soaking in a bubble bath with a good romance novel and a glass of wine, plans.

“Perhaps another night?” He smiled hopefully. “How about next week?” He stuck his hands in his pockets and gave me a sexy grin that under any other circumstances I would be all over like a cherry popsicle on a hot afternoon.

I thought about it for a few seconds. Adrian may have kissed me and all, but then he went out of town without a word. Of course, I knew it was a last minute deal, and why should he let me know? After all, it was me who turned him down. Maybe I was just wishing he would have let me know. At least that would mean I meant something to him.

“Maybe next week.”

His eyes narrowed and his eyebrows knitted together. “Maybe? Woman, you’re killing me. How about a definitely next week?”

I laughed. “Let’s keep it at maybe.”

“Next week is a long time away, but something tells me you just might be worth the wait,” he said with a very sexy drawl that almost made me want to change my mind and say yes. “Until next week it is. Let me have your phone number.”

What harm would it do to give him my cell? I rattled off my number as he punched it into his phone. “I’ll call you next week.” He lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back. Then he turned and walked away and out of the store.

It seemed to me that Victor might be overstepping some male etiquette protocol between him and Adrian, but was that really my problem? I didn’t want to date my boss though the memory of his lips on mine made my heart flutter. This was my first week here on this island. Maybe I shouldn’t date anyone yet. Well, I’d see how next week goes. I said maybe.

I guess I should count myself lucky to have not just one, but two gorgeous men vying for my attention. 

I headed to the fruits and vegetables to finish my shopping. I also picked up a new romance novel before heading to the checkout. Rocked by a Vampire. A little paranormal romance was always good for the soul and from the description, this one sounded pretty broody and angsty. Just what I needed.

The rest of the day dragged on. I was already ready to go back to work on Monday. I couldn’t get Adrian out of my head and I couldn’t wait to see him again. Even if I didn’t feel comfortable dating the man, he was certainly nice to look at.

After I emptied all the bags and put everything away in the pantry and fridge, I was just about to kick back and dive into my new book when my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I dug it out to see who would be calling. I didn’t recognize the number, but I didn’t know many people here, so I answered it.

“If you don’t have plans tonight, I’d like to see you.”

“Adrian?” How the hell? Wait, of course, he would have my number. I just didn’t have his.

“Were you expecting someone else?”

“No. I ...”

“I need to see you. Are you free tonight?”

I fell silent. The kiss we’d shared came flooding back into my head like a tsunami. The memory of his lips, the lips I wanted so badly to taste again made me tingle all over. It was a dangerous idea. Being alone with Adrian was detrimental to my well-being. My state of mind had been suffering from the moment his lips left mine. I should decline.

“Um ...”

“It’s important,” he said when I hesitated.

“Oh.” What could be so important? Had something come up while he’d been gone that impacted my job? “Okay. Should I meet you at the office?”

“No. I’ll pick you up at 5:00.”

“Okay. Are we going to a restaurant or to the office?” I wanted to know how I should dress. Plus, if we were going to the office, I knew this meeting was work related, and he didn’t want to get together for personal reasons. A part of me would be glad about that, but another part of me was still on the fence. It was a complete gray area. I really wanted to be successful with my new job and getting involved with the boss the first week seemed like a poor career choice.

“No office and nothing special. I keep the blueprints at my house and we need to review them, so we’ll come back here and I’ll cook you dinner.”

“You don’t need to pick me up. How about if I meet you there?”

“I don’t mind driving, besides, it’s a hilly drive and the directions are tricky.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.”

He said something about reviewing blueprints, yet it was Saturday evening, and he was planning to make me dinner—at his house. Couldn’t set up a more intimate date than that. But he insisted we’d be working. Maybe It was a ploy to get me alone.

Why was I not terribly upset over that idea? I should be. He was my boss.

But he was so sexy and so charming. And his kiss literally curled my toes.

Even though it was work related, the idea of him cooking for me made me smile and now I was excited to see what kind of chef he was.

But he was my boss.

God, I was going to make myself crazy with all this stress—and it was too late to back out now since somehow I had agreed and he disconnected the call. I suppose I could call him back and cancel, but let’s be honest here ... did I really want to?

Or did I really want to have dinner with my boss—again—because I was curious about this thing simmering between us? And besides, it really could be innocent.

Sure, it could ...

I glanced around the cottage and shrugged. This was better than spending my first Saturday night in Kauai alone. My other option was going to a musical with Victor. I was sure that musical would be good, and certainly a date with Victor would be good if I went, next week. Maybe.

As promised, I heard Adrian’s car pull onto the gravel driveway a few minutes before five. I’d slipped into a cool, white sundress that had little white seashells etched into the material that you could barely see until you actually got up close. The tiny spaghetti straps went well with the white, strappy flat-heeled sandals I’d found at the same store where I’d purchased the dress; a little boutique shop in the Kukui’ula Village Shopping Center. I was just putting on a pair of white pearl earrings when he rang the bell. More excited than I wanted to admit, I hurried to open the door.

I gasped, clapping my hand over my mouth. “Victor. What are you doing here?”

“I know you said you had plans, but it’s still early and I was hoping that maybe those plans would be a bit later so, I thought maybe, if you were still home, I’d stop by to see if I could interest you in sharing a little Chardonnay.” He held up a bottle of wine.

“How did you know where I lived?” Had he followed me this morning? Was he stalking me?

He laughed. “I was coming by to pick up the rent checks. This is one of our properties.”

“One of your properties?”

“My family owns this and four other rental properties on the island.”

“Oh.”

“I came by to collect the checks from the accountant and I asked Jackson, the guard, which cottage was yours and if you were home. When he said you were, I thought you might enjoy a little vino with me before your other plans.”  

Yes. The security guard. He’d been one of the reasons I’d rented this place. I knew my father would feel better about me living in a place that had some sort of security.

“I’m sorry, but I’m about to go out.” Now I felt as if I was playing Adrian against him. Shit. How did I get into this mess?

“Yes. I see that now. Though maybe there is still a little time before you go for you to join me in a little happy hour?”

The crunch of tires on the gravel drive came to an abrupt halt as Adrian’s Ferrari stopped directly in front of my cottage.

“Ah, it looks like I’m not the only one who’s vying for your attention.” Victor’s striking blue eyes narrowed and his eyebrows knitted closer together. “Is Adrian the one you have plans with tonight or did he just show up out of the blue, like me?”

I shook my head. Too befuddled to answer. Wishing Adrian hadn’t pulled up just yet.

“Dating one’s boss is never the ideal situation, is it, Reese?” Victor’s voice was low, as he leaned in a few inches from my ear. “But don’t fret. If you have a change of heart, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’m not the sort to hold a grudge. That would be Adrian’s MO, though I don’t suppose he bothered to go into any of that with you.”

Then, taking too much liberty, Victor pushed a loose strand of my hair off my face, tucking it behind my ear.

When Adrian got out of his car, his gaze fell upon the two of us standing at my door with Victor’s hand still lingering on my cheek. His chocolate eyes grew darker, almost sinister looking.

“Also,” Victor added, “Just so you know, I don’t give up easily.”

Was that a threat?