Three

Abby

“She really loves it here.” Melanie and I both looked wistfully at Lily chasing butterflies with a daisy in each hand, her laughter bouncing around the yard.

“This is her home.” I had taken the past couple of days to think about my next move. I’d already put feelers out for any resorts on the island in need of a manager, because that had to be my top priority now. “I don’t want to take her from her home.” I knew how it felt to be ripped from your life without any notice and I didn’t want that for Lily.

“I guess the rumors are true then. The girls at the B&B are all a-twitter over the handsome new owner of the Azurel.”

I blew out a breath and faced Melanie. “It’s Roc. Roc frickin’ Mahoney, and yes, I am looking for a new job.”

“He fired you? That son of a—”

I laid a hand over Aunt Melanie’s to calm the hurt and anger I knew she felt. She’d been my mother, my rock and my best friend for as long as I could remember. “No. Not yet. I have two months at most before it happens. If I can get the wedding suite done to offer as an alternative to destination weddings on other island locations, then I can hopefully leverage that into a new job somewhere else. Sleepless nights and a restless brain has produced plenty of ideas”

“Sounds like you’ve got work all figured out. What about the rest?”

I knew exactly what she meant because I’d been purposely avoiding even thinking about it. “The rest will have to wait until I have a new job.”

“That’s your decision to make, honey, just remember that men are more fragile than they let on.”

“Meaning I should tell him sooner rather than later just in case he decides to use his money to take her from me?” I couldn’t deny it was my biggest fear since he’d walked into my office a few days ago, and it had only grown in the face of his obvious hatred for me, which I didn’t understand. And I hadn’t told her about that yet.

“Maybe. Don’t underestimate the damage of a man scorned.”

That made me laugh. The idea of Roc as the scorned lover couldn’t be further from the truth. More than likely his ego had been bruised. “Roc would have to care to feel scorn Aunt Mel. He hates me but that’s it.” His hate would be easier to handle than anything because it would remind me to keep my distance.

“Still handsome?”

I rolled my eyes at her eyebrow wiggle, but my lips curled up in amusement. “Yes dammit. Even more than before. Luckily, he’s also a gigantic ass.”

I tried to remember that as I sat at my desk, resolved to do my job and remain detached from my emotions about Roc. He didn’t deserve it. Wasn’t worth it. My first task of the day? Removing all the personal belongings from my office. The family photos, the photos of me with notable guests over the years, knickknacks and diplomas all went into a small box beside my desk.

I couldn’t stick my head in the gorgeous sand just outside my office and pretend things would be fine. They wouldn’t and I needed to remember that.

Putting a little extra steel in my spine, I smoothed the new royal-blue Azurel Resorts blazer and straightened my skirt, changing into ballet flats before meeting Roc for a tour of the grounds. I hopped in my golf cart, took several deep breaths and went to meet him.

He still took my breath away. He had rugged good looks that made him the perfect candidate for the cover of Rugged Outdoorsman magazine, especially on days like today when he skipped the suit in favor of a pair of well-worn jeans and a plain white tee that hugged his muscles like a long-lost lover. I bit the inside of my cheek just to remind myself that those thoughts were unwelcome. He was unwelcome. So were his muscles. “Good morning, Mr. Mahoney. Where would you like to begin the tour?”

He turned slowly as though he had no place of importance to be. He’d always been that way and I’d been drawn to him because of it. “The bungalows are nice,” he nodded his head in the direction of the cluster of one and two bedroom bungalows.

With a crisp nod, I told him everything I knew about capacity, bookings and renovations. “They are always at least eighty percent full.” When he said nothing, I gave a few more facts and waited.

“They should always be fully booked.”

“I agree,” I told him and clasped my hands together in front of me. “But Maury didn’t want to put any money into the place. I wanted to hire a wedding and events planner on staff to make use of the ballrooms and the leftover bungalows. Weddings are big business and we don’t get nearly enough of it.”

His gaze lingered on my mouth, but I refused to respond despite the way my heart raced and my belly clenched. “Women seem to think so at least.”

“And their men are more than willing to make them happy. Regardless how you feel about the institution or commitment, we could get a lot of that business.” Arguing would be pointless so I didn’t say anything more about it, instead I drove over to the outdoor event areas located on the sprawling property. “These provide steady income for all kinds of celebrations even from the locals.”

“How did you end up in Puerto Rico?”

Small talk, really? “I sent out my resume and this is where I landed.”

“Alone?”

I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to even ask me that. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.” Especially since I’d be on the roster of former employees soon.

“Just making conversation,” he answered but his eyes held deep curiosity and I knew this wouldn’t be the end of his questioning. “Isn’t that what old friends do?”

I thought at one time, he and I were friends—more than friends. But now I knew different. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not in touch with any of my old friends.” His chuckle sounded beside me and I did my best to appear unaffected but dammit he really had a great laugh. It should be illegal for a man to have his looks, his wealth and a wonderfully contagious laugh.

“You’re different. Harder. But still as beautiful as ever.”

“Yeah, well, life has a way of doing that to a girl.” Luckily, Cecilia chose that moment to pull me away for a kitchen emergency.

***

Roc

After the tour with Abby, I got the feeling she was holding something back from me. I didn’t expect her to be thrilled to see me considering the way she’d left, but her determination to keep a professional distance intrigued me. Made me wonder what the spicy little minx was hiding.

I had a little determination of my own to get to the bottom of it which is why I’d given her no choice but to meet me for dinner. Her reluctant agreement and insistence on meeting at the restaurant gave me another hint that she was hiding something, and I planned to find out what before the night ended. I knew the moment she arrived well before I spotted her, because the air changed, became charged the way it only did with the cool blonde walking my way.

“Good evening.” She gave a polite smile and took her seat, her back so straight and stiff she had to be uncomfortable.

“You look beautiful.” I hadn’t meant to blurt that out, but she really did look stunning in a floral print dress that hugged her breasts and nipped in at the waist. Her blonde hair fell over sun-kissed shoulders and I knew—without a doubt—before I fired her, I’d have her in my bed again.

Her smile came across tight and uncomfortable. “Thank you.”

We both ordered mojitos when the waitress came but Abby hardly touched hers. “You seem nervous, Abby, why?”

She shook her head and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Seriously? No, I’m not nervous, I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Care to share?”

Another shake told me she had no plans on sharing anything important with me tonight. “Nothing for you to worry about. I rarely let personal matters affect my work. Speaking of, I assume that’s why you wanted to meet this evening?”

So prim and proper. So formal. “Actually, I thought we could catch up, talk about what’s been going on since we last saw one another.”

Her lips pulled in clearly indicated that was the last thing she wanted. “I went home for a while and then I came here, where I’ve been ever since. You?”

With a careless shrug I told her, “I’ve been here and there, mostly for business. You remember what my schedule was like.”

Her nod had been so brief I couldn’t be sure if I’d imagined it or not but I knew she remembered. “Seems like business is good, as usual. Congratulations.”

Ignoring the silly stutter of my heart at her words, I chugged down the rest of my drink, determined to remain unaffected by her. I wanted her, even worse now than I had years ago. And I planned to have her, but tonight wouldn’t be the night. I had to play my cards right with this one. “Thanks. Two years ago, I opened an adventure resort in Alaska.”

She beamed at me and fuck all to hell if it didn’t make me feel like the king of the fucking world. She’d always been able to do that with her sweet smiles, make me feel as though I could move mountains, leap tall buildings, super hero shit. I’d grown addicted to that feeling—and to her. “That’s great. I’m really happy for you.”

She seemed to mean those words, yet throughout dinner she hadn’t warmed to me at all. I couldn’t figure it out. “Dessert?”

“No thanks, I need to get going. Early day tomorrow.” Then, unbelievably she plunked down money for the check.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Big emerald eyes frowned at me and then double checked the money on the table. “I’m paying my part of the bill plus gratuity. Is there a problem?”

“Hell yes, there’s a problem.” My voice pitched low, lethally so, and my eyes bore into her. “You’ve never paid for a meal with me and don’t think you can start now.”

She winced as though my words slapped her. “Yes, well, that was as your lover or mistress, which I no longer am, so I pay my own way thanks. Have a good night.” She turned and stomped through the dining room and out into the warm starry night.

Mistress? I didn’t know where that had come from but I couldn’t let her walk away with that on her mind. I laid down more than enough to cover the bill and followed her into the night. Halfway up the block I spotted her, and it took just a few steps to catch up with her. “Abby, what the fuck?” I grabbed her arm and spun her towards me.

She yanked her arm from my grasp and stepped back. “What is your problem?”

“You are! What the hell did you mean, mistress? You were never my mistress.”

“Well, it doesn’t really matter now, that’s all in the past.” She took a step back. “Good night, Roc.”

That did it. The breathless whisper on which she said my name hit me right in the chest and traveled lower until my whole body began to warm and respond to her nearness. I took a step closer and she gazed up at me warily but in that second, I wanted nothing more than to be with her. “Abby,” I whispered as my hands went to her waist, enjoying the feel of her full hips beneath my hands.

“Roc,” she said on a groan, hands flying to my chest probably to push me away but they simply rested there. Then they moved, stroked over my chest and abs.

I couldn’t hold back and probably wouldn’t have if I could. I wanted a taste of her so bad, I couldn’t stop and reconsider my actions. One hand slid up from her waist to tangle in her sexy waves as I angled her head and slammed my mouth against hers. Tongue sliding against her bottom lip and then the top before teasing the seam until her sweet lips opened to me. I lost myself in her taste, her touch, her scent. All the things I’d tried to forget in the last four years came roaring back in vivid color as her hands fisted in my chest. I swallowed a moan and deepened the kiss until we both stood out on the street under the Puerto Rican moon, making out like teenagers. I couldn’t get enough, but then slowly, she pulled back.

Her hand went to her mouth, touching her lips as though she wanted to feel what had just happened. She took a step back. Then another. And another until I could no longer reach out to her. “Good night,” she said on another breathy whisper and walked away from me.

Again.