Chapter 57

Michael

It was a little over a week after Rainey came back to work for me and it was almost as if nothing intimate ever happened between us. Though, since the weekend, Rainey had turned into a different person. At least it seemed so by the outfits she wore. Monday it was a one piece pants suit, I believed the girls called them rompers. It was black and flowy, but the neckline was deeper than she normally wore. It was still work-appropriate, so I didn’t think anything of it.

Tuesday was a step up, at least for me. A tight, long sleeved, cream-colored dress. Again the neckline was lower than I’d ever seen Rainey wear before. A black belt cinched at the waist accentuated her thin frame. More than once, I found myself staring at her when she walked down the hallway.

This morning was the kicker. A black midriff sweater with a black leather pencil skirt. When she arrived that morning, she exchanged her boots for gray stiletto heels. The shoes shaped her calf muscles and gave her a tremendous advantage in height.

During one instance of her coming into my office to deliver paperwork, I stared at the sliver of skin showing between the top of her skirt at the hem of her sweater. Little gold zippers at the hip reflected the overhead lights. I doubted they were practical in any sense, but I became jealous of the metal zipper. I wanted to touch her skin right there. And I sensed that was the reaction she wanted.

I had a feeling she was playing me as I’d played her when Natalia had called. In a way, she was showing me what I was missing when I wasn’t with her. But she’d been the one to break it off, not me. There was no reason for her to dress like that, but I enjoyed it a whole lot.

If she wanted a reaction from me, she wasn’t going to get it. If she thought Natalia and I were involved, then so be it. I wouldn’t lie if asked flat out, but she hadn’t bothered. She made assumptions about my life as she always did. I knew she thought that I wanted the island property for myself and Natalia. She was only half right. I could easily have cleared everything up, but it made me smile when she continued to refer to her as “the client”. Usually, she wanted to know everything about our clients before finding properties. That’s how I knew she thought she knew who the client was.

It upset me that Rainey figured I didn’t care for her. Didn’t she know that I brought her back here so that I could be with her every day? Even in a professional capacity? For an intelligent woman, she was pretty daft at relationships. Though could I blame her? She hadn’t given me the entire truth about her ex. Had he screwed with her so badly that she was so afraid to open herself up again?

That was something I could understand. After Cynthia died, I never thought I could love again. Spending my nights with women who didn’t matter was my only option for a while. Until I met Rainey.

I still loved her but had yet to tell her that. After finding out about Tanner, I hadn’t brought it up to her at all. I wanted to wait until the perfect time.

In the meantime, I enjoyed the show that walked into my office each morning. I wondered how far she’d take it before I bent her over my own desk and had a replay of our night together at Kadia.

“Rainey,” I called out to her later that afternoon. We finished with lunch, and there was a lull in the office. It always was much slower this time of year. Most people were spending time with their loved ones and wanted to wait until the first of the year to make any business decisions.

“Yes?” she called, poking her head through the doorway. “Do you need me?”

“Yes,” I said. “I got your email.”

Instead of coming into my office to discuss the property she found, she resorted to an email stating that the property was “perfect.”

“Is there a problem?” she asked, now standing in my doorway. The curve of her hips leaned against the threshold, and I glanced at my computer screen so I wouldn’t stare.

“No,” I said. “I want to hear everything about it.”

“But the email—”

“From you, Rainey. As I said, this is a personal venture, and I want to make sure it's perfect.”

She chewed on her lower lip and stepped into the office as if she were walking through broken glass.

“It just came up on the market. Previously it was a small resort, owned by a wealthy family for years. After some research, I found out the family participated in a few bad business deals, and they are bankrupt. They are extremely motivated, and I know I can negotiate a fair price for the property.”

“I’m not sure about a resort,” I said.

She shook her head. “It’s not a resort like Sandals. It has five private cabanas, sitting on the water. The main house is about the size of your penthouse with a full staff and a helicopter pad. You can also reach the island by boat. The last renovation was five years ago, so everything is still in prime condition. It would be perfect for you.”

“Me?” I asked.

“Sorry, your client. I think it would be perfect for the client.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling.

“The cabanas can be used for family, friends, or a different place to stay for the night. Or they can be taken out completely,” she said. “If the client was just interested in the main house.”

I wanted Rainey’s opinion on the place, needing a woman’s touch. If she could see herself staying there, I knew Natalia could as well. Natalia and Frederick did like to entertain people. If Natalia bought the resort, then Rainey and I would have a place to stay if we managed to get over this massive hump in our relationship.

“Did you see the pictures?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “But pictures won’t be able to do it justice.”

“Oh,” she said.

“I want to see the place for myself,” I said, standing up. I walked over to her. Her perfume filled my nose when I was only a few steps away. She smelled like heaven. It was a new scent, and it captured her essence perfectly. “This client is too important to me not to go check it out for myself. I’ll need a full report of the place before I even consider bringing the client in on the idea.”

“I’ll make arrangements for your trip whenever you are ready,” she said.

“I want to go this weekend,” I said. “Friday morning, if possible.”

“I’ll send you all the details—”

“You’re coming with me,” I said.

“What?” she sputtered.

“Is that a problem?” I asked. She wanted this job, and even though she lied about her son, during the interview, she said she would be available at a moment’s notice. There hadn’t been a problem before. There shouldn’t be one now.

“It’s a little short notice,” she said.

“You have two days to make arrangements for your son,” I said. “You said this wouldn’t be a problem.”

She swallowed. “I’ll talk to my parents.”

“Good,” I said. “Also arrange Constantine to pick me up first and then you. So you have more time with your son. I want to leave together for the airport, so there aren't any problems.”

She stared at her hands.

“Rainey?” I asked.

Her eyes lifted to mine. “Is that a problem?”

“No,” she said softly then whirled on her heel. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Good,” I said and closed the door behind her.

She wasn’t happy, but it wasn’t my problem. It was part of her job, and she was made aware of the last minute traveling from the start. Since her parents lived below Rainey, I knew it wouldn’t be a problem. Why was she acting like it was? It wasn’t the first time she came with me to see a property. Was it because it resided on a secluded island? Did she already know my plan before we got there?

With the right atmosphere, I knew Rainey would be mine again. I had to convince her that everything would be all right between us, even with a kid in the mix. I didn’t plan on leaving him behind, but I needed to focus on strengthening our relationship first. And if I could bring back the feelings that sparked between us at Natalia’s cabin, but in a warmer temperature with fewer clothes between us, I’d do anything to make that happen.

I grabbed my cell and dialed Natalia. She picked up on the last ring.

“Am I interrupting something?” I asked her.

“Who is that?” Frederick called from the background.

“It’s my mother!” Natalia said, then whispered, “Hold on.”

I heard some shuffling, and then the line picked up again.

“Did you find something?” she asked.

“You know Rick is going to check your phone records,” I said. He was notorious for being untrustworthy. As much as he liked Natalia, it was a habit he couldn’t shake. And we both knew that her mother never called her. I wasn’t even sure why she used that as an excuse. But as much as Rick was untrustworthy, she tended to trust everyone. A reason she always found herself in trouble.

What a pair.

“I don’t care,” she said. “I’ll delete your incoming call. Tell me you have something! He won’t stop complaining about the cold. It’s almost as if he didn’t grow up in the Northeast.”

“Rick liked to take a lot of warmer vacations in the winter.” He was like a bird. While I, on the other hand, didn’t mind the cold. I enjoyed living in a place with seasons. “But yes, I did find something. I’m flying out later this week to check it out.”

“Thank god! If you like it, then I like it. I trust you completely.”

“Rainey is coming with me,” I said, unsure why. I couldn’t talk to anyone about her, except for Natalia. Rick would bust my chops about it, saying there were other fish in the sea. But he was never one for commitment.

“Don’t break any furniture,” she said then cackled into the phone.

“I told you it’s strictly professional between us,” I said.

“Sure it is,” she teased. “I can’t wait to see pictures. Be sure to send me a ton! And do try to enjoy yourself. Get a tan, if you can. You’re pasty as hell.”

I laughed. “Thanks. I’ll try.”

“I have to go,” she said. “Kisses. And I hope to hear from you soon.”

“You will.”

She was the first to hang up.

I glanced at the clock. There were a few more hours of work to be done, and I knew arranging the trip would take up most of the time for Rainey. I sat down at my desk and opened the link that she sent me. After scrolling through a few photos, I knew Rainey had found the one. It was perfect, just as she described. The website was unknown to me, so she must have dug hard to find it.

The other locations she picked out would be perfect for Natalia too, but this one was special. It was more secluded than the rest, something that would be an asset if things ever went south with Rick and his dealings with Demetri. But since Natalia was purchasing the property, it would be in her name and not connected with us at all. Was that what she was going for? If so, she was a lot smarter than any of us gave her credit for.