CHAPTER TWO
After I cleared the storm of uninvited feelings from my mind, I left the conference room and made my way to the main office space just down the hall, where they had a pool of twenty cubicles occupied by a small army of people.
As I had learned last week from Rook, the operators handled everything from room-service orders and excursion requests to maintenance and fantasy schedule changes. Today, there were no guests, so I assumed everyone was busy with hurricane cleanup, like making sure the island’s immaculate gardens and gravel walkways were cleared of debris or ensuring all of the underground structures weren’t flooded. I hadn’t seen much of the operation’s guts, except for this particular office situated beneath Rook’s mansion, but we were in hurricane alley. With reason, much of the infrastructure had been built below ground and came equipped with industrial generators that pumped away any water that snuck into stairwells or openings. My guess was that building down instead of up also preserved the lush jungle and natural landscape.
Anyway, my first task at hand was to get the lay of the land. Second, I needed to find out where Rook stashed important information, such as contacts he bribed to keep this island hidden from the world, bank records, and most importantly, the guest lists. If my suspicions were correct, Cici wasn’t the first person to go missing, and I wasn’t the first person to come looking for a loved one. Rook had to keep records of that and anything else he might see as a threat. Finally, I wanted to find out more about the women who’d been wearing red butterfly pendants last week. There had been five. All elderly, all of them supposedly VIP guests who received the best fantasy a million dollars could buy. But Rook had lied to me about the details of their vacations—that they’d come for some sort of loved-one reenactment fantasy. Then, as we were evacuating three days ago, I saw five young women wearing the same red butterfly pendants. Call me crazy, but they looked like those old ladies. Only, they weren’t elderly. They looked twenty at best.
People just don’t lose sixty years off their faces and bodies. But I’d also seen Rook’s hair go salt and pepper in a day, then turn midnight black the next. Was it my imagination that his skin had looked younger, too? Or had he just made a quick visit to the Just for Men aisle and my mind let me see what it wanted? I didn’t know, but I was here to find out.
As I stood at the back of the cubicles, watching the staff on their headsets and typing away on their computers, I listened in on the woman closest to me, taking notes for maintenance requests—“North dock. Repair needed. Got it. Yacht from slip number thirty has taken on water. Got it. Power down at harbor master’s station…” It dawned on me that this wasn’t their first hurricane and it wouldn’t be their last. They had a process, and I wouldn’t be of much help by simply standing here.
Not going to learn anything either.
“Stephanie!” a deep voice called out.
I turned my head to find Luke, the scuba instructor, standing in a damp white T-shirt and cutoff jeans. I’d met him a little over a week ago on welcome night. He was tall, tan, and extremely handsome. He’d also made his interest in me known.
That means he’s an ally.
“Luke!” I went to my tiptoes and gave him a hug. He smelled like fresh sweat and seawater.
Luke released me and beamed down with his hazel eyes. “I just heard the good news, boss. Does this mean I get a raise now that you’re in charge?”
I play slapped his arm. “Absolutely. How’s an extra million a year?”
“Great! But I’d really hoped to get a company car, too.” He smirked, and I laughed. There was nowhere on this island to drive anything but a golf cart.
“I’ve got a brand-new fully loaded Jeep waiting right outside for you.”
He made a sour face. “I had to drive those in the military. Not a fan.”
“Oh, sorry.” I leaned in. “I forgot about your past life.” He’d told me last week that he’d served in the marines for several years and came to the island to find peace and quiet. I got the impression that he’d been through a lot.
“No problem.” His lips curled into a sneaky little smile. “I’ll forgive you if you have dinner with me tonight.”
“Oh, I really…” I hit pause on my rejection. Last week, Rook had nearly pummeled Luke for hitting on me. Then Rook and I almost had sex, and after that, Rook made it clear he would have to steer clear of me for the remainder of my stay. I was too much temptation. Which was why, when I’d demanded a job, I’d assured him that I fully respected his beliefs and would keep things professional between us. After all, what sort of sadistic woman pursued a man who’d taken a vow of chastity and was completely unavailable? Yes, Rook was sexier than hell and had kissed me like—
Stop. Just stop. He can’t be trusted.
Things were different this week. This week, I needed Rook to let his guard down and trust me—I wasn’t here to seduce him or prove he was a liar. I was here to work.
“Yes. Dinner sounds great.” I leaned in. “As long as I’m not breaking any rules? No one’s given me the employee handbook just yet.”
Luke’s clean-shaven face glowed. “I can assure you that employee fraternization is strongly encouraged here on the island.” He winked. “We’re all adults. And adults need company.”
Of course. Why wouldn’t the rules be different? We weren’t working for just any old company. This was the island of indulgences—sex, drinking, eating, exploring your wildest fantasies.
“In that case,” I said, “I’ll have dinner with you on one condition.”
He cocked one light brown brow in question.
“Everyone’s busy with the hurricane cleanup,” I said, “and I don’t want to bother them. Can you show me around?”
“Actually, that’s why I’m here. Rook asked me to help you settle in to your new staff quarters.”
“Really?” I masked my shock. Rook was obviously making a statement, somewhere in the realm of “fuck you.” Because last week, despite being tied to a vow of chastity, Rook had made it clear he didn’t want to see me with another man. “I may be a monk, but I’m no saint. You know I want you.”
Okay. This is actually good. It meant Rook took my employment seriously. He couldn’t run around acting like a jealous boyfriend.
“Really.” Luke nodded. “Rook pulled me off salvage duty just to come find you—we lost two yachts in the storm.”
“Well, lucky me. I can’t wait to see my new home.”
Luke flashed a suspiciously wolfish grin. “And I can’t wait to show you.”