Reese

––––––––

I slipped on my flat-heeled black sandals and stood in front of the full-length mirror hanging on the inside of my closet door. The sandals were okay with the dress, but they didn’t give me that sexy, I-want-to-run-my-tongue-up-your-calf look I was hoping for. I strolled to the shoe rack, and sighed at the ruined Jimmy Choos, then grabbed a pair of five-inch strappy black sandals that would go much better than the flat sandals. The flat sandals went well with most of my business outfits, but this was dinner. Well, a work dinner, which I was glad about. I hadn’t really had any plans, but when Adrian first mentioned dinner, I didn’t want him to think I would just accept an invitation like that from my boss. He was gorgeous beyond comprehension, and as much as I’d love to get to know him on a personal and intimate level, he was, unfortunately, my boss. And I had a strict no dating my boss rule. Not that I had much experience with that, considering this was my first job, but I’d heard and read about too many horror stories of women who dated their boss. It never worked out.

After changing my shoes, I glanced in the mirror again. Adrian hadn’t said where we were going to dinner, so I had no idea what to wear. I chose this black cocktail dress because it was simple. Not too fancy, and not too revealing. And could either be dressed up with fancy jewelry or downplayed with a pair of simple pearl earrings—costume jewelry, since I didn’t own any real pearls—which was what I chose for this evening. I completed the look by pulling my hair into a semi-messy bun, letting a few curls fall down over my shoulders.

I gave one last look into the mirror. Satisfied with my appearance, I grabbed my black clutch purse and headed for the door. I needed some air while I waited for Adrian and a walk on the dock was the best place. He said he’d pick me up, but now that I thought about it, how the hell did he even know where I lived?

Quinn had been with me when we’d found this place. It was a bargain I couldn’t pass up; a small two-bedroom cottage right on the beach. It was old and needed fresh paint on the ceiling and updated appliances, but it was the only thing I could afford until I started bringing in regular paychecks. The second bedroom would be perfect for when my mom and dad came to visit. The cozy little home even came with a small boat dock. Now I just needed a boat. Well, maybe not, considering what happened the other night. Thank goodness that smart dolphin had come by when it had. I doubt I would have made it to the boat with the way my shoulder had been dislocated. The damn thing still hurt.

I walked out onto the dock. It wobbled a bit, as I headed to the end. I breathed in the cool ocean breeze, the salt air tickling my senses. I loved the ocean. I grew up in Whisper Cape, right near the water. My parents and sister still lived there. Quinn might be a few minutes older than me, but she wasn’t in any hurry to be out on her own yet.

I was just the opposite. As soon as I got my degree, I started looking for interior design jobs in exotic locations. Especially since my boyfriend of six months, Graham, decided he was taking off to New York to pursue his career in theater without even considering my desires or career goals. Needless to say, that relationship ended sooner than I’d hoped.

But then I found the ad for the job here in Kauai as the interior design project manager. I was amazed at the requirements. My Master’s degree was above and beyond what they were looking for. All I had to do was send in some designs I’d drawn along with my resume and next thing I knew I was moving to Kauai.

The sound of tires crunching in the pebbles of the unpaved driveway caught my attention and I turned to see a red, convertible Ferrari. The top was down, and Adrian Marlowe sat proudly in the driver’s seat. He gave me that deliciously sexy smile as he approached me. He wore shorts, again. A different pair; light gray, soft looking linen with slanted side pockets. His shirt was short sleeved and multi-colored striped. Not quite business attire, but what had I expected? The man wore shorts all day at the office.

“Reese, you look ravishing.” He took my hands in his and gazed lazily into my eyes.

Those dark, smoky eyes of his were enough to make me lose myself and want to tear off my dress right there on the dock and let him have his way with me. Or was it me who wanted to have my way with him? Either way worked for me. I shook my head. Your boss, Reese. He is your boss. Boy, did I wish he wasn’t.

He spoke, but I was lost in his gaze and didn’t catch everything he said.

“... dinner. So I hope that’s okay with you.”

“Sure. That sounds great.”

“Really?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Um ... what’s so funny?”

“You just agreed to go skinny dipping with me after dinner.” He opened the car door, and I slipped into the low black leather seat, somewhat embarrassed, yet turned on at the same time.

I swiftly glanced up at him. “I did not.”

“No.” He chuckled. “You didn’t. But you didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

“Okay. No, I may have missed a sentence or two. I admit; my mind was focused on this beautiful car,” I lied.

“Right.” He hurried around the front of the car and hopped into the driver’s seat. “Café Portofino. It’s not your everyday Italian.”

“Oh. I love Italian food.”

The restaurant was most definitely Italian, and most definitely not typical. We walked through a large dining area toward the back where the hostess stood with a broad smile.

“Mr. Marlowe. It’s a pleasure to see you again. I believe your table is waiting. Right this way, please.”

She ushered us through to the other side of the main dining room and outside onto the terrace where there were several small tables. A gentle tune caught my attention, and I glanced to my left to see a young woman strumming the cords of a beautiful harp. She performed a soft classical song, providing a romantic ambiance. So far, this place didn’t suggest a very good atmosphere for a business meeting.

We ordered drinks, and the waiter placed a basket of fresh bread in the middle of the table, accompanied with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Adrian tore a chunk from the loaf. “This is the only way to begin an authentic Italian meal.” He grinned, dipping a piece of bread into some oil and vinegar, then held it to my lips. I simply stared at him for a few seconds, so surprised by such a sexually suggestive act. The idea of eating from his fingers felt a bit too intimate.

He rolled his eyes and smirk, “Hurry up and try it before it drips on your beautiful dress. This is the best bread you’ll ever taste.”

This felt awfully sensual, but I went with it and hesitantly opened my mouth and took a bite.

“Mmmm. Oh. Oh, my God. That is amazing.”

“See? Stick with me, Reese Briden. I’ll always steer you in the right direction. In fact, if you don’t object, let me order for you. Do you like seafood?”

He wanted to order my dinner? The last person to order food for me was my mother. I think I’d been about five. After that, I was on my own to choose what I wanted from the children’s menu. Did I want Adrian to order for me? It felt a little overbearing, yet there was something sexy about it. This business dinner was feeling more and more like a date by the minute. Under normal circumstances, I would be loving this. I was loving this, but then I had to remember, he was my boss. Was I really on a date with my boss, my first day on the job? I had a bad feeling this wasn’t going to end well. I was treading into some dangerous waters, and I wasn’t sure how long I could stay afloat before drowning in his charm. I wasn’t sure what to do. Should I just give in? I wanted to, but still ...

“Yes, I do like seafood,” I answered. “But really, I’m sure I can order for myself.”

“I’m sure you can. I just think this time, you should let me. After all, I’m more familiar with the entrées.”

I sucked in a breath. What was the harm? Besides, he had a point. Familiarity was a big plus. “Okay, order for me.”

“Great. How adventurous do you feel?”

Sitting outside in the moonlight, across from him, with his gorgeous eyes and seductive voice, despite my worries, I felt pretty darn brave and willing to try just about anything he suggested.

Damn it, why shouldn’t I enjoy this? I had no reason not to, did I? My God, I was living in Hawaii, having dinner with an incredibly hot guy, living practically every girl’s fantasy at the moment.

Screw it; I was going with the flow.

“I guess I could live a little dangerously.” I grinned.

Adrian smiled and ordered Opakapaka sautéed in lemon butter, capers, and white wine for both of us along with a bottle of Chianti.

“What is that?” I asked when the waiter walked away. I’d always been fond of fish, a big lover of sushi, in fact, but I’d never heard of Opakapaka.

“It’s a very popular catch here in Hawaii. I think you’ll like it.”

We sat sipping the wine while I enjoyed the refreshing Hawaiian breeze flowing over us. It was a perfect evening with the quiet serenity of the bay as the twilight hour graced us with the rising of a beautiful full moon.

The entrées came, and I forked a piece of the fish into my mouth.

“Mmmm ... Oh wow, this is delicious.” The succulent and delicate white fish melted on my tongue.

“I was right, huh?”

“Yes. I think this is the best seafood dish I’ve ever tasted.”

His dark gaze captured mine as I glanced at him. “You’ll find I’m right about a lot of things I tell you, Reese.”

His arrogance not only amused me but it also turned me on. And the way my name flowed from his lips, the seductive tone of his voice, the fish wasn’t the only thing melting inside me.

“Is that so?” I shot back with a smile. I could give as good as I got.

“Yes.” He sipped his wine. “Tell me, Reese Briden, what do you like to do for pleasure?”

Several activities came to mind. Most of them included him. My fingers unconsciously skimmed along the edge of the bodice of my dress and his gaze followed along. I cleared my throat when I realized what I’d just done. He kept cool and appeared to be unconcerned or unbothered, though my cheeks heated to a level I knew he should notice. I shifted in my seat before answering. “Well, let’s see. I love to travel.”

“No. What do you do for pleasure?”

My eyes widened. Hadn’t I just answered that question? “I just told you. I love to travel.”

He kept his gaze on me, his eyebrows furrowing, and I had to remember he was my boss and maybe he was asking me for work reasons, and I shouldn’t have sounded so flippant.

“Yes, but traveling is a means to get to a place to do what you like to do. So, what is it that you like to do, Reese?”

“Oh.” He wanted specifics. Probably not as specific as telling him I loved to practice moving objects with my mind. That would probably get me fired and sent to a loony farm. So, I glanced out at the dark sea, hoping the soft white foamy waves would spark an idea. What I really wanted was to explore his mind, but I’d been taught that doing anything to anyone’s mind was a huge invasion of personal space and that I should never do it unless I absolutely had to. Not that I could actually read someone’s mind, but I could alter their memory a bit.

My sister and I both received our gifts from my father. Playing with someone’s mind was the one thing he was very strict about. It was dangerous, to say the least, and he’d had his share of accidental mind cleaning in his past. Something about a friend who’d lost several years of his memory because my father lost control of his target. I remembered his warning. “Be careful what you erase. You never know what the future brings or who you might be hurting.”

“Let’s see...”

Adrian sat back in his chair and waited. Man, he was sexy. Okay, get a grip, Reese.

“I like to swim,” I finally blurted.

“You do?” He frowned and tilted his head.

His reaction to my statement puzzled me. “Why does that surprise you?”

He chuckled. “No reason. You just strike me as the sort of woman who might prefer to sit on the beach and read a book.”

I straightened in my chair. “I’ve never been one to just sit and read. That’s my sister.”

Though I didn’t mind discussing myself, or things I liked to do, I really wanted to know more about him. He’d yet to mention anything about work even though that was the reason he’d given me for asking me to join him for dinner tonight, but it seemed all he wanted to do was get to know more about me. Though I suppose that made sense since I was a new employee.

“There’s something to be said about a woman who is well read.”

“Yes. I agree.” Shoot. Now he probably thought I might not be well suited for the job I’d been hired for. “I didn’t mean to sound as if I didn’t read. Just not as much as my sister Quinn. I’ve always been the adventurous one, but you did say this was a business dinner. Maybe we should get down to that.”

“Right.” He put his fork down on his plate and leaned back. Reaching into the back pocket of his shorts, he pulled out a folded piece of paper. He moved his wine glass to his right and opened the paper, displaying it on the table beside me. It looked like a timeline of events.

“We will be opening the hotel in phases,” he began, using a pencil to point at the different sections on the page. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as his hand accidentally brushed against my bare upper arm as he leaned in a bit closer to the table. I had to force myself to smile and nod in understanding as he spoke, realizing that this really was a business dinner and not a date. “The completion of each phase is crucial to the openings of each wing of the hotel. What I’d like you to do is spend the next week going over designs and then give me a preliminary budget for each wing. I’ll need this before you make any final decisions on purchases. Janet will give you photos and measurements of the six different floor plans.”

“Do you have any preferences for colors schemes?”

“Adrian.” Adrian’s head snapped up, and I followed his line of vision to watch a man heading toward our table.