A Holiday Romance (17 page)

Alice didn’t pick up on the hint; she was too thrilled to have an out. “Aw, and I’m leaving the next day. You’ll have to tell Hank I’m sorry. Maybe next time.”

She escaped, somewhat disappointed in herself for being less than straightforward about her lack of interest in Harrie’s nephew.

Her mind was still replaying Kyle’s confrontation with his brother.

Emotions had been raw, the testosterone flying. She wasn’t accustomed to violence, but she had to admit the fight had been exciting.

Kyle had been forceful. Direct. Unrestrained. Passionate.

Whether or not that applied to her or only to his complicated family relationships was another question.

W
HEN THE DOORBELL
rang after ten that night, she looked through the peephole and saw a piece of coconut cake, fish-eyed to appear as large as a raft. She leaned her forehead against the door for a moment before saying, “Who is it?”

The foam take-out box opened and closed like a maw. “Dessert.” Kyle’s voice.

“I didn’t order any dessert.”

“Fred sent me. This other guy’s just the courier.”

“I don’t eat cakes that speak.” But she opened the door. It almost hurt to see Kyle, all suited up again. Her chest tightened.

Then she noticed his black eye. Automatically she reached to touch the puffed purple skin. He turned his face away.

“Does it hurt?”

“Some.”

A hollow opened in her stomach, even though she’d snacked her way through the remains of her kitchen stock. “Your people were arriving today.”

“Yes. I just finished dinner with them.”

“They must have wondered about that eye.”

“I made up a story about a horse kicking me.” He smiled, crinkling his eyes and making him wince. “You’re tuned in to the gossip. Have you heard otherwise?”

Of course he’d be worried about that. Why shouldn’t he be?

She mumbled something negative, not wanting to explain that she’d been holed up all evening.

He worked the box again. “I have lemon filling and white buttercream frosting with toasted coconut.”

She laughed. “Stop it.”

“I’m here for you. Just for you.”

She took the cake. “Which of you was speaking then?”

Kyle kissed her cheek. Briefly. “Me.”

She wished he’d lingered. “Have you tried ice on that eye?”

“There was no time. After I left the stable, I had to
change my suit and drive to Phoenix to meet a plane.” He made a face. “Lani wanted to put cover-up on me.”

“Bad idea. You’d’ve looked like a man with a black eye wearing makeup.” She left the door to go to the kitchen. “Come in. I’ll treat you to half a piece of cake and an ice pack.” She glanced over her shoulder. “That is, if you’re willing to stay for a while. I guarantee that someone from the condo crew will have noticed.”

He didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take the risk.”

She returned with a tray of supplies, and they arranged themselves on the couch. “This time, I’m the doctor.” She went up on her knees. Ministering was a good excuse to get her hands on him. “Lean back and loosen that tie. Put your feet up.” She gave his chest a pat. “Better, hmm?”

“Mmm.”

She slapped on the baggie of ice she’d prepared.

He flinched. “Damn, that’s cold.”

“That’s right.” She pressed his hand to the ice. “Hold it there while I eat my cake.”

He watched her out of one eye. “I thought you’d be more sympathetic.”

“Me, too.” She stabbed the fork into the cake, coming away with a huge bite. “What was the big idea, fighting with Denver like that?”

“You were kissing him—” Kyle started to say. She stuffed a large forkful of cake into his mouth.

She waved the fork. “
He
was kissing
me.
That should have been obvious.”

“It was,” he said through his mouthful.

“Well, then. Why did you start swinging?”

“No excuses. I was jealous, no matter who was kissing whom. I just plain lost it.”

She put down the plate. “Mr. Discipline lost it?”

“And I may not get it back.”

“What’s
it?
”

His chest expanded as he inhaled. He was leaning back against the corner of the couch, both arms raised, one hand propping his head up, the other keeping the bag of ice in place. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. The smear of buttercream on his bottom lip made him seem especially vulnerable.

“My idea that I can control everything in my life, I suppose. Especially myself.”

“No one can. Not all the time.”

“I should have realized that last night.” His eye was closed. He didn’t move. “I lost it then, too.”

She couldn’t resist any longer. She crawled up beside him and snuggled against his side. He was trying so hard.

His arm curved around her. “Alice Potter,” he said to the ceiling. “Who’d have thought you would be my undoing?”

She thought of the beautiful and seductive Jenna Malloy.
Does not compute.

“There’s more to you than any other woman I’ve known,” he added.

She put her face against his chest and squeezed her eyes shut in happiness. “It’s all these desserts.”

“Don’t.” He dropped the bag of ice and put his cold hand to her cheek, raising her face to kiss her.

Once, coconut-flavored.

Twice, Kyle-flavored.

“I’m being serious,” he said. “You’re something special to me, Alice. I really do…like you. A lot.” He tilted his head back. “And I hope that your leaving doesn’t mean we won’t ever see each other again.”

She nestled against him, disappointed that he hadn’t been able to take the full step into “I love you.”

I’m not ready for that, either,
she decided.
And besides, just saying the words without living them means nothing.
Like her former fiancé had.

“You can send postcards,” she said, trying to sound light and carefree.

He hugged her. “I’ll send plane tickets.”

“Oh, well,
that’d
be worth a thanks.”

He didn’t miss the dry intonation. “What?”

She lifted her head. “Your postcard this morning.” Had it only been this morning? “You wrote ‘Thanks.’” She shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what you meant by that.”

Kyle frowned.

“Thanks for the roll in the hay?” she guessed. “No, I suppose that’d be more Denver’s line.”

“Don’t bring him into this.”

“No? Maybe it was thanks for the memories, then.”

Kyle gave her a small shake. “You goof.”

Was she? She didn’t know. “You’re a hard man to read.”

“I’ll spell it out for you.” He straightened, keeping her with him as he traced the letter
T
across her chest. “Thanks for taking the trip to Elk River with me.”

“That was—”

With his thumb, he pressed her lips closed. “
H.
Thanks for having the patience and compassion to deal with my family. They might not be the best people in the world, but they’re always going to be part of my life.”

“Even your—” He wagged a finger and she stopped, although one of these days she was going to ask about his father. She’d lost both her parents now, and she had a hard time accepting that the hole in Kyle’s heart couldn’t be filled.

He traced an
A
that dipped below the scoop-neck of her tank. “Thanks for being Alice.”

His desire was so evident that she tried really hard to let herself believe. He didn’t want Jenna. He wanted her, Alice.

She took his hand and placed it over her breast. He cupped it, rubbing his thumb back and forth over the hardened crest, then traced a tingling letter
N.

“Thanks for not giving up on me, even when I was being…” The rest of his words were lost as his mouth moved to her neck. The straps of her top fell, giving his tongue access to her breast. His tongue’s wandering path might have been the letter
K.

“Thanks for all the kissing,” he said hotly into her ear, and they both laughed low in their throats.

By then, they had lost all attempts at propriety and were horizontal on the sofa, she in her pajama pants and he in his tailored suit. He lifted off her top, tangling her arms above her head with it so she was half-naked beneath him.

He lowered his mouth. She arched into the heat and pleasure of his kiss.

Two-fingered, he drew a long sinuous
S
from her collarbone to her navel. “Thanks. Thanks for saving me from myself.”

She reached between his legs. “I don’t know about that, but I sure wouldn’t mind saving you just for me.”

After that, they had nothing more to say. He removed his jacket while she unbuckled his belt, unzipped his trousers. His eyes were on hers while he sheathed himself. She had a moment of startling clarity, acknowledging just how badly she wanted to keep him, before his tongue and his fingers were inside her, stoking her desire.

She shuddered. Cried out, gripping his shoulders, as he filled her.

They were together now. Right now. Was
forever
necessary?

T
HEY’D MADE
no plans, and she’d known he’d be busy impressing the board of executives, so Alice hadn’t expected to see Kyle that day. Her last day. Tomorrow she’d be leaving at 10:00 a.m. for the airport.

He might show up at her door late tonight, she supposed. In secret. When it was safe. And she’d let him in. There was no use denying that.

And yet…

Keep in touch.
Why did that sound so lame?

Because it was.

Fresh from her second shower of the day, Alice wandered around the condo, straightening and polishing. She’d been told that maids would come in after she was gone, but she couldn’t bear to leave a mess. Her mother had been fussy like that, to the point of asking Alice to tidy up her hospital room on the day she died.

Alice looked at her reflection in the sliding glass door. “Hey, Mom.”

I’m traveling. I’m being adventurous. Maybe it’s not everything I built it up to be—because I’m not really, truly, a sporty kind of girl—but it’s been amazing all the same.

“I won’t stay on Osprey Island for the rest of my life, like you did.”

The doorbell rang and, reprieved, she hurriedly
yanked the sheer over the glass. She didn’t have to decide what to do with the rest of her life right then.

She was expecting Harrie or Mags or Mary Grace, but it was Chloe, spiffy in her crisp white PM jacket and black skirt. After Alice had said so, Chloe made a face. “I’ve been starched for our visitors.”

“How’s the review going?” Alice asked, trying to sound nonchalant, since she wasn’t supposed to be informed on the subject.

“I wouldn’t know. I put on a big smile and trailed along for part of the activities tour, but my superior did the talking, along with Mr. Jarreau.”

Chloe paused. Was it Alice’s imagination, or was Chloe looking at her expectantly?

“They’ll be in meetings all afternoon with the department heads. Then the big powwow is tomorrow. We won’t know the verdict until after they leave.” Chloe looked at Alice again. “Lani will spread the word.”

Alice smiled. “Would you like a lemonade?”

“Is it hard lemonade? If ever there was a day I’d be driven to drink, this would be it.”

“No, sorry. Only sugared.”

“That’ll do.” Chloe talked over the clatter of Alice dropping ice cubes into glasses. “Excuse me for going on like that. I don’t suppose you’re interested in the ins and outs of hotel management.”

“I don’t mind.” Alice brought in a tray and set it down in front of the sofa, self-conscious about the night before. She and Kyle, having sex right there. “I, um, hope the resort passes its inspection with flying colors.”

Chloe drank, still eyeing Alice as if they shared a secret. “You’re so discreet. I commend you.”

Alice went still. “What do you mean?”

“The
triangle.
It’s all over the resort, at least among the staff.”

Triangle! “There’s no triangle.”

“Then it’s not true that the Jarreau brothers fought over you at the stable?”

Alice winced. “Technically—”

Chloe crowed.
“Alice!”

“Wait. No. Really. It’s not like that.”

“Oh, yeah?
Everybody
saw the black eye. And I heard that Denver’s got a split lip and bruised knuckles.”

Alice clenched her hands, trying to hold herself in, but after a minute she gave up. “Poor Kyle. Do you know if the board members heard any rumors? Are they asking questions? I’ll die if I’ve ruined things for him.”

“Gavin told Melina, who told the desk crew, but so far the board doesn’t suspect a thing.”

“Oh, God.” Alice was appalled. “So everyone else knows?”

“It’s the hot topic.”

“But do people actually think…” She stopped, uncertain how to ask. If Harrie and her gang knew about Kyle’s late-night visits, likely everyone did.

“Don’t look so worried,” Chloe said, taking pity on her. “Mr. Jarreau’s respected because he’s fair. Most of the staff even like him. No one’s out to take him down.” She chuckled. “But there are some who are thrilled to see him getting some of his own back. The fraternization policy, you know. It’s stung a few employees.”

Alice sank lower. “I’ve got to go. That’s the thing to do—just leave the resort now.” She inched forward to the edge of the cushions. “I’ll call the front desk, see if they can get me an earlier flight—”

“You can’t.” Chloe put out a restraining hand. “I
didn’t even get to my reason for stopping by. You’re invited to a goodbye dinner tonight at Oasis de la Luna. Rivka and Fred are planning the dessert.”

“For me?”

“We want your last night here to be special.”

Special.
What if she accepted the invitation and then Kyle called?

But he wouldn’t, she decided. Not with everyone gossiping and his promotion on the line.

If she couldn’t disappear, the next best choice was to get busy. She’d even go on the moonlight trail ride, if she had to.

People would look at her, ordinary Alice Potter of Osprey Island, and they’d look at Kyle, who had everything going for him, and they’d
have
to doubt the rumors.

“That sounds nice,” she said, “as long as it’s a small, quiet dinner. I wouldn’t want to attract a lot of attention.”

Chloe’s smile didn’t waver. “You’ll have a great time.” Perhaps she read Alice’s discomfort, because she quickly changed the subject, asking about the morning activity she’d booked—a hike up Camelback Mountain with a small group from the Oasis.

“I climbed right into a cold shower when I got back, but it was worth every drop of sweat,” Alice said. She described the hike to Chloe as she walked the woman to the door.

After she’d gone, Alice became reflective again.

The trip to Arizona was both a beginning and an end. She’d fulfilled her mother’s final bequest at the same time as she’d opened a new world for herself. She understood that what she wanted didn’t necessarily have to include rock climbing or skydiving. She simply wasn’t a daredevil.

What she truly craved was a full life. To be open to adventure, experience, emotion, in whatever form they came.

And to share it with a partner.

If that wasn’t Kyle, if all they shared from now on were postcards, she’d have to accept that and find a way to move on. She wouldn’t let herself crawl into a hole the way she had after Stewart.

Which would take courage, a quality she now knew she had.

“W
E’RE IN TROUBLE
,”
Lani said, coming into Kyle’s office as soon as the board members had been escorted to their suites for afternoon downtime.

“I thought it went well,” he replied. “They’re not just looking at my black eye the way they were last night.”

“It’s not them we have to worry about. At least not yet.” Lani collapsed into the chair in front of his desk with a grateful sigh. She’d been run off her feet all day. As soon as the review was over, he was rewarding her with a week off.

“Is my intervention absolutely crucial?” he asked. The lengthy tour of the resort and the meet-and-greet with the various department heads had been window dressing. The meat of the review was in the reports they’d present tomorrow morning, followed by the number-crunching evaluation of profit and loss.

Kyle wasn’t worried. His profit margin was healthy, up seven percent from the previous fiscal year.

Only a disaster could derail him now.

Lani reached down to ease off her open-toed pumps. “Ahhh. That’s better.”

He’d warned her not to wear heels. But she’d wanted to show off her pedicure, and considering the way
Carson Walmsley had been distracted all morning by the sight of Lani’s toes, Kyle wasn’t bucking the choice. He’d even begun to wonder if the man had a foot fetish.

Kyle rubbed his forehead.

“The staff is talking.”

“And that’s never good.” He scowled at the chief perpetrator. “Do I have to ask what they’re talking about?”

She gave him a despairing look. “Fighting with your brother the day before the board arrived? What
were
you thinking?”

“Clearly, I wasn’t.” Despite what he’d said to Alice, he’d been claiming the shiner was a basketball injury—an elbow to the eye. He’d even got Gavin to back him up. “Who told you?”

“I heard it from everyone.”

“Damn my brother,” Kyle said, though he knew he couldn’t hold Denver completely accountable. The stable hand might have sworn he wouldn’t talk, but one leak was all it took.

He yanked off his tie. “What’s the damage?”

Lani managed to seem both curious and sympathetic. “There are about a dozen versions. The details get wilder by the minute. But the gist of it is that you and Denver were fighting over a woman. Some people are claiming it was Jenna Malloy. But most of them say Alice Potter.”

Lani’s eyes twinkled. “My guess is the latter.”

He shrugged. “Either way, they’re both guests.”

“But at least Jenna is a former girlfriend. You didn’t originally meet her here at the resort. I’m betting Walmsley wouldn’t care if it was her. He’d congratulate you on your good taste.” Lani stuck her tongue out. “He’s a slimeball, if you ask me.”

“He liked your toes.”

“Ew, I know. He asked me where I got my pedicure, so I gave the spa a rousing recommendation. He’ll probably book an appointment and drool all over the customers. The spa girls will come after me with cuticle scissors.”

Kyle couldn’t summon up much of a sense of humor. “Don’t do anything rash. I may need your toes tomorrow.”

“I’d do anything for you, boss, but I wouldn’t do that.” A deep sigh. “Seriously,” she said, “if one word of the rumors reaches the board…”

“The thing is—it’s not a rumor.”

“It’s the truth?” Lani squealed. “I thought it might be, but when I heard that you were supposedly seen sneaking into Alice’s condo at all hours, I thought for sure the gossip must be off course.”

Lani stopped when she saw his face. She blinked several times. “
That’s
true, too?”

Kyle motioned for silence. “I don’t want to hear any more. Just tell me how I can keep the gossip away from the board.”

Lani’s eyebrows shot up. “Build one helluva gigantic dam.”

“In one day? That’d take dynamite.” He brooded.

Lani studied him, keeping quiet for a long beat. “You’re serious about her.”

“How can you tell?” He thought he’d been pretty damn cool about everything. Until yesterday.

“Easy question.” His secretary ticked off the points with a clarity he used to appreciate. “You didn’t care about the cake or the wedding crashing. You went ATV riding with her and you came back with dust in every nook and cranny and didn’t care. You tolerated your brother’s needling. You didn’t spare a glance for Jenna.”

“That’s no proof.”

“Wait. Here’s the biggie. You took Alice to meet your family.” Lani pointed at him. “And then you
stopped
tolerating your brother.” She paused. “I’d even say you’re not as gung ho over the performance review as I expected.”

“Hey, now,
that’s
not true.”

“No? Remember last year? You called me to the office at 3:00 a.m. because you found a misplaced comma in the purchasing report.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Lani pinched two fingers together. “Only a tiny bit.” Her smile was growing much too wide. “
Something’s
changed your attitude, that’s all I’m saying.”

He stared her down.

“It’s not only getting laid,” she added.

He narrowed his eyes. “I’ve been laid before.”

“That’s right.” She stared right back at him. “And it’s different this time.”

Damn. She was right.

“Ask Gavin. He’ll tell you.”

“Gavin’s as gone on romance as you are.”

“Romance, hmm?”

He put his head in his hands. “Forget I said that.”

She stood and picked up her shoes with a small groan. “Sure I will. But can you?”

“For the next twenty-four hours? Hell, yeah.”

Long after Lani had gone, he was still trying to persuade himself that was true. All he’d have to do was play it cool and stay away from Alice Potter.

“I’
M MEETING
Chloe Weston,” Alice told the maître d’ at the entrance to Oasis de la Luna. “Alice Potter.”

“Ah, yes.” After fourteen days, he finally seemed to
recognize her. He even smiled. “This way, please, Miss Potter.”

They walked through the main room. Alice’s eyes darted from table to table, but she couldn’t see Kyle.

The maître d’opened a door to a private room. “Your party, Miss Potter.”