The Mighty Quinns: Ryan (3 page)

Arthur reached for Ryan’s bag, but he shook his head. “I’ve got it.”

“This way.”

His room was airy and spacious, the windows covered with large floor-to-ceiling shutters. Ryan tossed his gear on the bed, then threw open the shutters and walked out onto a wide terrace that overlooked the ocean. It was still dark, but the sound of the surf filled the air.

“I love the way it smells here. What is that? I can’t place the scent.”

Ryan turned to the right and found Serena sitting on the stone wall nearby, staring out at the eastern horizon. She had the room right next to his.

“Frangipani, I think,” Ryan replied. “They’re most fragrant at night. They don’t have nectar, but they use their scent to trick moths into pollinating them. The poor moth does all the work for no reward.”

“Well, I’m impressed.”

“My mother has been trying to grow frangipani for years without any success.” He decided a change of subject was in order. “I figured you’d crawl right into bed. It’s been a long trip.”

She smiled. “No. I can sleep later. I wanted to watch the sunrise.” She pointed out at the water. “Look. It’s about to happen.”

A tiny sliver of red light appeared over the water and they both stared at it. Though they were standing a fair distance away from each other, Ryan felt oddly close to her, as if they’d discovered a connection between them.

As the sun crept higher, it painted the clouds in a blaze of purple and orange. Ryan had seen a lot of sunrises in a lot of beautiful places, but this one was different. He felt as if he couldn’t breathe, as if his senses had suddenly cleared and his mind had sharpened. He should have been exhausted, but instead, he was energized.

“Do you ever wonder if you’re living someone else’s life?” she asked.

Ryan frowned, then turned and braced his hip against the wall. “Yeah. Sometimes.”

It was as if she could read his mind. He’d been feeling like that a lot lately—as if he was living his father’s life, or maybe his brothers’. He was tired of doing things just to please them. But while he’d like to hope he might open that surf school one day, Ryan could barely support himself on what he made. And despite his refusal to join them on the Everest expedition, he couldn’t abandon his brothers when they needed him.

“I don’t know how—or when—I lost control of my own life,” Serena continued. “I’m not sure I ever even had it. God, I’m tired of pretending.”

He heard the exhaustion in her voice and he wanted to go to her and comfort her in some way. But he knew better than to touch her again. “Isn’t that what an actor does for a living?” Ryan asked.

“When the camera is on. But I pretend to be someone I’m not even when the camera is off.” She swung her legs around and jumped off the wall onto the terrace. “This isn’t what you signed on for, is it? Listening to me moan about how horrible my life is.”

“Usually I’m worried about my clients tumbling down the side of a mountain or falling into a crevasse. I think I can manage listening to your problems.”

Serena nodded. “Yes, you’re the kind of man who can handle just about anything, aren’t you? You seem very...competent.” She walked over to him, then looked up to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry about the kiss. I was just—I don’t know. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Ryan knew he should be sorry, too. He hated people who didn’t take their promises seriously. But as his gaze drifted down to her lips he found that he wanted to kiss her again, to drag her into his arms and see where it all might lead. It didn’t even matter that she was supposed to walk down the aisle in less than a month.

Besides being engaged, she was also completely out of his league, Ryan mused. Guys like him didn’t date movie stars. “Hey, I can go home and tell everyone I kissed Serena Hightower. Not that I’ll tell anyone. I won’t. But, occasionally, I might think about it. The kiss, not telling people about it.”

“I suppose that wouldn’t be so bad,” she said. “I might do the same.” She drew a ragged breath and closed her eyes. “I need some sleep. I’ll talk to you later.” She took a step closer and brushed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Quinn.”

“For what?”

“For...listening,” she said. “No one ever does.”

She walked back inside and Ryan watched her leave, admiring the gentle sway of her hips as she moved. He was left wondering about the things she’d confessed to him. Was she really that unhappy with her life? She was supposedly in love. She had a great career and plenty of money. Everyone knew her name and her face. She flew around the world on private jets and stayed in mansions on tropical islands.

“Yeah, she’s out of your league,” he muttered. “Off limits.”

Ryan groaned softly, then rubbed his hands over his tired eyes. This was unlike any other trip he’d worked. But the goals were the same. Keep the client happy. So if Serena wanted to talk, then he was there to listen. If she wanted to hike, he was there to guide her. And if she wanted to kiss him again...he’d have to draw the line there.

Kissing a client would be considered a breach in the company rules against fraternization—and his own. But thinking about kissing her wasn’t. He could go a long time rewinding what had happened on the plane and imagining what could have happened if they’d both been free to do more.

2

S
ERENA
ROLLED
OVER
in bed and squinted at the clock. From the light filtering through the shutters, she could tell that it was closer to noon than to midnight. She’d slept for five hours without moving and she felt perfectly refreshed.

They’d spend a week on Fiji, and though this was technically her hen party, in truth, she didn’t feel much like celebrating. Instead, she wanted to distract herself with exercise and adventure. Perhaps that was the best way to calm what Thom called her “prewedding jitters.”

“Jitters,” she murmured. Serena held out her hand. She wasn’t jittery. She felt a sense of calm now that she’d put an entire ocean between herself and the wedding plans. She could almost pretend it wasn’t happening.

She smiled, remembering her conversation with Ryan Quinn. The idea of spending the next week with him was more appealing than spending it with her four bridesmaids. And just because she enjoyed his company, didn’t mean she was cheating.

Unfortunately, Ben didn’t have the same loyalty to her. He’d strayed twice in the past year, both times with married costars. The tabloids had printed the rumors but hadn’t been able to confirm them, and Serena had almost convinced herself that his behavior was indeed part of his “process.” In order to play a believable romantic scene on-screen, Ben claimed he needed to experience real romance with his costar.

She frowned. Why did that suddenly seem so disingenuous? Was it because her doubts about their pending marriage were growing deeper with every day that passed? Was it because she was searching for a way out and the clock was ticking down?

Cursing softly, Serena rolled out of bed and rummaged through her suitcase for a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. She slipped into a pair of sport sandals, then grabbed a band and gathered her tousled hair into a ponytail. Her sunglasses were tucked in her purse, and she pulled them out and put them on top of head.

The housekeeper, Juni, was in the kitchen and offered Serena some lunch when she walked through. Serena politely declined, instead grabbing a banana and a bottle of water. “Have you seen Ryan?”

“He said he was going to take a walk on the beach,” Juni said. “The other ladies are at the pool, enjoying mimosas. And Mr. Miles is in the office on the phone.”

She wandered out onto the rear terrace and headed to the pool. Her bridesmaids were dressed in colorful bikinis and sprawled on cushioned chaises. “Let the adventure begin,” Serena called.

They all groaned. “Have a drink,” Arabella insisted, her glass dangling from her fingers. “It’ll help with the hangover and the jet lag. And your infernal enthusiasm.”

Serena settled onto a chair and turned her face up to the sun, but before long, she sighed impatiently. “We can’t spend the entire week lying about like this. It’s a crashing bore.”

Caroline sat up and glanced around. “We could go shopping. I’m up for that.”

“We can shop at home. Don’t you want to explore the island? We’re in Fiji. There are jungles and volcanoes and—well, I don’t know what else. I want to see something amazing.”

“Do they have a Tiffany’s here? We could go look at diamonds,” Cecily said. “They’re amazing.”

“Have a drink, Serena,” Lizzy said. “Relax”

A long silence descended over the group. Maybe they were right. Maybe she should just relax for a day and let everyone decompress from the flight. Then they’d all want to do something tomorrow.

“Who is that?” Lizzy asked, tugging her sunglasses down and staring toward the beach. “Is that our pool boy? Oh, my, I call dibs. That man is going to be in my bed tonight.”

“Then I get him tomorrow night,” Arabella said.

Serena sat up and gazed toward the beach, then smiled. “That’s not the pool boy, that’s Quinn.” All four girls turned and looked at her for further explanation. “Ryan Quinn? He was on the plane with us last night. He helped you with your bags?”

“He’s the butler?” Lizzy asked.

“He’s the adventure guide,” Serena said. She waved to him as he approached, taking a moment to admire the sight. He was dressed in board shorts and nothing more. His tanned chest was muscled, his shoulders wide. He looked impossibly fit but not the fit that came from hours with a trainer. His skin gleamed with a sheen of sweat, and it looked as if he’d been running on the beach.

“Bloody hell, Serena, you’re drooling.”

Serena glanced over at Caroline. “What?”

“Hi,” Ryan said as he climbed the steps to the pool terrace. His gaze was fixed on her and he didn’t seem to notice the other four women there.

“Good morning,” she said. “Or afternoon.”

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. Her heart skipped and Serena drew a deep breath. He was so much sexier in the light of day.

“I did. Sleep. But now I’m ready for some excitement. Adventure.” She cleared her throat. “Ryan, let me introduce you to my bridesmaids. Lizzy Stanton is on the end. And that’s Arabella Moulton-Gray,” she continued. “This is my maid of honor, Cecily Winston. And that’s Caroline Pentwell.”

“Hello,” Ryan said, gifting them all with a charming smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve got a great plan for this afternoon if you’re up for it.”

Serena nodded. “Absolutely.”

“When would you like to go?” he asked.

“Now,” Serena said. “I’m ready now.”

“Let me change and I’ll meet you all out front in ten minutes. Wear sturdy shoes.” He glanced down at Serena’s feet. “Like those.”

He waved and walked to the house, five pairs of eyes fixed on his retreat.

“That man needs an agent. He is all kinds of hot,” Arabella said. She turned to Serena. “And you, my darling Serena, are smitten.”

Serena gasped. “What?”

“Totally smitten,” Cecily said. “So, how was he in bed?”

“I did not sleep with him!” Serena cried.

“Then what was all that talk about sleeping well?” Caroline asked. “And that stare. He looked like he was about to devour you.”

“In case you’ve all forgotten, I’m getting married next month.”

“Yeah, but you don’t love Ben,” Arabella said.

Serena frowned. “What—what makes you say that?”

“You never talk about him,” Cecily said. “You haven’t mentioned him once since we left L.A. We understand. It’s all for show. And it’s a great PR move. We’ll play our part.”

“I’d do the same if I had the chance,” Caroline said. “And after a while, you just get a divorce. It’s no big deal. Every great actress goes through a few marriages before she finds the one that works.”

“Besides,
Ben
messes around,” Cecily said. “You should be able to have some fun of your own.”

Serena scrambled off her chaise. “It’s not like that. And I am not smitten with Ryan Quinn. Now get up and get dressed. We’re going on an adventure.” She spun around and stalked toward the house. They were right. She didn’t love Ben. She’d been able to convince herself she did, at first, but somewhere between the cheating and the time apart, she’d realized what she really wanted.

She’d fallen for the fantasy, the security of love and marriage, the happily-ever-after. Her parents, both actors, had divorced when she was six and had stumbled through a long series of affairs and marriages. Why had she thought she’d be any different?

She stopped and turned around, then strode back to the girls when she realized they weren’t following. “Are you coming or not?”

Lizzy waved her off. “Let’s just say we did and stay here. I’m still working on my hangover from last night and the jet lag is starting to set in.”

“Count me out,” Caroline said.

“Me, too,” Lizzy added.

Serena frowned. “Bella, you’ll come, right?”

Arabella groaned. “Maybe tomorrow, Serena. I really want to work on my tan. A real tan is so much nicer than a spray tan, and I’m just so white right now. But you go, if you want. Sounds like...fun.” She lowered her sunglasses. “Just be careful. You don’t want a guy like that going to the tabloids and telling all.”

“I’m not going to sleep with him,” Serena shouted. “God, you are the worst bridesmaids in the world.” When she got into the house, Juni was waiting for her with a large basket. “A picnic,” she said. “In case you get hungry?”

Serena took the basket from her. “Thank you. That was thoughtful.”

“He is waiting out front. Are the others coming?”

“No, they just want to rest.”

Juni frowned, her eyebrow arching. “Not very good bridesmaids, I’d say.”

Serena laughed. “No, Juni, not good at all.”

She passed Miles in the hall. “I’m leaving.”

“Wait. Let me grab the camera and I’ll come along,” he said.

“No need. My bridesmaids are staying behind. It’s just me and Ryan.”

“Alone? Just the two of you?” Miles asked. “Wait a moment. Are you really sure you should—”

“Don’t worry, Miles. I’ll behave myself.”

She found Ryan leaning casually against the van parked in the circular drive. She handed him the basket, then pointed to the Jeep parked behind it. “Do you have the keys?” she asked.

“I think they’re already inside,” he replied. “But we can’t take that. There’s not enough room.”

“It’s just going to be you and me,” she said. “And I’ll drive. But we’ve got to move quick or we’ll have to take Miles.” She hopped in behind the wheel and waited for him to get inside.

He tossed his day pack in the backseat, then tucked the basket in a spot on the floor before sliding into the passenger seat.

“Forget my lazy bridesmaids.” She reached for the ignition, and the Jeep roared to life. Serena smiled. “Who cares about them? I’m going to do what I want to do.”

With a hoot, she threw the Jeep into gear and pressed the accelerator to the floor just as Miles emerged from the front door.

Right now, she wanted to forget about the wedding and Ben and the mess that she’d created. She wanted to forget about her bridesmaids and publicity photos and her career. Serena wanted a lovely day with sunshine and happiness and beauty. She’d decide about the rest of it later.

* * *

I
T
WAS
THE
perfect day, Ryan mused. The sky was blue, the air was warm and the scents of Fiji filled his head. And for once, he planned to have some fun on the job.

He was usually worried about one thing or another in his professional life, but what could go wrong today? No one was going to fall off a mountainside, no one was going to freeze to death or succumb to altitude sickness. And he had an entire afternoon with Serena Hightower.

Ryan knew he had to ignore his attraction, or at least control it. So he’d decided to admire her from a distance and keep his feelings to himself. He’d be a professional and wouldn’t let his attraction show.

He didn’t have to remind himself that she was engaged. That fact was firmly embedded in his brain. And yet the moment he looked at her, Ryan forgot all about that wall between them. Instead, his mind was hijacked with thoughts of seduction, of casting aside moral objections and letting passion take over.

He drew a deep breath and made a silent vow to behave himself.

She drove along the coastal highway for a few kilometers, then turned inland, smoothly navigating the curves as they headed into the hills. Ryan gave her directions, and they left the paved road and started down a narrow dirt track cut out of the thick rain forest.

“Sorry about the other girls,” Serena said. “They’re really not the hiking sort.”

“This is your hen party. Shouldn’t they do what you want to do? I thought that was their duty as bridesmaids and as friends.”

“They’re not really my friends. I mean, I know them, but we’re not friends.”

“I don’t understand.”

“My wedding planner picked them. Mostly because they looked great in the dresses she chose. They agreed because it’s great publicity for them. And I really didn’t care.”

Was she just exaggerating or was this the truth? Did she have no friends of her own? She was sweet and funny and seemed as though she’d attract friends as easily as she’d attracted him. But then, Ryan could answer only for the males in the crowd.

He glanced over and stole a long look. She was dressed in a simple T-shirt and hiking shorts, her hair in a ponytail, pulled away from her pretty face. He studied her profile—the perfectly set eyes, the straight nose, the lush lips. She was Hollywood beauty. But yet, in this setting, without makeup and a fancy dress, she seemed normal...approachable.

He found the contrast intriguing. Who was this woman who could so easily exist in both his world and that strange, glamorous world of the movies? The more he got to know her, the more complicated she became.

They found the trail to the waterfall he’d researched earlier, and Serena pulled the car into a small clearing and switched off the ignition. Ryan grabbed his day pack and slung it over his shoulder, then picked up the picnic basket.

Since the waterfall was a local secret, the path wasn’t well-worn, and Ryan had to watch carefully so that they didn’t wander in the wrong direction. “What about your real friends?” he asked, reaching out to help her over a muddy spot. “You must have had someone
you
wanted to pick as a bridesmaid. A sister?”

“I’m an only child.” She glanced over at him. “And I don’t really have a lot of friends,” Serena explained. “I’ve always been a bit of a loner.” She shrugged indifferently. He could see that talking about the past troubled her. “I know. It sounds pathetic, but I grew up with parents who were always on one movie set or another. When I was with either my mom or dad on set, I had a tutor, and I hung around adults all day long. When I was at home, I played with the housekeeper. I just never figured out how to make friends. Or maybe I never wanted friends.”

“Who do you hang out with now? When you’re not working on a movie?”

“There’s Ben. But mostly my dogs.”

“And they don’t look good in the dresses?” Ryan teased.

“I have five dogs,” she said, giggling. “And I would have had them as attendants, but the wedding planner wouldn’t allow it. They’re all rescues. They live at my country house outside London. My housekeeper takes care of them when I’m gone. Do you have dogs?”