"I don't doubt you're qualified,” he replied softly.
Louise found nothing in his expression to help her understand what he meant by that. She shifted away to watch the white fringe dangling from the roof canopy dance to the soft clomping of the horses’ hooves.
Soon they were moving past Hawk's. The falling sun was gentler on the old buildings, but even with that advantage the place looked run down. The battered fence railings sagged and the Dutch doors running across the barn looked weary. Somehow, even the dirt yard seemed to be on its last legs.
"What do you know about Hawk's?” Trent asked.
His tone had shifted and the inquiry didn't sound like his usual banter. It was a simple enough question, and one he had a right to have answered, but she held back from telling him the truth. She didn't know anything about the business. Telling him that was out of the question because it would put him closer to figuring out she'd accepted his father's offer out of desperation.
She had to turn the tables on him. “What do you know about it?"
"It's a beat-up set of buildings on a beautiful tourist island that has many wonderful hotels and too many candy shops."
In spite of herself she chuckled. Trent surprised her by laughing, too.
Without the tension in his features, he was even more handsome. A few strands of his sun-streaked hair caught in the breeze and fell across his forehead. He pushed them aside with a sweep for his long fingers. She noticed the tiny lines around his eyes and knew he must spend a lot of time laughing.
Realizing the death of his father had to be the reason for his unpredictable moods, her heart filled with shame. She should've been more thoughtful, more considerate of his grieving. She shouldn't be plotting against a man who'd just lost his father.
Guilt caught in her throat and as quickly as she'd started, she stopped laughing. Trent caught the change in her mood and gave her his full attention. What she saw in his eyes was not grief, but interest. Maybe even more than that. Attraction?
Thankfully, the slowing of the taxi gave her an excuse to look away as the horses strained to pull the carriage up a steep incline. A golf course spread out to their right and an immense lawn stretched out on the left. Tall black street lamps led the way up the hill to the hotel.
The Majestic was one of the most beautiful buildings she'd ever seen. Excitement for the adventure ahead began to build, but she held it in check. After all, she wasn't there to completely let go and enjoy herself. Keeping a clear head would be the only way to get what she wanted. In a word—opportunity.
Louise glanced at Trent to watch his reaction to the building. She saw nothing in his face, but that didn't surprise her. As the son of a wealthy businessman, he was probably used to having dinner at the finest restaurants.
The driver pulled up behind three other carriages. A short man, dressed like a footman, helped a fragile woman down from her taxi and then led her over to the red-carpeted stairs. The silver dress she wore matched her hair and contrasted beautifully with the black suited man taking her arm. To Louise it seemed that everyone and everything around them was stunning.
An elegantly dressed couple sauntered along the verandah above. Would Trent take her there after dinner for a leisurely stroll? She wanted to believe her hopefulness was because that sort of thing served her strategy to keep her job, but she reluctantly accepted that her attraction to the businessman next to her was nearly uncontrollable.
So what? She was a big girl and she'd been attracted to men before. Being attracted to him didn't mean she'd lose sight of her goals. It might actually help if her attention to him seemed sincere. Sure she could handle herself, she turned to him and smiled.
The expression wasn't wasted.
Trent didn't exactly smile back, and the telltale signs of frustration lingered on his tightened mouth as he climbed from the taxi. She chuckled at him, so he offered her a half-hearted scowl as he took her arm and led her up the stairs to the hotel.
AN UNSUAL COMBINATION of yellow, green, white, and red surrounded them in the lobby. Late afternoon sunshine streaked across the rich oils framed with glided gold that hung above green and white seating arrangements. The old-fashioned floral pattern of the carpeting and window treatments would've looked ridiculous anywhere else, but under the high white ceilings and wide chandeliers, it was surprisingly perfect. Impossibly elegant and casual at the same time.
"Quite a place isn't it?” Trent said as he led her to the entrance of the restaurant.
Louise turned and noted that he wasn't giving his attention to their surroundings. His hazel eyes were focused tightly on her.
"You've been here before? With your father?” she asked.
If she hadn't been standing so close, she might not have noticed the shift of his features. His lips tightened and his eyes lost their spark. Louise eased away from the scrutiny her question brought.
Her glaring error in mentioning his father reminded her that the men back home were a lot simpler; she'd better be more careful. If she was going to charm him into keeping the stable open, she'd better pay attention and try harder. She had too much to lose.
Within a few minutes, Trent and Louise sat at an intimate table for two with the low murmur of the conversing diners humming around them. The clink of china and occasional laughter filled the room. Starched napkins, vases filled with fresh flowers, enthralled diners—the dining room had everything.
A waiter arrived to greet them; he had a charming musical Caribbean accent. After handing them padded menus and filling their water glasses, he left.
After several minutes of reading and re-reading the menu, Louise gave up and set it down with a sigh. Who would have guessed there could be so many kinds of fish? Trent glanced over the top of his menu at her. “Would you like me to order for you?"
She waited, expecting some follow-up comment, something about how she should be able handle such a small decision, but he surprised her by simply waiting for her response. “Yes, thank you."
Trent chose Brown Lake Trout for both of them. The waiter smiled at Louise and she asked him a few questions about his homeland. Smiling as she told him that spending the summer in Northern Michigan and then enjoying the long winter months with his family where it was warm sounded like a fantastic life.
"That will be all for now.” Trent's voice pulled the waiter's attention away from Louise and he moved off with one last smile in her direction. “Do you make a habit of flirting with the wait staff?” he asked softly, leaning toward her.
She didn't know whether to laugh or get mad. Not that she was flirting, but why would he care if she'd flirted with all the men in the restaurant, anyway? His comment wasn't worth getting annoyed over. “I know it might come as a surprise, but some men actually appreciate friendly women."
He turned his scowl to the tables of diners circling the room.
TRENT WAS DISGUSTED with himself. What was he thinking? Accusing Louise of flirting with another man made him look like a complete insecure idiot. What was it about her that made all his usual tactics, like being forthright and direct, seem out of place? It certainly wasn't the attraction they shared. He'd had chemistry with plenty of other women ... So why did Louise make everything so different?
He sighed against the confusion and turned his attention to his glass of water. He took a long drink, but the cool liquid did nothing to douse the warmth that had him dying to peel off his dinner jacket.
The inane comments he offered while they waited for their food sounded so dull even he wished he'd stop talking. After their fish arrived, he watched her pick at hers, and occasionally she offered him a quick smile as they ate. The taste of the gourmet meal was wasted on him because all he could think about was the way Louise's lips curved each time she raised the fork to her mouth. Instead of watching her, he should've been making good use of his time with her. An evening that should have been punctuated by conversation and compliments leading up to a full disclosure of information was getting more and more tense by the minute. When had he suddenly turned into a tongue-tied idiot?
At the far corner of the room, a trio of musicians clad in matching black jackets started setting up on a tiny platform. They quickly got settled and soon jazzy ballroom music filled the dining room. The man seated at the next table tossed his starched napkin down and winked at his companion. A smile lit her face and they rose together to weave their way through the tables to the parquet dance floor. Trent watched the man wrap his arm around the woman with practiced ease. The couple was about the age his parents would've been if they were alive.
He'd never really known either of them. His father, sure he'd been alive, but he'd never really been there. His mother had died in a car accident when he was very young. The few pictures he had of her didn't mean much because he didn't have any memories to go with them.
The ache that had become too familiar and too frequent since his father's passing threatened to settle around him yet again. He struggled against the unwelcome sensation and anxiously searched for something else to focus on.
Trent moved his gaze purposefully over Louise. Information. Wasn't that what he was after? He'd get what he needed from her then leave the island. He'd make arrangements with a real estate agent to handle the sale of the stable.
He placed his hand over Louise's. “Dance with me."
Without waiting for her response, he stood.
EVEN THOUGH TRENT barely touched her, the heat of his fingers made Louise's hand tingle and every muscle in her body became alive for him. She stared stupidly at him for so long, he moved to her side to help her up.
Within the space of a minute Louise found herself wrapped in his arms and moving around the small dance floor. Trent held her lightly and at a respectable distance, but his touch seemed to be everywhere. Her body swayed willingly for his, as though she'd been made especially for him.
It seemed impossible that she'd only met him that morning. He guided her around the dance floor as though she'd always known him.
"Did you enjoy your dinner?” he asked.
Louise looked up to find his face a breath away. She gazed at the sandy brown flecks in his eyes.
"I suppose this sort of thing is typical for you,” he said.
Did he mean the heat melting her limbs? Or the liquid fire settling in her belly?
"What sort of thing?"
"Eating in top notch restaurants.” She heard the humor in his voice.
Louise shifted her gaze to the couple lost in each other at the opposite corner of the floor. How happy and in love they were. She and Trent weren't anything like them. Instead of being two people in love they were on a business date and, no matter how easy it was to forget, she had to keep her attention on her task at hand.
Stick to the plan.
She looked back to the man holding her. “The fish was wonderful."
"You didn't eat much."
She lifted her lips into her sweetest, most charming smile. “I was distracted."
Trent smirked. “You looked bored."
"I did?” She tried to laugh, but her dry throat tightened. She could hardly admit to her true feelings ... he made her come alive in ways no man ever had. “I doubt any girl would be bored with you,” she teased.
"Do you mean that as a compliment?"
"If I do?"
"That would please me."
She continued with their banter. “I do want you to be pleased."
He pulled her a bit closer. “Because I'm your boss?"
Was he serious? With him so close, she didn't dare lift her face to search his expression. He might see the mixture of fear and excitement churning within her.
The soft, sultry music swirled around them while Trent guided her around the floor. After a time he stopped by an open doorway, placed his hand on the small of her back and led her out onto the porch.
He moved her along, passing others out enjoying the unusually warm evening. The setting sun cast a lavender glow to the sky outlining the green silhouette of the trees. How much time had passed? Had she been wrapped in Trent's arms longer than a song or two? It seemed only a moment had passed.
He continued to walk until they came to a secluded corner of the porch. Below, the ground dropped off so sharply that the lush setting seemed to go on forever.
Afraid of her instant reaction to his touch, Louise stepped back when Trent turned to face her. He leaned against one of the massive white pillars and studied her. With the evening sun in her eyes, she couldn't make out his expression. Had he purposefully put her at a disadvantage?
"You know, you never answered my question."
"Oh, really.” She shrugged, trying to appear casual. “Which question is that?"
"Do you want to please me because I'm your boss,” the rich tone of his voice caressed her skin, “or do you have another reason in mind?"
"Are you sure you want the answer?” Louise barely heard her own soft reply.
He dropped his head close to hers. “Not with words."
TRENT FORGOT ALL his plans for information and wrapped his arm behind Louise to pull her close. Each curve of her body softened into his. He breathed in her sweet scent and pressed his lips to hers.
As she met his lips, her hands slipped under his jacket to slide across his chest in a light caress. His muscles tightened under her touch and heat spread through him. The intensity of the sensation caught him off guard, and he knew the last shreds of his control were slipping away, he ended the kiss and slid his hands to her waist. He held onto her tightly, feeling the firmness of her hipbones beneath the smooth dark satin of her dress. The combination of textures nearly had him kissing her again. But reminding himself where he was, and more importantly who he was with, he stopped himself.
Switching gears, he worked to take any awe out of his gaze. “Thank you, Louise.” He hoped she didn't notice the tremor in his voice. He didn't intend to let her know how much she affected him. “I have the answer to one question."