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“So are the other candidates,” his father commented. “We have to look at our mission statement and see how they fit with our core values.”
“I agree with Daddy, Auntie,” Hayley said. “As much as that’s a great cause, the local food bank Second Harvest is in desperate need of our support. I think we should consider them for the grant.”
“Why can’t we do both?” Jaxon asked from the other end of the line. “It doesn’t have to be one over the other.” He knew his sister was active in local charities, and wanted to support her.
The conversation raged on for nearly an hour with no decision before his father as president and presiding officer agreed to table the discussion to the next board meeting.
Jaxon was about to hang up when the meeting concluded but his father stopped him. “Stay on the line, son.”
Jaxon was not looking forward to this discussion, but he would listen out of respect for his father. He heard voices dissipating before he said, “Yes?”
“You have your poor mother up in arms.”
“She should be,” Jaxon said. “She and Stephanie concocted this whole ruse to get me down the aisle and it backfired.”
“You know we just want what’s best for you, son.”
“Let’s be real, Dad. You want the next Dunham heir to carry on the family name. But I’m not there yet and you can’t force my hand. Help Mom realize that, because until you do, I’m not coming home.”
Abruptly, Jaxon ended the call. There wasn’t anything left to be said. The only thing he wanted right now was a massage. His family had gotten him all stressed-out when he’d been in such a good place.
He picked up the receiver and quickly arranged for a relaxation massage in ten minutes. The spa had a cancellation and was able to squeeze him in. A massage would be exactly what he needed to let go of the family drama. Tearing off his T-shirt, he changed into some shorts, slipped on his flip-flops and headed out the door.
The massage was peaceful and serene and as he closed his eyes and the masseur’s hands roamed over his shoulders, he let the worries of the day fade. His parents had no idea where he was, so he was free to do as he pleased. Speaking of doing as he pleased... An image of Kimberly popped into his subconscious. Her smooth caramel-colored skin, those long shapely legs that met a curvaceous bottom had him suppressing a groan.
He didn’t want the masseur to think him a pervert, but the woman had invaded his thoughts when he was supposed to be relaxing. Now, instead of feeling relaxed after the massage, he felt more anxious than before. He needed to get back to his room and take a cold shower. Maybe then he could get those sexy images of Kimberly out of his mind.
He was so deep in thought as he rushed back to the villa that he didn’t watch his step and collided with a warm body. His hands instinctively reached out to stop them both from falling. When he did, he felt soft and very supple curves. He glanced down and right into Kimberly’s rich brown eyes.
Chapter 5 (#ulink_344de6c6-62ae-5178-8efa-a4f1c210fcd0)
“We meet again.”
Kimberly’s breath caught in her chest but unlike when she saw Jack at the gym, this time he was shirtless. Her hands were now splayed across his expansive chest as she’d used him for support to keep from falling. It allowed her to see what his shirts had hidden from her view. Broad shoulders, a smattering of hair on a well-defined chest, six-pack abs... Or would it be eight-pack abs if his shorts dipped lower?
She swallowed.
“Kimberly?”
“Hmm...” She glanced up at him and wished she hadn’t because she saw something in his eyes. Desire. She felt it, too. Had been feeling it since their breakfast encounter a couple of days ago. Fate, it seemed, kept putting them in each other’s path.
Jack’s hands roamed upward from around her waist where he’d lightly planted them to stabilize her. They threaded through her long black hair, which she’d decided on a whim to wear down rather than in her usual sensible, professional bun. He brought her forward into closer contact with his body even though Kimberly couldn’t see how it was possible since they’d collided with each other in a mass of arms and bodies.
She could feel the heat emanating from his chest as she went closer, and then her nipples brushed against him, causing them to pucker underneath her silk shirt. Jack leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers and breathed her in. Kimberly tried to wiggle away, embarrassed by her traitorous body’s response to him. It wasn’t right that he could make her feel this way when she barely knew him.
“Don’t fight it,” he whispered softly.
He was lowering his mouth to hers when a loud crash sounded behind her. Jack instantly spun around, pushing Kimberly behind him.
It was a protective move that Kimberly admired, but it was hardly necessary. The noise was courtesy of Charlene Vincent, the newest hire at The Pearl, who’d just dropped a handful of menus. The girl seemed prone to mishaps.
“Sorry,” the buxom blonde said, picking up the menus before rushing off in her stilettos.
“Can she even walk in those?” Jack murmured aloud.
“Clearly not.” Kimberly pushed away from him and took several steps backward to give herself some distance to breathe, to think.
A smile ruffled his mouth. “What’s wrong? I don’t bite.”
Kimberly sensed the sexual magnetism that made him so self-confident. “Are you sure about that? Because this—” she pointed between the two of them “—is not going to happen. I don’t date guests.”
“We aren’t dating,” Jack responded. “We were, however, about to kiss, which if we hadn’t been interrupted would have been overdue. I know you felt it.”
“Felt what?”
He raised a quirky brow. “The pull. Between you and me.”
“Th-there’s no pull. We just...” Kimberly couldn’t think of a single, plausible reason why she’d ended up in his arms just now. He was right. If they hadn’t been interrupted, they would have no doubt ended their collision with a hot, searing kiss. Her panties were nearly moist just from touching him. The prolonged anticipation was unbearable.
“Kimberly.” Hearing her name on his lips was like a sensual caress washing over her. “You can’t deny what’s happening between us.”
“I can. And I will.”
“Why should you have to?” He quirked a brow. “We are two adults who are interested in each other. What’s the harm in that?”
“I don’t want to complicate our relationship. I’m in charge of running this hotel and—”
“And you don’t want to let your parents down by taking your eye off the ball?”
How could he know what she was thinking? Feeling? He seemed to know without her verbalizing it. She’d met many attractive men before, but none like him. He wasn’t vain; he was observant, kind and it made him dangerous to her well-being.
“Don’t try to change the subject. I don’t fraternize with guests, especially those I know nothing about.”
She noticed he paused, so she had definitely given him something to chew on.
“True, you don’t know much about me, but that would change if you agreed to spend some time with me.”
Kimberly glanced down at her watch. “I have to go.”
“All right, Kimberly Parker, but this isn’t over between us.”
Kimberly sure hoped it was as she stalked away back to her office. She hoped that Jack would be checking out soon and then things would go back to normal. But when she checked Jack’s reservation, it was open-ended. She had no idea how long he would stay on at the Belleza. And the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to stay away from him. She was afraid her resolve might weaken and she might give in to temptation. And that was exactly what Jack was, all six feet of him.
* * *
A couple of days later, after a three-mile jog and a quick smoothie, Kimberly returned to her condo and dressed carefully for the day’s big event, the Dunham presentation. She’d managed to successfully avoid any further run-ins with Jack Scott because she’d been swamped with hotel business, but it was a matter of time before their paths crossed again.
She took one of the golf carts parked near her condo and rushed toward the Plaza. Located next to the main hotel building, the Plaza housed ballrooms of various sizes, several restaurants and boutique shops for their guests. When she arrived at the Grand Ballroom, Robyn was running around arranging the decor from the floral arrangements to the linens to the crystal chandeliers they’d ordered for the event.
Kimberly grabbed Robyn’s arm as she rushed past. “I thought I would come lend a hand. What can I do?”
“I have it under control.”
Kimberly glanced around at the upheaval surrounding her and raised an eyebrow.
“Kim, the event isn’t until 1:00 p.m. and it’s only...” she said, glancing down at her watch. “Nine. We have plenty of time to arrange the tables and the decor according to the vision I created in the presentation.”
“You can never have too much help,” Kimberly replied. “And remember how important this presentation is for us.”
“I’m well aware.”
Kimberly sensed Robyn’s annoyance with her constant questioning. At times it was hard to separate their friendship from work, but she wouldn’t be doing her job if she didn’t stay on top of her staff. “Where’s Gabby?”
“In the kitchen with the pastry chef,” Robyn answered as she rifled through a box. “They’re putting the finishing touches on the miniature dessert display.”
“Excellent, so what can I do?” Even though she was general manager, Kimberly wasn’t above getting her hands dirty if things needed to get done. To her, that was the sign of a good manager.
“Well, if you must do something,” Robyn said with an exasperated sigh, “why don’t you get started with the display of gift boxes I’ve created for the registration desk outside.”
“No problem.” Kim walked into the hall to the large table they had set up outside. There was an array of gift boxes and various giveaways. She took off her jacket, draped it over the back of one of the chairs and dug in.
She was knee-deep in stuffing the gift boxes with chocolates and one-of-a-kind charm bracelets from their on-site jeweler that she didn’t see Jack approach until he was standing right in front of her. Her pulse suddenly leaped with excitement. There was no denying the spark of attraction toward him. She was trying her best to ignore it, but it was hard not to be excited when the man was obviously interested in her. She hadn’t had the time or inclination for male company in a long time. So if she was honest with herself, it was nice to be wanted.
Jack was dressed casually in white linen trousers and a matching shirt, which highlighted his coffee-colored skin.
“What are you doing here?” she blurted out. Shouldn’t he be relaxing by the pool at this early hour? Why was he at the Plaza?
“Good morning to you, too.”
“I’m sorry.” She’d completely forgotten her manners. “Good morning. But the question is still on the table.”
“Is the ballroom off-limits?” Jack inquired. “Because I thought guests were welcome throughout the hotel grounds.”
Well, he’d just put her in her place. “I’m sorry.” How was she apologizing again in the span of a few seconds? “You’re right, of course. It’s just that we— I mean I don’t see guests in the ballroom foyer unless they’re part of the event.”
“And do you have an event coming up?”
She nodded. “This area will be closed off for a private event this afternoon.”
“Sounds exciting. Who’s it for? Or can’t you tell?”
Kimberly glanced around. It couldn’t hurt to share her excitement with Jack. It wasn’t as if he was involved in any way with the Dunham Foundation. “We have a presentation with a representative from the Dunham Foundation.”
“You do?” He glanced down the hall in each direction. “Are they here now?”
“Oh, no.” Kimberly shook her head. “Do you think I would be this calm right now with all there is to do?” She inclined her head to the mess of gift boxes and miscellaneous items on the table.
He appeared to breathe a sigh of relief before he said, “I guess not. Do you need any help?”
Before she could say no, Jack was already coming behind the table to sit next to her. “So what are we doing here?” he asked as he surveyed the assortment of items.
“We’re putting candy and jewelry in each gift box. Then we’re wrapping it up in a bow, like this.” She demonstrated one box to him. “But you really don’t have to do this.”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to, so just accept that you have my company until it’s over.”
He didn’t know what he was asking of her or how hard it would be to sit beside him and act as if she was unaffected. He smelled woodsy and earthy and she just could breathe him in all day long. Instead she continued packing the goody boxes.
“Are you familiar with the Dunham Foundation?” she asked, trying to get her mind off him and on to other neutral topics.
He turned to her sharply. “Why do you ask?”
“Oh, it just sounded like you were familiar with them.”
“I’ve heard of them.” He reached for a box and began stuffing.
“So you’re from the Los Angeles area?” Kim inquired.
“Roundabout.”
He sure wasn’t offering much information about himself. Was that what was attractive about him, the air of mystery surrounding him? “You’ve been at the Belleza for some time, but if you live nearby, why the long stay?”
He stopped stuffing boxes long enough to glance her way and smile. “Have I worn out my welcome?”
“Of course not. I love paying customers.”
“And is that all I am to you, Kimberly? A paying customer? You don’t strike me as someone afraid of taking chances. Please tell me you have the courage to admit there’s something between us?”
“Between us?” she asked with a slight edge to her voice.
He stared at her long and hard and her mouth became dry. He was calling her out, forcing her to confront what was happening between them like she’d done to Gabby. He wasn’t backing down and she was finding it harder and harder to resist him. Yes, he was a guest and although they had a strict policy of no fraternization, she couldn’t fight it anymore.
“I can’t deny there’s something between us,” she finally admitted aloud to herself and to him.
“Progress.”
He gave her a sideways glance as he returned to his task and closed the box.
She laughed and watched in surprise as he managed to tie a decent bow.
“What are we going to do about it?” He slid the finished product toward her on the table.
Should I go for it?
Her mind told her to stay away from him and play by the rules, but her body, her heart, told her to go for it and she did. “On Friday night we’re having our monthly tasting menu. You should come to the dinner. My best friend Gabrielle goes all out. It’s the highlight of her month, except perhaps today’s event because she really wants to impress the Dunhams.”
“I’ve no doubt you all will,” Jack said. “Because I’m sure you succeed at everything you do.”
“I certainly try.”
