Heat of Passion

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Excited by his words, she rested a hand on her stomach to calm the butterflies within.

“I’m making you dinner tonight,” he announced, his tone full of confidence and bravado. “Be at my place at seven o’clock.”

Robyn could think of nothing else she’d rather do, but going to Sean’s house for dinner was out of the question. She racked her brain for the perfect excuse. Since yesterday, she’d been telling one lie after another, but what choice did she have? If she told Sean the truth—he’d be upset, and Robyn didn’t want to lose his friendship. “I wish I could, but I, uh, can’t. My car’s in the shop, and it won’t be ready until next week—”

Robyn broke off as her gaze fell across the couple walking on the pathway. Damn. Could this day get any worse? Apparently so, because Sean’s parents, Kurt and Ilene Parker, were headed straight for her. They had lunch at the resort every week, so seeing them shouldn’t have affected her, but it did. She had to remind herself they had no idea she was talking to their estranged son.

The Parkers were an attractive couple who reeked of wealth and class. Ilene had delicate features, reddish-brown hair and a slender physique that belied her age. Her husband had salt-and-pepper hair and mustache. Kim favored her mother, right down to the way they walked, and the resemblance between Sean and his father was striking.

“I have to go,” she said, anxious to get off the phone. She couldn’t risk the Parkers overhearing her conversation with Sean, not when they were still furious at him for quitting his job. “I have to get back to work.”

“I’m not letting you go until you agree to dinner.”

Oh, yes, you are. Robyn thought, trying to squelch her growing sense of fear. She was supposed to be in her office, planning the Dunham Foundation gala, not flirting with Sean—a guy she had no business talking to. She reminded herself that he was a player who collected women like trophies, and Robyn was better off alone than sharing him with someone else.

“I won’t take no for an answer, so you might as well give in now,” Sean insisted.

Before she could respond, Ilene Parker caught her eye.

“Hello, Robyn,” Ilene said with a friendly wave. “If you’re not too busy I’d like to have a word with you about Kim’s bridal shower.”

Robyn’s pulse quickened, and her stomach coiled into knots as the couple approached. Feeling trapped, she did something she knew would make Sean mad. She hung up the phone, greeted the Parkers warmly and followed them back inside the resort.

Chapter 4 (#ulink_f6cc2966-1759-5454-98f0-f390b68c79a8)

Sean stood inside the kitchen of the SP Grill, staring at his iPhone, at a loss for words. Had Robyn just hung up on him? He wanted to call her back, but his pride wouldn’t let him. He was a Parker, and Parker men didn’t beg. Not even for hazel-eyed beauties like Robyn Henderson.

Sean put his cell phone on the counter, scooped up the mail and plopped down on a wooden stool. He’d connect with Robyn later, after he finished his paperwork, and hopefully, she’d be in a better mood when they spoke. Sean wasn’t used to her being cold and abrupt with him and wondered if his sister had anything to do with Robyn’s odd behavior.

Yawning, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Since he’d arrived at the restaurant that morning at 6:00 a.m., he’d been running from one appointment to the next, and it was the first time he’d taken a break. These days, Sean was busier than ever, but he wouldn’t trade his twelve-hour work schedule for anything. He was excited that his dreams of owning a restaurant were finally a reality—even if it meant losing sleep. When he wasn’t training his staff, he was ordering supplies, overseeing food deliveries and selecting artwork and furniture for the restaurant. His work was never done, and more times than not, he crashed on the couch in his office. But what choice did he have? He couldn’t afford to fail. If he did, he would be finished in this town.

He’d never failed at anything, had always pushed himself to be the best; Parkers always did. His worries intensified, and try as he might, he couldn’t shake his doubts. Would his grand opening be a success? Would the food critic from the LA Times give the SP Grill a favorable review? And most important, would his family show up? Deep down, Sean wanted them to, even if it was just for appearance’s sake, but he wasn’t holding his breath. They’d let him down before, and he’d be a fool to put his hope in them. Not after everything that had happened since he quit the Belleza.

He felt a sharp pain stab his chest. Yesterday, when he’d had lunch with Robyn, he’d pretended he didn’t give a damn about his family, but the truth was that he was miserable without them. He was disappointed in his parents, pissed at Kim for betraying him, but they were his flesh and blood, and life just wasn’t the same without them. Thankfully, he still had his younger brother, Ryan. Though he and his musician brother didn’t talk often, Sean knew if he ever needed him Ryan would be there in a heartbeat, no questions asked.

Just like Robyn. He glanced down at his cell phone, hoping she’d sent him a text message explaining her behavior, but no such luck. Sean had his restaurant, his friends and an active social life, but he still felt as if there was something missing. Or rather, someone. For years, he’d secretly lusted over his sister’s best friend, but it was never the right time to make his move. But that was about to change. Kissing Robyn at her condo that fateful night then in the restaurant parking lot yesterday confirmed it—she had feelings for him, too.

A grin claimed his lips. The realization made him feel proud, happier than the richest man in the world. Finally, after years of playing the field, he’d found someone special, a woman who’d captured his heart with just one kiss. Because of the earlier, drunken episode, Sean had to convince Robyn he didn’t think of her as a “booty call,” because she wasn’t.

Before they could start a relationship, he had to help Robyn overcome her fears, had to prove that he could be trusted with her heart.

His mind wandered, returned to the night he’d argued with his parents and found solace in Robyn’s arms. None of his ex-girlfriends could hold a candle to her, and now that they’d reconnected, he wouldn’t let Kim come between them. Who cares what my family thinks?Our relationship is none of their business. It was bad enough she’d stolen the resort from him; he’d be damned if he let her ruin his chance with Robyn, too. She was unique, as rare as a ten-carat diamond, and Sean wanted the chance to prove he was the right man for her.

“Here they are! Hot off the presses!”

Sean watched his assistant manager, a petite spitfire named Jolene Warren, march into the kitchen, waving a green piece of paper in the air. Taking it from her outstretched hand, he peered at the new menu.

“Isn’t it great?” she asked excitedly. “It was printed on recycled paper, totally affordable, and the intricate designs on the bottom of the page really make the SP Grill logo pop.”

Sean assessed the prototype with a critical eye and realized he didn’t like anything about it. It looked cheap, like something you’d see at a roadside diner, and the color scheme was hideous.

“How many menus do you want printed? Two or three hundred?”

“I think we need to go back to the drawing board,” Sean said.

“Why? It looks fantastic.”

“My last name is synonymous with luxury and class, which means everything associated with the SP Grill has to be lavish and expensive, even the menus.”

“But it’s environmentally friendly,” Jolene argued, hitching a hand to her hip.

“Leave everything to me. I’ll take care of it.” Sean dropped the sample menu on the counter and stuffed it under the stack of mail he planned to shred. “Did you email the press release I wrote for the media?”

“Yes, and I printed off the updated reservation list, as well. Seventy percent of the dining room is booked for our grand opening, and the cast of Ex on the Beach will be here filming that night, too,” she said. “I also created a Facebook page for the SP Grill. I hope that’s okay.”

“That’s great, Jolene. Keep up the good work.”

A smile brightened her round face. “Thanks, boss. I’m going to go work on the staff schedule, but if you need me, just holler.”

His assistant manager exited the kitchen, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Sean wanted to call Robyn back to check up on her, but since he didn’t want her to think he was needy, he finished reading his mail, then helped himself to leftovers from the fridge. He’d made lunch for his staff after the orientation session but had been too busy answering questions to eat, and now his stomach was growling so loud he was sure Jolene could hear it in the back office.

As Sean ate, he mentally reviewed his schedule for the rest of the week. He was off tomorrow, and if everything went according to plan, he’d be spending the day with Robyn. The thought made him grin from ear to ear. He could hardly wait. Before yesterday, he hadn’t seen her in months, but he planned to make up for lost time. They’d have breakfast at his house, then head to the beach.

Past conversations with his dad, about love and relationships, played in his mind. Sean scratched his head, tried to recall everything his old man had told him about women. What was it he used to say? “Treat a woman like a queen, and you’ll always have her heart.” With that thought in mind, Sean picked up his cell phone and accessed the internet. He was perusing the Cartier website, searching for the perfect gift for Robyn, when he heard footsteps pounding on the hardwood floor of the dining room. Sean didn’t see anyone, but he heard a male voice calling his name and rose to his feet.

Entering the dining room, he searched around for the unexpected visitor with the gruff voice and strong-smelling aftershave. Sean was surprised to find a short heavyset man with tinted glasses, scoping out the bar. “Can I help you?” he asked, giving the stranger the once-over. There was something familiar about the balding, middle-aged man, but Sean couldn’t place his face.

“I’m Detective Fenton from the Belleza Police Department.”

Damn. It was the detective who’d called yesterday while he was having lunch with Robyn, then again when he was at the gym. Why wouldn’t he leave him alone? He had nothing to do with the fire or any of the unfortunate mishaps at the Belleza. He produced a leather wallet, flashed a shiny gold badge and stuffed it into his back pocket. “Are you Sean Parker?”

“Yes, I am. What can I do for you, officer?”

“There was a fire at your family’s resort on the afternoon of June 15, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you some questions about the incident.”

Sean kept his mouth shut, didn’t speak. The less he said the better. He watched crime TV; he knew what was up. He had the right to remain silent and would exercise that right if the detective was disrespectful.

“Were you at the resort on the day in question?”

Shaking his head, he folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the bar.

“A security guard said he spotted you on the grounds around noon.”

Sean spoke through clenched teeth. “He’s lying.”

“Is your father lying, too?” Detective Fenton took a notebook out of his pocket, flipped it open and scanned the first page. “Your dad says you’re angry at him for awarding control of the resort to your younger sister, Kimberly, and that you’re out for revenge.”

Sean coughed, but the lump in his throat remained. He was shocked, crushed that his dad thought so little of him. It tore Sean up inside, but he didn’t share his feelings with the detective. He kept his voice calm when he spoke. “I was here, at the SP Grill, all day.”

Detective Fenton glanced over his shoulder and gestured at the front door with a flick of his head. “I noticed that you have video cameras in the parking lot. Do they work?”

Sean nodded, tried to figure out what the detective had up his sleeve.

“I’d like to see the footage from June 15.”

“Sure, no problem. Show me a warrant, and I’ll get the video.”

His eyes darkened. “Innocent people usually cooperate with the authorities.”

Good for them. Sean didn’t like the cop’s tone, hated his smug, superior attitude. Detective Fenton gave off an angry, hostile vibe, and Sean didn’t want to spend another minute in the man’s presence. But he couldn’t kick him out of his restaurant. Not without making an already bad situation worse.

“I’ve got twenty years on the job, and I’m a damn good detective. You know why? Because I trust my instincts, and you know what, Mr. Parker? My instincts are leading me straight to you.”

Sean’s jaw went tight, felt as stiff as barbed wire, and his hands balled into fists at his sides. He’d never punch a cop, no matter how angry he was, but dammit, he was tempted.

“You think you’re above the law because you’re rich, but I have news for you. You’re not,” he snarled. “You started that fire outside of the Ruby Retreat, and I’m going to prove it.”

Rage bubbled up inside him, threatened to consume him. Detective Fenton was trying to intimidate him, trying to throw his weight around, but Sean wasn’t having it. And he wasn’t turning over his security video, either.

He straightened to his full height and stepped forward, looking down at the officer. “This conversation is over,” he said calmly, despite the anger coursing through his veins. “I had nothing to do with the fire at the Belleza, and I resent you implying that I did.”