Crave (Splendor Book 2) (59 page)

Then it was time for Julia to toss her bouquet, and at Ian’s prodding Tessa joined the other single women on the floor, giggling the whole time. Save for Julia’s friend Angela, Tessa was taller than most of the other women present, and thus had a better than even shot at catching it. She actually had a hand on the gorgeous bouquet of pink and cream roses, was convinced she could snatch it up, when it tumbled instead into the hands of Lauren McKinnon.

Julia’s sister stared at the bouquet with a horrified expression, as though she were clutching an angry badger instead of some beautiful flowers. Julia was squealing in delight as she realized her twin was the lucky girl, while Lauren could only murmur in stunned disbelief, “How in the hell did that happen?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

July

“Okay, maybe this is my new favorite hotel. It’s at least in the top five. No, make that top three. And I do understand why they call this place paradise.”

Tessa stretched luxuriously as she reclined in the padded chaise lounge. The warm Hawaiian sun beat down on her bikini-clad body, and she closed her eyes in bliss.

Ian chuckled. “It will be interesting to see how your pecking order changes as you see more of our hotels. But you will be hard pressed to find too many places in the world as beautiful as these islands.”

They had flown to Hawaii a week ago, traveling first to the resorts on Oahu, Kona, and Kauai. Ian had performed his usual inspection of the properties, held meetings and reviews with the managers and staffs, and tended to all the other matters that required his attention during visits like these. They had arrived here in Maui two days ago, and tomorrow nearly every hotel manager in the Americas Region would be arriving for a four day meeting.

The manager’s meeting was an annual event, and held at a different property each year. While this was the first one Tessa would actually be attending, she’d been involved with all the preparations for the two previous meetings - compiling reports, printing up name badges, coordinating with the hotel staff to ensure all the necessary A/V equipment was ready, etc. The entire management support team had been heavily involved with the planning for what was arguably one of the most important events of the year. Andrew always attended the meeting, needing to be on hand to ensure everything ran smoothly, and he had in the past taken one of the support team along to help out. Tessa recalled listening to both Gina and Alicia rave about the trip, how luxurious everything had been, what a fabulous time they’d had. Tessa hadn’t been able to help being more than a little envious, and had wondered wistfully at the time if she would ever get a turn.

She thought idly how much could change in a year’s time. Twelve months ago she’d still been married to Peter, clinging desperately to save a marriage that had really been over with for a long time. She’d been working for a boss who she admired and secretly crushed on from afar, but had never dreamed he’d even noticed her. Now, a year later, she was divorced, Peter was living halfway around the world, and her boss was her lover, the man she idolized and longed to be with every minute of every day.

Ian’s phone rang, and he scowled at it before reluctantly checking the screen. His phone seemed to have been ringing off the hook these past few days, and she knew he must be growing weary of all the calls.

“Damn it, I’ve got to take this unfortunately,” he told her. “It shouldn’t be long.”

She waved her fingers at him. “It’s okay. I’m not planning on moving from this spot for a good long while.”

He squeezed her shoulder as he answered the call, walking to the edge of their private patio as he did so. From behind the lenses of her oversized sunglasses, Tessa smiled in satisfaction at the truly awe inspiring sight of him clad in just a pair of swim trunks. His heavily muscled upper body was bared to her admiring gaze, and she noted with interest at how deeply tanned his skin had become in just a few days. She loved the raw, primitive beauty of his ripped biceps, broad chest, and huge shoulders. She liked that he wasn’t overly hairy, just a wide strip of hair down the middle of his chest that tapered down past his waist and disappeared beneath his dark blue swim trunks. Tessa continued her unabashed inspection of his body, lusting at the sight of his long, muscular legs and taut buttocks. He was unshaven today, giving him that dark and dangerous look she loved, and his hazel eyes were covered by a pair of aviator sunglasses.

Beneath her red bandeau bikini top, her nipples peaked and her breasts felt achy and full as she continued to watch him. It had been over a week since they’d had sex, due to another of her heavy, painful periods. That hadn’t prevented them from enjoying each other in alternate ways, though the pleasure had been largely on Ian’s side. Despite his half-hearted protests that he could wait until she was over her cycle, in the end he hadn’t resisted when she’d taken him into her mouth, or stroked him with her hands, or guided his fully erect cock between her breasts. She had done the latter just last night, and could still picture the look on his face as he’d come all over her breasts, the thick streams of semen marking her in a different way as she’d rubbed his essence into her skin. He had groaned as he’d watched her, taking her mouth in a soul-stealing kiss, and then whispered to her urgently that he’d been keeping very careful tally all week of how many orgasms he owed her.

Tessa smiled as she recalled those heated words, and squirmed a bit as she realized how aroused she was. Her period had finally ended this morning, to her great relief, and she’d been sorely tempted to wake him up and give him the good news. But he’d been in a deep slumber, worn out from the demands of the last few days, and she’d let him continue sleeping while she took an early yoga class at the resort’s health club. But as stimulated as she was becoming now, she was beginning to regret her earlier decision.

As Ian’s phone conversation continued, she flipped onto her stomach, hoping that her arousal might ebb if she stopped watching him for awhile. It didn’t take long at all for her to become pleasantly drowsy, loving the feel of the warm sun heating her skin, while at the same time one of Hawaii’s famous tradewinds kept the temperature from feeling too unbearably hot.

Like almost all of the other owner’s suites she’d stayed in with Ian, this one was opulent and spacious, though decorated in a slightly more casual island motif. The real attraction of this particular suite, though, was its expansive outdoor space – the huge, partially covered patio, sunken hot tub, and large, private pool. The beach was mere steps away, and each night the sound of the surf had lulled her to sleep.

She felt a little guilty lazing the afternoon away, but consoled herself with the fact that she had certainly earned her keep these past few days, and would be working even harder once the manager’s meeting commenced. Andrew had flown in late yesterday afternoon, and had eaten dinner with her and Ian last night. But even during dinner, Andrew had been all business, discussing the many things that still had to get done for the meeting, and Tessa had longed to tell him to chill out and just relax for once. Truthfully, though, she was still more than a little intimidated by him, even if she no longer officially worked for the company, and had kept her mouth shut.

Employee or not, Andrew hadn’t hesitated in bossing her around this morning, assigning her tasks just as he’d done for over two years. But Tessa hadn’t minded, for she liked to keep busy and feel useful, and was relieved that Andrew hadn’t gone soft on her just because she was the boss’s girlfriend. He had looked a little taken aback when she’d somewhat teasingly told him just that during dinner last night.

“You’re a bright girl, Tessa,” he’d told her. “I would never dream of insulting your intelligence by treating you like some brainless bimbo. No offense, Mr. Gregson. I know better than anyone that you’d never be interested in a - uh -”

“Brainless bimbo?” finished Ian with an arched brow. “Yes, I appreciate your unwavering faith in me, Andrew. And you’re right. Tessa is exceptionally bright and you should continue to make use of her skills in whatever way you see fit.”

Andrew had grimaced. “Well, I certainly miss her at the office, especially since both hers and Alicia’s replacements have proven something of a disappointment so far. I think I might be losing my touch after all this time.”

Tessa hadn’t been able to suppress a grin at his last statement. “Keep that up and pretty soon Shelby will be one of your top team members.”

Andrew had looked a little sheepish. “Actually, she’s flying over tomorrow to help out this year.”

Tessa had very nearly spewed out the mouthful of water she’d just sipped, and Ian had had to pat her vigorously on the back. With watery eyes, she’d gaped at Andrew in disbelief. “Shelby? The same Shelby you used to grouse about not having more than three functioning brain cells?”

Andrew had nodded reluctantly. “Believe it or not, she’s stepped up her game these past few months. When Alicia, ahem, left, Shelby volunteered to take over doing the travel arrangements. It turns out her aunt owns a travel agency, and Shelby worked there part time during high school and college - who knew? And she’s actually done a decent job. I think - well, it seems that Alicia wasn’t very nice to Shelby over the years - would make fun of her and outright insult her on a regular basis. Since she’s left, Shelby seems happier and has more confidence.”

Tessa had grinned at her former supervisor. “So she doesn’t quake in her boots whenever you walk by?”

“I didn’t say that,” Andrew had replied dryly. “After all, I still have my reputation as a stick-up-his-ass bastard to maintain.” At Tessa’s expression of disbelief, he’d given her a scathing look. “You think I didn’t know? I know everything that goes on in that office, eyes in the back of my head and all that.”

Ian had nodded in agreement. “Can’t argue with that assessment. He knows far more than I do about what goes on.”

Andrew, who’d consumed a pre-dinner Mai Tai and several glasses of wine during the meal, had evidently been feeling bold as he’d smirked at his boss. “Well, I did learn from the very best, sir. Watching how you observed people without them being aware of it taught me a great deal. In fact, I was even able to turn the tables on you and use those exact same tactics.”

Ian had regarded his PA warily. “And what precisely does that mean?”

Andrew, who
never
smiled, had - wonder of wonders - actually given Ian a cheeky grin. “I knew the moment Tessa walked into your office that first day that you fell for her like a ton of bricks. No offense, sir, but you were a real open book that day.”

It had been Tessa’s turn to frown. “Well, I never noticed a thing. Of course, that’s probably because you’d already made me a nervous wreck about meeting him - all of your rules and instructions about what I could and couldn’t say. How did you know? I mean, Ian seemed as in control and professional that day as he always does.”

Andrew had shaken his head. “Oh, he didn’t give anything away when he met you. It was right after, when he called me back into his office to rip me a new one that he gave himself away. I’d worked for you three years already, sir, and had never once seen you actually pacing or using any form of sarcasm, and there you were doing both at the same time. But the real giveaway was when I told you Tessa was married. You looked like the floor had given way beneath you.”

Ian had nodded at his PA’s observations. “You’re spot on, as usual. Especially about the latter issue. I’d never in my life felt helpless before, never been in a situation where I couldn’t make something happen if I tried hard enough.” He’d turned to Tessa at that point, taking her hand in his. “When I learned you already belonged to another man, that I’d have to keep what I felt for you under strict wraps, I swear that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.”

When he and Tessa had continued to hold hands and stare dreamily into each other’s eyes, Andrew had cleared his throat until they had somewhat guiltily broken apart.

Andrew had seemed more than a bit hesitant to broach the next subject, a fact that had surprised Tessa since he never seemed uncertain about anything. But once he’d uttered
that
name, a sudden chill had traveled up her spine, despite the tropical climate, and Ian had scowled in annoyance.

“I hate to bring up such an unpleasant topic, Mr. Gregson, but both you and Tessa need to be aware that Jason Baldwin will be attending the meeting. Along with his wife - your cousin - of course.”

Tessa had glanced at Ian anxiously. “He wouldn’t do or say anything with your cousin along, would he?”

“He’d better not, if he knows what’s good for him,” Ian had muttered darkly. “I haven’t spoken to the bastard since I kicked him out of my office last fall, save for a brief hello at the office holiday party. But gossip travels quickly, and between co-workers and our family, I’m certain Jason has heard that Tessa and I are together.”

Tessa had shuddered. “All I know is that he gives me the creeps more than anyone I’ve ever met. How does your cousin put up with his, er, antics?”

Ian had shrugged. “Charlotte is a sweet, lovely woman but not especially bright. My aunt and uncle also coddled her well into adulthood, and she’s used to getting whatever she wants. And when she met Jason, she decided he was exactly what she wanted. I’m afraid she deliberately turns a blind eye to his antics so that she doesn’t have to admit to her parents - or to herself - that they were right about him.”

“So your aunt and uncle don’t like Jason?”

“That’s putting it mildly. Unlike Charlotte, Uncle Richard is a very wise man and he saw through Jason from the very first. But, as I mentioned, once Charlotte made up her mind she wanted something, her parents had a very difficult time ever saying no.”

“What I never quite understood, sir,” Andrew had interjected, “was why Jason wound up working for you. I would have assumed he and your cousin met and married in England.”