Exposed (Tropical Nights) (9 page)

“First resort? There are others?”

“Laine now owns five resort throughout the Caribbean, and he’s looking to expand. He’s offered to buy me out now that he doesn’t actually need my investment, but I like having someplace to stay when I’m here, especially now that my deal with Bondell means I’ll be here more often.” Leo paused while Rob returned with their drinks and took their food order. “Speaking of the Bondell deal, I know the initial plan was to leave tomorrow afternoon, but I now need to stay until at least Sunday.”

“Is there a problem with the deal?”

“No, no issues. We just have a slew of documents that need signing, including by some of his investors in Europe. It’s going to take longer than expected to courier the papers back and forth and I don’t want to leave until everything’s done. Will it be a problem for you to stay a little longer?” Leo had planned to offer her the use of his plane if she still wanted to return tomorrow, but he hesitated. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t fly her back if she insisted, he just didn’t want to be the one to suggest it. God, he hadn’t realized just how much he wanted her to stay the extra day with him.

Rachel took a sip of her cockt
ail. “It shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Good.” It worried Leo that he was so relieved
she was staying.

“Will you be in more meetings tomorrow then?”

Leo shook his head. “Negotiations are done, it’s now a matter of getting the signatures. I’m just sticking around in case a problem comes up. In the meantime, I’ll have the entire day free tomorrow to show you around. We can go hiking, swimming, rent a sailboat, take a helicopter tour of the island, whatever you want.”

“Wow. It all sounds amazing.” Rachel’s smile of enthusiasm made Leo smile, too.
“I’ve never been anywhere like this, so all of it is a new experience for me. I want to do it all!”

Leo
loved that about Rachel, that she was always so earnest and open about what she felt. Rachel never played coy. She didn’t pretend to be jaded or adopt the expression of eternally bored dissatisfaction that was so favored by most of the people he knew. When she found something funny, she laughed. When she was excited or impressed, she said so. It was such a basic thing, actually saying what you meant and daring to admit you found joy in simple things, but Rachel’s authenticity highlighted how much of that had been missing in his life.

“So besides trying new activities, what else do you like to do?” Leo asked between bites.

“You mean, what are my hobbies and outside interests?”

Leo nodded. He wanted to know everything about her, and he wanted to sit back and watch her while she told him. Leo could stare at her face all evening, watching as the sun set over the tropical ocean and bathed features in a golden light. He loved how her eyes went wide and flashed a brilliant blue whenever she talked about something she was interested in. It amused him how animated she got when she described something, how she would make little gestures with her hands and then laugh at herself. Looking at her now, watching the light play on her face and the wind blow gently through her curls, Leo couldn’t believe there had been a time when he had thought her anything less than absolutely stunning.

“I have less time for hobbies than I’d like,” Rachel said. “I was really into dance when I was younger, and I still take a class three times a week to stay in shape.”

“I knew it. I guessed right away you were a dancer.”

“Oh, did you now? And how would you know that?”

“Your body type, the way you move. You still have the fluid grace of a trained dancer. It probably never goes away.”

Rachel looked down at her drink, as though embarrassed that Leo had noticed her so closely. It made Leo want to kiss the blush from her cheeks. “I also run a financial blog
that’s been taking up more and more of my time,” she said.

“Really? I guess that’s not too surprising
, considering your background. What is your focus?”

“I try to write articles that highlight
economics in everyday life, how it can impact our daily lives in surprising ways.”

“Interesting,” Leo said, and he meant it. He knew if anyone could make economic theory entertaining, Rachel could. “Give me an example.”

“Well, I’m working on a piece right now about community arts projects and how it can have positive economic effects that ripple through a neighborhood.”

“What kinds of projects?”

“There are many kinds, but right now I’m profiling on an arts collective that hosts shows in Brooklyn. My friend Allison is a photographer who is part of the collective, and they stage shows in abandoned and blighted buildings throughout the city. Allison’s current photo project focuses on the architectural details of the various buildings they’ve used, showing the beauty that can be found even in urban decay.” Rachel paused as Rob returned with their food and more drinks.

“Thanks, Rob,” Leo said to the waiter before turning his attention back to Rachel.
“I had no idea these shows were happening in the city,” he said to Rachel when Rob left. “And they’re having a lasting impact on the neighborhoods?”

Rachel nodded. “
Taking photos of decaying buildings and displaying them in those same buildings help to change how the community views their neighborhood. It shows how things can be reused and repurposed for community enjoyment rather than left to crumble. Many times, the shows have spurred community groups to clean up and reinvest in the buildings. I’m tracking the economic effects of that reinvestment on the city as a whole.”

“
I would have never thought about the economics of an underground art show or its broader implications on a community. It’s brilliant, and I can see how passionate you are about what you’re writing,” Leo loved watching how that passion played across her face.

“
It’s why I love running the blog. It gives me a chance to think and write about the kinds of issues that aren’t normally covered in the economic media. I love having the freedom and latitude to work on those types of articles.”

“Would you ever want to do it full time?”

Rachel twirled her fork, looking thoughtful. “I would, but I’m not sure how feasible it is. I do have a solid readership, and I’ve started to monetize the blog with ads and some subscriptions.”

A gust of wind blew a lock of hair across Rachel’s face, and Leo had to consciously stop himself from leaning over the table to brush it away. He was worried that if he
reached out to touch her, he wouldn’t be able to stop. Damn, but the woman was making blog monetization sound sexy.

“
I just don’t know if it’s enough to become my day job,” Rachel continued, thankfully oblivious to Leo’s internal struggle. “Especially now with my father and brother staying with me.” Rachel bit her lip and looked down at her food.

Leo pushed his empty plate away and leaned back from the table, drink in hand. He took a gulp while he watched Rachel over the rim of his glass. It was obvious she hadn’t meant to mention her family, and Leo wondered if he should let it go without comment. There was something in her tone, though, something he recognized all too well, and he couldn’t pretend he hadn’t heard it. “Your father and brother are living with you,” Leo asked softly, “but not your mother?”

“My mother died
ten years ago,” Rachel said, her voice quiet. “My father and brother have struggled ever since, and I’ve done what I can to help them.”

“I’m so sorry. I know how hard it is to lose a parent.”

Rachel looked at him, her eyes shimmering with gathering tears. “I know you do, and I’m sorry for your loss.”

The sadness and compassion he heard in her voice stabbed Leo through the heart. He let the pain settle for a moment, comforted by the fact that she really did understand him. He didn’t like discussing his parents with anyone, but it was different with Rachel somehow. For once, he found himself not completely shutting down at the barest mention of their deaths. He still wasn’t ready to delve into a deep conversation about his family tragedy, but he realized that if there was anyone he could talk to about it, it would be Rachel. And he wanted to be that for her—the person she could talk to about her most painful memories, the person she could always depend on to listen to and support her.

Leo was about to
say more to her, to try to figure out words of comfort and let her know she could talk to him, when Rachel gave a sort of bittersweet smile. “But, yeah, if the blog readership continues to grow at the current pace, I could very well quit my day job at some point.” Rachel took a gulp of her mai tai as she blinked away the unshed tears.

“I think you’d be really good at it,” Leo said, letting her change the subject because he
understood the need to cling to normal. “Have you considered writing a book?”

“I’ve toyed with the idea, actually. It’s just so hard to find the time to write.”

“If it’s something you want, you have to make the time.”

“
I know,” Rachel said. “You’re right, of course.” She studied him for a moment. “You seem to have that all figured out already.”

“I
have. If I want something, I go get it.” Leo gave her a pointed, unblinking look.

“
Spoken like a truly ambitious businessman. I suppose you always succeed?”

“Always.”

Rachel looked at him, her eyes dancing with challenge. “And what is it you currently want?”

Leo wondered that very thing. The answer to that question was usually simple: a specific financia
l target for Hanlon Enterprises; a certain deal or merger with another company; a casual, no-strings-attached date with a particular woman who happened to catch his eye. Once he identified his goal, it was as good as accomplished. But things with Rachel seemed different, more complicated, and it was a strange and unsettling feeling. He wanted her in ways he’d never before wanted someone, and the wanting was so strong it scared him.

Leo’s attention was drawn by music from the band that had set up across the pool. They were playing
a slow, romantic song with a calypso flavor, and several couples were already dancing. The sun had almost completely set, but a few rays still peeked over the horizon, casting everything in a warm, reddish glow. There were open-flame lanterns throughout the pool deck, and a few floated in the pool itself. The evening had just begun to cool, with the faintest breeze blowing in from the sea. The hotel was right on the ocean and he could hear the waves rolling in, the sound of the water as it crashed against the beach like a hypnotic lullaby. The entire scene was…enchanting, and to Leo, Rachel was the best part about it. He suddenly needed to be closer to her, to hold her in his arms and feel her skin against his.

“What I want right now,” Leo said as stood from the table and offered his hand to Rachel, “is to dance with you.”

Rachel seemed surprised by his request, and for a moment Leo thought she would decline it. Then she placed her hand in his and rose from her chair. Leo led her out among the couples on the impromptu dance floor, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her close to him. She was slightly rigid at first but after a few steps she relaxed against him. Leo closed his eyes and breathed her in, the floral scent of her hair, the slight saltiness of her skin, the smell of coconut rum that still clung to her lips. She was perfect in his arms, her body molded to his as they swayed together to the tropical rhythm.

“I knew you’d be an amazing dancer,” Leo said huskily against her ear.

“You’re quite good yourself,” Rachel said. “I wouldn’t have guessed a man of your size would move as well as you do.”

“I’ve studied martial arts since I was five. It helps with movement and agility.”

“Impressive.” Rachel ran her hand down Leo’s arm, the feel of her fingers through his thin cotton shirt driving him wild. He tried to resist the urge to flex the muscles of his arm, knowing how ridiculous it was to want to show off for her like that, but he couldn’t help himself. She was bringing out the caveman in him again. “You’ll have to teach me sometime.”

Leo thought of Rachel in his dojo, clad in tight-fitting workout clothes, her shirt and hair sticking to her as
her skin became slick with sweat. He imagined grappling with her, feeling her flex and move beneath him as he showed her a take down move. He gulped. “Yeah,” he said, his voice strained. “I’ll definitely do that.”

He began to think this hadn’t been such a good idea.
Bringing her to the island with him was supposed to be no big thing. They would get some sun, see the sights, and then return home and go their separate ways. But spending time with her in such a romantic setting, watching the fading sunlight play across her gorgeous face, asking her to dance so he could hold her—it was becoming clear just how much Rachel was throwing him off balance.

He didn’t like becoming too attached to anyone
. He always told himself it was because he didn’t want to take focus away from his company, didn’t want the complications and the drain on his energy a serious relationship would bring. But none of that seemed very convincing any more, and he was beginning to think the reasons he had always clung to were nothing more than flimsy excuses. He felt unsettled and unsure, and that in itself was confusing. William August Leonid III, CEO of a billion-dollar corporation, was
never
anything less than fully confident in himself and his actions. Now it was like his whole world had been turned upside down and he didn’t know what to think anymore.