Heating Up Hawaii (3 page)

Lunch would have been so much better. Less threatening and more businesslike. She had gone to work that morning wearing a neutral pant suit, ready for whatever came her way. A phone call from Luc’s PA switching from lunch to dinner, due to his hectic schedule on his last day in Dallas, changed the course of things.

Of course she had agreed. She needed his business. The idea of meeting him at night made her look for something more suitable to wear, and from then on all kinds of ideas rushed through her mind. She had taken her pant suit off and ruled it out— something that formal would stand out at night. She’d tried a silk burgundy dress that she’d bought for her honeymoon and never wore. But she’d dismissed it with a head shake. It was sophisticated, but also too sexy. Not the time to give the wrong idea.

The last time she’d dined with Luc had been when they were lovers, at a fifties-themed restaurant. If she closed her eyes, she could almost hear Anita O’Day’s
We’ll be together again
, filling the room. The simmering glances he sent her way had made her blush. What a load of crap.

Aha!
She removed the shoe from the inside of her magazine rack, crowded with business journals, women’s publications, and a couple of celebrity gossip tabloids.

Penny stood up, recomposed, and slid her foot inside the shoe. She checked herself in the full-length mirror behind her bedroom door.

It’s just you and me, Little Black Dress.

With damp palms, she smoothed her V-necked, simple yet elegant, black dress. Usually a business meeting didn’t shoot at her nerves like this. Although this wasn’t just an ordinary meeting. It was dinner to discuss the needs of one of the best hotel chains in the world.
With Luc Leoni
.

Penny glanced at her watch. The company car would be pulling up at any moment… yes, it made it all more official. When Luc’s PA had asked if she’d like a ride from the town car that his chain used for interviewees or employees from out-of-town, Penny had agreed.
The worst part is over.

The doorbell rang, the chime jolting her from her thoughts.

She grabbed the glossy folder with the DG initials on the front, lifted her embroidered black clutch from the tabletop, and headed to the door.

What she saw on the other side stopped her in her tracks. A wave of heat coiled low in her stomach.
Very low
. She expected an old, short, chauffeur-looking type. Instead, there was Luc, his eyes capturing hers for a moment. One of his long arms stretched along the door frame, while his other hand rested casually on his waist. She swallowed hard, and realized how dry her throat was.

“Good evening, Penelope.” Luc’s heavily accented voice rolled off of her, making her shiver.

“Luc? I expected you to meet me at the restaurant.” Penny’s eyes did a quick inventory on him. His dark blue suit molded his large and athletic body. The black shirt enhanced his olive skin. The slick texture of his hair gave his recent shower away. Thoughts of a lucky bar soap traveling up and down his water soaked body didn’t bring her any consolation. Instead, it stung her with both want and repulse.
Mostly repulse.

She knew she could never have the man in front of her, because of what lay inside him. What he had done. What he could do.

Hell, if he had broken her heart when he’d been a hotel manager, how about now, as a self-made tycoon billionaire? With dozens of women willing to please him any way imaginable? Any. Way. Imaginable. She squared her shoulders.

“Change of plans.” He leaned inside, and his gaze roamed through the apartment before she could do anything about it. “Had a hard time deciding what to wear, I see.” His lips curled into a slow smile.

“I’m remodeling my closet. Stuff is everywhere.” She stepped forward and signaled for him to get out of her doorway. “You didn’t have to come get me.”

She feared her face would brush his hard chest. For one moment, it almost did. He took his time stepping back from her, sending a clear message that he did things his way.

“I wanted to stretch my legs.”

Stretch those long legs…

She locked the door behind her and slid the key into her clutch. She rushed forward trying not to think about his legs or inebriating scent. Out of the few boyfriends she had after him, none of them had that signature skin fragrance. Woodsy notes blended with a light citrus only added to his natural manly scent. If she sniffed close enough, she’d get her senses filled with him. The last thing she needed.

She allowed her eyes to meet his for a moment. Under the dim lighting of her apartment building, his eyes almost seemed the same color.

Which they were not, of course. They were very different, just like she was from him.

They settled into quietude as they walked past the front garden, the sight of Luc on her territory invasive and unwelcome. Not because he probably lived in a much nicer place, or had several of them spread throughout the world, but because in a short period of time, Luc already knew too much about her situation.

Crickets chirped. They finally reached the company car, which turned out to be a white stretch limousine parked on the curb.
Well,
of course
.

“Do all employees ride in this one?” The lightness in her voice hid the rumbling of her body. The driver greeted her, but before he could open the door for her, Luc did it himself. With a nod, the uniform clad man returned to his seat in the front.

“Only the ones who get to ride with me.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Well, aren’t you special?” said a rasping male voice behind them.

Shock flew through her system. She squared her shoulders and clasped her hand on the opened car door as she looked at Darren walking up to them. In addition to designer jeans and a muscle shirt, he wore a frown on his face. The way he puffed his chest hinted he wasn’t happy seeing her with another man. Even after six months…

“Who is this?” Luc asked firmly.

“Luc Leoni, meet Darren Dawn. My ex-fiancé.” She couldn’t stop from looking at the two. They assessed each other without a handshake. While Darren’s eyes held a measure of instant contempt, Luc’s displayed a blend of inconvenience and…curiosity.

“Dawn?” Luc caught on to the last name.

“Charles Dawn is his father.” Penny turned to Darren, “Luc just hired me for an assignment and we are going to a dinner meeting. This isn’t a good time.”

“I was just checking in on you, Penny.” Next to Luc, Darren seemed less stocky and certainly not as tall. “You didn’t return any of my calls.”

“I’ve been busy.” Penny pressed her lips together in an effort to keep from saying what she really wanted.
I can’t be friends with you right now.
Guilt took a stab at her. With his recent consistent attendance to the AA meetings, she couldn’t take that chance.

Maybe soon he will see things more clearly and realize we were never meant to be.

Luc’s eyes drilled into hers, like he was trying to unveil the lies she’d just told. Did he sense how uncomfortable Darren made her these days?

Why wouldn’t Darren make her feel like an awkward mess? He was the living proof of the mistake she’d almost made.
Almost?
A voice inside her laughed.

“Busy with this guy, I see.” Darren said between his teeth. She didn’t have to touch her cheeks to feel their heat.

“Whom she’s busy with is no longer your concern,” A hint of impatience laced Luc’s voice. He moved to her side, although she didn’t need the shield of his protection. “We have reservations, so I suggest you leave, Daniel.”

“It’s Darren, and I’m not leaving.”

Blood pounded hot and thick in her temples. She knew Darren wasn’t the easiest person, but she had never seen the look of hatred in his blue eyes, the flush on his cheeks, the way he pushed his blond hair back, almost violently, to prevent his hands from landing somewhere else, like Luc’s jaw.

Luc on the other hand remained assertive and in control, not a hair out of place, no passionate fury in his eyes. “Then by all means, stay.” He touched her elbow, and gently nudged her to get inside the limousine.

She mumbled a goodbye to Darren and ducked to get inside the limo, her emotions battling a mix of relief and apprehension.
Certainly not the best way to keep Luc from knowing even more about my personal life.
At least she’d been able to literally step away from the discomfort of the situation.

A thumping noise pulled her from her thoughts, and she glanced over her shoulder before she could sit down in the plush vehicle. Darren must have swung at Luc, like he probably had been itching to since seeing them together, though Darren didn’t count on Luc’s quick reflex skills.

She gasped and Luc quickly bent down before Darren could throw another punch. Or try to, anyway. He swiftly stood up and grabbed Darren by his collar, slamming him against the limousine. The sound of his body hitting the metal echoed in her head. The driver got out of the vehicle but Luc gestured for him to go away.

“Luc, let him go.”

He held Darren by his collar with one hand as if he was weightless, while the other closed into a hard fist.

“Enough of the testosterone contest.” She raised her voice and smacked her hands against his arms. “Luc, put him down.”

Luc cocked his head. Though Darren mumbled something inaudible under his breath, she noticed a glimmer of fear in his eyes. Luc loosened his hold slowly, not moving an inch or breaking eye contact with the man.

“Darren, please go now,” she pleaded. “We’ll talk later.” She regretted her last minute bargain immediately after saying it.

“You heard her,” Luc growled behind her.

“Good-bye for now.” Darren glared at her. He shot Luc an unsatisfied stare, and Luc responded with a much stronger one in return. Darren mumbled something, clenched his jaw, spun around, and left. His compact frame disappeared under the Red Maple tree shadows and into the night.

They both slid inside the limousine and mortification quickly crept up on her. What should she do? Thank him? No. The last thing she needed was to give his ego a deep tissue massage. Explain to him? No. He had nothing to do with her personal affairs, and the less he knew about her, the better.

Luc sat next to her, though she scooted to the far side of the leather seat, preventing their limbs from accidentally touching. After exchanging a few words with the driver, he glanced down at her.

Penny swallowed her embarrassment, when a quick peek back his way showed her his smile. He was smiling! His eyes focused forward, lost in thought.

During the rest of the ride and their arrival at the Michelin-starred eatery, he didn’t speak.

The restaurant had high ceilings and an airy interior. The entrance was a hustle and bustle of activity. They were lead to a booth located in a quiet corner where the ambience was undeniably cozy. A musician played a huge piano under the dim lighting and there was the warm scent of vanilla from the candles burning on each table.

“Luc, I have our contract with me, and if you’re ready we can start discussing your needs,” Penny spoke after they placed their orders. She knew she had her work cut out for her, with the date of the re-opening party fast approaching.

“When did you end your engagement?” His syrupy accent didn’t conceal the touch of impatience in his voice.

She raised her eyes to his only to find the blue one darkening to the color of a gray overcast sky, and the hazel deepening into a dark brown shade. A thrill of excitement and fear zinged down her body and shook all her nerve endings.

She blinked. “I don’t see how this is relevant.” Penny managed to sound casual.

“Eight months ago?” He tilted his head and edged closer to her.

She folded her arms together, desperate to create an invisible layer of protection against that question. Against him.

“Six,” she said at last. “How do you know that I ended it? It could have been him.”

Luc chuckled a hearty sound, which annoyed her. “That’s obvious. How long before the wedding did you do it?”

Penny hesitated. She stared at the short flame swaying on the wick of the white candle in the middle of the table. She touched the brown metal candle holder, her fingers caressing the pattern along the round object.

The worst isn’t over. It’s just beginning.

“The day before.” She avoided meeting his gaze.

“The day before.” He repeated with a nod. “A runaway bride.” He squared his shoulders, and slid away from her, back to his original place. “I’m not surprised. Running always was your forte.”

And using women to your advantage was always yours.

She looked up at him with an effort. There was no trace of mockery on his lips, no amusement in his eyes. His stance was deadly serious.

What could she say? She hadn’t run. This was no unsolved, long lost love. On that overcast New York day, Luc had confronted her. He had questioned her reason for telling Allegra, the investor’s daughter, about their secret affair.

Well, secret had been how he had wanted to keep it. Penny understood as a hotel manager it didn’t look good for him to date an intern and it even went against company policies. She had lived with it for two months, never telling a coworker the reason of her smile or sweet humming in between check-ins at the front desk.

But when a coworker alerted her that Allegra Smith, the daughter of the hotel owner and known investor, had a crush on Luc, things had changed. He had told her all he needed was to be on the Smiths’ good side to pitch his bold business idea to her father. How could she in clear conscience play along, when the pain she both caused and felt from her childhood still haunted her?

She swallowed the bitterness lodged in her throat. “I merely finished my internship a couple of weeks early.”

She wanted to move on her seat, but his eyes pinned her like they often did when unexpected. There was no warmth in them, just a flicker of resentment. She imagined a man with an ego the size of NASA hadn’t enjoyed being dismissed by a woman his junior, his work subordinate. Or anyone else, in Luc’s case.