Island Affair (Escape Into Romance) (2 page)

"I think you will stay here with me. I don't really think you will leave."

Jonathan saw her sag as the fight went out of her and she said very quietly, "I will be leaving Jonathan. Make no mistake about it. Nothing you can say will make me change my mind."

He was surprised by the seriousness with which she spoke. For the first time he was worried that he was really going to lose her. He had been sure that he was going to be able to talk her around.

Panicked, as she turned to leave, he grabbed her arm and whirled her around to face him. They ended up chest to chest, so close he could feel the heat of her body radiating off her and penetrating the thin fabric of his shirt. They were both breathing hard.

He felt his powerful resolve snap as he tugged on her arm and hauled her to him. In one swift movement he moved his other hand to her nape and lowered his head to claim her lips in a fiery kiss. The first taste of her went to his head. He had dreamed of kissing her for the longest time and now it was actually happening. He felt light headed, almost drunk. He needed to get closer to her.

Spearing his fingers through her thick auburn hair he backed her up against the desk and rocked into her, trying to relieve the ache that was building inside of him. Even though she wasn't trying to get away she wasn't participating either. And it irked him. How could she have such iron control when he was fast losing his?

He feathered light kisses across her cheek to her ear. He sucked the lobe into his mouth and she gasped. He grinned. Finally, a response. He peppered kisses down her neck and felt her shudder.

He worked his way up the other side of her neck and then leaned back a little to look at her. Her eyelids were heavy and her vivid green eyes were dilated. It gave him a little jolt to realize that she was as turned on as he was.

"Kiss me, for God's sake, Lacey. You know you want to." He watched as her eyes went darker still and she let out a little whimper. Something seemed to snap inside of her as she lunged at him, pressing her open lips to his and sliding her tongue into his mouth. That light-headed feeling was back again.

His senses went crazy as his taste-buds exploded from her taste. Her mouth was like heaven. Warm, sweet and intoxicating. More potent than the whisky he had been drinking earlier. He was on fire. He groaned, deepening the kiss, wanting more. He tried to get closer to her, grinding his hardness into her, trying to ease the ache. Kissing wasn't enough. He needed more.

A loud buzzing noise filled the office and it took him a few seconds to realize that it was the intercom.

Jonathan reluctantly let Lacey go and leaned over the desk to angrily press the button on the intercom. "Yes!"

"Um... Sorry Mister Tyler but there is a young man here with a food order. He says it's for you." The voice of Joe the security guard emanated from the machine.

Jonathan's anger deflated. He had placed the food order earlier before Lacey had arrived unannounced, but had completely forgotten about it.

"Oh Joe, sorry. Yes, let him come on up." He let the button go and leaned on the desk for a moment trying to get his bearings back. Jonathan rubbed a frustrated hand over his face before standing up and turning to Lacey.

She looked rather shell shocked; face pale and eyes wide and glassy. He was sure that he looked much the same. That explosion of passion had taken him by surprise. He had known for some time that he was seriously attracted to Lacey but he had no idea that things would get so heated so fast between them.

"I think I should go." He had to strain to hear what she was saying. He moved towards her but stopped when she backed away from him. She couldn't even look at him. This wasn't good.

"No, don't go yet. We need to..."

She looked at him then. "We need to what? Talk?" She was shaking her head. "No, I don't think we need to do that, or anything. Let's just forget what happened here, okay? I will be leaving after I work my notice and then it will be just a memory."

She started moving towards the door. He had to stop her and make this right. "No, don't leave. Not like this. We can sort this out." He put his hand on her arm and she jumped. He could feel the electrical current sparking between them but didn't remove his hand. He was afraid she would leave if he did.

"Look, we can't ignore what just happened between us."

She looked at him with sad eyes. "I can. I think it's best if you do, too."

He shook his head. "No. I have a better idea." When she didn't have any response he said, "I won't fight your resignation on one condition."

She sent a wary look his way. "What would that be?"

He flashed a triumphant grin at her. "You stay with me until the new year."

"What!" Surely Lacey hadn't heard him correctly. He couldn't have said what she thought he had. He was insane if he thought she would be agreeable to what he was suggesting. Wasn't he?

"I think you heard what I said." He looked smug.

"Yes, but surely you aren't serious." The thought of spending the next nine days with him made her heart speed up and her breath quicken. It would be heaven and hell all together. Surely she wasn't considering this, was she?

"I'm deadly serious." It obviously wasn't a joke, he did look serious. That made her pause for a moment. What if she agreed to this? Then what?

"What exactly did you have in mind? Not that I am agreeing to anything."

He flashed her a sly grin. "Come away with me to stay at my estate in the Whitsunday Islands?"

Lacey moved away from him to get some distance so she could think clearly. She wasn't really seriously considering his proposal was she? It seemed that she actually was. What did she have to lose?

"What exactly does that offer entail?" She wanted to be sure of what she was getting into.

"I'm offering you a fantastic, relaxing holiday. Days of swimming and lounging around on one of the most gorgeous beaches in Australia. Nights of sumptuous wining and dining. I'm tired of being alone and would like to share it with someone. No strings attached."

Lacey was dubious. It wasn't like Jonathan to offer something free of strings. She couldn't help wondering what he was up to. It seemed that this offer was all in her favor. Who in their right mind would pass up an all expenses paid holiday where one could relax and de-stress before having to find a new job?

The offer was extremely tempting and she was starting to weaken. What could it hurt to accept? The only pitfall she could see was the amount of time she would have to spend in Jonathan's company. She was afraid that it would make it more difficult to leave him when the time came. But on the other hand why shouldn't she have some great memories of him to take with her when she left?

She wandered over to the window to put some more distance between them. She needed room to think about this.

Jonathan watched as she moved away from him. He felt as though he may have her on the hook. He just needed to reel her in. If she was truly serious about leaving the job then he wanted some nice memories of her to keep him warm at night when she was gone. He wasn't after anything more than that; he wasn't looking for a permanent relationship.

While he waited for her decision he poured himself another drink. Lounging against the bar he took a healthy swig of it as he continued his observation of Lacey. She looked very beautiful standing at the window. The lights from outside were glinting in her gorgeous auburn hair and her skin was glowing.

She turned to look at him and he was hit with the full force of her bright green eyes. A slow smile slid across her face and the impact punched him in the gut.

"I've made my decision." He put the glass down and pushed off the bar to move over closer to her. He didn't touch her or say a word as he waited with trepidation for her answer.

Her eyes were shining as she looked up at him. Her answer was simple. "Yes, I'll come with you." She made no move to touch him, in fact she moved away from him. He tried not to feel hurt but it seeped into him anyway. It made him wonder if he had made the right decision almost demanding that she come with him. But he had given her the choice, hadn't he? And she had made it herself.

"That's great, Lacey. I know you will enjoy yourself. I will just make the arrangements before you leave so you will know what time to expect me in the morning." He smiled at her as he moved around the desk and scooped up the phone to make the calls.

Lacey was starting to panic. What had she done? Agreeing to go away with Jonathan was insane. But she had agreed and couldn't back out now.

After going home she spent a sleepless night tossing and turning. The enormity of what she had done really hit her and made it impossible to sleep. At five o'clock she gave up and got out of bed. She carefully packed a case and then spent the remaining time waiting for Jonathan to pick her up pacing the floor.

At eight o'clock sharp there was a knock on her door. She jumped when she heard it, her nerves stretched about as far as they could go. This was it, there was no going back now.

She barely spoke for the short drive and then flight out of Airlie Beach on Jonathan's private jet to his estate on Tyljon Island in the Whitsundays. It was only in the last five minutes of the flight that she came back to reality and took in the vista below.

It took her breath away. Crisp white beach with cool deep blue water spread out below as far as the eye could see. The sun was shining brightly emphasizing all of the colors of nature. She was transfixed by the extreme beauty of it.

She turned to him with a stunning smile. "Oh Jonathan it's incredible." Her eyes were shining with pleasure. She had nine days in this paradise. She was glad that she had come with him.

She saw his eyes darken with some emotion that made her breath hitch in her throat, but his voice was steady when he spoke.

"It is magnificent. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to call it mine." He smiled and his whole face lit up causing her heart to skip a beat. Her reaction to him was unnerving. It worried her that she was falling further under his spell. It was going to be hard to leave him.

There was a sleek black limousine waiting for them when they landed. It whisked them away along an ocean view road. In fact, it seemed as though you could see ocean in any direction you looked. It was magnificent. Lacey was transfixed.

After a short drive the limo slowed and turned into a huge gate of stone pillars and wrought iron. They drove slowly down a tranquil tree-lined driveway which swept around in an arc to come to a stop at the front entrance of an imposing three story white stone mansion.

Lacey gasped at the sheer beauty of the structure. She had never seen anything quite like it before. She was vaguely aware of Jonathan exiting the limo but still jumped when the door next to her opened. She looked sheepishly at him as she took his proffered hand and climbed out.

He didn't let go of her hand as they made their way into the house. Although house really was too tame a word to describe it. She was surprised when they were met just inside the door by a manservant.

"Good morning Mister Tyler," the manservant said. "I trust you had a pleasant trip?"

"Good morning Angus. Yes, we had a wonderful trip. This is Miss Craven." Jonathan turned to Lacey and smiled. "This is Angus. He is head of the household staff. If you need anything just ask."

"Hello Angus, nice to meet you." She smiled to herself. This was going to be a perfect holiday.

"Nice to meet you also, miss."

"Oh please, call me Lacey."

"Certainly, Miss Lacey." She laughed out loud at that and Angus grinned. They both looked at Jonathan who was trying to look stern but wasn't really being very successful. His grin was breaking through.

"Oh I can see you two are going to get on like a house on fire." Angus and Lacey laughed together once more.

"Can you show Lacey to her room please, Angus? I have a couple of things to take care off. I think we will eat lunch on the north patio today. Can you tell cook that we will be ready for lunch in about thirty minutes?"

"Certainly sir." Angus turned to Lacey and said, "Please follow me, miss." Lacey was a bit unsure and hesitated for a moment. She looked at Jonathan but he had pulled his mobile phone from his pocket and was already talking to someone, ignoring her. She shrugged and turned back to Angus who was waiting by the bottom of the stairs for her. She hurried over to him and they ascended the stairs together.

When they reached the second floor Angus indicated for her to follow him down the passageway to the left. She sighed as her feet sunk down into the plush carpet lining the passageway. The walls were painted white and were decorated with tasteful beach themed prints. They passed several doors along the way before Angus stopped at one of them.

"Mister Tyler thought that you would appreciate this room." He pushed the door open and they entered. Lacey was curious. Why would this room be any better than any of the other rooms along the way? But as they went further into the room and Angus went to open the drapes all the way she could see that this room had the most magnificent view of the bay onto which the back of the house faced.

She opened the glass sliding doors and went out onto the balcony. The sun in the cloudless vivid blue sky was shining onto the water causing the ripples to look like shimmering diamonds. The crisp white sand was dazzling in the midday sun. And the tall palm trees were swaying gently in the slight breeze. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to worship the sun. Taking a deep breath in of the delicious salty air she could feel herself relaxing.

She was vaguely aware of Angus leaving when she heard the door click closed. She stayed out on the balcony for several minutes just soaking up the atmosphere. Her peace was interrupted by a strange buzzing noise a few minutes later. She went investigating to see if she could find the source of the irritating noise.

She found an intercom unit next to the door. She gingerly pressed the button, not knowing what to expect. "Yes?"