Eleni, still panting from the giggles, stared at him. It was the first time he had truly smiled since they’d met. His lips had curled up in a polite way before, but this smile reached his eyes.
Eleni’s heart skipped a beat. This had been a bad idea. It would be better never to provoke Matteo physically again. She pressed her hands to her belly. She didn’t need these knots in her stomach. Turning her life around mustn’t involve new relationships. Not when she wasn’t done mourning the old ones.
Matteo’s voice ripped her from her thoughts. “By the way, I didn’t mean to judge you before. I’m just not a fan of the animation team. This year, they’ve recruited lots of new employees based purely on their good looks. I first thought you belonged in that category.” He paused and pressed his lips together as if regretting what he’d just said. “I shouldn’t have been so hasty with my judgement, sorry.”
Did Matteo just say he thought she looked nice? Why did she even care about that? The guy didn’t mean it as a compliment. He was just excusing himself because he’d put her into the ‘dumb beauty’ category.
She rubbed her hands together. “Jeez, thanks, I guess. That’s kind of you to say. So now that you have taken off my stupid tag, would you mind telling me what it is that you do in the resort?”
“I manage the Deep Blue for the resort. I’m the dive center’s manager.” Matteo straightened in his seat.
“Oh, I see.” A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed hard.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise. The bright shoulders, the beach-boy look, and his cocky nature were all good clues. She folded her arms across her chest. But didn’t he know he was playing with his life down there?
The Jeep came to an abrupt halt.
Eleni glanced out the window. Were they here already? The resort must be at least a half-hour drive from the airport. Where had the time gone?
Matteo jumped out of the car and came around to open her door. He offered his hand to Eleni but she didn’t take it.
“Thanks, I’ve got this.” She didn’t need another physical reminder that this man could be trouble for her.
Matteo nodded and stepped aside. He pulled out Eleni’s bags and placed them in front of her. “Here we are. It was a pleasure meeting you, Eleni. I wish you the best of luck here in the Deep Blue.”
“Nice to meet you too, Matteo. Where do I go now?”
Matteo pointed at the first side entrance. “That’s where you register. You’ll get your room assigned and the rest sorted out. Will you be fine on your own?” He peered at this watch as if he was running late for an important meeting.
Eleni nodded. “Sure.” As Matteo turned to leave, she called out. “Thank you. You know, for the ride and all.”
He swiveled around and met her gaze. “It was my pleasure. Once in a while, being the pick-up driver isn’t so bad after all.” He flashed a smile at her.
Eleni’s breathing quickened. Were his eyes this blue at the airport? How had she not noticed them before? Oh, for heaven’s sake, what was she doing? She shouldn’t react to him like that.
“Well, see you then,” she murmured.
Matteo stepped over to the Jeep and hopped in. As his car drove away, Eleni sighed and turned toward the hotel. Her eyes moved to the giant logo above the entrance. The Deep Blue. How fitting that Matteo worked for this place.
She shook her head. The thought had no place in her head. They’d arrived, and from now on, she wouldn’t be seeing Matteo that often. He’d said he doesn’t mix much with the hotel’s business, right?
This island was her chance. A clean, new start. Was it for the better? Maybe, maybe not. But she had no choice. Not after what Connor did. She had to get away from her present, otherwise… She shook her head and grabbed her luggage.
She walked inside the building.
Chapter 3
Eleni placed one of her valises on the bed and unzipped it. Her glance fell on the broken picture frame and her heart dropped. Oh, no. Why didn’t she wrap it in more layers?
She collected the broken pieces and tossed them into the trashcan beside her bed. She lifted the frame and slid her fingers over the photo’s shiny paper. How beautiful her mom had been. So full of life. Her father’s talent made the play of light so flattering it looked like an advertisement. A happy mother with her child.
Eleni frowned and shook her head. She put the photo on the bedside table and began to unpack her clothes. Keeping her hands busy was the best way to keep her painful thoughts at bay.
The door flew open and a curly-haired young woman bolted into the room, carrying a glass container with a golden hamster in it. She went straight to the other bed and placed the animal on it, without noticing Eleni.
Eleni peered at the hamster and swallowed the lump forming in her throat. The glass looked robust enough. It wasn’t going to break, was it?
Her eyes wandered back to the girl. Was this her roommate? “Hi there,” she finally said.
The girl jerked back and pivoted around. “Holy cow, you scared me.” She grabbed at her chest, but when her eyes met Eleni’s, she smiled. “Hi there, roomie. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you? We’re going to be roommates after all.”
She rushed over to Eleni with a few steps. “I’m Cath. Catharina, actually. I’m from Venezuela. And you are?”
“I’m Helena, but you can call me Eleni. I’m from Boston, and I came to work in the animation team.”
Cath bounced back and forth on her tiptoes, just like a little puppy. “Boston? Great. I went there once on a school trip. Why would you ever leave a city so lively and exciting?”
Eleni stifled a groan. And so full of displeasing memories.
She straightened. “Let’s put it this way, I needed a change of scenery.”
Cath reached out and patted her shoulder. “Guy trouble, huh? I get it. We’ve all been there.”
Eleni’s jaw dropped. Was Cath clairvoyant? Or was there a giant I’ve been cheated on sign stamped on her face?
She glanced sideways at her roommate who was staring at her with a compassionate glint in her eyes. “Something along those lines.”
“Bad break-up? Sorry. I’m just too curious.”
Eleni nodded. “Yeah. The worst.”
Cath opened her arms wide. “Welcome to the club, honey. Almost all of us in Triquol came here to flee something.”
Eleni’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”
She recalled Matteo’s face. Was he also escaping from something? Doubtful, he didn’t look like the deserting type.
Cath winked. “Well, not all of us, but quite a lot, I reckon. I, for one, needed a break from my obsessive ex and my poor finances.”
Eleni scratched her neck. “That must’ve sucked.”
She shouldn’t have assumed the rest of the staff had come to work in this luxury resort in the middle of the ocean only for the financial gain. All people don’t tick that way. Hiding from emotional baggage was often as strong a motivation as money.
Cath hopped up in the bed beside Eleni’s luggage. “It’s all good now. It turns out a fitness trainer in this resort is paid better than an accountant in Caracas.” She wrinkled her nose, as if the words smelled bad.
“You were an accountant at home?”
Cath didn’t look like an office worker. She had too much dynamism to be sitting all day.
Cath laughed. “Yeah, accountant by day, fitness trainer in the evenings. I loved my second job better anyhow.” She took Eleni’s hand and squeezed it. “Don’t worry, you’ll like it here. This place is no paradise, but it comes quite close. More so for the guests, of course, but for us it’s not so bad either.”
Eleni sighed. “It’s great to hear somebody so upbeat about life on this island. I was starting to wonder whether I’d made a huge mistake by coming here.”
Cath furrowed her brows. “Why would you say that?”
“The guy who picked me up from the airport had a pretty critical attitude toward my new job. I guess i
t’s contagious.”
Cath picked up one of Eleni’s T-shirts and folded it. “Ah, you must’ve met Matteo. He’s one of the island’s hotties.” She raised her eyes, as if expecting Eleni to say something.
An image of deep blue eyes and bright shoulders flashed through Eleni’s mind. Her stomach was assaulted by strange quivers. Why did her body have to react in such a funny way to the mere mention of this guy? She didn’t even know him.
Eleni rubbed her neck. “I guess he’s all right…”
Cath’s eyes widened. “Seriously? All right? That’s the best you’ve got?”
Eleni giggled. Well, maybe more than all right. “Fine, the guy is handsome as hell. But he’s kind of weird. Friendly one moment and then distant and judgmental the next.”
Eleni’s pulse picked up as she thought of that single playful moment in the car. But, heavens, he could smile. No, this wasn’t good. She shouldn’t be thinking that. She didn’t need any emotional complication for her scarred heart while it was still healing.
Cath fished out another shirt from Eleni’s bag. “You’re not far off from the truth. Matteo is quite the loner. He’s been here for over six months, but I think he has not spoken to me except to say hi.”
“Is he that taken with his job at the diving center? He left me in front of the hotel and dashed off like he was running late to save someone’s life.”
Eleni bit her lip. That, or to get away from her as fast as possible.
Cath nodded. “Yes, I would say he fits the description of a workaholic. But, to be fair, the man who worked there before him got fired. Rumor has it that, by the end of this upcoming season, Matteo needs to make up for the lost revenue his predecessor created.”
A warmth spread through Eleni’s spine. So maybe he wasn’t running away from her? “I see. Perhaps he had a work gig then.”
Cath nodded. “Could be. The guests are arriving in a week or so, but some of the usuals are here already. Diving and snorkeling trips are highly sought after.”
Cath’s eyes moved to the luggage and fixated on a pair of ballet shoes. “Are you a dancer, Eleni?”
Eleni reached down and lifted her dancing slippers. “I was a teacher in a ballet school, actually.” As her fingers brushed the worn satin surface, she sighed.
Cath’s eyes lit up. “Wow, that sounds like an amazing job. Way cooler than fitness trainer. I’m surprised you quit. You won’t get to do much of that here.”
Eleni lowered her eyes. It hadn’t been her choice really. “I didn’t actually resign. My new job contract fell through.” Her eyebrows drew together into a frown. “My ex was the school director’s son. When our relationship ended, I couldn’t stay. We were engaged.”
“Oh no, that’s evil.”
Cath’s simple but honest answer made Eleni smile. Cath was like a breath of fresh air compared to the uptight folks she used to meet at Connor’s place.
“Yes, it was.” Eleni shrugged. “Anyways, if it wasn’t for this, I would still be sitting in Boston instead of enjoying this stunning sunshine.”
Cath held up her hand. “That’s the right animator attitude. Gimme a high five.”
Eleni clapped hands with Cath. Yes, the right attitude. She had to keep it together. She couldn’t mourn her abandoned career. If she collected enough money, maybe she could take it up again, but for now, she was a luxury hotel animator—her eyes moved to Cath’s bed—who was now living with a hamster. She shivered. Who would have thought?
Cath noticed Eleni’s expression. She stood up to fetch the glass container. “This is Fred. Do you like animals?”
Eleni took a small step back, angling her body away from her roommate. “Generally, yes, though I’m not the biggest fan of rodents. Dogs or cats are more my thing.”
Cath reached inside and caressed Fred’s head. “Well, it’s not like I travelled with this hamster to the island. I got it here from someone.” Her cheeks turned crimson at the last word.
Was there a special someone for her on the island?
Eleni raised one eyebrow. “From whom?”
Cath avoided Eleni’s eyes. “The DJ at the Bliss. His name is Nathan. It wasn’t a gift really. He said he couldn’t take care of Fred because his roommate made a big fuss about it. So I kind of rescued the poor thing. You know, for the love of the animal.” She walked back and deposited the hamster on the table.
“It was very nice of you to take Fred in. Nathan is probably very grateful.”
Cath turned back and her lips curled up. “I dearly hope so.”
Aha, so she was right. This mystery DJ held a special place for Cath.
Eleni blinked at her roommate and gave her a coy grin. “And will I get the chance to meet the ex-owner of our poor hamster?”
Cath’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, indeed. We have a special staff party planned tonight. Nathan will be there. You’ll meet the whole crew. But I warn you, don’t get mixed up with a girl called Rosalie, ’cause otherwise I’ll have to evict you from our room.” She laughed as if the idea was just too funny.
Eleni raised an eyebrow. “What have you got against her?”
Cath seemed such an amiable person. The very idea that she could dislike somebody seemed absurd.
“Just wait till you meet Miss I-am-the-most-beautiful, and then we’ll talk.”
Eleni raised her palm. “Okay, fair enough.” She fidgeted with her ballet shoe strings. “When you said whole crew, did you mean all the staff members or only those working directly at the hotel?”
Why was she even asking this question? It wasn’t important to know whether Matteo was coming. It made no difference.
Cath scratched her head. “I think everyone is invited, except the ones on night duty. Poor suckers. Oops, sorry.” She clapped her hand to her mouth and giggled.
Heat crept up Eleni’s neck. So Matteo would be there. Her heart fluttered, and she pressed a palm underneath her collarbone. So much for no difference.
Cath pointed at the luggage and winked. “Wanna finish unpacking and then choose our outfits for tonight?”
Eleni peeked at her clothes. “Okay, let’s do that.”
What should she wear tonight? She shouldn’t make a fuss about her dress just because she was going to see him again. She would pick something simple.
Cath poked her shoulder. “I’m so glad I finally have a roommate. I was feeling rather lonely here these past months.”
Eleni smiled at Cath. Yes, it was nice to have a girl friend already. “Me too. While we finish up, do you want to tell me a bit more about life on the island? I’m eager to see what awaits me.”
A wide grin spread across Cath’s freckled face. “I’ve got you all covered. So listen up…”
Chapter 4
Matteo pushed open the diving center door.
“Hugo? Fluff?” No answer. Matteo swung his backpack onto the couch and sat down beside it.
Hugo had probably taken Fluff for a walk. It was one of the few things his assistant could reliably accomplish.
Matteo rubbed his neck with both hands and moved his head around in little circles. Why was he so tense? The drive with Eleni had put him on edge. But why?
She was just a colleague from the animation team. There was no reason to think of her differently. He massaged his temples with his index fingers.
Except there was. The electric tingles from her touch flashed through his mind. This girl could be trouble for him. Luckily, he wasn’t going to see much of her.
Anyways, she was most probably here for the quick money and high hopes of meeting a rich millionaire or movie star. Like all the others.
He grabbed his cellphone from his pocket and checked his messages. He scanned through the unimportant stuff till he found what he was looking for.
“Sponsor time approaches. Have you made any progress yet with the Pearl? Keep your eyes on the prize. Luke.”
Matteo snorted loudly. Typical. Luke really knew how to pick his timing. Did he guess that Matteo planned to check th
e Black Rock and Purple Rain sites? Those two were high on their list. Maybe one of them had the underwater passage.
He quickly typed back a reply.
“Not yet. I need a bit more time. You just focus on gathering the money. We’ll soon be up and running.”
He hit send. As he went to tuck away his phone, it beeped.
Was Luke answering already? He glanced at the screen, and his lips moved into a grin.
No, it was just Bianca. She always remembered to check in with him before going to her late-afternoon shift. Matteo’s heart warmed as he read his sister’s text.
“Mattie, don’t forget about Thursday. We’ll call you after dinner. Don’t make us wait like last time. Luke came by the bar yesterday. Did you meet somebody on the island? Be good. xoxo“
Oh, sweet Bianca. Always hoping to see him settled with someone. He wrote back quickly and put away his phone.
He stood up and went to the kitchen to pour a cup of the coffee Hugo had prepared. Yuck, disgusting, as always. Why did he keep trying it again and again? He needed to ask Bianca if, next time she came to visit, she would bring his moka pot. It was tough surviving here without a real Italian espresso, and he couldn’t always count on Bradley to smuggle him some good stuff from under the counter.
He walked to his desk and picked up the map. It contained all his work from the past months. And, still, so much undiscovered area. How could he explore it all by himself?
It was a pity he had to go separate ways with Luke. If his friend could apply for the assistant job here, Matteo’s life would be much easier.
He shook his head. No, someone had to think of the investors. That was more Luke’s skill. Matteo had a hard time putting up a nice face on command.
Even this morning, he hadn’t shown his best side. His thoughts travelled back to the girl’s fierce eyes. She seemed fragile and strong at the same time. A puzzling paradox.
He took a pen and circled the Purple Rain site. That had to be his next mission.
Loving The Boss (Gems 0f Love Book 1) Page 2
