by Coleen Kwan
“I didn’t have much choice at the thrift store.” She lifted one foot to show him the Crocs. “As you can see.”
His lips twitched. “You still look good.” His expression grew a little more sober, as if he sensed something was off kilter. “What did you want to see me about?”
Joe thinks I look good. Not the most lavish compliment she’d ever received, but it threw her so completely that for a moment she forgot what she’d rushed inside to tell him. Then it came back to her—she was quitting, leaving Joe, the job, and Hartley after all.
She swallowed, conscious now of the seriousness of what she was about to do. Joe hadn’t thought much of her in the beginning, but over the past two days she’d sensed his opinion changing. So much so he’d even fixed the shower for her. That meant he wanted her to stay, didn’t it? If she resigned now, he’d be annoyed, scornful. He’d accuse her of wasting his time again, of being fickle and unreliable. It shouldn’t matter, because once she left she’d never see him again, but deep down it did. Despite her reasoning, Joe’s opinion mattered to her.
“I, er…” She hunted for something—anything—to say. “I went for a walk down to the beach. It’s, uh, pretty around here.”
“Glad you noticed.” His eyes narrowed. “Is that what you came rushing in to tell me?”
“I…guess so.”
He watched her, the relaxation ebbing from his stance. “You weren’t by any chance coming here to tell me you were quitting? Again?”
Her heart thudded heavily. Joe’s stare seemed to swamp her so she couldn’t focus on anything except the probing look in his eyes.
“Why are you always so quick to believe the worst of me?”
“Is that what you think I’m doing right now?”
“Well, aren’t you?” She lifted her chin, defiant. In her experience, attack was always the best form of defense.
Joe hauled in a deep breath, his undershirt stretching taut across his impressive pectorals. “I’m not wedded to my opinions. I’m prepared to change my mind about you—if you’re willing and able to persuade me.”
The challenge in his eyes struck sparks in her. The old, familiar recklessness stampeded to the fore, but this time she was rushing in with her eyes wide-open. She knew staying here was a mistake. She knew she should turn around and get out of here. And she knew she was staying because of Joe, because of how he made her feel, all breathless and wired and thrumming and alive—and that was her biggest mistake of all.
But she ignored all the flashing warnings, stared into Joe’s wickedly tempting eyes, and said, “Joe, I’m sure if I put my mind to it, I can persuade you into anything.”
He sucked in a breath. “Anything in particular?”
The heat in his eyes hit her, made her wonder if she’d gone too far. “What I meant was, changing your opinion of me. I’m not quitting. I’m staying right here.”
He rested his forearm against the door frame, leaning into her until his in-your-face masculinity enveloped her. “Are you always such a tease with men? Or is it just me?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Well, know this. I have my limits. Dangle some bait in front of me long enough and I’ll bite.”
He leaned in even closer until she thought for sure he was going to kiss her. And she didn’t move. Didn’t want to move, because all she could think about was his mouth pressing down on hers, scorching and sensuous and thrilling. His shadow fell over her as he closed in, and her heartbeat fluttered in her throat, wild with anticipation…
But then he pulled back, a gleam in his eyes. “Let me know if you have any more trouble with that shower.” He walked away, whistling casually.
Dizzy, she stared after his retreating denim-clad ass. Damn him, who was teasing now? And she’d played right into his hands. Why hadn’t he kissed her? Why had he pulled back at the last moment? Was it because… Lifting an arm, she gave herself an experimental sniff. Thank God he’d fixed the shower, because she was in desperate need of one.
Chapter Four
Nina stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her body, securing it under her arms. The water had been blissfully hot, and she felt clean and relaxed.
As she padded down the hallway, her footsteps echoed in the hush. The Sunday night crowd at the restaurant and bar had dispersed a while ago. Upstairs, only a handful of guests were staying the night, and they seemed like a quiet bunch.
As she entered her room, a cool breeze struck her damp skin. Earlier in the day, she’d opened the window to air out her room and had forgotten to close it. Now, brisk night air streamed in, raising goose bumps on her arms. She hurried to the sash window and grabbed the brass handles of the raised pane. It wouldn’t move. She tugged and wrestled, but the window only screeched down a few inches before jamming again.
“Come on, you stupid thing,” she muttered as she tried to wrench the window down.
The air around her swirled as a warm presence materialized behind her. “Here, let me get that for you.” Joe’s breath stirred the hairs on her nape.
She spun around. “Jesus, you scared me.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to.”
He was mere inches away from her. Too close for comfort, and once again he’d caught her with nothing but a towel on. She edged sideways, keeping her distance from him. “I didn’t realize you were still here.”
Joe gripped the stuck windowpane and wiggled it from side to side. “I had some paperwork to finish up.”
“You seem to spend your whole life here at the inn. Don’t you ever have some time off?”
He nudged the pane one more time and drew it closed. “I have time off,” he said. “I visit my nonna, sometimes my aunt and uncle, play soccer.”
“But you’re also here every day.”
He secured the window latch and turned back to her. “I built this business up from nothing. I’ve poured all my time, money, and effort into this place. Of course I’m here every day. I can’t afford not to be.”
Nina nodded. “I’ve only been here a few days, but I see how hard you work and how much you’ve accomplished. I’ve heard it from your staff, too, and people in town, and, well…I admire what you’ve achieved and how you’ve done it.”
He blinked, surprise showing in his expression. “Thanks. Didn’t think I’d hear you say something like that”—his gaze drifted over her—“let alone do it with nothing but a towel on.”
A lick of fire curled in her stomach, sending heat through her veins. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m not trying to seduce you or anything.”
His eyes widened, and the corner of his lips twitched. “I’m not against a woman seducing me per se, but in your case I would be worried.”
“Why?”
Joe shook his head. “You know why.” There was an edge to his voice, a warning in his eyes. Was this the same reason he hadn’t kissed her yesterday?
“No, I don’t.” She pinned him with a hard stare. “Come on. You can be honest with me. Am I not attractive enough for you? Is that it?”
He made a kind of choking noise, his eyes flaring. “I wish I could say that, but no. That’s not it.”
Exhilaration mixed with indignation coursed through her veins. “You sure know how to make a compliment sound like an insult.” Her mouth was running away from her again, and she couldn’t seem to stop it. Joe was being too provocative to ignore. “Well then? What’s your reason?”
“You can’t guess?” He paused a moment. “Getting personally involved with you would be…unwise.”
His studied deliberation made her feel immature, and she’d had enough of that from her father. She scowled at him. “I see. I’m not mature enough for you.”
“I didn’t say that—”
“Well, you implied it.”
He stared back at her for a few moments, his eyes black and inscrutable, before he riffled his fingers through his hair. He groaned. “Why the hell are we even discussing this? No one is going to seduce a
nyone. Got that?”
“What about yesterday? You almost kissed me—and don’t even try to deny it.”
“In case you didn’t notice, I stopped myself. I have self-control.”
His high-handed attitude only made her more reckless. “I see. So the mature and self-controlled Joe Farina has spoken, and that’s it. End of discussion, huh?”
His mouth flattened into a tight line. “Pretty much.”
Wildness ran through her, a fierce longing to shake him up and jolt him from his moorings.
“So, I guess if I do this—” She ripped off her towel and flung it aside to stand naked in front of Joe. “It won’t affect you, then?”
Joe swallowed, his entire body rigid, his dark, fiery gaze eating up every inch of her naked body.
Oh, God, what had she done? This was total madness. What if he reached for her, called her dare? She froze, caught between her impetuosity and Joe’s searing examination.
Joe didn’t say a word. He just hauled in a harsh breath, eyes black as coal, before he wheeled around and stalked out of her room.
Alone and naked, she felt her insides shrivel to ashes. She’d exposed herself, and Joe had reacted like she was a tantrum-throwing toddler.
Yet Joe was right. She was immature for mistaking the strength of his interest in her and thinking he might be overwhelmed with lust for her. She’d been too cocky and full of herself—more faults he’d add to her already lengthy list. Besides, she could hardly call herself an irresistible bombshell. She liked her body, but she wasn’t centerfold material, and Joe hadn’t had any trouble resisting her.
Her skin felt clammy, and a sharp ache tugged at her belly. Sick at heart, she pulled on clean sweatpants and a baggy sweater, then rumpled the towel over her damp hair while restlessly pacing the room. She’d never be able to fall asleep now. And when she came face-to-face with Joe tomorrow morning, she would die of shame for sure.
She couldn’t stand the idea of being tortured all night long. Before she could think twice, she hurried out of her bedroom and down the hall to Joe’s office. The door was ajar. Joe stood at the window of his office, looking out with hands on hips, his shoulders broad and stiff. The tension radiating off him was so intimidating Nina was tempted to turn and run before he noticed her. But one thing she’d never lacked was nerve. Better to face him now and get the worst of this messy embarrassment over with. It would still be awkward as hell working with Joe, but at least the initial mortification would be past.
She pushed through the door and walked up to him, her bare feet muffled by the carpet. She was only two feet away when he spun around, his expression freezing as he caught sight of her.
Whatever she was going to say expired in her brain. She spread her arms in a supplicating gesture. “Joe…I, um, wanted to apologize—”
Her words were cut off as he closed the gap between them in one stride and yanked her into his arms. As she landed against his chest, she gasped, all the air knocked out of her by his unexpected move.
“J-Joe?”
Nina barely got the syllable out before his head lowered and his mouth covered hers in a hard, bruising kiss that rocked her foundations. Disbelief stunned her, quickly followed by eager pleasure. His mouth demanded everything from her, and she found herself willingly submitting. The sensation of his hungry lips and his rasping stubble against her skin triggered an instant response. She moved her lips against his, parting them, encouraging him to deepen the kiss, and when his tongue curled into her mouth, she welcomed its possessive heat.
Joe loosened his grip slightly to rove his hands over the back of her sweater before moving down to the hem and slipping under. His wide, callused palms explored the contours of her waist and rib cage, sparking wave upon wave of pleasure across her skin, each one higher, until his hands closed over her bare breasts, and the wave became a tsunami. As he massaged her breasts, slowly and surely, she moaned her gratification against his mouth and arched her back, desire spiraling out of control, panting for more, encouraging him to do whatever he wanted with her.
Joe didn’t need a second invitation. He lifted the sweater and pulled it off her. Black eyes glittered in his flushed face as he paused to drink in the sight of her body.
“I can’t fight this,” he murmured, seemingly to himself, before he lifted her onto his desk, shoving a stack of files to one side.
He pushed her legs apart to fit his body against hers and leaned in to claim her mouth again. His kisses were less frenzied but more demanding, more commanding, and she gave herself up, circling her arms around his neck to pull him closer. While he feasted on her mouth and neck, he cupped her breasts and teased her nipples with his dexterous fingers, making her shudder with excitement and lust.
Heat surged through her. Nothing in the world mattered except this. Joe and his rough kisses and gentle hands. Joe devouring her mouth and teasing her breasts. He transferred his lips from her mouth to her breast, and when he sucked hard she couldn’t breathe for the exquisite pleasure he gave her. How could he know so perfectly how to turn her on? He grazed the edge of his teeth against her nipple, and a line of fire streaked from her breast straight to the throbbing ache between her thighs. She was already wet for him. If he kept on sucking her breasts she would orgasm right there and then.
But, as if he knew and wanted to torment her, he released her nipple and began to lick the valley between her breasts. The sensation was novel to her, and she clutched his shoulders for support. Joe’s thick black hair tickled her breasts as he slowly inched his way down toward her belly button.
Instinctively she wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him into her. As his groin made contact with her, the unmistakable bulge in his pants pressed up between her thighs, perfectly poised at her entrance. Holy mother… Her brain almost fried as she registered his size and hardness and position. Just two layers of fabric lay between them.
The image of Joe’s erection triggered the first stirrings of panic. Any moment now Joe would slide his hand inside her pants, and once he touched her down there she’d be lost. She’d agree to everything and anything he wanted. Anything. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t imagine doing with Joe, and that was pretty damn exciting—but at the same time it was out-of-this-world scary.
Alarmed, she pushed an arm out and knocked over a mug filled with pens. It thudded to the ground, the noise breaking the spell. Joe’s head lifted from her stomach. His hazy eyes fixed on her, and she could almost see his rationality returning. Blinking, he slowly straightened, his hands falling away from her, and chilly air cooled the fire that burned in her. She pushed herself off the desk and, with a belated rush of modesty, crossed her arms over her breasts. Talk about shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted.
Without a word, Joe retrieved her sweater from the floor and carefully pulled it over her head, helping her arms into the sleeves like she was a three-year-old.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice wooden. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
He was still treating her as if she were an immature child and he the responsible adult. That wasn’t fair. She grimaced at him. “Why not? I enjoyed it.”
His hands curled into fists. “As usual, you’re not considering the big picture. You’re my employee. I never, ever cross the line with my employees. It’s unprofessional and unethical, and it can lead to messy, expensive sexual harassment claims, which I really don’t need.”
“I don’t see the problem.” She’d been alarmed at how quickly things had heated up between them, but now that he’d drawn back, perversely she wished he hadn’t. “It’s not like I’m going to sue you.”
“How do I know that for sure?”
“Because…” She didn’t need the money or the bad publicity, but Joe didn’t know that. “Because I wouldn’t.”
“That’s so reassuring,” he snapped sarcastically. “But besides that, it’s also bad for my other employees if they see me fooling around with you.”
“No one
saw us.”
Joe’s face darkened. “And you’re forgetting the biggest reason of all—you’re bad for my concentration, and I never, ever repeat the same mistake.”
She scowled back at him. “I’m getting sick of your never, ever rules. Why can’t we have some fun? We’re not hurting anyone.”
“And that’s all this is? Some harmless fun?”
“Sure.” She widened her eyes at him. He wasn’t the only one who could be sarcastic. “I’m not expecting you to fall in l-love with me.”
Shoot, why had she stammered on the word “love,” as if it meant something to her?
A wary look shadowed Joe’s face. “You can’t say it, can you?”
“Can you?” Instantly she was back on the offense.
“I have no intentions of saying that word.” He backed away as if she were a live grenade. “Christ, how did this conversation end up here?”
“You kissed me, and we both liked it, but you don’t want to take it any further.”
“God, Nina. You’re such a…a minx, it’s too hard to think straight around you, but you need to know I mean what I say.”
Joe pushed his fingers through his hair, making it even more tousled and sexy. Nina’s heart contracted in an odd spasm. Why did every little thing about Joe affect her so much?
She gave herself a shake and straightened her sweater. “Fine, if you say so. I’m not that hot at seduction anyway.”
He blinked, as if he hadn’t expected her cooperation, and gave her a lopsided, sexy smile. “I wouldn’t say that, but I’m glad we agree on something.”
She ignored the melting sensation his smile invoked. “We won’t do it again. This was a one-time incident that won’t be repeated.”
“Remember that the next time you feel like dropping your towel and parading naked in front of me.” He paused, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “There’s only so much temptation a man can take, you know.”
“Well, I only did that because you were being so annoying.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Is that how you normally deal with annoying men?”
