by Angelo, Judy
She stretched then slid out of the bed and padded over to the bathroom where she splashed water on her face, stripped off the bra and panties she’d slept in, then stepped under the cool spray of water. And as it washed over her, her mind churned with thoughts of what lay ahead. She was looking forward to seeing Rock again. And she wasn’t. Well, she was more looking forward to it than not.
What if he acted like nothing had happened? What if he went back to his old, aloof self? Worse still, what if he looked at her like he’d known all along that she would succumb to his charm? What if he thought she was easy?
She sucked in her breath at the thought. No, she didn’t even want to think it. She would never survive that.
With a sigh she turned off the tap and toweled off. A piece of work, that was what she was. She’d hopped out of bed all excited, convinced it was going to be a great day, and within minutes she’d done a one-eighty and had talked herself into a state of near depression.
At the end of it all, though, the only thing she could do was wait until she saw Rock again. Only then would she be able to gauge his response to her.
An hour later, dressed in sensible shoes and a comfortable suit of white linen, Dana made her way to the restaurant where a breakfast buffet had been set up. At that time of morning the breakfast room was sparse with only a few guests, plates in hand, gathering slices of French toast and scooping up eggs from the warming pans while others sat at the table, enjoying more elaborate fare. Dana’s eyes searched the room but Rock was nowhere in sight.
She shrugged. No big deal. She’d arrived ten minutes early so he would probably be down soon. She helped herself to a glass of orange juice then strolled over to an empty table that looked out onto the translucent blue sea. She would enjoy the view while she waited.
She’d finished her juice and gone back for seconds when it occurred to her that Rock was taking a long time to get downstairs. Dana frowned. She’d expected him to be early, not the opposite. From what she knew of him after over three months of their working together, she knew this was not like him.
Dana slipped her cell phone out of her purse and checked the time. Twelve minutes after eight. She pursed her lips as she mulled over her options. She could respect the fact that he was her boss and just wait until he decided to descend from his palatial suite, or she could call him and ask him what the heck was keeping him so long. She preferred the second idea but she decided to wait just five more minutes before she exercised that option.
When she saw the time hit eight twenty without any sign of Rock she began to get worried. Something was definitely wrong. She would not wait another minute.
Dana slung her purse over her shoulder and hurried to the hallway where she picked up the house phone and asked to be connected to Rock’s room. The phone rang and rang. No answer. Where could he be? Or had he deliberately turned the ringer down? For a moment she debated whether or not to go up to his room. And then she thought, what if he was sick?
Without another moment’s hesitation she hurried to the elevator and pressed the button for the penthouse floor. As soon as the door opened she hurried along the hallway toward his suite, not really believing he was sick but just wanting to make sure. When they’d parted he’d been fine. He was all right, she told herself. At the door she took a deep breath then knocked. No answer. She knocked again and still there was no sign of Rock. The worry rising inside her, Dana wondered if she should head back downstairs and get the hotel manager. Suppose something terrible had happened? Suppose he’d passed out or worse, had a heart attack? She was about to turn away when she decided to give it one last try. She pounded on the door. Hard.
Within seconds she heard the snapping of the lock and the door opened. Before her stood a tall, bare-chested, and sleepy-looking Rock.
“Are you all right?” she blurted out, her eyes examining his face for signs of distress. But he looked fine. “What happened to you?”
Rock grunted. “What time is it?” he asked, his voice thick with sleep.
Dana could not believe her ears. “It’s almost eight thirty. You were supposed to have been downstairs at eight o’clock for breakfast. Remember?”
“Oh, right.” He sighed and put his hand to his forehead.
“Is something wrong?” Dana couldn’t hide the hint of worry that crept into her voice.
“Migraine.”
One word. That was all he said but it told the whole story. Not waiting for an answer, Rock turned away, leaving the door wide open, and headed back into the suite.
Not knowing what else to do, Dana stepped inside, closed the door behind her, and followed him into the living room but by then Rock was already back inside his bedroom.
Dana paused. So what was she to do now? Obviously he was in bad shape and probably needed help. She followed him into the bedroom.
Rock was sprawled on top of the king-sized bed in the middle of the room, his arm flung over his eyes. Slowly, Dana stepped forward until she was standing right by the bed. She didn’t know if he even remembered that she was there, but she needed to do something.
“Rock,” she said softly, “can I get you anything?”
His response was a low groan. “Sorry, Dana,” he said with a sigh. “This hasn’t happened to me in years. Not since college.” He groaned. “It must have been something I ate.”
She leaned down and touched his arm. “What should I do? Should I call a doctor? Get you some medicine, maybe?” She felt so helpless, watching him suffer, not knowing what to do.
“No. Just a cool washcloth.” His voice was a barely audible sigh. “A cool washcloth on my forehead will do the trick.” For a moment he was silent then he spoke again, his voice a little stronger this time. “It attacked me about four o’clock this morning. I guess I finally drifted off to sleep about an hour ago.”
“I was calling you on the phone. There was no answer.”
“Couldn’t hear a thing. Too exhausted.”
And that word reminded Dana that she had to shut up. Rock didn’t need her questions, not now when he was in pain. She left his side and hurried to the bathroom to get him the washcloth he’d asked for.
She was on her way back to him, washcloth in hand, when she paused to stare at him as he lay on the bed. She couldn’t help it. His body was so beautiful. His bare chest, broad and muscled, rose and fell as he breathed. The arm he’d flung across his face was rippled and firm and his legs had muscles in all the right places. He lay there, so big, so strong, yet still human. Dana pulled herself from her reverie and moved close to Rock as he lay on the bed. “I have your washcloth,” she whispered.
At the sound of her voice he slid his arm down and she rested the folded cloth across his eyes. He sighed, sounding as if she had soothed the heat that raged in his head. “Thanks,” he breathed, then after a minute of silence he spoke again. “Sorry, Dana. We’ll have to do the island tour later. I just need some sleep then I’ll be fine.”
Dana knew it was not her business to be there but she was loath to leave his side. “Do you…do you want me to stay with you?”
“No,” he said with a low groan. “Not fair to you.”
“I don’t mind,” she began but his voice broke in.
“Can’t have you…listening to me snore. You already think I’m not human. My snoring would…confirm it.”
Dana smiled even though he couldn’t see her through the washcloth. She couldn’t believe that, even in his pain, he was making jokes. She was seeing yet another side of Rock, the complete opposite of the man she’d known at the office, and she liked this view.
“Keep your cell phone on. I’ll call you.”
At those words, Dana gave him a soft pat on the shoulder and left the room. She knew when she was being dismissed. She wanted to stay but she would not force herself on him. She walked through the suite, went out the door, and closed it softly behind her. As she waited for the elevator her thoughts went back to what Rock had said. She smiled to herself as she pictured him l
ying in bed, fast asleep, snoring. What would it be like to wake up and find Rock snoring softly beside her?
Why did the thought set her heart to racing when she knew that it would never happen? They were from two different worlds, she and Rock, and as much as she wanted to fool herself that their two kisses meant something, she knew she was in fantasy land.
She and Rock? It would never happen, not in a thousand years.
**
Dana got the call at twelve thirty that afternoon. “Hope you’re hungry because I’m starving.”
She laughed. “Sounds like you’re back to normal. I remember how healthy your appetite was at dinner.”
“I’ll bring the car around and we’ll find a local restaurant where we can get some real Bahamian food,” he said into the phone. “I was given some recommendations.”
“Sounds good,” she said. “I’ll be down in ten minutes.”
“And Dana, no business suits, please. Today, just relax and be yourself.”
That made her raise her eyebrows. Be herself? How did he know what she was really like? But still, she was glad for the permission to dress down.
Within minutes of the call she was on her way down in the elevator, dressed in a pink polo shirt, white cargo pants and sandals. She’d hooked a pair of sunshades onto the neck of her shirt and plopped a sun visor on her brow. She’d been told that August was one of the hottest months of the year in the Bahamas and she wanted to be prepared.
She crossed the hotel lobby and exited the front door just as Rock pulled up in a gleaming black Mercedes Benz convertible. As he waved to her, the Caribbean breeze ruffling through his dark-blonde hair, she gave a light laugh, skipped down the steps and hopped into the waiting car.
“Come on, lady,” he said as he stepped on the gas, “we have an island to tour.”
They set off past the golf course and over the bridge leading from Paradise Island to the mainland then headed up Bay Street. The restaurant Rock had selected was near Saunders Beach. The Island Turtle served all of the popular local dishes such as cracked conch and conch fritters. But if Rock had thought that she would dive into the local fare, he was rudely disappointed.
“I’m sorry.” Dana felt like a wet blanket but it wasn’t her fault. “I don’t eat shell fish but I will try the yellow tail. Promise.” And she was happy with her choice. The fish was delicious. Rock seemed to be enjoying his meal, too, because he called for seconds. The man certainly had an appetite.
And she could see why. Her earlier view of his bare body had showed a man who was solidly built, muscles in perfect proportion, looking like he worked out everyday. The image of Rock’s naked torso was imprinted on her mind and she knew it was a picture she would never forget. Not that she wanted to. In fact, she would not have minded a peek at what lay below the waistband of his pajamas.
Dana caught herself. You stop that, you wicked woman. The man is your boss, remember. She was in the middle of chiding herself when Rock looked at her and she could feel the blush rising in her cheeks. Thank God he couldn’t read minds.
By two thirty that afternoon they had set off on the road again, this time to accomplish their planned task. “I want to cruise along Cable Beach to check out some of the hotels along that side. Just relax and enjoy the ride.”
And Dana did just that. She settled back against the soft leather seat and as they toured the island, taking note of the variety of resorts there, she decided not to worry about things and just enjoy the fact that she was in the company of a super-sexy man. Forget the fact that he was her boss and the island tour was strictly business. No matter. She could pretend, couldn’t she?
And in her pretend scenario she was on vacation with the man of her dreams by her side.
Too soon, the dream had to come to an end. Soon after the sun slid behind the horizon Rock drove back to Paradise Island and to their home away from home. He pulled up in front of the hotel and though the doorman was there to open the car door for her, by the time she’d straightened up Rock was right there to offer her his arm.
It had been a great day and although they’d spent the better part of the evening discussing the next day’s meeting she’d enjoyed every moment spent in Rock’s company. She hated that the time had come for them to part. Hiding her disappointment deep inside, Dana lifted her head and plastered a brave smile across her face.
“Is everything okay?” Rock asked as he looked down at her. “You seem pensive. Was today too much for you?”
“Not at all,” she assured him quickly. “I wish all my work days were like today. It was fun.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Think you can manage some more fun for one day?”
Dana tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not ready for the day to end.” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s because I slept in late but I’ve got a lot of hours left in me before I’m ready to wind down. I was thinking I would work off some of this energy at the disco. Are you up to it?”
Dana almost staggered back. Well, not quite, but his question surprised her. Rock, a lover of dancing? Who would have thought it?
When he saw her hesitation, his smile faded. “I’m sorry. That was selfish of me. Forget I asked.”
“No, no,” she said quickly. “I would love to go dancing. What time should I meet you?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re sure? You’re not just saying that because I bullied you into it?”
Dana laughed. “You didn’t bully me. I love dancing.”
He still looked doubtful. “Okay, then. If you say so.” Then his face cleared. “We’ll do room service tonight then meet in the lobby around eight o’clock. That will give us enough time to work up a sweat and still get to bed at a reasonable hour.”
Work up a sweat. She liked the sound of that. “Sounds like a plan,” she said. “I’ll be down by eight.”
That night, Dana took special care in applying her make-up and dressing for the occasion. It wasn’t every day that a girl got to go dancing with probably the most eligible bachelor in New York City. But why he was still a bachelor at the age of thirty-four was beyond her. A man like him would have his pick of women. Hadn’t he found one that was good enough?
That thought gave her pause and the hand that held the liner to her eye came down and she stared at herself in the mirror. Not good enough for him. She knew for sure that she would fall in that category…not that he’d even consider her at all. So why was she letting her heart get so involved with this man?
Tell that to her heart. Deep inside she knew that it was already too late. Two kisses, that was all it took. She was already spiraling out of control, plunging down into a whirlpool of dangerous emotion.
Her eyes widened as she stared at her reflection. Dear God, she was falling in love…with a man who had absolutely no reason to love her back.
Chilled by the thought, Dana drew in a deep breath then let it out slowly. She needed to calm down. She’d just talked herself into a state of distress just when she’d promised to be all chirpy and full of energy, and dance the night away.
Straightening her back, she stared into the mirror and spoke. “Dana Daniels, you’re a realist. Stop worrying about it and go do your job.” With that she sniffed, got up, and headed for the door.
When she got to the lobby Rock was already there, waiting in the lounge area. As she approached he looked up and when his eyebrows shot up she had no doubt that she’d made an impression.
Dana knew she looked good. Becky had made sure of it. She was the one who had picked this flaming red dress with the flared skirt that sat high up her thigh. Perfect for dancing, her friend had said. You’ve got to be prepared because you never know…
And Becky had been right…as usual. Who would have known that she’d be here tonight, preparing to go dancing with her boss?
Rock was on his feet now and his look of open admiration was the perfect antidote for her doubts. “Nice.” It was the only word he said as he took her arm but the way he�
�d said it – as his eyes roamed from her face all the way down to her manicured toes in high heeled slippers – made his appreciation more than obvious.
“Shall we go?” he asked as he smiled down at her.
“Yes, we shall,” she said, smiling back. And as she walked down the hallway on Rock’s arm she swallowed her fears, letting them fall all the way to her toes. What ever it cost her later, tonight she would have fun.
And she did. DJ Pleasure rocked the house that night with dance hit after dance hit, from ‘Scream and Shout’ by the Black Eyed Peas and Brittney Spears to ‘Shufflin’ to ‘Gangam Style’. Dana almost fell down laughing when she saw Rock’s attempt at the Gangam Style dance. Okay, so she’d figured out that he loved dancing but, in his case, that definitely did not translate into a talent for it.
“Hey, who’re you laughing at?” he growled above the sound of the music. “I don’t see you doing any better.”
“Please,” she shouted over the pounding music. “It wouldn’t take much to better your performance.” She laughed out loud when he gave her a playful look of hurt and then he was laughing and she was laughing even harder at his antics.
When Rock had talked about working up a sweat he’d been right. They stayed on the dance floor for over an hour before they sauntered over to the bar for drinks. As she sipped her glass of wine, still rocking to the music, Dana stole glances at the man who stood by her side. Was this the same man she’d met months ago, the one who had seemed like a block of ice? She still could not believe it.
“Ready?”
At her nod, Rock took her glass and laid it on the counter then led her through the bundle of dancers to the middle of the floor. Time flew by that night because she was grooving to the beat of the Bieb’s ‘Beauty and a Beat’ when Rock surprised her by putting his hands on her shoulders. Pulling her close, he whispered in her ear. “Bedtime.”
