“Look here, little missy, maybe you’re willing to just waltz off with some total stranger, but I’m going to make damn sure everything’s on the level. How do we even know he’s the real Alex P. Shannon? Huh? I’ll bet you haven’t even seen his driver’s license.”
Samantha turned to Alex, her eyes locked with his.
“Do you mind?” she asked, holding up her empty palm with a roll of her eyes.
Alex quickly pulled his wallet from his pocket and handed his driver’s license to Samantha. She didn’t even bother to look at it, but passed it straight over to her father.
Mr. Wilkes examined it, then glanced up at Alex, looking apologetic.
“I just want the best for you, honey.”
“Oh, Daddy, you are the best. Now calm down.”
Her father turned to Alex.
“The truth is, I knew who you were. Your picture’s on the back of the book I just read, but I don’t want her to go around just trusting everyone she meets.”
“No, I get that,” Alex agreed, “and I don’t blame you one bit.”
“His picture’s on the back?” Samantha asked. “Really? Can I see it? Go get it, Daddy.”
Her father excused himself and went off into the other room. When he returned, he handed the book to Samantha.
She flipped it over to have a look at the photo.
Oh, it was Alex, for sure. The photo was in black and white and he was sitting in a chair turned around backwards, his arms propped on the back of it, looking very casual but somehow kind of distinguished, too.
She leaned over and whispered into Alex’s ear.
“Do you have a pen on you?”
“Yes.”
Alex reached for the book and, in the lower left corner of his photograph, signed his name with a bold flourish. He then handed the book back to Samantha’s dad, who set it aside.
“When you have kids, you really have to look out for them.”
“I know that, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders, your daughter.”
With that, her parents went upstairs to leave the two of them alone together and, before Alex left, he and Samantha hammered out the details concerning her big move. He wrote her a generous check to defray her shipping expenses and gave her the address to the ranch, promising to pick her up at ten on Tuesday morning.
“Now that I’m thinking of it, I have an idea, Samantha. Since we have to land on Oahu anyway, we might as well take a couple of days and stay in Waikiki. If nothing else, it’ll give us a chance to get used to each other.”
Samantha smiled, delighted.
“Could we? Could we really? I’ve always dreamed of going there.”
“Great. Now, do you really have time to meet Paris and me for lunch tomorrow, or should I just pick you up on Tuesday?”
“I guess I could swing a couple of hours, but I do need to start packing if I’ll be ready on time. But yeah, let’s go ahead and get together tomorrow.”
“All right. How about I come get you about one p.m.?”
“Sounds great.”
Early the next afternoon, Alex arrived to take her to lunch. She’d worried about the lunch all morning, feeling it to be a further kind of job interview between her and Paris, fearing he’d find her lacking in some essential quality. Alex, however, seemed totally unconcerned as he drove her to La Cabana in Venice, explaining as he parked the car that it was probably their last chance for some good Mexican food for a long time.
Once they entered the restaurant, Samantha glanced around and caught sight of Paris and Marianne sitting together at a table out on the colorful patio, already enjoying a mid-day drink.
She sighed happily and stepped forward, pleased Marianne hadn’t been excluded, knowing it was one of the last times she might see her best friend for a while.
Since neither of the two men seemed to give a damn about or even consider the cost of anything, Samantha followed Marianne’s lead and sat back, ordering whatever she damn well pleased off the menu. Far from caring, Paris, a generous host, actually encouraged-even insisted- that the girls order large, expensive mango-flavored margaritas, appetizers, and later on, deserts. And though Samantha wasn’t used to drinking so early in the day, Paris put her at ease enough to go ahead and indulge herself.
After a little while, Samantha glanced across the table and caught Alex’s eye, smiling happily at him, quite pleased with the way things were turning out.
Alex returned her affectionate smile and she sat back in her chair, glad she agreed to come out to lunch. She felt relaxed and natural, dressed as she was in a summery white cotton blouse and a tangerine-colored skirt that perfectly complimented her surroundings.
She saw that Marianne was content, too, not only with her own progress with Paris, but also that Samantha was doing so well.
Samantha realized then what a good friend Marianne really was. Even when Samantha doubted herself, Marianne was always there to bolster her confidence, had always found something within her that was worthy of her friendship.
And though Paris did sort of interview Samantha, he did so in such a gently probing way she hardly noticed. And, in the end, he seemed satisfied with her qualifications, her demeanor, and even her overall attitude towards life. She quickly realized, though, that it wouldn’t have mattered even if Paris didn’t like her, because Alex made it quite apparent he did.
Besides, Paris wasn’t nearly as magnificent and frightening a person as she first believed. In fact, he was surprisingly down to earth and informal, leisurely ordering more drinks for the ladies when he noticed they were wanted.
He tended to flirt, as a matter of course, with every female he came into contact with, including waitresses, elderly women, and random strangers. And though Samantha knew she wouldn’t like this type of behavior herself, his flirting was so pervasive and consistent she accepted it as just another facet of his personality, just his way of relating to women.
Marianne, far from being bothered by it, had always been a bit of a flirt herself, so Samantha knew they’d probably deal very well together.
“So what got you interested in literature?” Paris asked her suddenly.
He had a soft kind of accent she hadn’t noticed at first, and she gazed at him, surprised he’d ask such a thing. But then she remembered he was a literary agent, after all, so of course such a topic would interest him.
“I’ve always liked to read,” she told him, “but one time I happened to check out a Margaret Drabble book from the library and I was hooked. I read everything else by her I could get my hands on, after that.”
He sat back in his seat, an appraising look on his face. He somehow seemed to approve of her and smiled blandly.
“Oh, yes. She is a wonder. I wish I were her agent.”
And, seeming to realize who he was talking to, he glanced up guiltily, swilling down half the champagne in his glass in one go.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have said that,” he admitted. “Alex is actually quite prolific, you know. Easily my best-and favorite-client.”
“I can’t believe you even know who Margaret Drabble is,” Samantha told him. “I’ve never met anyone else who’s even heard of her, much less admired her. And anyway, I didn’t realize you represented any women.”
“Oh, yes. They’re currently about sixty percent of my clientele. Women love to read, as you know, and they seem to love to write, too. Perhaps someday I’ll represent you as well?”
Flattered, Samantha smiled thoughtfully.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe.”
“I will, you know,” he told her softly. “I will if you have something.”
“I appreciate that, Paris. I’ll see what I can come up with.”
Chapter 3
On Tuesday morning, Alex arrived promptly at ten, Marian
ne and Paris in tow. Samantha, finally realizing the enormity of what she was doing, kissed her mother one final time, tears in her eyes.
Her father had already gone to work, but of course had treated her to a big, long cautionary lecture the night before, warning her of the dangers of running off with strange men to live in the middle of God-forsaken islands without any kind of chaperon or protection.
With a heavy sigh, Samantha handed her suitcase to Alex, hoping she was doing the right thing, and she let him precede her from the house.
He sat with her in the back seat of Paris’s white Mercedes. Marianne, sitting sideways in her seat so she could keep up the conversation, glanced back at them with a contented smile on her face.
The 405 Freeway was jammed, as usual, but it was nice and cool in the car and they had plenty of time before their flight was scheduled to depart.
Alex had an easy charm with women and Samantha saw that Marianne liked him, that they’d become fast friends in the past few days. Marianne flirted freely with both men on the long drive to the airport, but Samantha stayed quiet, happy enough just to listen to their chatter
Alex smiled over at her, and she smiled back. Though she’d spent the day before with her family, she’d caught herself daydreaming about Alex more times than she cared to admit. She realized Paris was speaking to her and forced herself to pay attention to his last-minute instructions.
“I want you to promise to look after Alex.”
This brought a smile to her face. She was sure he was more than capable of taking care of himself, that - if anything - he’d probably have to spend a good deal of his time looking after her. She felt more than a little apprehensive and hoped she’d be able to live up to everyone’s expectations.
“Anything wrong?” asked Alex.
“I’ve never really been away from home before,” Samantha finally admitted.
“Oh, come on,” Marianne broke in, overhearing her. “We were roommates at UCLA and you handled it.”
“I know, but I was only about an hour from home then.”
Marianne shook her pretty blonde head.
“She’s so modest. Really. She’s a born manager.”
Samantha relaxed against the leather seat. Marianne was right, of course. She could handle just about anything.
“She worries too much,” Alex told Marianne, gesturing at Samantha.
“That’s what I keep telling her. You’re starting a new chapter in your life, Samantha, so don’t blow it.”
Marianne and Paris remained with them until it was time for them to board the plane. Marianne threw her arms around Samantha just before she stepped through the gate.
“I’m really going to miss you,” Marianne told her friend. “Thank God you introduced me to Paris or I don’t know what I’d do.”
Samantha smiled, as she hadn’t really introduced them at all. Marianne embraced Alex next.
“You take good care of her, Alex. She’s my best friend.”
As Marianne said this, Paris took Samantha aside.
“You know, you’re a delightful girl, Samantha, but you’re far too well-bred for your own good.”
She gazed up into his dark eyes.
“Not really. I’m just a little nervous.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card. He turned it over and wrote two numbers on the back.
“Here’s my home number, and this one’s my cell. Don’t be nervous, all right? I’ll call you next week and see how you’re getting on.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“Yes. You keep those groupies away from him, will you?”
“I’ll try.”
“You did an excellent job the other night.”
She laughed suddenly.
“Right. What else?”
“Just one other thing: Why don’t you cut loose and have some fun with Alex? You both deserve it.”
He let her go with a peck on the cheek and she turned to Alex and took his arm. With a quick glance back, she waved to their friends and they went to get on the plane.
The flight attendant pointed out their seats to them and Alex settled Samantha next to the window. He stowed her bag in the overhead compartment and dropped into the seat beside her.
Samantha, who’d fallen silent again, was thinking about all Paris had said, when Alex leaned in and spoke in her ear.
“You’re not afraid of flying, are you?” he inquired, tender concern in his eyes.
“No, not at all,” she protested. “I’ve just never flown first class before.”
“You’ll like it,” he assured her. “It’s much nicer than coach.”
“I think Paris really likes me.”
Alex chuckled, his lovely brown eyes sparkling.
“He likes all pretty, cultured women.”
“You think I’m pretty?” she asked all of a sudden. He stole a quick, embarrassed glance at her.
“Sure, why not? I only hope Marianne’s not the jealous type. If she is, she won’t last long.”
Samantha thought back to their lunch together and agreed with Alex.
“No,” she assured him, “she’ll be whichever way he wants her to be. Marianne has a special instinct when it comes to men.”
“And what about you, Samantha?”
She grinned, but then her expression quickly grew serious.
“No,” she answered. “Are you kidding?”
For the first time in months, she thought back to her failed engagement and realized how much easier her life really would be if she could be like Marianne and mold herself to suit men.
“I give her three months to hook Paris,” she told Alex in a matter-of-a-fact voice.
Alex threw his head back and laughed out loud. “I’m afraid you don’t know Paris Anderson very well,” he told her.
“And you don’t know Marianne. She’d have you if...”
Her voice trailed off as she checked herself.
“If what?”
“If you weren’t going to be so far away.”
“Do you really think so?”
Their glances met and she found herself looking at him, taking in all of his features and really examining him. He had the softest-looking skin of any man she’d ever known, and was so appealing, in fact, she could barely fight the urge to brush her fingertips over his cheek.
They both fell mute, and Samantha left his question unanswered. Within minutes, the plane began to taxi down the runway to begin its ascent. When it lifted off, Samantha drew in a deep, satisfied breath and shut her eyes, smiling. She dug her nails into the armrests and damn near let out a moan of pleasure.
“Looks like I got that all wrong,” she heard Alex say beside her.
She grinned, her eyes still shut tight, imagining what he saw, wondering if she looked the way she felt inside. When she opened her eyes and relaxed her grip on the armrests, she saw him smiling down on her, and to her own surprise, she discovered she felt slightly aroused.
With a sexy grin, she glanced up at Alex saucily.
“The takeoff’s the best part,” she told him.
“I see that.”
Just then, the flight attendant distracted them by handing each of them a glass of champagne, and now that the pressure of the past week was off, Samantha realized Marianne and Paris were both right and she ought to loosen up and have a little fun for a change. And so, with uncharacteristic boldness, she faced Alex and chatted and flirted with him for the duration of the flight.
Although he wasn’t a large man, there was something quite appealing and masculine about him, something she’d never before encountered in a man. She made up her mind then and there to find out precisely what it was, and with that in mind, she turned to him and grinned.
�
��That was nice, going to that Mexican restaurant. I had a really good time.”
“Did you? Then I think you’ll enjoy Hawaii. It’s got the same sort of vibe.”
She nodded.
“I saw some pictures of it,” she told him. “It looks very pretty.”
“It’s beyond pretty,” he told her with a shake of his head. “There’s just something really magical about the place. Not everyone likes it, but those of us who do really fall in love with it.”
Their glances met and Samantha realized she couldn’t wait for their flight to end, couldn’t wait to experience Hawaii for herself.
She touched Alex’s arm and softly smiled, reassured, knowing he’d be a kind and attentive host despite the fact she was nothing more than his hired help.
His own glance held such a tender look that she swallowed hard, her heart trembling in her chest. Alex reached out and stroked her cheek gently, causing her to draw in a deep, satisfied breath.
“I like you, Alex. I’m glad you picked me to come and work for you.”
“Are you? I am, too. I think we’ll get along well.”
As soon as they landed in Honolulu and claimed their luggage, Alex hailed a taxi to take them to Waikiki.
The trip was much shorter than Samantha expected, and soon they pulled up in front of a high-rise building at the end of Lewers Street.
“Well, here we are,” Alex announced, dropping the keys off with the valet and escorting her to the elevator.
He swung open the door to his apartment. Samantha had expected it to be little stuffy after being closed up for a while, but someone had clearly been in to ready it for his arrival. There wasn’t a trace of dust anywhere, and there was a basket of fresh fruit on the coffee table near the couch. She set her bag down and went into the living room to get a better look at the place.
The living room was richly decorated without being too opulent. There was a pair of Japanese gilt-bronze lanterns flanking the leather sofa and a huge wicker chaise lounge near the sliding glass doors, the perfect spot to sun oneself and curl up with a good book. Alex crossed the room to pull back the drapes. It gave Samantha a magnificent view of the skyline, and now he slid open the glass to allow the freshening sea breeze to come in.
Tropical Temptation Page 3
