Wicked Heat

by Nicola Marsh

  The desolation on Jett’s face when he’d learned the truth, the frigidity in his tone that quickly turned to abhorrence… It would haunt her forever, something she’d have to deal with along with her broken heart.

  Because she was under no illusions now. The moment Jett had bolted was the moment all the uncertainty and hedging and posing coalesced into the devastating truth.

  She had fallen in love with him.

  And she’d hurt him regardless.

  She’d thought she was doing the best she could for him by changing her pitch to not directly compete. But maybe she was more like her parents than she realized. Hurting the ones they loved, following their own path regardless of what it did to other people. She never would’ve thought it, but as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the French doors leading to the patio, she could’ve sworn she saw her mother.

  Daphne always thought any problems could be solved by donning her most expensive designer outfit and her chunkiest diamond choker, applying lashings of makeup, and having her hair styled. Presenting a poised front at all costs to hide underlying problems simmering beneath.

  Ironic, that’s exactly what Allegra had done, but the situation with Jett? Went far beyond a “problem.” She’d ruined the best relationship she’d ever had and managed to kick him in the balls on the way down.

  Way to go.

  A knock sounded at the door and Allegra’s heart gave a betraying kick before she realized it would be Zoe, here for their final prep before the pitch tomorrow.

  She squared her shoulders and dragged in several deep breaths. She could do this. How many times had she hidden her disappointment at her folks’ nonappearance at an important school event? How many times had she smiled and schmoozed their fake friends in the hope of earning praise? How many times had she stood by Flint’s side at an A-list Hollywood function, appearing interested, when all she felt inside was nothing?

  Yes, she’d honed her poised outer shell over many years. “Unflappable” was the label she’d earned after final exams in boarding school. Aloof, from some of her less complimentary college coeds.

  Now, like then, she’d don her mask and present a front to the world. A front that hid a world of pain deep inside where she ranted and screamed and railed at the agony of losing the one man she’d ever fallen in love with.

  Forcing a smile, she opened the door.

  And promptly burst into tears when she caught sight of Zoe.

  “What’s wrong?” Zoe bustled in, closed the door, and draped an arm around her waist as she guided her toward the sofa. “What can I do to help?”

  Allegra couldn’t speak as the sobs she’d suppressed since Jett had stormed out of her room bubbled up and spewed forth in great, unladylike heaves. Accompanied by tears and snot and an urge to puke.

  “Hey, you’ll make yourself sick,” Zoe said, dashing into the bathroom to grab a box of tissues and handing it over before she headed for the minibar. She emptied a miniature bottle of whiskey into a glass and handed it over. “Take some deep breaths and get this into you.”

  When Allegra clamped her lips and shook her head, Zoe folded her arms, channeling her inner dominatrix that tended to intimidate some clients. “If you don’t drink voluntarily, I’ll pour it down your throat.”

  “Bossy,” Allegra said, and promptly howled again, as she echoed what Jett had said an hour earlier.

  “For goodness’ sake.” Zoe rolled her eyes and held out her hand for the glass. “See, this is why I don’t fall in love. It always ends in tears.”

  Allegra gulped the whiskey in one go, the burn as it slid down her gullet not half as shocking as the burn in her heart.

  “Better?”

  “No.” She glared at Zoe and thumped the glass on the coffee table. “And how’d you get so wise anyway?”

  Zoe perched on the sofa next to her. “Seriously? Anyone could see you two were crazy for each other.”

  Allegra opened her mouth to refute it when Zoe held up her hand. “And don’t even think about trying to label it a fling, because you’re so way past that it’s not funny.”

  Allegra slumped into the sofa, sniffling and dabbing at her eyes. “I’m the dumbass who unwittingly fell in love, not him.”

  “Are you for real?” Zoe fanned her face. “The way he looks at you? Not the look of a prick or a player in this for a short time.”

  “You’re wrong.” Allegra tossed a bundle of used tissues at a nearby trash can and missed. “And you’re not helping.”

  Zoe shrugged. “Trust me, I’m trying to get your head in a good space so we can nail this pitch tomorrow without you freaking out like a lovesick teenager.”

  The pitch…another sob made Allegra’s eyes seep and Zoe tapped her foot against the floor, a picture of impatience. “Whatever tiff you two had, you better sort it out right now before I go drag him here and—”

  “We’re pitching against Jett and if he doesn’t land this campaign he has nothing.”

  Zoe’s mouth fell open and Allegra enjoyed having her sassy, know-it-all friend off-balance for once. “He’s pitching?” Zoe made it sound like Jett was parasailing naked in front of a beachside audience.

  Allegra bit her lower lip and nodded. “I didn’t tell him we were going up against him ’til an hour ago when he made a joke about it.”

  “Hell’s bells.” Zoe pressed her fingers to her temples. “So this is more than a tiff?”

  “Yep. It’s a freaking disaster.”

  Zoe pinned her with an accusatory stare. “Why didn’t you tell him? Come clean when we first decided to pitch?”

  The million-dollar question. “Because I thought I could manage the situation. Even help a little…”

  Zoe groaned. “Don’t tell me you went on one of your crusades again.”

  “All I did was change my pitch after Jett told me his, which was almost identical.” Allegra managed a wan smile. “I wanted to give him a good shot at winning, so he couldn’t accuse me later of stealing his idea.”

  Zoe dragged a hand through her spikes. “For a smart businesswoman, you can be a real dumbass when it comes to guys.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Allegra said, a hint of a smile threatening to break out, when for the last sixty minutes she’d thought she’d never smile again.

  “It’s true.” Zoe flung her arms in the air. “I give up. All these years I’ve tried to drag you out on double dates or set you up with bad boys to have a little fun with, but noooo. You date a few dweebs in college then get engaged to an old fart friend of your folks.”

  Zoe made circles at her temple. “Then, when I finally think you’ve wised up and made a great choice, you go crazy and screw it up by lying to the guy. Sheesh.”

  Allegra managed a tremulous smile at Zoe’s assessment of the situation. “Tell me what you really think.”

  Zoe snorted. “So what are you going to do?”

  “Nail the pitch. Save our business.”

  Zoe’s eyes narrowed. “And Jett? You said he loses everything.”

  “Shit…” Allegra shook her head, wishing there was some way they could both come out winners.

  Maybe they could work together on a campaign…combine creativity…wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility, considering the Kaluna resorts were spread across the world and their respective offices were based in Sydney and LA.

  Yeah, like Jett would want to work with her after she’d done a number on him.

  Unless she presented it to him in purely business terms. In a way he couldn’t refuse…

  “Leave Jett to me.”

  Allegra had the beginnings of a plan. A harebrained plan but a plan nonetheless. One that involved turning this disastrous situation into a win-win. One that may save her company and save Jett’s, too. One that gave them a chance in hell of resurrecting their relationship and a hope of making it work the second time around.

  But first, she had to win this campaign.

  …

  The next day, A
llegra and Zoe strutted out of Kai Kaluna’s office, maintaining their über-confident facade until they reached the resort lobby and collapsed onto the nearest cushion-covered wicker sofa.

  “What do you think?” Zoe crossed her legs, not caring that the hem of her black mini rode higher. “He’s a hard one to read.”

  Allegra had to agree. She’d pitched advertising ideas to many corporate power players over the years but none had been as inscrutable as the hotelier giant. “He seemed impressed.”

  “What gave it away? His deadpan expression or his emotionless ‘please continue’?”

  Allegra smiled. “Guess we’ll know by tomorrow morning, unless he was so blown away by our presentation he’ll call us back tonight.”

  Zoe crossed her fingers. “Are you going to call Jett?”

  “Not yet.” Allegra wanted to, boy, did she want to. She’d picked up the phone several times last night, had even strolled halfway across the resort toward his room before turning back.

  There was so much she wanted to say to him, but first she had to have a concrete offer in place, a business plan he would understand without emotions clouding the issue. Then she could deal with the other stuff, the important stuff like her broken heart, later.

  “Don’t leave it too long,” Zoe said, tapping her watch. “If we were the last pitch and he doesn’t get the gig, chances are he’ll be on the first plane out of here.”

  Damn, she hadn’t thought of that.

  As if thinking about the man in question conjured him up, the skin on the back of Allegra’s neck prickled and she glanced over her shoulder to lock gazes with Jett.

  Judging by his beige suit and open-necked white shirt, he’d pitched to Kai earlier. Which meant he was headed toward the guy’s office for one reason: he’d landed the job.

  The thought made her feel sick, because it ruined everything: her plan, her business, her life. But oddly enough, she couldn’t summon up one iota of regret other than how badly things had ended between them.

  His disdain rippled over her and she surreptitiously rubbed her arms, hoping he could read half of what she was feeling in her eyes. Either he couldn’t or he didn’t want to know, because he deliberately turned his back on her and picked up the pace toward Kai’s office.

  “Brrr, chilly.” Zoe mock-shivered. “You sure did a number on him.”

  Allegra glared at her best friend, who held up her hands in surrender. “Just saying.”

  “Don’t.” Besides, Jett wouldn’t look so grim when she made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

  Her cell rang at that moment and she stared at the number in surprise. “It’s Kai,” she mouthed to Zoe, whose eyes widened as she answered.

  “Allegra Wilks speaking.”

  “Allegra, Kai Kaluna. Can I see you back in my office now, please?” While Kai ended on a question, from the steel threading his commanding tone, Allegra knew it was an order.

  “Sure, we’ll be there in two minutes.”

  “See you then.” He hung up, leaving Allegra staring at the phone in consternation.

  Zoe punched her on the arm. “Well? What did he say?”

  “He wants us back in his office now.”

  “Now?” Zoe bounced up and down on her seat. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

  Allegra shrugged, her hands shaking as she slipped her cell back into her bag. “The optimist in me says he was so blown away by our presentation he has made his decision and wants to tell us in person.”

  “I’m sensing a but?”

  “But the realist in me believes that if he called Jett back, too, maybe he’s letting us all down in person?”

  Zoe slumped into the cushions. “Damn, I hate it when you’re logical.”

  Allegra nudged her, hoping her heart would stop pounding so loud she could hardly hear herself think. “Come on, no use speculating. Let’s go hear the verdict.”

  …

  Kai sat behind his monstrous glass-topped desk, silhouetted against a breathtaking ocean view. “I bet you’re wondering why I called opposing parties in at the same time.”

  Jett, who’d barely acknowledged Allegra and Zoe’s entrance, nodded, while the enemy—Allegra—alternated between darting nervous glances at him and Kai.

  “You two were my last pitches.” Kai pointed at his computer screen. “I had three pitches by Skype this morning and yours this afternoon.”

  He steepled his fingers and rested them on the desk. “Every business decision I make is driven by two things. Carefully assessed analysis of the situation and pure gut instinct, so I knew instantly who I wanted launching the new advertising campaign for Kaluna Resorts.”

  Jett heard Allegra’s sharp intake of breath, the same sound she’d made every time he touched her intimately, and it annoyed him immensely when his cock hardened. A Pavlovian response, nothing more. But the part where his heart clenched? Frigging disaster.

  Kai stood, rounded his desk and held out a hand. “Jett, your pitch blew me away. Innovative. Sharp. Exactly what I’d want for a new resort.”

  Jett shook Kai’s hand, knowing with a sinking feeling deep in his gut he’d lost.

  “But the Caribbean resort and the resort here have been established a while and need a fresh take to grab the consumer eye.”

  Kai released his hand and turned to Allegra and Zoe. “To that end, Miss Wilks and Miss Keaton, your presentation nailed exactly what I’m looking for to take Kaluna Resorts forward.”

  Disappointment trickled through Jett, freezing his veins, as he sat there, immovable, as he watched his future being handed over to the woman who had betrayed him.

  “Congratulations, ladies. AW Advertising will be responsible for the new face of my resorts.”

  Frustration curled Jett’s hands into fists, disillusionment making his head buzz as he tuned out their effusive thanks and mustered some kind of rigid smile.

  “However, there’s one stipulation.” Kai held up his hand. “My Australian resort in the Whitsunday Islands needs a special touch. We’re not opening ’til next year and I think Mr. Halcott’s ideas would suit a new resort of this nature.”

  Hope flickered to life as Jett sat taller.

  “So here’s what I propose.” Kai turned to Allegra. “While your company controls the overall campaign, I want Mr. Halcott doing the Whitsunday job.”

  Allegra gaped, before closing her mouth quickly. “You mean as a subcontractor?”

  Kai nodded. “Exactly.”

  And just like that, Jett’s bubble of hope popped in a big way.

  He didn’t want to work alongside Allegra, let alone for her. To have to answer to her? Run every idea past her? No frigging way.

  “Perhaps it would be better if Mr. Halcott worked independently on the Australian resort?” Allegra shot him a concerned glance that only solidified his anger. He didn’t need her goddamn concern or pity. “He knows that part of the world better than we do, so it would leave AW time to focus on the other resorts.”

  Kai shook his head and sat behind his desk, his frown ominous. “I don’t like complicating my business any more than it needs to be. Kaluna Resorts will have one advertising company, that’s it. However you want to structure it, I want Mr. Halcott doing the Whitsunday job.”

  Jett gritted his teeth and waited for Allegra to protest again, to do something to get them out of this god-awful mess. Because if this went through—and the pragmatist in him was resigned to the fact it had to for him to save his career—he’d be bound to Allegra, albeit professionally, when he’d never wanted to see her again.

  “Are you all in agreement?”

  Jett glared at Allegra, even at this late stage hoping she’d shake her head. Instead, she nodded and he joined in a second later.

  Their fate was sealed.

  Chapter Nine

  “We need to talk,” Jett said, reaching out to grab Allegra’s arm before thinking better of it and letting his hand drop.

  Allegra’s heart plummeted. The fact that he d
idn’t want to touch her hurt. A lot.

  “You think?” She feigned indifference to hide her pain.

  Was it only yesterday he couldn’t get enough of her? Seemed like a lifetime ago, a parallel universe where she was carefree and happy, without pretenses.

  She liked being in that place, liked who she’d been with him. But that was in the past now and she had to face reality: being Jett’s boss.

  Hell.

  “Let’s get a drink.” He waited for her to fall into step with him before heading to the resort bar.

  She didn’t blame him for not wanting to convene in her room or his. They didn’t talk much when that happened.

  Not that there was the remotest chance they’d be having sex again any time soon. The kicker? The thought of missing out on that incredible passion didn’t hurt half as much as the loss of intimacy. The way he’d stroke her hair afterward, the way he’d curl his arm around her shoulders and she’d snuggle into him, the way he’d absentmindedly stroke her arm as they made desultory small talk in bed.

  Yeah, she’d miss that and more, had resigned herself to taking a while for the pain to ease. Yet by a surprising twist, Kai Kaluna had managed to bind their fates, at least for the interim.

  She could handle it. She could handle anything if it meant saving AW Advertising. But by Jett’s rigid posture and set jaw, he didn’t like it one bit.

  “Drink?”

  She shook her head, hating his sharp tone.

  He ordered a double whiskey before edging his barstool away, ensuring that they wouldn’t inadvertently touch. “This entire situation is screwed.”

  “Not necessarily.” She toyed with a drink coaster before nudging it away with her finger. “We both get what we want. I save AW, you save your career.”

  “Yeah, by working as your frigging underling,” he spat out, accepting the whiskey glass from the waiter with a terse nod then downing his drink in two gulps. “No way in hell I’d sign up for that.”

  “You do have a choice,” she said, maintaining her cool aloofness with difficulty.

  To have the guy she cared for speak to her like that…damn, maybe she should’ve had a drink after all.