Flirting with Felicity

by Gerri Russell

  She knew she should announce herself, but as the conversation between them became more heated, she back away from the door, then stood there, unable to move away. She listened to Blake and a man she learned was his security guard. The younger man must be a photographer who’d been caught trying to take photos of her and Blake. When Destiny’s name was mentioned as the instigator of the plans, anger sizzled along Felicity’s nerves. How dare Destiny attempt to exploit her relationship with Blake?

  What relationship? There was nothing between them but a few innocent kisses. And despite Blake’s obvious displeasure over the photographer’s actions, she didn’t know his true motives. He might have been acting merely out of protectiveness. For men like him, protectiveness toward women was ingrained. Wasn’t it?

  If Blake sent this photographer away, like he claimed he would, would that solve the problem? Or would there be others trying to capture a private moment between the two of them that could be used against her? She’d have to be careful during what remained of their time in Hawai‘i. She couldn’t afford the gross publicity such pictures would bring as she struggled to establish her foothold as owner of the Bancroft Hotel.

  The hallway suddenly filled with noise and activity as three men and two women headed for the room just as Blake’s security guard and the young photographer stepped out. Felicity kept moving toward the kitchen, but not before she heard Blake greet the five new arrivals in a cheerful voice. From his greeting, she could only assume they were employees.

  His words of praise toward them brought a smile to her lips. Blake might pretend he was a hard-edged businessman, but in the last few days she’d seen the rounded corners beneath.

  She didn’t know much about him. But underneath his businessman exterior, she could tell that he had a genuinely good heart. That fact intrigued her more than it should, captivated her at times. And when she looked at him, as she had only moments ago, her heart beat a little faster and the strangest sensations settled deep in her core.

  An hour later, Blake returned to their suite. They shared the crab cake eggs Benedict with bacon and hollandaise sauce she’d gone to the kitchen to create for them, before they started their first day of his part of their arrangement. After a twenty-minute drive, they pulled up in front of a dazzling white building that stretched across a white sand beach. Infinity pools of cerulean blue flowed from one level to the next until they reached the shoreline, making the hotel appear as though it was an extension of the sea itself. Thoughts of Atlantis came to mind as Blake escorted her from the car and into the lobby.

  “The Leilani Hotel is the pride and joy of Bancroft Industries. It has the lowest greenhouse-gas emissions of any hotel in the world. It was built three years ago with sustainability in mind. We call her our green pearl.”

  “Why did we not stay here?” she asked the obvious question.

  “Because I wanted more privacy,” he said, then frowned, his thoughts no doubt going back to the photographer from this morning. “Come on.” He offered her his hand. She slipped her fingers into his and allowed him to lead her into the hotel.

  The lobby was all white stone that was carved into rounded angles with multiple stairways leading to the reception area. In the center of the lobby was an oval-shaped pool of the deepest blue. Palm trees and exotic tropical flowers limned the water’s edge, swaying softly as if moved by some interior breeze. From high above her, white, foamy water tumbled downward, splashing noisily in the pool’s glassy surface, sending ripples of waves from edge to edge.

  “The Leilani relies on solar and geothermal energy to power all the buildings and to heat the pools. While she was being built, we were able to recycle ninety-three percent of the construction waste generated. Outside you might have noticed a colossal blue pipe.”

  She shook her head. Her focus had been on the endless display of pools. “What does the pipe do?”

  “The apparatus pumps seawater that cools the hotel,” Blake explained. “One of the biggest energy savers for us is our cooling system. The hotel pumps salt water up through deep wells and then circulates it through two three-hundred-sixty-ton chillers that provide air conditioning throughout the buildings. Once warmed, that seawater is released through the waterfall, then channeled back into the sea through the pools you saw out front. The mechanism saves us an estimated thirty-six thousand dollars in electrical cost each year. It also reduces the carbon dioxide released annually by more than three hundred twenty-eight thousand pounds.”

  Her head spinning with not only the technology used, but the savings, she allowed Blake to lead her up an open stairway. He placed his hand at the small of her back, guiding her along. His touch was warm and comforting as he continued his tour of the exquisite hotel.

  “We use only one-hundred-percent recycled paper products and soy-based inks, but last year we diverted about one hundred and fifteen tons of recyclable waste—that’s the equivalent of nearly three humpback whales—that would have ended up in the garbage. That was about nineteen percent of the solid waste generated by the hotel. The recyclable plastics and paper materials are all separated and shipped back to the mainland for processing.”

  Felicity stared in awe at the beauty of the place. Images of luxury bombarded her as they walked through the meeting areas, ballrooms, dining rooms, and finally into the guest spaces.

  “We are part of a recycling program that allows us to donate leftover toiletries to Clean the World, an organization that steams and disinfects the items then ships them to developing countries to fight hygiene-related illnesses. And we are experimenting with bulk containers instead of single-use bottles in some of our hotels.”

  Breathing a little faster at the extent of the hotel’s efforts, Felicity grasped for perhaps one thing he hadn’t been able to do anything about. “What about the unused toilet paper?”

  He laughed. “We do have an endless supply of toilet paper, but we divert that from the landfill by furnishing the employees’ locker rooms and personal homes with hundreds of leftover tubeless rolls.”

  She stared at Blake in breathless wonder. He really had thought of everything. She followed him through several elaborately decorated rooms. When they’d finished that part of the tour, Felicity could no longer hold back asking what she wished to see most. “Will you take me to the kitchen?”

  “I’m surprised you lasted this long before asking,” he said with a smile. “This way.”

  An elevator, backed with glass, descended into the open-style lobby once more. They got out on the first floor and headed down a long hallway that was decorated with tiled murals of island life. “It’s a beautiful hotel, Blake,” she admitted with a tiny twist in her stomach. If he could renovate the Bancroft Hotel with even a portion of what he’d showed her today, the hotel would not only be more beautiful and energy conscious, but a better steward of the environment. Felicity held back a groan. His attempt to sway her was working.

  She drew a tight breath and hoped her sudden distress didn’t show on her face as they entered the kitchen. At the sight of the state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, Felicity’s knees went a little weak. She reached for the nearby counter, steadying herself while Blake proceeded to discuss the top-of-the-line appliances, stainless steel prep areas, and storage areas.

  “Any waste grease from cooking is collected and converted to bio fuel,” he explained.

  Not giving her much time to recover, he guided her past a wall of refrigerator and freezer units, before they stepped through a doorway leading to a greenhouse with both soil and hydroponic areas. The plants there were laden with ripe fruits and vegetables.

  “We are able to grow most of the fresh ingredients for the menu ourselves,” he explained as they made their way through the enormous structure.

  “What do you do about food waste?” she asked, as she walked past the succulent tomatoes on one side of the aisle and strawberries on the other.

  Blake pointed to the enclosed black receptacles at the back of the greenhouse. “Inside
those units are thousands of worms composting organic waste. When they’re done, we have nutrient-rich fertilizer that we can then incorporate back into the growing process.” He moved her toward a different aisle on the side of the building. “Over here, we have receptacles that collect wet food waste that gets boiled up and packaged to send to pig farmers. They come every day and collect the food so it’s not sitting around. It’s free food, and it keeps a bunch of waste from going to the landfill. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

  He led her out of the greenhouse, back into the warm, perfume-laden air that did nothing to ease the chill that had settled inside her. “The hotel really is ahead of its time,” Felicity conceded, forcing aside a sense of impending doom.

  “Sustainability is contingent on the power of creative thinking.” Blake smiled at her with an almost unbearable sense of pride as they headed back to the waiting car. “We intend to do much like this with every hotel in our chain within the next ten years.”

  She stopped beside the Tesla. “Why start that conversion with my hotel? There have to be others that will be easier to convert.”

  “There are,” he agreed. “In fact, I just purchased another hotel in San Francisco. But as I said before, the Bancroft is our flagship hotel. It sets the pace for the entire hotel chain, and for the Bancroft name.”

  “I’ll have to rename the hotel since it will no longer be part of your corporation.”

  “Only if you win our wager.” Blake opened the car door, inviting her inside.

  Pain cut through her at the thought of losing the hotel, even if it would be for a very good cause. That cause didn’t take into account her employees. She knew what she had to do. The Bancroft was hers, and she would do whatever she had to do to see that it remained that way. Determined to succeed, she slipped into the car. “What else do you have in store for me today?”

  He slid in beside her and closed the door. “I thought we could take our lunch beside the pool at our hotel, then catch a little sun before getting ready for the party later tonight. We’ll leave the hotel at six o’clock.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To get away from it all. I find I’m in need of a little more privacy than even the Mano Kea allows.”

  “In formal dress?”

  He nodded and turned his attention to Peter, directing the chauffeur to return them to the hotel.

  “That’s it? That’s all you’ll tell me?”

  A mischievous grin lit up his face.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Felicity met Blake in the sitting area of their suite at six o’clock that evening. She was dressed in a sea of mocha-colored silk and chiffon. Blake’s gaze traveled from her coiled hair, across the formfitting bodice gathered to reveal the soft rise of her breasts. His eyes filled with heated appreciation as he continued to devour her with his gaze—down the length of her floating chiffon skirt where it clung to her hips and then on down to her slippered feet. “You’re beautiful,” he said, his tone guttural.

  She could barely respond past the dryness in her throat. Blake was resplendent in a black tuxedo with a black bow tie. The late-afternoon sun came through the window, edging his dark hair with streaks of gold. “Thank you.” She finally managed to force the words past her dry lips.

  “Come.” He offered her his arm and once again guided her through, then out of the hotel. After a quick ride in the Tesla, they exited the car on a helipad. The helicopter’s engine started at the sight of Blake and the rotor blade started to turn, sending Felicity’s skirt fluttering in all directions. She gasped and tried to grab the edges of the cloth, desperately trying to keep her clothing in place.

  Blake appeared at her side. He scooped her into his arms and carried her the short distance to the helicopter, depositing her gently inside before joining her. He slid the door closed. “My apologies. I didn’t consider that when I booked our transportation,” he shouted above the noise of the rotating blade. He handed her a pair of headphones as he settled into the seat beside her. “Hang on. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Felicity did just that. Her heart pounding in her chest, she clung to the edge of her seat. She’d never been in a helicopter before. The vibrations unsettled her, as did the sensation of lift. They shot straight up before moving forward, heading out toward the ocean, into the setting sun.

  Where could they possibly be going, she wondered, until a large vessel came into view. They headed straight for it and the helipad on the top deck. The pilot set the helicopter down lightly, as though he’d performed the action many times before. He quickly killed the engine at a signal from Blake. When the rotor blades had ceased their movement, Blake took the headphones from her and offered her his hand. “Come inside with me,” he urged.

  Felicity let herself be drawn forward, out of the helicopter, across the deck, and onto the main area of a luxurious yacht. Music drifted to them, punctuating the night. As they walked, Felicity gazed up at the full moon and let the restless breeze settle the nervousness that twisted her stomach into a knot. They were on a yacht in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This was not anything she could have imagined when she’d accepted Blake’s invitation. She had nowhere to hide for the next several hours. She was at his mercy.

  He turned toward her and smiled tenderly, as though reading her thoughts.

  “Everything will be all right, Felicity. You’re safe here.”

  For some reason, she believed him as she allowed him to pull her inside the main cabin. People turned to watch as they entered the crowded ballroom. In the past she would have felt terribly self-conscious with so many eyes searching her, but not tonight. Wrapped in an incredibly sumptuous gown, with a smoky quartz and diamond necklace at her throat and her hair coiled up in an intricate knot, she felt carefree and calm.

  On the far side of the room a four-piece orchestra was playing Vivaldi, but only a few strains could be heard above the conversation and the delicate clink of glasses. White-coated waiters circulated among the guests, offering canapés and Moët et Chandon champagne.

  A gleaming wood floor sparkled beneath her feet and crystal chandeliers glittered overhead. An ice sculpture of an open giant clamshell dominated the buffet and was filled to overflowing with succulent shrimp. Beside the ice sculpture sat beluga caviar, lobster, light pastry confections, and a colorful display of tropical fruit.

  Blake took two champagne flutes from a waiter’s tray and handed one to her. Sipping her champagne, she watched as the guests ebbed and flowed throughout the large room, laughing and dancing and having a good time. She thought she recognized at least three movie stars among the crowd. “Are these people friends of yours?” she asked, studying a man in a white headdress with a robe created from gold and silver thread.

  “He’s a sheik and a friend of mine. He likes spending time on my boat when he’s in town. Over there is the British consul to Hawai‘i, and next to him is Reid Fairfax, owner of the Seattle Gazette. Let me introduce you around.”

  “This is your yacht?”

  He nodded. “A guy’s got to have a few toys.”

  “Are there any forms of transportation you don’t own?”

  He lifted his brows, considering, then smiled. “I don’t have a rocket, yet.”

  She returned his smile. “Well, then you better get on that.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” His smile filled with contentment as he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her forward into the crowd.

  For the next hour, they mingled with his guests. She met many people she would never have had access to if it hadn’t been for Blake. He told everyone about her restaurant, and several people made promises to come see her there on their next trip through Seattle. And while she enjoyed speaking with each person she met, she came away from the whole thing feeling a little sad.

  Though he’d introduced these people as friends, not one of them asked him anything personal or inquired about his uncle’s recent death.

  She knew how lonely her own
teenage years had been with a father who didn’t speak and her need to avoid bringing attention to her situation. Had Blake’s past been even worse despite his status? He might have all the money in the world, but was that what really mattered? Was that why he came looking for her? Despite all the people who surrounded him each and every day, he was lonely.

  “You look suddenly very intense. Care to share your thoughts?” Blake asked over the sudden rise in excitement in the room.

  “I’m just overwhelmed by all this,” she said, hoping he didn’t ask anything more. He didn’t as the noise in the room increased. The crowd parted and Felicity got her first look at the source of the commotion as Rihanna strode forward and took the microphone at the front of the room.

  “A friend of yours?” Felicity asked, slightly breathless with surprise.

  “As one of her supporters, she does the occasional special event for me.” Blake’s cocky smile faded as Rihanna’s voice filled the room. “Dance with me, Felicity.”

  A tremor ran through her entire body as he caressed her elbow, encouraging her forward into his arms for a slow dance to the lyrics of “Stay.”

  Blake’s arm slid around her waist, and his left hand closed around her fingers. He moved to the music with effortless ease, taking her with him across the dance floor.

  “I’ve never danced with a woman as enchanting as you,” Blake whispered close to her ear.

  A thrill moved through her. “You’re just saying that so I’ll stop stepping on your feet.”

  “You can step on my feet anytime whenever we are this close and you look this lovely.” Felicity’s breath caught in her chest at the husky timbre of his voice and the desire in his eyes. For one breathless moment, his smoldering eyes studied her face feature by feature while he slowly pulled her closer against his chest. His head bent and his mouth claimed hers in a kiss of violent tenderness and tormenting desire. The fingers splayed against her back, and Felicity felt all her resistance, all her will begin to crumble and disintegrate.