by Nikki Wild
To Dani’s dismay, Shane remained unfazed by her harsh words.
“Quite frankly I’m a bit surprised Danielle. I really am. I find it hard to believe that a refined business woman of your sophistication and stature within the community would still be emotionally preoccupied with something that happened when she was a college girl. Surely I couldn’t have been that hard to get over?”
Danielle felt her rage rising up and tried her best to restrain it. This was hardly the humble apology she imagined. She couldn’t believe his colossal ego but she was determined not to come off as a hysterical woman.
“Emotionally preoccupied? You think I’m emotionally preoccupied with YOU? That’s a laugh! I think your problem is you need to get over YOURSELF! The fact is Mr. Tanner I just learned of your outrageous deceit the other day when I found out who you really are during the corporate meeting. Excuse me for being shocked! Bad enough you made a sneaky slimy getaway in the middle of the night, but using an alias like a common criminal…...that’s pretty damn low.” Dani’s eyes started to tear up but she was proud of the way she was handling herself. She was surprised when Shane didn’t immediately answer her but instead reached out and took her hand.
“Danielle what can I say? I was obviously a thoughtless jerk in my younger days. I had no idea my selfish actions had such an impact back then. I can’t tell you how terribly sorry I am. Please let me make it up to you? Be my date at the reception tomorrow tonight? I’d be honored to have a woman of your caliber on my arm.” Shane gazed deeply into her eyes and brought her fingertips up to his lips as he said, “You’re more beautiful than ever Danielle.”
Dani’s eyes widened with disbelief. She was floored by his enormous nerve and quickly yanked her hand back.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you really think you can waltz in here, sweet talk me, invite me to a party and sweep me off my feet? What world do you live in? Oh I know…..one where you think your money and good looks are enough to redeem your abysmal character.” Danielle stood up to signal it was time for him to leave.
Shane sighed and raised himself out of his chair. He knew there was no point in arguing with her. She was a woman scorned just like Margie said. Still, he remained undaunted. He was certain he would have her again and soon. He could still see a hint of a spark flickering for him in her eyes. Shane placed his palms down on Dani’s desk and leaned all the way in toward her as though he was about to kiss her.
“Danielle surely you remember how good we were together back in the day? Shit what am I saying? We were great for fuck’s sake! You can’t deny our chemistry; all those long hot summer nights we spent together….. It really wasn’t that long ago if you think about it. And now that you and I are going to be working together we could be an incredible team. I want to work closely with you.”
Dani could feel her body heat rising in response to his overt sexuality, causing her to take a step backward.
“That was a very long time ago and for the record I had that chemistry with Scott Turner, not with you. I don’t actually know you at all and you sure as hell don’t know me! So if you don’t mind I prefer to keep our relationship on a strictly business level Mr. Tanner. If you’ll please excuse me now I have work to do.”
Shane backed off. “Very well,” he said as he headed toward the door. “As always, it’s been a pleasure Ms. Kane.” Before leaving her office he turned to her and added, “By the way, anger becomes you. Your severe reprimand was smokin’ hot. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for another tongue lashing.” With that he smiled and walked out.
As soon as the door closed Dani could feel her knees almost give out from sheer weakness. She let herself drop backward into her chair as she let out an audible sigh. How in the world am I ever going to be able to work with that man? He’s obviously incorrigible….and unfortunately more sexy and handsome than ever. She had lied to him in order to appear strong but she knew she couldn’t lie to herself; she felt their chemistry alright and she did indeed want to give him a different kind of tongue lashing.
Out in the hotel corridor Shane had to admit to himself that the meeting hadn’t gone quite as smoothly as he had hoped. However, Danielle’s fiery rejection was more of a turn on to him than a deterrent. He was not the least bit concerned that he had possibly lost the first battle, after all there was a whole glorious war to wage in his effort to lure her back; a war that he fully intended to win.
Eight
“My my don’t you look handsome Paolo. Did Max come with you tonight?” Danielle asked her friend upon bumping into him on the hotel’s rooftop. Paolo was graciously greeting the guests as they milled around the reception area but his partner of five years was nowhere in sight.
“No he has a horrible head cold unfortunately, poor thing,” replied Paolo. “I’ve been calling him Rudolph, his nose is so bright red, and red is definitely not his color. How about you? You look absolutely stunning Dani. Turn around and let me see that dress.” He grabbed her hand and twirled her around like a ballerina. “Are you here with anyone sweetie?”
“I’m here with Earl from accounting,” Dani said sheepishly.
“Earl Wiggins?! No. No way, you did not come here with him. That wet blanket? He always smells like cured meats. And that horrible piece he wears! Is he for real with that cheap wig?” Paolo saw no reason to mask his true feelings regarding her choice of escort.
“I had to bring somebody. I don’t want that egotistical Tanner to think I couldn’t scare up a date.” Dani said defensively.
“I should think coming alone would have been preferable to bringing Earl Wiggins.” Paolo rolled his eyes comically as he said the name. “Where is your Prince Charming anyway?”
Danielle was clearly embarrassed but finally answered. “He’s in the mens’ room. He has a sensitive stomach. I think it was the oysters.”
“Oh my god Dani that’s priceless! I’m sure Shane Tanner will be seething with jealousy when he sees your date.” Paolo howled with laughter until he saw she wasn’t laughing with him. “Seriously Dani, would it really have been so bad to come here with Tanner tonight? You gotta admit he’s quite a piece of eye candy. And you have to make amends with him eventually. At least he’s making an attempt.”
“That’s just it. Making an attempt at what? What’s his game now? You can’t trust a snake in the grass…… A leopard doesn’t change its spots you know…... Once a rat always a rat…….”
Dani wasn’t finished yet but Paolo had to stop her. “Okay enough already. I get it; he’s a one-man zoo. Please try to enjoy the evening girlfriend. It’s a beautiful night out.”
Being the consummate host that he was, Paolo suddenly found himself distracted by something not to his liking. “W-T-F? Why is that waiter over there sitting down? I gotta see what’s going on. I’ll check back with you a little later sweetie.” Paolo blew her kiss before darting off into the sea of guests.
The crowded reception area was feeling a bit claustrophobic to Danielle. Her head was swimming from downing her vodka martini too quickly after she saw Earl sprinting off to the bathroom. She walked to a secluded corner of the rooftop and looked out into the starlit night. Paolo was right; it was a beautiful evening. The ocean waves roared in and out on the beach below, muting the sounds of the lavish affair that was going on around her. She decided he was also right about her ailing date, Earl Wiggins. Even his name made her cringe. How desperate am I anyway? Why did I come with him? In that instant her thoughts of regret were interrupted by the same smoldering voice as the day before.
“Ms. Kane are you enjoying the party so far?” She turned to see Shane Tanner holding a champagne flute in each hand. He offered her one of the glasses of gold sparkling liquid as his eyes surveyed her up and down with an almost tangible hunger. “You look positively good enough to eat. You can’t possibly be here by yourself, can you? Not in that stunning dress.”
Dani was relieved he hadn’t seen her enter the party with Earl Wiggins.
“The mens’ room? I’ll bet we probably just missed each other. I was just in there and there was some poor schmuck vomiting in one of the stalls. Jesus it sounded like the guy was hacking up a lung.”
Danielle decided to quickly change the subject.
“Well I’m surprised to see you stag here tonight. I mean……. with you being such a great catch and all,” she said smiling proudly after her little zinger.
“I didn’t come alone,” he corrected her with a laugh. “I brought Ms. Grummond my secretary. She’s around here somewhere,” he said as his eyes searched the crowd. “Probably at the bar, two-fisted drinking, knowing her.” He laughed again.
Danielle couldn’t help but smile at the remark. “I like that lady. I can’t wait to get to know her better while she’s in Maui.”
“I’m sure the two of you will get along famously. You’re both such strong, fiercely independent women. But did I tell you how amazing you look?” Shane’s voice trailed off as his eyes locked onto hers. He couldn’t help but wonder about the man she was there with and exactly how big an obstacle he might be in his quest for Danielle. He quickly shook off the annoying thought, confident he’d be able to get rid of him when the time was right.
Shane decided to seize the opportunity to strike before the guy had a chance to return. He took two steps closer to Dani, backing her against the wall.
“Yes….. Yes you did tell me that already,” stuttered Danielle as she stared up at him. He had succeeded in his effort to shake her sensibility. She swallowed hard when she caught a whiff of his custom-blend shaving lotion. The intoxicating scent was enough to make her head spin. She knew she needed to get a grip, and fast. Dani you’re pissed at this ego-maniac, remember? Stand firm. Don’t fall for his game. Be strong.
Shane ran his hand down the small of her back, letting it come to rest on the fullness of her derriere. The black satin slip dress hugged her incredible curves in all the right places, revealing her aroused nipples to him. He longed to take her full ripe breasts into his mouth right there and then. Shane took one final step toward her, closing the gap between their bodies.
When Danielle felt his hardness pressing into her own flesh, memories of fucking him came flooding back over her and she could feel the moisture of her own desire seep into her silk panties. She felt powerless against his masculine wiles. She cried out for help in her own head and wondered where her resolve was when she needed it most?
Shane wet his sensuous lips lightly with his tongue preparing to take Danielle’s mouth into his own. As his hand slid the rest of the way down her behind, he cupped her rounded cheek and pulled her into his embrace. “Danielle I want you,” he whispered into her ear. As he pressed his lips into hers and their mouths melded together, he felt her body beginning to surrender to their inevitable passion.
Suddenly a familiar chipper voice chimed out behind him.
“Hey you two! Why don’t you join the party? People are asking about you.”
Danielle opened her eyes, instantly jolting her out of her romantic trance. It was Marguarite Grummond. A flood of relief washed over her body except for the throbbing parts that so desperately wanted Shane Tanner.
“Margie. I’m so glad to see you here,” Dani said breathlessly.
“I thought you might be dear,” Margie said with raised eyebrows.
Shane turned around and glared angrily over his shoulder at his secretary and in doing so noticed a rather rotund man with an ill-fitting toupee approaching.
“Ah there’s my lovely date! Dani I’ve been looking all over for you.” Earl Wiggins sauntered up next to her side. “Sorry I took so long in the mens’ room. I feel so much better now though. I think I just ate a bad oyster. How ‘bout we take a little spin around the dance floor?”
Shane’s demeanor immediately changed from anger to amusement as an ear-to-ear grin spread across his face.
Danielle swallowed hard and tried, unsuccessfully, to stammer out an intelligible explanation.
Shane could not contain his delight as he gave Earl a congratulatory slap on the back, “So you’re Miss Kane’s date? You are one lucky fella.”
“Yesiree, Earl Wiggins is the name. I work in accounting. Remember we met the other day Mr. Tanner?”
“Yes of course I remember you Earl,” he lied convincingly. In reality he had no memory of their recent introduction. When he glanced back over at Danielle she was staring down at the ground in embarrassment.
Shane was pleased as punch that his earlier question had just been answered for him. The man Danielle was with that evening would be no obstacle whatsoever.
Nine
The following morning Danielle and her longtime friend Allyssa Caswell paddled Dani’s twin kayak out into the Auau Channel, which was the body of ocean between the islands of Maui and Lanai. The calm water was ideal for that type of boating, the name in fact translating to “take a bath”.
The two women had roomed together in college and Allyssa now worked as a marine biologist, studying the effects of land-based pollution on the islands’ coral reefs. Allyssa’s fair porcelain skin was a constant source of concern to her, given her daily exposure to the sun, but she was extremely diligent in her use of sunscreen and hideously wide-brimmed hats.
After an hour or so of paddling in the gentle waves, it became apparent to the usually forthright friends that their current conversation was strangely superficial and guarded. Allyssa decided to broach the subject.
“So how was that big reception last night, Dani? You haven’t said anything about it at all. I’m surprised. I thought you would have given me all the juicy details by now. You haven’t even mentioned your new boss.” Allyssa was seated behind her in the kayak, so as not to block her friend’s view with her oversized straw bonnet.
Danielle was keenly aware of her uncharacteristic silence but she just didn’t quite feel up to regurgitating all that she had been through in the past week. So she decided to avoid answering the question by deflecting it back onto her friend.
“The reception was okay. But what about you? You haven’t mentioned your work at all. Usually you’re bubbling over with the latest scientific studies and news of various environmental activism around Maui. I wish I had gone into your line of work Allyssa. You really have an awesome job; studying and protecting this amazing place. Look at it…..it’s so incredible.” Dani waved her oar pointedly at the panoramic beauty. A green sea turtle surfaced for a moment and blinked at the intruders before diving back under the water.
Allyssa realized it was time for both of them to stop beating around the bush and time for her to lay out the cold hard facts to her friend.
“Dani the truth is, I do have plenty of news. I’ve just been trying to think of the best way to break it to you.”
Danielle immediately spun around in the kayak to face Allyssa, resulting in her friend doing all the paddling. “What are you talking about? Tell me what it is. It sounds bad.”
“Here……let’s just paddle over to this little cove so we can sit and talk face to face,” Allyssa suggested. They stopped the kayak in a crystal clear lagoon shaded by mango trees and got as comfortable as they could in the small boat. They both dangled their legs over the side and dipped their feet into the turquoise water.
Allyssa began, “Okay here goes, I’ll just give it to you straight. Tanner International is one of the worst most horribly wasteful polluting hotel chains in the whole world. You should see the mess they made in New Delhi. Every conservation group in Hawaii is worried that they now have a presence here on Maui and have sworn to take an active stand against them, especially the Hawaii Conservation Alliance.”
Danielle’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t believe what she just heard. “But I’m a prominent member of the HCA. I’m one of their most dedicated volunteers. It’s practically like a second job for me.”
“I know that Dani. I don’t have any dates yet but there are some planned protests in the works. Any and all of Tanner’s proposed land acquisitions will be scrutinized and most likely fought hard by the native people. I wanted you to have a heads up about this.” Allyssa was speaking very seriously now.
Dani was really torn now. “Thanks for telling me but I can’t join in on anything like that. I’d lose my job. Oh my god this is terrible….. I had no idea. Tanner is really that bad? Why does it always have to be so difficult for people and nature to coexist?
“You know as well as I do Dani it’s just plain greed. They know the cost to the environment but they just don’t care. It’s simply written off as collateral damage. In the end it’s all about the almighty dollar and quarterly profits. But fortunately all the conservation groups are going to be watching Tanner’s every move very carefully. They have a dreadful environmental track record but their business practices will not be tolerated over here. I don’t need to tell you how vulnerable the coral reef that surrounds this island is. Sorry I had to drop this bomb and complicate your relationship with your new employer like this Danielle.” Allyssa began reapplying some more sunscreen on her bare arms and legs.
Dani decided it was time to reciprocate with her own explosive news, but her extreme embarrassment caused her to reveal it rather tentatively. “Well while we’re on the subject of employer relationships……remember when you first moved into our dorm at the start of our junior year and we became roommates?”
