Finn’s phone rang, startling him. He inhaled deeply, thankful for the interruption from impending darkness. “Finn Hastings.”
“So formal, brother.”
Finn shut his eyes momentarily. “Good morning, Adrian.”
“I sure hope you’re not working nonstop out there. You’re at the beach, man. Act like it!”
Finn chuckled. “As a matter of fact, I am standing on the sand as we speak.”
“Hopefully not in a suit, unless it’s a wetsuit.”
“Not planning to surf anytime soon, but for your information, I’m wearing shorts.”
“Stop it.”
Finn laughed outright now. “Stop what. I own shorts and T-shirts. Plenty of ’em.”
“Well, well, that I’d like to see.” Adrian laughed. “Listen, I don’t want you to stop enjoying your vacay on my account, but I did want to let you know that I’m putting in a call later to Lacy Morelli. I’m not sure if you are aware, but she is staying in Colibri Beach at the moment and knows the area very well. I believe she grew up there.”
“I’m listening.”
“I would like Lacy to give you the grand tour of the area.”
Finn bit down on his lower lip. He needed to keep his head on straight if he were going to determine the right spot for development here—if there was a right spot. Having Lacy as his guide, though, could muddle his judgment. He had figured that out last night when it had taken all his strength to walk out of her house.
There was a bigger concern: Adrian. His brother kept his love life to himself. Always had. But Finn had noticed the way Adrian’s voice seemed to change whenever he talked about the brown-eyed beauty who was his lead sales manager. His gut told him Adrian harbored feelings for her, and the thought caused his own heart to clench—with disappointment.
Even if he wanted to see where things could lead with Lacy, he could not do so knowing that his brother was interested. Especially with his questionable medical condition. And not after his own best friend broke his heart by seducing his … Paige.
No. He wouldn’t do it.
“Finn? You still there or did I lose you to some beach bunny?”
Finn scoffed lightly. “Here. Listen, I don’t need Lacy to show me around. I’m a big boy, little brother.”
“I know that.”
“I have an appointment with a realtor out here.” He hesitated, wondering if he should mention what Lacy told him.
“The one who told you about some beachfront homes out there?”
“You remembered.”
“Of course. She said she knew of a string of homes that you could buy and tear down to put up the resort. Any thoughts of how difficult it would be to get the zoning laws changed out there?”
“Not yet. I’ll be speaking to Ms. Madsen about that, though …”
“What’s wrong?”
He huffed a quick sigh and crossed an arm across his chest and tucked his hand beneath his armpit. “I need to tell you something, Adrian.”
“Sounds cryptic.”
“It’s not really. It turns out that Ms. Morelli is staying in the house next to the one I’m renting.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I spoke with her briefly last night—I was going to mention it to you today—and she warned me that Ms. Madsen’s character is less than stellar.”
“All the more reason for Lacy to be the one to show you around.”
“Maybe.”
“What do you mean maybe? Lacy knows the area better than anyone, and her character isn’t questionable, so I will speak to her today and set something up.”
Finn frowned. The last thing he wanted to do was discourage his brother. He couldn’t tell him the truth—that Lacy’s presence stirred up an array of thoughts that surprised him, lifted his heart and mind out of the depths. No. He would not go there. He could not hurt his brother like that.
Finn decided he needed to double down on his protests, for both of their sakes. “I consider myself forewarned about Ms. Madsen; however, I don’t plan to cancel our appointment. On the contrary, I will meet with her and hear what she has to say and make my decision from there.”
“All right. If you must. When is that appointment? Today?”
“Actually, it’s tomorrow morning. First thing.” Finn flipped a glance toward the house he was renting, suddenly aware of the ever-growing list of emails and phone calls he must return. “I will be heading back to the place where I am staying now and working from there for the rest of the day.”
“Hogwash.”
Finn jerked his chin up and laughed toward the expansive sky. “What in the world does that mean?”
“Same thing it meant when Mom used to say it. You’re in Colibri to scout a spot. Lacy’s the perfect one to show you around, so don’t waste that talent. I’ll set something up for this afternoon.” Adrian’s voice faded as if he turned away from the phone to deal with an interruption. He returned to the call. “Gotta go, brother. Lacy will contact you soon, if I have anything to say about it.”
The phone went dead, leaving Finn to stand in pooling sea water and wonder how he was going to keep his emotions … in check.
Three
What part of I am on sabbatical did this man not understand?
Adrian’s whiny voice flowed through Lacy’s phone speaker. “Finn is available this afternoon, so can you do it? Show him around the town? The vacant areas?”
Lacy tossed an empty box into a recycle bin and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. Even from here she could hear the roar of waves, yet they offered her no comfort right now. She pressed her lips together, thinking. Truthfully, she had barely left the house since arriving in Colibri. Why would she when the town had a food delivery service and the house itself had a front row view of the ocean?
Adrian’s voice broke through her thoughts. “I think I missed your answer.”
She rolled her eyes, one hand stuck deeply into her waist. She could refuse, of course, but if she did, there was a very real chance her decision could come into play when the Director of Sales and Marketing position finally became available. When that happened, it meant Adrian would be retired and out of her hair. Her official promotion was just a formality.
The draw of that moment was overwhelming.
She licked her lips, her gaze pointed at her feet. She needed a pedicure and would take care of that as soon as possible. “Sure.”
“What was that?”
Her eye roll took an exaggerated turn this time. Good thing he was not around to see it. “I said sure. I’ll check in with Finn to see if he would like the grand tour.”
“Don’t just check in with him—make him go.”
She gave him a negative little laugh. “Are you serious? Your brother is the head of a major corporation. I’m quite sure he’ll know whether he has the time and the need for the tour.”
“He has both. Trust me. Now, I’m signing off so you can make your plans. Let me know how it goes.”
The line went quiet.
“Adrian?” Nothing.
Lacy exhaled. Loudly.
“Was it something I said?”
Lacy spun around at the sound of Finn’s voice and let out a yelp.
He chuckled. “My apologies.”
“You … scared me.”
He looked like he’d just walked up from the beach. His feet were bare, his tee perfectly tailored to hug him in the right places. Vaguely, she noticed his eyes travel the length of her. Part of her wished she had done more than put her hair up in a clip and pat some sunscreen on her skin. The other part wanted to smack him—but that would surely come into play when it was time to discuss her promotion.
“Out for a walk?” It was the most banal thing she could think of to say.
“Actually, I’m looking for you.”
“Me?”
“My brother says you are my ticket to the grand tour of the fine town of Colibri.”
Her mouth dropped open, her eyes narrowing.
“Hm. That’s quite the reaction. You’re not the ticket or you don’t want to show me around?”
“Neither. I’m just wondering … when did you speak to Adrian, if I might ask? We only hung up a few minutes ago.”
He flashed her a bright smile that showed off his warm tan. “The Hastings brothers move fast.”
She stared at him.
He cleared his throat, that smile faltering. “So. Is everything my brother said true? Are you the one to show me around your hometown?”
She crossed her arms and laughed, though it sounded stilted, even to her. “Considering I haven’t lived here in years, I’m not sure how much I can help you.” She wasn’t ready to mention she had promised Adrian she’d do just that, especially when a shower beckoned.
“I get the feeling this place has not changed very much over the years.”
“You are right about that.”
“And you probably still have plenty of memories of the area.”
She hesitated. His dark eyes had managed to snag her in a way that sent a warm thrill through her. How would she get through this without losing her mind? Not to mention … her heart? She unfolded her arms. “Yes. Sure. I can give you a tour of Colibri, Finn. Can you wait until noon?”
He nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll see you then.”
An hour later, Lacy sat on the front porch hoping she looked more serene than she felt. She wore a crocodile-skin patterned sundress and sandals because she planned to make this quick. Her old camera sat in her lap. Finn’s driver, “Jeevs,” or Frank, or whatever, could squire them around as she gestured toward points of interest. Basically, they would make a loop, she would snap a few photos, and by her calculations, she would be back in her well-worn home by mid-afternoon.
“Ready to go?”
Lacy’s heart did a somersault. Finn stood on the bottom step in a white button down, grey linen slacks, and ecru loafers, like he was about to visit a winery. “I’m ready,” she said, feeling more heady than ready. “I suppose Frank will be driving, correct?”
“Incorrect.”
She kept her gaze benign.
He cracked a smile and slid his shades over his eyes. “I rented a car. C’mon.” He waved her toward him. Together they walked over to the driveway of the house and he opened the door of a new BMW convertible. “Okay if I leave the top down?”
“Whatever you’d prefer.” She’d never cared much about impressing anyone with her hair. If it got in her way, she could always clip it up into an easy chignon.
He pulled out of the drive, saying, “Lead the way.”
“Didn’t you bring your map?”
He stopped and looked at her over his shades. “You’re kidding.”
She settled against the soft leather seats and flashed him a grin. “I am.”
Finn stared at her for a beat, allowing his own grin to appear. “Humor. Impressive.”
She gave him a little shrug and he glanced at the camera in her lap but didn’t mention it.
“Go straight out of here,” she said, pointing, “and then take a left at the small intersection up ahead.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She knew the way by heart, having ridden her bicycle along this way dozens, maybe even hundreds of times as a kid. Lacy hadn’t been down this way in years, but she had a hunch there would still be open land to consider. Of course, anyone wanting to actually develop said land might have trouble with the powers that led this one-dolphin town.
“There’s a small rise up ahead,” she said, “to the right.”
The vacant land was mostly bare, save some spindly pine trees in a far corner. A remnant of tile steps led nowhere. Finn pulled the car to the side of the road and shut off the engine. “Shall we walk the land?”
Lacy shrugged, unbuckled her seatbelt, and lifted her door handle.
“Hold on a minute.” Finn stepped out of the car and quickly walked around to Lacy’s side. He pulled the door open and held it for her.
She pasted on a smile, the professional kind that she had become accustomed to whipping out the minute a potential client came into view. Nothing fake about it, but neither was it an organic smile that grew out of a longtime relationship.
Lacy’s sandals slapped across the sidewalk and up the steps to nowhere. Finn followed closely behind her. She stopped when she reached the top and he bumped into her.
“Pardon me.”
She threw a gaze over her shoulder. “Totally my fault. What would you like to see?”
He surveyed the parcel, which gave them a view of foothills to the east and a peek of ocean to the west. “I’d like to walk it a bit, get a feel for what’s up here.”
She shrugged. “Not much, really. It’s mostly sand and the view isn’t as good as the one you have at your rental, and the access is worse.”
“You always so positive?”
“Just stating an opinion. I suppose it could house a nice boutique property, if you’re thinking of going in a new direction with Hastings Resorts.”
“Perhaps I am.”
“Well, okay then.” She stepped aside so he could pass. “Have a look around. I didn’t wear the right shoes to go traipsing about.”
“I could carry you.”
She jerked a look at him, noticing the laughter lines at the corners of his eyes. “I’m good,” she said.
Finn chuckled, then walked part of the perimeter of the lot. If it were for sale, Lacy had no idea. For all she knew, they were trespassing, but she doubted anyone would care. As she waited, she framed a shot of the hazy view. Then another of a small stand of trees. The familiar snap of the shutter provided a sense of familiarity, comfort even.
He wandered back and stopped at the top of the stairs. “Ready to go?” she asked.
“Ready. Let me walk on ahead of you so you don’t slip.”
“Are you going to catch me if I do?” As soon as the words slipped out, she wished she could stuff them back into her mouth. Had he wondered the same thing a moment ago?
“It would be to my shame if I didn’t.”
She bit back a smile. He was making it really tough to be annoyed with him and she had to remind herself about why she was.
They wound along the oblong-shaped trail, she pointing out the elementary school, a row of tiny houses that were once said to be part of a long-gone camp, and a sprawling park. “I often rode my bike all around here in the summers.”
“Intriguing,” he said.
“How so?”
“The largest playground in the world is across the street, and yet the town has designated a park within view of it.”
Oh. She thought a moment. “Maybe it’s because kids need structure and boundaries.”
He slid a look at her, a question in his gaze.
She turned up her palms and laughed lightly. “I read that somewhere.”
He nodded, still surveying the area. “Did you spend much time here as a child?”
She paused, the question feeling more personal than she might have expected. She shaded her eyes with one hand and looked up at him. “I did.”
He smiled. “That’s good to know.”
“We were here mostly in the summertime, although my father sometimes brought us back when he had work in the area.” She shrugged. “But as I mentioned, the area has remained strangely unchanged.”
“I wonder if there are homes that might be ready to be torn down.”
“Hm. I’m not sure if ready is the right term for it, but I’m sure some developers would like to come in and level the place. My impression is that the townspeople frown on that sort of thing.”
“I see.” Finn’s expression changed suddenly. He held out his hand but she hesitated. He nodded. “So you won’t slip on the steps since you are wearing sandals. I apologize for not realizing earlier.”
Lacy took his hand, holding it as lightly as possible. She attempted to ignore the warmth in it and the way his steady strength made her knees want to buckle.
�
��Where to next?” he asked when they were back in the car.
She thought a moment. She hadn’t taken him to her favorite spot, the place she had often run to when she was young, and did not intend to. She gave him a questioning shrug. “I don’t really know. I suppose we could drive through town, or have you already checked out the two streets that are considered the hub of the area?”
“Kidding, right?”
“I’m not.”
“Never quite sure with you.”
“I’ve done my job well then.”
He chuckled. “If you say so.” Finn started the car. “Lead me to the bustling downtown of Colibri.”
As promised, the main part of town was all of two blocks long. She pointed out Luke’s surf shop, Giovanni’s, and Brooke’s Beachside Bakery. Finn peered at the place. “Says they have espresso.”
“So it does.”
“Unless you’re hungry for something more substantial. Sushi, perhaps?”
She winced. “No. Never.”
“Doesn’t like sushi. Good to know.” He flipped a glance at the bakery again. “I’m game for coffee. You?”
“Why not?” She wasn’t game. Not really. Lacy gave site inspections for a living—tours of the Vegas property to interested event planners—but this trip around Colibri with the head of the company had vacillated between professional courtesy and knee-buckling swooning. She hoped that had not been obvious to him.
On their way inside, they ran into Rafael. The shirtless wonder actually wore one today. He stopped and flashed a wide smile at Lacy, grabbed her hand, and kissed it. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Well, hello to you too, Rafael.” She turned. “I’d like you to meet Finn Hastings.”
They each nodded their hellos with about as much warmth as an unheated pool in springtime.
Lacy's Billionaire Boss Page 3
