Ivorie's Surprise [Golden Dolphin] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Skye Michaels

  While this thing with Eugenia at the dock wasn’t completely his fault as far as he was concerned, Ivorie’s expectations of him were entirely his fault. He wished he had considered what his spur-of-the-moment words to Eugenia would do to Ivorie, but he had just spit them out without thinking of the consequences. He realized that she had learned from bitter and long experience what to expect from him, and it made him sick. It broke his heart.

  Drew went down to the office and opened the door. Ivorie was at her desk just as she’d said she would be. He’d known she wouldn’t hide in her cabin and sulk. That just wasn’t Ivorie, regardless of how hurt, upset, or angry she was with him.

  “Good morning, sir. I hope you slept well.” He could see from her saccharine expression that that was the last thing she hoped. The woman did have spine, and it looked like it wasn’t going to bend.

  “Yes, Ms. James. I slept very well.” He stopped, shook his head, and said, “Ivorie, you know damn well that I didn’t sleep at all. Can we please talk?” He was ready to beg if he had to, but he sure hoped she’d had enough time to see reason.

  “There’s nothing to talk about, unless you’re referring to business matters. There were a few e-mails that need your attention. I forwarded them to you.”

  “Ivorie…”

  “Legal is sending a prospectus on a new shopping center for your review later today,” she continued without a pause. “I believe the Real Estate Department wants to make an offer if you like the property.”

  He could see it was hopeless for the moment and sat down at his desk for the first time. He hadn’t spent any time in the office he had insisted she set up and had relied on her to check e-mails and do whatever was required there. The surface of the desk was clean and bare. His thoughts wandered for a moment to his fantasy of taking Ivorie on his desk. He pushed it out of his mind. Any attempt to do that right now would result in her quitting her job and leaving the ship. That was definitely not what he wanted. No, he had to be patient, and as everyone well knew, that was not his strong suit.

  “If this is the way you want it, I’ll go along for the moment. But don’t think this is over.” He booted up his computer and went into his e-mail account. He pretended to read while he watched her from the corner of his eye. She was studiously ignoring him, but he could see that she was not unaffected by his presence. Ha. She is furious and wants nothing more than to get me out of here. That being the case, he wasn’t moving. He’d stay right here under her feet, in her face, and in her hair all day if necessary. He could play as dirty as the next guy. She doesn’t know who she’s dealing with.

  * * * *

  Ivorie was steaming. He had no right to invade her domain. Well…it was his office, but he hadn’t been in here during the entire trip so far. Why did he have to be in here now? But she could handle it. She would revert to her Ms. James persona and not let anything he said appear to bother her. She had gotten good at hiding her feelings over the last year. She would just pull up her big-girl panties and deal with it. He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee, sir?” she asked as politely as she could manage.

  “Yes, Ms. James. Thank you.” Clearly, he could be as polite as the next guy when he had to, but she was going to make it as hard as possible.

  When she came back with the steaming cup of black coffee and put it on his desk, he looked up into her eyes and just stared. For a moment, she stared back into his deep, gold-flecked, hazel eyes. As she started to spiral down into them, she abruptly pulled herself together and went back to her desk.

  The office cabin was the mirror image of her sleeping cabin and was quite roomy and equally luxurious. The steward kept a huge vase of mixed tropical flowers on the coffee table in the sitting area, and she could smell them. She took a deep breath to calm herself. And then she took another one for good measure. She could deal with him underfoot in here all day if she had to. She just hoped he would get bored and leave her in peace.

  The day dragged on for both of them. Ivorie pretended to keep busy with office work and kept her nose buried in her computer screen. She scanned and forwarded the Riverstone contract comments to the Legal Department. She watched as Drew pretended to read the new prospectus. They were both miserable. At noon, the steward brought lunch to the cabin, and they each ate in silence. Ivorie had a hard time swallowing the food and could see that Drew didn’t seem to have an appetite either. She just had to hang in here and wait him out. He would give up and go up on deck any minute. Damn, he’s stubborn. But not as stubborn as I am.

  * * * *

  Drew kept his nose buried in the prospectus. It was as dry as a bone, and he thought he’d lose his mind any minute. He didn’t even like the shopping center property and planned to tell the Real Estate Department to keep looking. Damn, she’s stubborn.

  “Are you going to keep this up indefinitely, or are you going to talk to me like a sensible adult?”

  “The only non-sensible thing I’ve done so far is agree to come on this trip and to get involved with you in a personal manner. Believe me, I’ve come to my senses and intend to be very sensible from now on.”

  “Ivorie, my patience is more than strained. I hope you are going to see reason. I didn’t say those things to hurt you, and I didn’t mean them.”

  “That’s really beside the point. You did say them, and they did hurt me. Meaningless apologies and lame excuses don’t make any difference. It’s just more of the same old thing. You say and do as you please, and everyone else bears the consequences.”

  Drew sighed. This was looking hopeless. “Are you planning to stay in here all day? Your hours are only supposed to be until noon.”

  “Fine, sir. If you don’t need me, I’ll go back to my cabin.” When she got up to leave, he jumped up from his chair, stalked over to her desk, and grabbed her arm. She shook him off. “Don’t touch me. That could be considered sexual harassment.”

  He was stunned and angry. He just stood there as she walked to the connecting door, passed through it, and audibly clicked the lock on the other side.

  Drew collapsed back into his chair. This was not going well. He hadn’t thought she could keep up the cold shoulder all day.

  * * * *

  Ivorie collapsed on a chair in the sitting area of her cabin. She was exhausted and shaking from the thoughts running through her head. The day had been intolerably long. Just sitting there trying to ignore Drew while he tried to ignore her had been sheer torture, neither of them willing to give an inch. Did he expect her to cave in? It had stressed her to the max. Does he think I’ll succumb to his charms a second time? Fat chance. Actually, she had to admit that she was the one who wouldn’t give an inch. He did apologize and try to explain, and he had been willing to beg. Well, too bad.

  She planned to have dinner on her deck and go to bed early. The more of this she could sleep through, the better. She had no intention of going up to the dining room. She couldn’t face the Turners or any of the other passengers. She had no recollection of just who had been at the dock and who had heard Eugenia’s tirade, but it was really all too embarrassing. She was sure the story had made the rounds of the entire ship by now.

  Ivorie changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and went out on the deck. She admired the beautiful view of the St. Lucia harbor and just tried to relax, but the thoughts running through her head would allow her no peace. After an hour or so, she phoned in her order for dinner in her cabin.

  When the steward arrived with the dinner cart, she was surprised by a stealth attack by Jenni Turner. Jenni had waited in the corridor until she could slip into the cabin when the steward had the door open. She planted herself on Ivorie’s couch and folded her arms over her chest.

  “Do you plan to hide in here for the rest of the cruise?” Jenni’s direct look and no-nonsense tone of voice reminded Ivorie of her grandmother. Well, why not? Jenni was adept at handling three kids. She had the “Disappointed Mom” voice down pat.

>   “Actually, I do. Oh, Jenni, this is just horrible. I am so angry and hurt by what Drew said and so embarrassed by what everyone heard. I really can’t face all of the other passengers. I can just imagine what everyone thinks.”

  “Don’t be so sure. Everyone I’ve talked to wanted to slap that woman silly. Don’t think you have no friends on board. From what I heard, Drew’s choice of words was unfortunate, but I really don’t think he meant to slight you or hurt your feelings. He looks devastated, Ivorie. He’s really hurting.”

  “If he was a normal person, I might understand and agree with you. But this is His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew Blessingame, we’re talking about here. You have no idea of the hell he’s made my life at the office for the last year. He’s obnoxious, demanding, thoughtless, and sometimes downright cruel. When he arrived at the dock in Key West Saturday afternoon, he started out the same as at the office. Business as usual. But then he seemed to mellow, and I couldn’t believe that he was so different on board.” She smiled weakly. “I even considered the possibility that aliens had abducted the real Drew Blessingame and left a clone in his place. Just kidding. But really, the difference in him was astounding. Believe me, I never would have considered becoming involved with Mr. Blessingame. Drew, on the other hand, was just wonderful. I don’t get it. And that makes it all the worse.”

  “I’m going out on a limb here, but have you considered that you made the change in his attitude? That your happy personality had a positive effect on his disposition?”

  “Uh, no. That doesn’t seem possible. My cheery disposition never had that effect on him in the office.”

  “But really, Ivorie, how cheery was your disposition in the office? How did you treat him? Like King Andrew? Or like a person? Were you cool and aloof? Did you reinforce all his bad habits and personality traits with a stiff, professional demeanor?”

  “Maybe. But he did not invite any normal personal interaction with his staff. And of course, he was totally inaccessible except when he was reaming me out for something or other. And Eugenia and her incessant demands only made the situation worse. I always thought of her as Cruella de Vil. I bet she even has a puppy overcoat. I had a hard time standing up to her until that last day. I mean, can you really say no to the boss’s fiancée? When I finally told her I wouldn’t put her through to him because he was in an important meeting, she stormed into the office and barged into his meeting with some Japanese businessmen. They had a horrible fight, and he ended up breaking their engagement.”

  “Sounds like he finally got something right.”

  “I’d have to agree on that point. But he wasn’t any easier to get along with after that. He just seemed to pull back even more—when he wasn’t striking out even more harshly that is. I just can’t deal with it. I made the mistake of getting involved with him, and now I have to tough it out and get uninvolved.”

  “Ivorie, I’ve seen you guys together for several days, and I have to say, I think you’re in love with him. And I think he might be in love with you. You should see the expression in his eyes when he looks at you. Please don’t be so hard and unbending that you destroy something that might be very good for both of you. I know you’re hurt, but please think about what I said.”

  “I’ll think about it, but I don’t think it will change my mind.”

  “You are a stubborn woman. Just don’t cut your nose off to spite your face.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The Golden Dolphin—Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago, October 11, 2013—Friday Morning, Day Six of the Cruise

  Drew had again awakened before dawn after another restless night. He called for coffee on his deck but waited for breakfast to give the crew a break. He knew their eight-o’clock arrival time put a strain on the galley with everyone wanting to eat early and get ashore. When he thought about it, he had to admit that he had never before particularly cared about the strain his demands put on anyone else. This little learning experience with Ivorie was turning out to be a hard lesson.

  He went into the office again at ten o’clock and found her at her desk, busy with her usual activities. She didn’t immediately look up, and he took the opportunity to just drink her in. She was dressed in a plain black pencil skirt and another sheer white silk blouse with her hair gathered in her usual efficient office bun at the back of her neck. He could see the outline of her nude lace bra against her tan skin. He wanted to pull the pins out and run his hands through that mass of golden waves. He wanted to rip her clothes off and run his hands all over her body, and…Well, that isn’t going to happen. Her expression was no warmer than it had been yesterday. It looked like this was going to be another long day. But he wasn’t giving up. He didn’t know why exactly, but he just couldn’t.

  * * * *

  Ivorie grimaced and then made her expression blank. There he is again. Damn. Why won’t he give up on this? It would be better for both of us. Jenni was right. He did look tired and miserable. His eyes looked unhappy, and that broke her heart. “Good morning, sir.” She tried to inject a light note into her voice, but she didn’t think she was successful.

  He just looked at her with his sad eyes and didn’t say anything. He sat at his desk, opened his e-mail, and began to read.

  Oh, shit. Is he going to give me the silent treatment now? I don’t know if I can stand that. Ha. He’s turning the tables on me. Very sneaky and clever. But as she looked at him, she saw what Jenni had seen, and her heart broke a little more. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to take him into her arms and just hold him. Why? She had no answer except that she loved him. She couldn’t explain it. She just knew she loved Andrew Blessingame, the demon in a three-piece suit, as well as Drew Blessingame, the lighthearted, sexy guy in butt-hugging jeans and a T-shirt.

  She walked over to his desk and set a cup of coffee down. She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed. He looked up at her with a question in his eyes, but he had still not said a word. He was killing her here. She didn’t know what to say. She bent down and put her arms around him and just hugged him tight. She didn’t have any words.

  When she let him go and looked into his eyes, she saw a suspicious glimmer on his long, blond eyelashes. Were those tears? That just simply could not be. But the evidence was there nonetheless. His cheeks were dark with a rough stubble of beard as if he hadn’t shaved in two days. That was not like him either.

  Finally he said, “Can we talk now?”

  “I guess we had better because I can’t stand this. I can’t stand to see you look like this. I’d rather have you be your usual, obnoxious self than look so sad.”

  Drew took her hand and led her out of the office and onto the deck. “I’m sorry, Ivorie. I never meant to hurt you. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and looking at myself, and I don’t particularly like what I see. I don’t really know how it happened—how I got so wrapped up in myself that I didn’t see anyone else—until you. Can you forgive me and give me another chance?”

  She just looked at him with tears streaming down her face. He pulled her into his arms and said, “Oh, baby. Don’t cry.”

  “I’m not crying. I swore I’d never let you make me cry again.”

  He wiped the tears from her cheeks with a gentle finger, put it to his lips, and licked the tears off the tip. Then he smiled at her. “Okay, if you say so.”

  “I say so.”

  * * * *

  Drew pulled her roughly into his arms and held on tight. He buried his face in her neck and breathed in the light scent of jasmine and Ivorie and sighed a huge sigh of relief. He knew he had a way to go before all his fences were mended here, but at least she was willing to listen.

  “I have some very strong feelings for you, Ivorie. I haven’t sorted them all out yet, and I can’t say where they’re going, but I know they are powerful. I’ve had some doubts about my own judgment lately. After all, I’m the fool who asked Eugenia Cartwright to marry him. That was a major error in judgment.”

  “She’s very beaut
iful, and she’s an excellent actress when she wants to be. I can see how she could fool anyone she wanted something from.”

  “Still. If an employee had fucked up so royally, I’d have his or her head on a platter.” He kissed her cheek and laughed. “And then I’d throw it overboard. I haven’t figured out yet why I didn’t see through her sooner—like before I put a ring on her finger.” He sat on the lounge and pulled her down beside him. “About what I said on the dock. It was ill advised, but I really was just trying to redirect Eugenia’s anger away from you. I didn’t want her to focus on you as the cause of all of her problems. I can see now that she’s unbalanced. So, do you think we can try this again? Maybe take it a little slower and give us both a chance to figure this out?” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “Will you take another chance on me?”