4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
C hance
I pace my office. It was my father’s before he retired and handed it over to me. I’d long replaced his art and photo frames of the family with nothing. Stripped down is my kind of style.
The only things I left were the shelves. They’re stocked with old books about every subject known to man and every once in a while, I like to pick one up and learn something new while ignoring my real-life problems.
It doesn’t work today. I can hardly see the words in the history text, my mind on what is to come. Or more rightly, who.
I glance at the door, expecting her to waltz in at any moment. Would she be mad? Happy? Indifferent?
I slam the book shut and fit it back on the shelf. My hands itch to fiddle with something so I spin the heavy watch on my wrist, over and over. When that proves unsatisfactory, I move on to the window and look out at the view. Ocean, trees, and buildings blended in perfect harmony.
Sometimes I watch the view until an idea sparks or a question is answered. Today, it gives nothing.
I look away, then pause. Am I… nervous? I press a palm on my chest. My heartbeat is a little quick, my palms are a little sweaty.
It can’t be. I’m never nervous. I approach everything I do with precision and clear thought, almost knowing the outcome before it happens.
Yet, with her, I find myself unsure.
It’s been two days since she raced out of the garden. The anxious look in her eyes just before she ran off prevented me from seeking her out.
I understand the thrill of one night of fun. Of having to forget. But when that’s over, you want it done with.
I debated if that’s what it meant to her and stuck with it. But I can only hold out for so long.
Today, I caved. Today, I decided to find her. It’s her last day here, the last chance to finish what we started so I can get her out of my head.
My intercom buzzes. I know it’s Ralph already. I don’t wait for Julia to speak.
I hold down the button. “Send him in.”
Ralph walks in.
I pocket my hands and plant my heels. Nothing would look more neurotic than me running across the room and grabbing him by the arms, shaking him, and asking him to tell me if she is here.
“Yes?” I raise an eyebrow.
“She’s outside.”
Fuck. My chest caves with relief. Inwardly, of course. Outside, I’m a statue, giving away nothing. “Send her in.”
I hold my stance, watching the door. Waiting. And then finally, finally, I’m rewarded.
The door creaks open and she steps in. Maddie makes eye contact immediately and her sharp gaze nearly makes me back away. She’s pissed.
Without taking her eyes off my face, she closes the door behind her and steps in, crossing her hands across her chest. “What do you want?”
Her words have a bite.
Good thing I’m prepared for her anger. “Have a seat.” I gesture to the visitor’s chair.
She eyes it and looks back at me. “Um, no? I have a plane to catch. I don’t have time to sit and chat.”
The purse of her lips juggles my memory. It looks just as it did when she had her mouth around my cock in the garden—full and red and delicious.
Her gaze shifts with my silence.
“We’ll stand and speak, then.” I step forward. “Maddie, it’s nice to meet you again.”
She says nothing.
“I hope Ralph wasn’t rough with you. I instructed him to be careful.”
“I’m fine.” Her eyes sweep up and down my frame and her anger drops a notch, replaced by another look I recognize. “Why am I here?”
“I have a proposal.”
Her eyes narrow.
“A job proposal.” I pick up the brown folder and hand it to her.
She collects it reluctantly. “I didn’t ask you for a job.”
“But I remember our conversation. You don’t have a job back home. And my assistant quit just recently. It will take at least three weeks to find someone suitable. I’m hoping you’d be willing to do the job till then.”
A frown pulls her brows together. “And this is?” She waves the folder.
“All the terms of the agreement if you’re to take this job.”
Throwing me a skeptical look, she flips open the folder. I watch her face, anticipating her reaction when she gets to the bottom of the page and sees the figure.
She doesn’t disappoint.
She gapes and looks at me with rounded eyes. “For three weeks?!”
I nod.
“Sure you didn’t add a zero by mistake?”
“I’m positive,” I respond.
She presses her mouth shut and closes the folder. Her skepticism is back. “Did you offer so much money just so I can’t refuse?”
“Can you be bought?” I challenge.
“No.”
“I didn’t think so. That’s the true pay.”
She opens her mouth and shuts it, then looks away from me.
I see the debate in her eyes, the back and forth with herself. I can’t tell which part of her is winning but my fingers are crossed for the one that keeps her here on Magic Island.
“I don’t have a place to stay,” she murmurs.
“You’ll be given a suitable accommodation.”
She eyes me.
“Not with me.” A chuckle threatens to fall from my lips, but I swallow it. “It’s still at the Resort but superior to where you stayed earlier.”
“Oh…” She eyes me. “A job that pays three times my former salary in three weeks, a place to live on the coveted Magic Island and what else?”
“What else?”
“The catch. There must be. What do you want from me?”
I glance at her lips. “Nothing.”
“Huh.” She chews on her lower lip as if to torture me.
I look away and focus on my mahogany desk. The need to pounce on her, pull that lip from her teeth, and ravish it is too strong.
Something happened in the last two days and she’s grown immune to me. I just have to remind her what we shared, but not here or now.
“I will take it.”
My head whips up. “You will?”
She nods. “I have nothing to go back to.” She shrugs. “This might be a nice change of pace for me and by the way, I love Magic Island. An extended stay here won’t be bad.”
I don’t smile in triumph as I want to. I only nod. “Good. We’ll both be getting what we need.”
“Hold on.” She hurries over and stands opposite me. Only the expanse of the desk keeps us apart. “You didn’t ask for my résumé. I’ve never worked as a PA before.”
“That’s no problem. It’s intuitive and Julia would be happy to help.”
“Julia?”
“The secretary.”
“Oh.” She chews on her lip again.
My cock twitches. She needs to do that less if I’m to get any work done with her around. Or maybe I should stop looking at my new assistant too much.
The door opens. I already know who it is before he walks in. Only one person enters my office like it’s their living room.
“Chance.” Baxter splays his arms like we’re buddies and it’s been too long since we saw each other.
We met in a meeting an hour ago. His grin is broad and a smile crinkles his eyes.
“What are you—” His eyes fall on Maddie and I swear to god, they take on that hazy look that every woman falls for. “Hello, there.”
He advances, somehow managing to look broader than he already is. He’s like me. We value gym time and have built ourselves into looking like we model for a living.
Where I cover mine up with suits to look professional, Baxter is the opposite. Vain as they come, he wears a shirt a size too small that hugs his frame. He leaves the first two buttons open, exposing a peek of chest hair that he claims is a lady magnet.
It’s unprofessional. Everything about him from his messy styled hair to his tight black pants and too-friendly personality. But because he’s my brother, I’m forced to work alongside him for the good of everyone.
“Don’t hello there her.” I glare at Baxter. “Do you need something?”
“Nothing from you, old man.” He focuses his full attention on Maddie. “Tell me he dragged you in here so I can rescue you.”
She smiles. “I wasn’t dragged.”
“Oh?” He leans in close to her and whispers, “That’s his style.”
“What a style!” She puts on a disbelieving look and shakes her head.
“You know, right?” Baxter backs up and does the what the hell expression. “I just have to tame him sometimes. Without me, he’ll be a feral beast.”
Maddie throws a glance in my direction and laughs. “Really?”
Baxter nods, serious. “When we were young, our dad used to say, ‘Watch your older brother, Bax. He’s dangerous, even to himself.’”
“No one has ever said that.”
My protests go unheard as Maddie laughs at Baxter’s antics.
My neck prickles with irritation. How can she find him funny?
She laughs so much she places a hand on his arm for support and I nearly lose it. She wouldn’t even crack a smile at me today and now she’s laughing and touching Baxter.
“Bax, you can get out.” My voice is hard steel. “You have no business here.”
Maddie’s laughter cuts off and she looks away.
Shit. Even though it wasn’t directed at me, I loved the sound. Still, I’m not willing to entertain any more of Baxter if he’s taking all her attention.
“Come on, man. We’re just ribbing. Don’t kill the fun.” He glances sideways. “Look how you’ve made… What’s your name?”
She blinks up at him. “Maddie.”
“Maddie…?” His smile is charming.
“Maddie Lowe.”
Look at that. She’s giving him her last name.
“Well, I’m Baxter Easton. The hottest of the Easton brothers.” He stretches a hand.
“Nice to meet you.” She slips her hand into his.
He smiles broadly and she smiles back.
“Lovely smile,” he says.
“Baxter,” I say through clenched teeth. “Get. Out.”
“Can I take Miss Lowe with me?”
“Not in your life. Never.”
“Whoa… So defensive.” He still holds her hand. “I’m getting the impression”—he glances at the folder on the desk—“that Miss Lowe has been offered a job here. Shouldn’t I get to know the woman I’d be working alongside?”
“No need for that. You’re not going to see her.”
“I see her now though.” He looks down at her. “And I like what I see.”
I look away to avoid Maddie’s inevitable blush. He always makes the ladies blush. He relies heavily on his charms and convinces every woman within his immediate vicinity to swoon at him. Every woman is fair game, except taken women—girlfriends and wives.
Girlfriends and wives.
My mind churns.
My gaze shoots up, going between Maddie and Baxter. They aren’t touching anymore, but he still has her spellbound. What they’re talking about, I have no idea.
I cut in anyway. “Maddie is my girlfriend.”
“Excuse me?” Maddie says at the same time Baxter’s brows shoot up.
“Oh? I had no idea you were seeing someone.”
Maddie starts to speak.
“Maddie. Honey.”
Her gaze whips to my face, confusion playing across her features.
“Let’s not argue in front of Baxter, okay? I knew you wanted to keep it private for a while, but what’s the harm? He’s my brother.” I sound patronizing, unlike myself. But it’s working. She’s realizing she needs to play along.
“Alright, babe.” She blesses me with a big smile.
So this is what Baxter was enjoying just moments ago?
I look back at him. “So, what do you want? Nothing? Great. Leave.”
“No, no, no.” Baxter’s frown morphs into a grin.
I hate what’s coming already.
“How do you get a girlfriend and not let everyone know? Bring her to dinner this Sunday so she meets the family.”
There’s alarm written on Maddie’s face. Even I feel my stomach clench.
“No.”
“No?” He lifts a challenging eyebrow. “If you don’t bring her, then she’s not your girlfriend and you’re a scared little—”
“Fine,” I bite out. “We’re coming to dinner.”
Baxter grins. “I look forward to seeing you. Miss Lowe.” He tips his head and heads out with a jaunty step after he’s just caused so much damage.
The punk.