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Miss Prim And The Maverick Millionaire
Nina Singh
In paradise…with the boss!When CEO Cabe Jordan accidently insults employee Jenna Townsend, he needs to make amends, and fast! Whisking her away on a business trip to the Caribbean could be the perfect solution.Craving a stable income after a difficult childhood, work has always been Jenna’s priority. Only now Cabe is very distracting… How can she impress him when all she can think about is, well, kissing him! The hopes and dreams she’s spent her life suppressing are soon to be awakened – if only she’d let down her defences!
In paradise...with the boss!
When CEO Cabe Jordan accidently insults employee Jenna Townsend, he needs to make amends, and fast! Whisking her away on a business trip to the Caribbean could be the perfect opportunity.
After a difficult childhood, Jenna has always made work her priority. Only, Cabe is very distracting... How can she impress him when all she can think about is, well, kissing him! The dreams she’s spent her life suppressing are soon to be awakened—if only she’d let down her defenses!
“Do you know what it took to get you to come to the Caribbean?” he said. “Worse than negotiating a store lease agreement. It was quite a challenge, I must say.”
Her smile widened. “Yet another one that you’ve met and conquered.”
“Was that a compliment? Or a dig? Somewhat hard to tell.”
She shrugged, watched as a gaggle of dancing teenagers pranced by them. “Merely a statement.”
He took another sip of the coconut drink. “Pity. I was hoping for the former.”
“Fishing for compliments, are you?”
“My ego is a fragile thing.” He held his hand to his chest with mock melodrama.
That laugh again; he could easily get used to it. “Something tells me you come by compliments quite often,” she said.
He took a moment to respond, deciding to throw caution to the wind. “Some compliments mean more than others, given the source.”
Miss Prim and the Maverick Millionaire
Nina Singh
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
NINA SINGH lives outside of Boston with her husband, children and a very rambunctious Yorkie. After several years in the corporate world, she finally followed the advice of family and friends to “give the writing a go already.” She’s oh so happy she did. When not at her keyboard, she likes to spend time on the tennis court or golf course. Or immersed in a good read.
This is Nina Singh’s first book.
For my wonderful husband and children.
Thank you for all the patience, faith and support.
Not to mention the many very-needed nudges.
And for the best group of fellow writer friends
I could have ever hoped for.
Contents
Cover (#udf8b1c8a-62d9-561a-8e1f-1d0524e75157)
Back Cover Text (#udc86198b-3fe7-5e4a-94b1-f8cfed5db21b)
Introduction (#u47e7cb8c-a7e8-5491-8334-02839d7960b3)
Title Page (#u0dfe4c34-2b94-58d7-8d39-2c9da69f5a9c)
About the Author (#ud548da2c-52d8-5215-b70f-169dba78a467)
Dedication (#u85cbc10f-ab45-5f22-a8cf-ef9ed85a7360)
CHAPTER ONE (#u37b7d08e-50c7-56cb-a611-ebeef932ad28)
CHAPTER TWO (#u61cdcb96-2262-5ffa-b20e-fd8ff8236a28)
CHAPTER THREE (#u9e5826dd-ac28-526b-aba4-55a15e25d0fe)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u0c01b505-092f-5e33-8dae-7e0697e6dc5e)
THIS DEFINITELY WASN’T in her job description.
Jenna Townsend glanced at her watch, not actually noting the time. Then glanced at it again. A car should be picking him up from the airport right at this moment. Which meant he would be here at her office within the hour. She took a too-large swig of coffee and gasped as it burned her tongue and throat. Why was she so nervous? Babysitting the CEO of Jordan’s Fine Jewelry for the next several days shouldn’t warrant this much anxiety.
Cabe Jordan, CEO extraordinaire, was on his way back to Boston. The man who’d taken the small business his parents started in the historic North End and made it one of the most profitable national corporations of the last decade.
Hard to believe they’d grown up together in the same small town just outside Boston. Two years ahead of her in school, Cabe had been her older brother’s bane of existence, besting Sam at everything. Her brother had not been happy when she’d taken the position of regional manager and started working for his nemesis. But opportunities like this weren’t ones to be passed up, not for someone like her.
The job had been everything she could have hoped for and more. Until the email in her inbox the other day “requesting” her assistance in escorting Mr. Jordan as he revisited the flagship Boston site. For some reason, he’d specifically requested that she be his local liaison on this trip. Jenna shook her head.
Why did he need one anyway?
She’d felt like she’d been sent to the principal’s office, unable to shake the feeling that he was really here to check up on her. Had she done something wrong? Let something crucial slip through the cracks? Or had he woken up one day and realized he’d hired a small-town hick with no real-world experience. Maybe he was looking to replace her with some hotshot MBA from a real business school and he wanted to tell her in person. Maybe Sam had been right all these years and Cabe Jordan really was an elitist who had always looked down his nose at people like her.
Heavens, she had to get a grip. And try to stay positive. There could very well be a good reason for Cabe’s visit. Hadn’t she just come across an internal email regarding an opening in upper-level management? Perhaps he was here to tell her she was being promoted. It was possible. After all, her numbers spoke for themselves.
Did she dare to hope? Her job here meant so much for both her future and everyone who depended on her.
A quick knock on the door preceded the abrupt entrance of her assistant carrying a gleaming silver tray laden with pastries, a coffeepot and two brand-new porcelain mugs. Nothing but the best for Mr. Jordan.
“Thanks, Nora,” Jenna said as she set the tray down on a side bureau.
“You got it. Do we know his ETA yet?”
“Won’t be much longer now.”
Nora put her hand over her heart, a dreamy, faraway expression on her face. “I wonder if he’ll have Carmen with him.”
“Carmen?”
“You know, that Spanish model he was photographed with recently.”
Jenna shrugged. “I wouldn’t know.”
“Oh, come on. You have to be as curious as the rest of us. He’s been spotted out and about with at least three different beauties in the last month alone.”
Jenna merely smiled. If she was curious about anything, it was the reason for this whole trip to begin with. “Mr. Jordan’s personal affairs are none of my concern. I simply work for the man.”
“And what a dreamy man he is.” Despite being a happily married grandmother of a newly born infant, Nora was unabashed in her appreciation of handsome men.
“Be that as it may...” Jenna brushed an imaginary piece of lint off her right shoulder. This conversation was making her uncomfortable. Cabe had always been an endless source of gossip around here. She understood the curiosity—of course she did. Handsome, successful, mysterious. Cabe had really made a name for himself in the retail jewelry business. But endless speculation about the man wouldn’t get her a regular paycheck.
“I should probably get back to work on this presentation I set up for him.” She glanced at the graphic on her screen. She’d worked all night on it, taking the initiative to put together a slide presentation for Cabe’s review. Even though she didn’t know the exact reason for his visit, she figured presenting him with some specifics on the current business numbers wouldn’t hurt.
“I’m sure you’ll impress him, dear. Please don’t fret.”
Nora, of all people, knew how much Jenna needed this job. Her school loans alone were enough to keep her in debt for a good portion of her adult life. But as far as assurances went, Jenna wasn’t convinced.
“It can’t hurt to be prepared.”
“Of course, dear.” Taking the hint, Nora walked out of the office, gently shutting the door behind her. As much as she wanted to relax about all this, Jenna couldn’t seem to heed Nora’s advice not to “fret.”
She had to face it. Whatever his reasons, for the next several days, she would have to be Cabe Jordan’s glorified and overqualified chaperone. If only she could figure out why he needed one.
* * *
The only thing draped on Cabe’s arm when he walked in was his suit jacket. Not that she’d really thought he’d have a date with him when he came into the office. Though if the gossip websites were to be believed, he didn’t travel far without female companionship. Jenna stood as she eyed him in the reception area, chatting with Nora.
She watched as he walked over to the doorway of her office. Dressed in a well-tailored suit that fit him like a glove, he looked impeccable. Tall, still fit. Jenna drew in a deep breath. Those websites hadn’t done him justice. She’d refused to acknowledge it since receiving that email, but the truth was absolutely impossible to ignore now. The silly schoolgirl crush she’d had on him as a kid hadn’t abated one iota.
Well, if he was out of reach then, he was downright unattainable now. Still, like Nora, she could certainly appreciate his...pure masculinity.
Snap out of it.
He was waiting for her to invite him in as she stood there with her mouth gaping open. Staring at him. How utterly unprofessional. So much for coming across as the dynamic, invaluable employee Cabe’s company couldn’t do without.
“Mr. Jordan. So nice to see you here. Come in. Please.”
Wow, now she was positively dazzling him with her talent for witty conversation. He strode into the room and gave her a warm smile that sent electric volts down to her toes.
“Jenna. We’ve known each other a long time. Please call me Cabe.”
He spoke the words cordially enough, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she sensed some subtle undertone, some kind of underlying message. Or maybe that was just her silly attraction to him that she’d thought she had gotten over eons ago. She’d been so wrong about that.
Definitely not the time to realize it.
She gave her head a brisk shake to clear it. She could not blow this initial meeting. She had the distinct impression the future of her livelihood depended on it.
“Would you like a cup of coffee? Cabe.”
His smile grew wider. “That’s more like it. And I’d love some coffee. But only if you’ll join me.”
She nodded and moved to the serving tray. Cabe held up a hand to stop her. “Please, let me.”
Really? He was going to serve her?
“How do you take it?”
“Just cream, please.”
He poured with a steady hand, doctored it with the small pitcher of creamer and handed her the cup. He poured a cup straight black for himself before sitting down across from her desk. In the smaller chair.
Was it her or was Cabe going out of his way to make her feel less of his employee and more of his equal?
Jenna cleared her throat. “So, what brings you here?”
He shrugged. “Just figured it’s about time I visit the flagship Boston site. Now that the Manhattan store is thriving, I can devote some attention to other areas. This is where it all began, after all. Feel I may have been neglecting it over the years.”
Did he mean it would have fared better if he’d been more involved? But the regional New England stores were doing fine with her at the helm. Sales had grown progressively over the years. Not at an astronomical pace but pretty steady, despite the slow economy. Heavens, why such paranoia?
“I see.”
“Just for a few days.”
“Well, I think you’ll be pleased with the overall numbers. Here, let me show you.” She walked over to the other side of the desk to face her laptop and motioned for him to follow.
Mistake. She hadn’t thought to pull over another chair facing the computer. They had no choice but to stand side by side. He smelled of pine and sandalwood.
She pushed herself to go through each slide, hardly aware of content. She stammered on every other sentence. Hopefully, she was at least coherent.
Cabe nodded at all the right points, so that was at least encouraging. He also asked some pertinent questions that Jenna was blessedly prepared for. Still, when she finished with her presentation, she felt as if she’d just trekked the full length of the Freedom Trail. And felt just as out of breath.
If Cabe noticed, he was too much of a gentleman to let on. “Very impressive,” he said, still staring at the upward slope of the graph on the last slide.
“Thank you.”
“Both the performance numbers and your presentation.”
“Thank you.” Again with the witty conversation.
“I’m not surprised. You’re a very capable regional manager.”
Don’t you dare say “thank you” again. She simply nodded, tried not to duck her head at the praise. The burning in her cheeks crept clear up to her scalp. She resisted the urge to fan herself like an old-fashioned Southern belle.
He did seem genuinely impressed. Maybe she’d been wrong to be so nervous. Perhaps he really was here to talk to her about a promotion. Stranger things had happened.
She decided to take a chance. “Oh. Well, then. Excuse me, Mr. Jordan—”
He interrupted her. “Cabe.”
She smiled politely. “I mean Cabe. If you don’t mind my asking... Why are you really here? After all this time. What aren’t you telling me?”
* * *
Cabe’s response died on his lips as the older secretary entered Jenna’s office. “Excuse me, Mr. Jordan. There’s a call on the office phone for you, from Corporate.”
He fished his cell out of his pocket, realizing he’d left it in airplane mode after his flight. “Thanks, Nora.” Sure enough, the phone started buzzing as soon as he changed the setting. A naughty text from Carmen popped up. He tried not to groan out loud. The woman could be draining. He would have to do something about that pretty soon. She had her sights on something that wasn’t going to happen. He’d have to find a way to let her down gently. No doubt it would cost him a pretty penny.
Then there were numerous messages from his assistant in New York, no doubt about the Caribbean expansion deal. Nothing about the project so far had run smoothly.
And so it began.
The interruption was just as well. He wasn’t sure how much he could share with Jenna Townsend just yet. Sharp as she was, she’d surmised that something else had prompted his visit.
He wanted to believe there’d been some kind of mistake, that she had no involvement. But it wouldn’t be the first time he’d misjudged someone.
“Would you mind if I take this, Jenna?”
She shook her head. “Of course not.” She walked toward the door. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
“There’s no need for that.” But she’d already left by the time he reached for her desk phone.
Cabe hung up the phone several minutes later and tried not to curse in frustration. He’d been right. There were indeed yet more complications on the resort island where he planned to open a new high-end retail jewelry store, this time to do with zoning issues.
He would have to fly down there. The sooner the better. Which meant he had to wrap up here in Boston as quickly as he could. He had to address the real purpose of this visit. Of all the reasons to have to come back, a thieving employee. He shook his head at the utter surprise of it. There was absolutely no reason for an employee to steal from him. The company paid well and provided numerous benefits. The only reason had to be greed.
His head of security assured Cabe that such thefts were usually inside jobs, almost always involving the store manager, who in this case was Jenna Townsend. The timing couldn’t have been worse—Jenna had been on track for a major promotion before the theft came to light.
As soon as he’d heard the name, he’d wanted to deal with the matter himself. He’d hired Jenna personally. His parents had always been quite fond of her. They’d asked him to give Jenna a chance when she’d graduated top of her class from business school two years ago. Despite what the town had thought about the Townsend family and its troubled history over the years, his parents had insisted that Jenna was cut from a different cloth and that she just needed a chance to prove it. His mom and dad were all about giving people a chance. He liked to think that had served them well, at least as far as their son was concerned.
Cabe’s original plan was to spend a few days with her. Maybe even find some evidence. So he’d asked for her specifically to be his assistant on this trip. But now he had forty-eight hours at the most before he had to fly to the Caribbean to deal with the other pressing matter. That left him with only one choice. He had to come right out and ask her what, if anything, she knew about the missing jewelry.
He could be quite persuasive when he had to be. Besides, he didn’t have the time to dwell on this. He had to get to the bottom of it all and move on to business as usual.
No one stole from Cabe Jordan and got away with it.
* * *
When Jenna returned to her office, Nora ran fast on her heels. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Jordan?” the older woman asked as she cleared the tray of mugs and coffee pitcher.
Cabe turned and flashed them both a smile that made Jenna’s knees go weak. “As a matter of fact, you can, Nora,” he replied. “Please clear Jenna’s calendar for the next two hours or so and cancel her appointments.”
What? Why?
To her shock and horror, he added, “I’d like to take my regional manager to lunch.”
Oh, no. She had to nip this in the bud right now. She did not want to sit across a table from this man, just the two of them. She was absolutely no good at small talk. And her presentation earlier had covered all the business details she could possibly bring up. Whatever he had to tell her, he could do so right here in this office. “I’m afraid I just can’t do that, Mr. Jord—”
“Cabe.”
She took a steadying breath. “I can’t steal away for lunch today, Cabe.” She glanced at Nora, willing her to help. Instead, Nora threw her overboard.
“Nonsense. Of course she can. There’s nothing pressing on her calendar this afternoon. And she hardly ever eats a real lunch. Usually a granola bar at her desk as she continues to work.”
Cabe’s smile dripped with satisfaction. “It’s settled, then. Do you have a preference where to eat, Jenna?”
She could only shake her head.
He led her gently to the door. “How about Nawlin’s, that sidewalk café on Newbury, then? It’s a pleasant enough day to eat outside and I’ve missed their sandwiches.”
Like it mattered. As if she’d be able to taste anything. She’d be lucky if she could keep it down.
“That’s fine.” Only it wasn’t fine at all, and her stomach did another little flip to prove it.
The queasiness hadn’t subsided at all ten minutes later when Cabe pulled a chair out for her at the quaint outdoor café on one of Boston’s swankiest streets. The lunch crowd milled and bustled around them. Two food trucks parked nearby had lines several feet long. All in all, a perfect day to enjoy a leisurely meal outside. If only she could enjoy it.
Their food came out in no time. She was picking at her Caesar salad when things went from bad to catastrophic. Cabe was going to try to make small talk. And his first choice of topic: the absolute last thing in the world she wanted to get into right now.
“So, Jenna. If I recall, you have an older brother.”
She had to discuss her broken, dysfunctional family, with none other than Cabe Jordan.
“Yes. Sam. You two must have been in a few of the same classes.”
“It was just the two of you and your mom, right? How is she, by the way? Do I recall she hadn’t been feeling well for a while?”
Jenna’s blood froze in her veins and she lost her grip on her fork. It fell to her plate with a clatter so loud the sound echoed through the air. Of course he must have heard rumblings over the years. Stories about Amanda tended to get around.
Cabe stopped eating and stared at her.
She stammered for a response. There was no good way to talk about her mother. “Yes. Yes, she’s doing better.” Such a lie.
Cabe stopped eating. “I’m so sorry, Jenna. I hope it isn’t anything too serious.”
She so didn’t want to go down this path. Any topic but her mother. Anything but discussing Amanda and her problems in front of this perfect man who grew up with the perfect family in his perfect home. But what choice did she have? He waited for an answer, staring at her expectantly.
“Uh...she actually is ill. In a way.” She took a deep breath. “My mother’s been having a hard time the past few years. Trying to kick a drug and alcohol problem.”
Cabe blinked at her. Clearly, he hadn’t seen that coming.
“She’s trying really hard,” Jenna added. Another lie.
In fact, her mother had just shown up at her door last night, asking for money for “groceries.” When Jenna had insisted on taking her to the market herself, Amanda had grown violent, shattering a vase on her hardwood floor before storming out. She’d wanted groceries of the more liquid variety. It had been the last thing Jenna had needed as she’d been trying to finish up her presentation for today. Thanks to Amanda’s visit, she’d been up most of the night due to the upsetting interruption.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Cabe said in a gentle and soothing voice.
“I’m sure you’re a tremendous source of support for your mother,” he continued. “She’s lucky to have you.”
Though her mother didn’t see it that way. In Amanda’s eyes, Jenna always came up short. Even though if Jenna hadn’t stepped in on numerous occasions, Amanda would no doubt be in jail. Or worse.
“I’m doing what I can to help her.”
Cabe cleared his throat. The look he gave her was so understanding, so gentle that it made her breath catch. “It’s quite admirable that you’re trying to help your mother.”
Oh, heavens. What could she say to that? She didn’t have a choice but to help her mother. Otherwise, she and her brother would be left to deal with the cleanup.
“Thanks.”
Several moments passed in awkward silence. So awkward that she wanted to give the waitress a hug when she interrupted to fill their glasses.
Jenna watched her leave before hesitantly turning her gaze back to Cabe. He gave her an unreadable look. Curiosity? Admiration?
She didn’t and couldn’t care. What did it matter what Cabe Jordan thought of her or her broken family? In a few days, he’d be gone from Boston and hopefully he wouldn’t return for another three to four years. He would just go back to being nothing more than an electronic signature at the bottom of her office emails.
But for now, she still had to get through this godforsaken lunch with him sitting right across from her.
He’d never understand, Jenna thought as she pretended to eat. Even under the best of circumstances, she’d never be in league with people like Cabe or even his parents, who had always been so sweet to her. Cabe had probably never had to hide from a drunken tirade or had to clean up after a parent who’d barreled in at three in the morning then promptly gotten sick all over the carpet.
She and Cabe Jordan may have grown up in the same town, but they were from two different worlds.
CHAPTER TWO (#u0c01b505-092f-5e33-8dae-7e0697e6dc5e)
CABE PUSHED HIS plate away with half his sandwich still untouched. He’d lost his appetite. Clearly, Jenna had none, either, since she did nothing more than move lettuce around her plate.
He couldn’t help but wonder. Maybe Jenna indeed did have some involvement in the jewelry theft. Was her mother in that much trouble that Jenna may have needed a large supply of cash to help her? Cabe didn’t want to believe the worst, but his manager of security had been adamant that Jenna may indeed know something.
Damn. That would change things. Though wrong and criminal, if Jenna was guilty, she hadn’t done it for herself but for her mother. She’d practically just admitted that she would do whatever she could to help her parent.
He’d decided back at the office that he wouldn’t ask her about it there. Not in front of her friends and colleagues. So he’d taken her to lunch instead.
Now he just wanted to know the truth. He wanted to tell her he could help. That in turn she could get her mother some help.
After all, he and Jenna Townsend were not that different under the surface. His life could have easily turned out as difficult as hers if not for the random hand of fate all those years ago. Pure luck so often determined the entirety of one’s life. He knew how lucky he’d been.
“Listen, Jenna,” he began, not sure exactly where to start. Business school didn’t prepare you for every scenario. “About my visit to Boston. There’s something I came here specifically to see you about.”
“Yes?” Her question was barely a whisper.
“I want you to know that I can be a friend as well as your corporate CEO.”
Was she trembling? “You can be straight with me,” he added. “I hope you realize that.”
She gave her head a quick shake. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“You really don’t have anything you might want to talk about? Regarding the store, perhaps?”
“No. Not really.” She swallowed. “Have I done something wrong?”
Cabe leaned back in his chair. If she did know anything, then she had the acting skills of a Hollywood-caliber actress. “Huh. You really have no idea what I might be talking about?”
“Not a clue.”
Cabe tried to regroup. Damn. This conversation was becoming way too messy. “Allow me to explain. A routine inventory check last week by security resulted in a troubling discovery.”
She sucked her bottom lip, and heaven help him, he lost his focus for a split second. “Why wasn’t I made aware of this? As the regional manager of that store?”
“It’s our policy to keep such matters quiet until a thorough investigation.”
She gave her head a quick shake. “Investigation? What exactly was this troubling discovery?”
“One of the more valuable pieces seems to be missing. A bracelet.”
Cabe watched as understanding dawned. Jenna sucked in a breath and grew as pale as the white linen tablecloth. “Oh, my God. You think I took it.”
Whoa. He hadn’t expected her to go there quite so soon. “Jenna, wait just a second—”
Her cheeks suddenly grew cherry red. “That’s why you came down here yourself. You think I stole from my own store. You think I stole from you!”
It came so fast he didn’t have time to react. Before he knew it, he wore the rest of his sandwich on his lap and his shirt was drenched in iced tea.
As he watched her storm away, Cabe came to three distinct conclusions. One, Jenna Townsend moved as fast as a prizefighter ducking a punch. Second, judging by her confusion and the vehemence of her reaction, she was most definitely innocent.
And third, if he didn’t get to the bottom of it all real soon, he was likely to lose a damn talented regional manager.
* * *
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She would never learn.
Jenna bypassed the elevator and ran up the three flights of stairs to get to the floor that housed her office. She didn’t want to risk running into anyone. How would she explain the tears?
To think, for a while there she’d believed Cabe Jordan might actually be in town to promote her! What a laugh. Instead, he’d accused her of stealing from him.
People like her weren’t promoted to corporate-level positions. They were suspected of thievery. They were the first ones investigated when valuable jewelry went missing.
People like her dumped food on others’ laps.
She tried to take a deep breath. She probably shouldn’t have done that. It was reckless and impulsive. Rather than calmly and reasonably defending herself, she’d let her emotions take over. She’d succumbed to the urge to lash out.
Just as her mother would have done.
And she was her mother’s daughter. The apple and the tree and all that. Why did she ever think she could escape that simple truth? The rest of the world wouldn’t ever let her forget that fact.
It didn’t matter how hard she worked, or how many hours she put in. All the years of studying and working her butt off didn’t mean a thing to people like Cabe Jordan. The only thing they saw when they looked at her was where she’d come from.
She’d been fooling herself.
Well, if Cabe hadn’t intended to fire her right there on the spot, there was no doubt he would now. She’d dumped his lunch in his lap! Never mind that she’d never actually stolen anything. She wouldn’t even get a chance to defend her innocence now.
She no doubt should have handled it better. But she’d been barely functioning given what little sleep she’d gotten and the stress of being prepared for Cabe’s visit.
How could he have even suggested such a thing?
She didn’t realize she’d asked the question out loud until a voice across the room responded.
“Trust me, it wasn’t easy.”
Jenna’s head snapped up. Cabe stood in her office doorway, pants stained and shirt wet. She resisted the urge to cover her mouth in horror.
She pulled her planner out of the desk drawer. “I was just leaving.”
“Could you recommend a good dry cleaner first?”
He had the nerve to joke at her predicament? God help her, if the coffee tray were still here she might have very well dumped more on him.
“Jenna, listen—”
“What?” she interrupted. “What could you possibly say to me? Do you want me to confess?”
He stepped into the room and shut the door gently behind him. “I simply want to talk.”
“About how I stole from you?”
“I was given the information from my head of security. About a theft at the Boston store.”
She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Right. And then you decided that if something had been stolen, it must have been that no-good Jenna Townsend. She must have had a hand in the whole mess. It only makes sense. She comes from bad stock. She’s never had much to begin with and she can’t be trusted.”
“Jenna, stop. That’s not how this all came to be.”
She merely glared at him. How dare he deny it?
He walked up to where she stood and gestured to the chair. “Please sit.”
“Why? Would you like to accuse me some more? Should I call an attorney?” Now that she’d said it, she had the frightening thought that she may actually need one.
Her vision grew dark. This couldn’t be happening. After today she may very well have no job. And no hope of finding one if word got out that she couldn’t be trusted. Despite all the years of hard work and sacrifice, she was going to end up penniless on the street. Exactly what she’d feared all along.
To think, the cause of her nightmare would be none other than Cabe Jordan, the man of her teenage daydreams. Who would have thought?
“Jenna, let’s try to talk this out.”
She lifted her bag. “Perhaps you want to go through this. Maybe pat me down before you let me go.”
He blinked. “Pat you down? No. Of course not. I just want to clear all this up.” He leaned over with both palms on the desk between them. “About a week ago my head of security requested an urgent meeting. Apparently, someone realized that a piece of rare jewelry at the Boston store had been switched out during a routine security department inventory. The real piece had been replaced with a cheap replica that looked exactly like the original.”
“And you assumed I did it. Because you know where I come from and what I might be capable of.”
He held one hand up. “Hold on. That’s not what happened. The management team is always considered under such circumstances. It’s just routine.”
At her silence, he continued. “Additionally, there’s an electronic log of anyone who’s used their key to access that particular case, the one with the higher-end items. Your key was the one used.”
Her blood went cold. But that just couldn’t be. “Who says?”
“My head of security up at headquarters. He’s always been very good at his job. I had no reason to distrust him.”
Of course he didn’t. “But you had every reason to distrust me.”
Something shifted in his eyes. “Listen, Jenna. The only reason I came here personally was because it was you. I wanted to get to the bottom of it myself, do some investigating. But there’s a sudden matter that needs my attention with a store opening in the Caribbean. I have to get down there. In my haste, I handled it very badly. I see that now.”
People tended to do that with her, rush to judgment. She couldn’t expect to be granted the benefit of the doubt, not given where she came from. Cabe may claim objectivity by saying he came to look into the matter personally, but it hardly mattered. No, she would have to find a way to fully clear her name, in such a way that there would never be any more doubt.
“There has to be some kind of mistake,” she muttered, trying to think. There had to be an explanation, a way to prove her innocence. But how? She suddenly felt deflated. How could this be happening? Pulling out her desk chair, she plopped herself into it.
A sudden, encouraging thought occurred to her. She looked up at him. “The video? There has to be video footage. We have cameras all over the store.”
He gave her a sympathetic look. “The video surveillance system was conveniently disengaged for a forty-eight-hour period on the fifteenth and sixteenth of last month. We believe that’s when the theft occurred.”
Oh, God. His words knocked the wind right out of her. If there was no video to exonerate her, she had no other ideas. Her eyes began to sting. There was nothing she could do, no way to clear her name. She had no job. She had no real family. She’d probably end up with a criminal record. Despite everything, all the years of busting her behind to get ahead, she’d end up like her mom after all.
Cabe Jordan would always question whether she was a no-good thief.
Wait a minute.
She snapped her head up. “Wait. What date did you just say? The fifteenth of March?”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s correct.”
“You’re certain?”
“That’s what I was told.”
She knew it! Hopeful relief surged in her chest. “Cabe, I wasn’t even in town the week of the fifteenth. I was away at a jewelry designers’ expo in San Diego.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “And?”
“And my keys were safely locked up in the main vault right here in this building. Including the one that would have opened that particular case. I have proof.”
* * *
He didn’t want to examine why he was so relieved. For some reason, Cabe had been hopeful all along that Jenna was completely innocent. And apparently she could prove it. “Proof? You have a way to prove your key was locked up?”
She nodded triumphantly. “Yes. The security officer on call the day before I left signed off on the paperwork. All my keys were locked up in the main vault before I left. Safe and secure.”
“That’s the correct protocol. Where is this security officer now?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not the one in charge of hiring and managing security.”
Cabe pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have a sneaking suspicion he’s no longer working for us. And that he has a very valuable piece of jewelry in his possession.”
Jenna stood staring at him with satisfaction, clearly enjoying the upper hand. So she was indeed innocent. Just as he’d hoped. Heaven help him, he had to resist the urge to go and hug her. Not that she would have it.
“Guess your security head isn’t as thorough as you would like to think,” she said.
“In his defense, he’s going through a rough patch personally. Clearly, it’s affected his professional duties. I’ll have a word with him.”
She rolled her eyes at him and muttered something under her breath. He thought he heard the words “That’s rich.”
“Jenna, I know an apology isn’t nearly enough. But it’s all I have. My only excuse is that I’ve been swamped with various small projects as well as a major international expansion. I rushed and acted on something that I should have taken the time to examine more closely. I’m deeply, resolutely sorry.”
Her face softened, and the effect nearly knocked him off his feet. “Thank you for that,” she said simply, genuinely. “And I’m sorry for...you know.” She pointed to his drenched clothing.
“Nah, don’t mention it. I daresay I deserved a good food toss.” He was also admittedly relieved. He didn’t have to fire a dedicated and competent employee after all. That left only one problem. Things were extremely awkward now with a star employee who deserved better treatment than he’d just doled out. He had a major mea culpa on his hands. As usual, he had rushed to judgment, merely to save some time. Once again, he’d acted without fully thinking through the issue. Not a good attribute in a CEO, yet another character trait he had to work on.
First thing first. Somehow, someway, he had to make this all up to Jenna.
He was getting ready to say so when her assistant knocked and entered her office.
Nora stopped in her tracks when she saw the state of Cabe’s clothing. “I’m sorry,” she began. “Am I interrupting?”
“That’s okay, Nora. What is it?” Jenna behaved like the consummate professional, addressing her admin as if nothing was wrong.
“The Wellesley store just called. They’re panicked about their staffing shortage,” Nora told her, her gaze still leveled at Cabe.
“I made two very strong offers this morning,” Jenna said. “I have no doubt both candidates will take the job. Is that all?”
“One more thing,” Nora continued. “The store manager at the Burlington site called again complaining about the lack of shelf space.”
Jenna nodded. “Real Estate just called this morning about the sewing shop next door. It’s finally shutting down, so we can take the space over. We’ll sign the lease within the week.”
Cabe watched in admiration. Damn. She really was good. Given her background and her hardships growing up, she couldn’t have gotten this far in life without being smart and disciplined. Would he have fared as well? He had to wonder. If fate hadn’t stepped in and turned his life in a different direction, would he have figured out a way to pull himself up the way Jenna Townsend had? All on his own, like her? Or would he have ended up on the streets? Or locked up in a cell somewhere? Or worse.
Jordan’s Fine Jewelry absolutely could not lose someone like Jenna. Not for any reason, the least of which being his stupidity. If only he had someone like her in charge of the Caribbean project.
There it was.
The idea made perfect sense. Before this whole theft fiasco, Jenna’s name had come up several times whenever a high-level position opened up at Corporate. She was already due for a promotion.
Perhaps he had a way to salvage the mess he’d made of this whole visit. And possibly even help himself in the process. He was about to make a very strong offer, too. One he hoped Jenna could not refuse. First, he had to get her to listen to him. And forget about what he’d almost just accused her of.
As soon as Nora left, Jenna stood and glared at him. “Well, now what, Mr. Jordan. Am I still under investigation?”
He reached out to gently take her by the arm. “Absolutely not. On the contrary, I need to show you how sorry I am.”
She looked down at his hand, then back with clearly puzzled eyes. “Show me?”
“I assumed my security head knew what he was doing, Jenna. Please understand.”
She stood silent, clearly not ready to cut him any slack. And why should she? He deserved her derision. How could he have let this happen? He hated looking misinformed. Or worse, appearing incompetent. Mistakes were a luxury he wouldn’t allow himself in his position.
“You’re one of the best regional managers we have at Jordan’s Fine Jewelry,” he continued. “I should have handled this differently. And I don’t want to lose you over some...misunderstanding.”
She visibly bristled. He really wasn’t very good at saying sorry, not having had much experience. She had no idea how hard he was trying.
“This was more than a mere misunderstanding.”
He nodded. “I realize that. I think I can make it up to you.”
She pulled her arm free. But she was clearly listening. “How?”
“I could use the services of a competent and experienced regional manager to help me with a project.”
Her chin lifted. “What kind of project?”
“I’m sure you know we’re trying to expand internationally, starting with the opening of a new store in the Caribbean.”
“Yes, I know.”
“You should also know that so far it hasn’t gone at all smoothly. In fact, I need to be there within two days to put out the latest fire.”
She narrowed her gaze on him. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Come with me, Jenna.”
* * *
It took a moment to process Cabe’s words. “Are you offering me another job?”
He nodded. “One that comes with a higher title. And the adequate adjustment in pay, obviously.”
Jenna’s head spun. Within the span of a few minutes, she’d gone from decrying the loss of her next paycheck to being offered a promotion. If she examined the matter too closely, Cabe’s offer might very well be construed as a bribe.
But it was also an opportunity of a lifetime. A very tempting one.
Cabe motioned to her desk chair. “Please have a seat. Let’s discuss this.”
Her pride pushed her to turn her back and walk away, slam the door on her way out. Her business-school-trained brain had other ideas.
Begrudgingly, she pulled out her chair and sat down. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
The look of relief on his face sent an odd shiver down her spine. She didn’t dare read too much into it.
“I’m tired of trying to get this new site up and running by myself. I’ve been meaning to hire someone. You’re perfect for the job.”
“Cabe, you can’t just expect me to forget that you were ready to believe I may be capable of theft.”
“But that’s exactly what I’m asking you to do,” he said with the confidence of a successful tycoon who’s used to getting his own way. “Rather than spend inordinate time on an extensive talent search, I’d like to offer you the position. You’ve been considered for several corporate positions recently, but none seemed to be the right fit for you. Until now.”
“This is not how I imagined being promoted.”
“That makes two of us. This is definitely not how I imagined doing the promoting. One way to look at it would be to say that we’re going to start fresh,” he added.
Maybe he had a point. But she wasn’t about to let him know that. Why let him off easy? Clearly, Cabe Jordan was used to having things handed to him merely because he asked. Unlike someone such as her who’d had to work hard all her life for every accomplishment.
A small part of her nagged that resisting might indeed be a mistake. She still needed this job, pride or not. What if he called her bluff? Her pride won out. “You have to understand, Cabe. I’m no longer sure how I feel about working for you. Given our past history as friends, and that you’ve known me for decades, I would have appreciated it if you’d come to me right from the start.” Oh, heavens. She nearly choked on the words. For all her bravado, she had to acknowledge that he’d genuinely and wholly hurt her. She’d been foolish to expect any more from the Jordan CEO, regardless of past friendship.
But then Cabe held both hands up in surrender and she had a split second of panic. For all her bravado, she really would prefer to be gainfully employed as she looked for another position. Her breath held while he spoke.
“Let’s compromise. You just help me on this one overseas project. We’ll start from there.”
“And then what?”
“Then we revisit the situation and the matter of your employment.”
She gave her head a small shake. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“I just mean that I don’t think you should make any lasting decisions right now, in the heat of the moment.”
Jenna’s phone rang but she ignored it, unable to tear her eyes away from Cabe’s intense, steel-blue gaze. “We don’t want to be impulsive.”
She decided to give in just a little. “Perhaps we don’t.”
Cabe pounced, assuming success. “Do you have a valid passport? If not, we can request rush processing and you can meet me there once it arrives.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Cabe?”
“Yes?”
“Do you actually know the definition of impulsive?”
Her question gave him pause, and then he laughed. “I see your point. Nevertheless.”
“I have a current passport.”
“Great. It’s settled, then.”
She stood, met him eye to eye. “Not so fast, Cabe.”
Was that a smile still on his lips? He couldn’t be enjoying this. “Before I say yes, I have a stipulation.”
“What’s that?”
“Once the new site is opened, upon completion of this project, I want a glowing recommendation from you. In case I decide to look for a position elsewhere.”
“I hardly think that will be ne—”
She cut him off. “It’s nonnegotiable. I want your word that you will assist me if I decide to leave Jordan’s Fine Jewelry.” It was the least he could do. After all the long hours of blood, sweat and tears that she’d put into this company. After the way he’d just treated her. And for all the work she was about to put in on this project. He owed her at least that much.
He merely nodded. “If, at the end, a recommendation is still what you want then I will give you one.”
“It will be.”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave her a wide smile, the kind of smile that would have had her swooning if they were still in high school. Even now, her knees grew weak.
“Not if I change your mind.”
CHAPTER THREE (#u0c01b505-092f-5e33-8dae-7e0697e6dc5e)
JENNA TOWNSEND HAD clearly never been on a private jet before. Cabe guided her into the cabin and tried not to react to her reaction, though he had a comical urge to gently nudge her mouth closed. Instead, he patiently waited as she took small, hesitant steps up the stairs and into the aisle.
Unfortunately, there remained an awkward tension between them. In the interest of business, he chose to ignore it. She thought she might be looking for another job after the Caribbean project when it was completed. He had other ideas.
Well, he’d deal with that scenario if it happened. He’d been watching Jenna in action since he’d arrived in Boston and he had very different plans for her. He was not about to let her go anytime soon.
Now she stood in front of him, taking in her surroundings as they entered the aircraft. Cabe let her take her time.
As far as private planes went, his wasn’t terribly extravagant. Pretty much standard issue. Leather seats, a mahogany table so that he could get some work done. In fact, his only indulgence had been the fully stocked bar.
“Jenna, please, have a seat.” Cabe gently guided her toward one of the leather chairs and waited until she was seated before sitting down himself.
She immediately clicked on her seat belt and tightened it. She appeared to be more than merely awed. She seemed apprehensive, downright uncomfortable.
“Are you okay with flying, Jenna?” He knew she’d been on business trips before. So what was making her so jittery now?
The smile she gave him was strained, almost shy. “Mostly. I have to admit, flying is a bit of a new experience for me. We didn’t travel much when I was a child.” She glanced around at her surroundings. “And as far as flying in something like this...”
“It’s just more convenient than flying commercial, that’s all.”
She let out a small laugh. “Right. Convenient.”
Something he couldn’t name tingled inside him. In so many ways, Jenna’s reaction to his aircraft was refreshing. How many countless women had flown with him privately over the years? None of them had even seemed to notice the lavishness around them. Every one of them had taken for granted that they’d be arriving at their destination in the lap of luxury.
Ironically, rather than making him feel smug, her genuine awed reaction made him feel petty. Hadn’t he been taking it all for granted himself? But he knew better than anyone that money couldn’t fix everything.
He cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly as they both settled into their seats.
The flight attendant appeared momentarily. Cabe almost groaned out loud. This particular one could be quite the flirt. Normally, he let it slide and tolerated her suggestive comments. For some reason, he really wasn’t in the mood to deal with it today. Not with Jenna here.
“Mr. Jordan. So nice to see you again,” she said, her smile wide and inviting. She barely spared a glance at Jenna. He couldn’t quite remember, but thought she had been the one to slip him her personal phone number after one flight.
Why did it bother him that she would flirt again this time? What was happening to him?
He had to remind himself this was nothing more than an ordinary business trip. He was way too focused on the woman—rather, the employee—accompanying him. That would have to change. And soon.
“Is there anything I can get for you, Mr. Jordan? Anything at all?” the woman asked, her emphasis on the repeated word impossible to miss.
He turned to find Jenna staring out the window, her cheeks stained slightly pink. Dressed in a smart navy pantsuit, her hair up in another impossibly tight style. Not one tendril drifting anywhere near her face. How in the world did she get all that hair to behave? He had a crazy image of unclipping the pin that held it all together, running his fingers through her long, thick tresses. He shook it off.
“Jenna? Is there something you’d like? Some wine, perhaps?”
Jenna shook her head. “No, thank you. I don’t dare drink wine. I’ll fall asleep.”
“Are you sure?” He glanced at his watch. “We’ll be in flight for a while. You definitely have time to take a nap.”
Her eyes grew wide. You’d think he’d just suggested that she fall asleep on the job. Which in a way, he guessed he had. He laughed at her shock. “Jenna, it’s all right. You’ll be much more productive if you’re well rested.”
“Why do I get the feeling that’s like the pot calling the kettle black?”
He laughed and dismissed the attendant with a polite nod. The woman hesitated, clearly disappointed, before finally stepping away.
“We’ll even have some time to enjoy the sights while we’re out there,” he added.
She gave him a small smile that sent an inexplicable surge of pleasure through his chest. “That would be nice. I’ve never been to the Caribbean.”
“Do you like the beach?”
“Yes, of course.”
“What about fireworks?”
Her eyebrows drew together. “I love fireworks. What do the two have to do with each other?”
“The resort where we’re staying, the one I’m trying to establish the retail store on, has a beach party every Thursday night. Live band, plenty of food and drinks. And fireworks.”
“Sounds like quite a fete.”
“Today’s Thursday. We should go tonight. It would be a good way to introduce you to the island’s characteristic atmosphere.”
She chewed her bottom lip. He watched it swell and redden and redden. Focus. “Cabe, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I feel that it would just be better if we solely stuck to the business at hand.”
Cabe shifted in the chair. Jenna appeared so tense, so anxious. He wanted to help her loosen up somehow. But he was her boss. He had to tread carefully. Given her upbringing, it was no wonder Jenna seemed unable to relax and just enjoy life once in a while.
He couldn’t blame her. Maybe he was the flip side of the same coin.
He wanted to tell her there was no reason to be so uptight around him. He wanted to show her how to relax. His motives were pure and simple. Perhaps that would make her rethink her decision to eventually leave the company. She didn’t have to constantly toil to get ahead. He wanted her to see that.
Work hard. Play hard. She definitely seemed to have the first part down. He knew for a fact she’d stayed very late at the office last night finishing up last-minute details she didn’t want to delegate before leaving.
“I get the sense you don’t take many vacations.”
“Well, I told you about that jewelry designers’ conference in San Diego.”
“That was a business trip, Jenna. On behalf of the company.”
She shrugged. “Sure. But I made time to visit the zoo one afternoon.”
So maybe there was hope for her yet. She was a tough cookie, tougher to crack than any woman he’d ever dealt with. He couldn’t help but think how pleasurable it would be to see her enjoy herself. She was one of those rare people who truly deserved it. Though she clearly didn’t believe so. He found himself both curious and intrigued. What kind of personality would this highly accomplished, intelligent woman have developed if she’d had even the simplest of breaks in life? How much more dynamic and spirited would she be?
“I’m afraid you will have to do some social mingling while we’re there,” he told her.
She pursed her lips. Clearly she didn’t like that concept. “How so?”
“Opening a new site requires much more than pushing paper around in an office. Much of it requires networking. The resort employees are very friendly and outgoing people; you’ll be working with most of them. You don’t want to appear to be the standoffish stiff suit from Corporate.”
Sure, it was a bit of an exaggeration, but not exactly a lie. It would help to have her get to know the resort employees and the regular guests. Though pushing the matter could be very dangerous ground he was treading. He couldn’t seem to help himself.
“Like going to this island party, you mean?”
“Parties are considered by most people to be fun, Jenna.”
“I’ve never had much time for them.” She tilted her head in his direction: her implication was clear. Unlike yourself.
He was quite aware how well-documented his social life was. “Believe it or not, most of those galas I’m photographed at have some type of business angle. Nine times out of ten, I’m not there because I want to be.” And lately, each party had been more tiresome than the last. It was becoming harder and harder every time to feign a level of interest he simply didn’t feel.
She raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you looked downright pained in that latest photo. The one on the yacht where you’re popping open the bottle of champagne, surrounded by bikini-clad socialites. How do you stand it?” Her tone held such mock seriousness he couldn’t help but laugh. Surprisingly, his laughter earned a small chuckle from her as well.
“Those photos aren’t always what they seem,” he responded.
Her mouth tightened into a thin line. “Well, most of the parties I’ve attended, I wasn’t there to enjoy myself. I was there to work, serving or to clean up afterward.”
“Is that how you helped pay for your education? Working at social events?” he asked. No wonder she didn’t associate social events with anything remotely pleasurable. And no doubt she’d watched her mother cross the line far too many times with all sorts of partying. Jenna Townsend had never been afforded the opportunity to simply have fun and enjoy life, not even as a child.
She nodded. “One of the ways. I did all sorts of odd jobs. Mostly waitressing. The catered parties paid better than, say, waitressing at the diner.” She turned back to him as the aircraft began to taxi down the runway. “Your parents were particularly generous. I worked some of those swanky backyard barbecues your mom and dad were known for. I think you were off at college by then.”
Had she? She’d never been at any of the ones he’d been present at. He wouldn’t have missed her.
“I would have noticed if you were there,” she said, surprising him.
“You would?”
The red stain of her cheeks grew deeper. “Of course. You were a minor celebrity in school. Big man on campus.”
“I guess I was a bit driven, even back then.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Yeah, well. It’s not like I was doing it for me.”
She studied him with interest. “Who else?”
Cabe shrugged. “My parents were very busy people. I figured out at a very young age that I could either get their attention by rebelling and getting into trouble. Or I could try and excel at everything. I chose the latter.”
Funny, he’d never admitted that to anyone before. But he wanted Jenna to understand that what outsiders saw of his life as a teen wasn’t the complete picture.
“Did you so much as ever get detention?” she asked with a sly smile.
“I think once. It wasn’t my fault. I was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“That happened to me a lot,” she responded.
“Getting detention?”
She shook her head. “No, being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Cabe was about to ask her to explain, but Jenna turned and looked out the window as if she’d prefer the conversation to be over.
Perhaps she was right—sometimes the past was better off left to stay there. Though he remembered those years well—all the parties his parents held that Jenna had referred to. Including memories of the first corporate outdoor luncheon he was allowed to attend. He must have been around age fifteen or so. He’d been so nervous, making sure to say all the right things and behave in all the right ways.
The Jordan Golden Boy.
He’d acquired the moniker right around that time as well, due to his stellar grades and lightning-fast skills on the basketball and tennis courts. Accomplishments he worked his behind off to achieve. All to make himself worthy of the Jordan family.
When he’d first found out that he was a Jordan in name only.
* * *
What had she gotten herself into?
Mistake. This whole trip had been a mistake. She’d been a fool to take on this assignment. She’d been a fool to think she could play in Cabe Jordan’s league on her own terms.
She was only going on this trip and working on this project in order to get the achievement on her résumé. Not for some kind of working vacation. Cabe had to realize she wasn’t the type to do island-wide parties.
As if traveling in his private jet weren’t enough, she might have to accompany him to a lavish tropical extravaganza. With fireworks! How was she supposed to act distant and unaffected? How was she supposed to avoid falling under Cabe Jordan’s spell? He was charming enough under the most innocuous of circumstances.
By the time their jet landed, Jenna still hadn’t figured it out.
Cabe stood and offered her his hand. “Ready?”
Of course not. But she simply nodded and let him guide her out of the aircraft, his hand placed gently at the small of her back. She knew he was just being courteous. But his touch wreaked havoc on her senses. The man had absolutely no idea of the effect of his presence. Didn’t he see how women around him practically swooned at his feet? The flight attendant being a perfect example.
Yet somehow she was supposed to ignore the way his hand on her back sent a tingle clear down to her toes. Or how he so casually vowed to “show her a good time” while here.
She nearly tripped over the last step as they disembarked.
“Are you all right?” Cabe said behind her.
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just much hotter than I’d anticipated.” That was no exaggeration. A wall of heat and humidity enveloped her as they walked toward the small stucco building that housed the island’s airport. Her smart, fitted suit jacket instantly clung to her skin.
“It’ll get better,” Cabe assured her. “The airport is always ten to fifteen degrees hotter. You’ll feel more comfortable once we’re closer to the beach with an ocean breeze to temper the heat.”
And what was going to temper her reaction to Cabe Jordan? She’d said too much on the flight over, drifting dangerously close to “pity me” territory—something she’d sworn never to do over the years. She wasn’t about to start now. Not even if Cabe’s significant charm had her tongue loosening.
And what was his story? All those things he said about having to prove himself growing up. His accomplishments had seemed to come so easy to him when they were kids. Maybe that had all been an illusion. Not that it was really any of her business. Cabe was her boss.
A sleek town car awaited them outside once they were through with customs. The driver was a pleasant tall man with skin the color of mocha coffee. He kept up a steady stream of conversation with Cabe as he maneuvered the busy streets. Based on the familiarity, Jenna guessed he was Cabe’s regular driver on the island.
Jenna found herself too distracted by the scenery outside to focus on their conversation. Among lush, green mountains and the majestic sight of the ocean, the roadside sat peppered with run-down, decrepit shacks. Such poverty among such beauty. On a much smaller scale, it reminded her of the way she’d grown up—the days when they weren’t sure they’d be able to eat while just a few miles away stood the glamorous, ritzy grandeur of downtown Boston. Well, she’d fought tooth and nail to climb out of that bleak existence. And she was proud of it. She’d done it on her own, through hard work and discipline. Unlike her mother, who still to this day waited for the right man to come along and save her—a rich, powerful man. Well, that idea hadn’t really worked out for any of them. Jenna knew better than to fall for such fantasy.
Within forty-five minutes they arrived at the resort. After the striking displays of poverty on the roads they’d just passed through, it was like entering a different world.
A guard outside a tall, metal gate pushed a button to let them through.
“You have a few minutes to freshen up,” Cabe told her. “Then I’d like to show you around, particularly the shopping center attached to the resort. You can see where the new store is to be built.”
“I won’t need that much time,” she answered, grabbing her things off the seat. “I’d like to get started as soon as we can.”
He lifted his head and stared at her, as if studying some unfamiliar object. “I know we’re in a bit of a time crunch but there’s no need to be quite so rushed, Jenna.”
She shrugged. “I’m just anxious to get going, that’s all.”
“Well, we’re on island time now. Things always move slower down here. You may as well relax.”
As if that was possible, Jenna thought, watching him remove his jacket as the car came to a stop outside the entrance. His shoulders strained against his well-fitting tailored silk shirt. Deft fingers removed his cuff links and he rolled up his sleeves to reveal toned, tanned arms. His days on the Caribbean had certainly given him a good dose of color.
She tore her gaze away. None of this was at all conducive to relaxing in any way. The driver helped her out of the car and she emerged to the light sounds of steel-drum music in the air. The aroma of exotic flowers hit her as she stepped out. They were surrounded by lush plants and thick greenery. And large colorful flowers like she’d never before seen. She wanted to run up and inhale the scent of every single one.
A tall, statuesque woman with a thick braid down her back approached them. “Mr. Jordan. So nice to have you back,” she said to Cabe with a glowing smile.
“Glad to be back, Seema,” he answered. “Though I wish it were for a more pleasant reason.”
Her smile wavered. “More snags?”
“I’m afraid so.” He gestured toward Jenna to join them. “But this time I have some help. Meet Jenna.”
Jenna put her hand out to greet the woman but she had other ideas. Jenna found herself gripped in a tight hug.
“Welcome to the Paraiso Resort. So glad to have you here, Miss Jenna.”
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