Page 26 of Forbidden Hawaiian Nights
‘So much more…’
‘I know you think that when it comes to an expensive hotel cold, soulless luxury is the only thing a rich clientele would be interested in…’
Max burst out laughing, and when he sobered up his eyes were alight with vibrant amusement.
‘Not,’ he said, grinning, ‘that you would ever succumb to gross exaggeration…’
Mia smiled sheepishly and dipped her eyes. ‘We worked on it together, really. I think she was impressed by my vision for an eco-friendly outside space, with natural spots between the trees and shady areas bursting with home-grown vegetables and herbs.’
‘So she decided to do a bit of adventuring… Did she also decide to stay put on one of the other islands in search of inner peace after her relationship ran aground?’ He didn’t expect her to answer that one and she didn’t. She was staunch in her loyalty and he admired that. Between them, the Chinese food was beginning to congeal. He would see to that later.
‘There’s no need for sarcasm,’ Mia said coldly.
‘Absolutely none. Please. Continue. I’m all ears.’
He gazed at her, utterly serious, and she gazed right back at him with narrow-eyed suspicion.
‘She got inspiration from all the different islands. Molokai… Maui… Kauai…’
‘She…never said. I would never have guessed,’ Max said heavily. ‘It’s inspired. I just wish she’d felt she had the freedom to discuss it with me. No matter.’ He began to stand, reaching for the containers and the plates, his voice brisk when he next spoke.
‘And don’t stand up. I’ll clear this and then I’ll make sure you’re settled with some painkillers to hand before I leave. And tomorrow…?’ He paused and their eyes met. ‘Well, it’s time for me to see first-hand what you’re talking about. I have the final say on what gets done on the hotel I’m paying for, but never let it be said that I’m not willing to see things from another angle.’
‘And you’ll go in with an open mind?’
‘I’m taking it from that tone of voice that you’re harbouring doubts about my sincerity…’
‘Would you blame me?’
‘I’m assuming that’s a rhetorical question,’ he drawled. ‘But it’s by the by, because the one way you can make absolutely sure that I give it a chance is to persuade me.’
‘That’s what I’ve just been trying to do!’
‘I need more than persuasion from a sofa in your house, Mia. You tell me about all these inspirational islands…that’s fine because you and I are going to travel to all of them and you can talk as much as you want about the vision my sister had for the hotel. And who knows? I might just buy into it…’
In the ensuing brief silence, he watched her face, and in his head, he thought, What would it feel like to let go for once?
CHAPTER SIX
THIS DIDN’T FEEL like work. Waiting nervously in her house, unable to relax but likewise unable to walk around because her bandaged foot was still hurting even though the sharp pain of the day before had eased, Mia had no idea how she had ended up agreeing to a four-day tour of the islands.
But, then again, how had she managed to end up confiding all sorts of personal details about her life to him? She rarely confided and she certainly never had heart-to-hearts with anyone about what had happened in her marriage. Had she been so distracted?
One minute, she had been solid in her determination to maintain a businesslike approach to their working relationship and, the next minute, he was carrying her into her house, dealing with a sprained ankle and somehow enticing confidences from her that should not have been revealed.
When she had closed her eyes the night before, she had been overwhelmed with an image of his dark head as he knelt at her feet and again she had felt that powerful urge to lace her fingers through his springy hair to see what it would feel like.
Now, waiting for him to show up at the time he’d said he would, her heart was leaping inside her and she had given up trying to project what this four-day sightseeing hop might look like.
When she started thinking about it, she had to ward off a panic attack, so she’d concluded that her best bet was to cross the bridge when she came to it.
He could have just given her time off work for her foot to heal, because wasn’t that what any normal, considerate boss would have done in the circumstances? But, as he had said, time was money, and he didn’t have a lot of time to play around with—not with England and his mega-high-powered life impatiently waiting for him. Plus, he was hardly the normal, considerate type, was he?
She just wished she could have felt more resentful, but as she waited for him to show up she couldn’t quite subdue a simmering sense of excitement.
She had packed workman-like clothes. If he wanted to explore where Izzy’s inspiration had come from, then he was going to be in for a shock, because he wouldn’t be on a sightseeing tour of the usual tourist destinations and he wouldn’t be taken to the sort of uber-luxurious hotels to which he was accustomed. Accordingly, she had packed a sturdy selection: two pairs of jeans and some cargo pants, tee shirts and hiking boots and thick hiking socks. She wasn’t sure whether she would be up to any hiking boots scenario, but just in case…
He hadn’t asked her what clothes to bring, so tough if he decided to pack stuff that was inappropriate.
