Authors: Ella Celestine
“I’ve already confirmed all one hundred players, plus the production crew, hosts and all that jazz. Are you sure you’re okay putting them all up in the hotel?”
Briana was three days into her new, self-sufficient life and she felt invigorated. Maddox had given her a binder with all the information she needed to put the tournament together, and she’d run with it.
He hid a smile and nodded. “Of course. This tournament will bring in big bucks, never mind all the big spenders who’ll come out to try and challenge the pros. The cost of the rooms is worth it.”
She nodded. “Good. We need to figure out which room will host the tournament and what else is happening that week. I think we should stick to one room as the herd thins.” Jotting items down on her notepad, Briana hardly spared a glance for Maddox which was perfect. As long as she could avoid looking at him and stay at least six feet away from him, that pesky lust would disappear. “Once you give me a room to work with I can start arranging it all.” She took a deep breath and blew it out before looking up at him. She was certain he could see the disheveled, chatty, oversharing mess she was today.
“Whoa, slow down, Bri. You’ve been here for two days.” His smile was pure amusement mixed with desire. “How about we take care of this over lunch?”
She hesitated. It was just lunch, and he was her employer so it was an absolutely reasonable request. It just didn’t
feel
all that reasonable.
“Oh that’s not necessary, I’m sure you’re very busy. I’ll just grab something whenever.” She really had a lot to do, including scheduling during the tournament, catering and drinks, and going over the riders for the celebrity hosts. Lunch with her handsome boss was a distraction she didn’t need.
“Nonsense,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument. Briana was sure that everyone bent to his will at the sound of that voice. “We both have to eat, and we can talk about all this then. Right?”
Her shoulders slumped. “Fine. Twelve-thirty?”
He nodded, trying hard not to smile. “Meet me in the lobby. I know just the place.”
“Of course, you do,” she mumbled under her breath to his retreating back.
“I heard that.” His words and chuckle echoed long after he was gone.
She was glad when he was gone, his presence was too distracting. He was still cocky, charming and sexy as sin, but he was also very nice, which was a problem. Maddox was her boss; ridiculously wealthy boss, which made him completely and totally off limits.
~
“So where are you from?” Maddox was feeling anxious and out of sorts and it was all because of the tiny blonde sitting across from him.
Briana shrugged. “Not really once place. My dad was military, so we moved around a lot.”
Sighing, he took a sip of water and waited. She didn’t elaborate or ask him anything in return. “Do you have any siblings?”
“Nope.” Looking at him, her eyes illustrated just how unhappy she was with his line of questioning. “Do you?”
His grin morphed into a grimace, he felt it. “Two brothers. One is older, and the other is my twin.”
And both of them want nothing to do with me, just like you.
“Yet you’re all the way over here at the end of the world.” Since it wasn’t a question, Maddox didn’t respond. Briana didn’t mind and simply moved on from the topic. “This resort is beautiful, not as pretentious as I thought it would be.”
The place was actually gorgeous with sand and sky colored marble, tasteful gold embellishments and plush furniture. It was built for comfort and luxury, which it had it in spades. He’d made sure of it.
“Thanks, I think.” He smirked at her backhanded compliment. “I’m glad you approve. How did you end up stranded here?”
Briana sighed. “Is this an interrogation or your attempt at conversation?"
He laughed. “Am I that awful at it?”
She nodded, wrinkling her nose in the most adorable way. “Kind of. It’s surprising really. You’re good looking, have a decent amount of charm, but your talking . . . wow, pretty bad. Don’t people in your tax bracket spend most of their time schmoozing?”
She’d surprised a laugh out of him, and he felt free. For the first time in months, he’d enjoyed a moment without the help of booze or sex. And it was all thanks to Briana. “Normally yes, but I’ve been here for six months."
“Nice gig if you can’t get it,” she joked, looking around the dining room nervously.
“It’s alright. So we’re not talking about how or by whom you got stranded on the island?”
She sent him another heart-stopping smile that made him choke on his water. “I knew you were more than just a beautiful face.”
A firecracker, that’s how his grandmother would have described Briana. The woman was so rich even her blood was blue, but she was as plain and salty as they came. A lot like Briana, actually. “I am that. I’m almost a billionaire if you want to get picky about the things I am.”
Briana choked on her drink and glared at him, making him frown. “Are you serious?”
He nodded. “I don’t joke about money.”
“Of course, you don’t.” She looked up at him, and Maddox swore he saw the disappointment in her eyes which didn’t make any sense. Who would be disappointed in a man who was almost a billionaire? She cleared her throat and added, “That’s great. Congratulations Maddox.” She tried for a smile, but it was a miserable effort. “I bet your parents are proud.”
He shrugged. “They expected it.” Just like everyone else expected something of him. Women expected lavish gifts and expensive dates. Men expected business tips and his family expected him to be someone he wasn’t.
“Still, it means you’ve done well at something. Do you like your work?”
“It’s profitable.” He never thought of his job in terms of like or not like, he’d simply chosen something that was profitable and would pay a big pile of money for his troubles.
“Right.” She pulled out her tablet. “So, you have the information for the tournament?”
And just like that, they were back to all business. They spent the rest of the lunch going over notes for the tournament, talking about the food, the staff and the resort in general. It was nice, but Maddox sensed he’d said something wrong because her walls went back up and they were impenetrable.
If he could break through the wall, he would just have to go over it.
~
“No. Absolutely not.” Briana shook her head, blond hair bouncing like a halo around her. “You said this was on the up and up.” Maddox held his hands up as though those emerald eyes were guns aimed at his head. “I don’t mean it like that, Bri. Shit! It is common when an executive doesn’t have a date that an assistant accompanies him. Since my EA is a man, I thought I’d ask you. It’s one night to raise funds for the local schools.”
She couldn’t say yes even if it were for a good cause. Maddox had been good over the past weeks, but she knew he wanted her — because she wanted him just as bad. He would pull out all the stops, her stupid, weak body would give in to him, and she’d be back where she was the previous week. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“Grab something from one of the shops and charge it to your room, I’ll take care of it.”
He said it all like it was no big deal. To her, it was a huge deal. The most luxury she’d ever had ever experienced was on the boat — no the
yacht
— with Malcolm, but it wasn’t, in any way, something she had gotten used to. Besides, even if she had a room, she wasn’t even sure
how
to charge something to it.
Briana took a deep breath and shook her head. “Even if I had a room, I couldn’t.”
He frowned but said nothing for a long moment. “I’ll have something delivered to you, then.”
Without another word, Maddox left her standing in the half-empty ballroom dumbfounded. He’d just
demanded
she be his date to a charity function,
forced
her to get a dress — on his dime — and then walked away before she could tell him she wouldn’t be there. Again.
He was so damn infuriating. And bossy. And
everywhere.
Every morning he was at her favorite swimming spot with a sexy smirk curving his kissable mouth and a pair of snug trunks that showed off his tanned, tattooed and muscled body How on earth could she avoid temptation if it kept seeking her out? She couldn’t, and they both damn well knew it.
Between work and his crashing her swimming time, Briana spent most of her waking hours with him. And at night, when she was alone in her room, she was dreaming about all the ways they could pleasure each other. All the tools they could use and places they could do it. Basically, there wasn’t a moment of her life these days that was free of Maddox and the worst part was that she was starting to like it.
She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t hear the car approaching from behind her until it honked, scaring her. Trying to turn and move at the same time when scared wasn’t the smartest idea, she realized a little too late, when she rolled her ankle and went down. “Crapstick!”
“Are you alright?”
She looked up into concerned blue eyes and groaned. “Of course, it’s you. Were you trying to run me off the road?”
He frowned. “Are you crazy? Why are you so far away from the resort?”
“I’m going home. Where else?” She rolled her eyes at his frowning face. “Didn’t your mom ever tell you your face could get stuck like that?”
A mixture of humor and surprise shone in his eyes, and then a thick and rich laugh followed. “She didn’t, no. So thanks for the warning. Now, what do you mean
home
?”
“I mean,” she shouted, struggling to stand on her — probably sprained — ankle, “the place I go to shower and sleep after a long day working for your corporate overlord.” Hobbling towards the Jeep, she tried to climb in twice and failed. “You mind giving me a ride home? You’re responsible for my injury after all.”
His shoulders dropped, and he walked over to her, lifting her in his arms and setting her in the passenger seat. “You’re supposed to walk on the opposite side of the road, so cars approach from the front,” he grunted and walked around the car. Moments later they were on the road and headed to town. “Why are you staying all the way out here anyways?”
“Because it’s cheap and I like
Maman
. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Stay at the hotel. We provide suites for employees and bungalows for families.”
She turned to him and shoved his shoulder. “Stop barking orders at me! I am not your pet or your child, dammit.”
“What?”
He looked so confused she would have found it adorable if he wasn’t so damn annoying. “Stop telling me what to do, Maddox. I am perfectly capable of handling my own living situation, thank you very much. I am also perfectly capable of figuring out what to wear to a charity event —
if
I’m going to attend said event, by the way.”
“I’m just worried about you, Bri. You know how many local girls have found trouble on that road? A lot and I’d hate for that to happen to you. Living at the hotel would be safer, and easier.”
“I can take care of myself.” She did appreciate his concern, and it showed in her tone. “But thank you.” This man was too confusing. He was bossy and arrogant and then sweet and charming.
“You’re welcome. We need to get that ankle checked out after we pick up your things from
Maman’s
place.”
“Bossy again,” she sang over his voice.
He sighed and turned to her, holding her chin in his hand. “Dammit, I am
not
being bossy, woman. You can hardly walk, and the dress and the shoes I bought are at the resort . . . where I thought you lived!”
Damn that was hot.
Wait, what? She wondered what the hell was wrong with her, thinking his bossy behavior was hot. But he smelled so good, and his eyes were so blue, and his body was so hard and so hot.
“You should have asked.” She tried to sound firm and sure, but it came out breathless.
He shrugged. “Maybe. But I’m not a man who asks for things. If I see something I want, I take it.” And then he did.
He brought her mouth to his and speared his fingers through her mass of blonde hair, holding her the way he wanted her and kissed the hell out of her.
Briana knew she should stop the kiss, but she didn’t. Couldn’t. Instead of pushing him away, her fingers curled into his t-shirt and pulled him closer. Her tongue tangled with his, and she sucked him into her mouth, loving the taste of him. He was minty with a hint of coffee and a splash of something that was just Maddox. She moaned into his mouth as he lifted her on his lap.
“Ow!” Her ankle slammed against the gearshift.
“Shit, sorry Bri.” He set her back in the passenger seat and strapped her in. “Let’s go to the Doc first, make sure you’re alright.”
Briana was still struggling to catch her breath so she just nodded and touched her lips, the evidence of his kiss still lingering there.
“You dance pretty well for a girl with a bum foot,” Maddox laughed. As he pulled her closer to him on the dance floor, his hands brushed against her exposed back, making her shiver.
“Thanks. You’re not so bad, either.” She smiled up at him in a way that made Maddox fell like he was ten feet tall. Green eyes glittered like emeralds against the red dress he’d chosen. It hugged her slender curves temptingly. “You know, you could have told me you were receiving an award tonight. Excuse me,
the
award.”
He felt his skin heat. “I didn’t want to influence your decision.”
She laughed. “Because you gave me one?”
He laughed and continued. “I do it because all kids need an education, and honestly, I don’t care about the recognition, but they are a proud people, and they need this.”
“So you put up with it?”
He nodded, glad to see she understood. It was the first time someone did. His last — sort of — girlfriend, Sabrina, hadn’t understood. She thought he should let the world know about his good deeds. It was one of the many reasons why she had only been a
sort of
girlfriend back then and an
ex
now.
“That’s really sweet of you, Maddox.” Briana leaned in and pushed up on her toes, “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
She winked, and he groaned, taking advantage of the position by kissing her neck until she shivered. “Damn, you taste so good. I’d bet you taste that good all over.”
Briana groaned and sank into him. “Stop saying things like that. You’re making it hard to keep my distance.”
“I don’t want you to keep your distance.” He really didn’t. The more time he spent with her, the hungrier he was for her. “I want you close, Bri. Very, very close.”
“No, you don’t.” She shook her head, disbelief written all over her beautiful face. “You want me because I shot you down, Maddox.”
He couldn’t deny that was part of it. “Maybe, but now I know you and dammit Briana, I just want you.” He pressed his hips into her and let her look into his eyes and see that he was sincere as she felt that he was also very aroused.
The flash of desire in her eyes told him she’d felt the same. “For what? A week or two of sex?”
He sighed. Why couldn’t women ever just go with the fucking flow? Why did every date, every fuck have to be analyzed to death? Why did it have to mean happy endings and forever after?
“Why does that matter?”
Her body stiffened in his arms, but her smile was fixed. “I like to know what I’m getting myself into before I make a decision. And you, Maddox, have heartache written all over you.”
That stopped his feet cold. “Me?” He didn’t do heartbreak. He didn’t even get close enough for feelings to enter the equation.
“Yes, you. And to tell you the truth, I’m not really in the mood for heartache. So while I want to, I can’t go there with you.” She looked torn up about it which made him feel like total garbage.
“I understand. I don’t like it — actually, I hate it — but I get it. Sort of.”
He dipped her and let his hand ghost down the center of her chest. The room exploded with applause at the display they made on the dance floor. Taking advantage of the moment, Maddox leaned in and whispered, “I reserve the right to try and change your mind, though.” As the words passed through his lips, he moved closer to her face and planted a kiss smack on her mouth.
Once their lips parted, she smiled up at him, cheeks flushed from exertion and eyes low with desire. “And I reserve the right to hold my ground.”
She would try, at least. However, the chemistry between them was too strong for them
not
to end up in bed together. It was just a matter of time. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had to chase a woman. I think I’ll enjoy it.”
Oh, he knew he would.
~
Briana sat in Maddox’s office feeling like a kid called to the principal’s office. She stared out the window while a blonde bimbo named Carly bent over to show off her curves to the best advantage as she purred and chastised Briana as the know-nothing newbie. For the most part, she tuned the conversation out, unwilling to get into a pissing match with a woman who had an ulterior motive. She wanted Maddox.
“This is what happens when you hire an amateur to do the job of a professional, Maddox,.” Her husky voice was sweet as candy, but the words were sharp enough to cut.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Maddox looked to Briana for an answer. “Can you explain this?”
She gave a curt nod. It was evident
his
default assumption was that she’d screwed up. “Explain about me being an amateur or about how Ms. Brown was the only employee who didn’t respond to the email I sent requesting information for all events that take place in and around the tournament?”
Carly let out an outraged gasp and leaned further over the desk. Briana was sure he could see down to her belly button by now. “I never received any such email! If I had, I assure you I would have answered. I am a professional,” she sniffed, making sure her face never looked less than flawless.
Briana sighed, already well and truly over this whole . . . whatever it was. “I’m happy to show you that you did receive, and read the email, so I guess this is just a show for the boss?” Pushing herself off the arms of her chair, Briana stood. “If you don’t need anything else, I have things to do.”
“Of course, we need something else!” Carly’s voice hit screeching level as she sent an icy glare Briana’s way. “You need to move the tournament.”
Briana laughed. It was rude, but she couldn’t help it. This woman was ridiculous. “You want me to move a poker tournament that will bring millions in revenue to this casino for bird watchers? I may be an amateur, but even I can see how ridiculous that is.”
As another fit started to build on the other woman’s face, Briana once again tuned her out. Her eyes focused on the sunny skies outside and the morning swim she’d missed for
this
.
“I don’t
want
you to, I expect it. This conference has been scheduled for months. Maddox, deal with her please!”
Briana couldn’t be sure, but there was a vibe between Maddox and Carly that was clearly of the intimate variety. She blew out a heavy breath and looked at both of them. “Less than one hundred people RSVP’d for the bird watchers, which means Ballroom C is spacious enough. What I can’t figure out is why anyone with half a brain would book the largest ballroom for such a small event.”
As her words rang in the air, she grabbed her legal pad, the tablet provided by Maddox and she left without another word. There wasn’t much left to do since she’d been on the ball, so she decided to slip away and have her swim.
The situation in Maddox’s office convinced her, more than anything else, that this was not the place for her. Since the charity dinner last week he’d been dropping hints about her efficiency and how he could use someone like her around, and she’d been tempted. But she couldn’t handle dealing with every catty woman he’d slept with and their ridiculous fantasies of making him a one woman man. So she would do the job she was hired to do, take her pay and get the hell out of that island.
The stupid boot Doc had given her for the light sprain to her ankle was cumbersome when walking or dancing, which made it even more satisfying that she could remove it to swim. The waves took her body and carried her away before she turned around to swim. Her slender, muscular arms cut through the water like a blade, making such good distance she hadn’t realized how far she’d swam until she turned on her back again. It was such a relaxing way to exercise and Briana knew that wherever she ended up next, there would have to be an ocean nearby.
When she finally reached solid land again, Briana felt refreshed and the stress of the morning had melted away. Turning her face to the sun, she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face.
“Now that’s a sight worth the price of admission.” Maddox’s confident, sexy voice pulled her from her reverie.
She raised a brow at him. “The price of admission is zero so that’s not really a compliment. But thanks anyway.” She towel dried her hair and her body, sliding a thin cotton dress over the wet swimsuit.
“I’m sorry about this morning and Carly.” He looked genuinely remorseful, those blue eyes held a depth of emotion she couldn’t comprehend.
She shook it off like it was nothing, as she always did. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve dealt with a few Carlys in my life.”
“Still, she was out of line, and I should have told her as much.”
But you didn’t.
She didn’t say that either because there was no point. Carly was his employee, maybe even his bit on the side, and Briana was . . . well, she was nothing. Just a passing fancy until he could get into her pants, then she would be nothing but forgotten. She didn’t expect him to go against his, whatever she was, for her.
“It’s fine, Maddox.”
“No, it isn’t,” he answered, his voice tight and angry. “It is a big damn deal which is why I’m out here apologizing to you.”
“Fine. Apology accepted.” She brushed the subject off.
There was no reason to linger on it. She had plans and things to do if she wanted to get out of that island in two weeks. And she wanted it. A lot.
The players and crew would descend upon the island the next day, and she would spend the next two weeks running around like crazy. But then, once the final table was done, she would get on a plane and leave.
“You’re upset.”
She was, and she didn’t know why. “I’m not,” she lied. “Like I said, I’ve dealt with women like her before. She feels threatened by my presence because she wants you, nothing you can say will change that. And I don’t want you to say anything. She was embarrassed enough already.”
“Let’s have lunch.” He switched gears so fast she would’ve had whiplash, had she not expected the tactic from him. Catching her off guard was his favorite pastime lately.
“Sorry, I have a few things I need to take care of before I head back to the resort.” It was an excuse that had the added benefit of being true.
“Great, then we’ll have dinner together when you’re done. See you at eight,” he waved and walked away before she could reply.
Damn stubborn man won’t take no for an answer.
She marched off in the opposite direction. Toward her future.
Self-sufficiency.
~
After weeks of persuasion, Briana had finally agreed to go out with him again — not that he’d given her much choice, actually — and he left the office early to get ready. There would be no loungewear or resort wear for tonight. No, Maddox was dressed to impress in charcoal gray slacks and a crisp white shirt with no tie.
Let’s see you try and resist me tonight.
For some reason, she was determined to resist him, and he did not understand it. She kept him at arm’s length, revealing very little about her life and her past. Maddox chose not to examine why he wanted that too carefully, but he was determined to learn everything about her. And he would do it tonight. He grabbed his wallet and walked out of his room, he had a woman to romance.
“Dammit,” he cursed aloud when his phone rang. “Hello,” he answered gruffly without looking at the display.
“Maddox, it’s Angie.”
He froze at the sound of her voice. Why was she calling? During his first couple months away she had regularly called to check in on him, but it had tapered off over time, and he was grateful.
“Angie. Hi.”
She paused. “I’m sure you’re surprised by my call, but your brother thought you needed some space so I’ve left you alone. You received the wedding invite?”
He nodded, still stunned to hear her voice. “I did.”
“You haven’t sent your regrets so I assume that means you’ll be here?”
He had no plans to attend even though the idea of
not
being at his twin’s wedding broke his heart a little.
“No, but I’ll send something from the registry.” He would buy something expensive they didn’t need and hoped they enjoyed it.
Angie let out a long sigh like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I don’t want an expensive gift, Maddox, I want you to be here. Please.”
This was exactly why he’d avoided talking to anyone in the family lately, even his mother. That pleading like they really wanted him back was disturbing. Maddox was no longer under any illusions about where he stood as far as his family was concerned — he was the screw
-
up, the cynic and the one who had put Angie in harm’s way — and having them pretend he stood somewhere different was annoying.
“I can’t, Angie. I’m sorry.
“You can, Mad. I want you here for my wedding. I need someone to walk me down the aisle.”
Shit.
“You don’t play fair.” His brother was a lucky man and if he ever got the chance he would tell him so. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Angie. I know you’re the bride, and it’s your day, but you should enjoy it. You won’t be able to do that with me there.”
A quick glance at his watch told him he should have met Briana five minutes ago.