She had cast one last longing look at him, then tiptoed backward to her desk to grab her things. She’d scuttled out just as the blonde cried out from Jack’s first thrust.
What am I going to do now, Keely agonized, her pussy wet even now, remembering the scene that had kept her awake for many nights.
And, she thought as she leaned over to fluff the jumbo leather pillows on his couch, there was still no sign of the man’s damn keys!
He’d also come into the room, rifled through his desk drawer, and now looked around the loveseat. “I never did get your name,” he said, feeling around the edges of the cushions.
“Lei,” Keely blurted out her Hawaiian middle name and prayed he’d never seen her personnel file.
“Lovely,” he said. He glanced back at her, and she could feel his startled gaze slide from her face and down to her cleavage that was exposed as she leaned over.
“You’re not a mainlander, then?” he asked in a strained voice, aiming his gaze back on her face.
Oh dear, Keely thought. He really can be a gentleman when he tries. She quickly straightened. “No. I was born and raised in the islands. Keely and I both,” she rushed to add, and turned the other way. Wrong move. She now felt his gaze warming her
ass.
“We’re not having too much luck here—” “I might have to catch a cab—”
They spoke at the same time and turned to each
other. Jack looked thoughtful, his gaze studying her. Keely linked her hands in front of her.
“You look disappointed, Mr. Sloane,” she said, and smothered back a laugh as she imagined his date’s face when he showed up in a dinged-up city cab sporting a fake flower lei on the rearview mirror. “Damn right,” he admitted. “Because I’ll have to
catch a cab home to Kahala and get my other car.”
Keely’s smile faded at the mention of his home in a multi-million dollar neighborhood. She had forgotten about his other vehicle—a sleek, brushed nickel Jag. He had the cutest clunker of a truck, too, +blue like his eyes, with wood-paneled doors. “My keys will turn up,” he continued with an upbeat grin. “But, I hoped to give you a ride wherever you needed to go. Where do you live?”
“Ma—” Keely broke off. She’d been about to say Makiki Heights, a suburb minutes up the road, but that was too close to the truth.
“Makaha,” she said, instead, referring to a seaside town on the other side of the island.
“Makaha?” he frowned. “That’s all the way out in Timbuc-freaking-tu!”
“I know,” she sighed. “So, thanks for the offer, but you see why I can’t accept a ride from you—”
“I don’t care about that. You caught the bus all the way here from Makaha, and you’re taking the bus back? And, you want to work here, in Waikiki? You’ll be commuting for hours every day.”
“But all the jobs are here in Waikiki,” she explained. “At least, for what I do…”
“What position are you applying for?” “Accountant,” she blurted, without thinking.
Why didn’t she say concierge? She stunk at numbers.
“Hmm. I didn’t know we were looking. I’ll talk to your sister in the morning. She’ll run your background check and, if you meet this hotel’s employment criteria, I know of a resort in Makaha that’s looking for an accountant. You’ll hear from me in the morning. No later than afternoon…”
About a job for my fake sister, Keely thought, feeling her cheeks burn from deceit, even as her heart quaked at the dangerous, exciting game she was playing.
“Just leave your résumé on Keely’s desk. I’ll fax it over to the manager at The Grove Hotel. If your work ethic is as impressive as your sister’s, you should have no problem.”
“So, you’re happy with Keely’s work?” Keely asked him, wondering what else he might say about her.
“Y-e-es,” he said, but with a guarded intonation that immediately worried her.
“Um…do you think she could, you know, improve in some areas?” Keely persisted, adding, “I’m new to the hotel industry, you see, and I want to do as good a job as Keely.”
His smile was wry. “You’ll do fine. Just…do me a favor and take her clothes shopping with you. The hotel I’m sending your résumé to has a dress code— resort business casual—and that’s all I have to say before I get myself killed.”
Keely gulped back the lump in her throat. Take her clothes shopping with you, but she heard loud and clear what he wasn’t saying.
She—Keely—had set out to look dumpy and succeeded. So why was she feeling hurt that her boss, Mr. Oblivious, actually noticed? Maybe because she was now on the receiving end of his smile, that’s why. The way his gaze lingered on her features made her insides simmer and her nipples tighten like spring rose buds…
“Hmm. You’re right, Mr. Sloane. I just don’t
think Keely’s got a lot of money to spend on clothes and make-up—”
Jack threw his head back and laughed. “My ass! I doubled her wages, along with everyone else’s, when I came on board.”
Keely blushed, thinking of his ass and the perfect shape it presented in tailored trousers. “Did you really? Of course you know that Hawaii is one of the most expensive places in the United States to live. I’m sure if you gave her a raise and called it something like ‘clothing allowance’ you would see an improvement in my-my sister’s appearance.”
He was still smiling as he studied her face, and Keely sucked in a breath as the wetness between her legs trickled through the crotch of her panties. “You’ve given me something to think about, Lei.” “You do that,” Keely said. “Well, I’m sorry I
wasn’t much help with your keys. I should go.”
He nodded and stepped aside for her to pass. When she did, the spiky little heel of her sandals caught on something on the wool rug and sent her tripping, right into Jack Sloane’s arms.
This night, Jack thought as Lei toppled into him, is getting better and better. Caught off guard himself, he fell backward into the couch and took her down with him.
Neither moved. Jack lay against the cushions and as he held a stunned Lei in his arms, he savored the smell of her hair and thought of misty island rains. Then he wondered how fast he could capitalize on the luscious curves making themselves at home against the hard nooks and crannies of his body.
She stared down into his face, as startled as he. Sensation rippled beneath his skin from the physical warmth, pleasurable sight, and exotic smell of her.
Jack couldn’t stand it anymore. He slid his hands up from her waist and trawled his fingers through her hair, bringing her head down to meet his mouth.