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Unlike me, she seemed to thrive in situations like the one I’d put her in; another chance to prove exactly why I paid her as I did.
And why there would be a deep orange box gift wrapped and waiting for her at the completion of this.
She knew how to light a fire under people to get them to perform, without being offensive. I didn’t have that particular gift, which was why I hadherhandling it.
When I stepped off the helipad in Sugar Valley, my lungs were instantly glad for the clean, crisp fresh air. I was one of the first of my group to arrive, since everyone else had felt safer on the road than in the air.
Good.
It gave me some quiet time.
Someone from theMaple Leafresort, where the helipad was located, came out to greet me, offering lunch and other amenities I didn’t want or need. I just needed my Jeep, which had already been brought up for me, so I could make the short drive away from the little town of Sugar Valley to my family’s mountain cabin.
I wanted to be settled in and deep in hiding before all the noise began.
Despite what my attention over the last few weeks may have led her to believe, my life did not revolve around Nalani.
I was still top of the food chain in the family business and we were stepping into the plans and processes that would ensure we met our forecasting for Q1 and beyond. Frankly, this whole thing—a wedding and all its accoutrements—was a distraction I didn’t need right now.
Some opportunities were just too big to pass up though.
Locked in the master bedroom at the two-story mountain cabin, I buried myself in work calls and returning emails, up to the moment I couldn’t put off getting myself together for dinner any longer. Clothes were already settled, so I made the shower quick, got dressed, and finally emerged from my cave.
Nalani was the first thing my eyes landed on.
She was perched at the seating area that overlooked the staircase, into the main entry, talking with Shiloh in low tones. Neither of them noticed my presence at first, which gave me an opportunity to simply observe.
All bullshit aside, Nalani was outright beautiful, and that plentiful, curvy body of hers was well suited by a winter wardrobe. Heeled, thigh-high boots clung to her thick legs, stopping just before the hem of an emerald-toned, oversized sweater. Just that tiny sliver of skin was enticing as fuck, taking my mind on a straightforward journey of what was underneath.
A thought I quickly shook away. There would be time for that later.
I approached the two women; my footsteps across the polished wood floors pulled both of their attention. Nalani glanced and looked away, clearly perturbed by my presence, but Shiloh maintained eye contact with a smirk.
“Has everything been to your liking so far, Mr. Sterling?” she asked, and I chuckled.
Only she and I knew she was fucking with me.
“Almost,” I told her. “Her hair,” I said, gesturing at Nalani, who had her back turned now, looking at the two-story window view from the balcony. “I want it natural for the wedding.”
“Ijustspent the morning at the salon getting a silk press!”
Oh.
So she was paying attention after all.
I shrugged, looking between her and Shiloh, whose expression was a bit stricken as well.
Clearly I’d hit a nerve.
“We’ll make sure the expense is reimbursed,” I said, not waiting for a response before I headed for the stairs. “Come on. I don’t want us late for dinner.”
She wasn’t that close behind me, but I couldfeelthe hot rage emanating from Nalani as we descended the stairs.
I stopped abruptly, turning to face her before she could fix the anger in her expression.
Or maybe she didn’t care to fix it.
“Is there a problem?” I asked her.
