The piano player was looking her way, and before she turned back to Marlin, the man gave her a wink. Oh yes, it was time to come out of her corner and fetch herself a teacher. Who said she couldn’t mix business and pleasure?
“Sure, missy, sure. That’s what they all say. If you think you can dance on a cliff without the wind pushing you over, then you just be my guest, but one night with a man like Crew and you’ll forget all about this other guy you’re trying to win.”
“We’ll just have to see about that,” Haley said with confidence. “I think I’m going to request a song,” she finished with a wink at Marlin. He just laughed and handed her a fresh drink.
As Haley stood up, feeling just a bit wobbly from too many of Marlin’s drinks, she wished she knew how to sashay like a model, how to sway her hips provocatively. Oh, well. She’d have to do her best. With glinting eyes and a determined step, she approached the musician, and he wasn’t taking his eyes off her.
Invisible? Not this time.
Chapter Six
Everything was running smoothly. Crew’s staffers, all of whom he’d handpicked, were efficient, unobtrusive, and expert at anticipating a guest’s needs. The customers were smiling and complimentary about his beautiful resort. On top of everything, they were spending — and spending plenty.
The kitchen staffers were working nonstop preparing stellar dishes, and room service orders were flooding in. This was a perfect grand opening. But somehow, Crew eventually found himself with a few minutes to spare.
He was drawn toward the bar, in part because he loved spending a few minutes with his head bartender. Marlin wasn’t a pretty sight, but he was shrewd and knew his business. Each time Crew passed by, business was in full swing.
Stepping into the dimly lit, smoky room, he closed his eyes for the briefest of moments and enjoyed the sound of ice clinking in glasses while murmurs, chortles, and titters filled the room. Spirits were high, and the cash register was working overtime.
Business was good.
When Crew’s potential buyer came in, he’d have nothing to fear in purchasing this establishment. It was a sure investment for anyone who was dedicated to continuing what Crew had started, because Crew didn’t do anything by half measures.
Almost at the bar, he glanced back for the briefest of moments, started to go forward again and then whipped his head back around. He recognized that golden hair, even from a distance. The woman who’d propositioned him was cozying up real close to his pianist, and the guy didn’t seem to mind one bit.
What should it matter to Crew? He didn’t know her. If she had moved on to find the next man foolish enough to grant her request, then good for her. It meant she’d leave him alone.
If he felt that way, why was he suddenly changing direction and heading toward the happy couple? He was the owner of this establishment, that was why. He couldn’t have her trying to prostitute herself to his staff. This place wasn’t that kind of business.
As he approached, he saw her hand lift and settle on Sid’s leg. His piano player just slid her a wink while his fingers continued to fly over the keys.
“That’s lovely,” she purred, her face inches from the guy’s ear. Crew had heard enough.
“Ms. Sutherland,” he said, his voice quiet but hard.
He had to give the woman credit, because her shoulders tensed in surprise for only the briefest of moments before she turned — slowly, quite slowly — to look at him.
“Hello, Mr. Storm. How nice to see you again.” Her voice gave nothing away, but her big green eyes were pretty damned eloquent. The woman didn’t need a teacher; her eyes alone had the power to seduce.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you again — ever.” His voice must have been more cold than he’d meant it to be, because his piano player stumbled on his notes before quickly recovering.
“I’m a determined woman, Mr. Storm. Now, if you don’t mind, I was having a conversation with Sid. His music is breathtaking,” she sighed before turning from Crew and giving him the brush-off. He had no idea that inside she was shaking terribly.
Crew didn’t like her cavalier attitude. He was steaming, though he couldn’t figure out exactly why. Though he’d wanted nothing to do with her proposition, he'd still had the woman on his mind all day, thinking of a million ways he could teach her, and now he found her in his resort looking for a man to fill her…bill. He wasn’t appreciative, not in the least.
“I’d like to speak to you in private, Ms. Sutherland.” It wasn’t a request, but a command.
“I’m a little busy right now. Why don’t we chat tomorrow?” With that, she dismissed him again. Twice in a minute’s time wasn’t doing much for his ego.
“Why don’t we do it now?” He took her arm and pulled her from the bench. The cowardly pianist continued playing as if Crew hadn’t just manhandled his potential one-night stand. Crew would need to find a new player — he was disgusted with Sid.
Haley’s eyes lit up. “If you insist,” she said, slightly breathlessly, her head bent back so she could gaze at him.
His entire body tensed. Why was he attracted to this crazy woman? She was wearing a baggy T-shirt, another pair of loose Capri pants, and not a lick of makeup. There was nothing about her that screamed sex siren, and yet he found himself more than intrigued; what was she trying to hide with all those loose clothes?
As he started leading her from the bar and toward the lobby, the sound of her breathing shouldn’t have scraped his nerves raw. She just wasn’t his type in any way. Yet even the smell of peaches drifting from her hair was turning him on.
Maybe it had been too long since he’d spent the night with a woman. Those around him might have thought he was a lady killer, but not that many women had actually made it into his bedroom. He was choosy. Yes, he’d had the occasional one-night stand, but his reputation was a lot more rumor than reality.
He liked women, didn’t like mistreating them, didn’t like to use them for a night, only to walk away the next day. His father had taught him to be a better man than that. If the world wanted to believe he was a playboy, then let it. That only brought more people out of the woodwork to find out what he was about.
It was good for business, and it meant more money for him. Though his trust fund was more money than most people ever dreamed of having, it was only his if he passed his father’s ridiculous test.