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Authors: Joy Tremay

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BOOK: A Daring Affair
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Mia hadn’t minded all the international flying back and forth. What she did mind was the seasons she had to fly in. She would have preferred to fly into Edmonton during the summer months, and avoid the long, bitter cold winters where she could practically ice skate on the sidewalks.

Instead, her father had her in the summer, blistering hot in the Arizona desert, and her mother had her in the excruciatingly cold Alberta winter. Why couldn’t they have switched the seasons so that she could have had relatively balmy winters in Arizona and relatively warm summers in Edmonton? Mia blamed the judge, who had decided which seasons she would be with each parent.

Now at twenty-six years old, Mia no longer had to spend her winters in Edmonton, but her mother needed her. In the early months after her mother’s second divorce, her mother had become easily emotional. Mia had decided to live with her and help her run her fashion boutique store,
So Not Her Sister’s Closet.

Several times a year, Victoria flew to the States to buy clothing for the store at wholesale outlets. She didn’t trust the quality of online merchandise, and insisted on inspecting items in person. Since her mother trusted no one but her daughter and her niece, Mandy, to manage her boutique, Mia worked on weekends and a few week nights while Mandy, a freelance writer taking a weekend journalism class at the University of Alberta, worked during the weekdays.

Victoria owned a large duplex near Whyte Avenue, and had asked Mia and Mandy to move into the house attached to hers. They had agreed, although Mia would have loved to have the part of the house with the attached garage. Scraping snow and ice off her car every winter morning was one chore she could have done without.

Her cell phone rang, snapping Mia out of her reverie. She answered it and was pleased to hear her mother’s voice.

“Hi, honey. How are you?”

“Hi, Mom. I’m fine. How’s Miami?” asked Mia.

“I’m fabulous! My tan is coming along nicely, and the weather here is fantastic. How is it over there?”

Mia looked out the window and sighed. “Fine, if you like sheets of ice striking your face.”

“Hang in there, honey. Winter is almost over. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the sunshine here until I leave.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, Mom. Order a pina colada for me.”

“You bet. Oops, I think I hear my yoga instructor calling. I’ll call you again in a few days, honey.”

“Okay, Mom. Have fun,” Mia said before ending the call.

Today was the first day of April, and she was fooling herself if she thought that winter was officially over. It had been five months of mostly sub-zero temperatures. She was desperate to feel warmth, but it looked like winter was reluctant to leave the City of Festivals, and she frowned at the thought that she may have to wait until the end of May for most of the snow to melt.

Mia yawned loudly and glanced at her watch. It was two in the afternoon, and she couldn’t close the shop until five. Due to the steady and heavy snowfall, it had been a slow day, even for a Saturday. Only a few customers had wandered into the store. Whyte Avenue, normally a hubbub of activity, looked deserted. Mia thought of asking her mother if they could have a customer appreciation day next weekend to help increase sales and get rid of some of the older stock.

She plugged her iPod into the mini speaker system and chose a popular hip hop song, which was currently permeating the airwaves, and immediately began to perk up. She brought her mango-flavored bubble tea with her as she danced her way toward the back of the store to unpack new inventory. Mia was so engrossed in sorting through the clothes while sipping her tea that she almost choked on a tapioca ball when she heard a male voice come from the vicinity of the doorway.

“Mia?” asked a deep voice that she would have recognized anywhere. The owner of that voice had been haunting her dreams lately.

She looked up from her crouched position and stared up at Eric in bewilderment. What was
he
doing here?

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he apologized gruffly. He looked gorgeous in blue jeans, a dark blue sweater and a heavy black woolen coat.

Mia stood and tugged the chocolate brown, corduroy mini skirt over her matching tights. She was glad that she had decided to wear an over-sized beige sweater this morning, hiding the white tank top she wore underneath.

“Oof,” she exclaimed as she almost tripped over the plastic hangers littered on the floor. It was the second time today in which the heel of her knee-high, shiny, brown riding boots had her nearly stumbling.

“Careful there,” he said, walking quickly over to her. He placed his hand on her arm to steady her.

“Thanks, sir,” she mumbled lamely, feeling self-conscious and flustered. He took away his hand and she looked up at him shyly.

“We’re not at the hotel,” he said, looking around the small storage room before settling his gaze on her again. “Please, call me Eric.”

“Oh, um, sure,” Mia said, trying to breathe normally. His large presence made the storage room shrink.

The room was a cluttered mess of large cardboard boxes, clothes, accessories and hangers. She had attempted to tidy it up earlier, but had been too lazy. Now he was here to see the mess -
wonderful.

“How, why,” Mia started, then sighed. “I mean, is there something I can help you with, sir, er, Eric?”

“Ben told me where you worked. I hope you don’t mind,” he answered smoothly.

Mia’s head spun. Why in the world would he have asked Ben where her mother’s store was?

“I have a proposition for you.”

Mia’s eyebrows rose at his statement, and he calmly looked back at her.

“Please, follow me,” she said evenly, trying to maintain a look of composure as she left the storage room.

“Interesting choice of music,” she heard him mutter behind her, making her wish that she had chosen classical music instead of hip hop.

She hastily turned off the music before she walked over to the counter and sat on the stool behind it. She didn’t think her suddenly shaky legs could hold her up anymore, and she felt safer having the glass counter between them.

Eric studied her from across the counter with an intensity that made her nervous, but she met his gaze directly.

“I’ll be overseeing the final touches on a brand new hotel, and I’d like you to be my assistant.”

Mia’s eyes widened until she thought she might actually start looking like the puffer fish she had likened Mrs. Newberry to.

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” she asked, not sure if she had heard him correctly.

“Ben recommended you and assured me that you would make a great assistant. Would you be interested?”

“Well, I…I,” Mia stuttered, completely thrown off-balance by his question.

“The new hotel is in Hawaii, Maui to be exact,” he added.

“Really?” Mia asked, trying not to look as excited as she felt.

Now was her chance to leave Edmonton’s frosty, blustery winter. She hesitated, knowing how much her mother depended on her to mind the store.

“Your salary would double, and all travel expenses paid, of course,” Eric added, watching her carefully.

Mia’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding?” She stopped herself and said, “I mean, why me?”

Ever since her cousin Mandy had recommended her for the job three years ago, it had never entered her mind to aspire to anything but the front desk position. She had never been interested in climbing the hospitality ladder, mostly because she knew how many tedious daily meetings Ben was forced to attend as front desk supervisor. She wasn’t keen on corporate meetings, and was certain they were deathly boring.

Eric leaned against the counter, and she couldn’t help but notice how broad his shoulders were and how utterly masculine he was. It was disconcerting to her that her awareness of him was rapidly increasing.

“Because, according to Ben,” he said, answering her question, “you’re prompt, diligent, and very personable.”

Mia inwardly preened at the praise. Bless Ben for his compliments, although the
prompt
part was stretching the truth a bit. Since her shift began at half past six in the morning, she was occasionally tardy by a few minutes.

“He also said that the hotel guests are always impressed by your warmth and consideration.”

Thanks to the two large cups of coffee loaded with sugar and cream she rushed to grab from the hotel kitchen every morning. The chef and wait staff parted like the Red Sea when they saw her coming for her coffee. She couldn’t be perky and patient without them.

“I’m flattered,” Mia said, “Still, I’m not sure I’m the best candidate for this job.”

Eric leaned over the counter, causing Mia’s heart to pump faster. His face was only a few inches away and his gaze locked with hers.

“I need an assistant, and I want you,” he answered bluntly.

Mia gulped, feeling her stomach lurch at his bold and shocking answer.

“I…see,” she said softly.

She knew it was just a matter of time before he found out that she had more than just a little crush on him.

* * *

Eric hoped Mia did see, because he had been intensely attracted to her since he had met her several weeks ago over a spilled bowl of apples. Her pretty face, sparkling, light green eyes - framed by long, dark eyelashes - thick and shiny auburn hair with red highlights, and alluring figure had captured his attention immediately. Since then, he had found excuses to visit the Edmonton hotel more often.

The Hawaii property was almost finished and he had been asked to oversee the last phase of construction. He had requested an assistant, and had decided that Mia would be an excellent choice. Ben had recommended her, and he trusted the other man’s judgment. Despite his attraction, he had no intention of crossing the line by mixing business with pleasure. He just wanted her to be with him, and he refused to delve deeper into his reasoning.

“It’s a six-week assignment,” Eric said, leaning back from the counter.

“Six weeks?” asked Mia in surprise. “But Ben already has trouble filling in the front desk position when one of us calls in sick. I don’t think he can do without me for that long.”

“I’ve pulled an employee out from the Calgary hotel to fill in your position during those six weeks. Ben is also hiring an extra person, so he doesn’t have to work front desk when someone calls in.”

Mia wrinkled her brow thoughtfully. “I see,” she said slowly. “Can I think about this?”

Eric fixed her with an unwavering gaze. “I’ll be leaving for Maui on Thursday morning. You’ll have until Monday afternoon to let me know what your decision is.”

Mia blinked at the rushed timeline.

“Have you ever been to Hawaii?” he asked.

Mia shook her head. “Unfortunately, my only experience with Hawaii is from watching movies and reading travel books.”

“Well, I guarantee you that you’ll have an unforgettable experience.”

Was it her imagination, or did she see a promise in his eyes?

“Have a good weekend, Mia.” Eric smiled, making his rugged features more handsome than ever.

Mia watched him walk out of the shop, leaving her feeling more than just a little confused and, if she was honest with herself, secretly thrilled.

CHAPTER TWO

The following evening, Mia relaxed in the house she shared with her cousin Mandy. It was Sunday night, and Mia had spent the entire day mulling over Eric’s job offer.

She watched Mandy place a large cupcake-shaped pillow at her back and recline against it on the sofa. Mia reached down and took a pizza-shaped pillow off the floor and hugged it to herself.

“Brrr, it’s been such a frigid, long winter and now spring is just as cold,” complained Mandy as she draped a brown, faux fur blanket over her legs.

“Your mom needs to stop ordering us stuff from the Air Mall magazines,” said Mia. “These pillows are kind of crazy.” She looked at the sushi and ice cream sandwich pillows scattered on the floor.

“Well, you’ve perfected your
aww, you shouldn’t have
response over the years,” Mandy said with a grin.

“I know Aunt Bethany means well. She just doesn’t have time to shop, except when she’s traveling on a plane. I think she’s spending too much money on us, but I did like the portable bed bug sleeping cocoon she sent on my birthday a few months ago.”

Mandy snorted. “That was a better gift than the skeleton gnome garden sculptures I received for my birthday. They freak me out.”

Their house was partially furnished by Mandy’s mother, Bethany. The purchases were all selected from Air Mall magazines during Bethany’s trips. Since she spent a lot of time on planes, she shopped for all of Mandy, Mia and her sister Victoria’s gifts from the airline catalogues. The piano cheese board and the two tiki sculpture side tables were just a few of the gifts the girls had received in the mail over the years.

“Well, what have you decided about the assistant job?” asked Mandy.

“I really want to go, but I’m not sure,” Mia answered, holding a cup of cocoa. Mini marshmallows bobbed on the surface, and she took a quick sip.

“What’s holding you back? It’s six whole weeks in paradise, not to mention that you get to work with a hot boss.”

Mia laughed. Her cousin Miranda, Mandy for short since Mandy hated her given name, was more like a sister to her than a cousin. Mandy had spent more time living with Victoria than with her own mom, since Bethany was busy traveling the world as an award-winning photo journalist.

Victoria had first taken Mandy under her wing as a child during the summer months. When Mandy turned fifteen, she had come to live with Victoria and Mia full-time. As she was only a year younger than Mia, the two had become closer than sisters. The only time they were apart was when Mia visited her father and half-siblings in Arizona.

Mandy’s shoulder-length, strawberry blonde hair and green eyes drew much attention from the opposite sex, but Mandy couldn’t have cared less. She was much too focused on her writing. Her wardrobe consisted of sweatpants and over-sized sweatshirts, which hid her svelte, willowy figure. Mia bemoaned the fact that she was four inches shorter than her cousin, but she was glad that they at least had one thing in common—the light green eyes they had each inherited from their mothers.

BOOK: A Daring Affair
6.93Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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