Strictly Business [Stud Service 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (13 page)

His cockiness annoyed her. She shuddered inwardly at the thought. She’d been treated badly by stupid men like him all her life. Men that thought women were meant for one thing. Making babies. Men like him would never appreciate a woman with brains.

In contempt, she tsked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “You don’t know that.”

“I am warning you, I don’t lose.” He reached across the table and gripped her arm tightly, only releasing her when she winced under the pain. “I expect you to stop playing games with me, now.”

“Fine. And as long as we have that clear, get this through your thick head, mister. I don’t take orders. From anyone.” She poked him repeatedly in the chest. “Especially not from some lackey my father sent to chase me down.”

Then without another word, she gathered her things and got up from the table. She knew better than to try to lose him. If he truly had tracked her cell phone, he already knew where she was staying and checked in himself.

At the same damn hotel.

* * * *

Susannah felt restless and irritable.

Running into Ethan at the coffee shop that morning did not help her mood. It was going to take a while to calm down from that unexpected meeting.

Ethan had followed her to the hotel, and he didn’t force any more confrontations, but she was irritated by his mere presence. How could her father not trust her enough to let her travel here by herself?

She was a big girl, and it was high time he started treating her like one.

Ethan was at least twenty feet behind her, but it didn’t matter whether she slowed down or sped up. He always followed her closely enough to keep visual contact.

The guest cottage was within sight. She turned her head to see Ethan behind her. She hastened her pace, withdrew the door key from her pocket, and made a beeline for her escape. Susannah opened the door, stepped inside, and slammed the door on Ethan’s surprised face. She locked it behind her and leaned against it. For now, this comfortable retreat was her sanctuary, and she intended to keep it as private as she could.

A sigh escaped her lips.

She was surrounded in a forest of flowers. Roses and beautiful tropical arrangements filled the room in glass vases. Every table and available flat surface was covered in floral beauty. It was like walking into a florist shop, only every arrangement was for her.

Truly amazing.

“Really, Colt?” A white envelope was pinned to the arrangement closest to the door.

Susannah grabbed it and eagerly tore it open.

The card was a simple monogrammed piece of paper. The note read:

Flowers are poor compensation for the loss of your company.

Looking forward to seeing you again tonight, but I am sorry I will have to miss seeing you this afternoon. My assistant has arrived, and we have business to attend to today, but I would rather be with you.

Please make yourself at home here at the hotel. Anything you desire is yours.

Your willing servant,

Colt

Anything but you,
she thought darkly.

Susannah didn’t know what to think. She’d gotten flowers from men before, but those boyfriends were usually trying to get back in her good graces, not after spending a single night together.

What a night. Endless loving, and when it was finally over she had a hard time leaving his arms.

She would much rather have him at her side, but she would find a way to keep herself distracted. Maybe work on her tan or go get a massage. She could use a day of relaxing.

She clutched the card to her chest. Excitement launched her heartbeat into a spree. It was exhilarating to feel so loved. Energy exploded within her. She had to release it. She opened up to it and screamed at the top of her lungs. Her legs bolted out from underneath her and she ran as fast as she could through the cottage to land on the bed. “Yeeeeeeessss!”

It was as if the sun had come out. Her world had changed the moment she met Colt Vance, but reading the card only reinforced those feelings.

Suddenly her mood was much improved. Colt had a way of making her feel good in every way he touched her life—or her body.

Time away would be a good thing for now. She would relax and make herself beautiful for him. Get a massage and nice stiff drink or two. Then when the hours grew late she would have to show her appreciation for Colt tonight. Somewhere he would appreciate it.

In bed.
 

Ethan rolled his eyes when he saw Susannah retreat inside the guest house. “This figures!”

Now he had to wait it out until she felt like coming out again.

Ethan needed a raise if he had to add babysitter to his job description, especially to a spoiled brat like Susannah Gibson.

Ditching him at the airport and then trying to blow him off at the coffee shop wasn’t making him a happy camper. Getting the run around was actually just pissing him off.

Big time.

He found a seat next to the pool and sat back in the chair and texted his boss.

Found her. I’ll be here as long as she is.

Those were the orders, and he intended to follow the directions of William Gibson to a tee. He closed his phone with a snap. Now he just had to wait out a week. He was either going to put her on a boat and hope she was safe and sound or drag her back home. With her present attitude, the odds were most likely with her kicking and screaming. But he could care less. He had a job to do, and this was it.

He kept an eye on her door and looked over his email messages on his phone.

“Have a little spat with your girl?” Ethan looked up to see a beautiful woman in a hot pink bathing suit and a sarong. She had a pretty face and a professional-grade camera with a telephoto lens hanging from a thick strap around her right shoulder.

He shook his head. “Oh, she is not my girlfriend.”
Emphasis on not.
Susannah was easy on the eyes but she had made it clear she wasn’t interested in him from day one. So he could push any ideas of romance to the back of his mind.

“Oh, I thought you had a lover’s quarrel or something like that.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Lots of couples are honeymooning here. It kind of sucks to be single.”

His lips twisted in a wry grin. “You’re not a reporter are you?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that.” She took a step back and put the lens cover on her camera. “I’m here taking pictures of the birds. I am a photographer, but I use the pictures in my artwork. Reporters aren’t allowed on the resort property. It’s the owner’s policy. Something to do with the privacy of the guests who stay here.”

Ethan still felt a little skeptical. That camera was very expensive, and bird-watchers didn’t usually spend so much money on a camera. “Excuse me if I sounded a little rude. I am not really fond of the media”—his voice went an octave deeper as he looked down at her camera with the nine-inch lens—“and the paparazzi have a history with me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry if we started off on the wrong foot. Name’s Sarah.” The blonde woman took a seat next to him and extended her hand.

“Ethan.” A smile tugged at his lips as he encased her tender hand within his.

She looked down for a moment as if she were slightly embarrassed. “You have to forgive me for being so bold, but are you single?”

“Technically. Yes.”

“So the girl I saw isn’t…” Ethan could tell she wanted some kind of answer. If they were related or what the deal was between him and Susannah.

He had to admit he was curious about this woman, and he wouldn’t mind having a fling while he was working.

“Susannah is my job. I am here on business to watch her.”

“Sounds like an odd job. Is she royalty or something that she needs a bodyguard?” Sarah’s head tilted curiously.

“No, nothing like that. You ever heard of the Gibson Petroleum Products?” he asked.

“No, should I be familiar with it?”

“She’s an oil heiress.”

“Sounds interesting.” Sarah licked her lips and her eyes seemed to widen in excitement. “Maybe we could go get some breakfast together and talk some more over food.”

“I would love to, but I can’t exactly leave or she will disappear on me again. I’m here to play babysitter until she makes Daddy happy with grandchild or gets on the boat to study her fish.”

Sarah frowned and looked at the closed door to the cottage. “She could stay barricaded in there all day.”

“I know. She probably will, too, just to irritate me.” He folded his arms across his chest.

The clouds opened up, and it suddenly began to rain down on Ethan and Sarah. Droplets of water pelted his face as he looked to the sky.

“Are you kidding me?” He threw up his arms in the air. “Of course, it’s going to rain now.”

“Maybe it’s fate. She’s not going anywhere if it’s going to pour down cats and dogs. I’m going to go get something to eat before it gets any worse. Do you want to join me?” Sarah shielded her precious camera with her hands.

Ethan took one last look at the door. What would it hurt to get something to eat with a beautiful lady? It’s not like he could do anything on the other side of this door, and Susannah wasn’t going anywhere. “Fine.”

Sarah laughed and reached for his hand. They ran into the hotel lobby, laughing and soaking wet by the time they got inside.

Ethan used a folded towel by the door for the guests to dry his face and hair. Sarah took the time to dry her very expensive looking camera.

Thank goodness he had already checked in.

Susannah was so relieved to see her father’s bloodhound had seemed to give up his post. The rain hadn’t lasted long, but it was enough to chase him away and give her an opening to leave.

She wasn’t hungry, but she was anxious about seeing her lover again. If only there were a button she could press and have time move for her.

Susannah hurried through the gardens to the corner of the hotel she needed to be at. She had a private massage.

She arrived without any interference, and her fears eased when the door was closed behind her.

“Do you have an appointment?” The short, Asian woman behind the counter looked so tiny Susannah could have picked her up like a doll.

“Of course. My name’s Susannah Gibson, and I am a guest of Colt Vance.”

“Ahh, here you are.” She scrolled down the computer screen to find the appointment. “Now what can I do for you today?”

Susannah looked at a slip of paper on the counter which was much like a menu, describing the types of massages and services. “I don’t know. I don’t often treat myself to this kind of things.”

Susannah wasn’t a high-maintenance kind of girl. She didn’t usually wear a lot of makeup or dress to find a boyfriend. As soon as they found out she was related to one of the wealthier families in America she didn’t have to open her mouth.

“How about a hot stone massage?”

The lady bowed her head and said, “Good choice. The hot stone massage provides a relaxing experience for the body, mind, and soul. It is my personal favorite to give to our honored guests as well.”

“Great.”

“Please come with me.” She gestured for Susannah to follow and led her into a room with a padded table. She spread out a towel on the table for Susannah to lie on. Another oversized towel was left folded on top of the table. “If you would be so kind as to remove your clothes and wrap this towel around yourself, Brian will be in here shortly to help you.”

Susannah smiled at her as she turned on the soft tropical music and left the room.

A large clay fireplace was featured in the room, and Susannah could feel the heat emanate from the man-made oven. Smooth, deep-black lava stones were visible from the outside, warming beside the fire.

Susannah took her time and made herself comfortable, removing all her clothing as directed. She lay down on the table and used the folded towel to cover her nudity.

She sighed contently and waited for her massage.

About five minutes later she heard a knock on the door and she answered, “Come in.”

A nicely groomed young man entered and closed the door behind him. She smiled. He must be the Brian the other lady spoke of. He seemed to be in very good shape. He could have been a cover model on a romance novel, and he probably spent hours in the gym keeping his physique up. It didn’t matter because Susannah only had eyes for Colt now.

In the past she may have enjoyed looking at this hot, young man, but today it only reminded her that she would rather be in Colt’s arms.

“I’m your masseur, Brian, and I hear you would like a hot stone massage today.”

“Oh, yes! I have been under so much stress lately I thought this would be just the thing to help me relax.”

“You will be so relaxed when you leave here, you’ll be wondering if you forgot your spine on my table.”

Susannah giggled and snuggled her face into her folded arms. “I don’t think I would mind after the day I’ve had.”