Page 11 of Nothing to Do

FIVE

WORK DIDN’T GET their full attention for the rest of the day. Any attention to be honest, neither of them returned to their computers. They stayed right there on the loungers until the sushi arrived an hour later. And it wasn’t just any sushi, oh no, it was the most incredible sushi on the face of the earth. These finer things were something else. Maybe she’d suggest sushi day back at the office and make this a regular thing. Though the amazing experience may have had something to do with the company too.

While she tried to make the point that sake wasn’t a great idea during a workday, Zane rearranged the furniture, facing their loungers opposite ways, and putting the table between them. They sat, they ate, they talked.

And, yes, he won the sake argument. Though it wasn’t the only treat. They enjoyed green tea and fresh made lemonade too. After sushi, crepes filled with ice-cream and fruit were brought out to the terrace. The resort was beyond full-service. If this was how they treated staff, imagine what guests experienced.

It took the sun sinking in the sky to clue them in the day was over. Or her anyway. Zane’s conversation turned to the perfect place on the island to watch the sunset. Shit, sunset! She’d made quick apologies and darted inside to gather up her things. In some sort of weird serendipity, Honi waited in his cart outside, ready to return her to the main building in time to catch dinner with her sister.

Though after such a sumptuous lunch, she hadn’t been hungry and only picked at her plate. Not that anyone noticed.The contest women chattered and swooned over their big day. She only caught bits and pieces; her mind was on Zane.

Later, after considerable effort, work became her priority. While Alessia got ready to spend the evening drinking with new friends, she settled down to finish what should’ve been done during the day.

The following day, Alessia was ecstatic, practically bouncing off walls. Breakfast seemed to be infused with hormones or amphetamines, the room was a potent soup of enthusiasm and heat. Meeting Roman hadn’t quenched anyone’s thirst for him. Eager, all rushed out as soon as Mieux arrived.

She, on the other hand, got her things from the room and set out to return to the corporate suite.

Honi wasn’t chatty, which could be a good thing. When Zane turned out to be chatty, it took her until midnight to make up the time she’d lost reciprocating. Though she wouldn’t admit it out loud, she’d done some of that day’s work too. Just to take the pressure off if Zane commandeered her at lunch again.

She sprang out of the cart. “Thanks, Honi.”

In the entryway of the corporate suite, she stalled. Work. They were there to work. The previous day was an anomaly, she couldn’t dwell on it. A man like Zane, hot, smart, funny, he was probably looking for excuses to bunk off work. Having a colleague may be a novelty for him.

He lived in the middle of the Pacific and she lived in the Midwest. There was no future to their friendship. Nothing but the moment. Both of them had work to do; work that would carry on after her month on the island. Something their relationship couldn’t do.

Damn. They’d held hands, that was it. He’d made no move or suggestion he was interested in her beyond friendship.

She hadn’t been with a man since Thom.

Shit, pull it together. She wasn’t a swooner. Zane was a friend. A fun friend… who liked sushi. It couldn’t hurt to have a friend who lived on a tropical island… though the long-distance charges may kill her.

Continuing into the large office, she spied him exactly where he’d been the previous day. Sitting on the couch, legs propped on the table, typing on the laptop, glancing occasionally at paperwork on the couch at his side.

With a pen in his teeth and a furrowed brow, he didn’t acknowledge her.

Okay. See? Work.

So much for the pep talk. Her disappointment was disappointing. He was working, showing work was the most important thing. She couldn’t fault that.

Work. The desk. She set her focus without distracting his. Sliding the bag from her shoulder, she dumped it on the desk and… What was that? A brown drink in a tall glass mug, brimming over ice. Had she mentioned… She swooped around the corner of the desk to sink down into the sumptuous chair and sipped the drink. Iced coconut latte. In their conversation… he’d remembered.

Her favorite right there. He’d delivered it… somehow.

The taste was still on her lips when she glanced up and caught him peeking from the top of his eyes. Letting her head drop to the side, she assessed him for a second before showing him a smile. He wasn’t so shy with his, though it was pure mischief. The guy was full of surprises and flashed a quick wink.

A wink. Huh. She hadn’t thought of him as a winker. Her smile grew, but by the time she focused on Zane again, his attention was back on work. Work. Yes. It was work time.

SIX

“LUNCH!”

Second time around was just as startling.

Zane closed his laptop and dumped it on the couch to pounce onto his feet. “We’re going Mediterranean today… I saw the ciabatta proving last night.”

She sank back in her seat. “If I eat with you, will I get back to this desk today?”

On his way over, he pushed his linked fingers away from his body, cracking his knuckles. “Probably not, I have a whole bunch of questions lined up for you.”

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