Page 10 of An Heir Made In Hawaii (Hot Winter Escapes)

“I know, but did youseethat?” She laughed. “I can’t believe it. That was just...oh, it was just incredible.” She sighed in happiness and tilted her head back, soaking in the contrasting shades of the deep blue of the ocean and the paler periwinkle of the sky. “Best part of the trip.”

“It’s not over yet.”

Something in his tone chased away her contentment. Something dark that hinted at unsatisfied desires and carnal pleasures. She kept her gaze averted as restlessness moved through her. Restlessness and a hunger that frightened her.

“Doesn’t matter,” she replied as she pulled her mask back down, as much a shield against the seawater as the man treading near her. “Definitely the best part.”

When she turned to look at him, she felt her chest lurch. It wasn’t just the desire in his eyes that had her contemplating swimming as far away from him as possible. No, it was how he looked at her as if he really saw her.

As if he knew what she was thinking, the wild thoughts running amok in her head, his lips curved up.

“We’ll see.”

“Immersing yourself in the communities you invite your guests to, experiencing what they will experience, can help you offer truly personalized, unique stays. Thank you.”

Nicholas inclined his head to acknowledge the applause. His presentation on designing excursions and trips for his guests had been well received by the nearly four hundred attendees seated in the ballroom.

He’d also managed to keep himself focused the entire forty-five minutes. A feat, given that he’d spent the majority of yesterday and today thinking of Anika.

Something had shifted yesterday. Perhaps it was the visceral reaction he’d had when he’d been chatting with the captain of the snorkeling tour and looked down to see Anika in that damned orange bikini sitting next to another man. He’d never been the jealous type before, but had entertained a vivid fantasy of accidentally knocking the man into the water when Anika had smiled at him. When the captain had identified the young man as his nephew and mentioned needing his help, Nicholas had been only too happy to intercede.

He hadn’t anticipated holding her, of having her nearly naked in his arms. But when she’d been there, he hadn’t wanted to let her go.

Yet what continued to linger in his mind, late into the night when he’d gotten up to sip a glass of whiskey and gaze out his balcony doors at the moon casting silver shadows on the ocean waves, was when she’d spontaneously grabbed his hand, simply because she’d been thrilled by the sight of a sea turtle. And when she’d laughed, a look of pure joy on her face, he’d been hit with the realization that he had completely misjudged Anika.

Now, he was starting to genuinely like her. He needed to focus on getting the contract signed. But the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to get to know her just a little bit more. Perhaps kiss her just once and find out for himself what she tasted like.

Probably for the best that as soon as they’d gotten back on the boat, she’d distanced herself from him and spent most of her time either in the cabin or on the trampoline at the front. Nicholas had given her space, needing a little for himself, too, to process how quickly their relationship was changing. Thankfully, Adam had been so busy helping his uncle he hadn’t had time to approach her again. When the boat docked, Anika had hurried down the gangplank and driven off in her rental car before he’d even made it ashore.

He hadn’t seen her since. A good thing, he reminded himself. It had provided him with a chance to take a step back from these feelings she stirred inside him and renew his focus.

“Thank you, Mr. Lassard.” The moderator, a curvy young woman with a wide smile, gripped her microphone and turned to the audience. “We have ten minutes for questions.”

Several hands shot up. Nicholas answered the questions with detail and a touch of humor. Public speaking, while not his favorite task, was a necessary component of serving in a leadership role. His father had made it clear that Hotel Lassard executives were considered the face of the company, a sentiment Nicholas agreed with. And, while he didn’t care for it, he was good at it.

“Yes, the young lady in the back.”

Awareness crackled over Nicholas’s skin as Anika stood up, her slim form clad in a billowing yellow silk top and beige slacks that hugged her legs. With her hair pulled into an updo, he could see every line of her face, the long slender curve of her neck. Her mouth twisted into a small but devilish smile as she accepted a microphone from a conference worker. Anticipation flowed through him.

“You mention creating a one-of-a-kind experience for your guests by utilizing resources in the communities where your hotels exist, yes?”

“That’s right.”

“What happens when people in those communities don’t like what your hotel is doing?”

He arched a brow in silent acknowledgment of the gauntlet she’d just thrown down.

“An excellent question. Understandably, not everyone is a fan of a world-renowned resort opening its doors.” He added the slightest bit of emphasis to his words, savoring her narrowed eyes. “The biggest detractors are often other hotels concerned that we’ll take away business.”

“Don’t you?”

Some people in the audience stirred, surprised by the unknown woman’s audacity, but settled back down when Nicholas just smiled. God, she was glorious, standing there in sunshine yellow with lightning in her eyes.

“While it’s inevitable that there will be some competition, the Hotel Lassard prides itself on community relations. That includes maintaining a team that travels ahead to any site prior to the beginning of construction and liaises with local hotel owners and managers. We strive to collaborate with them as much as possible.”

“But what do you do when the interests of your hotel conflict with someone in the community? What then?”

If it had been just the two of them, he would have stood and applauded. She had him right where she wanted him, on the chopping block in front of hundreds of people. Her boldness excited him. Her daring impressed him.

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