Reasons for Revenge: Scorned by the Boss

She tried to ignore the romantic atmosphere and the fact that her mouth was still sort of humming from the casual, too-quick kiss he’d given her for Chad’s benefit. So, despite the fact that she really wished he were serious, that she really wished he did want her, Caitlyn steeled herself against her own desires.

“Jefferson,” she said as the waiter delivered her fresh raspberry martini, “tell me what’s really going on.”

He leaned in closer, keeping his gaze locked with hers and heat poured through her in a thick ripple. “Why is it so hard for you to believe that I’m here because I missed you? Because I realized that you were … more than just my admin. That you were important.”

Caitlyn blew out a long breath, lifted her drink and took a sip of the icy liquid. It didn’t affect the roaring heat within her, but it did help ease the knot in her throat. “We worked together for three years, Jefferson. If I’m so important, why did it take you so long to notice?”

He gave her a smile that was wicked. “Because it wasn’t until you’d gone that it hit me.” He reached across the table, took her hand and smoothed the pad of his thumb across her skin in slow strokes. “You’re … important to me, Caitlyn.”

Her stomach jumped and her heart jolted hard against her ribs. Oh, if she thought for even a moment that he was telling the truth, she’d leap across the table and kiss him as she used to dream about doing. But how could she believe that? How could she trust that a man who changed women with as much ease as he changed shirts could suddenly want only her?

She pulled her hand free and shook her head. “No, Jefferson. Whatever it is you’re up to, I’m not going to fall for it.”

“Right now,” he said, standing up, then drawing her to her feet, “what I’m up to is a sunset stroll on the beach. Would you like to join me? Or do I make you too nervous?”

Six

She didn’t go on the moonlight stroll with him.

She didn’t feel sorry for him as he complained in a barely concealed mutter while he tried to fall asleep on the too-short couch of her suite.

She didn’t feel guilty as she stretched luxuriously in her wide, empty king-size bed the last few nights. Especially if she wished—maybe—for company in that bed.

Caitlyn knew Jefferson all too well. He was up to something, whether he was forced to admit it or not. He wasn’t a man to come crawling after a recalcitrant employee. He wasn’t the type to crowd his way into her life without a self-serving reason.

And whatever he had planned, Caitlyn had no intention of making it easy on him. She was through with Lyon Shipping and Jefferson Lyon.

Now, if only he would go away.

Because nothing short of that was going to keep her sane. Three days of his constant presence, his persistent … attention, and Caitlyn was weakening. She felt it. The man had more charm, more personal power than anyone she’d ever known. And when he chose to focus that power on one woman, he was nearly irresistible.

When she went for a swim, he was there. When she stopped in the bar for a drink, he was there. When she took a surfing lesson and spent more time facedown in the ocean than standing on the board, he was there.

Which was exactly why she’d left the resort that morning for a walk into the small village the owner of Fantasies had had built for his employees. The only people on the privately owned island were the hotel guests and the resort staff, who lived in postcard-perfect cottages sprinkled across the island. The village contained both necessity stores and opulent gift shops where tourists were tempted to spend whatever money they had left after paying their hotel bill.

The only vehicles allowed on the island were electric golf carts and bicycles, so the main street made of brick was mostly empty and almost pristinely clean. The sidewalks were neatly swept and lined with flower boxes, spilling brilliant color and heavy scent into the sun-warmed air. Shop windows gleamed and displayed everything from fashionable clothing to designer jewelry. Tourists wandered, cameras firmly fixed to their eyes and shoppers loaded down with brightly colored gift bags made their way back up the hill to the resort.

Caitlyn ignored all of it. “He’s making me crazy,” she admitted into her cell phone.

Janine sighed heavily. “He’s got a plan.”

“Well, yeah. I just don’t know what it is.”

“I wish I was there, but— Damn it, Michael, the ferns go in the box first, not on top of the roses—I just can’t get away from here early.”

“I know.” Caitlyn sighed, too. If Janine and Debbie were here, she’d be able to keep herself busy with her friends. She’d be able to avoid Jefferson much more easily than she could now. Of course, she’d still have to deal with him being in her room every night, but at least she’d have the daytime hours to keep him out of her mind.

“He’s still staying in your room, isn’t he?” Janine demanded.

“I checked with the front desk just this morning. They claim to be full up, so there’s nowhere for him to go.”

“You could still toss his butt out and make him sleep by the pool or something.”

A good thought, she admitted, then shook her head and stepped around a cranky toddler being dragged along the street by his mother. But she knew she’d never do it. “No,” she said. “I can’t do that.”

“So … what?” Janine asked. “Instead, you’ll let him ruin your vacation? You don’t owe him anything, Cait. You quit, remember?”

“Of course I remember, but—”

“No buts,” Janine cut her off neatly. “He’s working you for a reason, Cait— Michael, for the love of God, go up and wait on customers. If you keep trying to arrange those flowers I’m gonna beat you to death with ‘em.” She blew out a breath, then said, “I swear, if I don’t get to that island soon, this shop is going to be a bloodbath.”

Caitlyn laughed and it felt good. “You talk a good game, Janine, but we both know you’re just not the violent type.”

“I could learn.”

“Caitlyn!” A deep voice called her name and she stopped dead on the sidewalk.

“Oh, god,” she whispered into her phone as she turned around to watch Jefferson striding toward her. “He found me. Damn it, he tracked me into town and he found me.”

“It’s a small island,” Janine reminded her. “How hard could it be?”

“Oh, he looks so good,” Caitlyn said. He’d come to the island in such a hurry he hadn’t packed many clothes. Instead, he’d bought a new wardrobe here in the village. And these clothes were nothing like what she was used to seeing him in.

Normally, he was a three-piece-suit kind of man. Elegantly cut. Perfectly tailored. The ultimate alpha male in charge of his world. But here on the island he was wearing casual clothing that managed to make him look amazing and all too … approachable. Today, he was wearing summer-white slacks and a short-sleeved dark red shirt, open at the collar to display a vee of tanned skin that had Caitlyn’s fingertips itching to touch it.

His tawny hair looked a little lighter from all the sun and his eyes looked even bluer than usual. He was clutching a cell phone to his ear, though, and the frown on his face didn’t bode well for whoever he was talking to.

“Earth to Caitlyn!”

“Huh?” Janine’s voice shrieked in her ear, but all Caitlyn heard was an annoying buzzing of sound. How could she think about anything but Jefferson when he was walking toward her, spearing his gaze into hers?

“Caitlyn, get a grip. Don’t let him get to you. You’ve got to be strong. You’ve got to—”

“I’ll call you back,” Caitlyn said, and folded up her phone in the middle of Janine’s tirade.

Jefferson stopped in front of her, held up one hand to keep her from speaking and said with an exaggerated patience, “The Peterson contracts are in the file, Georgia.” He rolled his eyes, blew out an impatient breath and demanded, “Look again.”

Caitlyn winced in sympathy. Poor Georgia. The older woman was as nervous as a fire walker when she had to speak directly to Jefferson. No doubt, Georgia’s nerves were making her even more helpless than usual.

“No,” Jefferson said, and gave Caitlyn a glare that plainly said, This is all your fault for quitting. “I don’t care if you’ve already looked and can’t find them. Look again. The contracts were to be sent to Legal this morning. If you can’t find—”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, give me the phone.” Caitlyn wiggled her fingers for it, and when he handed it to her, she said, “Georgia, hi. This is Caitlyn.”

Instantly, the other woman started babbling about broken copiers, a secretary who was out sick and the three letters she still had to get out before the end of the day. Panic trilled across the phone lines and had Caitlyn sighing.

“Relax, okay? Everything will get done.” She looked at Jefferson, who was watching her with barely concealed fury. Forgetting about him, she focused on the woman hyperventilating on the phone. “First thing, though, you need to get the contracts down to Legal. The Peterson contracts are in the file, I put them there myself. It’s okay. Go look again and take your time. I’ll wait.”

“The woman is incompetent,” Jefferson muttered, and shoved both hands into the pockets of his slacks. Irritation stamped on his features, he looked like a king who needed to lop off someone’s head.