Mr. Romantic: A Mister Standalone (The Mister Series Book 2) (6 page)

“Thank you for your suggestions,” I say, grinning that grin that drives women crazy. “I’m going to take care of this immediately.”

“It was my pleasure to help, Mr. Delaney,” she calls. “That’s why I’m here.”

I shoot her a look over my shoulder and shake my head.

Don’t do it, Nolan. Don’t start fantasizing about your face between her legs. She’s going home tomorrow no matter what.

Chapter Six - Ivy

Holy shit. I did it. I stood up for myself and made an impression on Nolan Delaney. My heart is beating so fast, I need a moment to calm down.

“Miss Rockwell?”

Claudette’s voice startles me, and when I look over my shoulder, she’s standing a few feet in front of her cabana, door open wide.

“Yes?” I say, getting to my feet and wrapping my towel around my waist.

“I thought I told you not to interact with my brother?”

“You did, but he approached me. It’s not in my best interest to be rude to the man responsible for choosing the next manager of Hundred Palms Resort when I want the job.”

“Want the job?” Claudette asks, walking forward a few more paces. “I’ve already explained the situation, Miss Rockwell. You’re not getting the job. You’re here as a favor and nothing more. You’ll be sent home after the meeting tonight.”

“Probably,” I say, forcing myself to stay brave. Why is Claudette so intimidating? Nolan was far easier to deal with than she is. “But until that happens I’m going to do my best to show that I’m worthy of the position. That I have things to contribute. And that I might just have an opinion that could help this resort.”

Claudette scowls at me, annoyance all over her face. “It’s two o’clock. The meeting is at six. We’ll finish up at eight. You’ll be on the jet by nine. Don’t get too comfortable.”

I nod and smile. But I don’t answer. I just walk towards my cabana and go inside.

When I close the door I’m breathing hard, sweat pouring down my body. And not all of that has to do with the extreme heat.

I did it.

A small smile creeps up my face as I replay my first real interaction with Nolan Delaney. He was arrogant, sure. But he wasn’t demeaning. He listened to my assessment and took note on my observations. Which are correct. I was one hundred percent right and he knew it. And maybe the temperature of the rooms and pool water aren’t groundbreaking revelations, but it’s all in the details, right? That’s what makes a resort worthy of five stars.

I can do this, I decide. I can. I might be right out of school, but I’m smart. I like details. I live for details.

I quickly change out of my bathing suit and throw on some tan slacks and a silky white blouse that should help keep me cool in this abominable weather. I need more details between now and six o’clock. I need to walk this entire place. See all of it. Come up with a plan. It was dumb luck that I was frustratingly hot when I got to the room and decided to take a swim. Dumb luck that I figured out that the pool water was too hot. And dumb luck that Nolan Delaney came along at just the right moment to hear my complaints about them.

But I did it.

I take a deep breath as I dust my face with powder and reapply my eye makeup.

Nolan Delaney is hot.

I can’t stop thinking about that pool move. The way his muscles bulged in his arms as he drew himself up and out of the water. The sight of his body when he stood up. The little river of water that fell down over the curve of his chest and the six pack abs. The way he stared at
my
body, those hypnotic green eyes lingering on my breasts for the briefest of moments.

He thinks I’m pretty. I can tell.

But the way Claudette tells it, he probably thinks everyone is pretty. I mean, I
am
pretty. I’m not strikingly beautiful or anything. But I’m cute. My blonde-brown hair might be just another ordinary color, but my eyes are blue. A blue so light, they almost look gray. People say it’s one of my best features.

Richard liked my eyes, but does Richard even count? I don’t want to brag, but I was a lot cuter than his last girlfriend. He pointed her out to me enough when we were walking across campus and saw her—all huddled up with her serious friends. She didn’t wear make-up or fashionable clothes like I did. She was one of those people who go to college to join things. Movements and marches. And she was off-putting any time Richard said hi to her and we were together. Turning up her nose at me like I was some kind of pariah.

Richard was the one who said I was too pretty for her. She loathed people who took an interest in their appearance.

Well, I hope she’s happy working for whatever stuffy non-profit she ended up in after finishing her degree. Maybe she and Richard got back together? I haven
’
t talked to him since I broke up with him before graduation
.

At any rate, the point of this whole thought exercise is that I’m worthy of this job, of Nolan Delaney’s attention, and of things I never thought possible until that very moment when I stood up for myself out at the pool.

I have what it takes to succeed in this world, regardless of the sheltered life my father wanted for me. And if Claudette is hell bent on getting rid of me ASAP, then what’s the harm with a few flirtatious moments with Mr. Romantic? What’s the harm in testing the waters?

No, he’s not going to be the one to take my virginity. I sigh, because it would’ve been fun. And there’s no way in hell I’m actually getting this job, especially with Claudette gunning for me to be sent home. But I could make an impression and get a reference.

Yes, I decide as I exit the cabana. I’m going to scour this resort looking for details that might make all the difference and come up with a plan. With any luck, I
’
ll walk out of here firmly embedded in Mr. Delaney’s mind.

I make my way over to the main building and enter the cool back of the lobby. The smell of food being served in the restaurant grabs my attention and I wander over to the hostess station.

There’s no one there. I wait a few moments before craning my neck at the people in the dining room and get a wave from a server.

“Seat yourself,” she calls. “We
’
re not fully staffed yet.”

I nod and wander through the empty tables, taking a seat at a booth that overlooks the pool. There’s a couple out there. The older gentleman is swimming while his wife looks uncomfortably hot under a large shade umbrella, leaning into the misguided misters.

Nolan appears, no longer wearing swim trunks. He’s in casual clothes now, like me. Dark slacks with a white shirt. No tie. Sleeves rolled up to reveal is perfectly tanned forearms. He says something to the woman, smiling, as he leans in and redirects the mister so that the water will soothe her skin properly.

She smiles and says something. Probably a heartfelt thank you. This heat is not good. People still go to Las Vegas and Palm Springs in the summer, but they stay inside. I looked over the amenities book in the cabana before taking my swim. This resort seems to have a lot of outdoor activities and very little to do inside except the spa. No one will want to come here in the summer if that’s all there is to it. I wouldn’t.

“Hi,” the server says, coming up to my booth. “I’m Elizabeth and I’ll be preparing your food today. I’m still finalizing the menu, but we’re stocked with just about everything, so choose your favorite dish and I’ll whip it up.
”

“Really?” I ask. “Anything?”

“Pretty much,” Elizabeth says. “I’ve been cooking for about fifteen years now and not much can surprise me.”

“Hmm,” I say, taking my gaze back to Mr. Delaney out by the pool. I’d like him on my menu.
Focus, Ivy
. “Where did you work before coming here, Elizabeth?”

“Oh, I was teaching at a culinary school in New York.”

“Big change, huh?”

“Very big.” Elizabeth laughs. “But it’s exciting too.”

“Well, I’d like something light for now. Maybe you could just give me a nice green salad? Do you have croutons? That’s my favorite part of a salad.”

“I can make them fresh in just a few minutes. Anything else?”

“No,” I say, once again distracted by Nolan Delaney. “That’s all.”

She walks away and leaves me to my thoughts. Which is all aflutter when I notice Nolan making his way inside. I watch him as he stops at the restaurant.
Come in here and talk to me
, I silently beg.

He catches my eye and shoots me the same disarming smile from our encounter at the private pool earlier.

I practically melt. His sister was right. The charm oozes out of him, even from a distance. How does a man with so much negative baggage have the right to be so damn handsome?

Shit, here he comes. What will I say? I look around nervously, aware that I’ve already pissed off Claudette once this afternoon.

Be cool, Ivy. Be cool.

“Miss Rockwell,” Nolan says when he’s close enough to my table to talk in a normal tone.

“Mr. Delaney,” I say back with a smile. “Your sister doesn’t want me to talk to you. She says you’re quite a player.”

What the hell, Ivy? That is not the definition of cool!

“Is that right,” Nolan says, slipping into the booth across from me. “Mind if I sit?”

“Of course not.”

“Claudette’s warnings aren’t enough to scare you off?”

“I’m not afraid of a challenge,” I say back.
Smooth, Ivy. Smooth recovery.

One eyebrow lifts up and his grin becomes lopsided. His expression says,
Oh, really
? and
That’s interesting
, at the same time.

Yes. He’s got all the moves.

“Mrs. Watters sends her thanks.”

“Who?” I ask.

Nolan waves his hand towards the window. “Mrs. Watters. I adjusted her mister and told her you discovered they were misaligned. She is eternally grateful for your attention to detail.”

“I like to please, Mr. Delaney.” Too late I realize how that sounds. And so does he, because that other eyebrow is raised now, and his expression is one of keen interest.

“I have to admit, Miss Rockwell, you intrigue me.”

“How so?” I ask, my heart suddenly beating fast. His gaze goes to my chest, which is heaving as I try to breathe through my mistake. Can he tell that he’s having this effect on me? Can he see how flustered I get when he speaks? When he looks at me?

“Weston Conrad is an experienced headhunter. He supplies the perfect candidates for the perfect positions in every Fortune 500 company in the US, and many lucrative businesses overseas as well. And yet he sent
you
.
”

It’s my turn to raise my eyebrows. “You say that like it’s a surprise.”

“It is, Miss Rockwell. West doesn’t normally make mistakes. I’d ask him what he was thinking but he’s conveniently out of the office today. I have a feeling it was a joke.”

“A joke?” I can’t stop the sudden anger in time to keep the disgust out of my voice. “I’m not a
joke
, Mr. Delaney. And your sister has already informed me that this was a pity invitation, so I am expecting to go home very soon. But since you’re forced to see me today, I will give you my expert opinion about your resort.”

“Is that so?” Nolan says, leaning back in his chair. “Then by all means, commence with said expert opinion.” He waves his hand at me like some sort of king talking to a subject.

“I’m still making my assessment, Mr. Delaney. You’ll get a full report at the meeting tonight.”

“Will I?” he asks, grinning like a boy.

Why is he so fucking handsome? I’d like to slap his face right now. I even picture it in my head, but decide Nolan Delaney would not tolerate that kind of outburst from a woman.

Stay away from him
. Claudette’s voice is in my head.

I can’t quite decide if she’s exaggerating about his personality or not. But I am certain of one thing. Nolan Delaney is not a man who likes to be fucked with.

“You will,” I say. “I was right about the misters and the temperature of the pool. I bet you’ve already called engineering and asked that they adjust the threshold on the AC.”