Weekend with the Tycoon (6 page)

She was not going to let this business opportunity pass, though. She was going to charm his family so much that he’d be begging to hear about her ancestry testing. If he’d just keep his hands off her so she could concentrate. Twice now he’d touched her, and she’d felt like a live wire. What was up with that? He was hot, but so not her type. Controlling and aloof.

He’d felt the chemistry too, she thought with a stab of smugness. He couldn’t let go of her fast enough. Good. She wanted to make him uncomfortable.

They followed his mother through the house. Samantha felt as if she were in a museum. She wanted to stop and look at everything, but Evalyn set a brisk pace, clearly with a destination in mind. Focus, Samantha reminded herself. Show Blake what she was made of.

They entered an opulent room where quite a few people were sitting in small groups or standing about in front of the floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the green, rolling lawn and the Atlantic beyond. Immediately Samantha could feel the hot stare of a man, who stood up when she entered. She quickly broke eye contact and without thinking, stepped closer to Blake.

While Blake introduced her to each of his siblings—the oldest James, his sister Avery and finally the baby, Denton – Samantha smiled and shook hands. They were all gorgeous just like Blake, tall, blonde with sparkling blue eyes. The boys all had what must be the Putnam build. Broad shoulders tapering to a thin waist.

Avery, the sister, was glowing from a hint of a suntan and also because it was her big weekend. But even as she chatted with Avery, oohing and aahing over her gigantic engagement ring, Samantha felt tingles on the back of her neck, and when she looked past Blake, to her left, she saw the man staring again. This time, he flashed her a big smile.

He stood alone, leaning against a white wall, at the edge of the circular entry area, taking in all of the introductions, but not participating. He was incredibly sexy, with dark brown hair, dark brown eyes and he was tall enough to be seen over the heads of all the Putnams. But who was he? And why was he staring at her?

“You are doing well,” Blake said, appearing next to her. “You’ve met almost all of my family. Just missing the old man.”

“They are all very nice, but none of them have dates.” Samantha said.

“Not true. James and Denton’s dates are walking the beach and Avery’s fiancé is over there, next to his brother Max,” he said, pointing to the man who had been staring at her.

Avery’s fiancé, and his brother, began heading toward them.

“We’re all not so sure about him, but Avery is, so what are you going to do?” Blake said. “Mom’s tried to break them up for years, but it just made them closer. Let’s go get a drink.”

“Hey Blake, good to see you. I’m Mark, Avery’s fiancé,” the man said to Samantha reaching out to shake her hand.

“Nice to meet you,” Samantha said.

“And I’m Max,” he said, winking at Samantha and kissing the top of her hand. “You are gorgeous.”

Samantha blushed uncomfortably. Blake placed his hand on the small of her back. “We were just going for a walk,” he said. “See you both later,” he added, gently guiding Samantha away from the two men. His touch had made her stomach flip, and Samantha thought she saw Blake shoot a warning glance at Max, but she wasn’t sure. She did know she loved the feel of Blake’s hand on her back, it made her feel safe and protected. And his possessiveness gave her a bit of a thrill, which she shouldn’t even admit to she admonished herself sternly. She was his fake date. He was her boss. Hot but unattainable. And she didn’t want to attain him.

The minute they left the room, his hand dropped from her back, and Samantha wondered if she were imagining the chemistry, the possessiveness, but maybe he was thinking of her as his intellectual property for the weekend. No different than his laptop. That was deflating, but he could hardly let Max flirt with his date, Samantha realized. And she didn’t want him to flirt with her. Max had made her uncomfortable. She better avoid him.

Samantha nearly stumbled into Blake as she followed him through the house. She’d expected the house or hotel where the wedding was to be beautiful, but this was over the top amazing. They had entered a home beyond her wildest dreams, where dark wood floors, crystal chandeliers, and stark white walls were accented by huge arrangements of red and white roses in glass vases everywhere Samantha could see, in every room beyond the grand staircase in front of her.

They entered a room off the foyer that appeared to be a replica of a men’s drinking club from the turn of the century. Big leather chairs were arranged around oversized tables and a large wooden bar lined the back wall. The views out the front windows were directly to the ocean.

“This is gorgeous,” Samantha said. “The room, the view. I can’t wait to explore the island. We, I mean, I will have time, right?”

“Of course,” Blake said. “When we are not working.”

“Of course,” she echoed feeling like he was reminding her of her purpose, as if she could forget the whole reason she’d agreed to come on this crazy scheme.

“What can I get you?” Blake asked and headed behind the bar. “Bloody Point Bloody Mary?”

“What’s a Bloody Point?” Samantha asked.

“Son, you haven’t told her the family secret,” Blake’s father Richard said, as he walked into the room and wrapped Samantha up in a big hug. “Nice to meet you young lady. You are sure a beauty. Come here Blake. Give your old man a hug!”

Samantha watched as Blake’s dad hurried to hug his son. It was like foreshadowing, Samantha realized. Blake would look just like this man, 30 years from now, and it was an impressive sight. Blake’s father was slim with the same Putnam blue eyes but with gray hair instead of blonde. He was wearing white golf shorts and a bright orange golf shirt, the Putnam Industries colors. He looked fit, and happy and in the prime of his life.

“So my dear, have a seat and tell me all about yourself,” Richard said, settling into the oversized leather arm chair across from her while Blake finished making the drinks. “I hope you’re making me one, too, son.”

“Of course, dad,” Blake answered, “Tell her about Bloody Point.”

“Right. The history of this island is actually quite tragic,” Richard said as Blake placed a Bloody Mary glass in front of each of them and took a seat next to Samantha, sharing her chair. He was really putting on a show now, Samantha smiled but found it difficult to concentrate because she was distracted by Blake’s proximity. She felt the heat of his thigh through his khaki pants, and she felt a warm sensation deep inside. She took a big sip of her Bloody Mary, wondering if she could handle this at all.

“Bloody Point, the piece of land where we’re sitting but also the tip of the island right out there was named for the bloody ambush that took place back in 1781,” Richard said. “It was just after the Revolution and of course, as always, this island still kept her secrets, and her secret residents. In this case it was the Tory Loyalists – those folks loyal to the British and in most cases related to the first British Land Grantee Thomas Cowte back in 1707. For some reason these Tories got together and attacked Hilton Head’s Skull Creek Plantations in 1781.”

“What is with all these names, creepy,” Samantha blurted before she could stop herself, trying to focus on the story, and not on Blake.

“I know, it’s very rugged here on Indigo Island,” Richard said and took a big drink. “Well after the Tories attacked them, the Revolutionary War Patriots of Hilton Head formed the Bloody Legion and retaliated by attacking the homes on this island. Apparently these row boat skirmishes, as they were called, happened all during the Revolutionary War. Only that sound out there separated the Indigo Island Royal Militia from the Blood Legion of South Carolina over there on Hilton Head.”

“Ok dad, I’m sure Samantha’s not the history buff you and I are,” Blake said, his dimpled smile busting out.

“Actually, I am,” Samantha answered, noticing the approving nod sent her way by the elder Putnam. “I was a history major at Vanderbilt.”

“Beautiful and smart, too,” Richard said. “So how long have you two been an item?”

“About six months,” Blake said, smiling down at her and pressing his thigh more closely against hers. “Right Sam?”

“Right,” Samantha said, as her stomach fluttered. She didn’t have to fake her embarrassed giggle.

She took another drink of her Bloody Mary.

“Are you a tree hugger, too?” Richard asked, and Samantha felt Blake stiffen next to her.

“What do you mean, Mr. Putnam?” Samantha asked.

“My middle son here thinks our family business is killing the environment. He doesn’t believe our new policies are making any difference. That’s why he started his own thing,” Richard said.

Interesting
, Samantha thought, but said, “Yes, I am concerned about the environment and all the toxins in our food and water and even in cosmetics. I guess I would consider myself a tree hugger, but I don’t want to imply anything against your business. I don’t know enough. I do know what Blake has started with the genetic testing business will be revolutionary, hopefully saving lives and improving the environment for future generations.”

“Well, young lady, you are very impressive for a tree hugger,” Richard said, his eyes twinkling. “You two seem well suited, and you know, Blake, your mother and I didn’t date for more than six months, if you can believe that! Now, 37 years later we’re still going strong,” Richard said. “When you know, you know. It just doesn’t work any other way. You two seem to know. I best go clean up or your mother will kill me. She’s been planning these wedding festivities for a year. Can’t say I’m sorry it’s finally here, it’s about to kill me. You two have my permission to elope.”

“Dad,” Blake said, but the older man just laughed and walked out of the room.

Samantha sank back into the cool, comfortable chair and stared out at the sparkling ocean just beyond the front porch, across the sandy beach. Blake stood up and carried their glasses over to the bar. She hadn’t really thought about the Putnam’s reaction to her, just about her not messing up.

“Sorry, my dad’s a romantic. You did great. Thanks for sticking up for me. You really don’t need to,” Blake said. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his khakis, his white button down shirt wrinkled but sexy in an island life sort of way.

“Oh, I thought the battle info was very entertaining,” Samantha said, stretching her arms up above her head, before bursting into laughter. The Bloody Mary had gone straight to her head.

“You know what I’m talking about!” Blake said, a small smile escaping. “All of his conversations with me revolve around joining the family business or getting married. He does it every time. Any time I have a date, he tells me she’s the one.”

Samantha stood and walked to the window. She should be relieved that Blake’s dad wasn’t taking her seriously but for some reason, his words stung. She had believed his father when he said he noticed the chemistry between them. She felt it. Blake must be completely emotionless. How many other women had come here just like her? How many others did he use as dates so he could continue to feel nothing?

“Well, you don’t have to worry about me pressing the topic, right? That’s why I’m here. I’m here to do my job,” Samantha said. “I’m going to go walk on the beach if that’s ok, sir?”

“Alone?” Blake asked, but she had already left the room.

*

Blake was relieved
when Samantha left to walk the beach on her own. He cherished the opportunity to be alone in his favorite room in the home, but Samantha had seemed upset even though he had sat by her, made her a drink, even talked with her like a real date. Maybe he should walk with her though. His family would expect that.

He grabbed his suitcase from the foyer, quickly changed into his running gear. He jogged to the right, the direction he’d seen Samantha walk as she left the plantation. As he ran, he marveled at how she affected him. She was smart and kind, but she definitely had a confidence that wouldn’t allow people to walk on her. He admired that, but it made him a little uncomfortable. He needed her to follow the plan. Already his body was ignoring the plan. She was beautiful, but it was more than that. And whenever he touched her, his body kept ignoring that she was off limits. If she hadn’t been an employee….

She was, though. And he had to remember that at all times. Having separate bedrooms would definitely keep his libido at bay. He ran a little faster, surprised he hadn’t caught up to her yet. Maybe she was doing a little running of her own.

When he spotted Max and Samantha together on the beach, he was irritated. Max was wasting no time, typical. But when he saw Max touch Samantha’s face, he felt a burn of anger that was foreign to him. He saw Samantha pull away from Max, but Max leaned closer. Blake put on a burst of speed.

S
amantha walked quickly
down the beach, her shoes in her hand. The fresh air felt wonderful and the ability to walk along the deserted beach was heaven. Blake Putnam, however, was hell. How dare he be so dismissive to everything she said? He didn’t have all the answers. He couldn’t even hang out with his family and enjoy himself. He had a father and a mother who loved him. And siblings. All she had was her mother, still grieving and trying to make ends meet working as a receptionist for their local vet. Blake Putnam was definitely brilliant, and her boss, but he needed a lesson in humanity.