Wicked Heat (12 page)

Her cell rang at that moment and she stared at the number in surprise. “It’s Kai,”
she mouthed to Zoe, whose eyes widened as she answered.

“Allegra Wilks speaking.”

“Allegra, Kai Kaluna. Can I see you back in my office now, please?” While Kai ended
on a question, from the steel threading his commanding tone, Allegra knew it was an
order.

“Sure, we’ll be there in two minutes.”

“See you then.” He hung up, leaving Allegra staring at the phone in consternation.

Zoe punched her on the arm. “Well? What did he say?”

“He wants us back in his office now.”

“Now?” Zoe bounced up and down on her seat. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

Allegra shrugged, her hands shaking as she slipped her cell back into her bag. “The
optimist in me says he was so blown away by our presentation he has made his decision
and wants to tell us in person.”

“I’m sensing a
but
?”

“But the realist in me believes that if he called Jett back, too, maybe he’s letting
us all down in person?”

Zoe slumped into the cushions. “Damn, I hate it when you’re logical.”

Allegra nudged her, hoping her heart would stop pounding so loud she could hardly
hear herself think. “Come on, no use speculating. Let’s go hear the verdict.”

…

Kai sat behind his monstrous glass-topped desk, silhouetted against a breathtaking
ocean view. “I bet you’re wondering why I called opposing parties in at the same time.”

Jett, who’d barely acknowledged Allegra and Zoe’s entrance, nodded, while the enemy—Allegra—alternated
between darting nervous glances at him and Kai.

“You two were my last pitches.” Kai pointed at his computer screen. “I had three pitches
by Skype this morning and yours this afternoon.”

He steepled his fingers and rested them on the desk. “Every business decision I make
is driven by two things. Carefully assessed analysis of the situation and pure gut
instinct, so I knew instantly who I wanted launching the new advertising campaign
for Kaluna Resorts.”

Jett heard Allegra’s sharp intake of breath, the same sound she’d made every time
he touched her intimately, and it annoyed him immensely when his cock hardened. A
Pavlovian response, nothing more. But the part where his heart clenched? Frigging
disaster.

Kai stood, rounded his desk and held out a hand. “Jett, your pitch blew me away. Innovative.
Sharp. Exactly what I’d want for a new resort.”

Jett shook Kai’s hand, knowing with a sinking feeling deep in his gut he’d lost.

“But the Caribbean resort and the resort here have been established a while and need
a fresh take to grab the consumer eye.”

Kai released his hand and turned to Allegra and Zoe. “To that end, Miss Wilks and
Miss Keaton, your presentation nailed exactly what I’m looking for to take Kaluna
Resorts forward.”

Disappointment trickled through Jett, freezing his veins, as he sat there, immovable,
as he watched his future being handed over to the woman who had betrayed him.

“Congratulations, ladies. AW Advertising will be responsible for the new face of my
resorts.”

Frustration curled Jett’s hands into fists, disillusionment making his head buzz as
he tuned out their effusive thanks and mustered some kind of rigid smile.

“However, there’s one stipulation.” Kai held up his hand. “My Australian resort in
the Whitsunday Islands needs a special touch. We’re not opening ’til next year and
I think Mr. Halcott’s ideas would suit a new resort of this nature.”

Hope flickered to life as Jett sat taller.

“So here’s what I propose.” Kai turned to Allegra. “While your company controls the
overall campaign, I want Mr. Halcott doing the Whitsunday job.”

Allegra gaped, before closing her mouth quickly. “You mean as a subcontractor?”

Kai nodded. “Exactly.”

And just like that, Jett’s bubble of hope popped in a big way.

He didn’t want to work alongside Allegra, let alone
for
her. To have to answer to her? Run every idea past her? No frigging way.

“Perhaps it would be better if Mr. Halcott worked independently on the Australian
resort?” Allegra shot him a concerned glance that only solidified his anger. He didn’t
need her goddamn concern or pity. “He knows that part of the world better than we
do, so it would leave AW time to focus on the other resorts.”

Kai shook his head and sat behind his desk, his frown ominous. “I don’t like complicating
my business any more than it needs to be. Kaluna Resorts will have one advertising
company, that’s it. However you want to structure it, I want Mr. Halcott doing the
Whitsunday job.”

Jett gritted his teeth and waited for Allegra to protest again, to do something to
get them out of this god-awful mess. Because if this went through—and the pragmatist
in him was resigned to the fact it had to for him to save his career—he’d be bound
to Allegra, albeit professionally, when he’d never wanted to see her again.

“Are you all in agreement?”

Jett glared at Allegra, even at this late stage hoping she’d shake her head. Instead,
she nodded and he joined in a second later.

Their fate was sealed.

Chapter Nine

“We need to talk,” Jett said, reaching out to grab Allegra’s arm before thinking better
of it and letting his hand drop.

Allegra’s heart plummeted. The fact that he didn’t want to touch her hurt. A lot.

“You think?” She feigned indifference to hide her pain.

Was it only yesterday he couldn’t get enough of her? Seemed like a lifetime ago, a
parallel universe where she was carefree and happy, without pretenses.

She liked being in that place, liked who she’d been with him. But that was in the
past now and she had to face reality: being Jett’s boss.

Hell.

“Let’s get a drink.” He waited for her to fall into step with him before heading to
the resort bar.

She didn’t blame him for not wanting to convene in her room or his. They didn’t talk
much when that happened.

Not that there was the remotest chance they’d be having sex again any time soon. The
kicker? The thought of missing out on that incredible passion didn’t hurt half as
much as the loss of intimacy. The way he’d stroke her hair afterward, the way he’d
curl his arm around her shoulders and she’d snuggle into him, the way he’d absentmindedly
stroke her arm as they made desultory small talk in bed.

Yeah, she’d miss that and more, had resigned herself to taking a while for the pain
to ease. Yet by a surprising twist, Kai Kaluna had managed to bind their fates, at
least for the interim.

She could handle it. She could handle anything if it meant saving AW Advertising.
But by Jett’s rigid posture and set jaw, he didn’t like it one bit.

“Drink?”

She shook her head, hating his sharp tone.

He ordered a double whiskey before edging his barstool away, ensuring that they wouldn’t
inadvertently touch. “This entire situation is screwed.”

“Not necessarily.” She toyed with a drink coaster before nudging it away with her
finger. “We both get what we want. I save AW, you save your career.”

“Yeah, by working as your frigging underling,” he spat out, accepting the whiskey
glass from the waiter with a terse nod then downing his drink in two gulps. “No way
in hell I’d sign up for that.”

“You do have a choice,” she said, maintaining her cool aloofness with difficulty.

To have the guy she cared for speak to her like that…damn, maybe she should’ve had
a drink after all.

“Some frigging choice,” he said, signaling for another drink. “Aren’t you even the
slightest bit ruffled by any of this?” He snapped his fingers. “Of course not. You
control the situation and get your own way.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Suck it up, Princess. Life’s not fair. Or didn’t you know?” He downed another double
shot and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Want to know what’s not fair?
Working your ass off for years, building a reputable company, and losing everything
because you’re a gullible idiot who sees the best in people.”

“You weren’t gullible.” She laid a hand on his forearm, wanting to comfort him. Not
surprisingly, he snatched his arm away.

“Like how I wasn’t gullible with you?” Bitterness twisted his mouth. “Christ, I’m
an idiot.”

“I didn’t mean to deliberately hurt you,” she said, trying to keep the quiver out
of her voice. “I was going to tell you the truth.”

“When? After you landed the deal so as not to mess up the little arrangement we had
going on?”

He scored a direct hit and heat surged to Allegra’s cheeks.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” He leaned closer, whiskey fumes on his breath mingling with
the citrus aftershave that seemed imprinted on her skin following their scorching
encounters. “You were enjoying getting off so much, you didn’t want to mess with that,
so you hedged your bets.”

“Don’t be crude,” she said, turning away a fraction so he couldn’t see her shame at
being caught out.

“Crude is waiting to see if you land a deal before coming clean. Crude is taking what
you can get and not giving a shit about the other person. Crude is using whatever
means possible to get ahead.”

Her head snapped up at his last accusation. “I never used you to get ahead.”

“No, but you used your sexuality as a weapon.” He waved toward Kai’s office. “You
and Zoe strutting in there in your short-skirted power suits, using the old ‘sex sells’
campaign.”

“Don’t insult me.” She squared her shoulders and eyeballed him. “I’m a professional.
I won this campaign by sizing up the situation and acting accordingly.”

He pinned her with a glare that made her squirm. “Is that what you did with me? Size
me up and act accordingly?”

He made it sound like she’d tied him up and used him against his will. He wished.

“Let’s stick to business,” she said, brusque to the point of rudeness. “You’ve got
the Whitsunday job if you want it. Carte blanche with your ideas, but as a subcontractor
to AW I’ll need to have final approval.”

His lips set in a mutinous line.

“I guess for all intents and purposes I’m your boss but I don’t expect you to run
everything by me. You’re a professional in the industry. I trust you.”

“How magnanimous,” he said, a sneer curling his upper lip.

“You’re acting like an ass.” She stood and slung her bag over her shoulder. “When
you’re willing to talk business like an adult, give me a call.”

“Screw this,” he said, signaling for a third drink as he pinned her with an accusatory
glare. “I know exactly why you didn’t tell me about pitching. Because I was the enemy
and you wanted to be in total control of the situation.”

Startled by his accusation, she crossed her arms, her nails digging into her forearms
until she felt a sting of pain. “You were never the enemy.”

“But you did want to keep me on a tight leash.”

She didn’t like his flaring resentment or the realization that part of his accusation
might be true. She had loved the incredible empowerment of having it all for once:
killer job, killer guy, and happiness beyond measure. But she hadn’t told him everything
because she didn’t want him to feel emasculated. Because she cared about him, worse
luck. “You’re wrong—”

“Am I?” He tapped his temple. “You’re constantly overthinking and overanalyzing everything.
I couldn’t even have your undivided attention for one dinner without you drifting
off into your own little world where you’re the queen of your domain.”

Allegra stared at Jett, his constant references to her controlling tendencies seriously
starting to piss her off. She’d been distracted at that dinner because she’d been
scrounging up her meager courage to tell him the truth. And look how that turned out.

Hating how he had the power to hurt her, she deliberately perched on a barstool again,
cool and calm and in control to prove a point. “Not everyone can be facetious and
glib and insouciant all the time.”

Anger sparked his eyes. “Are you calling me shallow?”

“No more than you calling me a control freak.”

His neck muscles bulged. “Good to know what you really think of me.”

“Stop being so damn sensitive,” she snapped, instantly regretting losing her temper
when he squared his shoulders as if going into battle. “I tried to help you, goddammit.
I changed my pitch for you! Yours was almost identical to the idea I’d had and I wanted
to give you a fair shot at winning so I came up with something completely different.
I did that for
you
.”

The truth spilled out in an ugly torrent and nothing like how she’d envisioned telling
him. But it was too late. By his pallor and horror-stricken expression, way too late.

“For fuck’s sake, you thought I was some kind of pathetic charity case who couldn’t
go head-to-head with you so you changed your pitch? You thought I needed your pity?”
He shook his head, disgust twisting his grimace. “How magnanimous of you, deigning
to help the poor sucker you duped.”

He stood. “Don’t you think I know what you think of me deep down?” He towered over
her, glowering and grim. “You think I’m a gullible loser who can’t keep control of
anything, let alone his business partner and company.” He jabbed a finger at her.
“Here’s a news flash for you.” He sneered. “I’ll do the best damn job I can on the
Whitsunday campaign and report in like a good little minion. But anything else between
us?” He made a slitting action across his neck. “We’re done.”

Stunned by how swiftly the situation had deteriorated, Allegra opened her mouth to
call him back. To refute his outlandish claims. To deny his self-pity.

But as Jett’s strides lengthened and the gap between them grew, Allegra knew there
was nothing she could say to convince Jett he was wrong. Because as brutal as his
accusations had been, maybe there’d been a kernel of truth buried deep.

…

The next morning, Jett had the hangover to end all hangovers.

He’d lost count of how many double shots he’d had last night at one of the resort’s
many bars and didn’t particularly care. He’d craved numbness and that’s what he’d
gotten after the tenth drink. Or was it the fifteenth?

At no stage had it entered his head that he’d be committing professional suicide if
Kai Kaluna had ventured into the bar and seen him sprawled against it. Then again,
had he really cared?

When Allegra had talked to him like a condescending queen with a pole stuck ten feet
up her ass, he’d wanted to smash something. So he’d settled for getting smashed instead.

He’d acted like a real prick and she’d called him on it. Had to admire her for that.
Never had he seen her look at him like that…like something nasty she’d stepped in
and couldn’t wait to wipe off her shoe.

He’d deserved it, of course, but it didn’t change facts.

If he didn’t get his act together he’d be heading back to Sydney unemployed.

He should be rapt that Kai had given him a shot at showcasing his newest resort to
the world. Instead, he’d gotten hung up on the logistics and allowed his bitterness
toward Allegra to taint his success.

To think, she would now be his boss.

In what realm was this anything but a big cosmic joke? Ha frigging ha.

It wouldn’t be so bad. She’d be on the other side of the world, he’d be based in Sydney
and making regular trips to the Great Barrier Reef. They’d be oceans apart.

So why did that thought make his stomach roll as much as the lingering scotch in his
bloodstream?

He had to pull himself together, get cleaned up, and go find Allegra to perform his
first task as her employee.

Grovel.

…

“So stud-muffin didn’t take the news so well, huh?” Zoe bit into a bagel and licked
strawberry jam off her top lip.

“He was a mess,” Allegra said, scooping a spoonful of cereal before letting it trickle
back into the bowl, untouched. “I kinda felt sorry for him.”

“Sore loser,” Zoe said, taking another big bite of bagel. “Probably one of those Neanderthals
who hates having a female boss.”

Allegra shook her head. “I don’t think that’s it.”

“You’re defending him?” Zoe’s eyebrows shot up. “Because he doesn’t deserve you.”

“Whoa, back up. How did we go from discussing business to him not deserving me?”

“You’re pining for him, and by the way he kept staring at you in Kai’s office, the
feeling’s mutual.” Zoe dusted crumbs off her hands and dabbed at the corners of her
mouth. “You’re deluding yourself if you think having him work for you is going to
be strictly business.”

“’Course it will be,” Allegra said, wondering if her snappy answer had more to do
with convincing herself than Zoe. “We need to get a job done.”

Zoe grinned. “Yeah, but who’s going to be doing who?”

Allegra picked up a bagel and flung it at Zoe, who ducked with a raucous laugh.

“Trust me.” Zoe puckered up and made gross smooching noises. “You and stud-muffin?
Not over. Not by a long shot.”

Allegra never mixed business with pleasure, but for a fleeting second, she sure as
hell wished she could.

…

Jett knocked twice on Allegra’s door and waited. He clutched the bunch of frangipani
so tight they almost snapped off at the stalks and he forced himself to relax.

As far as peace offerings went, the flowers were uninspiring but what else could he
do? Normally he’d offer to kiss it all better but he had a feeling any offer remotely
like it would earn him a resounding slap.

He should’ve called ahead but had wanted her off-balance. Childish? Maybe, but he
needed to regain the upper hand, to establish some kind of control after losing so
much ground last night.

He couldn’t help but admire the way she presented an unruffled front to the world.
Made him wonder. How many people did she let her guard down around? Was he one of
the lucky few?

He lifted his hand to knock again when the door swung open, and he clamped down on
his first urge to push into the suite, slam the door shut, and take Allegra up against
the wall. They’d both enjoyed it that way, a little rough. She had faint bruises on
her ass where he’d held her tight to prove it. Not to mention the memory of her tied
up and splayed before him…wet and wanton…

Some of what he was thinking must’ve shown on his face because she stood back to let
him in, not daring to meet his gaze.

His gut clenched with remembrance as her soft floral fragrance wrapped around him,
teasing him to reevaluate all he’d lost.

“I want to apologize for last night.” He thrust the flowers at her. “I behaved like
an idiot.”

“Yeah, you did. But I did, too, blurting the whole truth like that.” She took the
flowers, buried her nose in them, and inhaled. “Thanks for these.”

“Least I could do.” He sat without being asked, more memories assaulting him from
all angles. Kissing her on this very sofa, making her squirm for him.

Predictably, he hardened. Damn.

If she noticed, she didn’t say anything, bustling into the kitchenette to fill a glass
with water and placing the flowers in the makeshift vase.

When she came back in she handed him a glass of yellow fizz. “Liquid vitamin B to
help your hangover.”