No Strings... (Harlequin Blaze)

chapter 10



AIDEN WOKE JUST before five in the morning, still in Chloe’s bed, his body spooning the back of hers and his arm wrapped around her waist. The realization that he was still there when he should have been long gone jolted him to full consciousness.

After their first night together, as if by unspoken agreement, neither one of them had stayed the entire night in the other’s bed...and now he understood why. Because sharing this kind of intimacy was a dangerous thing and made their relationship feel real, when their affair was only supposed to be a temporary fling.

But last night he hadn’t been able to get enough of Chloe, and every time he started to go, she would lure him right back in with a seductive kiss, a whispered promise or an erotic caress...until they were both too exhausted to do anything but fall into a deep, sated sleep together.

Which brought him back around to his current predicament. He couldn’t resist Chloe, that much was clear. But his desire for her went beyond the physical. Everything about her felt good and right, in ways he never would have imagined. She exhilarated him, challenged him in ways he enjoyed, and made him want to open himself up to the possibility of more. With her. Despite her drive and ambition and need to climb the corporate ladder.

Because he was falling in love with her.

The thought terrified him, and it was that tangle of fear currently tightening his chest that had him itching to get out while the getting was still good.

He couldn’t stay. He had to leave. Not just Chloe, but the island, too. There were so many conflicting feelings battling within him, and he wasn’t ready to face Chloe until he sorted things out in his own head. And the only way he could do that was to put distance between them. He had decisions he needed to make, and none of them were easy. But he just couldn’t think straight when he was around her.

Ignoring the dull ache in his chest, he eased away from the delicious warmth of her body. She let out a soft sigh and snuggled into the warm spot he’d left behind, giving him the opportunity to move off the bed. Careful not to awaken her, he quietly got dressed, knowing he was taking the coward’s way out, but unable to change what he needed to do...for his own self-preservation.

They were supposed to leave the island today, anyways. He was just taking the very early morning flight out, instead of waiting around for the late afternoon one they’d initially booked. He had everything he needed for his campaign, so there was no reason to stay, and he’d be long gone before she realized what he’d done.

Finding the standard hotel notepad and pen on her nightstand, he wrote her a quick note letting her know he’d flown out early, and that he’d see her back in the office on Monday morning. Then, with one last longing look at her, he silently slipped out of her room and hoped like hell he wasn’t walking away from the best thing that had ever happened to him.

* * *

CHLOE WASN’T SURPRISED to wake up alone, but as she reread the vague, impersonal note that Aiden had left for her to find, a huge knot of hurt and disappointment twisted inside her stomach. He’d decided to leave the island earlier than their scheduled afternoon flight, and considering it was after eight in the morning, he was likely already gone.

She set the piece of paper back on the nightstand and dragged her fingers through her disheveled hair, reminding herself that no promises had been made between them other than to indulge in a hot affair during their time at the resort.

And today definitely marked the end, no matter how much she wished otherwise.

A foolish part of her had hoped that after last night’s discussion about his ex-wife, she and Aiden had forged an intimate bond that went deeper than just appeasing their lust for one another. And the way he’d made love to her after sharing something so painful, there had been no denying the emotion and need pouring from him.

Last night had been so different from all the other times they’d been together. When she finally fell asleep, curled up against Aiden, safe and secure in his arms, she’d truly believed that something significant had changed between them. That despite their differences and the standing no dating policy at the firm, that they could quietly continue seeing each other outside of work and find out if what they’d started here on the island translated into a real-world relationship.

But she realized it was all wishful thinking on her part. If Aiden’s actions were any indication, he had no desire to continue anything with her...and that realization hurt more than she wanted to admit.

She pulled in a deep breath, and the lingering scent of Aiden filled her senses. Refusing to sit in her room for the rest of the morning wallowing in what could have been, she decided she needed to get out, to breathe fresh air and clear her head.

She took a quick shower, changed into a lightweight sundress and sandals, and headed down to the lobby, which was filled with guests going through the check-out process, and groups of people saying farewell to the friends they’d made. There was laughter and lively conversations, as well as many couples walking hand in hand, giving credence to the fact that love matches had been made, and would hopefully flourish even long after they left the St. Raphael resort.

Feeling a twinge of jealousy for those who were heading back home in love and with the promise of a bright, fresh future with someone they’d met, Chloe quickly made her way outside, where it was a beautiful, sunny, breezy day. She walked aimlessly along various pathways, inhaling the familiar fragrance of jasmine, until she realized she’d ended up at the island greenhouses. The flowers beckoned to her, and she didn’t hesitate to enter the glass enclosure.

Silence greeted Chloe, along with the perfumed scent of all the tropical flowers growing around her. She was immediately reminded of the first time she’d been in here, with Aiden, and when she caught sight of those fuchsia flowers that Hattie claimed to predict a couple’s compatibility, she slowly strolled over to those potted plants and lightly stroked one of the soft, velvety petals.

“Hi there,” a familiar female voice said from behind Chloe. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to stop by the greenhouse today, not with everyone leaving the island.”

Chloe turned around, and as soon as she met Hattie’s perceptive gaze, she realized why she’d come here...even if it had been subconsciously. Because she believed Hattie’s claim, that the possibility existed that she and Aiden could be soul mates—even if Aiden didn’t. Chloe felt the connection in her heart, and other places she’d thought she’d closed off after the way things ended with Neil.

“I was just taking a walk around the area and ended up here,” she said easily. “Did you have a busy week here in the greenhouse?”

“Actually, I did. A lot of matchmaking going on, that’s for sure,” she said with a throaty laugh, then she tipped her head, regarding Chloe a bit more speculatively. “Where is your man? The one so interested in my matchmaking skills, yet so skeptical about love, even when it’s right in front of him?”

There Hattie went again, spouting insight about a person. But as far as Aiden was concerned, Chloe had to admit the other woman’s intuition was pretty dead-on. “Aiden took the early morning flight out,” she said, keeping her reply simple, when it was anything but.

Hattie gently took Chloe’s hand between the two of hers, her deep brown eyes kind and tender. “He left you,” she said softly, knowingly.

“Yes,” Chloe whispered, hating the way her throat closed up with emotion.

“The man is a fool,” Hattie said with a scowl that made Chloe chuckle, before the older woman grew serious once again. “But he’s also been betrayed in the past and doesn’t trust easily. You’ve been hurt, too. But you, at least, are open to love again.”

Hattie’s statement was very matter-of-fact, and Chloe no longer questioned how the woman knew such things, especially since what she’d just said was dead-on—about both her and Aiden. It was true that the way things ended between her and Neil had left her guarded and more intent on exerting her time and energy on her career, rather than another man. After Neil had taken control of so many aspects of her life and decisions, she’d sworn she’d never give another man that much influence over her.

But with Aiden, there was no emotional power-play between them, just an equal give and take that had turned their flirtatious friendship into something much deeper and caring. This past week with Aiden had made her realize just how much she missed being in a real relationship...one based on mutual respect, caring, great sex and the kind of faith that came in knowing that Aiden would never do anything to deliberately hurt her.

There was no question that her heart ached for Aiden and what he’d gone through with his ex-wife. They both had screwed-up pasts, things that had happened to each of them that kept them from letting someone close again. But after everything they’d shared, she trusted Aiden, and that’s what ultimately mattered.

Unfortunately, those feelings weren’t reciprocated.

The thought made her chest hurt. “I am open to love again, but that doesn’t do me much good when the man I want isn’t.”

Hattie gave the back of her hand a consoling pat. “You need to give him a little push, I think,” she said thoughtfully. “If you haven’t told him how you feel, then you need to. Men can be very obtuse that way.”

The other woman managed to make Chloe laugh, but her biggest fear was that she’d put her feelings for Aiden out in the open, and he’d reject them. But then again, when had she ever backed down from something she believed in? “No guts, no glory, huh?”

“Yes, you strike me as a woman with a lot of guts,” Hattie said, her tone amused. “The worst thing in life is living with regrets. Don’t let your man be one of them.”

“Thank you,” Chloe said, and gave Hattie a hug, because this woman had given her more useful advice in the span of fifteen minutes than her own mother ever had.

Filled with a renewed purpose, she headed back to the resort, wanting to believe that Aiden’s reasons for bolting on her were because of the emotional impact of what had happened between them. But she wouldn’t know for sure, not until she had the chance to ask him herself. Because unlike him, she needed closure to this affair, one way or another. She wanted to look into his eyes, tell him what was in her heart, and know that she’d laid herself bare, with no regrets.

As she made her way into the hotel lobby, she caught sight of Darryl and Ken, the Metro Ad Agency boys, who were talking with Edward Luca, the vice president of St. Raphael Resort. She could tell by their expressions that it wasn’t a casual conversation, but rather a more intense discussion that raised her awareness and business instincts. They’d all had their time with Luca during the week to discuss the resort and potential ideas. They weren’t supposed to pitch their presentations until next week, after they’d returned to their respective ad agencies to refine their campaigns.

There was just something about how insistent Ken was being with Luca that didn’t sit right with Chloe. Curious to know what they were discussing, she stopped at a nearby rack of brochures about the island, and with her back to the trio she perused the selection while blatantly eavesdropping.

“We really feel we have the winning campaign for the St. Raphael Resort, and we’re ready to pitch our presentation today, before we leave the island,” Ken said, doing his best to convince the VP to give them an edge over the competition, without outright saying so.

It was all Chloe could do to keep her mouth shut, when she wanted to step in and argue just whose campaign was superior. She’d never be so crass in front of the vice president of the resort, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to make damn sure that she and Aiden had their shot, too.

“I have meetings with your agency, as well as Perry & Associates next week,” Edward said hesitantly. “I wasn’t planning on viewing anyone’s campaign here on the island.”

“We understand,” Darryl chimed in, his tone a bit more assertive. “But we feel that our presentation is all you need to see to make a final decision.”

The man’s gall and arrogance made Chloe’s blood boil in her veins, and she nearly tore the brochure she held in her hands in half. Maintaining her composure took extreme effort.

“That’s very presumptuous of you both,” Luca said, his tone frank.

“We’re just confident.”

There was a distinct pause, then Edward spoke again. “All right,” he said, a twinge of reluctance in his voice. “Let’s set up a meeting in conference room C in half an hour, and I’ll see what you’ve come up with.”

“Excellent,” Ken said in a too cocky tone. “We’ll be there.”

As the three of them went their separate ways, Chloe swallowed back her anger and knew she had no choice but to be present at that meeting, too. Because there was no way she was going to let those boys steal something that rightfully belonged to her or Aiden.

* * *

AFTER BOARDING A small puddle jumper plane from the island early that morning, Aiden sat in the Nassau, Bahamas, airport, waiting to catch his connecting flight to Boston. He had a little less than two hours to kill, and way too much time alone to think. About Chloe, and the way he’d slipped out on her this morning.

At the time, it had been a defensive reaction, a way to protect himself from having to deal with the intense emotions rioting within him. True, those feelings were still present and wreaking havoc with every rational reason he tried to come up with why things would never work between him and Chloe, so why did he think that any amount of distance was going to change that?

He dragged his hands through his hair, his stomach roiling with a ton of regrets, because he could only imagine how Chloe had felt when she’d realized he’d left without so much as a goodbye, or an explanation. Just a brusque note, when she deserved better than an impersonal brush-off.

Jesus, he was such an ass, and Aiden was certain his brother Sam would heartily agree with that sentiment. If he could turn back the clock and do things differently, he would, but trapped between the island and Boston while waiting for his flight, without any cell service to the island, there was nothing he could do about his stupidity.

Knowing he had no choice but to wait and deal with Chloe and the situation until they were both back in Boston, he decided he needed to keep himself distracted, or let his thoughts drive him crazy. Deciding to use his idle time to refine his presentation, he retrieved his computer from his leather attaché. While his laptop booted up, he reached into the front pocket of his briefcase for the flash drive with his PowerPoint presentation, but it wasn’t there. Frowning, he thought back to when he last remembered having it, and his stomach churned with apprehension when he realized he’d never gotten it back from Chloe.

He didn’t believe she’d deliberately kept it from him, and it wasn’t as though he didn’t have a back-up on his laptop’s hard drive, but he couldn’t stop the niggle of unease coursing through him. He knew how much securing this campaign meant to her—just as much as it meant to him, and he wanted to trust her but...

He shook his head of those negative, cynical thoughts before they could completely form. She’d never do that to him. Then again, hadn’t he thought the same of his ex-wife?

No. He wasn’t going to go there. He had to believe she wouldn’t betray him that way. Besides, what was Chloe going to do with his presentation in a day’s time? They were due in the office tomorrow morning, and he’d get the flash drive back then. No harm. No foul.

* * *

HEART PUMPING WITH adrenaline, Chloe rushed back to her hotel room, knowing she had a limited amount of time to change into something more professional than her casual sundress, and gather up what she needed to give Edward Luca the best, most cohesive presentation possible with such short notice. Most of her concept was laid out, but she still hadn’t come up with a catchy tagline that the resort could use in their advertising and branding. She thought she’d have more time to figure out a slogan, but she was just going to have to wing it. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time for that.

Feeling frantic because the clock was ticking, she found a simple black dress that she hadn’t worn yet and hastily slipped it on, and added a pair of red pumps. The pop of color gave her a boost of confidence, yet kept her overall appearance classy and sophisticated. Quickly, she pulled her hair into a sleek ponytail, then focused on the material she needed to take with her for this very impromptu meeting.

As she fired up her laptop to make sure that her PowerPoint slides were as clean as possible, she couldn’t stop the frustration making its way to the surface. God, she wished that Aiden was still here on the island, that he hadn’t left on the morning flight out. Even though they had separate campaigns and ideas to offer, this was something they should be doing together, but he’d left her with no choice but to go it alone.

Then she remembered she still had his flash drive with his matchmaking concept on it and experienced a swell of relief. If Aiden couldn’t be here, at least she’d be able to pitch his presentation, too, and that’s all that mattered—that the two of them got a fair shot at the campaign.

She gathered up her laptop and retrieved Aiden’s flash drive and made her way down to conference room C. The door was already closed, and she heard male voices from inside, indicating that the boys were already presenting their campaign ideas to Luca.

She paced the carpeted floor in the hallway, tension tightening across her chest. She didn’t usually get nervous before a meeting, but she and Aiden each had so much riding on this deal. She didn’t want to blow it for either one of them. Knowing she had to shake off her anxiety, and fast, she leaned back against the nearest wall, closed her eyes, and took the Zen approach. She inhaled deep, tranquil breaths, until a peaceful calm cleared her mind and relaxed her body.

She could do this, she told herself, feeling more in control and focused. She loved to pitch to clients, and she was damn good at it. Today would be no different.

After a short while the door opened, and Edward’s voice drifted out into the hallway as he spoke, “I do have to say, your advertising and marketing ideas are solid.” Chloe smiled to herself, knowing she and Aiden were still in the game.

She’d been an ad executive long enough to know when a client used a bland word like solid to describe a marketing approach, they were being more diplomatic than complimentary. Edward hadn’t been all that impressed by what he’d seen. If he had used terms such as unique or innovative, Chloe might have had a cause for concern, but his lack of any obvious enthusiasm filled her with a much needed surge of confidence.

Darryl and Ken strolled out of the room first, both of them wearing smug expressions...until they saw her standing there in the hallway, her laptop tucked under her arm, ready to present her campaign, too. She wanted to laugh at the shocked, oh shit looks on their faces, but managed to maintain her composure.

“Darryl. Ken,” she acknowledged politely. “Mr. Luca, I’d also like the chance to pitch our company’s campaign ideas today.”

Edward arched a brow, amusement in his eyes. “By all means, come inside,” he said, motioning for her to enter the conference room.

She walked inside, and he closed the door securely after her, watching as she set her laptop on the table and turned it on. He was dressed casually in a pair of khaki pants and a collared shirt, and she had to admit that for a man in his late fifties he was very good-looking. His hair was still thick and dark, though there was some silver at the temples that gave him a distinguished appearance. His body was still trim, his skin tanned, and there was a charm about him that put her at ease.

“You came prepared.” He sat down in a nearby chair, then tipped his head curiously. “How did you know that the other agency was presenting their campaign?”

“I overheard them speaking with you down in the lobby, being more than a little insistent about pitching their presentation to you today,” she replied honestly as she prepared her PowerPoint slides. “I wasn’t about to leave the island without you seeing our campaign ideas, too.”

He leaned back in his seat, admiration flickering in his gaze. “I have a lot of respect for a woman with such determination and fortitude.”

She accepted his praise with a smile. “Oh, I have plenty of that, Mr. Luca.”

“Where is Aiden?” Edward asked. “Shouldn’t he be here, as well?”

Yes, he should have been there, but she’d never throw her partner under the bus for her own personal gain. Yes, she wanted this account badly, but she just didn’t operate that way. She’d cover for him the best she could. “He had to leave the island early this morning.”

“I hope everything is okay?” Edward asked, clearly concerned.

“Yes, everything is fine.” She didn’t offer details, because they weren’t necessary. Besides, she wasn’t about to share the real reason why Aiden had left...her. “In fact, I have his presentation with me, which is a different concept than my own, so I’m all set.”

Edward gave an approving nod. “Excellent. Let’s see what you’ve come up with.”

She remained standing and positioned the laptop so that it faced Edward, but she could see the screen, as well, and control the speed of the slide show as she added her commentary to the presentation. She clicked the start button, and the program began to play.

As the slides clicked from one to the other, providing Edward with visual pictures of the resort, the island, the romantic aspects and her fun, sexy flash mob concept that conveyed personality and attitude, she explained the marketing strategies she had in mind, how she could boost their consumer visibility, and finished off her presentation with a memorable hook that would leave Edward wanting more.

“This campaign is all about finding love in paradise,” she said, and realized that she’d just discovered her tagline for the St. Raphael Resort. Even she was proof that it was possible, considering she’d fallen in love with Aiden, and she latched on to the slogan.

“Find Love in Paradise,” she said again as the slide show ended, this time giving the words more meaning and emotion, which was easy to do, since they came from her heart. “That’s what your guests can expect when they arrive at St. Raphael.”

Edward nodded thoughtfully. “I like it. It’s very current and contemporary, but still stays true to the St. Raphael goal of making sure that everyone finds love...in paradise,” he said, as if testing the slogan she’d come up with. He smiled, his eyes alight with enthusiasm, and she knew she’d definitely captivated him with her ideas.

She plugged in Aiden’s flash drive and switched out her slide show for his, and continued the presentation with seamless ease. “The flash mob concept is certainly more modern, but Aiden has taken a more traditional approach with his campaign. Guests are still exposed to many romantic elements, but the one thing you could use as a draw is Hattie, your island matchmaker.”

He frowned in confusion. “Hattie? She’s just an old woman who enjoys tending to her exotic flowers and visiting with the guests.”

The man had no idea just how valuable Hattie was to him, and the resort, and Chloe planned to enlighten him. “Oh, she’s much more than that, Mr. Luca. She comes from a long line of matchmakers, and she’s an untapped source that could elevate this resort’s reputation. Take a look at this interview Aiden did with Hattie, and imagine the element of fantasy, romance and magic she could add to your campaign and advertising.”

She clicked the play button, and the interview streamed onto the computer. Edward watched the video with interest, and she could tell by the surprised look on his face that he was seeing Hattie’s potential, and all the ways they could utilize her as a draw to the island and resort.

As soon as the interview ended, she wrapped up the presentation with her closing statement. “Who else in this industry has an island matchmaker? Someone who intuitively knows if two people belong together and has a very high success rate of pairing up compatible couples, and uses an exotic flower to predict a couple’s fate? No one. And that gives you, and the St. Raphael resort, a competitive edge.”

He nodded in agreement. “It certainly does.”

She exhaled a deep breath, knowing she’d given her absolute best, to both campaigns. “So, there you go...an exciting, fun flash mob, or a traditional matchmaker. The choice is yours.”

“Both concepts are unique and innovative,” he said, making Chloe smile by his choice of words, which were music to her ears. “You’ve made it very difficult to choose just one.”

“Then I’ve done my job well,” she said as she powered down her laptop. She knew Edward wouldn’t give her an answer before she left, but she was confident that she’d engaged and captivated him more than the Metro boys had.

Now it was just a matter of which campaign Edward liked better...hers, or Aiden’s?