"Oh yeah. I'm full of them."
Frank waited, a look of expectation etched in his kindly old face, but when silence reigned between the three of them, Trey stepped in again.
"She has one of those dry wits. It's so funny. Half the time you can hardly tell if she's making a joke."
"Right." Felicia nodded. "Besides, that's more of a personal thing. I try not to bring my personal life into the office with me."
"I don't see why not. We aim for you to give of your whole self. We're here to support you." Frank frowned, then rested his fists on his hips as he surveyed her. "I would hope that by the end of this conference it will be a little easier for you to...shall we say, embrace our new corporate culture."
"Yes, absolutely." Felicia nodded vigorously, and Trey rested one hand on her bicep and offered Frank another smile.
"Please excuse us," he said, "I promised Felicia I had something to show her and I've gotten to see so little of her during her visit."
"Yes, of course." Frank nodded, and Trey led her away as she pursed her lips in worry.
"Ugh, I can never say the right thing to that man," she groaned when she was sure he was finally out of earshot.
"This may seem like a bad time to say it but--"
"Please, please don't tell me to relax. I tried to relax. I'm not fit for relaxing."
"Well, if you can't do it on your own, then maybe you need someone who can teach you how."
"Are you suggesting...?" She didn't want to say it aloud. Not when the space where his hand had touched her skin still tingled with his warmth.
"Surf with me tomorrow. Come to my lesson. Get out some of that energy."
"I don't know."
"Come on, what's the worst thing that could happen?"
"I fall and die on the coral?"
"Second worst?"
"Eaten by a shark?"
"See you at ten," he countered, and before she had the chance to argue, he turned on his heel and started away.
Five
When Trey knocked on Felicia’s door the next morning, a feeling like dread coiled low in his stomach.
All night, he’d asked himself why he was doing this, why after all his self-inflicted pep-talks about women and relationships he was letting this redhead get the jump on him. Again and again, he tried to convince himself that it wasn’t her, though. That it was his professional duty driving him to help her find an outlet. As if surfing was going to be her number one pastime when she got back to New York…
He shook his head, knowing a headache was mere minutes away if he kept wracking his brain like this, and then lifted his hand to knock again. Before he got the chance, though, it swung open and Felicia Webb stared up at him with wide eyes, her mouth crinkled into something between confusion and disbelief.
“It’s ten. Ready to go?” He held out the drink tray he’d been carrying in his other hand and she eyed it before grabbing a cup of coffee.
She took a swig, seemed to think about it for a moment, then tilted her head to the side and asked, “How did you find me?”
“I have my ways.” And it never hurt to be friends with the receptionist. Or the concierge. Or the hotel managers.
“Right. That is…not unsettling at all.” Still, she took another sip of her coffee. “Kona,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
He nodded. “Best stuff on the island. You’ll need your energy for today. Now come on, let’s hit the shore.”
She sucked in her bottom lip, then sat down her coffee and nodded. In one quick move, she pulled off the robe she’d been wearing and revealed the sexiest little bikini he’d ever seen. It was plain enough, just a solid sort of dark teal color, but it complimented her red hair and her eyes so well that he had to force himself not to stare at her or the bare expanse of her smooth, creamy skin.
Forcing an air of platonic disinterest that he very much did not feel, he said, “Well, you’re certainly prepared for someone who wasn’t expecting me.”
“I just…like to be ready. That’s all. And I was thinking about going to the pool. That’s all.” The slight tinge of rose rising in her cheeks was all he had to see to know she was lying through her teeth. Cute. And interesting.
Had she been hoping for him to show up?
“All right. Now let’s get to the beach.”
Their walk down to the shore was quiet for the most part, though as Felicia followed along behind him he couldn’t help but notice just how uncomfortable she looked in her swimsuit. Every now and then she’d cross her hands over her stomach or her chest, or check the security of her straps.
He wanted to reach out and take her hand or say something to assure her that everything would be fine. That she looked great—better than great, even. That she was stunning.
But he couldn’t. Or rather, he wouldn’t.
“I hope you slathered on some sunscreen,” he said, but as the words came out he imagined himself running his hands over her back, kneading lotion into her soft skin.