Lush Curves 5: Undertow (2 page)

***

I came down to dinner after a shower and a change of clothes, fresh-faced and ready to make introductions, my emotions gnawing at me like an ulcer. I was wearing a curve-hugging little black dress, my hair brushed to a mirror shine, waves flowing down my back. If I was going to see Gavin again, I wanted to look damn good.

The group was eating in a private room in the hotel restaurant, and when I entered through the doors, I
noticed not only Thomas, Sandra and Stephen, but Gavin, Malcolm, and another man with close-cropped hair.

When Gavin noticed me, the other two men turned, and for a moment, silence fell among them, juxtaposed beside the friendly chatter of the photography crew. Gavin stood and pulled out a chair for me on his other side. I gritted my teeth and smiled, sitting where he directed me, looking across the table.

“Aolani, I know you and Malcolm met earlier, but I haven’t had the pleasure of introducing you to my youngest brother, Graham.” He grinned, and for a moment, I sat stunned.

Wow. He has no idea I am
upset with him.
It was like nothing had changed at all between us.

Somehow, that almost made things worse.

The man with the buzzed hair turned and grinned at me, his lopsided smile and green eyes automatically arresting. I shook his hand across the table, and he bobbed his head in greeting.

“The pleasure’s mine,” he said, his voice melodic and deep.

I blushed quietly, not sure what to make of these three men all assessing me. “It’s wonderful to meet you, too. Gavin’s been eager to see you both.”

“Oh he has, has he? I hope he hasn’t been telling tales out of school,” Malcolm said, grinning like he had a few stories to tell, himself.

I smiled back, drifting into my own thoughts again as the men bantered among themselves, answering half-heartedly whenever I was included. The food came and I ate automatically, not even tasting what was on my plate. Whenever the waiter refilled my wine, I drank deeply.

After
dinner, there were drinks, and after drinks, I excused myself from the group, claiming I wanted to be rested up for the big day.

When Gavin tapped lightly on the door to my room around midnight, I pretended to be asleep. I had to talk to him, but I didn’t want to upset him before the Gala. This was his big shot with the investors, as well as my break. I couldn’t do that to him, but even so, I couldn’t be with him.

Not now that I knew what had to be done.

I rolled over in the silky sheets, letting my tears hit the pillowcase in silence.

***

Gavin

I’d hoped to see Aolani before breakfast since I’d missed her the night before, but when I went to her room, the housekeeper smiled at me and let me know the lady had already left. I thanked her and strolled back to the main lobby, running my hands through my hair.

Where was she? W
as she avoiding me? This was our big day, and I needed her by my side. Not only to introduce her to the investors, but to steady the nervous beat of my heart, banging a tattoo in my chest. After all, if this launch didn’t go well, the company was in real trouble. We needed a good quarter, or we’d lose investor confidence.

I’d be letting my father down
then, as well as my employees. I needed to perform. There was nothing else to it. Either this campaign was a hit, or I’d be sinking down into the mire.

I needed Aolani’s bright smile, the warmth of her laughter, and her calm determination to get my head back on straight. That, and last night I’d missed her in my arms.

Despite the feeling of Fiona’s ghost all around me here, Aolani’s absence had been the thing that haunted me the most, keeping me awake when I should have been resting. Guilt hung on me like a cloak, but it was still the truth. That woman was something special—that couldn’t be denied.

I just hoped I could have a moment with her before the Gala to tell her how much she meant to me. And maybe, for the first time in years, to let myself grab on to a little happiness
, no matter the risk.

***

Aolani

I’d managed to avoid Gavin all day, walking around the city alone, trying to collect my thoughts, and plan what it was I wanted to say
to break it off clean. I decided to wait until after the Gala, but hopefully catch him before he came tapping on my bedroom door again. I couldn’t draw this out any longer than I had to. It would be cruel to both of us, and that was the last thing I wanted.

Despite the ache in my own chest, I never wanted to hurt Gavin.
Not any more than I had to, anyway.

Will he even care?
A voice inside me whispered.
Or will it be a relief that he didn’t have to break it off himself?

The thought made my stomach do a sick little flip inside of me. Yes, the sooner I told him we couldn’t sleep together any more, the sooner I could start licking my wounds. Could start the long, painful process of putting my heart back together—of getting over him and my idiot mistake of letting myself fall in love.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

I was leaning over the old
stone wall to a churchyard, and turned my head at the mischievous brogue behind me. Malcolm Fletcher leaned back against the wall, propping himself up on his elbows and grinning at me like he was undressing me with his eyes.

I tried to smile, but had a feeling I wasn’t convincing anyone.

“Hello, Malcolm.”

“Why so blue, Aolani? It’s a gorgeous day in one of the best cities in the world, if I do say so myself. What’s stopping that beautiful smile of yours
from lighting this whole street up?”

I felt the heat creeping up my cheeks and stared out over the picturesque tombstones and green hillocks of the cemetery. What could I say?

“I… I just have something on my mind is all.”

He squinted at me, then turned and leaned over the wall, scooting closer t
o me, his face suddenly serious.

“It’s my brother, isn’t it,” he said. “
Is he treating you badly? He always was a cold bastard when it came to business.”

I grinned despite myself, and swept my hair over my shoulder. I met Malcolm’s cool, blue gaze.

“Something like that.”

“Well, lucky for you that your new friend Malcolm is here to take your mind off things.” He winked at me.

“Oh? My new friend?”

“Of course, my bonny lass,” he said, sweeping my hand up before I could protest and kissing it again. “And your new friend just happens to be one of the best tour gui
des in all of Scotland, so you’re doubly in luck.”

He nodded his head toward the cobbled street, still holding my hand. “Come on. Let me show you around. This is your first time, right?”

I nodded, feeling swept up in the idea by sheer force of his personality. He was so much different than Gavin—so much wilder. Freer.

He barked a laugh, his white smile making me tingle in a way that made me uncomfortable and giddy at the same time.

“Then, you, Aolani, are in for a treat today. Just leave everything to me.”

***

When he pulled his hands away from my eyes, I couldn’t help but gasp. We were on the ramparts of the castle that had been dominating the skyline since we arrived, staring through a hole in the wall, over the bulk of an ancient cannon. Beyond, we could see the lush, green expanse of the Princess Street Gardens, and past that, the quaint streets of old town mixing into the new, all the way out to the grey-blue waters of the Atlantic.

It was breathtaking.

“Everyone needs to see Edinburgh this way, at least once,” Malcolm said in my ear.

“It’s amazing,” I said. “
I’ve never seen anything like it.”

I felt Malcolm’s strong hand on the small of my back as he leaned over, sharing the view with me, but I didn’t pull away. It was comforting, being here with him, touring the city,
making a new friend just when I needed to be distracted from my sadness.

As we walked the walls of the castle, a breeze kicked up, and I shivered, running my hands over my bare arms. Without a word, Malcolm whisked off his denim jacket and draped it over my shoulders. I smiled up at him, relaxing for the first time in hours.

“Tell me something, Aolani. Are you hungry at all?”

I thought of the Gala, still hours away, and felt my stomach rumble.

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well, there’s one more thing everyone needs to do their first time in Scotland. Do you trust me?”

He grinned at me mischievously, and I felt my skin tingle beneath that piercing blue gaze, so like Gavin’s hazel eyes, but so different altogether.

“I barely know you,” I said, tossing my hair back. I couldn’t hide my smile.
“So, how could I trust you?”

“Well, then, let’s get to know one another better over a plate of traditional fare. I know just the place, and then you’ll get to experience a real taste of Edinburgh.”

I nodded, letting myself be swept away by this charming new man, postponing a little while more the task I was dreading—seeing Gavin again and ending things like I knew I must.

I may not know Malcolm Fletcher yet, but at that moment, I would have followed him anywhere.

***

“
Haggis?”

Malcolm grinned at me before taking a swig from his pint of ale. “Aye, what else?”

I shook my head, looking down at the steaming plate in front of me. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

"Oh, come on now," he said. "It's the chief of all the puddings. It's delicious. Just try it. You'll like it!"

I poked the pastry crust with ground meat spilling out of it and raised an eyebrow at him.

"You said you were up for an adventure, didn't you lass? Well, it never hurts to try something new." He winked at me. "Today's about living a little, right? Taking your mind off you
r problems?"

I sighed and gave him a small smile. We still had a couple of hours before I had to change for the Gala, and I had to admit, Malcolm's company today had been a welcome respite from the
troubled thoughts swirling through my mind. Every time he looked at me with that devilish light in his eyes, I felt wanted again. I felt a happiness loosening the pit of dread in my chest.

"You know what? You're right," I said. I lifted my pint glass of dark beer and toasted
with him. "To trying new things."

"To trying new things," he said, his eyes full of mischief.

We both drank deeply, and then I raised my knife and fork and cut into my haggis. A rich, spiced meat smell rose up, and my mouth started watering.

"I can't believe I'm about to eat this. I don't even know what's in here..." I raised a bite up and stared at it. I could see oats and meat, and that was all I could identify. I took a hesitant bite,
then closed my eyes as the mix of pastry and savory filling played over my tongue.

"Well?" Malcolm said, leaning forward.

"I could see why people would be turned off," I said, eyeing the mess spilling onto my plate, "but I have to admit... It's actually really, really delicious."

He smacked the table with a laugh. "I knew it! I've converted another one!"

I laughed with him, at the joy on his face, and noticed the way his smile deepened as he looked me over.

He wants me, I thought.

Then again, what was wrong with that? We were just two people getting to know one another. Where was the harm in a little flirting?

"Cheers to new experiences, Aolani
," Malcolm said and clinked his glass to mine.

I smiled shyly and took another sip of my beer. It was going to be an interesting night.

***

Gavin

I snagged a glass of champagne off a server's tray and tugged nervously on my tuxedo jacket. The ballroom looked immaculate--the ice sculptures of our yachts gleaming in the light from the chandeliers--the gigantic backdrops of Aolani leaning over the bow, a breathtaking su
nset lighting her faraway gaze; the perfect scene setter. The words "Live beautifully" hung everywhere in banners, the advertisements displayed like works of art for the investors to admire as they milled and drank and ate.

Everything was going smoothly... so why did I feel so on edge?

The photography crew looked great, smiles big and proud as they chatted about the work we'd done with the white haired old men who financed the company. Members of the media snapped photos and milled between the guests, and I forced a smile whenever their camera lenses swung my way.