Absolutely. She held up her thumb and forefinger and squeezed them together. Im this close to finishing the preliminary studies and Ive applied for further grant money in order to move to the next level. Its urgent and important work. But I need fresh, large batches of spores and I need them soon.
I see, he said, stretching his arm out across the back of the sofa.
Clearly frustrated by his blasé tone, she stopped her pacing and said quietly, Look, Mr. Sutherland, I am a scientist, a very good one. And II need this job here in order to conduct my studies. Your resort is the main source of employment on the island.
Its the only source of employment, Ms. Farrell, but lets not nitpick. Staring out the sliding glass doors, he carefully avoided making eye contact as he returned to his original argument. So the reason you lied on your résumé was so that I would hire you so that you could live here at my resort for free and study our spores.
Well, yes, and-
And you thought youd coast right into the mindless job of waitress in our cocktail bar to cover your costs.
I suppose thats right, but-
And yet, youve never been a cocktail waitress.
Well, no, but-
Well, then. He lifted his shoulders in a move meant to indicate only one conclusion. At the risk of repeating myself, youre fired.
Wait! She rushed over and sat on the couch mere inches from him, her breasts rising and falling with her rapid, anxious breathing. Her scent, some exotic blend of spice andwas it orange blossoms?enveloped him. Up close, he could see a pale smattering of freckles on her shoulders. He had the most bizarre urge to touch them.
Havent you heard a word Ive said? she said. Im not leaving.
You dont have to leave, he said genially. Feel free to book a room at the resort and study spores as much as you want. But dont expect me to subsidize your trip.
But A heavy frown marred the smooth surface of her forehead and her lower lip was in danger of quivering. She wasnt going to cry, was she? If she did, Logan swore he would throw her out of here faster than she could say meioticwhatever. Crying was the ultimate weapon of female manipulation. Hed learned that the hard way.
I cant book a room here, she confessed. Its too expensive. The only way I can stay is if youll let me work for you.
He raised one eyebrow. No.
Fine, she said defiantly, and jumped up from the couch. Ill sleep on the beach, but Im not leaving.
Wait just a damn minute, he said, standing. Nobody sleeps on my beach.
She turned. Your beach?
Thats right. I own most of this island and I say who comes and goes. And I dont want vagrants setting up camp on my beach.
Im not a vagrant, she muttered as she folded her arms tightly across her chest. Her lower lip stuck out in a pout and as much as he hated the manipulation game, he had to admit he wanted to run his tongue over those pouty lips of hers. He had to give her points for that.
She swallowed nervously and took another deep breath and it seemed to help her regain some inner resolve. Her lips tightened and she faced him head-on. Im not leaving, Mr. Sutherland. I need to find those spores. I wont go home without them.
He observed her quietly for a long moment. You dont look like a research scientist.
She rolled her eyes. What do my looks have to do with anything?
He almost laughed. Her looks had almost everything to do with why hed allowed her to make her case in the first place. If she didnt understand that, then maybe she had been hiding out in a stuffy laboratory for the past ten years.
Wait. Ten years? He knew she couldnt be much older than twenty-five, which meant shed been doing her so-called research since she was fifteen. If she was telling the truth, that is. Obviously, she wasnt.
She was a liar, plain and simple.
Before he could comment aloud, she waved her arms and forged ahead. Fine. I may not look like your notion of a research scientist, but thats exactly what I am. And I have every intention of staying here until Ive got everything I need to finish my work.
Is that right?
Yes.
He noticed she was barely able to keep from squirming under his sharp gaze. Good.
Then, without warning, she stepped even closer and stared hard at him, eye to eye. Well, eye to chest was more accurate, since he towered over her. But that detail didnt seem to intimidate her.
Look, Im not above begging, she admitted. I intend to stay on this island and Im willing to do anything you want me to do. If you refuse to let me be a cocktail waitress, Ill clean hotel rooms or wash dishes oror water your plants. I just ask that my mornings be kept free for the spores. Thats why the cocktail waitress job is ideal, but there must be something else I can do around here. Oh, I can cook! Well, Im not a great cook, but I can make salads or cut up fruit or
Anything he wanted her to do? Did she realize how dangerous that offer was? Was she truly that naive? For a second or two, Logan wondered about her and her wide-eyed innocence, then roughly shook the thought away. He didnt believe it. Grace Farrell was as manipulative as every other woman hed ever met. Intriguing, gorgeous, sexy, but a manipulative liar just the same.
Damn, his brain was fogging over from her erotic scent. Maybe he was crazy, but he wanted his hands on her.
Fine, he said. Youve got one week to prove you can handle the cocktail waitress job. If not, youre off the island.
Oh, thank you! Without warning, she threw herself into his arms. Thank you so much. I can do it.
He drew in her scent and warmth, then forced himself to take hold of her elbows and nudge her out of his arms. Just make sure you dont break any more glasses.
I wont, sir.
And dont call me sir.
She smiled tentatively. Mr. Sutherland.
Nobody calls me that, either. Its Logan.
Thank you, Logan. And please call me Grace. She surprised him by taking hold of his hand, then gazed up at him, unsmiling. You have no idea what this means to me and to the world at large. And I promise, Ill be the best cocktail waitress youve ever hired.
Oh, yeah?
Oh, yes, she said with confidence, then let go of his hand and whipped out her small notebook. Im very smart and a quick learner. Ive already memorized the ingredients of every drink in the bartenders guide I bought. And as far as lifting the trays? Well, its just physics, after all. Simply a matter of determining the correct spatial placement of the glassware on the tray. Look.
She flipped the pages and showed him a diagram. As you can see, its an exact duplication of our own solar system. In miniature, of course. My theory is that if the drinks are dispersed in this pattern on the tray, equilibrium will be achieved and there shouldnt be any spillage.
His mouth twisted in an acerbic grin. Interesting theory.
Yes. She stared at the diagram, then back at him. I was just a little surprised to find out how heavy the tray was when I lifted it. But I know I can-
Thats right, Grace, its more than just physics, he said deprecatingly. Theres also a little matter of balance and proper weight distribution, not to mention the right application of upper-body strength.
Oh, thats good, Grace said, eagerly grabbing a pen from his desk to make some notes in her pad. Thats very good. So you agree, its a perfectly simple job once you get the dynamics hammered down.
He shook his head and wondered when, exactly, hed lost control of the conversation.
Thank you so much, Mr. Sutherland. She slipped her notepad into her waistband, then gave his arm an encouraging squeeze. I promise you wont be sorry.
Its Logan, he repeated. And youve got one week to improve or youre out.
Two
Shed escaped banishment by the skin of her teeth.
Shivering slightly at the recollection of yesterdays lecture from Mr. Sutherland, Grace continued folding and organizing her clothes in the sleek bureau drawer.
Despite the fact that she expected to be here at least a month, everything shed brought barely filled two of the drawers. But, back in Minnesota, when shed packed her suitcase, shed figured she wouldnt need much more than a few shirts and shorts to wear while searching for spores during her off-hours. And the hotel provided a uniform for its cocktail waitresses.
Uniform. She shook her head at the term. Serena, the lounge manager, had asked her size, then handed her two brightly patterned bikinis and a see-through scrap of cloth they laughingly called a skirt.
But Grace was desperate to stay, so she didnt really mind wearing the outfit. And she didnt mind carrying ten to fifteen pounds of drinks on her shoulders if it meant she could work and live in the hotel for a month while she collected her precious spores.
The fact that she only had a few days to prove she could carry those trays on her shoulders was something she didnt want to contemplate too closely. Needless to say, shed begun an intense upper-body workout that morning, knowing she needed more strength in her arms and shoulders.
Glancing around the luxurious hotel room with its elegant white wainscoting, coffered ceilings and wide-open view of the sparkling Caribbean waters, Grace allowed herself to revel in a moment of happy amazement. How in the world had she landed in such a beautiful place?
Of course the question was rhetorical, she thought with a smile, since she knew exactly how shed arrived.
But it was remarkable that less than forty-eight hours ago, shed been racing through the Minneapolis airport to make her flight. It had been difficult to run in her wool coat and thick sweater, heavy jeans, gloves and boots.
What a difference between then and now. Today she wore a bright pink tank top, thin linen shorts and sandals.
The frantic energy shed felt two days ago on her way out of town was still coursing through her veins. Even though she recognized the source of the energy, it was disconcerting all the same. Shed always lived a quiet, well-ordered, disciplined life. Predictable. Safe. But now she was flying blind with absolutely no idea of what would happen next. Logan Sutherland had made it more than clear that she was here on borrowed time.
She was annoyed that none of her research on the Alleria Resort had uncovered the fact that the Sutherland brothers actually owned most of the island. That little fact had taken her by surprise and Logan had known it and used it to his advantage. She would have to stay alert to any other revelations if she found herself in his company again.