Arousing Past Read online

  Damn him to hell.

  He had no business coming to Boston—her town.

  He had to have known she was there—he had to have seen the hotel’s organisational chart. Why hadn’t he stayed away?

  And why should he? I don’t matter to him anymore.

  A thought had her stumbling. What if he came precisely because he knew she was there?

  Oh, God.

  How often over the years had she hoped he would? She remembered staring at the phone, willing it to ring day after day to no avail. How many times had she wondered what would have happened had he come back, and how different her life would have been if he had? But that was all in the past.

  What do I wish now?

  To be left alone.

  So why do I still flush at the sight of him?

  Because her feelings for him were still strong and deep inside a secret place in her heart, and they were beginning to spill free.

  Mentally liberating herself from his hold, Melissa rolled her shoulders and went to meet Tim.

  Chapter Two

  “So, how did it go with your new boss?” Tim asked once they were seated at their table.

  I can do this. I can talk about Joe Bradley as if nothing ever happened between us. “Fine. ”

  “Yeah? What’s he like?”

  The delicious fragrance of seafood linguini being served at the table next to theirs filled her nostrils. She’d been preparing pasta the day Hannah, her little sister, had asked the same question. ‘What’s he like, Mel? ’ Fresh from experiencing her first kiss with Joe she’d answered, ‘Wonderful.’

  A romantic fool, that’s what I was.

  “He’s reputed for being a good leader and a tough negotiator.” Enough said about Joe Bradley. “And how was your day?” The last thing she wanted was to waste her evening talking about another man, especially if the man in question was an ex-boyfriend she’d rather forget.

  “Very busy.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “One of the nur—”

  “Are you ready to order?” The waiter asked.

  “Mm, I think we are.” He looked at Melissa.

  “Yes, let’s order. I’ll have the linguini.”

  “What, no starter?” Tim asked, surprised.

  “I want to save room for dessert.”

  “Are you serious? You are serious.” He shook his head in mocking disbelief. “Okay, I’ll order a couple of starters and I’ll finish what you don’t eat. Deal?”

  She nodded agreeably. “Sure.”

  * * * *

  The restaurant had a nice feel—the mustard-coloured walls, soft lighting and linen-covered tables made for an inviting interior. The aromas around the place suggested a seafood-studded menu of fresh fish, scallops, and mussels cooked in garlic and herbs. Not at all surprising considering this was Boston. The staff seemed efficient, always an invaluable part of any business. There was a good crowd in for a Thursday night—a full bar and a restaurant two-thirds full. Inevitably, figures and estimated revenues popped into his head. His profession was in his blood. It couldn’t be helped. That’s why he’d had such a fast and successful career rise. He was always thinking work, and ways to improve the product he was selling. His choice had cost him a few relationships, but he had no regrets.

  Except Mel.

  Well, there was that. After all those years he still looked back with nostalgia and longing. And wondered what would have become of their relationship if he’d stuck around and waited for her to finish college. Instead, he’d grabbed the best job offer he’d got and had moved across country. Would they have married? Would they still be together today? Would they have been as successful in their careers as they were now? Nobody knew the answer. But one thing he knew for sure, he’d missed her more than he had let himself believe all these years.

  But it wasn’t too late—she was still single and he hadn’t lost his touch with women. He would win her back. He wanted her. He’d had a full single’s life and now he was ready to settle down. With Melissa. She was exactly what he needed. She was exactly what he wanted. She was the woman he was going to marry and build a family with.

  He’d already started to work on strategy. Slowly, patiently, he had managed to extract Mel’s whereabouts tonight from a slightly intoxicated and chatty Nicole. After getting Nicole into a cab, he’d hailed one for himself and headed straight for the restaurant where Mel was supposedly having dinner with her date. He needed to assess the competition. See with his own eyes what he was up against.

  And where was she?

  Joe searched the place for her unique blonde mane. None of the women around resembled Mel—very few women ever did. She’d been beautiful then, she was stunning now. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t been snatched up yet. He scanned the room with a precise, thorough approach but he still couldn’t see her. He’d started to wonder if they’d left already when he spotted her coming out of the ladies’ room. Unaware of his presence she walked straight into his path.

  Her startled look quickly turned into a frown. “Joe.”

  Naturally she wouldn’t make a scene in a public place, but he caught the displeasure in her tone.

  “Mel,” he said, noticing how flattering her little black dress was to her figure. His gaze went to the gold cascade of hair running down her shoulders, then back again to those big blue eyes. She was so gorgeous. Desire flared up in him like instant combustion.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked with a touch of defiance in her voice.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets to stop himself from touching her. “I came to check the competition,” he said sheepishly.

  She first appeared sceptical, then annoyed. “Look, Joe, we’ll be seeing each other at the hotel, even share a few meals, but that sums it up. I don’t want people to—”

  “Talk about us?”

  “Us?” She scowled, clearly pissed off. “There’s no us, Joe. If you came to Boston under the impression you could pick up where you left off eight years ago, you’re very mistaken. I have a reputation at work and I don’t want people—”

  “To talk about us?” he repeated evenly.

  She made a small sound of frustration.

  “Okay, okay I get it, you made that clear. There’s no us.” Yet!

  “Good.”

  Her eyes captivated him. Once, a long time ago, he’d confessed how beautiful he found them. He stifled a sigh. They weren’t a friendly pool now—she looked dismissive and furious, but she still had the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen.

  “But aren’t you curious? Wouldn’t you like to find out if the chemistry is still there? I do.”

  Her eyes widened. “What? Excuse me. My date is waiting.” Without any further words, she stepped around him and walked straight to her table.

  She was fuming by the time she joined Tim. And also elated to learn that Joe still found her desirable.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, fine,” she answered, her smile strained.

  “Who was that?”

  “Someone I knew…know…from the hotel.”

  Tim studied her for a moment. “Tell me,” he urged her gently.

  Melissa lowered her head, closed her eyes and breathed in and out. “His name is Joe Bradley and we used to date in college.” She looked up straight into his eyes. “He’s my new boss.”

  His eyes were kind but inquisitive when he asked, “Is that a problem to you?”

  It was a fair question. If she were in his place, she’d want to know what she was up against. She didn’t want Joe’s return to be a problem for them, but in all honesty she couldn’t say.

  I’ve got to forget about Joe Bradley. I’ve done it before, I can do it now.

  Right. That’s why her heart hammered and she went all hot at the sight of him.

  Idiot! He’ll break my heart.

  Again.

  Holding tight to that notion, she faced Tim.

  “No problem at all.”

  His
delighted smile weighed heavily on her. She hoped she would never give him cause to lose it. She really liked Tim and wouldn’t want to see him hurt.

  * * * *

  It was a busy Friday morning. Melissa had spent the first hours of the day answering emails and exchanging phone calls with the organisers of an upcoming medical convention. Such important business for the hotel had called for her direct, complete involvement from day one, with every aspect of the booking. As she ended yet another phone call with the group coordinator, David King walked into her office. A brief glance at his tight lips told her something unpleasant was up.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Governor Patrick just announced a state of emergency. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit us sometime tomorrow, or early Sunday, in the wake of hurricane Irene.”

  “Shit.”

  “You can say that again.” His gaze drifted past her to stare out of the window. “It’s going to mess up a lot of well-made plans…” He shifted his gaze back to her. “The barbecue at my in-laws for one.”

  She gave him a look of commiseration. “Oh, that’s right. What a shame…and Maggie was so anxious to have this reunion.”

  David sighed. “So was I. First time in almost three years the family is getting together and I won’t be there…” he said, clearly frustrated. “A real pain in the ass.”

  These things did happen, and there was never a right time, but a storm this weekend would be really, really inconvenient for her. With her house move scheduled for Saturday it was going to take some arm twisting, and fancy talk, to delay it until Monday.

  “I’ll have to reschedule my move.”

  David’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s right, you’re moving house tomorrow.”

  “Apparently not anymore,” she said, distracted, her mind already racing through the alterations she’d need to make to her plans. “I’ll have to postpone the movers. I hope they can fit me in on Monday…I absolutely have to be out of my apartment by the end of the month.”

  “Okay, I’ll leave you to make the necessary arrangements with the movers, and I’ll see you at the department head meeting at eleven.”

  “Right.”

  * * * *

  She sat across the table from him.

  He looks good in a suit.

  Not that he was bad in jeans or sports clothes, but she was quite partial to a suit.

  Focus, Melissa, stop this ridiculous train of thought once and for all, and listen to the emergency plan of action.

  “We have to expect about twenty to thirty per cent cancellations and no-shows. It’ll still leave us with half the rooms occupied. How will you cope with this, Melissa?” Joe asked, his gaze directly on her.

  As rooms division manager she knew exactly what to do. She’d successfully dealt with emergencies before, and she’d do it again, in spite of the pressure brought on her by the man sitting across the table.

  “I’ve personally talked to all supervisors,” she explained. “They’ve all agreed to stay the night on Saturday and be here to help all day Sunday. The same goes for the front office, guest services and communications staff.” She began to relax, happy with the professional manner with which she was conducting herself. “We should be okay. I don’t foresee any major problems.”

  She got an encouraging smile from him. “Well done, Melissa, let’s hope it’ll all go as smoothly as it sounds. Ron, what’s been done in F and B?”

  The meeting carried on for another forty minutes, with each department head announcing the measures to be taken to ensure minimum inconvenience to the guests. She tried to concentrate on what was being said, though a corner of her mind stubbornly insisted in wandering back to a time and place once so dear to her. They had been playing Pictionary and their team had just scored thanks to her good drawing skills.

  “Well done, Mel, you’re a star.” Joe had been ecstatic. He wasn’t a sore loser, but losing wasn’t something he took lightly, even when they were just playing for fun. He liked to always assume the lead.

  Except in bed…

  Yeah, except in bed. He loved the woman-on-top position—got off on the view, he used to say—and she’d believed him as the look on his face had once reminded her of a naughty school kid getting his first glimpse of Playboy. But he hadn’t been the only one burning up with lust. Being on top had made her feel seductive and sensual, and it had all but guaranteed, each time, an earth-shattering climax.

  “You have beautiful breasts, Mel. ”

  She’d been quite proud of her perky assets, but Joe’s appreciation of them had encouraged her to be quite uninhibited—she’d lean back with him deep inside her, her hands on his thighs, and he’d stroke, kiss and sometimes even bite her hard nipples. It drove her insane, especially when his finger simultaneously played with her clit…

  God, I loved that!

  Lovemaking with Joe had been wonderful. Actually, everything about Joe had just been perfect…except perhaps his excessive drive to always be the best.

  “Don’t you ever get tired of always pushing yourself so hard?” she’d asked him one day following an all-nighter cramming for a debate.

  “No, I never do. I like to win,” he’d promptly answered.

  He had lived by this code. Only thirty and already the CEO of a six-hundred-room hotel. In spite of herself she couldn’t help feeling awestruck by his accomplishments. And who wouldn’t? He’d been the youngest company manager ever to make CEO. His brilliant mind, assertive character and competent performance had propelled him on an upward spiral of promotions leading him to where he was today.

  Here, at my doorstep.

  She forced her mind back to the meeting.

  If I stay focused I’ll be all right.

  “We’ll meet back here at five for an update.” His gaze drifted to her side of the table. “Melissa, I understand you were planning to move tomorrow…were you able to reschedule?”

  “Yes, no problem. It’s all arranged for Monday.”

  “Well then, thank you ladies and gentlemen, I’ll see you all at five.”

  Leaning towards Melissa, Nicole whispered, “Doesn’t he look good enough to eat?”

  “Who?”

  Nicole rolled her eyes. “The boss!” she muttered.

  “Ah!”

  “And?”

  Melissa stood up. Someone was bound to eavesdrop and the last thing she needed was to be caught commenting on the boss’s physical attributes. And if she hurried, she could leave the room before Joe and not have to talk to him. “I must dash.”

  “Where’s the fire?”

  “Nic, I really must go. Some of us don’t have the weekend off…we’ll talk on Monday.”

  “But you’re off next week!”

  “I’ll call you.” She crossed her heart in jest. “Promise.”

  But when she reached the door Joe was already there. He followed her out and walked beside her down the corridor towards the elevator.

  “Where are you moving to?”

  “The suburbs.”

  He glanced at her and raised his eyebrows. “Is that supposed to shut me up?” he teased.

  She shrugged dismissively. They had arrived at the elevator landing, where some of her colleagues were already waiting. “I’m taking the stairs,” she said turning, then hurried away without as much as a goodbye, hoping he got the message.

  And what message is that? her guilty conscience questioned as she found her way back to her office.

  That I’m not interested in chumming up with the new boss, of course.

  And you’ll accomplish that by being rude?

  Well…

  Won’t he get the wrong impression seeing as you’re trying so hard to put him off?

  She raised her chin. I don’t care what he thinks. I’ll never let him get close to me ever again, and that’s that.

  * * * *

  With her parents safely in Italy touring Tuscany, her sister away in college, all her stuff in boxes, there was nothing else
left for Melissa to worry about tonight. She would order room service, indulge in a bubble bath, and go to bed early to prepare for a potentially stressful weekend. And when she later stepped out of the bath, relaxed from the long, scented soak, she found her phone message light blinking.

  She dialled voicemail, hoping problems hadn’t already started. “Hi, Mel, it’s Joe. I’ll be sampling the new menu tonight and I’d like your opinion. Please join me in Greens at eight-thirty.”

  She held the phone long after the beep, incapable of deciding if she should hate him or admire him for the cunning way he had her cornered. She could easily refuse his invitation—invitation being a nice euphemism for the subpoena she’d just received. She could allege a headache…or any other ache, but to what avail? He would know, and that wouldn’t do. She would prove she was totally capable of maintaining a professional relationship with him. Maybe then he’d get the message that she was not interested in him on a personal level. She refused to even consider having a relationship with him outside of work. No thank you. Been there, seen that.

  Now all she had to do was believe it herself…

  Chapter Three

  She wore the same dress she’d had on the night before. She hoped the message was loud and clear—no effort made on his account. She applied as little makeup as possible and pinned her hair up into a heavy bun. There, not too sexy, not too conservative—just right for a business dinner with her boss. She almost snorted a laugh. Business dinner indeed!

  Joe was standing by the door talking to the maître d’, Jim Aiello, when she approached the restaurant entrance. He turned around and smiled warmly at her.

  “Ah, there you are,” he said, so casually that one would think she’d happily agreed to spend the evening with him.

  Insufferable man!

  It was so like Joe to assume people would just drop everything and follow along with his plans.

  Well, I have. I’m here now.

  No argument there. Point proven. But still, he had no business to take her for granted. Oh, for Christ’s sake, he had her mind in a twist already and they hadn’t even sat down to eat.