worry.” He hoped to ease the worry lines now marring her face. “The yacht is spacious. You’ll have your own stateroom.” He took a moment to clarify the importance of the meeting. “I have worked for a number of months to bring these very influential men together. Discretion is of the utmost importance.”
She nodded. “I understand. I’ve worked in your legal department for the past five years. Everything that passed over my desk was confidential. You can count on me.”
He knew that. It was one of the reasons he’d agreed to this arrangement. Now, if he could just keep his mind from straying back to her luscious lips. His gaze zeroed in on them. They were painted up in a deep wine color. It was different from her usual earthy tones. But it was a good look on her.
He forced his mind back to business. “Did you reply to all of the outstanding emails?”
“I just finished them. The personal ones I’ve forwarded to your account as directed. I thought you might have some last-minute items you need completed before the meeting.”
She was good. Really good. Normally that would be awesome, but when he was trying to keep her busy to avoid temptation, he wished she wasn’t quite so competent.
“Have you returned all of the phone calls?”
She nodded. “I even called my mother.”
“Your mother?”
“I just wanted to let her know that we arrived safely. She’s actually off on her own holiday.”
Was Holly attempting to make small talk? Boy, was he out of practice. He wasn’t even sure how to respond. “That’s good.” He was better off sticking to business. “It sounds like you have everything under control. You can take the rest of the day off. We’ll head out this evening as soon as all of our guests have arrived. Why don’t you take a book and relax by the pool until then.”
“I didn’t bring a book. I didn’t see a need since I planned to be working.”
“But not from the time you woke up until you went to bed.”
“You mean like you’re doing?”
He glanced down at the papers littering his desk. “Guilty as charged. But you don’t want to end up like me. You’re young and have so much to look forward to.”
“You make it sound like you’re old and your life is almost over.”
“My life is Lockwood International. It’s the reason I get out of bed in the morning.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Sorry for what?”
“That you think that’s all you have to live for.”
“It’s the way it has to be.”
The pity reflected in her eyes had him recoiling. He didn’t deserve pity or sympathy. She had no idea about his life—none whatsoever. Not even the press knew the entire truth.
Living and breathing everything about Lockwood International was his punishment. He’d lived while the rest of his family had perished. It was what his aunt had told him quite frequently when he rebelled about doing his schoolwork or having to stay in boarding schools. She told him he had no room to complain. He had lived while the others had died a painful death, and then she’d glare at him like it was all his fault. And for the most part, she was right.
Holly moved to the window. “Have you looked around this place? It’s amazing. When’s the last time you enjoyed it?”
“I don’t have time for fun.”
“Everyone needs to loosen up now and then. You don’t want your guests showing up and finding that scowl on your face, do you?”
What scowl? He resisted the urge to run his hands over his face.
“I don’t scowl.” Her eyes widened at the grouchy tone of his voice. What was it about this woman that got under his skin? “I just need to stay on track and focus.”
“Then I won’t distract you any longer.” She turned to the door.
She’d only tried to get him to relax, and yet he’d made her feel awkward. “Holly, wait.” When she hesitated, he added, “I’ve been working so hard to pretend nothing happened between us that I’ve made matters worse. That was never my intention.”
She turned. “Is it that hard to forget?”
“You know it is.” His mind spiraled back to the kiss they’d shared on the plane. “But we can’t go back there. It was a mistake the first time. And now that the fate of this project rests on how well you and I work together, we can’t get distracted.”
“I understand. I’ll let you get back to work.”
After Holly was gone, his concentration was severely lacking. He kept going over their conversation. Was his mood really that transparent? Usually business provided him solace from all that he’d done wrong in life and all that his life was lacking, but he couldn’t find that escape anymore. He wondered if he’d done things differently, how his life would have turned out.
His chair scraped over the floor as he got to his feet. There was no point in staring blindly at the monitor. He wasn’t going to get any more work done—at least not now. Maybe Holly was right. He should take a break. A run along the beach would be nice.
After changing his clothes, Finn stepped onto the patio. The splash of water drew his attention. He came to a complete halt as he watched Holly swim the length of the pool. He’d had no idea that she had taken him up on his suggestion that she go for a swim. He quietly watched, impressed with the ease of her strokes as she crossed the pool.
If he was smart, he’d head back inside before she noticed him. But his feet wouldn’t cooperate. Sometimes being smart was overrated.
When she reached the edge of the pool, she stopped and straightened. That was when he noticed her barely there turquoise bikini. The breath caught in his throat.
“Oh, hi.” Droplets of water shimmered on her body as she smiled up at him. “Did you change your mind about unwinding?”
He struggled to keep his gaze on her face instead of admiring the way her swimsuit accented her curves. He made a point now of meeting her gaze. “I was going to take a run on the beach.”
“In this heat?” When he shrugged, she added, “You’d be better off waiting until later when it cools down.”
She was right, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. “I’ll be fine.”
“Why don’t you come swimming instead? The water is perfect.”
He moved to the edge of the pool and crouched down. He dipped his hand in the water. She was right. The water was not too cold and not too warm. “I don’t want to bother you.”
“You won’t be. The pool is plenty big for the both of us.”
He had his doubts about the pool being big enough for him to keep his hands to himself. And with Holly in that swimsuit, he’d be so tempted to forget that they’d come to the island to work.
Finn raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know. I really should be working.”
“Your problem is that you think about work too much.”
And then without warning, she swiped her arm along the top of the water, sending a small wave in his direction. By the time he figured out what she was up to, he was doused in water.
“Hey!” He stood upright and swiped the water from his face. “What was that all about?”
Her eyes twinkled with mischievousness. “Now you don’t have an excuse not to join me.”
Why was he letting his worries get the best of him and missing out on this rare opportunity to