And, Paul thought, that was what had him worried. In his line of business he had discovered that anything that seemed too good to be true usually wasn't.
He shook his head. Maybe at his advancing age his overly cautious mind was working overtime. Yeah, that had to be it. Other than her initial reaction to him, there was nothing noteworthy about Shayla Kirkland…other than her astounding beauty. He would let Nick concentrate on that aspect of her. He seemed determined to do that, anyway.
Paul couldn't help grinning. It would be entertaining to watch Nick behave like a smitten nitwit for the first time in his life.
Shayla heard Nicholas call her name just seconds before she was about to enter the elevator. She had hoped she would not see him at all today. That had been the main reason she had risen early, ordered room service for breakfast, and gotten dressed. She was determined to spend a day at the upscale shopping mall that was just an elevator ride away from the hotel.
She forced herself to turn toward the sound of his voice, then wished she hadn't. She swallowed against a suddenly dry throat when her gaze settled on him. He was dressed for a workout in the health club in a pair of running shorts and tank top. His solidly built body and masculine presence were more overpowering than anything she'd ever been up against. To say the man had a nice body would be an understatement. Just looking at him made her feel trembly, hot, and bothered.
"Are you feeling better today, Ms. Kirkland?" Nicholas asked, easing into the confined compartment with her and then watching the door close on them. He punched the button for the floor where the health club was located after she had made her selection.
"Yes, thanks for asking." Although the elevator was roomy enough for both of them, she was very conscious of Nicholas's closeness. He was standing so near to her that when she looked up she thought she could see her reflection in the shining gold of his eyes.
"So, what do you plan to do today?" he asked. His voice, she thought, sounded too sexy for early in the morning.
"Shopping. I plan to do a lot of shopping today. Unless, of course, you need me for something."
"No, no. You deserve the day off. I'm taking it off, too."
Forcing herself to breathe evenly, she replied, "All right." Although she was looking straight ahead, she felt Nicholas's gaze move slowly over her hair, her face, and her mouth. Heat swept through her when she realized his gaze had stopped at her mouth and settled there. That wouldn't have been so bad if he hadn't been standing so close. The musky manly scent of him was engulfing her and making every part of her body acutely aware of his presence.
"Will you have dinner with me this evening?" he asked in a husky whisper.
Shayla drew in a deep breath. She didn't dare look at him. She couldn't. But then, she couldn't turn down his invitation. She convinced herself that going out to dinner with him was all part of her plan. "Yes, I will."
She all but gulped in a huge surge of air when the elevator suddenly came to a stop. It was her floor, and she couldn't get off fast enough.
"I hope you enjoy your day of shopping," Nicholas said when she stepped out. "I'll come to your room to get you around seven."
Without looking back she tossed the words, "Thanks. I'll be ready," over her shoulder and kept walking.
He couldn't believe he had asked her to dinner.
When the elevator closed, Nicholas shook his head in disbelief. Just that morning he had made up his mind that until he and Shayla had to put in an appearance together at Mr. Ming's dinner party tomorrow night, he would avoid her like the plague.
He sighed in exasperation. So much for having made up his mind about anything. It seemed that when it came to Shayla Kirkland he had little, if any, resolve. And that wasn't good. Over the years he had made it a point not to get romantically involved with any of his employees, but since meeting her that was all he'd thought of doing. He thought of her all the time, and he hadn't known he could be so imaginative.
When the elevator came to a stop, Nicholas stepped out. The health club was really a high-tech gym that combined the convenience and state-of-the-art fitness equipment with traditional Asian hospitality.
He glanced around the facility and saw Paul. The older man was hard at work on the treadmill, running in place at top speed. Nicholas couldn't help but admire Paul's devotion to staying in shape. He thought he looked good for his age, and wondered why he'd never married, though he did date occasionally.
Nicholas had been in the club for almost an hour before Paul had the chance to take time from his vigorous exercise routine and come over to join him in the sauna.
"So what are your plans today?" Paul asked him as he leaned against the wall. The expression on his face indicated he thought the steam felt good after his strenuous exertions.
"I'm planning to take it easy. What about you?"
"The same. I checked in with Jacksonville and Chicago this morning. Things are okay, so I guess Stockard hasn't driven anyone crazy yet."
Nicholas nodded. Carl Stockard, one of the security men, wanted to be Paul's replacement when he retired. To Paul's way of thinking, the young man of twenty-seven was too eager to do a good job and impress Nicholas. If left up to Stockard, everyone on Nicholas's payroll would be under suspicion of wrongdoing. "He does take his job seriously, doesn't he?"
"Too blasted serious, if you ask me." Paul snorted. "I just wish he'd slow down and think things through before he acts."
Nicholas shook his head. He knew Paul would find fault with any man who was eager to replace him. Paul was used to doing things a certain way-not always by the book. Often he went by his gut feelings. Carl Stockard operated altogether differently, often before fully thinking things through. "If you feel he's not up to snuff, why don't you consider putting off leaving next year? Give yourself another couple of years to groom him."
Paul returned Nicholas's grin. He knew his game. "As much as I'm going to miss Chenault, this time next year I'm out of here. I plan to spend the rest of my days taking it easy on the water."
Paul spent a lot of his free time boating. Besides his spacious house in Jacksonville, he was also the owner of a nice yacht, which he occasionally used when the huge house got too lonely for him.
"Do you plan to check out the sights while you're here?" Paul asked as he shifted positions.
"Why, you?"
Paul nodded. "I thought I'd do it today. Maybe you ought to consider taking Ms. Kirkland with you."
Paul's words claimed Nicholas's attention. "Take her where?"
"Sightseeing."
Nicholas raised a brow. "Why would I want to do that?"
Paul shrugged at Nicholas's question. "For lack of anything better to do. That way you can spend time with her under pretense."
"Pretense of what?"
"Of not really wanting to spend time with her."
Nicholas frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Paul shrugged his massive shoulders again. "It means just what I said, Nick. I have eyes, and I see things. Especially your interest. You're single, she's single. Why not go for it?"
"Because she's an employee, Paul, and you know I don't date my employees."
"Then fire her. If you fired her you wouldn't have to be concerned about her being your employee."
Nicholas turned a scolding glance in the older man's direction. "Your logic astounds me sometimes. I think Stockard isn't the only one in my security department that I need to worry about."
Getting up, Nicholas left the sauna, ignoring Paul's laughter behind him.
Chapter 7
She needed