“The resort where we’re staying, the one I’m trying to establish the retail store on, has a beach party every Thursday night. Live band, plenty of food and drinks. And fireworks.”
“Sounds like quite a fete.”
“Today’s Thursday. We should go tonight. It would be a good way to introduce you to the island’s characteristic atmosphere.”
She chewed her bottom lip. He watched it swell and redden and redden. Focus. “Cabe, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I feel that it would just be better if we solely stuck to the business at hand.”
Cabe shifted in the chair. Jenna appeared so tense, so anxious. He wanted to help her loosen up somehow. But he was her boss. He had to tread carefully. Given her upbringing, it was no wonder Jenna seemed unable to relax and just enjoy life once in a while.
He couldn’t blame her. Maybe he was the flip side of the same coin.
He wanted to tell her there was no reason to be so uptight around him. He wanted to show her how to relax. His motives were pure and simple. Perhaps that would make her rethink her decision to eventually leave the company. She didn’t have to constantly toil to get ahead. He wanted her to see that.
Work hard. Play hard. She definitely seemed to have the first part down. He knew for a fact she’d stayed very late at the office last night finishing up last-minute details she didn’t want to delegate before leaving.
“I get the sense you don’t take many vacations.”
“Well, I told you about that jewelry designers’ conference in San Diego.”
“That was a business trip, Jenna. On behalf of the company.”
She shrugged. “Sure. But I made time to visit the zoo one afternoon.”
So maybe there was hope for her yet. She was a tough cookie, tougher to crack than any woman he’d ever dealt with. He couldn’t help but think how pleasurable it would be to see her enjoy herself. She was one of those rare people who truly deserved it. Though she clearly didn’t believe so. He found himself both curious and intrigued. What kind of personality would this highly accomplished, intelligent woman have developed if she’d had even the simplest of breaks in life? How much more dynamic and spirited would she be?
“I’m afraid you will have to do some social mingling while we’re there,” he told her.
She pursed her lips. Clearly she didn’t like that concept. “How so?”
“Opening a new site requires much more than pushing paper around in an office. Much of it requires networking. The resort employees are very friendly and outgoing people; you’ll be working with most of them. You don’t want to appear to be the standoffish stiff suit from Corporate.”
Sure, it was a bit of an exaggeration, but not exactly a lie. It would help to have her get to know the resort employees and the regular guests. Though pushing the matter could be very dangerous ground he was treading. He couldn’t seem to help himself.
“Like going to this island party, you mean?”
“Parties are considered by most people to be fun, Jenna.”
“I’ve never had much time for them.” She tilted her head in his direction: her implication was clear. Unlike yourself.
He was quite aware how well-documented his social life was. “Believe it or not, most of those galas I’m photographed at have some type of business angle. Nine times out of ten, I’m not there because I want to be.” And lately, each party had been more tiresome than the last. It was becoming harder and harder every time to feign a level of interest he simply didn’t feel.
She raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you looked downright pained in that latest photo. The one on the yacht where you’re popping open the bottle of champagne, surrounded by bikini-clad socialites. How do you stand it?” Her tone held such mock seriousness he couldn’t help but laugh. Surprisingly, his laughter earned a small chuckle from her as well.
“Those photos aren’t always what they seem,” he responded.
Her mouth tightened into a thin line. “Well, most of the parties I’ve attended, I wasn’t there to enjoy myself. I was there to work, serving or to clean up afterward.”
“Is that how you helped pay for your education? Working at social events?” he asked. No wonder she didn’t associate social events with anything remotely pleasurable. And no doubt she’d watched her mother cross the line far too many times with all sorts of partying. Jenna Townsend had never been afforded the opportunity to simply have fun and enjoy life, not even as a child.
She nodded. “One of the ways. I did all sorts of odd jobs. Mostly waitressing. The catered parties paid better than, say, waitressing at the diner.” She turned back to him as the aircraft began to taxi down the runway. “Your parents were particularly generous. I worked some of those swanky backyard barbecues your mom and dad were known for. I think you were off at college by then.”
Had she? She’d never been at any of the ones he’d been present at. He wouldn’t have missed her.
“I would have noticed if you were there,” she said, surprising him.
“You would?”
The red stain of her cheeks grew deeper. “Of course. You were a minor celebrity in school. Big man on campus.”
“I guess I was a bit driven, even back then.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Yeah, well. It’s not like I was doing it for me.”
She studied him with interest. “Who else?”
Cabe shrugged. “My parents were very busy people. I figured out at a very young age that I could either get their attention by rebelling and getting into trouble. Or I could try and excel at everything. I chose the latter.”
Funny, he’d never admitted that to anyone before. But he wanted Jenna to understand that what outsiders saw of his life as a teen wasn’t the complete picture.
“Did you so much as ever get detention?” she asked with a sly smile.
“I think once. It wasn’t my fault. I was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“That happened to me a lot,” she responded.
“Getting detention?”
She shook her head. “No, being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Cabe was about to ask her to explain, but Jenna turned and looked out the window as if she’d prefer the conversation to be over.
Perhaps she was right—sometimes the past was better off left to stay there. Though he remembered those years well—all the parties his parents held that Jenna had referred to. Including memories of the first corporate outdoor luncheon he was allowed to attend. He must have been around age fifteen or so. He’d been so nervous, making sure to say all the right things and behave in all the right ways.
The Jordan Golden Boy.
He’d acquired the moniker right around that time as well, due to his stellar grades and lightning-fast skills on the basketball and tennis courts. Accomplishments he worked his behind off to achieve. All to make himself worthy of the Jordan family.
When he’d first found out that he was a Jordan in name only.
* * *
What had she gotten herself into?
Mistake. This whole trip had been a mistake. She’d been a fool to take on this assignment. She’d been a fool to think she could play in Cabe Jordan’s league on her own terms.