Compromising Her Position (Compromise Me 1)

Thx.

Lynette.

Chelsea typed Lynette directions to the extra supply she’d set aside for just such emergencies. Crisis averted. She climbed out of her car, holding her phone in one hand and the envelope containing the new easement agreement, signed and dated in triplicate by the MILC representative, in the other. Feeling triumphant, she put the envelope safely in her purse and dialed Laurie’s number. When her best friend picked up, Chelsea said, “Hey Babycakes, my bonus is back on track.”

“Woo-hoo!”

Chelsea grinned, held the phone away from her ear and waited for the party on the other end of the line to subside. “Better still, I’ll be in Montenido day after tomorrow.”

“You’re right. That is even better. When do you arrive? We need to celebrate.”

“I arrive at LAX tomorrow evening, but I’ll stay in L.A. the first night to have dinner with the Templetons, get their signatures on the agreements, and also discuss the plan for my transition to Tradewinds Tahiti. Then I drive to Las Ventanas to give Rafe the signature versions of the documents. After that, my contribution is pretty much over, so I’m taking three days off to spend in Montenido.” And three nights with Rafe…maybe her last nights with him. She pushed the thought behind a barricade at the back of her mind. She’d think about that later.

“Let’s get together as soon as you’re in Montenido. There’s something I want to show you.”

“Got your eye on something sexy?”

“Yeah, a sexy storefront for lease along Ocean Avenue, between the surf shop and the pizzeria. What do you think of Babycakes by the Beach?”

She closed her eyes and pictured the space, envisioned it decked out with a mocha, periwinkle, and cream striped awning and a couple of bistro tables. “I love it.” Just saying the words caused tightness in her throat. She wanted to be there for Laurie this time around just like she had with the first Babycakes, helping paint, to pick out supplies, and set up displays.

Good luck doing that from Tahiti.

“I’m still analyzing the feasibility, but, well, I’ve banked some money picking up catering jobs at Las Ventanas. With your buy-in, and a loan, I think it’s within reach. You okay, Chels? Your voice sounds kind of funny.”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, and dug around in her purse for a cough drop. “Just shaking off a touch of the flu.”

“That sucks. For some reason I assumed Maui would be a flu-free zone.”

“I’m living proof to the contrary.”

“Poor baby. If you were here, I’d bring some home-baked chocolate chip cookies to make you feel better.”

“That’s sweet of you, but I already feel better, thanks to Rafe.”

“A cookie from Rafe cures the flu? Wow.”

“Not exactly. The doctor and antivirals he brought to my doorstep might have had something to do with it. He was here last week to help resolve the complication we encountered with the sale.”

“The CEO of St. Sebastian Luxury Resorts dropped everything in the middle of one of the most important deals of his career to nurse you back to health?”

He had. Not a single question about the status of the easement had passed his lips. She’d been the one to bring up the topic. Part of her wanted to turn that into something meaningful about his priorities, but the realist in her understood his actions had more to do with common decency. “He’s the one who got me sick. I figure he felt responsible.”

“Are you sure this thing between you two is strictly casual?”

No. “Of course. What makes you even ask?”

“You used the R-word. Responsible. A quick little hookup doesn’t generally leave anyone feeling responsible for anything. That’s the beauty of it. ‘Responsible’ is a serious word, and a serious feeling.”

“Rafe and I are not serious. I’m not looking for anything serious, remember?”

“Yeah, well, things have a way of finding a girl, even when she’s not looking. Especially when she’s not looking,” Laurie said drily. “You might do a little soul-searching and make sure you’re still content with casual. Make sure he is too, while you’re at it. A guy who shows up at your sickbed in the middle of a business crisis sounds to me like a man looking for more than fun, mutual attraction, and entertaining sex.”

“No soul-searching necessary. Look, I enjoy spending time with him. He…he means something to me.” Her heart beat faster as she said the words. “But Rafe and I always had an expiration date. The sale will close soon. We’ll celebrate, wish each other well, and go our separate ways.” An ache completely at odds with her calm assertion spread through her middle. She leaned against the trunk of a palm and sucked in a deep breath.

“Really? You’re cool watching him waltz out of your life in another few days?”

“I guarded my heart, remember? I’ll be fine. I’m perfectly happy on my own.”