Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 39
He waved his hand in the air.
“Bah. It’s in the past,” I said, sighing.
“Are you sure about that?”
I paused. “I try to be, at least.”
Kaleo looked away and shook his head. “I’m the one that should be sorry. I didn't even think about why you came that time of year. But, hey. You actually looked the happiest I’ve seen you in a while before I sat back down. You walked down here with a grin on your face and everything.”
I paused. “A grin?”
“Yeah! Saw it beaming all the way from the beach.”
“You saw me come down here.”
“Yep.”
“With a grin on my face?”
He nodded. “Uh-huh.”
I scoffed and shook my head. “I wasn’t grinning.”
“Too bad. Because you were, brudda.”
“Were you near the beach in your boat?” I asked changing the subject.
“Yep! I went out fishing. Caught enough to last the family for the next couple of months. You know how these rainy seasons get. Too many storms to navigate the water safely. My boat is docked outside at the pier.”
I held my drink up. “To a remarkable fishing excursion.”
He clinked his pineapple against my glass. “And to getting you out with me one day so you can learn how to eat off the land. Well, the sea in this case.”
“Are you still doing those cruises and tours and all that?”
He took another gulp of his drink. “Not so much the cruises. But, I still do lunch tours, but I only cruise up and down the shoreline.”
“How’s that going for you?”
He shrugged. “Monetizing romance is always in season, is what my father says.”
I paused. “Do you rent your boat out?”
“Huh?”
“You know. For a day. Do you rent your boat out?”
He shrugged. “Never thought about it. Though, I suppose I could offer that on my days off.”
“When are your days off?” I bit my bottom lip.
“Tomorrow and Sundays.”
Fuck it. “If I were to ask to rent your boat for the afternoon tomorrow. Say, for four hours. From eleven in the morning until two or three in the afternoon. How much would you quote me?”
He grinned. “Monetizing romance?”
I pursed my lips. “Just answer the question, Kaleo.”
“Well, that’s four to five hours of boat time. Plus, the gas and the food I’d load you down with. Plus, drinks. Plus--.”
“I’ll take care of that. Quote me for the day.”
He shook his head. “Three grand? That would include--.”
I held out my hand. “Done. If you’re up for it.”
When that smile crossed his face, I knew I had a lot of last-minute planning to do.
“Done,” he said as he shook my hand.
I just hope she likes this.
21
Karina
Knock, knock, knock.
I sighed as I rolled over. “Come in, Lilo.”
I heard my door open. “I’ll just set this on the table.”
The smell of fruit wafted through the room. “From the guy next door again?”
“Like every other meal, yes, ma’am.”
“He should just save his money so I can experience eating on the island.”
The old man chuckled. “Then, tell him that.”
I opened my eyes. “I would if he wasn’t my boss.”
“Tell him anyway. Life’s too short to be bossed around by people you don’t like.”
And there is the problem.
“Thanks, Lilo. I appreciate it,” I said.
He set the tray down. “No problem. Do you need anything, miss?”
I sat up. “You know you can call me Karina, right?”
He smiled. “Do you need anything, Karina?”
“Just the number of your wife so I can call and tell her how lucky she is to have you.”
He smiled shyly. “You’re very kind, thank you. If there’s anything you need--anything at all, I’ve left my cell number on a note underneath the fruit. Don’t hesitate to call, okay?”
“I appreciate that so much. Thank you.” I grinned and gave him a little wave.
“You try to have a good day.”
“You, too.”
I watched the kind older man walk out the door before I dragged myself out of bed. The sun was just beginning to crest the waves, and the scent of coffee teased me awake. I poured myself a large mug and walked over to the sliding glass doors. But as I reached to open it, the reflection of the silver tray on the table caught my eye. There was a rose on the tray. A beautiful, vibrant pink rose with a note attached to it.
“Huh?”
I turned around and abandoned my coffee on the edge of the table, reached for the rose and opened up the note, wondering what in the hell was going on. It was a serious note. I had to unravel it, since it was attached to the damn stem. After figuring out how the thing undid, I braced myself for something sweet.
But, all I got were a list of demands from an overbearing asshole.
Karina,
I hope you slept well. Today, I’ll need you done with your work by noon sharp. I’ve got meetings all morning, but I’ll be back right at that time. So, I need you to push back the meeting at two today, to tomorrow morning. No later than nine. I also need you to call the office back home and talk to Brenden. He’ll know why you’re calling, and he’ll tell you what you have to do. Also, there’s something wrong with my schedule. I can’t add anything to my calendar, and I need that cleared up quickly. I also need one of my suits dry-cleaned, it’s lying out on my porch. Feel free to walk over and pick it up when you can. Attached to the hanger is the address of a dry cleaning service I looked up last night. Double-check it to make sure it’s a reputable place, then drop it off.
And be back at your bungalow by no later than 12 PM.
Zane
I felt myself vibrating with anger. I looked over at the digital clock that already read six-thirty. What the fuck was wrong with that man? He wanted me to get an entire day’s worth of work done in half the time!?
I tossed the entire flower into the