was split-level. Elizabeth entered a spacious living room—a comfortable lounge setting with coffee table facing a television set and CD player, a writing desk and chair, a counter along one wall containing a sink and a bar fridge. Above the counter were cupboards containing a selection of glasses for every kind of drink, bottles of spirits, plus tea and coffee-making facilities, a jar of home-made cookies and a selection of crackers to go with the cheese platter in the fridge, which also held a box of Belgian chocolates, fruit juice, beer, champagne, wine and plenty of drink mixers.
Up a few steps from the living area was a mezzanine bedroom containing a huge king-size bed, lots of pillows, plenty of cupboard space, bedside tables with lamps in the shape of dolphins. All the decor had a sea-and-beach theme, most of the furnishings in white and turquoise, knick-knacky things constructed from driftwood and coral and shells. White walls and polished floorboards completed the clean, airy look.
‘There’s an extensive library of books, CDs and games in the bar-lounge adjacent to the restaurant,’ Jack told her. ‘Guests can help themselves to whatever they like. You, too, Elizabeth.’
She smiled at him. ‘That’s good to know.’
Should fill in some lonely hours, she thought, once Harry was gone and she could get him out of her mind. That virgin question still had her seething, as though that was the only possible reason for not getting her pants off for him. In hindsight, she probably should have said she was, put him right off his game. On the other hand, he might have fancied himself as teacher, giving her a first experience in sex. It was impossible to pin down anything with Harry. He could slide this way or that way at the blink of an eye. Which made him so infuriating and frustrating and...
Elizabeth clamped down on those feelings, forcing herself to focus on what she was seeing here. The bathroom was positively decadent, a shower for two, a spa bath, the walls tiled in a wavy white with turquoise feature tiles and turquoise towels. The long vanity bench held two wash basins and a pretty collection of shells. Everything in the villa was clearly designed to give guests pleasure.
‘This is all fantastic,’ she commented to Jack.
He nodded agreement. ‘Sarah and I reckon Harry did a great job of it.’
‘Harry? Surely he had an interior decorator fitting out the villas.’
‘Oh, he had a professional finding the stuff he wanted, but how the villas are all decked out was his idea. His dad had an architect design how they’re built. It was his vision in the first place, but after he died, Harry took on the whole project and saw it through to completion. Did a great job of marketing it, too.’
This information did not fit her view of Harry Finn as a playboy. It was disconcerting until she remembered that admirable work and talent had no relevance to how he dealt with women.
She and Jack moved on. He showed her the gym, which contained most of the popular work-out equipment, introducing her to staff she hadn’t met yet. A large shed near the beach where the helicopter landed contained a desalination plant that ultimately provided fresh water for the resort. The power generator was also housed there.
‘This beach faces west,’ Jack said, pointing to the hill above it. ‘Up there are the two pavilion villas, both of them occupied today so I can’t show them to you. Their porches lead out to infinity pools that catch the sunset. Feels like there’s just you and the water and the sky. They weren’t on the original plan. Harry’s idea to build them, make them really special.’
Elizabeth nodded. ‘I noticed it cost more to stay in them.’
Jack grinned. ‘Honeymoon paradise.’
As they continued the tour, chatting as they went along, Elizabeth realised her escort was extremely well skilled—electrician, plumber, carpenter, gardener—capable of turning his hand to any maintenance work.
She couldn’t help remarking, ‘How come you never started a business of your own, Jack? You’re so well qualified.’
He grinned. ‘Hated all the paperwork the government expects you to do. Reckon I got a plum job with Harry’s dad, maintaining the property he had overlooking Cairns. Free cottage, good pay, all the fun of creating and being in a beautiful environment. Got the same deal here on the island with Harry. We’ve got a good life, Sarah and me. Can’t think of anything better.’
‘Then you’re very lucky,’ she said warmly.
‘That we are.’
A contented man, Elizabeth thought, wondering if she would ever reach the same state of contentment. Not today. And not here with Harry waiting for her back at the office. It was awful to think of how tempted she had been last night to just let herself be swept up in physical sensation. It had been a long time—almost three years since her last semiserious relationship ended—but that was no reason to engage in casual sex.
She’d never been into bed-hopping. Trying guys out on a purely physical basis did not appeal to her. She needed to feel really connected to the person before taking the next step to absolute intimacy. If Harry considered that attitude a headful of romantic dreams it was because it didn’t suit his playboy mentality. Bending her principles for him was not on, though she had to admit he was the sexiest man she had ever met, which made everything wretchedly difficult when she was alone with him.
Just one hour in the office this morning had been exhausting, having to use so much energy blocking out his physical impact on her. Of course, last night’s wild interlude had made her even more sexually aware of him. She’d been out of her mind to let him go so far with her. Now she had to cope with that memory in his eyes as well as the memories he’d stamped on her consciousness.
On the walk back to administration, Jack started talking about Harry again, how good he had been at all sports in his teens—that was easy to imagine—and what a pity it was that the untimely death of his parents had caused him to drop them. ‘Could have been a champion on any playing field,’ was Jack’s opinion.
Elizabeth could think of one sport Harry hadn’t given up.
He was a champion flirt.
She hoped he wouldn’t exercise that particular skill while she had to be with him for the rest of the day. So long as he kept to business, she should be reasonably okay. Nevertheless, it was impossible to stop her nerves twitching in agitation when Jack left her at the office door and Harry swung his chair around from the computer and smiled at her.
‘Enjoy the tour?’
She smiled back, deciding to show appreciation of all he’d done here. ‘You have created quite an extraordinary resort, Harry. I can’t think of anything that could make it better.’
‘If you do, let me know. I aim for perfection.’
Would he be the perfect lover?
Elizabeth was shocked at how that thought had slid right past her guard against the playboy. She hurled it out of her mind as she hitched herself onto the corner of the desk just as he had this morning, casually asking, ‘Anything come in that I should know about?’
‘Mickey called. He’s putting the suitcase your sister packed for you on the helicopter bringing the guests today.’ He gave her a quirky smile. ‘Should save you from having to wash out your undies tonight.’
‘That’s good,’ she said equably, determined not to be baited into being prickly.
