Island Pleasures(17)

Quinn struggled to process the information and finally refocused on the matter at hand. It didn’t matter if they’d been on an arranged date. She was still gone. He cleared his throat. “I’ll understand if you want to fire me.”

Jagger sighed. “I have no plans to fire you. And I destroyed the recording. Not something we want showing up at the employee Christmas party.” Quinn’s face heated, but shock replaced embarrassment at his boss’s next words. “I would like to give you a promotion of sorts.”

“Are you rewarding me for what I did?”

“I’ve wanted to do this for a while. You accomplished what I asked you to do. Miss Kimball wrote a very complimentary article. I have the magazine in my office if you’d like to read it.”

“I’d rather not,” he said, sipping his coffee much slower this time.

“You must have made quite the impression on her.” Jagger smiled, sympathy and something else—mischief?—in his expression. “Woody thinks you made the biggest mistake of your life letting her walk out on you again.”

He wouldn’t be surprised if Jagger was aware of everything that had occurred between the three of them. He always found out one way or another. “We weren’t meant to be. We have our own separate lives, thousands of miles apart.”

“Not for much longer.”

He didn’t like the determined focus in Jagger’s eyes. “Does this have to do with my promotion?”

“Yes.” Jagger pulled a brochure out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the table.

Quinn scanned the front page. “A new Castillo hotel and casino is coming to the Vegas strip in three years? Isn’t one enough?”

Jagger chuckled. “Not for Jackson. He feels Vegas could benefit from another one.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

“You’ve contributed to our success here, and Jackson needs someone like you. He would like you to help oversee the construction and eventually run the new, yet to be named hotel. Since you’ve been an ideal employee, you’re the perfect man for the job. Plus, a special lady is waiting for you—”

“Hold up.” He raised his palm. “You’re offering me this position in order for me to get back with Carly?”

“I’m a businessman, Quinn. I’m making a business decision. You’ll also get a forty percent raise, and we’ll put you up in a hotel suite until you can find more permanent lodgings.”

“What if I refuse? Grand Turk is heaven compared to Las Vegas.” His argument sounded thin even to him. A huge promotion, raise, and Carly? What a package.

“True, but you’ve outgrown this island.” Jagger rested his elbows on the table and shrugged. “You would be stupid to pass this up. You two have unfinished business, and I’d hate to see you grow into a bitter, lonely old man because you refused to swallow your pride and go after the woman you love.” He winked. “And your moping around is undoing all the good you did. If I let you stay here, morale will be in the toilet.”

“Love?” He tightened his grip around his cup.

Jagger nodded. “I used be a pessimist when it came to love, but then when I met Daniel, I finally understood power and money means jack shit if you don’t have anyone to share it with. If you go to Vegas and tell Carly how you feel, you’ll be much happier.”

What choice did he have, really? He had to see her again and tell her how much he cared about her and maybe they could work something out. The ache in his chest he had ever since Carly left finally disappeared now that they could possibly have a future together.

“If I accept your offer and go out there and she tells me to get lost, then what? Can I come back here?” He clutched at the thought, more frightened than he would have believed at putting himself out there, changing his whole life in the hope that she might take him back.

“I have a feeling she won’t reject you. Again, I recommend you read her article. What you find there may surprise you. She has many flattering things to say about you.”

“You’re such a cocky bastard when you get your way.” He shook his head, disgruntled by his boss’s ego. But for the first time in weeks he felt motivated and keyed up.

Jagger grinned. “It’s who I am.” He raised his cup in a salute.

“Tell me again how much of a raise I’m getting and about the car I’ll be driving around. I think a Porsche convertible would work best.”

“I didn’t mention a car.”

“I need something flashy, to impress my lady.” He laughed when Jagger cursed.