Crew didn't like her cavalier attitude. He was steaming, though he couldn't figure out exactly why. Though he'd wanted nothing to do with her proposition, he'd still had the woman on his mind all day, thinking of a million ways he could teach her, and now he found her in his resort looking for a man to fill her … bill. He wasn't appreciative, not in the least.
"I'd like to speak to you in private, Ms. Sutherland." It wasn't a request, but a command.
"I'm a little busy right now. Why don't we chat tomorrow?" With that, she dismissed him again. Twice in a minute's time wasn't doing much for his ego.
"Why don't we do it now?" He took her arm and pulled her from the bench. The cowardly pianist continued playing as if Crew hadn't just manhandled his potential one-night stand. Crew would need to find a new player - he was disgusted with Sid.
Haley's eyes lit up. "If you insist," she said, slightly breathlessly, her head bent back so she could gaze at him.
His entire body tensed. Why was he attracted to this crazy woman? She was wearing a baggy T-shirt, another pair of loose Capri pants, and not a lick of makeup. There was nothing about her that screamed sex siren, and yet he found himself more than intrigued; what was she trying to hide with all those loose clothes?
As he started leading her from the bar and toward the lobby, the sound of her breathing shouldn't have scraped his nerves raw. She just wasn't his type in any way. Yet even the smell of peaches drifting from her hair was turning him on.
Maybe it had been too long since he'd spent the night with a woman. Those around him might have thought he was a lady killer, but not that many women had actually made it into his bedroom. He was choosy. Yes, he'd had the occasional one-night stand, but his reputation was a lot more rumor than reality.
He liked women, didn't like mistreating them, didn't like to use them for a night, only to walk away the next day. His father had taught him to be a better man than that. If the world wanted to believe he was a playboy, then let it. That only brought more people out of the woodwork to find out what he was about.
It was good for business, and it meant more money for him. Though his trust fund was more money than most people ever dreamed of having, it was only his if he passed his father's ridiculous test.
One problem: Crew just didn't care about the challenge anymore. He cared about what path in life he was on. If that meant the old man won, then so be it. Before starting on this resort, Crew hadn't realized it, but he really hadn't been able to look himself in the mirror without feeling shame at what he'd become. So much had changed, and he had to admit that he was grateful to his dad.
He passed the front counter, his staff barely glancing his way before going back to their work. Luckily, Haley had decided to keep her mouth shut while he led her to his private office.
He placed his hand on the small of her back and let her walk in ahead of him while he enjoyed the gentle sway of her hips. Once inside, he shut and locked the door. He didn't want interruptions. This woman just had to go away - he was too busy to deal with her request, or to watch her try to achieve her goals with other men.
Crew offered her a chair, then moved behind his desk, thinking it wiser for him to place a solid piece of furniture between the two of them. As she took her time sitting down, he noticed her eyes taking in everything around her. She was observant, well aware of her surroundings. This was a good quality to have, something to admire.
"I thought my room was nice, but this office is spectacular. I bet you a month's worth of groceries that the paintings are real," she said with a whistle.
Crew was about to make a snarky comment when her words hit him. "Your room?" He wanted clarification.
"Yes. I checked in tonight. I have to tell you, you know how to decorate. My room is fantabulous, and I haven't seen one tiny grain of sand inside this entire resort. That's impressive, considering we're right on the beach."
"Why did you check in?" he growled, coming right to the point.
"Because I won a terrific prize package back in Seattle and I get two spectacular weeks here. Are you saying I'm not welcome?" she asked a bit too innocently.
"I told you I wasn't willing to play your games, Haley, and yet you stalk me. Why not just leave?"
"I accepted your answer, Mr. Storm. Was I following you tonight? Did I seek you out? No, I did not. Just because you won't give me what I want doesn't mean that I will simply give up. I have a mission to complete, and there are plenty of men out there who can help me. Maybe I haven't seen any as charming as you - OK, charming at times - or with your knowledge of what it is that makes a woman sexy, but their advice and teaching should be enough to guide me to become the woman I wish to be. Besides, who in their right mind would give up two free weeks here?" she asked, looking at him as if he were certifiable.