CHOICES

The next day, Drake was feeling pretty damn pleased with himself, all things considered. The date had been a disaster, but afterward . . . yeah. Afterward was good. And this morning? He was feeling even fucking better. Things were looking up. He sat on the balcony of his suite, enjoying a tequila sunrise and the cool breeze that rolled off the ocean. There was breakfast on his plate, but he wasn’t hungry. Instead, like a spider, he sat in his web and managed his prey.
First on the list, a to-do left over from last night. He texted his assistant, Ashroff , since he was on Drake’s shit list at the moment. His conversation with Sarah last night had spurred more than a few thoughts, and this one was about shoes. He’d sent an assistant on the task. Have you found a maid to bribe?
@ wmn @ rm 311? Stephanie sent back. U can cnt on me 2 get it, no woryrs.
Jesus fucking Christ, was that even English? He did not want this shit fucked up by some pimple-faced shit head who took a job as his assistant because he thought it got him free travel and free snatch. He texted back furiously. First of all, it’s room 301. And if you don’t start sending me texts in complete sentences, you’re fucking fired. Got it?
Got it.
Good. I want that answer from ROOM THREE OH ONE in five minutes.
Yes sir.
He gulped down his drink, impatiently waiting for an answer. Just when he was about to lose his shit, his phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Maid found. She went in the room. Said the woman wears a size 8 shoe.
Drake rubbed his unshaven jaw. That sounded about right. A woman as short as Sarah would have long feet, too. Good. Okay, he texted back. Now I want you to charter a helicopter out to the nearest designer shoe store and look for a size 8 stiletto heel. We’re talking short . And sexy. And expensive. It needs to be all three and it needs to be back here by four o’clock this afternoon. Get me?
I’m on it, boss.
Good. One issue down. Drake mentally pictured Sarah—short , luscious Sarah with the legs that went on for light-years, in a pair of strappy heels and felt the need to rub his groin. God, she’d be pretty like that. Would her eyes light up with pleasure at the sight of the shoes? His lust-filled mind provided images of him fucking Sarah on his bed, her shoes digging into his ass, and he gave his dick another thoughtful rub. Ironic that he was so fucked-up over a freckled amazon. She did things to him that all the silicone titties in Hollywood didn’t.
Speaking of . . . he decided he’d text her, too. You awake?
The response was slow in coming. I am.
Well, he didn’t get much out of that. Not even a smiley face? You have a good night? He sent back. Sleep well?
Yes.
I thought about you last night, he sent to her. Jerked off three times.
What??
Joke.
Oh.
Okay, so much for phone flirting. Don’t suppose you want to send me a selfie to make my day better?
I don’t know how to use the camera on this thing.
How did she not know how to use the camera? He thought all girls did. Every woman he’d ever dated sent endless streams of pictures of herself. Strange how he is getting to know this new Sarah, probably because he didn’t pay her enough attention when they were dating . But he was starting to learn that nothing Sarah did seemed to be like other women. Maybe that was why he was attracted to her? Her uniqueness.
So he sent back a I’m just fucking with you. Trying to make you blush.
It’s working, she sent back, accompanied with a smiley face.
Ah, his kingdom for a smiley face. Strange how one stupid emoticon could turn a man’s morning around. Smiling to himself, he held up his glass. One of his assistants plucked it from his hand and went to get him a refill as he contemplated what else to send to sweet, blushing Sarah. He wanted in her pants before the week was out. And that’d be a long time for him, really. Normally he bedded his conquests by the end of the first date. Second, if she was holding out. Of course, he never really went back for another date. What was the point once you saw what the girl had to offer?
It was mercenary of him, but Drake didn’t normally stop to think about other people’s feelings. Hell, if he did, he’d never have a show called FIND LOVE OR STRIP . Actually, most of the programming on his TV Channel would be a bust.
And Drake liked money. He liked money a lot more than he liked most people.
The assistant—Lawson—returned with his drink. Rob tasted it, grimaced at the strength of the tequila, and drank it anyway. “We hear anything from Brown Brooke yet?”
“No, sir,” Lawson said. “Shall I call down to the front desk and check on things again?”
“Do that.” Drake had mulled over his shitty run-in with Brown at the bar a few days ago after he had announced his engagement and had come to the conclusion that only spitters were quitters, and he’d be a dumbass if he didn’t try to reach out to Brown again. They were both here, they both had a mutual interest in money, and Drake was sure that if he could just get Brown to see his point of view, they could make a lot of money together. He’d had his assistants order a massive gift basket and send it to Brown along with another request for a few minutes of Brown ’s time. That was early this morning, and since it was nearing noon, he was bound to get an answer sooner or later.
Drake checked his phone but no more texts from cute Sarah. Either she was busy or a shitty texter. He’d have to ask her about it tonight when he saw her. Speaking of . . .
We still on for tonight? he sent.
We are, she sent back a few minutes later. Meet you at five.
Well, if she wasn’t the most cheery texter, at least she used complete sentences. He could work with that.
The glass double door to the balcony opened, and Ashroff came back, an unhappy expression on his face. That was never a good sign.
“What is it?” Drake asked.
“Mr. Brooke left a message for you down at the desk,”Ashroff said, holding out a tri-folded piece of paper.
Drake took it from him, flipped it open, and read.
 
Mr. Holt,
I regret that I am too busy to entertain business consultations with you. Please be aware that I’ve taken the liberty of letting the front desk know that your suite will be paid in full as a thank-you for the thoughtful gift.
Sincerely,
Brooke Brown
 
“Fuck!” Drake wadded up the piece of paper and threw it over the balcony. “That fucking cocksucking stuck-up asshole!”
“What is it?” Ashroff asked, taking a step backward.
“We’ve been fucking tossed around with money,” Drake sneered. “He’s booting us and disguising it as a favor to me.”
“So what should we do?”?”
Rob drummed his fingers on his mouth furiously. There was no way he was letting Brown ridicule him like this. Not with his date scheduled for later tonight with Sarah. Not when he hadn’t got what he came for. The thought of buying the building came to his mind but he quickly overlooked it since he clearly knew Brown will never give him a chance.Clearly Brown wasn’t receptive to pleasant overtures. He’d just have to get vicious. “We’re not leaving,” he said after a long moment. “Go downstairs and check us out of this room. Then tell Lawson that when he gets back, I want him to get me another suite under a different name. I don’t care what name, just as long as Brown doesn’t realize I’m still here. And then get my other assistant.” He snapped his fingers, trying to think. “What’s her name—”
“Stephanie ,” Ashroff supplied helpfully.
He pointed at Ashroff in thanks. “Stephanie . Yes. Get Stephanie to call my lawyer and get him on the first flight out here . I need to buy some properties here .” His smile was cruel. “If Brown thinks my being here is fucking up his plans, he hasn’t seen a thing yet.”
It was officially time to misbehave.
*******

Still in a hazy, dreamlike state of contentment, Sarah floated from breakfast the next morning to shuffleboard, to a late lunch scheduled with Brown, Drake’s best friend . Her body was present, but her mind was still on that moonlit beach last night, when Drake pressed his mouth to hers and told her that he desired her. Actually, he’d said it with a lot more f-bombs, but she didn’t care. He could use all the cuss-words he wanted, as long as he kissed her like that and made her feel so incredibly beautiful.
She’d never had a moment like that, ever.
And Drake still liked her, she guess. Even after she’d thrown up on him, made a spectacle of herself on their first date, and acted strangely on the second date. He still wanted to see more of her. She’d done everything possible to mess the dates up and he’d still come after her.
Sarah ’s heart felt full to bursting at the thought. Drake said he wasn’t capable of love? That was too bad, because she was fully in love with him already. He might not think of himself as a kind man, but his actions toward her had spoken differently. He might have a tough, cuss-laden outer shell, but there was a tender heart beating underneath.
She was still on cloud nine as she wandered in to the Green Dining Hall. Brown had asked to meet there instead of the cute Seaturtle Cay cafe, and Sarah scanned the empty room looking for his friend . Brown was at a back table, a small figure hunched over a mountain of cream-colored envelopes.
“Bron?” Sarah called, moving forward.
A head rose from behind the hill of envelopes. Brown’s hot body she once loved gave him away instantly as he waved Sarah over, a smile on her face. “Hey Sarah! Thanks for meeting me here. I hope it’s not a problem if we have someone bring lunch to us instead of going to lunch?”
“No, that’s fine,” Sarah said, curious as she sat across from Brown at one of the round tables. Stack upon stack of thick parchment envelopes covered the table. At the other end, Brown scribbled something on a card, then tucked it into an envelope and stamped it with a wax seal. “What’s all this?”
“Oh!” Brown looked up from the envelope and tossed it into a small pile of sealed ones. He looked over the array. “That stack is for the hotel employees. I wants to bonus them as a thank-you for helping out with the wedding and guests .That other stack is for guests who flew in for the wedding—thank-you cards.” She pointed at another stack. “That one is for vendors who sent wedding presents and need a thank-you card letting them know we received their gift. And that stack there is for those that will be attending and leaving a gift at the wedding even though we requested no gifts. And that stack,” she pointed at another, “is for people that were invited to the wedding but couldn’t make it and sent a gift.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m drowning in thank-yous, and I’m not even sure I’ve got everything covered.”
Sarah pulled up a chair opposite to Brown . “Need some help? I can stuff and seal after you sign.”
The handsome man sent her a grateful look. “That’d be wonderful. As Aristotle said, ‘A friend is a second self.’ I could dearly use another pair of hands at the moment.”
They worked quietly for a few moments, Brown signing cards with her wasn’t such a bad idea as she was so bored and Sarah carefully tucking them into envelopes, sealing them, and placing them in the appropriate piles. They were able to speed up Brown ’s production enough that the drawn, frazzled look disappeared from her face. “So,” Brown said, as he wrote. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I invited you to lunch?.”
Immediately, Sarah’s thoughts filled with a lot , and she was starting to feel it wasn’t just her help he needed.
“ I don’t know.”
“ how has been your stay.”
A hot flush stained her cheeks as the thought of Drake filled her mind. “I’m enjoying myself. Though I have to admit it still feels decadent to have all this time off of work as a paid holiday.” Since Brown owned the sock-hop diner and he had invited most of the waitresses to come be part of the weeks-long wedding plans, Lilian filthy-rich husband and Brown had arranged for the diner to be staffed with temps who could handle things while the others were gone and sunning themselves at the resort. It seemed a ridiculous expense to Sarah , but then again, maybe that was just something billionaires did. “This place is wonderful. You look tired, though.”
Brown’s mouth curved in a wry smile. “I never do a thing at all aside little things like this and you still consider me tired.”
Sarah had a hard time picturing the forbidding Brown Brooke doing anything as normal as lounging in the club with friends . But this was a different sight she never saw “Well, anything I can help you with, you just let me know. I can’t thank you enough for inviting me for lunch .”
“Of course you’re welcome ! You’re one of my closest friends.” Brown put down the card he was holding and squeezed Sarah’s hand. “ I like you Sarah . I hope you didn’t feel neglected since Drake jilted you.”
“Oh, I don’t feel neglected at all,” Sarah exclaimed as she shook off his hand carefully “I’m having a wonderful time.” That blush seemed to want to take up permanent residence on her cheeks. “I’ve been playing shuffleboard and went to bingo and have been working on my tan and just everything you can imagine.”
“Shuffleboard, huh?” Brown giggled at that. “I’m picturing you lording it over the shuffleboard court, a bunch of gray-haired ladies shaking their fists at you.”
“Hey, I can’t help it if I’m good at shuffleboard. Long arms.”
“Rounding up all the people in the resort over the age of seventy-five and ensuring they’re having a good time?” Brown ’s smile was knowing.
Shyly, Sarah sealed an envelope. Should she mention anything to Brown ? Afterall they both use to be friends until two years ago when she broke up with Drake.She had block every of his friend and now she was back to being friends with her closest and Drake closest too.But the excitement of a budding relationship—after such a long, long dry spell—poured out of her. “I had a date .”
Brown gasped and clutched at the table . “Shut up. You did, Sarah? No way! Who?”
“Just a guy,” she said. “I don’t want to say too much and jinx it. But I really like him.” She bit her lip, thinking of last night and how it had gone from a nightmare to an almost magical sort of quality. Drake had been so sweet, so forthright. Blunt, but she liked that . . . and she liked him.
She even had a phone full of silly little texts from him, reminding her about their date later tonight. As if she’d forget! She’d been receiving them hourly, as if he paused during his day to think about her. That was a great feeling.
Her friend—Enny—hadn’t been too thrilled to hear that she was going out with him again. If she had seen her tear-filled escape from the bingo hall and it had taken a lot of soothing over the phone to calm her friend down.
It was sweet that she was worried, but she hadn’t been there when the evening had changed from nightmarish to magical. She didn’t know how Sarah had been pretending to be someone she wasn’t . . . and Drake had been doing the same.
“A date? Really I thought you were engaged to Drake ?”
She paused then reply “ we just faking it , I need the money and he needs Lilian .”
“ wow , is he aware of your new found date .” Brown squealed, his face fluttering in fake enthusiasm for her Sarah. “I’m so happy for you! You’ll have to give me all the details when you’re comfortable. Do you think you’ll see him when you go home, too? Or is this just an island fling? .”
“I don’t know if we’ll see each other afterward,”Sarah said, running her fingers along the thick edges of an envelope. “We’re taking it a day at a time.”
“That’s the best way to do things,” Brown proclaimed. “Epicurus said, ‘Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not.’”
Sarah grinned. Brown had an incredible brain for memorization, and always had a few words of wisdom from a philosopher at the ready. “I’ve missed your quotes.”

“How is Drake ?”Brown asked as Sarah slid a stack of cards toward him.He had a disagreement with Drake at the bar and ever since refuse to succumb to settlement, he had texted his assistant to reply Drake’s message as he wasn’t ready for any visitation but he had shown appreciation by paying for Drake’s suite , he knew for sure how upset Drake will be .intimidated and pride wouldn’t describe it
“ why did you agree to pick me up for him the other night.”as she was aware of the grudge between the two but she knew no reason for it.
“ I got a text and since it was you , I couldn’t refuse.”
but the way he looked at Sarah—possessive and hungry—made him yearn for someone to look at him like that.
“Thanks.” She whispered Then she thought of Drake again, and the blush returned. Drake e had looked at her like that. Like she was covered in his favorite ice cream and he wanted to lick it off of her. Which was a mental image that made her blush all over again.
“Drake ’s stressed, like me. Or rather, he’s stressed because of something he shouldn’t go after. If it were up to me, we’d get in a helicopter and fly to the nearest justice of the peace and get married there, but there’s too many people involved at this point.”Brown said he as he scribbled a note on another thank-you card. “And there’s some jerk here at the resort that’s driving me crazy.”
“Oh?”
She shook her head absently, not looking up from the card she was working on. “Something about some shady business guy wanting to get Lilian ’s attention so he’s lurking around at the hotel. It’s pissing me off because he wants everything to be perfect for himself but he can not let go go his ex.”
“He showed up here just to get Lilian ’s attention? That seems crazy.” Sarah shook her head as she realized Brown was speaking of Drake . “Crashing a wedding is pretty rude.”
“Yeah, Lilian ’s kicking him out before the tabloids get here. Apparently he’s your fake fiancé
Sarah blanched. “That sounds awful.”
“Doesn’t it?” he shuddered and handed another card to Sarah “But enough about that. Tell me how things are back at the restaurant. Is Elliott still being a diva?”
“And then some.” He shook his head, stamping the seal on the back of the newest envelope. The pile was moving quickly, and the stack of completed envelopes was starting to take form. With help, Bronwn would be able to get through these faster, and Sarah was glad to be of assistance. “We’ve had to redo the schedule over and over again because Elliott either calls in sick, comes in late, or wants a particular day off because she’s ‘busy.’”
Brown made an irritated noise in his throat. “God, she’s so awful. Want me to have her fired.”
“Oh, no,” Sarah said hastily. “She needs the job. And she’s really not that bad. She’s just . . . high maintenance. But let me tell you about the new guy Enny is dating—he rides a Harley! With the handlebars so tall that they’re over his head.”
Brown ’s eyes widened. “What? No! Another guy? What happened to Nash ?”
“Nash was last month.” Sarah began to tell Brown all the gossip of the job and the people they’d both worked with. She tried to pick out funny tidbits that would amuse Brown without calling too much attention to anyone—the mention of Enny was a reminder that Enny once crushed on Brown and he didn’t want him thinking she was a slut.
By the time they finished discussing the personal lives of coworkers and favorite customers, the stacks of envelopes were down to almost nothing, and they’d forgotten lunch entirely.
Brown picked up the last envelope in his stack and signed it with a flourish. “Last one! I can’t believe how quickly this went. You’re so good to help me, Sarah. You have no idea how much time this has saved me.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Sarah said with a smile. “It’s the least I can do.”
“You know,” Sarah said, tapping the card thoughtfully on the table. “I’ve been thinking. How tied to New york City are you?”
That was an odd question. Sarah shrugged. “It’s always been home because that’s where family was. And now that she is so used to her city, there hasn’t been a reason to move away .” Her throat knotted at the thought of her beloved father and brother . She still missed them daily. And she was lonely, if she admitted things to herself. Enny had been her closest friend at the restaurant, and now that she was stuck here, she felt like more of an outcast than ever. She spent most nights thinking about home , Drake and trying to make a difference in someone’s life. Trying to feel wanted.
“Would you ever consider relocating here?.”
“Haiti ?”Sarah’s eyes went wide. She’d never considered it. She’d always thought if she relocated, she’d move south to Dallas or Oklahoma City. Never something as Haiti . “Really?”
“I’ve started up a foundation,” Brown said, enthusiasm in his tired face. “We’re sharing classics of literature with those that want to read. Some of our groups are schools, but a lot of them are the elderly. We have discussion groups weekly and organize outside events and get-togethers. It’s really wonderful and I’m so excited to do it. Drake helped me set it up but backed off later , he doesn’t want anything in this city.” he beamed with pride.
“That sounds wonderful, Brown . And it sounds perfect for you.”
“The problem is that I’m doing that in between a lot of business right now .” he grimaced. “So I’m running on empty.I was advised to hire an assistant, but I just haven’t had time. And you’re so good with people. Especially the elderly. I really need someone like you.”
“You want me to be your assistant?” Oh, wow. “But I’m just a newbie.”
“So am I,” Brown n said, grinning. “But you’re smart and dedicated and we can work well together.” he gestured at the stacks of now-finished envelopes. “And I’d pay you well. It’d be a big change, but we’d get to hang out more, and, well, it’s not like New York . There’s always something going on there.But it will be perfect ”
“I never dreamed . . .” Sarah murmured. Haiti Wow.
“Say you’ll think about it. I need to run things past my clients, but they he won’t care. They—”
“ Run by your decision ?” A masculine voice broke into the conversation. As they both looked up as a man in a starchy business suit entered the Green Dining Hall, dodging the sea of tables anointed with upside-down chairs. He carried a large tray with several dishes and two drinks.
“It’s past lunch already ,” Brown said indifferent .
“ we had an issue with....”
“It’s fine.”
he waved off his irritation and got up, taking the tray from his hands ,he set the tray on the table. “I take on too much to do. If you can do the job, I’ll pay you two hundred grand a year.”
Sarah’s jaw dropped.
Brown just shook his s head, placing the lunch tray on the table. “Didn’t I tell you I was pushy,Sarah?”
“I think you told me you are wonderful,” Sarah teased.
“Well, that, too,” said Brown . And he smiled up at Sarah as he pushed a wrapped sandwich into her hand.
***
Sarah stayed down in the Green Dining Room for another hour, chatting Brown about the job requirements, Haiti, the wedding and most of all about the Brown’s foundation.It turned out that L Brown hadn’t been joking when he’d offered her the salary. It was overpaying for an assistant, he said, but he wanted himself to have good help, and he didn’t put a price tag on his s happiness.
And she had just beamed at him with contentment.
Sarah found herself saying yes to the job, even without knowing all the details. How could she pass it up? Her job as a personal assistant to Drake was barely started, but didn’t pay all that great. Two hundred grand a year to live in a magnificent, bustling city and work with Brown
doing something that she would love? It was a dream come true.
Someone was going to have to pinch her pretty soon, because things kept getting better and better.
She was still floating on a cloud of pure happiness when she returned to her room. The maids had come through and straightened things, the bed sheets so firmly tucked she could probably bounce a quarter off of it. And on the nightstand next to the bed, there was a box with a big red bow. Curious, she sat down on the bed and stared at the package. Who’d left her a gift?
Her phone pinged with another incoming text, and she read it.
Did the package get there yet?
Drake .
She gazed at the box with the bow and reached out for the tiny card jauntily shoved into the ruffles of the ribbon.
 
Wear these tonight. I hope they make you twenty fucking feet tall, because then you will be twent feet of glorious woman and I’m man enough to enjoy every inch of it.—D
 
Heat stained her cheeks again and she pressed the back of a hand to her skin to cool it. Gosh, he was always making her blush, wasn’t he? She pulled the lid off the box . . . and gasped at the shoes inside. Silver platform peep-toe pumps with a nearly eight -inch heel. They were studded with tiny crystals all over the shoe leather, and glittered like Cinderella’s glass slipper. She picked one up wonderingly.
It was enormously tall. She’d be a giant. They were garish and impractical and sky-high.
But they were also sparkly, girly, and utterly gorgeous.
Sarah turned one over in her hands, checking the size. Her size. How had he known . . . ? Her fingers smoothed over the Jimmy Choo stamp on the bottom of the shoe. They had to be expensive. Jimmy Choo didn’t make cheap heels. She should return the present and just send Drake a thank-you.
But then, she pictured his reaction. He’d cuss and stomp his way over to her room and make her take the shoes anyhow.
And . . . she kind of loved them. She was such a cliché—a girl that adored shoes. But so what? How often did she find someone that wasn’t terrified of her height and didn’t want her to wear heels out of pity ? He liked how short t she was. And she liked the shoes.
So she slid them on and nearly swooned at how good they felt. The leather practically caressed the arches of her feet. Impulsively, she took a picture of her feet in the shoes and texted it to him.
Perfect, he sent back a moment later.
Is this part of your seduction plan? she asked him.
Might be. I’m pretty good at this sort of thing, huh?
She had to admit that yes, he was rather good at it after all. And she was really, really looking forward to their date tonight. CT
So when do I get to see you again? he sent back.
She gazed down at her gorgeous, impractical shoes. Then, impulsively, she texted back, How about now?