Mistletoe Maneuvers

Four

“As I told you, Mr. Parker,” Lessa said, still shaky from the kiss. “I’m not an actress.”

“Well, you better try. Because this is the only way to get back your father’s business. So no more tantrums.” He swung her back into him.

“Every time you touch me, it makes me dislike you even more.”

“Well, if all goes according to plan,” he said, pulling her so close she could feel his breath on her cheek, “by the end of the evening you’ll hate me.” He released her but still held on to her hand. “Shall we?”

The afternoon sun reflected off the blue Caribbean, beating through the palm trees that flanked the path. They made their way to the white sandy beach toward a waving Sabrina. Lessa was surprised to see that Sabrina was wearing a suit even skimpier than hers.

“This way,” Sabrina called out cheerfully.

Lessa glanced sideways at Rick. If Sabrina was wearing the bikini to impress him, it didn’t appear to work. He was looking intently at Lessa. “Showtime,” he told her softly.

“Well,” Sabrina said, the smile fading from her face as she saw Lessa, “I see you got the suit. Who knew you had a figure underneath those big, bulky clothes of yours?”

“Lessa’s in great shape,” Rick said, smiling at her proudly. Lessa couldn’t help but wince at the discussion of her physical attributes. She tightened the towel around her waist.

“She’s a competitive tennis player,” Rick said. “She even played at Wimbledon.”

“The Wimbledon Juniors,” Lessa corrected him, embarrassed by the exaggeration.

“How impressive,” Sabrina said, obviously unimpressed. “But does she water-ski?”

Why did Sabrina insist on talking to Rick as if Lessa weren’t there? “No, she doesn’t,” Lessa said, referring to herself in the third person.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Sabrina said, with mock sincerity. “Perhaps you’d like to stay here and settle into a beach chair. We won’t be long, will we, Rick?” Once again, she flashed her pearly whites.

“I’m always up for trying something new,” Lessa said as enthusiastically as she could.

Rick jumped on the boat and held out his hand. She made herself take his hand and climbed onboard.

The boat took off and Sabrina fell against Rick. “Whoa,” she said. Rick steadied her as Sabrina smiled at him gratefully. And that was when it hit Lessa. Sabrina was not only an ex-girlfriend, she was vying to be the current one as well. But did she really like him? Or was she, as Rick maintained, just trying to determine his response? After all, what better way to see if his relationship with Lessa was real?

As if thinking the same thing, Rick moved behind Lessa and slipped his arm around her shoulders. She glanced up at him and he smiled back.

“Does the rest of your office know what you’re up to?” Sabrina asked, staring at them intently.

“No,” Lessa said.

“Yes,” Rick said, at exactly the same time.

He squeezed her shoulders again and said, “They didn’t for a long time, but due to the most recent issue-”

“When I fired him,” Lessa added cheerfully.

“It’s become obvious that something is going on.”

“I see.” Sabrina said, picking up a bottle of sun-screen. She squirted some in her hand and stretched out one of her long legs, swinging it up and over the side of the boat. In a scene worthy of an X-rated film, she began slowly to smooth the lotion over her leg. It was obvious that Sabrina was doing some performing of her own. When she was done, she looked at Rick and said, “Lotion?”

He turned to Lessa and asked, “Would you mind putting some on my back?”

His back? “No,” Lessa said, taking the lotion. She squirted some on her hands and forced herself to touch his bare skin. His skin was smooth and his back was outlined with well-formed muscles. She dug in deep, running her fingers against the muscles that seemed to grow hard with her touch. It was sensual and intimate, not the type of activity one would normally perform with a business associate. But she could not allow herself to feel embarrassed. Sabrina was watching.

“Thanks,” he said huskily, as Sabrina signaled the boat’s driver to stop. “You’ve got quite a touch,” he added, giving her a mischievous grin.

Sabrina handed Rick a life jacket and said, “Why don’t you go first.” She helped it on him, making a point of rubbing in some lotion that was on his shoulder. “You missed a spot,” she said, smiling evilly at Lessa.

Lessa couldn’t help but resent the blatantly flirtatious act. If Rick really were her boyfriend, she would be fuming right now.

“Thanks,” he said, then plunged into the water.

“Don’t forget your ski,” Lessa said, tossing it in. He moved out of the way just in time to avoid being clobbered. “So sorry, darling,” she said.

Rick slipped on the ski and gave them the thumbs-up sign. He easily got up on the first try, all of his muscles taut.

Sabrina clapped her hands before focusing her attention back on Lessa. As Lessa watched Rick ski in and out of the wake, Sabrina said, “Rick and I met on a ski boat. It was very romantic. I took a bad tumble and had to be carried off the boat. Naturally Rick volunteered. All the other men, including my date, were sitting on the boat sipping their drinks. Well, that was that.”

Lessa nodded. What was she supposed to do? She had the feeling that Sabrina was testing her, but what could she say? “Rick is a very gallant man.”

“I take it you two met at work,” Sabrina stated.

“I met Rick when he came to work for my father.” Lessa could still see Rick standing before her, with his hair slicked back and his deep blue eyes, resplendent in an expensive suit. She remembered the feeling that had surged through her, a primitive need and desire so great she felt as if she might wilt away if he didn’t love her in return. “I fell in love with Rick the first moment I saw him. Of course, he didn’t know that,” she said. And suddenly, she wasn’t acting anymore. It was a true story, and recalling it now, after all these years, she could still feel the dull ache of longing for her old crush. “I was only fifteen and I don’t think he even knew I existed. But I was so infatuated with him. I used to think of excuses to go to work with my dad just to see Rick. There was a drinking fountain right outside his office. I spent hours at that fountain.”

“Love at first sight,” Sabrina said sarcastically. “How sweet. So there’s a significant age difference.”

“Not really. About eleven years. Rick was pretty young when he started. It’s one of those age differences that grows smaller and smaller through the years.”

They glanced back but Rick was no longer there. Oops. Lessa was so into recalling her past love that she had forgotten to keep an eye on him.

“Turn it around,” Sabrina said to the driver, pointing to a dot on the horizon.

They went back to Rick and he climbed back onto the boat. “You looked great out there,” Sabrina said.

He nodded toward the towel, as if hinting at Lessa to get it. She jumped up and snatched it away just as Sabrina got up. “Thanks, babe,” he said casually.

Babe. He called her babe. She had never liked that term of endearment. Macho slang for baby, it radiated sex.

He eyed them both and said, “What have you girls been talking about?”

“It was so sweet. Alessandra was telling me how she loved you at first sight. How she used to spend hours at the drinking fountain outside your office, just hoping for a smile from you.” And with that, Sabrina touched his cheek. “It seems as if you were just too irresistible.” Sabrina took a life preserver and fastened it on.

“Is that true?” he asked Lessa, looking at her quizzically.

“It was a long time ago,” she said. “I was a kid.”

Neither said anything else as Sabrina jumped into the water and put on her ski. As the boat took off, Rick wrapped his arm around Lessa, holding her tightly against him. They were flesh to flesh. She felt the movement of his breathing, the dampness of his skin. This was a little too close for comfort. She scooted away as she pretended to get a better look at Sabrina. She looked like a true professional gliding across the water with one ski. And then she began to show off, turning around backward and forward, smiling and waving at Rick. “She’s good, isn’t she?” Lessa remarked.

But Rick wasn’t looking at Sabrina. He was looking at Lessa. There was something lazily seductive in his eyes, as though he were thoroughly enjoying the moment.

“I think Sabrina is still interested in you,” Lessa said.

“No. We were together a long time ago. Besides, Sabrina’s not the type to fall in love.”

She raised an eyebrow. Women’s intuition said differently.

When Sabrina was done, Rick leaned over the boat and helped her out of the water.

“Would you like to go again, Rick?” she asked as she stood in front of him, stretching every which way to pat herself dry.

Oh no, Lessa told herself, this was not how this was going to work, with her sitting on the sidelines watching Sabrina and Rick show off. “I’d like to give it a try,” she announced.

“Good for you,” Sabrina said in a patronizing tone. “She’s got some spirit, Rick.” She nodded toward the water. “Jump in and I’ll throw you another ski.”

“What’s wrong with the one you both used?”

“It’s easier if you get up on two skis,” Rick said.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sabrina smirk, as if mocking her.

“I’ll do one,” Lessa said.

“Take another ski,” Rick said firmly.

No thanks. They did one, and so would she. “Don’t worry, dear,” she said, jumping into the water. She waded over toward the ski and attempted to put it on. But the boot was set for Sabrina’s tiny size-five feet. Her size nines didn’t stand a chance.

She struggled with the latch and glanced up. There was no mistaking the evil gleam in Sabrina’s eyes. Then Lessa heard a splash as Rick jumped in the water. She couldn’t help but feel relief as he swam over to help.

“It’s stuck,” she said, handing him the ski. He looked at her and said softly, “What’s the deal? Why won’t you use two skis?”

Why? Because his girlfriend had only used one. And she was…being silly?

“It seemed more convenient,” she lied.

She tried to ignore Rick’s disbelieving look as he called out, “Toss in another ski.”

Sabrina threw it and it landed in the water beside them, barely missing Lessa’s head. “Hey,” Rick yelled. “Be careful!”

Rick adjusted the skis to fit her. “Hold on to me,” he said. Lessa reluctantly put her arms around his neck to steady herself as he slid the skis on her feet. “You don’t have to do this,” he said.

“I want to do this,” she said adamantly, letting go of him.

“All right,” he said finally. “It’s a little choppy so stay in the wake.”

The wake. She got it. She could do this, she told herself. She had won the NCAAs, won the Wimbledon Juniors. She could certainly handle a little waterskiing. How hard could it be?

Rick climbed back on the boat. What had gotten into her? He knew Sabrina had been trying hard to goad her into action, but Lessa was too smart to let Sabrina get to her.

He was impressed with the way Lessa was handling herself. She was doing a good job of playing the concerned lover. He had been surprised at the sensuous way she had applied the lotion, massaging his shoulders and leaning close enough for him to feel her breasts pressing up against him. She had been effective. So effective that his body had sprung to life-a fact that Sabrina, with her eagle eyes and ability to read men, no doubt noticed.

But hell, who could blame him? After all, Lessa was half-naked in that bikini. Every ounce of her firm and toned body was exposed. It was all he could do to keep from staring at her large, upturned breasts, at her slender, perfect hips.

“She’s ready,” Sabrina said, telling the driver to go. The boat jolted to a start and Rick watched with dismay as Lessa flew out of the water and onto her head.

“Cut the engine,” he yelled and jumped in, prepared to retrieve an unconscious woman from the water.

But she poked her head up. “I almost had it,” she yelled out cheerfully.

“That’s enough,” he said sternly, swimming toward her. “Let’s go in.”

“I’m not about to quit now,” Lessa said, grabbing a ski and slipping it back on.

“Lessa,” he began.

“Go back up on the boat,” she said, reaching for the other ski. “Please. I can do this.”

He glanced back at the boat. Sabrina was leaning over the side, watching them. He could not argue with her here.

He hesitantly handed her the other ski and swam back to the boat. “She’s determined,” he said, pulling himself out of the water.

But he was about to learn just how tenacious she was. Time after time, Lessa went back down. Yet she showed no indication of being tired nor wishing to call it a day. She was hell-bent to succeed.

As Lessa took yet another tumble, Sabrina sighed and said, “How long will she keep his up?”

“Until she skis.” He had no doubt that, if necessary, they would be at this all night.

“So, Rick,” Sabrina said, leaning back against the boat and stretching seductively, “you never did explain why you broke things off.”

This was one conversation he had been hoping to avoid. “I thought we had an understanding,” he said. “I wasn’t ready for any commitment.”

“And now you are?”

“I-” He hesitated, glancing in Lessa’s direction. Her hair was a tangled mess but she didn’t seem to care. She wiped her nose with the back of her arm and once again flashed the thumbs-up sign. He had to admit, there was something endearing in her refusal to give up. “I didn’t plan on this happening with Lessa,” he said quietly. “It was just one of those things.”

He found himself encouraging Lessa silently from the sidelines. Her face set in grim determination, she slowly rose to her feet. Caught up in the moment, he jumped up and applauded. Lessa let out a whoop of joy.

Sabrina motioned to the driver to spin around. Rick knew that this would push Lessa outside of the wake, something which he thought was too dangerous. “No!” he shouted to Sabrina, but it was too late. Lessa sped outside the wake and in a split second, her slight form was lost in a spray of water.

He dove out of the boat, certain that no one could escape a fall like that unscathed. But once again, she surprised him.

“Did you see me?” she asked, bobbing in the water and grinning from ear to ear.

“You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt,” he said gruffly, grabbing the skis.

“Lessa, I’m so sorry,” Sabrina said, as they climbed back onboard. “We were getting too far out, so I turned the boat…”

“You should’ve told her to drop the rope,” Rick said angrily. No matter what Sabrina said, he knew better. It was intentional, and she was damn lucky that Lessa wasn’t hurt. As it was, he thought, glancing at the big pink mark on Lessa’s leg, she was going to have a hell of a bruise. “Do you have an ice pack?” he asked Sabrina.

“It’s not necessary,” Lessa said.

But Rick didn’t listen. He helped her to sit down before holding the ice pack against her leg. “We’ve had enough. Let’s head back.”

Sabrina shrugged innocently and they drove back in silence. Rick’s initial joy over Lessa’s achievement faded into anger. What had she been trying to prove? It was stubbornness mixed with a sense of competition. She should’ve known when to throw in the towel, known when to say enough was enough. And as a result, she got hurt.

When they got back to shore, Rick made a point of keeping his arm around Lessa, helping her off the boat and down the dock.

“I’ll see you at dinner,” Sabrina said with a cheerful wave.

When they were out of earshot, Rick said, “What the hell were you doing back there-trying to kill yourself?”

“What are you talking about? I was waterskiing.”

“You know very well what I’m talking about. You were trying to prove something. And your competitive nature almost got you seriously injured.”

“I guess I should be touched that you’re so concerned.”

Why was he so annoyed? Maybe because the whole scenario reminded him of what she had done at work. She had refused to give up, and as a result, she was about to get hurt. “You didn’t have to prove anything, Lessa,” he told her.

“I know that,” she said, before shrugging off his arm. As she did so, her bathing-suit strap fell down over her pale, white shoulder. The wind gently blew the strands of her still-wet hair. Her eyes sparkled and her pale cheeks flushed with anger. He felt a sudden urge to kiss her.

“So how do you think it went with Sabrina?” she asked.

He forced himself to look away. The sight of her bare, slender body was enough to confuse even the most resolute intentions. “Hard to say.”

“I think Sabrina is still interested in you.”

“I told you that’s over.”

“Yeah, well, she had to look high and low to find a suit that skimpy.”

“That’s just how she dresses.”

“And the way she kept touching you. Pretending to fall against you and putting on a show with the lotion.”

“Jealous?” he teased.

“Me?” she asked. “Hardly. But I think Sabrina is.”

But he knew better. Sabrina’s flirtation was merely a test to see if he bit. He had no doubt that her line about her advisers reviewing the contract was just an excuse to stall for time. He and Lessa still had a lot of work to do if they were going to convince Sabrina. They needed to prove that their love was tempestuous and passionate. A love capable of desperate breakups and tearful reunions. “At dinner I’m going to ask Sabrina to dance. I want you to act like a jealous lover. I want you to storm out.”

“Storm out? In other words, you want me to act like an idiot.”

“No. I want you to act like a woman who believes her lover is flirting with another. I want you to act like a woman who cannot bear the thought of the man you love touching another woman.”

“The man I love…” Her voice drifted off as the implication sank in. “Not all women behave so immaturely.”

“True, but we are selling the whole firing as an act of passion. She needs proof. And she certainly didn’t get it on the boat.”

“Did it ever occur to you that the firing could’ve been your fault? Perhaps you quit because you saw me flirting with another man. And you couldn’t stand the thought of me touching another.”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but Sabrina knows me, remember?” he said, touching her cheek. His eyes hardened and he took her hand. “I’m not the jealous type.”