Heating Up Hawaii Read Online Free Page B

later.” She regretted her last minute bargain immediately after saying it.
    “You heard her,” Luc growled behind her.
    “Good-bye for now.” Darren glared at her. He shot Luc an unsatisfied stare, and Luc responded with a much stronger one in return. Darren mumbled something, clenched his jaw, spun around, and left. His compact frame disappeared under the Red Maple tree shadows and into the night.
    They both slid inside the limousine and mortification quickly crept up on her. What should she do? Thank him? No. The last thing she needed was to give his ego a deep tissue massage. Explain to him? No. He had nothing to do with her personal affairs, and the less he knew about her, the better.
    Luc sat next to her, though she scooted to the far side of the leather seat, preventing their limbs from accidentally touching. After exchanging a few words with the driver, he glanced down at her.
    Penny swallowed her embarrassment, when a quick peek back his way showed her his smile. He was smiling! His eyes focused forward, lost in thought.
    During the rest of the ride and their arrival at the Michelin-starred eatery, he didn’t speak.
    The restaurant had high ceilings and an airy interior. The entrance was a hustle and bustle of activity. They were lead to a booth located in a quiet corner where the ambience was undeniably cozy. A musician played a huge piano under the dim lighting and there was the warm scent of vanilla from the candles burning on each table.
    “Luc, I have our contract with me, and if you’re ready we can start discussing your needs,” Penny spoke after they placed their orders. She knew she had her work cut out for her, with the date of the re-opening party fast approaching.
    “When did you end your engagement?” His syrupy accent didn’t conceal the touch of impatience in his voice.
    She raised her eyes to his only to find the blue one darkening to the color of a gray overcast sky, and the hazel deepening into a dark brown shade. A thrill of excitement and fear zinged down her body and shook all her nerve endings.
    She blinked. “I don’t see how this is relevant.” Penny managed to sound casual.
    “Eight months ago?” He tilted his head and edged closer to her.
    She folded her arms together, desperate to create an invisible layer of protection against that question. Against him.
    “Six,” she said at last. “How do you know that I ended it? It could have been him.”
    Luc chuckled a hearty sound, which annoyed her. “That’s obvious. How long before the wedding did you do it?”
    Penny hesitated. She stared at the short flame swaying on the wick of the white candle in the middle of the table. She touched the brown metal candle holder, her fingers caressing the pattern along the round object.
    The worst isn’t over. It’s just beginning.
    “The day before.” She avoided meeting his gaze.
    “The day before.” He repeated with a nod. “A runaway bride.” He squared his shoulders, and slid away from her, back to his original place. “I’m not surprised. Running always was your forte.”
    And using women to your advantage was always yours.
    She looked up at him with an effort. There was no trace of mockery on his lips, no amusement in his eyes. His stance was deadly serious.
    What could she say? She hadn’t run. This was no unsolved, long lost love. On that overcast New York day, Luc had confronted her. He had questioned her reason for telling Allegra, the investor’s daughter, about their secret affair.
    Well, secret had been how he had wanted to keep it. Penny understood as a hotel manager it didn’t look good for him to date an intern and it even went against company policies. She had lived with it for two months, never telling a coworker the reason of her smile or sweet humming in between check-ins at the front desk.
    But when a coworker alerted her that Allegra Smith, the daughter of the hotel owner and known investor, had a crush on Luc, things had changed. He had told her all he