Miss Prim And The Maverick Millionaire. Nina Singh
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prefer to be gainfully employed as she looked for another position. Her breath held while he spoke.
“Let’s compromise. You just help me on this one overseas project. We’ll start from there.”
“And then what?”
“Then we revisit the situation and the matter of your employment.”
She gave her head a small shake. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“I just mean that I don’t think you should make any lasting decisions right now, in the heat of the moment.”
Jenna’s phone rang but she ignored it, unable to tear her eyes away from Cabe’s intense, steel-blue gaze. “We don’t want to be impulsive.”
She decided to give in just a little. “Perhaps we don’t.”
Cabe pounced, assuming success. “Do you have a valid passport? If not, we can request rush processing and you can meet me there once it arrives.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Cabe?”
“Yes?”
“Do you actually know the definition of impulsive?”
Her question gave him pause, and then he laughed. “I see your point. Nevertheless.”
“I have a current passport.”
“Great. It’s settled, then.”
She stood, met him eye to eye. “Not so fast, Cabe.”
Was that a smile still on his lips? He couldn’t be enjoying this. “Before I say yes, I have a stipulation.”
“What’s that?”
“Once the new site is opened, upon completion of this project, I want a glowing recommendation from you. In case I decide to look for a position elsewhere.”
“I hardly think that will be ne—”
She cut him off. “It’s nonnegotiable. I want your word that you will assist me if I decide to leave Jordan’s Fine Jewelry.” It was the least he could do. After all the long hours of blood, sweat and tears that she’d put into this company. After the way he’d just treated her. And for all the work she was about to put in on this project. He owed her at least that much.
He merely nodded. “If, at the end, a recommendation is still what you want then I will give you one.”
“It will be.”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave her a wide smile, the kind of smile that would have had her swooning if they were still in high school. Even now, her knees grew weak.
“Not if I change your mind.”
JENNA TOWNSEND HAD clearly never been on a private jet before. Cabe guided her into the cabin and tried not to react to her reaction, though he had a comical urge to gently nudge her mouth closed. Instead, he patiently waited as she took small, hesitant steps up the stairs and into the aisle.
Unfortunately, there remained an awkward tension between them. In the interest of business, he chose to ignore it. She thought she might be looking for another job after the Caribbean project when it was completed. He had other ideas.
Well, he’d deal with that scenario if it happened. He’d been watching Jenna in action since he’d arrived in Boston and he had very different plans for her. He was not about to let her go anytime soon.
Now she stood in front of him, taking in her surroundings as they entered the aircraft. Cabe let her take her time.
As far as private planes went, his wasn’t terribly extravagant. Pretty much standard issue. Leather seats, a mahogany table so that he could get some work done. In fact, his only indulgence had been the fully stocked bar.
“Jenna, please, have a seat.” Cabe gently guided her toward one of the leather chairs and waited until she was seated before sitting down himself.
She immediately clicked on her seat belt and tightened it. She appeared to be more than merely awed. She seemed apprehensive, downright uncomfortable.
“Are you okay with flying, Jenna?” He knew she’d been on business trips before. So what was making her so jittery now?
The smile she gave him was strained, almost shy. “Mostly. I have to admit, flying is a bit of a new experience for me. We didn’t travel much when I was a child.” She glanced around at her surroundings. “And as far as flying in something like this...”
“It’s just more convenient than flying commercial, that’s all.”
She let out a small laugh. “Right. Convenient.”
Something he couldn’t name tingled inside him. In so many ways, Jenna’s reaction to his aircraft was refreshing. How many countless women had flown with him privately over the years? None of them had even seemed to notice the lavishness around them. Every one of them had taken for granted that they’d be arriving at their destination in the lap of luxury.
Ironically, rather than making him feel smug, her genuine awed reaction made him feel petty. Hadn’t he been taking it all for granted himself? But he knew better than anyone that money couldn’t fix everything.
He cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly as they both settled into their seats.
The flight attendant appeared momentarily. Cabe almost groaned out loud. This particular one could be quite the flirt. Normally, he let it slide and tolerated her suggestive comments. For some reason, he really wasn’t in the mood to deal with it today. Not with Jenna here.
“Mr. Jordan. So nice to see you again,” she said, her smile wide and inviting. She barely spared a glance at Jenna. He couldn’t quite remember, but thought she had been the one to slip him her personal phone number after one flight.
Why did it bother him that she would flirt again this time? What was happening to him?
He had to remind himself this was nothing more than an ordinary business trip. He was way too focused on the woman—rather, the employee—accompanying him. That would have to change. And soon.
“Is there anything I can get for you, Mr. Jordan? Anything at all?” the woman asked, her emphasis on the repeated word impossible to miss.
He turned to find Jenna staring out the window, her cheeks stained slightly pink. Dressed in a smart navy pantsuit, her hair up in another impossibly tight style. Not one tendril drifting anywhere near her face. How in the world did she get all that hair to behave? He had a crazy image of unclipping the pin that held it all together, running his fingers through her long, thick tresses. He shook it off.
“Jenna? Is there something you’d like? Some wine, perhaps?”
Jenna shook her head. “No, thank you. I don’t dare drink wine. I’ll fall asleep.”
“Are you sure?” He glanced at his watch. “We’ll be in flight for a while. You definitely have time to take a nap.”
Her eyes grew wide. You’d think he’d just suggested that she fall asleep on the job. Which in a way, he guessed he had. He laughed at her shock. “Jenna, it’s all right. You’ll be much more productive if you’re well rested.”
“Why do I get the feeling that’s like the pot calling the kettle black?”
He laughed and dismissed the attendant with a polite nod. The woman hesitated, clearly disappointed, before finally stepping away.
“We’ll even have some time to enjoy the sights while we’re out there,” he added.
She gave him a small smile that sent an inexplicable surge of pleasure through his chest. “That would be nice. I’ve never been to the Caribbean.”