Part III—Steven & Madison: Chapter 1—Steven Lane

I hated staff meetings. They were a waste of time. But Jessica and Travis had demanded that all managers and a select few staff members attend for some big announcement. Big announcements made at mandatory meetings usually meant one of two things: more work for me with even less help or new management that would ultimately result in losing my job. Goody.

“Hey, Steven,” Jessica greeted me as I walked into the conference room.

“You’re looking beautiful as ever, Jess,” I said, giving her a hug. She was the one woman I’d wanted to sleep with but never did. We were good friends, and I was smart enough to know that sex would ruin that. Besides, she was much better off with Travis.

“Always a charmer,” she said with a smile. “Find a seat.”

I walked around the large rectangular table and took a seat beside Connor. He was the resort’s head bartender and Jessica’s brother. He was also expecting a baby with his fiancée, Vanessa, who was the resort’s accountant and Jessica’s best female friend. I swear it was like a soap opera on this island. I needed a scorecard to keep up with who was dating who and what their relationships were to everyone else.

“What’s going on, Connor?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Jess said there was a big restructuring going on.”

What the hell that meant was anyone’s guess. I grabbed a bottle of water from the middle of the table and took a long drink.

“Thanks for coming, Madison,” Jessica said.

I jerked my head up at the sound of her name. Madison Tate—that woman drove me crazy. She was a bartender at Scorched, the resorts only night club, and she was a damned good one. The guests loved her. So did the men. It was no surprise why. Madison was tall, standing just over five feet six inches, with muscular legs that I was dying to feel wrapped around my waist as I buried my—

“Hi, Steven,” Madison said as she sat beside me.

I swallowed more water and sliced a look in her direction. Her strawberry blonde hair hung around her shoulders in tempting little curls. They were the type that made a man want to wrap it around his finger and then draw it out until it uncoiled and bounced back into place. I’d spent more time than I care to admit fantasizing about doing just that. “What’re you doing here?” I said.

Her light green eyes sparked with annoyance. I knew that look. She gave it to every guy who hit on her at the club that she didn’t like. I cringed and bit back a curse.

“Jessica asked me to come,” she said.

“Right,” I mumbled, finishing my water and reaching for another that I contemplated pouring on my crotch. Maybe that would help the inferno burning in my groin.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Madison. Her peaches and cream complexion had nothing more than a base tan, giving her a healthy glow as opposed to the pasty white Casper-like quality she had when she’d first arrived. She had an oval face with prominent cheekbones that were sprinkled with freckles. I wondered what other parts of her body had those adorable freckles.

“Can you hand me one of those?” Madison asked, nodding at the water.

I handed her a bottle. Look away. I watched her take a drink. Look away. When she lowered the bottle, her soft pink lips glistened with moisture, taunting me. I bet they felt a hundred times softer than they looked. And I’d give my left nut to watch them wrap around my cock.

Her tongue licked across her bottom lip. I suppressed a groan, and tore my gaze from her, pinching the bridge of my nose. I swore I heard Madison chuckle. Damn her.

“Okay,” Jessica said. “Travis and I have an announcement to make. As of this morning, we are the new legal owners of Paradise Falls.”

“What?” Connor said before I had the chance.

“We bought the resort from Franklin,” Jessica said. “And now that it’s under new management, there are going to be some major changes.”

Great. Here it comes. Although, the risk of losing my job with Jessica and Travis being in charge was slim.

“We’ve decided to expand,” Travis said. “We’re going to utilize the entire island as opposed to only a small portion of it. On the northern most part, Jessica and I are going to build a house and a series of townhouses for all full-time staff.”

Well, that explained why only select employees were here.

“We’ll continue to rent rooms at the hotel and eventually we’ll begin to rent the bungalows,” Jessica added. “Our goal is to add a medical center to the island, too.”

“So, Connor gets his girlfriend knocked up and you build them a medical center?” I said.

Connor shot me a dirty look and punched me in the arm. I chuckled, as did almost everyone else.

Jessica smiled and shook her head at me. “I’ll tell you what, Steven. The day you settle down with one woman, or man, I’ll give you partial ownership in this resort.”

“Nothing like taking a safe bet,” I said. My playboy reputation on the island was no secret. Neither was my bisexuality. I liked being a playboy, and I wasn’t about to give it up for some stupid bet.

“What does this expansion mean for us?” Connor asked.

“Hopefully, increased business. With that—”

“More work,” I said, cutting Jessica off.

She nodded. “Yes, but we’re going to restructure the way things run around here.”

“What kind of restructure?” Connor asked.

“Connor, you’ll continue to be the head bartender and handle all the ordering, inventory, and stocking for all the bars on the island. However, you will only be the manager for the beach bar. We’ll hire new bar managers for Scorched and the hotel bar, and they’ll answer to you,” Jessica said.

Well hell, that didn’t sound so bad.

Jessica looked at me. “Steven, you’ll be responsible for the new entertainment managers we’re going to hire for the various venues. However, I’d like you to take a more active role in Scorched. That place is hot, and I want to keep it that way.”

I nodded. “I can do that.”

“Good,” Jessica said. “Okay, I need everyone to stop by Debbie’s desk on their way out and make an appointment to see either me or Travis so we can go over new job requirements and salary on a one-on-one basis.”

No shit. A new salary, too? This was hands down the best staff meeting I’d ever been to.

“Connor, Steven, could you two please hang back for a minute?” Jessica said before we had a chance to reach the door.

“What’s up, sis?” Connor asked once the room had emptied.

“The new bar manager for Scorched. I’d like to promote from within. Who would you guys suggest?”

“Craig,” I said immediately.

“What?” Connor gave me a dirty look. “Why not Madison? We both know she’s better suited for the job. Besides, the guests love her.”

I scowled. So what if Madison was better for the job? Promoting her to bar manager meant I’d be forced to work very closely with her, and as tempting as that was, I had a feeling it wouldn’t bode so well for me.

“Steven?” Jessica said.

“Madison’s a great bartender, and she’s really good with the guests, but I just don’t think she’s ready for the responsibilities of being a manager.”

“You’ve never been one to sugarcoat things,” Connor said. “Admit it, Steven, you’re scared of having to work with her.”

Perceptive little prick. “I don’t have any issues working with Madison. I just think—”

“Okay. That solves it then. Madison will be the new bar manager at Scorched,” Jessica said with a clap of her hands.

“I hate both of you.”

Connor laughed and patted me on the back. “Stop fighting it, man.”

Jessica smiled. “As the new manager of Scorched, it’s your job to give the good news to Madison.”

“I hate you,” I said with a smile.

“Yeah you’ve said that already. Now go. Both of you. I have work to do.” Jessica shooed us out of her office.

I sighed. Guess it was time to go find Madison.