Pineapple Persuasion Valentine Read online

  Danni Roan

  Pineapple Persuasion Valentine

  Ornamental Match Maker Series

  Danni Roan

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Copyright © 2019 by Danni Roan

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

  FIRST EDITION

  https://authordanniroan.com

  Chapter 1

  James Hampton picked up his laptop bag and settled at a table in his tiny grass hut. From the outside, it had that rustic, primitive look, but inside it was all modern comfort.

  He’d been at the beach for three days, soaking up the sun and surf, but now it was time to check in with real life.

  As a partner in Audrey’s Audacious Outings, the party planning agency that he worked for with one of his oldest friends, he felt he should at least check in when on vacation.

  Christmas and New Years had been a whirlwind of activity, and when Audrey had decided suddenly to marry her Christmas Cowboy, he’d been left to soldier on through the busiest time of the year with a string of interns and his trusted planner.

  Plunking the heavy bag on the table, he lifted brown eyes to his view of the sea on the other side of a huge window and sighed. He’d spend an hour checking emails, and then head back out to paradise.

  At twenty-seven he really couldn’t complain about his life. When Audrey had roped him into the business for his ascetic flare and mad organizational skills, he had thought it would be something to do to pay off college debt, but now the business was booming, and he couldn’t see leaving.

  The fact that Audrey had made him a partner after her wedding had been even sweeter, but the job had its disadvantages. Like Christmas, his least favorite time of the year.

  Opening his bag, James pulled out the laptop then narrowly caught the little blue package that toppled out with it.

  Tossing the small brightly colored box in his hand he grinned. One of the Ls had handed it to him before he’d escaped the massive New Years wedding bash of his other good friend Lisa.

  “Whatever are you up to my dear Ls?” James mused turning the box in his hand. Everyone from back home in Colorado knew that the Alberton sisters, collectively known as the Ls, were no one to trifle with. Linda, Louis, Lydia, and Louisa, or Lou for short, would not be dissuaded once a plan of action was taken.

  Opening his laptop, James clicked it on ignoring the little package he’d placed on the table. He had work to do, and he was on vacation anyway. He wasn’t ready to deal with the silly notions of four old women just yet.

  Clicking on his email file, he groaned as nearly one hundred messages scrolled by.

  Covering his eyes, he begged the powers that be to spare him just a little then peeked again. Most of the messages were for clients hoping to find a spot on an already full calendar, and some were for bookings he and Audrey had made earlier.

  Clicking on the first one, he noted that as the message continued Audrey had stepped in and replied.

  Grinning at his partner’s efficiency, his eyes fell once more on the little package sparkling in the morning sun. Its blue wrapping was warm like the beckoning ocean, and he reached for it once more giving it a little shake.

  “No, I don’t have time for this,” James said plunking the box back on the table. “I’m on vacation!”

  Turning back to his screen he ran through several emails that looked urgent and sent reminders to all involved in the upcoming events that the plan was on track. He then double checked his ‘out of the office’ automatic response that shuttled things into Audrey’s mail box and closed the lap top with a snap.

  Outside the sun danced on the surf like a child through a field of daisies, and he breathed deeply of the salty air that permeated every cranny of the living space.

  In all of his life, James had never been so happy to be some place warm and tropical. Pushing back his chair, he turned, heading back to the bedroom for a fresh pair of swimming trunks, but paused as the little package sparkled as if with an inner warmth.

  Snatching the box from the table, James ripped off the wrappings tossing them on the floor then pried open the little paper lid, peering inside.

  White cotton almost completely obscured some sort of pointed green object, and he wiggled the packing material out letting it unfold in his hand until a perfect little pineapple ornament rested in his palm.

  Shaking his head he laughed. What on earth had persuaded the Ls to give him a pineapple ornament? They had no idea he would be in the sunnier realms of the earth by now.

  Giving the little bauble a spin on its string he grinned as the gem like sides flashed fire across his tiny bungalow. Whatever the thinking behind the ornament, it was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

  Walking to the window, James hung the string over a nail suspending the little thing in sunlight where it flashed merrily like sparks from a magician’s wand.

  He would have to remember to write a pithy thank you for the Ls before heading home, but for now his toes needed to feel the warmth of the sand, and his skin longed for the kiss of the sun.

  Turning on his heel he hurried to change into appropriate attire and find the flip flops he had discarded the night before.

  Breakfast on the beach sounded like the perfect start to his new day, and he didn’t want to miss a minute.

  Chivying his long legs into teal and white trunks and running a comb through his unruly dark hair, James made his way to the door giving the little pineapple a spin, and setting the room alight with its magical glow as he stepped out into the wind and waves.

  Chapter 2

  Mrs. Claus walked along the shore line stooping to pick tiny shells from the sand. This beach always had something special to offer.

  She smiled seeing the young man from only a few days ago step from his bungalow and head down the beach toward the breakfast stand.

  “You look happy about something,” her husband commented laughing jovially. “If I had to guess, I’d say you’ve been up to something.”

  “You could say that,” she agreed tickling him under his beard then kissing him sweetly. “I’ve been nudging a few young people in the right direction you could say. With the crazy busy lifestyles of everyone these days, I despair for true love.”

  “Like Audrey and Lisa,” Mr. Claus asked his bright eyes twinkling in the light reflected from the waves.

  “Well they are rather special,” Mrs. Claus said hiding her grin.

  “You did real good with them,” the bearded man said lifting her chin and kissing her softly. “They needed a nudge.”

  “Well we both know how busy a body can get, and with all the things that can get in the way of a relationship, sometimes a little help isn’t a bad thing.”

  “You don’t have to explain it to me honey,” Mr. Claus said wrapping an arm around her and starting down the shore line. “Are you enjoying your vacation?” he asked changing the subject.

  “Yes, it’s beautiful here. I love it when we get a chance to travel and see new places.”

  “Isn’t that what got us into this mess in the first place?” the portly man asked with a
chuckle.

  The older woman pushed a strand of long white hair behind her ear and smiled. “Yes, but we’ll be done one of these days.”

  ***

  James trotted along the beach dodging the waves as the wind teased his hair into swirls. Following the bend of the shoreline the smell of salt and sea gave way to eggs and bread.

  Lifting his nose James sniffed with appreciation and stepped up to the first little wooden hut, it’s brightly colored sign announcing breakfast.

  “Breakfast sandwich and coffee please,” James said stepping up to the little shelf. Turning to gaze at the ocean, James propped his elbows on the ledge and gazed into an azure sky.

  Along the beach a family with a little girl could be seen splashing in the waves, and further along the beach, a woman in a black one piece swim suit carried a heavy bag over her shoulder as the wind lifted her sun streaked brown locks and black and white wrap with each step.

  ***

  Brittany walked along the beach her lungs filled with the salt air and her ears full of the cry of seagulls.

  She loved her time on the islands. All too soon she would be back to school for the summer term to finish her master’s degree.

  Her parents had thought she was crazy when she said she was taking off the spring semester to work at a hotel, but she hadn’t regretted a minute of it. The money was good, the living accommodations adequate and the life style her dream.

  Shifting the heavy bag on her shoulder, she padded barefoot through the sand toward the little cabana that served breakfast in the morning and drinks through the night.

  A tall man with a mess of dark hair casually leaned against the open window ankles crossed as he stood in the sand.

  Brittany smiled. It was guests like that that kept her in big tips.

  Walking toward the cabana, she shifted the bag again. It was heavy with the items she’d been asked to pick up and dug into her bare shoulder.

  Pushing herself up the slight rise of the beach, she reached the little hut just as the man turned to take his breakfast from the server. As she swung her big bag caught his elbow shoving the sandwich forward and toppling it in the sand even as the straps of her bag broke scattering lush pineapples all over the sand.

  “I’m so sorry,” she gasped looking at the ruined sandwich. “I knew I shouldn’t have tried to carry it all at once.”

  “That’s alright,” James said squatting down to help her collect her pineapples. “It was just breakfast,” he joked trying to put her at ease.

  Brittany looked up with a smile. “Thanks,” she offered. “Give me a minute, and I’ll make you a new sandwich. We were out of pineapple, so I made a run to the fresh market.” She grabbed two pineapples and plopped them down on the narrow counter where the server quickly collected them.

  James grabbed for the last pineapple just as the pretty woman reached for it, and their hands met.

  James looked up as a jolt of electricity ran through his whole body. He felt like he’d been struck by lightning in the nicest way.

  “I’m so sorry,” Brittany said her words hushed and full of emotion.

  “It’s alright,” James said taking the pineapple gently and starting to rise.

  As his head connected with the little shelf that served as a counter he groaned, dropped the pineapple and plopped back down on the sand.

  “Are you okay?” Brittany said grabbing the pineapple and placing it on the shelf.

  James rubbed the bump materializing on his head and grinned. “Fortunately for me, my friends all say I have a mahogany head.”

  They both laughed, and Brittany offered him her hands helping James to his feet.

  “I’m Brittany,” she said watching that he didn’t bump his head again.

  “James,” James offered still rubbing the bump.

  “Let me get you that sandwich now, please.”

  James ran a hand through his hair as he studied the young woman. “You work here then.”

  “Yes, I’m working here for a semester before I go back to school.”

  James’ eyebrows rose, the woman was young, but she didn’t look like a college student.

  “I’m working on my masters in hospitality, but I’m taking a break right now. My brain needed a rest,” she finished gesturing at the sand and sea.

  James smiled again. “I guess I’ll let you get me breakfast then.”

  Chapter 3

  “So how long have you been here?” James asked as Brittany handed him two cups of coffee and grabbed two breakfast plates from the griddle nodding for him to follow.

  Carrying the paper cups James trotted around the side of the cabana and past a group of palm trees to a set of covered tables.

  “Hope you don’t mind, I made my breakfast as well,” Brittany smiled placing the plates at a cozy wooden table and pulling cutlery from her bag.

  “Not at all,” James replied. Taking a seat, he picked up a fork and lifted his gaze to hers with a smile. “So tell me about how you got this gig?”

  Brittany took a bite of her sandwich and grinned as she chewed, finally washing down the delectable sandwich with a swig of coffee. “When I was kid, my grandparents brought me here for a week during Christmas, so when the job came up, I jumped at the chance. I’ve only got one more semester then I’m done, and it’ll be back to the usual grind. Who knows, if I work hard, maybe I’ll end up here for good.”

  James gazed around him taking in the beauty of the location. He loved the mountains of Colorado, but by January each year, he was sick of winter and just wanted to find the sun.

  “I love the mountains back home,” Brittany said, echoing his own thoughts, but the sea is my bliss.”

  “I can understand that,” James agreed. “I’m from Colorado, and by January I need to find some place warm to decompress from the Christmas season.”

  “Not a fan of the jolly fat man hey?” Brittany asked making him laugh.

  “Afraid not, but my job requires I pretend.”

  “What do you do?”

  “I’m a party planner, organizer, and all around save the date guru,” James joked.

  “You’re serious?”

  “Mostly, my partner and I run a party planning business, and the whole Christmas season is exhausting. And to add to it, this year my partner got married at the height of the season, so I’m pretty well burned out.”

  James studied Brittany’s face as her eyes flickered between disappointment and cheer. He couldn’t understand what he’d said that made the emotions flicker across her face, but it must be something to do with the business.

  “Are you busy all year in Colorado?” Brittany asked leaning forward a little.

  “Yes, it seems to have something going on all the time there. Add in the holidays and it’s madness.”

  “We just finished the Christmas rush here, but things are a little quieter now. It’s nice to have a little down time to catch your breath. It’s still busy but a lot quieter than it was a month ago.”

  “What sort of clientele do you get at this time of year?” James asked scanning the beach and trying to pinpoint who was there.

  “More the older set escaping the cold,” Brittany said lifting her coffee and gesturing toward the older couple clad in red and white as they strolled along the beach hand in hand.

  “Do they look familiar to you?” James asked studying the couple he’d seen a few days earlier.

  “At this point everyone looks the same,” Brittany said looking him up and down while his attention was elsewhere.

  He was a good-looking man, and she wondered how it was possible he could be unattached. When he’d mentioned his partner, she had thought perhaps he was in a relationship, but now she understood it was a business situation.

  For some reason Brittany had always hated the way that word had morphed somewhere along the way. It always brought visions of law-firms to mind. True, being in a relationship was a partnership, but it was so much more.

  “So what are you doing ton
ight?” she asked dragging James’ dark eyes back to her.

  “Hmm?” James asked absently sipping his coffee.

  “What are you doing tonight?” Brittany asked again. She was starting to think that perhaps the handsome man across from her was just a tad bit clueless when it came to women.

  “Probably nothing, I’ve got a couple of good books I’m reading.”

  Brittany smiled. “Some of us from work are going out for a pig roast if you’d like to come along.” Even Brittany was surprised at her bold invitation. She was sure to take some heat from her fellow employees for bringing a virtual stranger along, but somehow she felt comfortable with the long tall drink of water before her.

  “Big crowd?” James asked raising a brow in interest.

  “Not too big maybe fifteen or twenty some of our Polynesian friends are hosting.”

  “What do I wear?”

  “It’s casual, so wear whatever you want. The beach can be pretty breezy though so I’d suggest bringing a jacket just in case.”

  James smiled, a little of the local life might be fun, and who knew what ideas he might gain from the experience.

  “Sounds like fun,” James finally replied.

  Brittany smiled, it had been a long time since she’d met a man in the business who wasn’t trying to game her. She wasn’t a bad looking woman, and although she was sure James had noticed it based on his reaction with the pineapples, he hadn’t once hit on her.

  Was the man innocent, uninterested, or just clueless?

  “I’ll pick you up at seven,” Brittany finally said. “Meet me outside the hotel?”

  “Sure, can I bring anything?”

  “No, everything is taken care of. For once you won’t be responsible for making a party come together,” she finished with a grin.

  James nodded, his eyes traveling back to the older couple who were picking sea shells from the shore. There was something so familiar about them, and not just that they reminded him of the perfect Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

  “You really think you know them?” Brittany asked turning to study the couple. “They remind me of those people who go around imitating Santa during the holidays. You know those men who do the mall gigs and special occasions.”