Page 13 of An Epic Voyage (The Epic Beauty Salon Files #1)

G riffin woke early the next morning after a restless night. He hadn’t slept well after learning Van Houten had been in Indigo’s room. He didn’t know Indigo, nor did he have any say in her life. She could do whatever—or whomever—she wanted.

Would she have hooked up with Van Houten if he hadn’t gotten sick? Griffin didn’t think so, but then, what did he know? Money could be a powerful aphrodisiac.

Griffin picked up the remote for the television and checked the weather. They were still speculating about the course of the storm. There was a very real chance it would head toward Van Houten Island. That would be the worst-case scenario.

Griffin donned his workout gear and headed to the gym. It wasn’t an anomaly—he always exercised in the mornings at whatever Van Houten estate they occupied at the time. He told himself it didn’t matter if he saw Indigo there after she had asked about it the night before, but then he would be lying.

The room was empty. Surely that wasn’t disappointment he felt. The flip of a switch activated the lights. He turned the television to a weather channel with the sound down and then used the built-in sound system to play a high-energy workout track.

Griffin warmed up on the treadmill and then hit the free weights. He was halfway through a set of chest presses when he felt the air shift. He knew without looking that Indigo had arrived.

“Good morning,” she chirped.

He dropped the weights and mopped his face with a towel.

She looked amazing in a tank top and spandex shorts, showcasing her extremely toned body.

Her feminine muscles were so incredibly sexy.

Everything about her was. She’d pulled her hair into a short ponytail and wore not one stitch of makeup.

She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And he owed her an apology.

“Hey, sorry about the way I acted last night. Whatever happened is none of my business.”

Maybe he said the wrong thing because her face puckered for a second before it smoothed out and she nodded.

“Apology accepted.”

Indigo warmed up with stretches. Griffin had to look away or he wouldn’t be able to keep his interest hidden behind his polyester gym shorts. Still, his eyes kept straying toward her. When she switched the treadmill from a light jog to a run, he almost dropped a fifty-pound weight on his head.

It took a monumental effort to focus on his workout. He re-racked the dumbbells and moved to the Smith machine. After he added weights to the barbell, he positioned it on his shoulders and began to squat.

“That storm looks like it’s gaining strength,” Indigo observed when he paused between sets.

He followed her gaze to the television. “Yeah. It’s a whopper. Did you have any other nocturnal visitors last night?” Griffin winced. He hadn’t planned on bringing up Van Houten’s visit again, but his mouth had other ideas.

“None.”

“Did he tell you why he stopped by?” He couldn’t help himself. It was driving him crazy.

She paused before answering. He had the feeling she was measuring her words.

“He wanted to convince me to work with him.”

“Are you considering it?”

Again, it was none of his business, but that didn’t seem to matter to his runaway mouth.

She powered down the treadmill, grabbing the sides to steady herself as the belt slowed to a stop. “Not in this lifetime.”

The exhale wasn’t from his latest squat, but from relief that she would not tie her wagon to Van Houten’s star.

Griffin checked his watch. He needed to get to the security room before they sent out a search party.

He was usually the first one in to relieve the night crew.

Trouble was, he didn’t want to leave Indigo.

She was now pounding the punching bag, jab after jab.

Griffin stood transfixed, watching the muscles in her arms and shoulders flex with each hit.

His mind took him to a mat where he and Indigo wrestled, each jockeying for position.

They would both be sweaty from exertion.

Finally, he would pin her down and kiss her—

“I’m going to swim some laps.”

Griffin shook his head and adjusted his shorts. He’d never been so unprofessional in his life. “I’d better get to work.”

“We arrive at the island tomorrow?”

“Yeah, we should be there early in the morning.”

She left before he had a chance to tell her about Van Houten’s dinner invitation.

#

I ndigo loved to work out. She hadn’t always been that way, but Jackson had gotten her hooked, and now it was one of her favorite pastimes.

Today, though, she could barely focus with Griffin steps away.

It was apparent he enjoyed lifting weights too, judging from the impressive muscles bulging in his arms and legs.

There was no doubt a six-pack was hiding beneath his T-shirt.

She’d almost tripped over her feet on the treadmill and had to switch to the punching bag to relieve her sexual frustration.

Even when he irritated her by insisting that what happened last night was none of his business, she wanted him. She’d told him that Van Houten had initiated the encounter. He either believed her or he didn’t.

Indigo finished with laps in the pool. She was almost done when she heard someone splash into the water. Indy reached for the edge and turned, hoping to see Griffin, maybe in a tiny Speedo. Instead, she spotted Jordy dog-paddling her way, trying to keep his spiky blond head above water.

“Hey, chica.”

“Good morning. Are you here to swim laps?”

He clutched the edge beside her. “Oh, heavens, no. Exercise and I don’t get along. We have a hate-hate relationship. I only wanted to cool off. I’m ready to be out now before my skin wrinkles to prune consistency.”

“You were in the water for thirty seconds max.”

“I have delicate pores.”

Indigo chuckled and climbed out. Jordy followed, and they grabbed towels from a bin to dry off before plopping onto two of the loungers along the deck.

“So, Jinger has tasked me with another job,” Jordy informed her.

She turned to him. “Really? Are you going to do it?”

“Yes, because this one is fun. I’m supposed to convince you to take the position she’s offering you.”

Indigo sighed and relaxed against the cushion. “How many ways can I say no?” Maybe she’d try German next. Nein . Or French. Non . Maybe Russian. Nyet. One of them had to work, right?

Jordy leaned forward and peered at her face. “You’re seriously not interested?”

“Not in the least.”

“Indigo, the money would be outrageous. We’re talking seventh-level tax bracket.”

“So I’ve heard. I’ll leave it for Pammy.”

Jordy snorted. “They barely pay her minimum wage. Plus, Jinger plans on firing her, or so she says.”

“Well, she better not pull the trigger yet since I won’t be taking the job.”

She felt Jordy’s stare and turned to him. “What?”

“There’s nothing I can say to convince you, is there?”

“No.”

He collapsed against the seat. “Well, that bites. I’d love to have an ally around Evil Bitch Woman from the Bowels of Hell. I could see us becoming besties.”

He wouldn’t think that if he knew who she really was. “I could too.”

He sighed dramatically. “I guess I’ll have to settle for the few days we have.”

“Have you eaten breakfast?”

He shot to his feet. “No, and I’m famished.”

Indigo smiled as she stood. “I need to change.”

“Me too. Meet you at the restaurant in a few.”

They retreated to their suites. Indigo showered the chlorine off and quickly dried her hair. Then she found another sundress, this one pink with tropical flowers.

She beat Jordy to the cafe and perused the limited menu. When he arrived, they ordered and chatted while they waited for their food. They were almost finished when AC/DC’s Highway to Hell blasted from Jordy’s phone.

He rolled his eyes without checking the screen. “And so a new day begins.” He punched the button. “Hello, Jinger.”

“Get up here now.” She screamed it, so Indigo didn’t have to eavesdrop to overhear.

“Good morning to you—” He pulled the phone from his ear and looked at it. “Bitch hung up on me.”

“Please try to convince me to work for her again,” she deadpanned.

Jordy laughed as Indy’s phone buzzed. She answered it on speaker. “Hello?”

“Good morning, Indigo. Could you come up and make me beautiful now?”

Jordy’s mouth dropped open.

“Sure. I’ll be right up after I grab my kit.”

“Who was that?” Jordy wanted to know. “It sure as heck wasn’t the harpy shrew known as Jinger because she doesn’t do nice.”

“Either she’s trying to butter me up, or Benedict walked in. I heard she behaves differently around him.”

Jordy’s eyes narrowed. “She does, but who told you?”

Indy smiled smugly. “I have my sources.”

“Would your source happen to be a six-six, blond-haired, green-eyed beefcake?” He wagged his brows.

Indy stood. “A lady never tells.”

Jordy caught up with her as she walked away. “You are going to talk, girl. I want all the deets. That man is a stud.”

“We don’t want to keep Jinger waiting. I’ll meet you there.”

She grinned as Jordy cursed at her retreating backside.

Indy stopped by the salon to grab a few supplies before heading to her suite to retrieve her makeup case. Jordy beat her to Jinger. After Benedict’s assistant opened the door for her and fled, she headed to Jinger’s changing room. Her steps slowed as she approached.

“Did you convince her to work for me?”

“It’s a no-go. She loves her job.”

“Oh, good god, could you be a bigger loser, Jordy? I expect you to convince her. Do your damn job. Do you want me to cut your salary in half?”

“Too bad you can’t. I have an ironclad contract.”

“Well, maybe I’ll terminate it.”

“You’re welcome to try.”

This was going downhill fast. Indy cleared her throat and marched forward. “Hello, Jinger. Jordy.”

“There you are, Indigo. I have an under-eye emergency.”

Indy placed her kit on the counter and examined Jinger’s face. She looked more haggard than usual without her makeup. Her bags were definitely packed.

“Did you not sleep well?”

“I hardly slept at all. Benny was violently ill.”