forehead. Pale blue eyes smiled pleasantly as they looked into hers. The faint British accent added charm to his voice.
"Yes, sir. May I help you?"
"I'd like to speak with the manager."
Amanda felt her heart sink a little. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stenerson is unavailable. If there's a problem, I'll be glad to handle it for you."
"No problem, Miss - " his eyes flicked down to her name tag " - Calhoun. I'll be checking in for a few weeks. I believe I have the Island Suite."
"Of course. Mr. Livingston. We're expecting you." Quick and competent, she tapped the information into the computer herself. "Have you stayed with us before?"
"No." He smiled again. "Regrettably."
"I'm sure you'll find the suite very comfortable." She passed him a registration form as she spoke. "If there's anything we can do to make your stay more pleasant, don't hesitate to ask."
"I'm already certain it will be pleasant." He gave her another lingering look as he filled out the form. "Unfortunately, it must also be productive. I wanted to inquire about the possibility of renting a fax machine during my stay."
"We offer fax service for our guests' convenience," she said.
"I'll require my own." The diamond on his pinky winked as he slid the form across the counter. "I'm afraid I wasn't able to clear up all my business, as I had hoped. It simply wouldn't be practical for me to run down here every time I need to send or receive a document. Naturally, I'll be willing to pay whatever necessary for the convenience. If renting isn't feasible, perhaps I can purchase one."
"I'll see what I can arrange."
"I'd appreciate that." He offered her his credit card for an imprint. "Also, I'll be using the parlor in the suite as an office. I'd prefer if housekeeping left my papers and disarray undisturbed."
"Of course."
"Might I ask if you're familiar with the island?"
Smiling, she handed him his card and his keys. "I'm a native."
"Wonderful." His eyes on hers, he held her hand lightly. "Then I'll know to come to you if I have any questions. You've been very helpful, Miss Calhoun." He glanced at her name tag again. "Amanda. Thank you."
"You're quite welcome." Her pulse gave a quick jitter as she slid her hand from his to signal a bellman. "Enjoy your stay, Mr. Livingston."
"I already am."
As he walked away, the young desk clerk beside Amanda gave a low feminine sigh. "Who was that?"
"William Livingston." Amanda caught herself staring after him and pulled herself back to file the imprint.
"Gorgeous. If he had looked at me the way he looked at you, I'd have melted on the spot."
"Melting's not part of the job description, Karen."
"No." Dreamy eyed, Karen put her hand on a ringing phone. "But it sure is part of being a woman. From desk, Karen speaking. May I help you?"
William Livingston, Amanda thought, tapping his registration form against her palm. New York, New York. If he could afford a couple of weeks in the Island Suite, that meant he had money as well as charm, good looks and impeccable taste in clothes. If she'd been looking for a man, he would have fit the bill nicely.
Opening up the phone book, Amanda reminded herself she was looking for a fax machine, not a man.
"Hey, Calhoun."
With her finger on Office Supplies in the business section, she glanced up. Sloan, his chambray shirt rolled up to the elbows, his hair curling untidily over its collar, leaned on the counter.
"I'm busy," she said dismissively. "Working late?"
"Good guess."
"You sure look pretty in that little suit." He reached over the counter to rub a thumb and finger down the crisp red lapel of her jacket "Kinda prim and proper."
Unlike the little bounce her pulse had given when William Livingstone had taken her hand, it went haywire at Sloan's touch. Annoyed, she brushed it away. "Do you have a problem with your room?"
"Nope. It's pretty as a picture." "With the service?"
"Slick as a wet rock."
"Then if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do."
"Oh, I figured that. I've been watching you tow the mark here for the last half hour."
The line appeared between her brows. "You've been watching me?"
His gaze lingered on her mouth as he remembered just how it tasted. "It made the beer go down easy."
"It must be nice to have so much free time. Now - "
"It's not how much, it's what you do with it. Since you were...tied up for breakfast, why don't we have dinner?"
Well aware that her co-workers had their ears