In McGillivray's Bed by Anne McAllister Page A

wanting any rules?”
    â€œIt means I’m going to stop putting St. John Electronics first. I’m going to stop trying to be the son my father neverhad. I’m going to stop doing what’s expected of me and do what I want to do!” She paused, then plunged on. “First thing tomorrow, I’m going to get a job.”
    He stared. “What do you mean, you’re going to get a job?”
    â€œWell, I can’t presume on your hospitality forever.”
    â€œAmen to that,” he muttered. “But you can’t get a job. You don’t live here.”
    â€œI think I might.”
    â€œWhat!” The feet of the chair hit the floor with a crash.
    Sydney shrugged. “Why not? I have talent. I have skills.”
    â€œOh, yes? Knowing which fork to use is a great talent. Can you arrange a charity luncheon with one hand tied behind your back?”
    â€œI could. If I wanted to. As it happens, I have other duties. I am in the upper management of St. John Electronics!” She paused. “Or I was,” she reflected.
    â€œDon’t quit on our account!”
    â€œI’m not. I’m quitting for me.”
    Hugh shook his head. “This is insane. You can’t just quit your job and move to an island you’ve never seen.”
    â€œOf course I can. And I’ve seen quite a lot of the island. You drove me all the way across it.”
    â€œIn the dark. You don’t know anything about it.”
    â€œI don’t need to know anything about it. Not yet. It isn’t the island I need to learn about—it’s me!”
    Hugh put his head in his hands.
    â€œDon’t be melodramatic,” Sydney said. “It isn’t going to hurt you. It might even be good for you,” she added thoughtfully.
    Hugh’s head jerked up. “What the hell does that mean?”
    She shrugged, unconcerned. “Nothing. Much.”
    He narrowed his gaze. “If you—”
    â€œOh, get over it. I just need to prove myself. And getting a job here will do that. I’m perfectly capable of running abusiness, for goodness’ sake. I ran St. John’s while Daddy was recovering from his heart attack.”
    â€œYeah, right.”
    Fire flashed in her eyes. “It didn’t run itself for eight months, no matter what my father thinks!”
    â€œYou ran it and he never noticed?” Hugh said sarcastically.
    â€œThe doctors told me not to bring it up. Every time I mentioned St. John’s, my father would get agitated. ‘Who was taking care of business?’ he’d ask. And if I tried to assure him I was, he got even more upset.” She gripped her coffee mug so tightly her knuckles grew white. “Who was taking care of me, he’d ask. My father thinks women need to be taken care of. Always. So I stopped talking about it. I just did what needed to be done. I thought he’d understand when he got back to work that things hadn’t just run themselves.” She shook her head. “The more fool I.”
    She picked up another chicken wing and ran her tongue over her lips. Inwardly Hugh groaned.
    â€œAll right, don’t believe me,” Syd said, misunderstanding the reason for his moan. “But I’ve done all I’m going to do for St. John Electronics. I’ve got talents. I’ve got capabilities. I can manage someone else’s company! I just need someone to hire me.”
    Hugh shook his head. “Just like that,” he said dryly.
    â€œWhat do you mean, just like that?”
    â€œThere aren’t a lot of jobs for managing directors on Pelican Cay. We’ve got a population of somewhere around fifteen hundred, give or take a parakeet or two.”
    â€œWell, I’m sure someone will hire me.”
    â€œI’m not.” Hugh was adamant about that. “You might be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but we don’t need you on Pelican Cay.” I particularly