River Jewel Resort Box Set Books 1-4 BOOK BUNDLE

by Madison Sevier

  “Roger? Are you home?” Her voice sounded loud as she stepped into the hallway. Though Sydney rarely raised her voice, it seemed to bounce off of the walls and echo.

  Sydney flipped the light switch located next to an antique wardrobe, a gift from her father-in-law, and the instant brightness caused her to squint against the glare. When her vision returned to normal, she made her way through the various downstairs rooms and found everything to be just as she’d left it. When she didn’t find Roger, she headed to the basement thinking that’s where he’d be. The basement door was slightly ajar and when she opened it further, she saw the light wasn’t on down there either.

  “Hello? Roger, are you down there?” No answer.

  “Where is he?” She went to the door in the kitchen that connected to the garage and opened it. His car was there. She placed her hand on top of the hood and it was cool to the touch.

  “Okay, you’ve been here for a while, Rog. So where are you?”

  It suddenly occurred to her that Roger could be hurt. He could be lying lifeless on the bathroom floor, or at the bottom of the basement stairs. She retraced her steps, flipped the basement light switch on and ran down the steps. Upon seeing he wasn’t lying lifeless on the cold concrete floor, Sydney was relieved but still concerned; she raced back up to the first floor.

  Heart still pounding, she climbed the steps two at a time to reach the second floor. Sydney flew past the guest room, the hallway closet and the nursery without a second glance. The door to the master bedroom was closed and Sydney plowed through it.

  “Rog…”

  The word died on her lips. Her blood ran cold as she stood frozen in place, one hand upon the door knob, the other hung limp at her side. Roger lay face down on the king-sized bed with a sheet draped seductively across his lower body. Moonlight danced across his chiseled jaw-line and his sandy-blonde hair mussed and sexy. The air in the room carried the musky scent of love making and it infiltrated Sydney’s nose, making her nauseous. The sheet shrouded form on the other side of the bed stirred, drawing Sydney’s attention to the arm lying across Roger’s back.

  Slender, unadorned fingers searched and found bare skin to tease. Sydney’s eyes traveled to where the arm attached to a pale ivory shoulder and on up to a head covered in tousled, short red hair.

  Sydney’s own hand flew to her mouth and she backed slowly out of the room without closing the door. She walked into the kitchen and opened the drawer labeled ‘stationary’. Her notecards, pads and pens were inside. Sydney pulled out one of her favorite pens, gifts from Roger, and she signed the divorce papers while tears rolled silently down her cheeks. She placed both pen and the manila envelope full of legal documents on the beautiful marble counter. Sydney took one last look around the gorgeous, custom eat-in kitchen and removed her house keys from her key ring and placed them on top of the envelope.

  She silently said goodbye to her gorgeous home, her old life and the old Sydney before she walked out of her former home for the last time.

  Chapter Four

  Numerous thoughts pummeled Sydney’s mind as she drove back to her apartment, but the one at the forefront was one of relief. She was free to move on. When she’d seen Roger, lying, cheating Roger, for the second time with his pants down something snapped. In that moment, she no longer cared or loved him. Sure she was sad, but it was a strange kind of sad. One Sydney couldn’t describe.

  There were no more tears. And as she followed the winding road up the hillside to get home, she almost felt giddy. After spending the last month and a half feeling sick, depressed, foolish, paranoid and worthless, it was nice to know none of the disaster her marriage had become was her fault. Lexi had been right. She always was. Roger was a ‘class-a-asshole’ and he would never change.

  Sydney knew better than to hold on. She refused to be like either of her parents. Her father had put up with Sydney’s mother’s demanding ways and wandering eyes until he died at thirty-seven, when a concrete wall at a construction site had fallen on him, crushing him into nothing. Somehow, Sydney always believed that wall had to have hurt less than the things her mother had done to him and right then, Sydney had vowed that she would never stay with a cheater. For the past agonizing weeks, she’d done the exact opposite. Now, she knew why her father had stuck it out. He’d had hope; hope that Sydney’s mother would see how great she actually had it with her husband. Hope was a foolish thing to have. Her mother had never changed and the years her father had wasted, waiting on a miracle were destroyed in a flash.

  No, that sounded morbid even to Sydney and she chided herself for the thought. She’d just be more selective in what she chose to be hopeful about. Her options were wide open. Sydney could go where she pleased, do whatever she wanted but what would she do? Her trust account was still full thanks to the prenuptial agreement she’d had drawn up. Roger couldn’t touch any of it. His name would be removed from the other account in the morning and he had his own money. What he did with his was his own business. Now, Sydney just had to figure out what she wanted out of life.

  She decided that would be her first order of business. Sydney pulled into her parking spot and got out, locked her car before letting herself into her apartment. Tonight, her cramped apartment wasn’t so oppressive. She was grateful she had a place to go, even if it was small and lacked the atmosphere of a huge, decorated home. It was hers and that’s all that mattered.

  Sydney tidied up and made a cup of coffee. Once she’d added a virtual ton of cream and was satisfied with it, she sat at her desk and sipped her favorite beverage while she deleted spam and other e-mails.

  “Where do these weirdoes get my e-mail address? I’ve never signed up for anything, yet they show up in droves every day.”

  She paused as one message caught her eye.

  “River Jewel Resort? I swear that sounds familiar.” She clicked open and was immediately enamored by the photographs of the gorgeous hotel.

  “Marble floors? Cathedral ceilings and a full-service spa? Sounds perfect. Right about now, I could use some r and r.”

  Sydney perused the various amenities and ‘about us’ section. Apparently no request was too outrageous. They offered everything from turn-down service to therapy sessions.

  “I don’t think I’m in need of therapy,” She laughed aloud. “But this place almost seems too good to be true.”

  Sydney logged off and dumped the remainder of her coffee in the sink. The pictures of Jacuzzi tubs at the River Jewel Resort reminded her of the sunken, garden-tub she’d had installed in the home she’d shared with Roger and left her longing for a relaxing soak. Once she’d arranged her various candles around her modest, apartment-standard tub, she drew a steamy bath of her own. Nothing close to the decadent basins at the Jewel, she toyed with the idea of making a reservation.

  “It must be so expensive, but what else am I going to spend my money on?”

  After soaking and alternately refilling the tub, she got out and continued the nightly ritual of bedtime duties. Without Roger there to tell her what to wear every night, she slipped an oversized t-shirt over her head and slid between her Egyptian cotton sheets. Just as she found her ‘comfy’ spot, the phone rang.

  “Damn. I forgot to shut it off.”

  The machine picked up as she sat alert and listened to the voice of her soon-to-be ex-husband.

  “Um, Sydney, I think we need to talk. What is the meaning of leaving signed divorce papers on the counter-top? I thought we were going to work this out?”

  Was he serious? She padded out to the living room and stared at the answering machine as he rambled on. “Fuck you, Roger,” she grumbled. It took all she had to not yank the damn phone cord out of the wall.

  “Call me, Sydney.” Roger hung up and Sydney shut the ringer off.

  Her relaxing soak now forgotten and her nerves were on edge. She knew she’d never find any peace if she stayed in that town. What was keeping her there anyways? Nothing. She turned on her computer and made next day reserv
ations at the River Jewel Resort and Sydney was going to see what the world offered and maybe she’d find herself again in the process. That decided, she returned to bed and while dreams of making love with a handsome stranger in a grotto left a satisfied smile upon her face.

  Chapter Five

  Sydney awoke refreshed and went about the long list of necessary tasks she needed to accomplish before leaving on her trip. She packed up the few things in her apartment she wouldn’t need for the next month or so and called a moving company to transport the boxes to a storage facility. After she contacted her landlord, utility and phone companies, informing them she would no longer require any of their services, she braced herself for the phone call to Lexi and prayed Lexi would understand.

  As luck would have it, Lexi’s machine picked up. Sydney left her a short but detailed message about her plans and promised to call as soon as she was checked in. Grateful, she didn’t have to deal with an emotional good-bye; she hung up the phone and continued to gather clothes and necessities for her trip.

  Sydney had no idea what she’d find in Indianapolis, so she packed for every possibility. The many boxes and bags of fancy, never worn lingerie she’d bought to surprise Roger with, she left in the living room with a note for the landlord to do with as she pleased. She didn’t need them anymore.

  As Sydney placed the last box on the floor, a flash of another man’s arms holding her as they made love under a waterfall, flitted through her mind and brought flush of heat that slithered through her body, warming areas that hadn’t been alive in quite a while. She shook her head and chalked it up to reading too many romance novels and resumed her preparations.

  Two hours later, Sydney’s SUV was loaded and ready to go. She placed the apartment key, a note for the landlady and a hefty check on the dinette table. Satisfied everything was secure, she climbed into her car and drove away from her past towards whatever the future held for her.

  ****

  When Sydney pulled up in front of the palatial resort, she was greeted by a handsome valet. He opened her door her for and held Sydney’s hand as she exited her less than new vehicle.

  “Welcome, Ms. Hartman. We’re so happy to have you here.”

  Sydney was astounded by the man’s use of her maiden name. She remembered reserving the room in her married name, Blake and was a bit confused.

  “Thank you.” His name tag read; “Javier” and when she looked into his dark brown eyes, every coherent thought left her rattled mind.

  “Our bell-hop, Kevin will be along to gather and deliver your luggage to your suite. Enjoy your stay.” With a smile and a bow, Javier hopped into her car and away he went to the resort’s parking garage.

  Sydney walked through the glass, front doors of the RJ resort with a mixture of awe and trepidation. To say the place was beautiful was an enormous understatement and Sydney didn’t trust herself to open her mouth and speak of the gorgeous surroundings. Every surface gleamed with an ethereal shine and glow. ‘Heavenly’ was the only word to describe it.

  As she approached the front desk, a knock-out sexy concierge smiled a welcome greeting. “Hello, Ms. Hartman. Welcome to River Jewel Resort and Spa. How was your trip?”

  “Um, hello. Thank you. It was very, um, liberating.” Sydney smiled and felt a little strange for being so enamored by the woman’s beauty. Sydney was a straight, heterosexual but if she ever switched ships, this woman would be her choice of first mates.

  “Ms. Hartman? Are you alright?”

  “What? Oh, yes I’m fine. Sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.” Sydney felt heat creep over her face as she was positive her cheeks were now crimson and she looked away quickly. “Maria, is it? Lovely name by the way. Could I ask you something?”

  “Anything, Ms. Hartman. How can I help?”

  “I was just wondering, why have you and Javier referred to me as ‘Ms. Hartman’? I know I used my married name, Blake, when I made reservations. Not that I mind, but I’m a little confused.” Sydney fiddled with one of the hotel pamphlets left on the ornate desks for guests to help themselves to.

  “Would you rather we call you ‘Mrs. Blake’? I’m sorry if we’ve made a mistake, but we were informed of your impending divorce and the owner has all of your information listed under ‘Ms. Hartman’. I can change that if you’d prefer.” She was so gracious and kind, Sydney felt persnickety for even bringing up the issue.

  “No, no it’s fine. Your boss is right. I signed my divorce papers recently. I guess it will just take some time to get used to having my old name back. And please, call me Sydney. I’ve never been one for formalities, anyways.”

  “Of course it will take time. I’ll bet you‘ll also be much happier once the ‘old you’ is back to match your name, am I right?” Maria’s understanding tone and kind eyes touched Sydney. She had no idea how these people knew what they knew about her, but in the whole scheme of things, it really didn’t matter. The resort was beautiful, the staff was amazing and she was there to enjoy herself.

  “If only I knew how to get the ‘old Sydney’ back” she laughed. “I’ve been Mrs. Blake for so long, I’ve forgotten what I once wanted or needed.”

  “Well, we are here to help, Ms. Hartman, I mean, Sydney. Anything and I do mean anything you need or desire we can provide. We are here to please. In your suite, there is a computer and a booklet listing each of our various, shall I say amenities. Some of which are not available for perusal online. I’m sure you will find something that will appeal to you. If you need any help, just call me day or night and I can assist you through the process.” Maria passed Sydney’s key card to her with another angelic smile.

  “Thank you, Maria. I hope you’re right.”

  Sydney turned to approach the waiting elevator as Maria’s parting words echoed through her mind, “Remember, anything you want, Sydney. Anything.”

  Sydney blushed again and waved as she stepped onto the elaborately decorated elevator complete with a velvet covered sofa, Swarovski crystal lighting and mirrored walls. She momentarily wondered why an elevator would need mirrored walls and a bench seat and then warmth settled between her thighs as the realization dawned on her.

  “Oh my.”

  The bell-hop gave her a wink and flashed his pearly whites making eye contact before Sydney could look away. What kind of place was this?

  Chapter Six

  Once she was settled in her spacious suite, Sydney had no idea what to do. Should she cuddle up on the king-sized bed piled with a vast array of pillows or should she venture out and explore the grand hotel and its grounds? In the end, she opted to stay in. After all, this trip was about what she wanted and what she wanted was some time alone.

  Sydney wandered through the seven room suite, touching nothing except the plush carpeting. “It’s unbelievable. No wonder it’s so expensive.” As she tallied up the cost of her open-ended, prolonged stay, she knew it would be worth every penny. Heck, she could stay in any of the different rooms in her own suite each day of the week and never tire of her lavish surroundings.

  There were four bedrooms and each in a different theme. The varied in decor from soft calming pastel shades to bright, heart-racing sexy tones. “They’ve thought of everything. I wonder if every room is as amazing as this one.” She retraced her steps to the full-size kitchen and opened the semi-hidden, oak covered refrigerator. Inside was every food and drink Sydney loved. Astonished, she opened the freezer compartment to find it filled with her favorite ice cream. She was as giddy as a school girl! Upon opening the many cupboards, she discovered the hotel had also stocked those with everything Sydney herself would buy, right down to her normal brand of coffee and creamer.

  “Wow. How do they know these things?” It was almost a creepy feeling, but she felt so at home, she didn’t care how they knew. She was touched that the hotel had gone to so much trouble and had cared enough to make her feel so welcome.

  Sydney decided to forego her favorite treat of late, the ice cream and instead grabbed a bottle o
f vitamin-enhanced water and retreated to the living room. There staring back at her were some of her favorite authors and every one of their amazing reads. Sydney was in pure heaven! Roger had never allowed her to keep her books on the shelves in his office and refused to build her a library for what he considered ‘a frivolous habit’. She never pressed the issue and lovingly packed all of her precious stories away in secure plastic tubs, where they would go unnoticed and unharmed.

  The desktop computer caught her eye and as she sat down, the booklet of amenities demanded her attention. “Not that I could want for anything else. This place is perfect! But let’s see what else this place has to offer.”

  Inside, detailed pages of things she had always wanted to do had her flipping through the seemingly ‘made for her’ booklet. When she reached the back section, her jaw hit the floor in surprise. There on page ninety-seven was the grotto from her dreams. Sydney let go of the book as if it had burned her hands. She jumped out of the ergonomic chair as her heart pounded and felt as though it were about to jump out of her chest.

  “What the hell? I must be losing my mind.” She knew there could be no way the hotel would know of her dreams. But then again, how did they know all of her favorite things? There had been no questionnaire, no survey. The whole idea of staying in that place, with people who knew so much about her personal life, rattled her nerves. She had to get out of there. She grabbed her purse and keys. Something was not right and she wasn’t staying around to find out what it was.

  Chapter Seven

  Sydney opened her hotel suite door and found the open elevator with the bell-hop waiting for her. “Hell, no.”

  She sidestepped the man and his watchful gaze and instead found the stairs. Quickly, she padded down the lush, burgundy, carpeted steps while the ‘boom, boom, boom’ of her heart echoed in her ears and all the while, she prayed she wouldn’t fall. She marched up to the concierge desk and to Maria with the shiny smile, fully prepared to throw a colossal fit if need be. There was no way she was staying in a twilight zone hotel, even if it was immaculate.