Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 1 - 4

by Blake, Lillianna

  “Cielo Spa & Resort, right? There’s only one of them. Trust me, I’ve checked.”

  “Sure, I’m vacationing there.”

  She canted her head to the side and pursed her lips. “But it’s not just a vacation. You’re hoping to meet someone, right?”

  “Uh—no, actually. I’m not interested in that kind of thing.”

  “Oh, great.” She sighed. “Just my luck. Why would you even bother to go to Cielo if you weren’t serious about finding someone? I’m going to tell Tony when we get there that you’re just there to mock other people.”

  “What are you talking about?” Gavin shifted in his seat.

  “I’m talking about going to a match-making spa, with no intention of being matched.”

  “A what?” His heart dropped. “I thought it was just a resort.”

  “It is a resort—for singles. Mostly divorced people over thirty. They set up dates for people and make sure that everyone has a good time in the hopes that someone will make a real connection.” She frowned. “You really have no idea what you signed up for, do you?”

  His hands curled into fists. Leave it to Lance to mess around in his love life—or more accurately, lack thereof. Now he had wasted his time on the flight, and he’d have to pay out of his own pocket for a ticket back home. No way was he going to stay at some matchmaking resort.

  “The only thing I know is that I’m not the one who signed up for it.” He set his jaw. “I’m sorry, no offense to you, miss, but I have no interest in being set up with anyone. I didn’t know that was the purpose of the resort.”

  “Well, they do keep it hush-hush. It keeps away the people that aren’t genuinely interested. I’m sorry that you were duped into this. But maybe it’s a good thing. Maybe you’ll end up finding the love of your life.” She grinned.

  The plane began its descent.

  “Not much chance of that.” Gavin stared hard out the window. He couldn’t wait to get Lance on the phone and tell him what he could do with his singles resort.

  After the plane landed, the woman excused herself. Gavin sat in his seat. He waited for everyone else to fill the aisle. Only when he was one of the last people on the plane did he stand up. He left the plane with his cell phone already in his hand. One quick tap connected him to Lance’s phone.

  “Are you there already?”

  “What gives you the right to meddle in my life?”

  “Decades of friendship?”

  “Lance.” Gavin clenched his jaw to hold back the furious words on the tip of his tongue. “You shouldn’t have done this. I’m catching the next flight home.”

  “Wait, you can’t do that.”

  “What did you think? That I would get here and everything would be just fine? That I’d fall for some eager-eyed newly single woman and live happily ever after?”

  “I just thought that maybe you’d wake up and realize that Amy wasn’t the only woman on earth.”

  “She was for me, Lance. That’s what you’ll never understand. I waited a long time to find the right woman, and then I crushed what we had like it was nothing. I’m not going to put another woman through that. I’m not going through that again. You had no right to do this to me.”

  Lance was silent for a long moment. When he spoke his voice was softer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how much you were still struggling. I’ll buy you a ticket home for tomorrow. Just spend the night at the resort tonight, alright?”

  Gavin didn’t answer. He just hung up the phone.

  Chapter 7

  “As you can see, we have a wide assortment of guests staying with us this week. These are the adventures that are available to share. All you have to do is pick a person, and an adventure, and the fun begins.”

  The man smiled so broadly at Nicole that she could hardly stop herself from counting his teeth, while he went on with his enthusiastic explanations. It was his second time explaining the tablet that he held out to her.

  But she still didn’t understand a word he said.

  “What do you mean?”

  The man’s smile faded some. “Were you not aware of the purpose of the resort before you booked your room?”

  “Relaxation?” She lifted an eyebrow.

  “Well, yes—that is a big part of it. We have an indoor heated pool, onsite masseuse, and daily yoga and meditation classes. But this resort serves as a place for people to meet and form lasting relationships.”

  “Like a matchmaking service?” Nicole’s heart began to pound. What had she gotten herself into?

  “Just like that, yes—only it’s a little more fluid than most. Here, we believe that personalities can be different and still mesh, so we put the opportunity to choose solely in the hands of our guests. No tricks, no quizzes, just good old instincts.”

  “I’m sorry, I had no idea. I thought this was just a regular resort. I’m not interested in dating.”

  “Oh, aren’t you single?”

  “Well, yes.” She frowned. “But that doesn’t mean I want to date. I came here to relax and enjoy my vacation, not to go on blind dates.”

  “I understand the confusion. I apologize for it. Normally guests come to us through recommendations, and they’ve been informed about the nature of the resort by the person who referred them. You see, we don’t advertise these services as we only want people to come here that are genuinely interested in connecting with other people.”

  “Well, then—” Nicole looked up at the sound of a deep—quite aggravated—voice. “You’d better refund my stay right this second.”

  The man’s dark brown hair was out of place and the tie around his neck had been loosened. He gripped the handle of his suitcase so tight that she thought he might rip it off, and his frame supported that possibility. His plain blue dress shirt did nothing to hide the sculpted state of his arms and chest. He didn’t even look at her; instead his gaze was focused on the man behind the counter.

  “Are you Tony?”

  “Yes. You must be Gavin.” He cleared his throat. “I received a call about you.”

  “About me?” Gavin grinned. “Let me guess—from the woman who sat beside me on the plane? Look, I’m not trying to give anyone a hard time, but I need to get through to someone here. I was tricked into this stay, and now I’ve wasted valuable time to fly here, only to find out that it’s not a real resort.”

  Nicole couldn’t help but smile as she listened to the exchange. Although Gavin’s tone was rather abrasive, she was amused that they had ended up in the same situation.

  “I can assure you, sir, it is a real resort. In fact, if you truly do not want to participate in the matchmaking program, you’re not required to. I do highly recommend it, however. We’ve had many success stories.” Tony looked over at Nicole and smiled.

  Nicole pursed her lips and leaned an elbow against the counter.

  “Like the woman on the plane? She said she’s here for the third time.” Gavin chuckled. “There’s a word for that, and it’s not success.”

  “Sir, some of our guests are very selective. Yes, we do offer our guests the opportunity to renew their vacation for half the price, if they don’t connect with someone during their first visit. Our goal is not profit, it’s connecting hearts.”

  “Oh, okay.” Gavin narrowed his eyes. “Well, this heart wants to be connected with a manager who can refund this absurd vacation.”

  Nicole took a slight step to the side. Gavin’s brusque nature left her feeling slightly intimidated. Still, she remembered that she was trying to be a different version of herself.

  “Yes, I’d like to speak to the manager too please.” She cleared her throat. “And I was here first.”

  She stole a glance in Gavin’s direction.

  Gavin looked over at her in the same moment. His strong jaw tightened and light brown lashes shadowed the steel blue of his eyes as he looked at her.

  She expected that he’d launch into a tirade for being interrupted, but instead the tension in his features relaxed.
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  “I apologize. You’re right, you were here first.” He stepped back a few paces from the desk.

  Tony looked past them at a few other guests that had arrived. “Why don’t you take a seat in the lounge. Have a drink—courtesy of the resort—and I’ll get the manager down here to speak to you. Alright?”

  Nicole opened her mouth to speak but she didn’t quite know what to say.

  Gavin’s eyes locked to hers. “You were here first.” He gestured to Tony.

  “Oh, okay. Sure. That’s fine. Thank you,” said Nicole.

  “It better not take long.” Gavin looked at Tony. “I’m not a patient person.”

  “It won’t be long at all, sir.”

  Nicole reached down to pick up her suitcase but found that it had been picked up before she could grab the handle. Gavin held it at his side as he tilted his head toward the lounge.

  “Shall we?”

  Nicole smiled far too widely and nodded. A flush rose to her cheeks in reaction to her awkward response. She turned and walked into the lounge, fully aware that Gavin followed only a steps behind her. As her heart raced, she wondered whether she would even be able to hold a conversation with him.

  When they sat down at a table together, she took the time to really look at him.

  In that moment, she was jolted by a vague sense of recognition.

  Chapter 8

  Gavin stared at the woman for some time. Too long—he sensed it when she shifted in her chair. But he couldn’t help it.

  It’s not possible, Gavin. You must be losing your mind. Yet there she was, face-to-face with him. He’d remember those green eyes anywhere.

  “The shirt looks very nice.” Gavin shifted in his chair and offered her an easy smile. He braced himself for her reaction.

  “That’s where I know you from!”

  The surprise was etched into the subtle curves of her features. The rise of her cheeks and the slope of her chin all blended together to give her an angelic visage.

  “Small world, hm?”

  “Who knew it could be this small?” She stared at him wide-eyed as the waitress brought them their drinks.

  “Considering that I just got tricked into this strange vacation, I’m more inclined to believe in just about anything right now.” He picked up his glass and took a sip of the Scotch it contained.

  “Yes, I wasn’t told the whole truth about this situation either.” She sighed as she glanced toward the door of the bar. “My first instinct is to run, but…”

  “But?” He set his glass back down and looked into her eyes.

  “I don’t know.” She cleared her throat. “Maybe it won’t be so bad.”

  He nodded a little. “Maybe not for you. I, on the other hand, am far too old for this.”

  “Please. You can’t be more than forty.”

  “I am.” He winked at her. “Thank you, though. I’m Gavin.” He offered her his hand.

  She took it in a quick, oddly tilted shake.

  He noticed the moisture of her palm and the tremble in her fingers.

  “Nicole.” She drew her hand away and looked away in the same moment. “You’re right. This whole idea is silly.”

  “It’s silly for me.” He paused and swirled his drink in his glass before looking back across the table at her. “That doesn’t mean that is for you.”

  “Of course it’s silly.” She laughed—a little too loudly, she thought. “I mean, what was I thinking by coming here in the first place?”

  “What were you thinking?” He reached out and took her hand. The movement surprised him as much as it looked like it had surprised her. He trailed his thumb along the back of her hand in a slow circle. “We have time—and drinks—no reason not to enjoy it.”

  Her muscles twitched beneath the pressure of his thumb. He studied her as she bit into her bottom lip. It didn’t take much imagination for him to realize that this woman was not used to being the center of attention. And she still hadn’t answered his question.

  “So Nicole, why did you decide to take a vacation all on your own?”

  With her free hand she picked up her glass and took a drink. When she put it back down she flicked her gaze toward him. She seemed to be eyeing him carefully before she spoke.

  “Life has gotten a little routine, but I guess I’m hoping that that’s because I’ve not been expecting something different.” She laughed a little and the sound of it made him smile. “I’m not so sure about this wild twist in the plan though—the matchmaking idea is certainly more than I’d bargained for when I booked the trip.” She smiled at him, and again, he felt quite stunned as he looked into her eyes. “Why did you decide to take a vacation, Gavin?”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t. My best friend, who also happens to be my boss, threatened me. I complied—under protest.”

  “Nice friend.” Nicole slipped her hand from his and reached into her purse for her cell phone. “I suppose it was a friend of mine that thought I needed this too. She recommended the resort without mentioning its purpose.”

  “I just don’t understand people’s obsession with pairing up. Do you?” He let his newly freed hand come to rest against the table not far from hers.

  She tilted her head to the side, causing a tendril of her blonde hair to tumble onto her face.

  “I don’t know. Not now, that’s for sure. But maybe in time, I could see myself with someone again.”

  “Someone hurt you?” He lifted his glass for another sip but didn’t take his eyes off her.

  “I can’t even really say that. Did it hurt? Yes. Was it really all his fault? Probably not.” She toyed with her glass and refused to look up at him. “It’s easy to cast blame and point fingers, but the truth is, a marriage takes two people, and I think we both had one foot out the door for a long time.”

  “That’s refreshing.”

  “Hm?” She looked up and he treasured the brief visual contact she allowed.

  “Your perspective. I’ve known a lot of women who are rather bitter over their divorce. You seem to have bounced back well from it.”

  “Bounced back?” She laughed and shook her head. “Trust me, if you knew me, you wouldn’t say that. As for bitter…I guess I spent a little time that way. But, there’s only so long that you can be blind to your role in things. I’m sure that’s why I’m hesitant to get back into the dating game. I have all these flaws that drove the man I thought was the love of my life away from me. How could I expect any other man to see past them?”

  “See? That’s my point right there. Why would I put myself out there just to be judged? Is that really fun for people?” said Gavin.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever thought of it that way. That’s a good argument for staying single and happy.” She picked up her glass and held it out to him. “To freedom.”

  “Freedom?” He held up his glass but did not clink it with hers.

  “Freedom from awkward conversations, impossible-to-comprehend overpriced menus, and the inevitable ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ speech.”

  “I can toast to that.” He clinked his glass to hers and met her eyes as he took a sip. “Although, I’d find it hard to believe that anyone would be giving you that speech.”

  “Trust me, I’ve heard it.”

  “Oh, I trust you—but not the fool that gave it.” He winked at her. “To freedom. I think that deserves one more toast.” He raised his glass again.

  Maybe the trip had been a waste, but as Nicole lifted her glass to his, he found himself glad that he’d had the chance to meet her.

  Chapter 9

  The spark in Gavin’s eyes left Nicole feeling distracted. All of the times that she’d read a passage about shining eyes, or the light in some poor guy’s gaze, she’d never understood it—not until that moment when she looked into Gavin’s.

  When she’d first seen him at the check-in counter, his eyes were dull and tight. But as he looked at her across their raised glasses now, it seemed to her that now they were wide and light. It ga
ve her a little buzz of excitement to think that she could be the cause of the difference that she was seeing.

  Of course that was just a silly notion. Gavin was the type of man that could have any woman he desired. Nicole was certain of that.

  “Excuse me—Gavin, Nicole?” Tony walked up to their table. His brows were knitted tight over the bridge of his nose. “I know that you were both hoping for a resolution this evening, and I’m sorry to say that we won’t be able to do anything about a refund until tomorrow. Your rooms are still reserved and you’re welcome to use them tonight—our compliments. In the morning, I’m sure that we can get this all straightened out.”

  Gavin opened his mouth as if he might argue, but then finished his drink instead.

  Nicole looked over at Tony. “Well, I guess if there’s no other option.”

  “None, I’m afraid. But I do still hope that you might enjoy your stay if you give it a chance.” Tony swirled a hand through the air. “Our purpose is to please.”

  “I bet.” Gavin quirked his lips. “Just how do you do that with two people who have no interest in dating?”

  “As I mentioned, the dates are an opportunity, certainly not one you have to take. The resort still has plenty of activities available that promote relaxation and enjoyment.”

  “It does seem like a beautiful place.” Nicole smiled politely at Tony. “I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble.”

  “Not at all. Unfortunately, due to the selective nature of our resort, not every guest is fully informed when they arrive. This is not the first time this has happened.”

  “Don’t you think there are ways to fix that?” Gavin stood up from the table and picked up his bag as well as Nicole’s. “A simple blurb on your website would make things more clear.”

  “Perhaps, but it would also draw some unsavory characters. I do hope you understand, sir.”

  “Sure.”

  Nicole noticed that Gavin’s stance had become more casual. Despite his implied impatience, his shoulders were relaxed.

  “It’s a misunderstanding.” Nicole smiled at Tony. He’d been providing great customer service, which was something that she could appreciate.