by Renee Field
“Are you really sure about this?”
She nods.
I’m thinking a million thoughts. I could go into town on the next shuttle run for supplies or if I’m lucky bum a ride with Roger when he goes for a liquor fill-up.
“I’ll get Noah to give you the key so you can get organized. Listen, I’ve got to go. It’s time to Skype with my father. Oh, and Noah said to make sure you always lock up.”
“I will. Thanks so much Kat. I mean it.”
“Oh, no worries. I know what it’s like to have space to work on the things you love,” she says, with a light laugh which makes me look at her again.
Kathryn is one straight-laced gal. I’ve watched her smile and jump practically every time Shannon, the Marketing Manager, says anything. In the end though, Kat always gets the job finished on time. I might take photography seriously, but she views getting the job done as her life’s goal.
She’s almost out the door when I hear her phone ping, reminding her again of her Skype call with her father. At least she gets to speak with her father. I bite my lip and feel longing hit me for the first time in a long time. Instantly, I push it aside.
She must catch a look on my face because next thing I know she saying, “Sorry about that. I know how hard it is. I’m still trying to cope with the loss of my mother. I can’t even imagine how I’d cope without my father. He might be annoying at times but it’s his way of caring.”
“I’m managing,” I say, hoping she’ll leave. I read somewhere that it’s easier to keep to a lie if you combine it with a truth. My mother died of cancer a year after I was born and I honestly have no recollection of her. My father’s still very much alive. Three years ago, when he demanded that I marry the person he’d picked out, he died to me. The father I thought I knew wouldn’t have done that to me, so for all intents and purposes I consider him dead.
“I really have to go. My father worries if I make him wait,” she says, finally leaving.
I make sure to lock the door this time. I peel off my staff clothes and realize I’ve got to do laundry soon. I’m tired and sore from my long run and from having to work a late shift because the newcomer they’ve just hired to help in the bar twisted her ankle. She’d better be okay tomorrow, because Roger promised to give me the afternoon off to make up for calling me in tonight to work. Not that I overly minded because I certainly do best in the evening in the tip department.
I eye my growing pile of laundry and cringe. I hate having to share a washroom and laundry room but I’m too exhausted to bother getting cleaned up tonight. Some of the rooms have their own washrooms but I’m one of six unlucky ones. For us it’s one large communal washroom for the gals and another for the boys. I set my alarm for six so I can grab a ten minute shower and start writing out a list of supplies I’ll need to set up my photography lab. My iPod shuffle is blasting a new song from an Indie band I like and I find my mind drifting back to Blake.
Getting involved with him is a no-no, but why oh why were his lips so damn tempting?
The sun is like heaven. Hot and warm on my skin. I almost feel like I’m frying and I love it.
Becca, who often works with me in the bar, is beside me but she won’t stay out in the sun for long. With her pale complexion and blonde hair she’ll fry. Those were her words as she peeled off her black shirt and stripped down to her shorts to sunbathe with me. Plus she’s already told me twice she’s got an important phone call to make in about an hour.
We’re both lounging on the pool chairs. I asked when I first got here if the pool was off limits for staffers but was assured it was okay. I don’t usually go into the pool though unless no one else is in it, so I breathed a sigh of relief when we walked in to find it empty.
“So what did you think of the Cave the other night?”
“It was great.”
Saturday night was a blast. I thought all the summer crew were goodie-two-shoes until I saw them for real the other night. They’re just like me. Some more messed up than others but we all had fun. Drinks and lots of people pairing up. Not me though. The locals and customers are all off limits to us even though I noticed a few of the staffers clearly ignoring that rule. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to find a man for the night, there just were none that interested me. Unlike Blake who is totally off limits.
“I can’t wait for next weekend.”
I smile but don’t offer anything. I’m actually hoping to spend the week working on getting my lab set up.
“So I heard you’ve got a place to work on your photography. Have you been able to get it organized yet?”
“Nope. I’m going to go tonight. I’ve got to work four hours tonight. Did you see what Chrissy did to her ankle?”
“Yeah. She tripped getting of the shuttle bus. How totally lame. The nurse said it wasn’t broken, just a severe sprain.”
“Well, I covered for her last night, but she says she can manage the afternoon crowd. I took one look at her hopping around and felt like a shit for leaving, but I’ve been dying to flake out by the pool for weeks.”
“Don’t worry about her. She’ll manage. Plus if she can’t, Roger will hunt you down.”
I laugh. She’s got that right. Roger is our boss. He manages the bar and the staff in the two restaurants.
“Actually, I felt so bad, I told Roger I’d come in around four to help out.”
“You’re far too nice.”
I’m really not that nice. I need the extra money for the lab supplies. I’m listening to Becca, but just then I see a shadow by the small pool door and then the latch opens and in walks Blake. He’s wearing board shorts and a white t-shirt plastered to his body that clearly outlines his well-defined muscles.
Becca leans closer to me. “Who’s the hottie?”
“A customer,” I say, giving a small wave to Blake when he flashes a smile at me. I let out a breath when he claims a lounge chair on the other side of the pool.
“Oh my god, he’s so hot. I’d do him.”
I laugh. Becca might seem to be all sweet, but ever since she started to hang around with a few of the return summer staffers she’s developed a potty mouth.
“And so would you, so laugh all you want.”
“Maybe,” I answer, hoping she’ll drop the topic.
“Maybe. Honey, are you dead or something? By the way, he’s totally checking you out. Stretch out your right leg and bend your left.”
“What?”
“Just do it.”
I grin but follow her instructions.
“Oh yeah, he’s dreaming of doing you too. Did you just see him…he had to adjust himself. Oh, I so wish I could stay and watch that man-candy get into the pool, but I’ve got to make that damn phone call.”
Becca dresses quickly and dashes off with a demand for a full report later tonight. I tell her nothing will happen. She doesn’t buy it.
He waits for about two minutes before moving from across the pool to claim the lounge chair Becca vacated.
“I thought she’d never leave.”
“That’s not nice to say.” I can’t stop my eyes from roaming over his naked chest and for the first time I get a full view of his beautiful tattoo. It’s a fierce looking eagle. His chest hairs I had gawked at yesterday are within two feet of temptation. I pick up my water bottle and take a drink. Distraction is a must.
“I assume she’s a staffer.”
I nod.
“I’m surprised to find you here. I thought for sure you’d be working today.”
“Actually, I’ve only got another two hours before I’m on shift. This reprieve is a welcome treat. I wasn’t supposed to work last night so Roger gave me some time off today.”
Why the hell am I telling him that?
I pick up my coconut lotion and I’m about to reapply when he takes the bottle from my hand.
“May I?”
My stomach churns and my eyes glance toward the door. He cracks a smile.
“Easy, Alyssa. We’re alone. Plus I’m
only applying lotion to you. Not like I’m kissing you.” He leans closer and I smell a hint of his cologne—cedar and leather. “But I really want to.”
I gulp. Shit, this is not happening to me. I try, unsuccessfully, to tell my nipples to stand down, but they ignore me and pebble into tight buds eager for any attention. I turn and give him my back. The feel of the cool liquid on my hot skin gives me goose bumps. I try hard to pay attention to my surroundings and notice the white-washed fence needs a fresh coat of paint. Half of the pool floaters should be replaced and there are four broken lounge chairs. None of it helps. I’m super aware of the feel of his fingers on my skin as he slides the lotion over my body.
“Turn over.”
His voice is rough. I turn over and my eyes dart down to his shorts. Oh yeah, he’s excited. Well that makes two of us. I eye the pool. I’m going to have to take a swim to cool down.
“Thanks. I just did my front. I’m going for a swim before I leave.”
I try to sound calm but fail. I take the lotion from him and drop it to the ground, aware of the brush of his scented fingers. When I get up he follows suit.
“That’s a good idea.”
Good idea? Try last resort. At the edge of the pool I jump in for a shallow dive. The water is cool and feels refreshing but it does nothing to take the edge off the desire I’m feeling for a man I don’t know at all. I break the surface, swiping my hair back.
I don’t look behind me. The ripples in the pool inform me he’s plunged into the water. A second later his arms snake up behind me. I could squirm away or act affronted, but the truth is the feel of his body up against mine is too good to ignore.
He hauls me back into his embrace.
“I’m not usually this forward with a woman.”
His confession is like a caress as he whispers into my ear.
Should I lie and say I’ve never done something like this before? Instead I lean back into him, my bottom nudging his erection. “Well, that’s good to know. You feel good.”
He groans and nuzzles my neck. “You, Alyssa, have bad written all over you.”
I find myself being twisted around so that we’re now face-to-face. His eyes are a hazel color filtering between green and brown thanks to the noon sun. His hair is a tawny brown and I find my eyes darting to his lips. Like he’s reading my mind, he leans in for a kiss. I swear my heart’s beating a mile a minute. This kiss is all languid passion, we’re savoring the feel of each other’s mouth. His tongue darts in and I suckle deep. His hands, under the water, clutch my ass and I find myself tangling a hand in his hair. I’m not sure how he does it, but we maneuver to the pool’s side. The bite of the concrete digs into my back but the feel of him now between my legs is totally overwhelming. We finally break our kiss for much-needed oxygen.
“You going to scream now?”
There’s a mischievous glint in his eyes I find totally disarming. I trace the large tattoo etched over his right shoulder with my fingertips. The eagle is a work of art. The wings of it adorn his back gracefully. I wonder what it means to him.
My own tattoo spells one word—freedom—but it’s in the Greek alphabet and hidden low. The only time a guy gets to see that script is if I’m totally naked, which isn’t going to happen, I tell myself over and over again.
“I feel like I should scream. I don’t even know you.”
“Yet you enjoy kissing me. I seem to have that effect on women.”
He’s teasing me and it works. I find that armor I had built when I ran away from home beginning to slowly dismantling. We’re still hip to hip in the water.
“I just bet you do,” I say, splashing water at him. I need to get some distance between us. This is all happening way too fast.
He laughs and lets me go, but not too far. He moves to my side so he too can lean against the side of the pool. “So what do you want to know about me? Ask and you shall receive.”
Nice, open invitation for a Q&A, but I hesitate. As much as I long to find out all his nooks and crannies, I’m not into sharing my own. And lying is something I’m getting tired of. Like he’s reading the hesitation in my eyes he reclaims my waist, and hauls me back into his hard chest.
“Or we can let this be a mystery between us.”
“Mystery?”
“Yeah, I could be your mysterious lover for the summer.”
I laugh at that cheesy line. “I think you’re assuming a lot, Blake.”
“I’m certainly hoping a lot. Listen, I came up here to think about my future. And to take it easy. But the minute you dropped the beer in my lap, I became entranced by you. Cheesy I know, but we’re both consenting adults. So, you want to give it a go?”
“You mean like sleep with you?”
He nuzzles my neck and murmurs into my ear, “Honey, we won’t be sleeping. The things I want to do to you had better make you scream in pleasure.”
I gasp. Once again he’s vacillated from carefree boy to alpha male within seconds and damn if that isn’t a turn on.
“Yeah, and if I get caught I’m out of a job.”
He nips at my earlobe and I shiver. “If you get caught, I’ll pay your wages.”
“So you’re basically saying you’d pay to have sex with me.”
He captures my face in his hands. “I’m saying I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone else, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Damn that has to be the corniest thing a guy’s said to me. At the same time he seems sincere, and I find myself wanting to believe in him more than common sense tells me to.
What could it hurt to have a summer fling?
My job and just maybe my heart, I think.
CHAPTER FOUR
Blake
This girl’s got me tied up in knots and that’s not a good thing. I’m promising things I shouldn’t, but Sweet Jesus I’ve never felt like this with anyone. Not that I’m about to share the real reasons why I’m here. And truth be told, I need to have my head in the game. But when I got up this morning all I could think of was her—Alyssa.
The feel of her in my arms is like a dream. She’s curvy in all the right places and those breasts of hers are knock-out material. Christ, she could be wearing a paper bag and she’d rock it. Instead the sight of her in that tiny red bikini makes me instantly hard.
And the things I’m fantasizing about doing to her are not helping my body’s reaction.
I know she’s worried about getting caught, but maybe it’s the thrill of that, the spike of danger, that still has her in my arms. I sense this woman is out for an adventure and hot damn if I’m not the perfect guy, if I may say so, to give it to her.
“If I let you go now will you promise to come to my place for a drink tonight?”
She’s nibbling her lower lip. Something she does when contemplating things and it’s sexy as hell. “I—”
I claim her lips again, needing to remind her how good we feel together. This time I let my hand travel lower to fully cup her bikini bottom. She gasps in surprise. I know I’m being as forward and bold as can be, but instead of pushing me away her hand holds my head in place tighter, a silent urging I heed.
My erection is pushing against her, and when she sinks a hand into the pool to cup my ass, I can’t help grin.
Staring at me with longing she says, “We really need to stop.”
I’m not a total idiot. I know she’s right. At any moment someone could spot us. However, I’m not letting her go without some sort of promise that she’ll see me later. “If I promise to let you go now, will you promise to come back to my place tonight?”
“I don’t know…”
“No expectations. Come over for a drink and we’ll play it by ear.”
She smiles. “You’re a charmer. It’s a date. But if I get caught, I will exact my revenge.”
I laugh. “You’re on. I’ll meet you outside the bar at closing.”
She doesn’t say anything for a good minute, but I can tell she’s contemplating that one. “No.
I’ll come to you.”
I don’t like the idea of her walking down that road in the dark, but I get what she’s trying to say. She’s trying to protect herself. Something I totally get. “Okay,” I say, not meaning it. I’ll just shadow her until she’s closer to my cabin.
“I’ve got to go,” she says, and I let her slip from my embrace, which almost kills me. The site of her walking up the pool steps with water sluicing down her back and over that ass of hers does nothing to help my painful erection which has a mind of its own.
I watch her grab her towel and start counting numbers in my head which usually helps cool me down. Only when I’ve gotten control of my body do I climb out.
And just in time.
In walks a couple with their young child. Good thing I didn’t take things further. That would have been a sight for their vacation memory books or worse their freaking cell phones and it probably would have gotten Alyssa fired. I’ve got to be more careful.
I walk over to the lounge chair and accept the towel she’s holding out for me. “See you later tonight.”
She nods, a small blush stealing across her cinnamon-colored cheeks. She’s so adorable I have to will myself not to take her into my arms again and give her a kiss goodbye.
She walks with a sway in her hips out the pool door and it’s only then I realize I’ve forgotten what I meant to ask her. I use the towel to dry off my hair and curse. My head is so not in the game when she’s around. It’s a distraction I don’t want to give up, but if I’m going to impress my grandfather I’ve got to find out where the owners of the resort are.
Once I’m back in my cabin, I answer a few emails and call the front desk. The owners, it turns out, are around. Within thirty minutes I’m dressed casually but respectably and standing outside their door thinking about my approach when an old man comes up behind me.
“You waiting for an invitation?” he asks.
“No. You can go ahead,” I reply.
“Well that’s grand considering it’s my office. You must be Blake Samson. Amy, the little lady at the front, said you were looking for me. What can I do for you, Blake?”
