by Shauna Hart
The One Nighter
THE ONE NIGHTER
by
Shauna Hart
Copyright 2009 by Shauna Hart
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
ISBN 978-1-60313-635-8
Credits
Editor: Stephanie Parent
Printed in the United States of America
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT
THE ONE NIGHTER
5 Stars - Night Owl Reviews Top Pick!
As a reader I enjoy suspense stories especially one with a gorgeous hero and a scorned woman. Melanie and Connor are perfect for each other in every way. One night is all that it took to reveal their passion and one kiss is what brings them back.
I loved that Shauna brought them back in a way they will never forget. Melanie is definitely an all around good girl and one act of naughtiness definitely perked her up. Connor is definitely gorgeous and all man for her. I loved it all and can’t wait for more of Shauna’s books. She is definitely an author that is going places.
Melinda - Night Owl Reviews
Dedication
Thanks to all of my friends and family
who have been so supportive of my work.
And, as always, thanks to my husband, Willchris,
for giving me all of the love and support
that keeps me going.
Chapter 1
A strong arm slid across her bare breasts, pulling her tighter against the naked man lying next to her. Instinctively, she snuggled closer in a desperate attempt to let the warmth envelop her. Reality set in, and her eyes flew open. She tried to focus on the white ceiling of the motel room. Looking beside her, her gaze narrowed on the sleeping man. Dark brown hair was slightly ruffled from the many times her fingers plowed through it. His long black lashes rested on high, tanned cheekbones.
Flashes of the night before came back in bittersweet time.
Words ran through her mind as snapshots replayed over and over.
Slut!
Tramp!
Whore!
They all fit, considering her current predicament.
Last night, reason had dissolved into a kiss that was hotter than anything she had ever experienced. She didn’t think about things like right and wrong. For once, she allowed herself to give in to the strong desire to do what she felt like doing without thoroughly examining the pros and cons.
The attraction had simply been too strong to fight.
Unfortunately for her, logic and reason were back.
And they were extremely pissed off.
Inevitably, her gaze focused on the door.
Escape was just a few feet away.
Escape from the choices she had made.
Escape from the man she still had to face.
When she risked a glance at him, her heart began to beat double time. Broad shoulders housed solid muscles that she knew could carry her weight. His full lips had brought her more pleasure last night than any other man ever had. The urge to roll over and give into the greedy impulse to indulge in passion one more time was so intense she had to squeeze her thighs together.
She couldn’t just leave him here.
Could she?
If only she had thought of the awkwardness she would face the night before. But she hadn’t. She spent her whole life thinking of the ramifications of every move she made, and last night, she hadn’t wanted to think anymore.
She’d only wanted to feel.
And she had.
In truth, she had to admit that it was one of the best nights she’d ever had. She glanced over at him again, knowing that when he woke up, there would be an uncomfortable conversation that she wasn’t ready to face.
What could she say to a man she barely knew?
She knew she should have stopped last night after the second drink. But reason had taken a backseat to the demands of her body, and now she had to face the penalty. She chewed on her lower lip as she studied him. His breathing remained even and calm.
Was he one of those deep sleepers who could sleep through a firing squad?
She was about to find out.
Slowly, she slid her body inch by inch toward the edge of the bed, pausing for a tense moment as he lifted his head. As she closed her eyes, one clear thought reverberated through her head.
Busted!
She winced, waiting for him to ask the question that she knew she didn’t have an answer for. When it didn’t come, she dared to peek at him through veiled lashes. To her surprise, he gave her the reprieve she was praying for by turning his head away and going back to sleep without opening his eyes.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she continued her progress toward the edge of the bed. Easing onto the floor, she gathered her clothing, which was haphazardly strewn around the room from the urgency of the night before. Thankfully, it didn’t take her long to get into her clothes. Soon, she was safely in the armor of her clothing, which consisted of a sexy black skirt and blue silk blouse, her black heels dangling from two fingers.
She gave into the impulse to risk one last glance at the sleeping man before her. He lay sprawled on his stomach, his strong, well-muscled arms spread out, reaching for opposite sides of the bed. His back was tan, probably from working in the sun or lying by the pool. She would never know once she walked out that door. One leg was hiked up in the same spot where it had recently curled around her own. The other lay straight, the crisp hairs blowing in the breeze from the ceiling fan.
Guilt overwhelmed her for sneaking out like a cheating wife, but in truth, she couldn’t face her own actions. To speak to him, to wake up slowly with him, would bring her face to face with a situation she was trying to pretend never existed.
Maybe she could just leave a note?
But what would she say?
Thanks for last night?
You were great?
Maybe I’ll call you some time?
Even if she wrote it, it would be a lie. She would never see him again, and despite the exquisite passion he brought her last night, she was glad of it. Glad that she didn’t have to face him or the reckless side that she kept so well hidden. She grabbed her purse from the dresser while walking over to the door. Risking one last coveted glance, she pulled it open, walking out into the sunlight and away from her terrible secret.
Chapter 2
One year later
Melanie Brighton sat at her desk, entering invoices into the computer. She sighed heavily as the computer warned her that she had to fill in all of the blanks for the third time. Jill popped her head over the wall of the cubicle, keeping her voice to a whisper.
“Mel, did you hear the news?”
She rolled her eyes before turning to face her. The gossip about Mr. Turner selling the agency had been traveling through circles for the past five years. It never stopped, and yet here they all sat years later. To Melanie, the whole thing was ridiculous, and she’d trained herself long ago to steer clear of the supposition. Jill, however, always had to be in the middle of things.
“If it’s about Mr. Turne
r selling the agency, you know I don’t want to hear it.”
Her curt response hit the target, causing Jill’s eyebrows to arch. Her red curls bounced around her shoulders as she lowered her chin, her green eyes twinkling with mischief. Red lips opened and shut as she made smacking sounds with her gum.
“Well, excuse me, I just thought you might want to know what’s going on,” she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Melanie turned her attention back to the computer screen. “He’s not going to sell. It’s just a bunch of gossip.”
“He already did.”
She swiveled in her chair. “What?”
Jill nodded. “I copied the papers today. He sold it to some guy named Connor Mason.”
Melanie leaned back in her chair, feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Jill disappeared to answer the phone, leaving her to stare at the wall.
For years, at different times, she’d feared this would happen. Most people in the insurance business knew that if the agency you worked for was purchased, your days were numbered. This buy-out couldn’t have come at a worse time. She was two months away from her six-year anniversary with the firm. During her review, she planned to ask for a raise and a long-awaited promotion to the position of office manager.
Now, she would be lucky to keep her job.
It wasn’t fair. She had worked too hard for this to happen now. For the past year, she’d worked late nights and weekends to show her loyalty to an agency that no longer existed. She couldn’t believe this was happening. All the extra effort she put in over the last few months was for nothing.
She went through the rest of the day in a haze. She didn’t even try to enter the rest of the invoices, because at this point, it probably didn’t matter.
Why work hard for a person who was bound to fire her?
* * * *
The next few days went by in a blur. Mr. Turner seemed to be missing in action. He let her run the show with periodic calls of instruction. Every time he called, she wanted to hit him with a large blunt object. Never once did he mention that he’d sold the agency, probably for fear she wouldn’t take care of everything. It soon became apparent that he had no intention of telling her until the last minute, and that hurt.
Bad.
In all the time she worked for him, she had always thought of him as a kind old man, a mentor. Even at the age of sixty-nine, he still came in every day. She had been his right arm. For the first time in her life, she’d felt needed. Now, amidst the confusion of a lost pay check and a looming job search, she couldn’t help but feel betrayed.
His silence at the moment of truth cut deep.
Eventually, she found out from Jill that Mr. Turner had a lunch meeting with the new owner. The day seemed to come and go, with her spending much of the time hiding in her cubicle. Finally, it was five o’ clock, and she was free to go.
Her intercom beeped.
“Can you come in here for a moment, Melanie?”
She grimaced at the receiver, thinking that it was just like him to still expect overtime even when she would soon be without a job. Still, she made her way through the girls milling around the entrance. Hesitating at the door, she took a deep breath to steady herself before knocking softly.
“Come in,” Mr. Turner called out.
She walked in, her stomach in knots.
This was it.
He looked up as she entered, putting the papers down.
“Have a seat, Melanie.”
He motioned to one of the overstuffed leather chairs. His silver hair glinted in the amber glow cast by the green executive lamp. The wrinkles surrounding his blue eyes seemed to deepen as he smiled. He removed his wire-rimmed gold glasses and laid them gently on the top of the desk.
“Well, I’m sure you’ve heard the gossip by now,” he began.
He shifted in his chair uneasily, and she was momentarily rewarded by knowing that this was as difficult for him as it was for her.
“It’s hard not to,” she answered honestly as she twisted her hands nervously together in her lap.
“I’ve decided to sell the agency,” he confirmed with a finality that rang in her ears.
“I see,” was all she could muster.
“I think that you will really like the new owner. He’s much younger than I am, and I think he can bring a freshness to the business that I can’t.”
His words left a bad taste in her mouth as she mulled them over.
A freshness?
Funny, the agency never had a problem making money before. It seemed that the freshness Mr. Turner was looking for was nothing more than an easy excuse. She continued to give him her very best attempt at a steely glare. The cold silence caused him to let out a nervous cough.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything, though. I’ve already talked to Mr. Mason, and he’s assured me that he won’t make any changes in the staff for at least six months. I’m hoping that will give everyone ample time to find something else if they decide they can’t work for him.”
She couldn’t deny that she had known this day would come eventually. But she hadn’t thought it would be so soon. She wasn’t ready for everything she had worked so hard for to crumble. As she listened to him blithely reassure her, she felt as though years of her life were disappearing before her eyes.
“I see.”
“I made sure that your position will be secure, Melanie.”
He opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted by the buzzing of his intercom.
“Mr. Turner, your six o’ clock is here.”
She got up and walked out, refusing to look back when he called after her. Stumbling through the office with eyes blurry from unshed tears, she barely noticed the sympathetic stares from the other women. She collapsed into her chair, allowing it to take the brunt of her weight. Emotions began to bubble to the surface, emotions she’d suppressed for the past few days. After all the years she’d worked for him, all of the late nights, all of the weekends, that was it! He’d made sure her position was secure.
For how long?
She wasn’t naïve. New owners didn’t care about her nights and weekends in service of another man. New owners only cared about the bottom line, and despite Mr. Turner’s assurances, when he signed the papers he would walk away without a second glance.
After a long weekend spent obsessing about the inevitable, Monday became increasingly worse. Jill came over to her cubicle, exceedingly bubbly considering the circumstances.
“He’s here!”
“Who’s here?”
“The new owner, and he is sooo hot.”
She watched as Jill disappeared around the corner. Melanie rolled her eyes. She could care less how hot Satan was; he still wanted to steal her soul.
“Melanie, can you come into my office? There’s someone I would like you to meet.”
With a heavy sigh, she stuck her tongue out at the phone.
So, this was the moment when she would meet the devil face to face.
She stood up, walking slowly toward the office. Standing in front of the closed door, she braced herself for the worst before pushing it open.
Mr. Turner sat in a maroon leather chair sipping scotch from a crystal glass. She couldn’t see the man joining him because the chair was facing the opposite direction. As she entered the room, he stood.
“Ah, Melanie, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Mason.”
At his introduction, the other man got up, turning to sit his drink on the edge of the desk. He was at least six foot three, his charcoal suit tailored to meet the high breadth of his shoulders. The fabric trimmed his hips to emphasize their narrowness. His short black hair was cut just above the collar of his crisp white shirt.
She braced herself.
Satan definitely knew how to dress.
He turned, a casual smile gracing the fullness of his lips. His green eyes began to take her in for a moment before narrowing ever so slightly.
It couldn’t be.
Images flashed through her mind. Naked bodies, tangled sheets, tongues twisting, bodies crashing. Her own voice crying out in the night for more.
No!
Chapter 3
It was there.
In his gaze, she saw the memory of their night together.
“Connor Mason, I would like for you meet Melanie Brighton,” Mr. Turner beamed, obviously oblivious to the turmoil she was experiencing.
Melanie took the fateful step that bridged the distance between them. She reached out to shake his hand. His hand covered hers, and she felt an unwelcome flutter in her stomach at the memory of those hands driving her to the point of madness. Jerkily, she pulled away.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, her voice sounding husky to her own ears.
“Likewise,” he replied, his deep voice reverberating through her.
“Melanie, I thought since I’m going to be out of town for the next few days, maybe you could go over our accounts with Mr. Mason. You know, get him up to speed.”
Barely listening, she simply nodded in agreement.
This couldn’t be happening to her.
Was she being punished for some terrible crime she’d committed in a previous life?
“Wonderful,” Mr. Turner replied with a beaming smile. Behind them, the intercom buzzed.
“Mr. Turner, can you come to the lobby for a moment? Your wife is here.”
“I’ll be right there. If you will both excuse me for a moment.”
He scurried out of the room, leaving her defenseless. Staring at the floor, she tried to think of a plausible excuse to leave, but unfortunately her brain was so scrambled that nothing came to mind.
“So, it’s Melanie, not Jill?”
Hesitantly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. “Yes, it’s Melanie. Jill is just someone I work with.”
