"Oh hi, I just got in the door."
"I figured. I wanted to make sure you got home okay. With the rain and all."
"Thanks." His caring gesture warmed her heart. "I'm glad you cal ed. I wanted to talk to you about the resort. . .
."
"Liss, I'm really sorry that Steve—"
"No, that's not your fault. What I wanted to say is that I'd like to go. I need to learn more about it. I need to be able to talk Elaine out of going there and . . . information is power. The more I know, the more convincing I'll
be."
"Okay. I . . . uh . . . went ahead and booked us in for next week, just in case you said yes. We'l have to leave next Wednesday."
She smiled. "And if I'd said no?"
"Then they would have been stuck with an empty room."
"Room? Just one?"
"Well, I can't go as a single man. I assumed we'd go as a couple, but they do al ow single women, so if you'd
rather go alone . . ."
The thought of wandering around a resort like that on her own, among the sex-hungry males . . . and females . . .
who would frequent such a place sent shivers up her spine.
"There's no way I'm going alone!"
"Great. You've got a passport, right?"
"Right."
"And can you make a doctor's appointment this week?"
"Why? Do I need to get shots?" She cringed, hating the thought of a needle piercing her skin.
"No. The resort is very exclusive and requires medical testing for al its guests, to ensure they don't have any
sexually transmitted diseases. I saw Dr. Lane today and he told me he could get my results back in time. If you go
in this week, he can rush them both through."
Her stomach knotted.
"But I'm not planning on . . . you know . . . doing anything while I'm there."
"They don't know that."
She sighed. Of course they didn't.
"Okay. I'll call tomorrow morning." She grabbed the planner from her purse and jotted down a reminder.
"Anything else?"
"Yes. It's probably not a good idea to mention that you work for a news station. It could make people nervous.
Maybe you should say you're a freelance writer or something. Also, do you mind if we go as Mr. and Mrs.
Woods? It's better if we don't use my name. I don't want anyone to figure out I'm the one interested in buying
the place."
"Sure."
Mr. Shane Woods.
Thoughts of Shane at her side using her last name and pretending to be her husband sent her heartbeat racing,
interesting possibilities flickering through her mind. The two of them in an intimate setting, acting as husband
and wife. Tender touches, holding hands, a kiss on the temple.
"One room means one bed, right?" she asked.
"Uh . . . yeah. . . ."
Excitement danced along her nerve endings. She imagined being in that room now, Shane lying on the bed. Her
hormones surged once again as she thought about undressing him, about exploring every plane and muscular
bulge . . . every hard, masculine surface of that gorgeous body of his.
Her insides quivered as she realized she was about to do something very foolish.
Chapter 2
TY ADAMS SETTLED BACK IN THE GUEST CHAIR AS HIS BEST FRIEND Suzanne sat down behind her desk. Her face
was drawn and she lacked her usual vivacious, cheerful demeanor.
"How bad is it?" he asked.
"I have to sell."
His eyebrows arched. Suzanne loved that resort.
She'd been born on the tiny island of St. Haven in the British West Indies while her father had been stationed
there to build an airport, and she maintained dual citizenship even though her parents had returned to the
States when she was two years old. Six years ago, she'd gone to visit the island for the first time as an adult and
she'd fal en in love with the place. She'd gone back a year later to set up The Sweet Surrender resort and had
been planning on moving there permanently in a couple of years.
"I don't understand. You've run two clubs here in Chicago and they're both extremely successful."
She slid a file across her habitually tidy, maple desk. He picked up the royal blue folder and flipped it open.
Financial statements for the resort. A lot of numbers in the red. She seemed to be getting by on a thread.
"I don't know. It's a bit different, being a resort rather than a club. Maybe I was too ambitious with this project."
He closed the file and tossed it on the desk. It skidded toward her, stopping when it bumped against the large
amethyst crystal cluster she'd bought in Brazil. She said it brought positive energy to her work space. If he didn't
know her so wel , he'd think her a bit flaky when she said things like that, but other than her quirky way of
viewing rocks, she was the most levelheaded person he'd ever met.
"No way. You had it al planned out. You did your homework."
That's what he admired about Suzanne. She was self-reliant and competent in business. More than competent,
having built her own business from the ground up, relying on no one, male or otherwise.
"Yes, but we hit a lot of bad luck. Equipment breaking down. Fewer guests than we anticipated. We're never
running at capacity. We advertise more, but it doesn't make much difference."
"We" included Hal and Vanna, the couple she'd hired to manage the resort for her. She did the same at all her clubs. Swingers expected a couple to run the place, not a single woman. When she visited the clubs to check
things out, she never let anyone know she was the owner.
"So your mind's made up?"
She nodded. "I had an agent by yesterday representing some rich client . . . wouldn't say who. He said he'd get
back to me in about two weeks. That's why I asked you to come by." She leaned forward, her eyes intent. "Ty, I need a favor."
"Honey, whatever you want." He'd known Suzanne for ten years. She'd always been there for him. He would do
anything to help her. "You want me to find out who the buyer is?"
That was right down his alley as a private investigator.
She shook her head.
"My agent knows the other agent. Says the guy usual y suggests his clients send someone in to investigate when
buying this type of business."
He smiled. "Suzie, I don't think there are many businesses like this one."
She smiled despite herself. "Yeah, well, I mean like a resort, hotel . . ." She shrugged. "Even a store. He figures they should see how the business is run, how guests are treated, that kind of thing."
"Makes sense." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his jean-clad legs.
"I figure that means he'l send someone out to the next orientation getaway."
He raised an eyebrow. "So you want me to go there and . . . ?"
"Identify who you think the investigator is and then keep an eye on him, while I make sure things run smoothly,
and convince him that the place is a good investment. Which it is." She sounded only a little defensive.
Ty knew it must be breaking her heart having to sell what was essentially her baby.
"It just requires a little more capital than I have . . .," she continued. "And a lot more luck."
Ty wondered what Suzanne intended to do to convince the guy. He knew she'd cal Hal and Vanna to ensure
everything was shipshape, but it was a swingers' club.
He gazed at Suzanne's high cheekbones, heart-shaped lips, lovely green eyes, then followed her long strands of
wispy blond hair to her black, tailored wool suit jacket, open at the front revealing a red silk, low-cut top that
draped softly over her generous breasts.
This was a resort for swingers, and Suzanne was very open about sex, so she might decide to treat this guy to
some seriously erotic persuasion. Ty's groin tightened as he remembered the last time he experienced Suzanne's
talents. Her mouth lapping over his nipples, then her hot, slick body swal owing his cock deep inside, her
intimate muscles squeezing him tight. His cock rose at the memory.
She stood up and walked toward him, smiling.
"So what do you say? I know you've got cases, but I'll pay for your time and your airline ticket, of course." She sat on the desk in front of him. "Besides, it'll be fun."
Fun? Sharing a room with her? Sharing a bed with her? And with any other women at the resort who were
interested?
That wasn't fun. It was a five-star erotic fantasy!
"Of course I'll do it. And I won't accept your money."
Suzanne smiled and kissed his cheek, then her hand slid down his chest and over his crotch. At the feel of her
fingers, his erection strained tighter against his pants. He uncrossed his legs.
"I see you're excited about the idea."
She leaned forward to kiss him, her fingers gliding up his denim-encased cock.
The sound of his zipper releasing accompanied the loosening of fabric around his cock. Her fingers wrapped
around him, setting his hormones raging.
"In your office, Suzie?"
"Gina knows better than to come in without knocking . . . and waiting for an answer."
She knelt down and drew his cock from his pants. His groin tightened at the feel of her feminine fingers
encircling him. Then her hot mouth covered him and he groaned.
Suzanne loved the feel of Ty's familiar cock in her mouth. She loved Ty, in a friendly way. He'd always been there
for her. Someone to talk to, to help in a crisis, and she'd done the same for him. She was one of the few people
he'd let past his barriers to form a real friendship. Probably because he knew she would never demand anything
of him. But mostly, because she accepted him exactly as he was. That was important to him. He'd had enough of
being molded and forced to be something he didn't want to be—first from his demanding father, then from his
controlling ex-wife, Celia.
Suzanne licked the crown of his wonderful penis, then sucked. He stroked her hair back from her face, his touch
gentle and filled with affection.
"Suzie, you do that so wel ."
She drew him in deep, then slid back. She moved back and forth, stimulating his shaft with the tips of her teeth,
then sucked and squeezed.
"Oh, sweetheart."
She could taste the pre-cum on her tongue as she swirled it around and over the tip of his cock. She loved his
taste, and couldn't get enough of his hard, male flesh in her mouth. She ran her tongue along his length, then
sucked him deep again. Her hands stroked under his balls and cradled them in her palms as her fingers curled
around them.
Ty's hands clamped gently around Suzanne's shoulders and he drew her upward.
"Whoa, honey. I won't be able to hold on much longer—you're way too good at that—and I want to be inside
you when I come."
She released him from her mouth, then slid off her jacket as he unfastened his belt and dropped his jeans to the
floor. She tugged off her crimson camisole and tossed it aside, then snapped open the front-clasp on her red
lace bra. His gaze locked on to her breasts and her nipples immediately thrust outward.
He tucked his hands under her breasts and stroked over the hard, needy nipples with his thumbs. Sitting on the
edge of the desk, she sucked in a breath at the exquisite pleasure of his touch. She stepped closer and cupped
his face in her hands, then kissed him. His lips, firm and sure, opened at the gentle pressure of her tongue,
allowing it to slide into his mouth. His tongue greeted hers and they coiled in a sensuous dance.
He leaned forward and she felt her skirt shimmy upward as he tugged at the fabric. She unfastened his shirt
buttons as he dragged her panties down to her knees. She kicked them off the rest of the way and leaned back
against the desk.
"You are the sexiest woman I know."
She smiled, stroking his wavy, dark brown hair from his face.
"So you keep saying."
He tucked his hands under her knees and lifted them. She wrapped her hands around his delightful y huge cock
and pressed it against her slick opening. He eased forward, impaling her slowly.
Oh, God, it felt wonderful having him inside her. His long, hard cock never failed to please her. Of course, the
mutual respect and affection they shared enhanced the experience intensely.
He drove forward, fil ing her to the base of his generous shaft. She squeezed him, welcoming and encouraging.
She wrapped her arms around him and nibbled on his earlobe.
"Come on, lover. Show me what you've got."
He smiled, gazing into her eyes as he drew back.
"I'll show you, all right, honey." He drove forward, sending a wild pulse of pleasure through her. "That's what you want, right?"
"Oh, you know it." She felt her body shaking from the intense need building within her. "Only you can hit just the right spot."
He swiveled his hips, stroking her vagina in a delightful way, then he pulsed in short strokes several times, then
swiveled again. Waves of pleasure swelled through her.
His finger slid between them and stroked over her clit.
"Ohhhh . . . I'm going to . . ."
He flicked her clit, then stroked as he thrust in and out, deeper and harder.
"I'm coming." She knew he loved to hear her say that. He loved knowing he gave her pleasure. "Oh, baby, you're making me come."
She wailed in ecstasy, clinging to his shoulders as he rode her through the rising tide of bliss. She continued to
moan, caught up in exquisite pleasure, even after he erupted inside her.
They clung to each other, panting. She leaned against his chest, enjoying the strength of his arms around her.
His ex-wife had been a total idiot to let someone as sweet and sexy as Ty slip through her fingers. If Suzanne had
been his wife, she'd never have let him go.