Buch lesen: «Wild Fantasy»

1

HE’D RECOGNIZE that thick tumble of honey-blond hair and incredible body made for sin anywhere.

Eyes riveted to the enticing sight, Mitch Lassiter watched the long-legged beauty follow the hostess across the crowded dining area of the country club where he was waiting for his mother to arrive for their lunch date. Dressed in a coral-colored cotton tank dress that accentuated her golden summer tan and enhanced her lush, toned figure, she effortlessly captured the attention of every red-blooded male in the near vicinity.

Her stride was confident, the sway of her hips inherently graceful. An affable smile tilted her lips as she connected with various appreciative gazes. Yet for all her outward friendliness and warmth, there was something elusive about her that kept Mitch guessing about the real woman beneath the easygoing, independent facade.

Nicole Britton. Bold and spirited, wild and impetuous, and sexy as hell with a competitive streak a mile wide. He’d known her for the past seven years, ever since their mothers had become good friends and had discovered her competitive nature a few years ago at a family get-together when she’d invited him to play a game of pool. Winning had been her sole focus. Assertive and controlled during her shots, yet tempting and teasing him with her overtly flirtatious behavior during his, she’d claimed victory…three times in a row.

Despite losing, the evening had been one of the most enjoyable he could recall in recent memory. His Executive Fleet Auto Sales business and family obligations had consumed his life since his father’s death, leaving little time to indulge in fun, or even a relationship with a woman. But that night he’d nearly given into the undeniable attraction between them and asked her out on a date, until he’d caught their mothers watching them with a little too much interest. He knew what a mistake it would be to give either one of their parents any reason to hope or believe their involvement would lead to something serious and lasting.

At the time, Mitch hadn’t been looking for anything binding or long-term, and judging by Nicole’s carefree, noncommittal attitude since her breakup with an up-and-coming city councilman about a year before, he was fairly positive she felt the same. In a split second he considered the possible strain to their mothers’ friendship if things didn’t work out between him and Nicole. He also considered the unwanted pressure and expectations that might be placed on either of them if they were to become involved. With these factors in mind, he had resolved to keep things between them casual, amicable and uncomplicated the whole way around.

But that decision hadn’t stopped him from wanting her. And it certainly hadn’t curbed Nicole’s inclination to tease and flirt with him when they were together, which only served to build and heighten the sexual tension between them.

He shook those thoughts from his mind just as Nicole turned her head in his direction, causing her silky, shoulder-length hair to ripple with shimmering highlights. Vibrant green eyes searched the area and came to an abrupt stop on him seconds before the hostess halted beside his table.

Surprise lit her gaze and a slow, beguiling smile curved her mouth. “Fancy meeting you here, Mitchell,” she drawled, her tone infused with familiar sass.

He inclined his head in greeting and smiled easily in return, feeling that beginning tingle of sexual chemistry the two of them generated whenever they were near each other. “It’s nice to see you again, Nicole.”

Very nice, indeed. Up close, she not only looked spectacular and incredibly sexy, but smelled soft and feminine, with a hint of warm, ripe apricot—an intoxicating, alluring combination that clenched his stomach muscles with heated awareness.

With effort, he shifted his gaze back to the hostess. “I’m here to have lunch with my mother, Heather. I think you’ve directed Ms. Britton to the wrong table.”

“Oh, no, Mr. Lassiter.” The young girl shook her head emphatically and placed another menu on the table. “Your mother and Mrs. Britton reserved a table together and instructed me to seat you both if they didn’t arrive first.”

Mitch watched Heather return to the front of the restaurant, letting her words sink in. “That’s…interesting,” he murmured, returning his gaze to his new table guest.

Nicole looked just as taken aback by the girl’s announcement but slipped into the vacant seat next to Mitch to await their mothers. “Interesting, to say the least, considering I was expecting to have lunch with my mother.” She hooked the thin leather strap of her purse over the back of her chair, then straightened in her seat to face him again. “She called this morning and insisted she had something important to talk to me about.”

“Same with my mother,” he replied wryly. “I can’t imagine what the two of them are up to that they’d both conveniently forget to mention a foursome.”

A naughty twinkle entered her gaze as she lowered her voice to a husky, teasing timbre for his ears only. “A twosome would be much more pleasurable, wouldn’t you say?”

Heat rushed through him at her daring double entendre and, though he knew she was merely toying with him as she always enjoyed doing, he toyed right back. “Oh, most definitely. What do you say you and I slip out the back door and sate our hunger privately?”

“Ummm.” The word rumbled provocatively in her throat, and she laced her fingers beneath her chin and considered his suggestion for a moment. “Sounds like a decadent proposition, but I don’t think our mothers would appreciate walking in on the gossip we’d leave behind.”

He laughed softly, humorously. “Your rebellious reputation precedes you, Nicole. You’re not one to shy away from anything that causes speculation or gossip.”

“Who, me?” Pressing the tips of her fingers to her chest, she tipped her head innocently and licked her glossy lips. The gesture made him wonder what her mouth tasted like deep inside. “Now what gives you that impression?”

Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Oh, let’s see,” he said, mentally picking through the various escapades his mother had insisted on sharing with him throughout the years. He thought about the upset her breakup with Jonathan Gaines had caused, and since he really didn’t know the exact circumstances revolving around that split, he found another episode to utilize instead. “What about the incident three years ago when you flatly refused your father’s very generous offer to be a receptionist at his medical office—”

She interrupted him with expressive green eyes rolling heavenward and a very heartfelt, “Oh, puleeze! That ‘generous offer’ was my parents’ attempt to mold me into a nice, traditional kind of girl, in a nice, traditional kind of occupation more suited for someone meeker and milder than myself.” She feigned a very realistic shudder.

He managed to restrain the urge to laugh at her description which clearly contradicted her own outlook on life. “And not being a traditional kind of girl you instead went out and found yourself a business partner and shocked everyone by starting your own sports enthusiast business.” Including her prominent councilman boyfriend at the time.

“All Seasons Outdoor Adventures, isn’t it?” Mitch asked. From what he knew, she and her partner, Guy Jacobs, not only put together packages for clients interested in outdoor recreational activities, but the two of them were guides on various hiking and rock-climbing expeditions, white-water rafting trips, and other daredevil sporting events, as well.

“Yes, that’s all true.” Her chin lifted in a mutinous slant that matched the multifaceted spark brightening her eyes. “The business has been extremely profitable, not that my father has ever acknowledged my success.”

And for some reason, her father’s approval was obviously important to her, despite her attempt to pretend otherwise. The tinge of hurt in her voice was slight, but unmistakable, and was quickly concealed with an indifferent shrug of her smooth, tanned shoulder.

The woman apparently had a soft spot beneath that sassy, aggressive, sexy facade of hers. “Personally, you don’t seem the receptionist type to me, either.”

“Thank you.” She beamed as if he’d given her a compliment of the highest degree, and lifted her water glass for a quick drink. “You know me better than I originally gave you credit for.”

And damn if he didn’t want to get to know her a whole lot better.

Unexpectedly, she leaned toward him and slipped her palm over the back of the hand resting on the table between them. His pulse leapt, and her smooth fingertips, chilled from the water glass she’d just touched, made his skin sizzle.

Her lush mouth curved into a smile filled with wicked intent. “So, shall we stroll out of this stuffy country club hand in hand like lovers and let our mothers come to their own conclusions when they hear the gossip about us?” She waggled her perfectly arched brows in a dare. “Could be tons of fun.”

One thing was certain in Mitch’s mind. If he took Nicole up on her brazen challenge and they ditched this luncheon, he doubted anything that happened outside this restaurant would be feigned. The vibrant fire in her eyes told him the attraction was real. And while she might pretend not to care about their mothers’ speculation about them, he was willing to bet it was all an act. They both knew their parents would jump on the opportunity to encourage any interest between them, and he didn’t think she wanted that, either.

He switched the positions of their hands, trapping hers beneath the heat and weight of his palm. His thumb rubbed the sensitive flesh between her thumb and forefinger, and she sucked in an audible breath.

He blinked lazily. “You know, I do believe you could tempt a saint to sin, and if it wasn’t for both of our mothers heading this way at this very second, I’d call your bluff and see just how far you were willing to take this game of yours.”

At the mention of their mothers’ approach she subtly retrieved her hand so they weren’t caught in such a compromising position. She sighed, a gusty breath of sound that held the barest hint of regret. “I guess we’ll never find out just how far I was willing to take things, now will we?”

He stifled a grin and instead gave her a private wink designed to leave her a little unbalanced. “Not this time anyway.”

NICOLE STARED at her lunch menu but was unable to concentrate on the array of entrées offered. While her mother and Joyce Lassiter chattered on about the fabulous sale at Bloomingdales they’d hit that morning, which had made them late for their lunch date, Nicole’s mind spun with other, more distracting, matters—like the gorgeous, too-appealing man sitting beside her, their sexy banter, and her traitorous body’s reaction to him and his arousing touch.

She drew a deep, stabilizing breath, which did little to alleviate the flutters in her belly. Mitch Lassiter always did have a way of shaking up her normally unwavering composure and generating feelings of restlessness that no man had ever evoked. He possessed the ability to turn her on with a look, a charming smile or just by speaking in that deep, rich voice of his. Not that she’d ever let him in on that intimate secret.

Her personal life was exactly where she wanted it to be, free of the kind of restraints and emotional entanglements she’d struggled with for the better part of her childhood and adult years. The only frustrating thing she had to deal with was the way her parents constantly compared her to her younger brother. Robert, who was working toward becoming a successful orthopedic specialist, had recently married a sweet, traditional kind of girl, and had a baby on the way. Being the oldest, and their only daughter, Nicole’s parents had been pressuring her for years to settle down and get married. And if they’d had their choice, they would have picked her ex, Jonathan Gaines, to be her husband. An affluent councilman and socially connected, Jonathan was exactly the kind of man her parents would have adored for a son-in-law.

Unfortunately, Nicole’s opinion on the matter hadn’t mattered much. While her relationship with Jonathan had been more comfortable than exciting and she’d enjoyed his company and intellect, he, too, had harbored certain expectations of her…and she’d fallen short. Like everyone else in her family, he hadn’t approved of her business venture, or her ideals, and he resented the time she’d devoted to All Seasons Outdoor Adventures. While there had been some relief attached to their breakup, it had also served as a painful reminder of how men found her independence and ambition too intimidating.

And then there had been her parents’ astounded reaction over her split with Jonathan to contend with, especially her father’s disappointment. He’d held her responsible for driving away such a prominent, solid prospect in lieu of pursuing what he referred to as a man’s business. The entire incident had been yet another in a long string of disappointments for him.

But despite her past, and despite deeper, unsettled yearnings inside her now, she wasn’t about to give up her hard-won independence for anyone. Not even Mitch. Occasional playful flirtations she could handle and walk away from, and so long as she didn’t allow her encounters with Mitch to escalate beyond harmless, teasing fun, she’d be just fine.

With that lecture assuaging her mind, and feeling more in control of herself and her response to Mitch, she decided on a club sandwich and an iced tea, then placed her menu on the table to await their server. The four of them ordered their meals, and once the waiter moved on to a nearby table, Nicole picked up her linen napkin, spread it on her lap and regarded both of their mothers with extreme interest.

“So, what was so important that the four of us needed to have lunch together?” she asked.

The older women exchanged an excited look, then pinned their gazes on their respective children. Rhea was the first to speak. “We asked you two here today to ask for your help in aiding our charity work for Breast Cancer Awareness.”

Mitch immediately sat up straight in his chair. His dark brown eyes, the color of rich chocolate, glimmered with concern as his gaze honed in on his mother. “Is everything okay, Mom?”

Nicole waited for Joyce’s reply as well, knowing how crucial Mitch’s question actually was. Seven years ago Mitch’s mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While she’d recovered and had been in remission for years, there was always the chance of a reoccurrence. Nicole knew this all too well, since her mother’s sister, Andrea, had passed away from the disease. Her mother and Joyce had met at an emotional-support group and had been best friends ever since. In their spare time, which they both had a surplus of, they raised money and awareness for their favorite charity.

“I’m perfectly fine, Mitch.” A bright smile reassured both of them of her exemplary health, and Mitch’s relief was nearly palpable. “This request isn’t for me specifically, but for the organization as a whole.”

As the waiter delivered their drinks, Mitch sat back in his chair. The knit collared shirt he wore molded to his well-defined chest and toned biceps, and the bronze hue brought out flecks of gold in his dark irises. “You know I’ll do anything I can to support your charities.”

Joyce’s face softened with maternal affection. For a woman in her late fifties and having endured many hardships, including the loss of her husband, she still looked beautiful and vibrant. “I knew I could count on you, honey,” she said, patting her son’s hand.

“You know I’ll do the same, Mom.” Nicole squeezed her wedge of lemon into her iced tea and stirred the liquid with her straw. “What do you need? A donation from All Seasons, or help in sponsoring a certain event?”

“You know I appreciate the offer,” Rhea said as she brought her cup of hot tea to her lips for a dainty sip of her favorite herbal blend, “but this is something we’d like the two of you to do for us and the organization.”

She and Mitch exchanged a perplexed look. Witnessing the bewilderment in the depths of his eyes, Nicole knew he had no idea what was going on, either. Their server arrived with their lunch order, and while he placed various dishes around the table and made certain everyone was satisfied with their meal, Nicole contemplated her mother’s odd and very nebulous comment.

Mitch was the first to question it. “Mind sharing the details of this arrangement with us?”

“Of course.” Joyce laughed lightly and dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “Rhea and I came across an advertisement in the Denver Post publicizing a high-profile charity event and we immediately thought how perfect it would be if the two of you represented our organization.”

Nicole took a bite of her club sandwich, feeling a setup of some sort coming on, but she was too intrigued by whatever elaborate plan their mothers had concocted to waylay their intentions until she’d heard everything. A quick glance at Mitch confirmed that he was equally curious to hear what this charity event was all about and what their involvement would entail.

“Go on,” Mitch drawled.

Rhea stabbed a cherry tomato in her salad with her fork and continued where Joyce had left off. “There’s this island resort off the Florida Keys called Wild Fantasy, and they’re hosting an annual charity contest. The grand prize is one hundred thousand dollars that will be donated to the charities or organizations that the winners specify.”

“And you want us to try to win that money?” Mitch guessed.

Joyce nodded enthusiastically, causing her silky, frosted hair to skim her smooth jawline. “Exactly. According to the rules in the ad, in order to participate in the contest the guests have to be single and willing to compete in a variety of events and competitions against one another to accumulate points and win one of three cash prizes.”

“Sounds right up my alley,” Nicole said, completely hooked on the idea. “And I definitely qualify on both accounts.”

Mitch shot her a humorous glance. “Yup. You’re single and you’re definitely competitive.”

She grinned sassily and wrinkled her nose at him. “And proud of both accomplishments, I might add.” Indeed, growing up she’d honed those competitive skills all in an attempt to capture a smidgeon of the attention and approval her father had lavished on her brother. While her efforts hadn’t gained her what she’d ultimately sought, they had made her a stronger, more independent person, as well as ensuring that she was always up for a challenge.

“Actually, you’re both more than qualified, as well as our best chance at winning the money for the organization.” Reaching into the bread basket for a roll, Joyce broke it open and slathered butter on the two pieces. “But this is more than a competition and charity event—it’s also a vacation package. So either way you two should have a good time.”

Mitch stopped his forkful of pasta halfway to his mouth as he stared at his mother. “Care to explain the vacation part of this?”

Joyce waved a hand between them, as if the details of that were insignificant. “Wild Fantasy first and foremost caters to guests’ fantasies,” she explained. “And while Fantasies, Inc. is sponsoring the event, the guests who participate will be treated to all the regular amenities the island and resort has to offer in their vacation packages. According to the brochures and information Rhea and I picked up from our travel agent, this place is a virtual paradise.”

Nicole considered all the decadent possibilities inherent in a personal fantasy and knew she wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to indulge in a week of fun, sun and pure relaxation…and competitive games with Mitch.

“Sounds great to me,” she said, making up her mind. “I haven’t taken a vacation in over a year, so I’m sure I can work out something with Guy and get another guide to cover for me while I’m gone.” She glanced at Mitch to gauge his response and to see what he’d decided, but he remained quiet and contemplative.

Rhea lifted her leather bag onto her lap and dug through the contents, withdrawing two separate folders. She handed one to Nicole and the other to Mitch, who reluctantly accepted the portfolio. “Since there are only a limited number of single guests allowed on the island to participate in the charity event, and we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out on this opportunity, we took the liberty of purchasing both of your airfares to Florida, along with your vacation package on Wild Fantasy. There’s a questionnaire and application inside your folders requesting personal information that you’ll each need to fill out before you get to the island.”

Nicole thumbed through the colorful brochure, fascinated with everything the resort offered and promised their guests. Then she came to the questionnaire her mother had mentioned and the tempting phrase, Where anything goes and anything is possible, jumped out at her, as did the intimate question, What is your fantasy?

She bit her bottom lip in thought. If she was taking into consideration forbidden, erotic fantasies, the sinfully virile man sitting beside her fit the bill. Mitch Lassiter had been a part of her most private erotic desires for years, stealing into her dreams and fulfilling some of her most seductive fantasies in the darkest part of the night.

But beyond her favored sexual fantasy, there was something emotional she craved, a secret wish she’d harbored deep inside since she was a little girl. Unexpectedly, her chest tightened with insecurities she’d sworn she’d banished years ago when it had become apparent that she’d never live up to her father’s expectations as her brother, Robert, always so effortlessly did. She’d given up trying to please her father and lived her life according to her own rules and expectations. Yet there was still that little girl within the strong, independent woman who wanted his approval instead of criticism. Just once.

Win or lose, she wanted to be appreciated for who she was and not for what she accomplished. That was her fantasy.

Her fantasy was simple, yet so intangible it was almost impossible to grant. But that wouldn’t stop her from putting the request in writing—for her own personal, private reflection, not to be shared with anyone else.