Sharon, dressed in her faculty robes with tears in her eyes, hooded me after she embraced me. “You’ll always be my favorite. And if that corporation you’re selling yourself out to is ever looking to spread some grant money around, don’t forget about me.”
I hugged her tighter and laughed. “Thank you, Sharon.”
She pulled away and patted my cheek. “I’m serious about that grant money.”
Believe me, I knew.
With the ceremony over and the crowd dispersing, I was left with my family. My family. What a beautiful thing it was to have a real family. Porter let Natalie hug and kiss me first. Not like she was going to give him a choice. She bowled over everyone to get to me. She kissed my cheeks a hundred times. “Estoy muy orgulloso de ti, hija.”
I never tired of hearing her call me her daughter.
Beau and Charlotte were not half as animated when they hugged and congratulated me.
I was most anxious to get into my husband’s waiting arms.
He pulled us away from the crowd and our family before wrapping me up tight. “Mrs. Clairborne—or should I say Dr. Clairborne? I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Porter, for always believing in me.”
“You make it easy.”
I gave him a church kiss since we were in public.
He groaned against my lips. “What do you say we get out of here and celebrate in private, preferably sans clothing?” That was always his preference.
Mine too, but . . . “I think your parents were hoping to take us to dinner. And after that, I was hoping we could go to our spot.” It only seemed fitting.
He gave me his best seductive grin. “So you’re saying you want to take me to Paradise?”
“In more ways than one,” I whispered in his ear.
“Dr. Clairborne, you’re making me blush.”
Sneak Peek
New Beginnings in Paradise
A Clairborne Family Novel Series
Coming Soon
Cammie and Luciana were giving each other sly grins and holding back laughs. I had only known Cammie for two days, but Luciana and I had been the best of friends since high school. She was the one who told me about the massage therapist position here at the Clairborne. I knew she was up to something. I had seen that devious look in her eyes one too many times. We had gotten in trouble for it one too many times.
“What’s going on?”
They glanced between each other again and a giggle escaped from Cammie, the very cute blonde aesthetician.
“Nothing,” Luciana feigned innocence, “It’s just your first appointment of the day is here.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Is there something I should know about him or her?” I hadn’t checked the schedule yet. I was still trying to familiarize myself with the spa here. It was much more upscale than the one I worked for in Houston. Not to mention moving out of state was a new adventure for me. So much to take in, but this move was exactly what I needed. A new beginning in Paradise of all places. Paradise, Alabama that is.
“Him,” Cammie snickered into her hand.
“Luciana.” I gave her my best attempt at the look of death her mamá had given us on occasion growing up trying to keep us in line. It didn’t work.
She pushed me along. “He’s in room two. Good luck.”
I walked back through the door to our quiet area, pulling up my long dark hair as I went. I had to make sure not to brush the clients with it. Trepidation lined my path. Who was lurking behind door number two?
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door with no name on it. Why hadn’t Luciana written his name on the board outside the door?
“Come in, Kel,” a deep masculine voice called.
Did he mean Kellen? He wasn’t in today. Hopefully he wouldn’t be disappointed with me. I opened the door expecting to see . . . well . . . maybe expecting not to see would have been a better phrase. He was already stripped down to his skivvies, as in tight Speedo looking underwear, standing there in the low lit serene room like it was natural for him to be doing so. Normally clients stayed dressed until we talked to them first and told them to strip down to their comfort level and lay on the table and cover themselves all while we were out of the room. They could push the button to tell us when they were ready for us to come back in.
This man was obviously comfortable with himself, very comfortable. Or at least he was until he realized I wasn’t who he was expecting. The beautiful sun kissed man with a body of steel and no tan lines I may add stood gaping at me before he could fully react. He ripped the blanket off the massage table and wrapped it around his bottom half. The top half still gave me quite the spectacular view, though I shouldn’t be thinking like that, he was a client and soon I would be touching every muscle that rippled on his defined chest.
“Who are you?” he barked.
I shut the door. “Um . . .” Who was I? Oh yes, “Natalie, sir.”
“Where’s Kellen?” His handsome face looked like it was ready to explode. His piercing blue eyes cut me to my center.
“He’s off today.”
“No one told me.”
“I’m sorry, would you like to reschedule with him?” I averted my eyes from staring directly at the contender for most beautiful human alive.
“I would like you to leave and never mention this to anyone.”
That seemed like a bit much, but okay. Who was this guy? I didn’t dare ask. His harsh demeanor said that it was in my best interest not to talk to him ever again. I turned around and marched out as quick as I could. My heart was beating erratically. Had I done something wrong? Was I going to get in trouble? I needed this job. I needed Paradise or anywhere but from where I came from.
I held back tears as I walked to the front where Luciana and Cammie stood almost as if they were waiting for me. Grins the size of Texas slapped on their faces.
“How did it go?” Cammie busted out laughing.
“Who was that man?” I whispered, afraid he might hear.
Luciana’s sable eyes lit up. “Beau Clairborne.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “As in the Clairborne Resort, Clairborne?”
“As in the son of the owner and executive manager.” Luciana wagged her eyebrows.
I leaned against the wall. “That’s just great. Does he come in here often?”
“Once a week, like clockwork. Tuesdays at nine.”
Perfect. Just perfect. I would do my best to avoid the awful man at all costs.
About the Author
Jennifer Peel is the award-winning, bestselling author of the Dating by Design and Women of Merryton series, as well as several other contemporary romances. Though she lives and breathes writing, her first love is her family. She is the mother of three amazing kiddos and has recently added the title of mother-in-law, with the addition of two terrific sons-in-law. She’s been married to her best friend and partner in crime for a lot longer than seems possible. Some of her favorite things are late-night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and Southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.
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Books by Jennifer Peel:
Other Side of the Wall
The Girl in Seat 24B
Professional Boundaries
House Divided
Trouble in Loveland
More Trouble in Loveland
How to Get Over Your Ex in Ninety Days
Paige’s Turn
Hit and Run Love
Sweet Regrets
Honeymoon for One in Christmas Falls
The Women of Merryton Series:
Boxed Set (Books One, Two, and Three)
&n
bsp; Jessie Belle – Book One
Taylor Lynne – Book Two
Rachel Laine – Book Three
Cheyenne – Book Four
The Dating by Design Series:
His Personal Relationship Manager – Book One
Statistically Improbable – Book Two
Narcissistic Tendencies – Book Three . . . Coming Soon
The Pianos and Promises Series:
Boxed Set (Books One, Two, and Three)
Christopher and Jaime – Book One
Beck and Call – Book Two
Cole and Jillian – Book Three
The More Than a Wife Series:
The Sidelined Wife- Book One
The Secretive Wife- Book Two . . . Coming Soon
The Dear Wife – Book Three . . . Coming Soon
A Clairborne Family Novel Series:
Second Chance in Paradise
New Beginnings in Paradise. . . Coming Soon
First Love in Paradise . . . Coming Soon
Return to Paradise . . . Coming Soon
To learn more about Jennifer and her books, visit her website at www.jenniferpeel.com.
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