by Tawny Weber
Mitch stood visiting with his cousin, feeling on top of the world. Family, success and hot sex. What more could a man want? The image of Belle as he’d last seen her, naked except for a very satisfied smile, flashed through his mind. Mitch shoved it right back out, figuring a hard-on while discussing the resort’s sex themes might give the wrong message. Besides, he was still trying to sort through how he felt about last night. Awesome sex aside—and damned if it hadn’t been the most awesome of his life—his mind was a mess. He ricocheted between sexual satisfaction, concern over being led around by his dick, and terror that it’d meant nothing to her. Hell, he felt like a teenage girl PMSing.
For the twentieth time since leaving Belle that morning, Mitch shoved the worries aside and forced himself to focus on the here and now.
So he asked about Reece’s business. His cousin had opened a security firm after leaving the service. While he consulted and supervised security for MC Development, there was definitely not enough business in Mitch’s little world to keep a man like Reece busy. Instead he kept his wits sharp working as a for-hire bodyguard, defense trainer and, as Mitch liked to rib him, all-round spy.
“Seriously,” he asked when he’d been brought up-to-date on everything, “what’re you doing out here? You didn’t say anything about a visit when we talked the other day.”
“I had some stuff to go over with you, wanted to take a look around. Maybe meet your planner and discuss the security list you sent on her behalf.”
Well, shit. Mitch hummed. He’d known his family would have questions once they found out Belle was his new planner, but he’d figured he had plenty of time to come up with a reasonable explanation. And more important, plenty of time to get used to—and over—the wild sexual intensity that flamed between them before he was faced with the threat of it being extinguished by the past.
Maybe he could keep Reece and Belle apart? Tell her he’d meet her later, have Larry haul his cousin around for a tour?
Keeping his smile in place, Mitch felt his mind race with possibilities. Despite the mind games he was playing with himself, things were going too well right now. He wasn’t ready to give this pleasure up. He’d dreamed of being with Belle for years, wanted her for what felt like forever. Bottom line, he wasn’t letting reality—in any form—intrude on this time with her.
Not even his cousin.
* * *
BELLE WALKED OUT OF THE spa into the resort’s lobby, a satisfied smile on her face and three pages of notes in her portfolio. Apparently, MC Development rented space to all the little boutiques in the resort. Which not only cut back on their overhead, but brought in a tidy little income, as well.
With a purr of pleasure, she raised her hand to her nose and sniffed the rich, floral fragrance on her silky smooth skin. Smelled good, felt great. The owner, Kiki, was a savvy businesswoman with an eye for success.
Belle had a feeling they’d get along great, and she’d know for sure the next day when they had lunch together. That was enough time to run her idea past Sierra, work up an outline and make a quick phone call to Daddy.
And, she thought as she spied Mitch across the lobby, even more important, time for that couples’ massage and chocolate bath she’d talked the spa owner into booking for them, despite the spa not being open yet.
With that in mind, she sauntered toward Mitch, her heels making a snappy sound as she crossed the marble floor. She focused on his jean-encased butt, so sweet and tempting, and wondered how long it’d be before she could bite it. Again.
For now, she settled on a pat when she reached him. “How’d you like to get naked and play in chocolate?” she asked, coming up behind him.
Mitch spun around, a look of appalled bewilderment on his face. Quick as lightning, he grabbed her hand off his ass and, with a gentle squeeze, shook it as if they were distant business acquaintances.
Hurt and confused, Belle tried to figure out what his problem was.
The sound of male laughter clued her in. She glanced around Mitch’s shoulder and saw a lanky, Southern hunk seated on the white-leather couch and realized she’d embarrassed Mitch. At least she hoped that look had been embarrassment and not distaste for her suggestion.
Putting on her best society-princess smile, she stepped around Mitch and held out her hand in greeting. As the guy got to his feet, she gave a mental frown and tried to place him. He looked vaguely familiar.
“I’m Belle Forsham, and I’m afraid I’ve reached my limit of naughty offers for the day, but I hope we can be friends anyway?” she greeted in a light, joking tone.
“Reece Carter. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” It wasn’t the touch of his large hand engulfing hers that clued Belle in. It was Mitch’s supportive one grazing the small of her back. “Again.”
A buzzing rang in Belle’s ears, and her breath stuck somewhere in her chest. Carter. Mitch’s cousin. The cousin, she remembered, that Mitch considered his best friend and had asked to be his best man. That’s why he looked so familiar. He’d attended their kiboshed wedding and probably thought, with good reason, that she was a flaky bitch from hell.
Gathering what little nerve she had and taking strength from Mitch’s warmth, she looked into Reece’s midnight-blue eyes, but she saw no trace of judgment. Just an odd sort of waiting. The steady gaze made her stomach hurt. Maybe censure would have been better?
Mitch’s cell phone rang and he excused himself, stepping away to take the call. She didn’t know why, but Belle wanted to grab his belt loop and follow him to safety.
She offered Reece a hesitant smile. He didn’t return it. Instead he gave her a long, intimidating stare that let her know without words that yes, he definitely remembered what she’d done and flaky bitch from hell was the nicest way he could think of her.
Belle wondered how fast she could run in these heels.
“I hear your naughty suggestions are going to be the highlight of this resort,” Reece finally said.
Oh, fun, talking sex with a guy who completely hated her. She’d rather take her chances with her heels, but for Mitch’s sake, she knew she couldn’t.
Belle swallowed twice, trying to wet her tongue. She stretched her lips into a smile. “They’ll make Lakeside the go-to playground of the rich and famous. I’m not sure how much Mitch has shared, but we have some great ideas that I know will lay a solid promotional foundation.”
Realizing she was babbling, Belle stopped and pressed her lips together. She barely heard Mitch rejoin them and take over the description of their plans for the resort. She wanted, no needed, to leave. Now.
“Gentlemen, I’m so sorry, but I have to run,” she interrupted.
Mitch frowned at her. “I thought we were having lunch.” He looked at his watch, then gestured to his cousin. “Reece’ll join us. We can go now if you’re hungry.”
She’d really been looking forward to eating with Mitch. Lunch and a little footsie, some flirting and maybe a quickie nooner for dessert.
“Um, I can’t. I’m sorry, but I forgot I need to run by your office and talk to Diana about a few things. I need to use her fax to send off some contracts, too.”
Belle knew she was a rotten liar and now apparently so did the men standing in front of her. Mitch gave her an angry look that slowly shifted to suspicion, staring at her as if she was an intriguing puzzle with a few vital pieces missing.
“We’ll do dinner instead, then,” he said after a few moments. He used his business voice. The one that let her know he was speaking as the guy signing her contract, not the guy who’d done her doggy-style before breakfast.
“I’ll look forward to it,” she lied before turning to make her way across the marble foyer toward the questionable refuge of Mitch’s office. It had been a stupid lie, since the men could easily and justifiably follow her, but her brain had stalled. When she saw them head toward the restaurant, she heaved a sigh of relief.
Not willing to be proved the liar she was, she decided to go visit Diana anyway. Just CYA.
Or, she eyed the fax machine, she could send a fax as she’d said she would. That would turn her lie into a truth and make it all right. She grinned at her twisted justification and, flipping open her portfolio, grabbed the specs from the spa and penned a quick note to Sierra to outline her idea. She’d planned to email them all, but hey, faxing meant she didn’t have to type up all the specs since she didn’t have a scanner.
She rolled her eyes at the continual justification.
“Hey, Belle.”
She turned and saw Larry in the doorway and grinned. Perfect. “Hey, Larry, how’s it going?”
“I’m glad I found you. I pitched an idea to Mitch about bringing in a live band each month and he said to get together with you to expand on it.”
They chitchatted as she set her stuff on the armoire housing the office equipment and slid her papers into the fax machine’s paper feed. Punching in Eventfully Yours’s number, she listened to the manager’s ideas and considered tasteful ways to integrate the sex themes.
Before she could offer any feedback, Larry glanced at his watch and shrugged. “Lunch over, I’ve gotta run. I’ll send you a memo about this, okay?”
She nodded and said goodbye as she gathered the faxed papers from the tray.
Well, that had worked out nicely. Despite being bummed at being cheated out of her lunchtime sexual romp, and very nervous over the arrival of Mitch’s cousin, Belle was feeling pretty good as she sorted the specs to put back in her portfolio.
As she filed them, she noticed a crumpled ball of paper stuck under the fax tray. She tugged the wad out and, about to toss it in the trash, noticed the word gopher. Had Mitch found a way to get rid of the pests? She smoothed the page flat and glanced at it. A memo typed on Lakeside’s stationery.
Then she read it from beginning to end.
Confused, she turned it over, looking for what she didn’t know.
Was someone deliberately causing damage to Mitch’s resort? She looked at the typed to-do list.
Damage sprinklers, reroute laundry, break bench slats. The list went on and on. Brow furrowed, a sick feeling in her stomach, she scanned the rest. And right there, gophers on the golf course.
She bit her lip and wondered briefly where the hell one imported gophers from, then shook her head. Did it matter? Someone was doing all of this deliberately. Messing with Mitch’s property, trying to screw up or ruin the launch of the resort. She flipped to the second page and noticed a handwritten note. Her stomach sank as her vision wavered in shock.
Keep up the good work. This is exactly what Mitch asked for. Inflict as much damage as possible before the end of the month.
It was signed with the initials L.N.
* * *
“YOU DIDN’T MENTION your event planner was the little blonde who turned your world upside down a few years back.”
“Belle?” Mitch grimaced and took a drink of his coffee to buy time. “I sent the specs on Eventfully Yours. I’m sure you read her qualifications.”
“Glowing. And nary a mention that she’d once planned the event that left you doing a solo act at the altar.” Typically, Reece’s voice held no judgment. Just a musing sort of curiosity.
“She’s the best planner on the West Coast. Her company is perfect for what I want here, and she’s already proved her worth by coming up with the theme idea that you yourself claimed was brilliant,” Mitch defended. When Reece just stared, Mitch rolled his eyes and shrugged. “Let’s face it, she was right to call it quits six years ago. Getting married was insane. I was the one in the wrong, marrying her to seal that deal with old man Forsham.”
And to prove to everyone, including himself, that he was enough of a hotshot to score the boss’s princess daughter. Mitch might admit that to himself, but he wasn’t about to tell his cousin. Not that, nor the fact that he’d straight up used Belle’s desire, their sexual attraction for each other to manipulate her into the engagement.
“You trust her?” was all Reece said.
Mitch shrugged. “In business, sure.” In bed, too. “I’d think twice if it involved rings or ministers, though.”
Their waiter arrived with lunch and both men fell silent.
Hoping the topic was over, Mitch picked up his knife and fork and cut into his Baja grilled chicken. Reece lifted his Angus burger, but before taking a bite he gestured with it and claimed, “Your girl’s nervous about something. Might be the past. Might be more. I’m going to do a little checking.”
“Don’t bother,” Mitch said, his brow furrowing. “I trust Belle, okay?”
“Glad to hear it. Trust always makes the sex hotter, I’m sure.” Reece’s grin was quick, wicked and knowing. “But someone’s deliberately screwing with you and this resort, cuz. And I find it mighty curious that you’re having all these unexplained problems right about the same time your ex shows up. Can’t hurt to poke around.”
All Mitch heard was deliberately.
“You’re sure it’s sabotage?” he asked, all defensiveness over his past mistakes forgotten.
“Looks like.”
“Check everyone.” Fury flashed like a strobe light behind Mitch’s eyes. Deliberately. He’d worked his ass off to get this far and someone was trying to ruin him. He clenched his fist, anger burning in his gut. He’d be damned if they’d get away with it. “I want whoever is behind this caught and strung up.”
“And if it’s the pretty blonde?”
Frowning, Mitch thought of Belle. Her smile, the laughter and fun she had teasing him. Mr. Winkles and the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. The sexy way she walked across the room and the mewling sound she made when she came.
“It’s not her,” he declared, trying to shrug off the idea. “But before you tell me it’s your job to check everyone thoroughly, I’m saying go ahead. Just don’t be surprised to find out you’re wrong.”
Worry pounded at his temples until Mitch forced himself to think the situation through. Once he did, he was able to relax a little. After all, Belle might be a lot of things. A little flaky, impulsive and quick to react without thinking. Sexy, flirtatious and sweet, definitely. But the one thing he was positive about was that she wasn’t a liar.
9
“YOU STILL HAVEN’T explained why we’re here instead of your cottage.” Mitch asked for the third time as he followed her down the short hall to one of the guest suites the next evening.
Belle glanced back at him, a thrill of excitement flashing at the sight of his version of evening casual. Jeans, a black button-up shirt and, her gaze dropped to his feet, dress shoes. He looked so good, even better now that she’d seen him naked. She sighed. The man was simply delicious.
And, she glanced at his face, so not the kind of guy who’d play some elaborate scam to screw over his own company. She’d asked him to trust her to make dinner arrangements, and had been gratified—and a little shocked—when he’d readily agreed. She figured this was the perfect time to do some subtle questioning, just to assure herself he was as innocent as she thought.
It had to be her own doubts that had her imagining the suspicion in his voice. Belle tried to shrug off the weird feeling, telling herself it was paranoia brought on by Reece’s surprise arrival and the papers she’d found in Diana’s office.
“It’s a surprise,” she told him again. With a deep breath, she reached into her purse to pull out the room card. Her tummy spun with nerves and she missed twice before she could get the flimsy card into the lock. She’d never been this nervous to present an event or theme to a client before.
Of course, she’d never planned to get the client naked before, either. She didn’t know if it was that, or nerves over pl
aying Mata Hari on a quest for secrets that made her feel so intimidated.
It definitely wasn’t because they’d had the most intensely wild, passionate sex of her life or that it left her feeling emotionally naked and vulnerable. Worrying about that would be ridiculous, especially since she couldn’t do anything about the vulnerability unless she was willing to stop having the incredible sex. And that was out of the question.
She told herself for at least the hundredth time since yesterday to quit obsessing. And while she was at it, just to put Reece-the-intimidating out of her mind and forget about the note and the suggestion that Mitch had asked for damage to be done to Lakeside. It just didn’t make sense for him to ruin his own resort.
Belle shook her head as if she could knock the thoughts out of it. With a deep breath, she focused instead on the previous night, the great sex, and the hot lovin’ she had planned for tonight. Whew, much better.
With a deep breath and a little wiggle of anticipation for what she hoped was about to come—namely her—Belle pushed open the heavy door.
“We’re doing dinner here tonight,” she said as she entered the dimly lit room. Hurrying before Mitch could get a good look around, she grabbed the lighter and lit the bank of candles on the dresser. “I thought we’d have a preview of what your guests can expect when they stay.”
“Really?” Excitement, curiosity and a hint of naughty pleasure were all packed into that one word.
His tone instantly settled her nerves. Belle pasted on a seductive smile and turned to face Mitch. Leaning one hip on the dresser, she gestured to the room.
“What you see before you is a typical, luxurious resort suite. Comfortable seating, antique furnishings, good art. Quality all the way, which your guests will expect.” She tilted her head toward the table in the corner, set up to her specifications. “A delicious private dinner for two, wine and a decadent and one-of-a-kind dessert. Yummy by any standard, but we’re hinting at something more. Something, dare I say it, sexy?”