Twenty Times Tempted: A Sexy Contemporary Romance Collection

by Petrova, Em

  Christine nodded but couldn’t stop staring. She had to be one of the most beautiful women ever created. Her dark blue eyes struck a chord with her native coloring, just as Charlie’s did, her long, black hair shiny and smooth.

  “Hey, we made it!” They both turned to see a waving gentleman who had sat near Christine on the original flight from Sydney. He grinned at her as he took the seat in the row across and in front of her.

  “Yes we did.” Christine nodded. “Glad you made it all right.”

  “Not real sure I would. But heck, how often do you get the chance to view an island paradise?” He winked at the flight attendant and whistled. “Why hello, lovely lady, we were on the flight that almost crashed.” He leaned against the back of the seat and pulled his face into a pout. Maddy would say he’d rate a five and would stay a five forever. “I’m not so sure I want to fly again so soon after all that. I chickened out yesterday.”

  The flight attendant placed a hand on his shoulder. “Flying is safer than driving.”

  “No friggin way.” He covered her hand with his and patted. Christine almost laughed at the obvious flirting. “I’m so scared we could crash again. I might need some extra time and comfort from someone so beautiful.”

  She nodded and pulled her hand away. “I fly out from here all the time. I’ve never been in an incident yet.”

  “Flights across the entire Pacific are nothing like just going from here to the mainland, honey,” the man grumbled.

  “Oh, I’ve flown across the Pacific, the Atlantic, everywhere.” She reached up to close a full overhead bin then gave Christine a wink. “There’s no cause for alarm. Everything will be fine.”

  The man glanced over at Christine. “If you get apprehensive or nervous, just come on up here with me, honey. I’ll make you forget we’re flying.”

  “I’m fine, thanks.” Christine turned back to the window. Great, I get the one flight with a woman who seems to want Charlie as much as I do, is gorgeous enough to be on a magazine cover, is his usual type, and worst of all is nice. Wonderful.

  “Here you go and don’t worry, really. We’ll be safe.” The attendant handed her a blanket and a pillow. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  Christine took them and smiled a bit. “No thanks. I’m fine now. But if you want to slip Mr. Man over there a sleeping potion, I wouldn’t mind.”

  The flight attendant laughed before she went to assist the other passengers.

  Christine made sure her seat belt was fastened then stared out the window. She felt none of the man’s apprehension as they took off. She’d heard Charlie say many times flying remained safer than driving. Of course, no wonder he didn’t mind traveling long distances with this model flight attendant to keep him company.

  Halfway through the flight the beauty came back, plopped down in the empty seat beside Christine, and removed a shoe to rub her foot. “Shh,” she whispered with a wink. “My feet are killing me. We have to wear a standard heel, which is way too high for a girl like me who grew up barefoot. It’s torture sometimes.”

  “I can imagine.” Christine had to grin, liking this woman even if she was close to Charlie. “Heels always drive me crazy.”

  “You aren’t kidding. If you don’t mind talking about it, did your plane really have an emergency landing?” Voice low, she rested her forehead on the seat in front of them.

  Christine shook her head. “Not really. There was no movie drama where everyone is screaming while the plane fills with smoke, nose dives and the valiant captain saves the day. Just very bumpy, then a bit nerve wracking with thumps when we touched down.”

  “Good to hear. I didn’t think it would be as bad as some said because the airport never closed.” She slipped her shoe back on and grimaced. “But at least you got to see a bit of Hawaii. Did you enjoy your lay over?”

  No way would Christine tell this beauty about Charlie or that her memories of Hawaii would always be tied directly to what the two of them did in one night. “I did, yes, thank you.”

  Her gaze probed, making Christine want to draw back. What seemed so familiar about this lady? “You’ll have to come back sometime soon and stay longer.”

  “Maybe.” Not likely though. She couldn’t pretend ever again she only wanted to be friends with Charlie. But she had to work with him, couldn’t let on he’d broken something inside her she didn’t realize could be broken again. “Your island is beautiful.”

  “It has its places and moments.” The attendant straightened to sweep the plane cabin with a gaze. “My brother is planted firmly and won’t ever leave. He travels some, but home is home. Any woman he develops a serious relationship with should understand and respect his roots.”

  Christine nodded. “Sounds like a friend of mine.”

  A passenger buzzed and the flight attendant stood. “We’re landing soon, so in case I don’t get another minute, it was a pleasure to meet you, Christine.”

  “Likewise.” Christine watched her hurry off then jolted. How did the flight attendant discover her name? Oh great, had Charlie mentioned Christine to the goddess and they’d laughed over her silly assumption one night with Charlie meant something more? She watched another flight attendant walk the aisle with a clipboard. Ah duh, flight attendants had the names of passengers and their seat numbers. No mystery there. The beautiful attendant also laughed and talked with most of the passengers, so there was nothing special about her chat with Christine. Nothing special at all except both of them knew Charlie.

  The flight landed without a hitch. Christine disembarked to hurry and catch her connecting flight. This flight also flew and landed uneventfully as the flight attendant had promised. It all became a blur; a mangle of people, planes, and noise for the next twelve hours then blessed quiet when she arrived home to emptiness.

  Christine dumped her bags on the floor and headed straight for the shower. Exhaustion, physical and mental, consumed her so sleep after washing off travel grime became the most important priority.

  As she scrubbed, Christine noticed a red spot on her shoulder and another on her hip, tiny brands from his teeth and fingers. The marks would soon fade, but her memories never would.

  She fell into bed, slept, and woke hours later to darkness and her bedside phone ringing. Crap. She hadn’t texted Charlie, or anyone, to say she’d arrived home. She snatched up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Well about bloody freaking time. Where the bloody hell have you been and why didn’t you call me?” Maddy’s voice filled her ear.

  Christine fell back against the pillows. “Hi Maddy, had a delay so I didn’t get home until a bit ago.”

  “Well bugger, what, cell phones and internet don’t work? You went down on some deserted island? I’ve been bloody worried about you, Christie. Fine thing to do to a mate, making me worry half sick.”

  “Stop, you did not.” Christine pulled her cell phone off the nightstand and texted Home and fine. Talk soon to Charlie and her children. “I needed a shower and sleep. I meant to call as soon as I got up.”

  “Well, you’re up now so tell me what’s going on.” Maddy demanded. “What sort of delay? It’s been like three days.”

  “No, it hasn’t. Oh wait, time differences and all, yes, I guess it has. I’m so sorry for worrying you.” Christine yawned. “Sorry, jet lag, getting adjusted back to east coast time and all. I’m still out of sorts.”

  “How’s Charlie?”

  “How did you find out the plane had engine problems and we had to land in Hawaii?” Christine bolted upright.

  “I’m a seer.” Maddy cleared her throat. “Story on the news actually. So, give me all the details. Sex god poet in bed too?”

  “Geez, I’m not even awake and you want to talk sex.” Christine thought of Charlie’s hands and mouth on her. “I did things I never thought I could, felt ways I didn’t believe my body could feel over and over. I became some wild woman.”

  Maddy whistled. “I get the picture. You got bloody adventurous, he wen
t along, and you liked it.”

  “Oh yeah.” Christine stretched and realized her muscles ached in delicious places. “He’s wonderful, fabulous, absolutely amazing and I think,” She burst into tears.

  Maddy let the storm rage and waited until Christine reduced to mere hiccups. “So you had great sex, but it was more than simple sex, and now you aren’t bloody sure what to do next.”

  “Damn, how did you nail exactly what I’m thinking?” Christine reached for a tissue then kept the box on her lap.

  “We’ve been friends a long while. You’re always aware when Mark’s a bloody wanker and ticking me off, always more in my mind than I am.” Maddy laughed softly. “What shook you most? The sex or realizing you want him in your life as more than a friend?”

  “It’s...it’s never been this way before.” Christine swallowed. “I married Randy, had his children, yet he never made me feel like this. I have no idea what the heck Charlie thinks now or even how he feels.”

  “How did you leave things?” Maddy sighed. “Wait. You’re this upset because, let me guess, you two didn’t exactly do much talking?”

  “Not really. I said thanks for everything and take care.” Christine sniffed and wiped her nose. “We didn’t talk about the future or meeting again.”

  “Well, bloody hell. What did you expect the man to say if y’all didn’t say anything more? Did you expect him on one knee, declaring undying love for all eternity?”

  “No. Yes. How the hell should I know? I haven’t done this before. I have no clue where I’m going or what to do.” Christine twisted the damp tissue around her finger. “And I didn’t think until after I got on the plane and left.”

  “You just enjoyed. He made you big O and all?”

  Christine shifted even though Maddy and she talked about anything. “Um, yes, God, yes. Lots.”

  Maddy laughed. “Oh, you got well and truly laid. Saved a horse and rode a cowboy laid. Well, rode a Hawaiian. Did you reverse cowgirl or something more erotic?”

  “Maddy!” Christine fanned herself with the tissue.

  “Hun, hate to be bloody crude, but I call a spade a spade. The mystery of what sex between the two of you would be like is no longer a mystery. You don’t know if it was all sex for sex’s sake or if you’re friends who happen to have great sex. Or if there’s more.”

  “Get out of my head.” Christine threw the tissue on the floor. “Why even ask if you already have the answers? And how do you have the answers?”

  Maddy’s voice became gentle, a rarity for her. “You’re not the one-night stand type of woman nor are you a causal sex type. You never have been, never will be. You’ve been with what, two men now? You were married to one, so of course you wonder what sex with the other meant.”

  “You were the one who urged me to take the chance and be a dare devil.” Christine shoved at her hair.

  “I told you, I’m a seer. Course, I don’t have to be psychic to see how you feel about him. Don’t you think Charlie is familiar enough with you to see you’d never have casual sex?”

  Christine shook her head though Maddy couldn’t possibly see. “It doesn’t feel real, more like I dreamed, landed in some fantasy or something, and then the next morning he became so distant like he couldn’t wait to get away from me.”

  “What makes you say that?” A tone of incredibility crept in her friend’s voice.

  “He kept glancing at the clock. Then right as I left, this gorgeous island goddess flung herself at him and he hugged her back. So he was probably trying to get rid of me so he could just move right on to the next woman in line.” Christine shredded a tissue.

  “You don’t really believe that.” Maddy scoffed her tone normal again. “Bloody call him.”

  “I can’t. I don’t have anything to say.” Christine tossed the covers aside and stood up. She would not be one of those crybaby types sobbing over a man. “Nothing to make a difference, anyway.”

  “You never had any bloody trouble talking to him before,” Maddy pointed out. “Just bloody call him and straighten everything out.”

  “I’m not sure I can straighten anything out.” Christine started to unpack. With the unexpected delay, she started work again tomorrow, had loads of laundry to do, things to put away. She stopped. Inside her suitcase was a lei. It smelled wonderful and instantly brought Hawaii, the balcony, and gorgeous sunset into her house. “Oh God, oh, Charlie put a lei in my suitcase as a surprise.”

  “Aw. He leied you.”

  Christine read the accompanying note and ignored her friend for the moment.

  The Journey begun, yet the Paths now divide

  You go your way and I go mine

  The Light still burns and glows for You

  And the door is always open.

  “Hello?” Maddy tapped on her phone receiver. “Are you still bloody there?”

  “Oh, hey, sorry, I got distracted.” She held the note to her face and smelled his scent. Oh, she wanted him, wanted to be with him so badly. “He wrote me a poem too.”

  “Of course he did. Read it.” After Christine complied, Maddy whistled. “You bloody wonder if it’s just sex when you get poems. Did it ever occur to you maybe he didn’t have a clue what to say either so he wrote it down?”

  “It would never be just sex for me. But maybe this is normal for Charlie.”

  “Sure, don’t listen to me and bloody muddle through all on your own lost bloody way. Mark’s out of bed, in the shower singing about love, sweet love and all this talk of sex has put me in a romantic mood.” Maddy gave a giggle. “Glad you’re back safe. Talk to you later.”

  “Later.” Christine hung up. Should she call him? She wandered to the kitchen, saw the flashing light on the answering machine and pressed play. After deleting calls from charities asking for money and routine calls from friends, she heard a surprise.

  “Hey Mom, it’s Adam. The owner of our apartment building sold to some developer who is tearing everything down to make condos. I have nine months left on my lease, so the developer said if I waited for the new places, I could have my pick, rent free, for a year. Course, I have to wait until they finish construction and it could take a while. So I need a place to live. So, um, want a roommate in about two or three months? I promise not to make you wash my clothes and cook my meals every day. Call me when you get back and let’s talk. Love you.”

  Interesting. Very interesting. Christine heard the clock strike. Adam would still be at work, but she’d call him later and they could discuss it. His old room had been converted to a guest suite, but there was no reason he couldn’t move in for a while and help with things.

  Christine wandered back to her room to gather dirty clothes and saw the lei. A six hour time difference between them, so it was early afternoon in Hawaii. She considered a second longer, heard Maddy say, “bloody muddle through all on your own” and grabbed her cell. As expected Christine reached Charlie’s voice mail, cleared her throat and tried to speak in her normal friendly tone. “Hi. I’m back. Hope we can talk later, maybe Skype or IM or whatever. Just, um, call or leave a message or something. Take care.”

  There, now he had the next move. Guess she’d find out if ‘seer’ Maddy truly nailed it. Christine sighed and began her chores.

  Chapter Seven

  Charlie stared at the figures on the papers and shook his head. “There’s no way she’s involved in something like this.” Mrs. Margaret Bensen, the corporate supervisor of accounting, raised a brow at him, her no-nonsense-I’m-correct-don’t-argue appearance. Famed for her skill with all things numbers, her professional record remained flawless. The CEO and Board considered her word and opinion solid gold. Margaret Bensen never made an error, but she had made one today.

  “The figures don’t match. Nor do the routing numbers.” She pointed at the papers he held. “There can be no other explanation.”

  Charlie shrugged to try to relieve the pressure on his shoulders. “I understand your position, but to suggest Christine Howell is invo
lved is ludicrous.”

  “I’m not suggesting.” Her tone steady, face impassive, she shrugged. “I’m stating as plainly as I’m able.”

  “There’s no way,” Charlie repeated. “I’ve worked with Christine over six years, nurtured her career, watched her bloom and become an integral part of this corporation. She’s not capable of this.” He’d known Margaret, Peg or Peggy to him, a long time and considered her a good friend. He would believe her word over anyone or anything, except in this. “There must be an error somewhere.”

  “If x amount of pineapples is purchased for y amount of money, the total should be z money paid,” Peg said for the fifth time. Charlie usually liked how she reverted to math equations to explain things, but not this time. “As you clearly see, the product shipped and paid for, yet the company invoice differs from your office invoice by over ten thousand dollars. There are duplicate invoices, one paid to your office and one to a separate account. X plus Y equals Z. Figures do not lie. In the last six months, the company has lost over nine hundred thousand dollars total. This isn’t chump change, even to our global corp.”

  “I realize it’s a huge amount of money any way you see it.” Charlie tossed the papers to his desk and leaned forward. “But, Peg, think about this. It’s too simple.”

  “This only points more toward Ms. Howell. Her signature and yours are the only signatures which appear on these false invoices and orders. It makes sense one of you is stealing profits from the corporation. If you say it’s not Ms. Howell.” Peg narrowed her thin lips, her implication clear. If Charlie stated Christine couldn’t do this, he pointed the finger directly at himself. “Is there anything you wish to tell me?”

  Charlie felt his anger rise and beat it down. If he lost his temper it would only make things worse and prove he or Christine had something to hide. Stay professional, stay detached, and stay focused. “Neither Ms. Howell nor I are capable of this. We’re loyal employees and have been for many years.”

  Peg sat back and waved a pen. “The corporation accounting department has a team assigned to this case and we’ll get to the bottom of it. When we do, the employee or employees responsible will be charged with grand theft, a felony in any state, and this corporation will prosecute to the full extent of the law.”