“I see.”
“No, you don’t, not yet, I think. Let me get to my other point.” He took her hand. “But after that night, I did keep thinking about you, and that kiss. I couldn’t get you out of my mind. So I asked Raj to reach out to you about the Hawaii job.”
“Wait, I don’t understand. Did you not hire me because of my photography skills?”
“Of course we hired you because of your skills. But I wanted to see you again, just to see if there was any spark at all, the spark I’d remembered. I needed to see. I kept thinking about you.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say.
“And then when we still had that passion, I mean, we both felt it immediately.”
She nodded.
“And we talked. And when I looked into your eyes. Suddenly it was about you, and not you as a random person, but as you. Harper.”
“What are you saying, Zach?”
“I’m saying that I know you think I’m a womanizing asshole, and I may have been that in the past. But the man sitting next to you right now, the person I am right this minute, I’m not that guy. I’m someone who wants to try something real with you.” His voice was earnest. “This week with you has been—I mean, I don’t want to sound weird, but it’s been a highlight of my life.”
She felt tears in her eyes. “Zach, I feel that way, too.”
His eyes lit up. “You do?”
She nodded. “I had a crush on you since I met you in San Diego, and I tried to forget about you. But when we met again in your office in Chicago, I—the attraction was so powerful. And then when we spent all that time talking, I really liked you. As a person, too. And that’s why I was so reluctant to spend the night with you, because I thought I’d fall really hard, now that I actually liked you as a person, too. It would be that much harder to leave.”
“Ah, Harper, I like you as a person, too. And I like having sex with you.”
“The sex part is pretty phenomenal.” She grabbed his hand. “So does that mean, like, are we…”
“Together. We’re together. Just us. You and me. Okay?”
“Okay.” She smiled up at him. “Okay.”
The plane lurched just a bit, and he put his hands on her face. “Not to worry. I slipped the pilot a few bills and asked him to make it bumpy so you’d want to kiss me again.”
She laughed. “I like the way you think.”
And as he drew her in for a kiss, his warm mouth a reward and a promise, she knew that this wasn’t the end of a journey, but the beginning of something even better.
EPILOGUE
“So you had a good trip?” Talia slid her purse onto the booth beside her and put down her drink.
“The best. Here’s a scorpion lollipop for you, and a tiny easel with a tiny painting.” Harper rustled around in her bag and pulled out the items. “Compliments of me, from Phoenix. The easel is probably made in China, but I bought it in Phoenix, so it counts. The lollipop, likewise, although that came from a special candy factory in California, originally.”
Talia examined the items. “You are nothing if not generous.”
“I am that.”
“So you came back with poison and toys and a boyfriend. Go, you.” Talia sounded enthusiastic. “I knew you wanted to fuck him.”
“Oh, stop. Yes, I did. But it’s not just about that.”
“I know. It’s just hard to believe. A week ago, you were single. Now you have someone.”
“Yeah, I do.” Harper smiled. “I do.”
“So it’s okay that I’m at your work happy hour?” Talia flipped her hair. “Do I have lipstick on my teeth?”
“Of course! I mean, no lipstick. And yes, okay that you’re here. It’s not like we’re going to talk business. And I’m sick of hearing you whine about Josh this and Josh’s dick that. Put your money where your mouth is and all that.”
“Haha, you’re really funny.” But Talia had an undeniable look of excitement on her face. “Did you bring him something, too?”
“Yeah, a picture of you in a bikini. Kidding. He gets a scorpion lollipop, too. And if he gets drunk enough tonight, he’ll probably eat it, so get ready for some excitement.”
“Okay. I’m just going to do a quick trip to the restroom.”
“See? It is restroom. I knew it.”
“Uh, where else should I pee? The lobby?” Talia rolled her eyes.
“No, it’s just something this awful date said. He called it bathroom, and at the time, I was all, why don’t you just tell me you’re going to pee-pee in the potty?” She laughed. “It was just off. But everything about that date was off. He could have spit diamonds out of his mouth and I would have hated them.”
“Hold that thought. Save my seat.” Talia got up and clicked her way to the back corridor.
“Hey.”
She looked up into Zach’s face. “Hi!” She flushed and started to stand, but he slid in beside her and kissed her on the mouth. “You’re here.”
“I missed you today,” he whispered in her ear. “I thought about you all day long.”
“Oh, did you?” Instant arousal surged. She glanced around, then put a hand on his thigh. “We should try to leave early.”
“I intend to. I think—oh, hey, Josh.” He nodded at his friend.
Josh greeted them with hugs. “Hey. Welcome back, Harper. Saw the pics—great job on the desert. Sorry you had to miss paradise, though. It really was hotter in Hawaii. We missed you on the ocean, and at the luau, and on the diving trip, and seeing the gorgeous scenery.”
“Brag all you want. I had a great time.” She flushed as Zach put his arm around her.
Josh raised his eyebrows. “I see how it is. Okay. Hey, I brought you a keychain.” He fished it out of his pocket, passed it across the table top.
“Mine’s better. See?” She passed over the scorpion.
“Suh-weet!” Josh unwrapped the plastic immediately. “Mmm, banana. I love it. I’m going to use it to stir my drink and startle people.” He laughed, then asked with nonchalance, “So, hey, I heard that you invited your friend to join us. The one who came to the holiday party?” A ruddy flush arose along his jawline. “She seemed kind of cool, and stuff.”
“I’m not sure who you mean?” Harper held back a laugh and quirked her brow at Josh.
“Oh. You don’t? I thought you’d remember. She did the thing, with the copier, and her, ah…” Josh gestured as if holding up two breasts and showing them off. “Uh, cleavage. She was kind of interesting. Is she bringing her boyfriend?”
Behind them, Talia made a sort of squeak. “Hi.” Her face was red.
“Oh! Hello.” Josh stood up and set the candy down on the table, wiping his hands on his jeans. He stuck out one hand. “Good to see you. I’m Josh! I was just saying to Harper how it might be nice if you… came.”
“I heard you.” Talia bit her lip. “And I’m here. And I remember your name. Yes. No boyfriend, actually.”
“Great! I mean, I’m glad you’re here. Sit down! If you want to.” Josh gestured. “Okay. Good. Do you want a drink?”
“I have one.”
“Okay. Cool!”
“Yup. Cool.”
Harper slid her phone out of her purse and texted Zach. “Want to make a bet? Do you think they hook up tonight or wait until tomorrow?”
Zach checked his text and made a chuckle. The reply pinged. “Who says they wait until tonight? With a meeting that awkward, it’s obvious they’re going at it in the bathroom in about ten minutes.”
“Oh, right. I forgot the whole fuck your way out of an awkward first date thing.”
“Are you two sexting right here in front of us? My eyes!” Talia made a dramatic gesture to shield her face with her arm. “Please. My delicate constitution cannot handle such filth.”
“Oh, really, says the woman who once read a poem that featured the word ‘fuck’ fifty seven times to a full audience at the Woodbine Nursing Home when we were in high school? Please.” Harper gave her friend
a fake slap on the arm. “Don’t even.”
“They liked that poem. They’re old, not dead. Not completely lacking in hormones. I once read a study that says there is a lot of sex happening in nursing homes. A lot.” Talia nodded. “And you know what? I say, go for it, old people. You go for it. You go on grabbing at the pleasures of life as long as you can, in between shitty aides and prune surprise and failing joints and memories. Why give up until the last possible minute?”
“I hear you.” Harper nodded. “Really.”
“Josh, what do you think about sex in nursing homes?” Talia asked.
“Uh, I agree with you. Have at it, seniors.” Josh, although possibly surprised at the topic, entered the situation gamely. “Just use a condom and all. The last thing you need at eighty-five is an STD.”
“I wonder if there is a company that makes super-easy-open condoms with large-print instructions for the older hands and eyes?” Talia asked.
“You mean older dicks?” Josh warmed to the topic.
“Yes, but you can’t use it if you can’t open it. Maybe there’s a prominent tear strip and a ‘Rip Here!!!’ logo. A big arrow. They can stock them in all the rooms. If there isn’t such a thing, we should invent it. Want to start a business?” She nudged her shoulder into Josh’s.
“Okay, but first, want to dance?” He gestured at the floor, where a few couples swayed to the music. “Love this song.”
“Sure.” Talia turned pink again. “Harper, watch my purse?”
“Sure.”
As Talia and Josh melted together on the dance floor, chattering rapidly, his hands sure on her back, Harper leaned into Zach and whispered, “I think you might be right about the bathroom situation.”
“Hmm, I knew I was going to win that bet. Of course, as winner, I get to have you be my sex slave all night tonight.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to that!” But when he leaned down and kissed her neck in the spot she loved, and sidled his hand up her thigh, she murmured, “But I might be convinced, if you keep doing that.”
“I’m going to tie you up and tease you,” he promised her. “And make you beg me again. I love it when you beg.”
“I love it when you do the thing I begged for.”
“Let’s leave now.” Zach stood up and took some bills from his wallet, tucked them under a glass. “I don’t care about happy hour. Okay?” When she nodded, he added, “Drop off Talia’s purse on the way, because I’m taking you home to fuck you.”
“I am down with that plan.” Harper hurried up to her friend and slung the purse over her arm. “Special delivery, baby,” she crooned. “Zach and I are taking off. You two have a good evening now.” She smiled.
“Okay. Bye,” Talia said, looking at Harper for the tiniest second before turning her gaze back to Josh.
Zach took her hand on the way to his car. “Did I tell you how sexy you look in that little skirt, and how when I see you wearing it, all I can think about is your ass?”
“You didn’t, but I’m glad you like.”
She wiggled her ass and he grabbed it and growled. “God, you drive me crazy.”
“You, too.” She slapped his ass through his jeans.
He laughed. “Oh, you want to play like that, really? Okay. I can do that for you.” He stopped and grabbed her and smacked her ass.
She squealed. “Zach! People can see.”
“Oh, right. I forgot you’re not into the club scene. I guess we did cover that already. Well, it just means an extra spank for you in private then, for teasing me.”
Her heart flipped. “I hope so.”
He pushed her up against the car, his chest warm and firm, pressing into her breasts. “Harper, I really, really fucking like you.”
She smiled, touched. “I really, really fucking like you, too.”
He touched her cheek, searched her eyes. “Are you… good with this? What we have?”
She nodded. “I am. More than good.”
“And you trust that I’m not going to take off with any random girl I happen to talk to, or flirt with?”
“I do trust that. Although,” she pointed out, “I haven’t seen you flirt with any random girls lately.”
“That’s because you’re the only one I want,” he whispered into the skin of her neck. “The only one I want to touch, Harper.” He ran his hand over her breast. “The only one I want to kiss.” He brushed his lips over hers. “The only one I want to lie in bed and talk to about things like fractals, or llamas, or eye contact. Just you.”
“How did this happen so fast?” she wondered, although she didn’t doubt what they had.
He smiled. “I don’t know. But I’m glad it did.”
“Should we be grateful to the turbulence on that first flight, or the flapless landing?” That was so long ago, a million years ago, the memory already dusty and vintage in her mind. Something from the 1970s, in a museum. But Zach was real, standing in front of her, eyes glittering with passion, full of more lights than the entire room of the Fireflies exhibit.
“I don’t know. How do you know when it started? Maybe we should be grateful I read that study on eye contact, which I only read because one of my, ahem, short-term relationships was a professor in that field and left the journal in the hotel one time.” He laughed.
“Maybe we need to thank my endless need to take photographs, or you would never have gotten frustrated with me and commented on my inability to put down the camera, and we never would have made that bet.”
“I did only make the bet because I wanted to have sex with you.”
“Me, too.”
“Maybe we need to be grateful to Harold the llama.”
“Or the entire country of Japan.”
He cupped her face in one hand. “When I’m with you, I feel like I’m grateful for all of it, you know?”
She nodded. “I do know. Me, too.”
And when he leaned in to kiss her, his mouth full of passion and his eyes full of tenderness, it was clear that although the word love hadn’t been used once, that whatever they had, this thing between them, was powerful enough to last an entire lifetime.
DEAR READERS,
Thanks so much for reading my story about Harper and Zach! I hope you enjoyed their conversations and antics together in Phoenix, Arizona. I love writing romance with interesting people who overcome obstacles to find their HEA. I promise you that Harper and Zach will go on to have many more adventures together for the rest of their lives.
I set this book in Phoenix because I live in Arizona, and I wanted to share some of the beauty that I get to enjoy on a regular basis. The plants and creatures who live here are fantastic, and the city is full of culture and art.
Some people have asked me which things mentioned in the book are real places, and which ones are fictional. Sadly, Elle and her llama shop are a complete fiction, as is the Las Posadas Resort and the feed store. The band called Three Ugly Guys is fictional, but you can read all about them in books by my friend, author Kacey Shea. Check out her novel Detour (An Off Track Records Novel) for a sexy, spicy rock band story.
I’ve included information about some of the amazing real places around Phoenix; it’s coming in a few pages. I hope you come visit someday.
In the meantime, if you want more of my books, I write contemporary romance and steamy kink, always featuring a strong heroine who gets her HEA. My most recent novel, A Handful of Fire, is a sexy, poetic novel that has received many five-star reviews. I’d love to share it with you!
Please reach out—I love to hear from readers. I hang out with my two sisters, who are also romance authors, on our Facebook page, and I’m on Facebook a lot. More than I should be, probably… but it’s a great place to find me for some laughs and fun times. I like to joke around with my friends and be silly, and I really enjoy meeting readers and authors and hot cover models.
Thanks again for reading my book!
XOXO, Alexis
CONNECT WITH ALEXIS
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexis Alvarez is an author, photographer, and digital designer who loves writing steamy romances. Her female heroines are always strong, intelligent women who fall for the sexiest guy around... and get the happy-ever-after ending of their dreams.
Alexis is a wife and mom, a former chemical engineer, a dachshund whisperer—wait, that’s a lie. The dachshund usually does the exact opposite of what he’s told.
Do you like contemporary romance with steam and humor? Darker BDSM/erotica novels with fascinating psychological insights? Alexis has you covered. She writes in both genres.
You can usually find Alexis hanging out with her family or her sisters, who are also romance writers, at their website, Graffiti Fiction. The three of them love to drink wine together and laugh like hyenas while making dirty jokes and really inappropriate comments. Their mom is very proud.
One really cool thing about Alexis is that she’s a friendly author who loves meeting new people on Facebook. Please come on by and say hello. Thanks, and happy reading!
PHOENIX LOCATIONS & COOL THINGS
Barrio Café
Barrio Café is real! Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza, who is considered one of the best Mexican chefs in the country, has won multiple awards and was featured on the Food Network. She’s a member of the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame. The graffiti-style modern art murals outside and around her restaurant are magnificent and are often included on city photography tours. The paella is exquisite, and the rest of the menu is also delicious—everything in her restaurant is fabulous! Chef Silvana is dedicated to her community, and is known not just for her food, but for her fiery passion for civil rights. If you visit Phoenix, this restaurant is a must-visit for sure.
Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads Page 246