by Yvette Hines
“What’s next? Gluten-free truffles?” Trenton mocked.
“If requested.” Jolie didn’t miss a beat as she exited the bath area and went into the bedroom.
When both he and Stiles were inside the master suite, she showed them the cabinet with the flat-screen television and a shelf stocked full of adult videos of all different fetishes.
“Sorry the television is not connected to satellite. It’s only for movie watching.”
“That’s fine for Celeste and me.” Stiles wandered over to the cabinet and scanned the selections.
Trenton wondered if Jolie enjoyed pornographic movies or if she just stocked them for her guests.
As she went on about the various oils, lubes and condoms the nightstand was filled with in a steady, matter-of-fact tone, Trenton surmised that she repeated her spiel so often it was easy for her to separate the words from their actual meaning.
Who says the word porn and lubricant and doesn’t get a little flustered, especially in mixed company. Especially a woman.
The desire to see her a little off center from her ultra-efficient proprietor persona gnawed at Trenton. As the late afternoon sun poured in the window, it glinted off the golden charms of her necklace.
He stepped closer to her, so that he would not have to yell across the room. “That is some necklace you are wearing. Very unique.”
Lifting her hand, she stroked her fingers across the smooth surface. “A past guest made it for me. He and his wife were one of my first customers. It was their fiftieth-seventh wedding anniversary. They spend their free time making ceramics. Somehow they fashioned me a chocolate chocker and figured out a way to glazed it.” She fingered the key and heart.
Trenton’s hand itched to see if the thin, custom-made piece was cold like most ceramic objects or if it absorbed the warmth from her skin.
She smiled and her eyes sparkled in the sunlight. The golden brown color of her irises drew him in, captivated him and made him forget himself.
“What can I say? I’m a slave to chocolate.”
“Want a master?”
Several things happened at the same time. Jolie’s eyes stretched wide, her pupils constricted, her breathing increased and her hand stilled. Trenton’s heart began to race and his gut tightened. Stiles phone rang.
“Excuse me. I have to take this.” Stiles pressed a button and headed toward the living room as he placed the cell to his ear. His brother’s absence left him alone with the one person his mind realized he shouldn’t be alone with and the one person his gut wanted solitude with.
The thought of retracting the words never entered Trenton’s mind.
“What, Mr. Rayner?” the words came out breathy and alluring.
Reaching out, Trenton took hold of her arms, he needed to touch her. “Look, Jolie, for some reason I am having a full-on amatory attraction and desire for you as I have never had for another woman.”
“I don’t see how that’s my problem.” She licked her lips.
His hands contracted on her arms; he was close to leaning in and kissing her, ready to taste the glittery, gold-rush tinted lip gloss and her to see if it made him rich with lust.
He could feel the gentle tremors coursing through her body, her professional veneer gone.
“I know you feel it too.”
When her lips parted, he stopped her. “Don’t deny it. I haven’t made it to thirty-six not knowing when a woman is sexually attracted to me.”
She placed her palms against his chest and pushed. However, he held fast, not willing to budge until they had come to an agreement.
“I don’t know what kind of women you’re used to, Mr.—”
“Trenton, damn it. My name is Trenton.”
“Well, Trenton, as I was saying—”
“You don’t have to say it again, I’ll tell you.” He dragged her body against his. “The kind of women I am used to aren’t only beautiful, but completely aware of their sexuality and enjoys pleasures of the flesh.” He lowered his voice and pressed his lips to the shell of her ear. “Are you going to try and convince me, Jolie, while I’m getting drunk off this chocolate haven of yours that you don’t enjoy sexual pleasure?”
A muffled moan came from her. “Trenton. We see things of sensual world in two different lights.”
It didn’t escape him she didn’t deny his words. He buried his nose below her jawline and inhaled, delighted to discover that she smelled of honeyed oranges instead of chocolate. Her scent seemed to balance him, a balm to his soul. His mind would not allow his heart to digest that thought any further, he just needed to have sex with her and get her out of his system. Nothing more.
“Teach me. Show me, Jolie.” He lifted his head and stared at her.
“How?” Her pink tongue darted out again, this time brushing her upper lip.
“If you want me to believe all this heart, roses and chocolate romance then let me in. Make a believer out of me.”
Her eyes shifted from left to right as if she were searching his soul through his eyes, looking for some kind of answer. The urge to look away and hide himself blindsided him, but he didn’t overt his gaze.
“Okay. But it will have to be here and I get to plan the evening.” She lifted her chin. “I’ve never been a spread ’em-up-against-the-wall, thank-you-ma’am kind of woman and I won’t start now.”
His cock twitched with the image she painted and he knew that if she wanted a quick pounding against anything his dick was up for it, literally. However, in his gut he knew that wouldn’t be enough. He’d need hours to fulfill his lust for her. Hopefully that would purge her from his mind.
“No problem. Just remember one thing.”
“What’s that?” Her fingers flexed against his chest.
“It’s one night. Nothing more.”
A shadow clouded her eyes, but she nodded.
Allowing one side of his mouth to hitch up in a pseudo smile, he said, “Then let us seal this with a kiss—”
“Sorry about that.” Stiles breezed back into the room. “We’re in the middle of an acquisitions deal.”
Jolie pushed away from him and moved toward Stiles, running her hands along her thighs. “Have you seen everything you need to, Stiles?” Her voice was elevated, almost too loud. “Any questions?”
Trenton turned and saw his brother lifting a single eyebrow high on his forehead as he pinned him with a questioning look, but responded to Jolie. “I’m good. I’ve seen all I need to.”
“Okay, then,” she rushed on. “Let’s head back to the main house and we can sign the contract and handle the reservation and deposit.” She was out of the bedroom as if someone had just announced that lightening was about to strike the bungalow.
Stiles turned to leave next, but not before Trenton noted the smile playing at the corners of his brother’s mouth. He was positive Stiles had seen him a breath away from kissing Jolie. There was no telling what fanciful sentiments his brother had going through his mind.
But Trenton wasn’t going to ask. This situation was between him and Jolie and they were two adults who had agreed to a night of mutual lust fulfillment, nothing else, just as he’d told her. One night. He’d get his fill and walk away just as easily as he did with all the other women who had come before her and would come after.
Chapter 2
“I have to have lost my damn mind.” Jolie stared down at the card in her hand. Trenton’s business card. “Ring me up,” he’d said as he got up from the chair across from her desk as she finished the contract with his brother.
What had possessed her to even consider giving into the arrogant man? It had to be his British accent. She’d always been a sucker for a man with European inflections in his voice—too much late-night BBC television when she was in college. Flicking her nail along the edge of the card, she debated whether or not to go through with it. Her body screamed yes.
It had been a while since she’d had sex. Two years to be exact. Her uncle Johnny, her grandmother’s brother, ha
d owned this property and when he passed away he’d willed it to her. He’d always told her she was his favorite niece, but she always thought he told her and her siblings the same thing. Evidently not, he gave her his business and a substantially amount of money to transform it to something she wanted. Ranyer and Meriwether Property Firm still owned the land, but the business and homes were hers. As long as it continued to turn a profit, there would be no reason for them to claim the property back.
All of her time she’d put into the business, first redesigning it then promoting and running it over the last year. She deserved a little fun. Pleasure. That’s exactly what Trenton’s body promised. He wasn’t only tall, but had broad shoulders a woman could curl up against or hold on to. She hadn’t missed the hard, sculpted muscles of his chest. She’d pressed her hands against a warm concrete wall. The urge to slide her hands down and feel if his abs were just a taut had caused a shiver to race through her core. Her heels had allowed her to stare into dark hazel eyes that were a sea green with a brown ring around the outer edge.
Thick, manly brows the same ebony as his hair that was tapered in the back but longer in the front. Not that he allowed it to fall forward, some kind of hair product kept it slicked back and made it look wet as if he’d just climbed out of the shower. Hmm, she moaned at the thought of seeing him naked and wet.
Using the small card to fan herself, she squirmed in her seat. Since he’d come into her house and met her gaze, making her feel as if the wind had been knocked from her lungs she’d been feeling overheated. She’d chided herself on the decision to wear a sweater dress and tights. She’d been thankful when they left the house and walked out in the cool February air. There was no wind out today so the North Carolina air was crisp, chilly but not cold. However, she wouldn’t have minded a few snowflakes deciding to fall from the sky and dropping down the collar of her dress.
That was the reason why she’d agreed to this one night of lovin’. She had to prove to herself that it was just lust. Nothing more. Even though no other man had turned her inside out just by looking at her. Trenton Rayner did.
Her heart reminded her that she was a romantic. A believer of soul mates and midnight moonlight walks holding hands with the man she loved. She wanted all the things she’d sung about as a child. “Jolie and some man sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g”, love marriage and the baby carriage. But Trenton Rayner was not that guy, so why risk it, her heart warned.
Stiles, the blond one, thought and believed just like she did. She could see it in everything he selected for him and his wife’s anniversary weekend next month. However, Trenton was the opposite. She’d caught the many times he’d rolled his eyes or grunted at the different services offered. How could two men with the same father be so different? She could tell there was a deep history and story behind them. There was no mistaking that Stiles was an All-American boy just as easily as it was to see by Trenton’s accent and reserved manner he was all European male.
Staring at the rectangle cardstock paper in her hand, she surmised that he was not the big picture she wanted but he was definitely the extraordinary frame that sat empty on the shelf awaiting the picture. Pretty to admire and hope for something more.
Could I give myself to Trenton and simply walk away?
“Yes.” He would be a memory for her to hold on to until Mr. Permanent showed up.
She set the card down and reached for the phone to make the call.
“I’m back, Jolie. I picked you up some Florentine ravioli from the Italian spot you like beside the mall.” Tasha walked into the room.
Jolie set the office phone back in the cradle. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
Smiling as she pulled the small aluminum bowl out of the bag and set it on the desk, Tasha said, “It was no problem, I had to swing by there and check on Ricky and my reservations for Tuesday.” She followed up her words with a little happy dance, a wiggle shaking type movement.
Laughing, Jolie stared at the tall white girl with her long red hair. Tasha and her husband had been married for eleven years and they had three boys. Her assistant often said any time she and her husband had away from the rambunctious trio was worth a dance or two.
“I still say you two should have let me book one of the houses for you for a couple days.”
“No need. You know I’m trying to lose ten more pounds, I’d be eating more of the chocolate than I put on Ricky’s body.”
Tasha always talked about losing weight over the last year and a half she had worked with her. Even though her assistant was a little thick she carried it well. Besides, Tasha’s husband seemed to enjoy every one of her curves. To Jolie that was all that mattered.
“Ha-ha, so true. It is very tempting. However, you know we have several products that only have an essence of chocolate so there would be no calories in those.”
Tasha frowned. “What’s the fun in that?”
Shaking her head, Jolie allowed the scent of the cream sauce, spinach and tomatoes to relax her. The decision regarding Trenton was still playing in the back of her mind and had her coiled inside tighter than a cobra.
“How did the appointment go? Did Mr. Rayner complete his reservation?” Tasha folded the now empty carry-out bag.
“He did. Matter fact he went with the ultra deluxe lovers’ packet,” Jolie informed her as she pushed the open folder with the signed contract across the desk so Tasha could see it.
“Oh, man, the spa treatment and the catered champagne dinner. Hot damn! Lucky lady.”
“I know, right.” Jolie pulled the folder back and rose from the desk. “I’m going to take this to the kitchen and bury my face in it. Can you call and check that the florist will have the flowers delivered Sunday for next week. Also contact Renault at Amoureux au Palais and place the order for the Rayners? Their dates in March are annotated in the folder. They would like the meal on Sunday night.”
Rounding the desk Tasha took up the place she’d occupied. “Will do, boss lady.”
Jolie headed out of the reservation room knowing the booking was in good hands. Tasha was just as efficient as she was lively. They had become good friends as well as co-workers.
“Um, Jolie, does this business card go with folder?” Tasha called out.
Jolie’s heart stopped along with her feet. Damn it. Turning she hustled back to the desk. She could see the confusion evident on Tasha’s face as she looked from the name on the card to the name on the folder. Jolie knew they wouldn’t match, except for the last name.
“Sorry, that’s mine.” Jolie reached across the desk for the card.
Her assistant, a quick study said, “Another Rayner? Is he related to the guest?”
Rubbing the side of her neck, Jolie waffled, “Um, yeah, he is. His brother.”
A wide smile broke out on Tasha’s face. “Awesome. He planning to book a stay too?”
“No, no… This is not really his thing.” Jolie could feel the heat creeping up her neck. “It’s for something else.”
“Oh. What does he do?” Tasha sat there expectantly.
Damn. Jolie wished he was a construction worker. This would have been a lot easier. She could’ve than simply said he was going to do some work around the property. Glancing at the card it said “Corporate Head Hunter”. She only had a vague understand of what that entailed. “Business stuff. We were chatting about things. Kind of the business. Not really. He came with his brother. Stiles Rayner is his brother.” Duh, her mind screamed. She was talking in circles but couldn’t figure out what to say, besides the truth.
Tasha was still sitting with her hands folded, clear evidence she wasn’t understand a thing Jolie was babbling about.
Jolie sighed. “Actually, Tasha we sort of talked about maybe…a date.” Honesty was the best policy. Sort of. There was no way she was going to confess to arranging a one night stand.
“Oh, that’s great.” Tasha’s face brightened again. “I tell you all the time you need to get away from this place more an
d see about your non-existent love life.”
“I don’t know. This isn’t that serious. It probably won’t even amount to anything. We see the world from two different sides of the coin.” Jolie shrugged. For that reason alone she probably should just stay away from Trenton.
“Well when it comes to love it’s worth a try. I met Ricky on a blind date, look at us now.”
Love? Yeah right.
“Maybe.” Jolie backed out of the room. “I’m going to go eat this food while it’s hot.” Turning, she headed to the back of the house where the kitchen was before Tasha could stop her.
****
“Spill it, Stiles.” Trenton cruised down the back roads headed toward the interstate that would take them back to City Center. His brother had been relatively quiet since they left from the lover’s resort.
“You’re a grown man, Trenton. Far be it for me to put my two cents into a bank it doesn’t belong.”
Trenton glanced at his brother for a moment then back at the road. “I know you saw Jolie in my arms and I could tell that you have been itching to say something. Even now I can practically hear the wheels in your head turning.”
“Fine.” Stiles hands lifted then dropped. “You’re a love ’em and leave ’em type of guy.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
Stiles’ exhale was loud, filling the car. “I know you’re interested in Jolie. Hell, what man wouldn’t be? She’s hot as well.”
“Your point?” His brother could be downright long-winded at times.
“I don’t think she’s the kind of woman you can toy with and toss to the side. I don’t know her accept what the reports say about her business and meeting her now. However, I’d hate to see her get hurt.”
“Duly noted. However, Jolie is just as much an adult as I am. You know I don’t mislead women.” Shit. Trenton could feel himself getting agitated. The last thing he needed was his brother playing conscience for him. “Look, I left the ball in her court. No pressure. If she calls she’ll know what she’s getting into.”
“So, if she decides to get in the tank with a shark she better prepare to be eaten?”