“A man is the last thing I need.”
Kianna turned and cast Allison a stern look. “I’m not talking marriage. I’m talking sex. A few mind-blowing orgasms and Neil will be a distant memory.”
“I’m not much for random hookups. I’m not even sure I can do that.”
“Have you looked at yourself? Any sane guy would be psyched to take you to bed.” Kianna turned on her heel and headed down the hall.
Allison wasn’t sure about that, but maybe it was time to do something nice for herself—book a bungalow on the beach and fall asleep in the sun with a good book. She fumbled for her phone and dialed the number for her aunt.
“Tell me you’re on the plane,” Angelique said when she answered.
Allison smiled. She couldn’t help it. She loved her entire family deeply. “Not yet.”
“But you’re coming?”
“As long as you have room for me.”
“I have one bungalow open, so we have room. It’s all yours. I hope it’s okay if I put you next to one of your brother’s friends, though. Zane Patterson?”
That name started a long-forgotten hum in Allison’s body. Zane was the guy Allison had crushed on for every waking minute of her adolescence. “He’s not coming with Scott, is he?”
“Oh, no. By himself. Just for a few days. He gets here tomorrow.”
Allison’s heart was jackhammering in her chest. Visions of unbelievably sexy Zane rushed into her consciousness—thick dark hair with a hint of curl, piercing blue eyes that made her melt and a long, lean body she’d wanted to touch forever. She had a good dozen or so Zane fantasies she’d concocted over the years. Why had she never thought up the one where they both ended up on a secluded Bahamian island at the same time? “Oh. Funny. I was thinking I’d fly in tomorrow, too.”
“Do you know him?”
“I do. He’s a great guy. It’s always nice to see him.” Allison couldn’t ignore the way her voice had suddenly pitched to a higher octave. “Nice to see him” didn’t begin to cover it.
But there’d always been a massive obstacle with Zane—Scott. The only time she’d had any real physical contact with Zane was three weeks ago, when they were at her brother’s house for his birthday dinner. This was right after Allison had first found out Neil was cheating. Feeling hurt, reckless and pleasantly tipsy, she’d spent most of the evening testing the waters of flirtation with Zane. She knocked her knee into his under the table, brushed his hand with her fingertips when reaching for the butter and made a point of making eye contact when she laughed at his jokes. There was a palpable connection between them, a very real spark, and she could only play with fire for so long before jumping in headfirst. So as soon as Scott and his wife left the table to put their kids to bed, Allison had grabbed her chance. She gripped Zane’s muscled forearm, leaned in and kissed him. For a blissful instant, Zane was into it.
So into it.
He’d cupped her jaw with his hand like he was drinking her in. The years of wanting him day after day had been building for that moment, and she was overwhelmed by a deluge of heat and a rush of something she hadn’t experienced in too long—pure hope. She arched into him, and he followed her cue, wrapping his arm around her and pressing his chest against hers. It was really happening, and her mind had leaped ahead to what came next...a quick escape, a race back to his place, clothes coming off before they were even inside, lips and hands exploring the landscape of each other’s bodies until they were both exhausted. It was going to happen. Finally.
Then he froze. And everything else became a blur. He pushed her away, ashamed to look her in the eye. He blurted something about betraying Scott. He said he was sorry. He shook his head and muttered that it had been a mistake. He pushed back from the table and rushed out the door, leaving Allison shell-shocked. How could she have been so close and have it all taken away? It felt like a cruel joke life was playing on her. It hurt like hell.
For weeks, that painful scene played in her head. But once she got beyond the hurt, she realized that the real problem had been Scott. If they’d been truly alone that night, her fantasies would’ve come true. She and Zane would’ve been naked and sweaty in no time.
But hopefully, Zane wouldn’t be so worried about her hyperprotective brother if he was a thousand miles away. With close proximity to Zane and some privacy, she could finally go for what she’d always wanted—a night of pure abandon with Zane. She knew better than to hope for more than that. He was the ultimate ladies’ man, and she was okay with that. He was who he was, and she still wanted him more than any man she’d ever laid eyes on. If she played her cards right, she’d at least get to fulfill this fantasy, even if it was only a onetime thing.
“Do you want me to tell him you’re coming?”
If Allison had been talking to Kianna, she might have made a joke about orgasms, but that was not appropriate with her aunt. “No. Don’t. I’ll surprise him.”
“I’m so happy you’re coming to stay, Alli. It’s been too long.”
“I’m excited to spend some time unwinding.”
“Text me your flight details. I’ll have someone pick you up at the marina.”
“Sounds perfect. See you tomorrow.”
Allison gathered her things, closed up her office, said goodbye to Kianna and hurried out to the parking lot, feeling a new purpose in every step. She hopped into her Mercedes, cranked the stereo and headed toward her new apartment, where the guys from Hunks with Trucks would soon be waiting to move her into her new place. She wasn’t even going to bother to unpack. She was going to let them in to do their work while she turned around to go shopping for a hat, a sarong and the skimpiest bikini she could find. Then she was going to get a good night’s beauty sleep and get her butt on a plane tomorrow morning.
Next stop, paradise. Next stop, Zane.
Copyright © 2020 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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Special thanks and acknowledgment are given
to Maureen Child for her contribution to the
Texas Cattleman’s Club: Rags to Riches miniseries.
ISBN: 9781488062926
The Price of Passion
Copyright © 2020 by Harlequin Books S.A.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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The Price of Passion Page 17