Well, I can help you out a bit. She smiled mischievously. As part of your fantasy, and Alexiss, I can give you complete access to her whereabouts at all times, day or night. A phone call to Stewart at the concierge desk will provide you with details and information on Alexis so you can keep track of her. However, if I see that she isnt interested, the privileged information will discontinue.
Fair enough. Jackson realized that Merrilee was attempting to act as matchmaker and trusted him with Alexis. He did his best to ignore the tightening in his gut and the little voice in his head making him question what he was going to do. For starters, can I have her room number?
Room 305, in the main hotel, she supplied easily, then pressed her soft hand to his arm. I hope shes the one who makes up for all those other women in your life.
Jackson forced a smile and held back the comment, shes going to be added to the growing list. Merrilee moved on to mingle with other guests, granting Jackson a reprieve. Tossing a tip for the bartender onto the counter, he left the Players Lounge and followed the path toward the hotel to seek out Alexiss room for future reference.
He shook his head as the days events filtered through his mind. His first evening on the island certainly hadnt turned out as hed expected. Then again, if he was honest with himself, Alexis Baylor wasnt what hed anticipated, either. Not at all.
The pictures Mike had taken of her had accurately depicted her physical attributes. What those candid snapshots hadnt captured was just how soft and lush her mouth looked, how smooth and luminous her skin appeared, or how expressive her blue eyes were. Despite her plain, reserved packaging, she possessed the potential to transform herself into a sensual beauty, but obviously wasnt aware of her appeal. He found that realization amazing, especially when he was accustomed to women using their looks to their advantage.
In the flesh, Jackson had discovered that this particular woman was a paradox. The fascinating bits of vulnerability and softness shed displayed on the seaplane had clashed with the image of the ruthless businesswoman hed conjured in his mind. Shed been far more demure and reserved than hed visualized, and he was finding it difficult to mesh the two individual, contradictory impressions.
With a disgusted grunt at his own gullibility, he reminded himself that this woman had cheated him and his company. Regardless of her modesty when it came to men, she definitely took an aggressive approach in business.
An approach he fully intended to emulate for the next week. A gradual buildup of flattery and romance to something far more assertive, persuasive and single-mindeda combination most women found difficult to withstand. And Merrilee had offered him the perfect opportunity to make Alexis the center of his attention. Hed initially take the chase slow and easy. Tease her. Tempt her. Then ultimately seduce her.
Judging by the attraction that had sparked between them in the seaplane, he had a strong feeling that Alexis Baylor wouldnt be able to resist him. Pursuing her, and delving past all that reserve, wouldnt be difficult for him, either. Not when she intrigued him, aroused him even, with her contradictions.
Jamming his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, Jackson followed the pathway through an elaborate garden of exotic plants and flowers flanking the courtyard designed between two separate wings of the hotel. There were benches situated along the trail and pillars entwined with night-blooming jasmine, scenting the air with a drugging, seductive perfume. His steps slowed and he glanced up at the four stories of suites looming in front of him, counting three up and five across, pinpointing Alexiss room. The interior was dark, but shed left the glass slider open to allow fresh air to slip inside. The diaphanous sheers covering the window billowed gently in the fragrant, sultry evening breeze.
He imagined her warm and soft in her bed, her breathing deep and even. Did she wear her hair down and free, or did she keep it neat and orderly even at night? She might dress practically in loose clothing, but he couldnt stop himself from wondering what she slept insomething silky and decadent as Mike had suggested during his investigative report, or nothing at all? A slow burn settled in Jacksons belly at the thought.
Soon, hed find out.
Tomorrow, the seduction would begin.
3
IF HER FANTASY MAN was on the island he had yet to make an appearance, and half of her second day on Seductive Fantasy was nearly over.
Exhaling a breath of frustration, Alexis lifted her gaze from the romantic suspense novel she couldnt quite concentrate on. She scanned the guests lounging around the pool area and couples conversing at the swim-up bar who were obviously enjoying their fantasies, whatever they may be.
For the umpteenth time in the past hour since shed eaten a light lunch at the outdoor café, she searched for a dark-haired man with blue eyes who would set his sights on her and make that all important first advance. A man like Jackson.
There were many men with her requested characteristics, but none showed her any interest other than a brief glance or cordial smile. While she wasnt sitting directly in the sun and had opted for the shade of a large palm tree because she burned much too easily, she couldnt be in more plain sight for her soon-to-be lover to find her.
Shed always been an extremely patient person, but suddenly discovered she was very antsy to move on to the next phase of her paid vacation. Her fantasy. Now that she was refreshed and rested, she was eager to taste the heat of passion, and anxious to experience the kind of tantalizing, rapturous sensations shed only read about.
Shifting restlessly on the lounge chair, she stretched her legs and flicked her flowing skirt over her exposed knees and calves. She frowned, realizing just how clothed she was compared to the rest of the scantily clad women around herrealizing, too, just how much attention they were receiving in comparison.
Though shed been conservative in selecting her attire since she was a teenager, and had never given fashion a second thought, Alex wondered if maybe she should have purchased more alluring clothing for this vacation. Her one secret indulgence was wearing pretty, lacy lingerie, but her seductive underwear was a moot point if her outerwear didnt attract a mans attention.
With a sigh, she ducked her head back to her book, seeing the words but not really reading them as her mind turned over different possibilities. Yes, maybe she needed to change her image and live impetuously for the week, especially at a private resort where no one she knew would see or judge her. She could be anything or anyone she wanted and enjoy the results of being carefree and impulsive with no consequences other than the ones shed requested. She could be daring, take wild risks, then return home and resume her practical lifestyle, as well as deal with the messy lawsuit awaiting her.
If only her fantasy man would arrive so she could start her journey to self-discovery.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of someone heading across the far deck, down the short concrete steps, and toward the pooltoward her.
Automatically, she raised her gaze to gauge this next potential offering, and her breath caught in her throat as she watched Jackson Witt burn a path closer and closer to where she sat, his stride purposeful and confidently male. Hope and electric currents of excitement mingled, racing through her bloodstream at a rapid pace. Who needed to sit out in the sun when this man had the ability to heat her from the inside out?
He was wearing navy blue swimming trunks and a tank shirt that showcased his broad shoulders and tapered to a lean waist. His strong thighs were toned and muscled, his legs long and well defined. Everything about him was exceptional and sensual and utterly masculine. Everything about him thrilled her.
She jerked her eyes back up to his gorgeous face, wishing he wasnt wearing sunglasses so she could see his gaze and assess his intentions. Just when she was absolutely certain he would approach her, he stopped abruptly a few yards away. In one fluid motion that set the muscles in his arms and across his back rippling, he pulled off his shirt while toeing off his deck shoes at the same time. He tossed the balled up cotton onto a chaise, added his sunglasses to the top of the pile and, without a glance in her direction, he strode to the edge of the pool. Diving into the water with smooth, graceful precision, he began a series of laps.
She groaned in acute regret, silently chastised her wishful thinking, and returned her attention to her book and off the man that every other woman in the vicinity was ogling. It was fairly obvious that Jackson had forgotten all about her, while hed starred in her dreams last night and had given her the incentive to venture out early this morning in search of her fantasy man.
He obviously wasnt the one, she thought, sighing in disappointment.
Ten minutes later, when he climbed out of the pool at the deep end near where she was sitting, Alex forced herself to keep her nose in her book, eyes downcast, and pretend complete absorption in her story. She refused to embarrass herself by gawking at his magnificent body as he sauntered past her chair.
He made it difficult for her to ignore him. Instead of returning to the chaise holding his shirt and sunglasses, she heard the soft, wet, pit-pat of footsteps, then watched his bare feet come into view beside her lounge chair. She swallowed, hard, as water dripped off him and pooled around his legs.
Now what did she do?
Before she could gather the fortitude to glance up and greet him with a polite smile that didnt give away her strong attraction to him, she was showered with droplets of water as he shook his upper body and damp hair like a wet dog.
She gasped and dipped her head lower as the moisture rained down upon her, surprised at his playfulness when it was the very last thing she would have expected from him. Despite her best efforts, she couldnt contain the spontaneous laughter that escaped her. Hey, youre getting me all wet!
He stopped shaking himself dry and waited until she finally looked up at him. Am I? He asked the question innocently, but his eyes, framed by black spiked lashes, blazed with blue fire and impudence.
She wasnt used to being on the receiving end of sexual innuendo, but his double meaning wasnt lost on her. If he was going to be so brazen, then so was she. She wanted to see just how far he intended to take things between thema light, friendly flirtation, or something more intimate?
Yes, you are, she replied boldly.
Good. A smile filled with too much satisfaction graced his lips. You were deliberately ignoring me.
She opened her mouth to issue a denial, then promptly shut it to rethink her strategy when she realized shed been caught. You ignored me first, she countered, setting her book on the glass-topped table beside her.
I was hot and wanted to cool off. He stepped away for a second and dragged a nearby lounge chair over, keeping it aligned in the sun instead of joining her in the shade. Straddling the chair, he plopped down into the seat and finger combed his damp hair away from his chiseled features. I would have asked you to join me, but you arent exactly dressed for a swim.
She most definitely needed to do something about her attire, including buying a one-piece bathing suit that would flatter her curvaceous figure and attract the attention of a man like Jackson. I burn easily, so whats the point of wearing a swimsuit if Im not going to sit directly in the sun?
So you can get all wet, he said, his amused tone a bit on the naughty side.
Oh, he was bad. And very good. Which usually leads to playing in the sun and getting burned.
Thats what sunscreen is for. And if you just dont like being in the sun, Ive been told that there are a few secluded, shady lagoons here on the island that you can reserve for your own private pool party.
Really? she murmured, intrigued by the notion. Intrigued, too, by the subtle invitation dancing in his velvet eyes.
Uh-huh, he replied, the sound rising up from his throat in a sexy, arousing rumble. With waterfalls and hot springs and all kinds of other decadent luxuries.
He tempted her with his words. He enticed her with the promise she heard in his voice. He enthralled herlying there in the sun like an Adonis, letting the warm rays worship his body and dry the moisture on his skin.
Unbidden, her gaze drifted to his flat stomach, and she experienced the inexplicable urge to glide her fingers along the droplets of water clinging to the dark trail of hair that whorled around his navel and disappeared into the waistband of his trunks. She wanted to touch the damp, slick flesh stretching taut across his chest, his arms
Can I get either of you anything to eat or drink?
Startled by the intrusion of a third voice, Alex snapped out of her provocative daydream and found herself staring at a waiter dressed in black shorts and a crisp knit shirt. He smiled at her expectantly, pen poised over the pad of paper on his drink tray.
She cleared her throat, realizing that her mouth was very parched and she was suddenly very thirsty. It seemed lusting over a mans body tended to dry up the salivary glands. Ill take a piña colada.
He jotted down her order. And you, sir?
Ill take a Tom Collins, and a bowl of fresh fruit.
The waiter nodded. Coming right up.
Once the other man disappeared in the direction of the outdoor bar, Jackson folded his arms behind his head and turned those intense, velvet blue eyes back on her. So, are you enjoying your stay here so far?