Win or lose, she wanted to be appreciated for who she was and not for what she accomplished. That was her fantasy.
Her fantasy was simple, yet so intangible it was almost impossible to grant. But that wouldnt stop her from putting the request in writingfor her own personal, private reflection, not to be shared with anyone else.
Closing her folder, she met her mothers expectant gaze. Im game for a wild fantasy. Grinning, she turned toward the man beside her to gauge his response. How about you, Mitchell?
He shook his head regretfully. Mom, I know how important this is to you, but I cant just up and leave the business for a spontaneous vacation.
Sure you can, she refuted, placing her fork on her plate. I already spoke to your brother, and hed be happy to handle things for a week.
Mitchs dark brows creased into a deep vee at that bit of information.
Quit frowning, his mother scolded gently. I know you dont like me meddling in your business, but Drew agreed it was high time you took a vacation, since you havent done so since your father passed away. And that was over eight years ago.
With a heavy sigh that echoed his hesitancy, he pushed his fingers through his thick, sable hair, mussing the strands in a way Nicole found incredibly sexy. Heck, everything about the man was inherently masculine and sensually exciting, enticing her in ways she had little defense against.
Ive been busy, he said, his tone a shade defensive.
Exactly. Caring and kindness permeated Joyces gentle voice. Busy supporting me and putting both your brother and sister through college. What about doing something for yourself for a change? And in turn, you can do something great for our organization, too.
A startling warmth inundated Nicole, along with respect and admiration for Mitch and the responsibility hed taken on since his fathers death. Hed obviously abandoned his own wants and needs for his familys, yet he gave no indication that he begrudged the sacrifices hed made to support them. It was difficult for Nicole to imagine her brother in the same position, making the same selfless choices, when hed always thought of no one but himself.
She watched Mitch waver in his decision, looking way too serious when it was clear his mother desperately wanted him to relax and enjoy himself, away from work and obligations. Playing and having a good time was something Nicole knew how to do with flair. Having fun with Mitch, tempting and teasing him and driving him to distraction on a private island away from prying eyes, suddenly held a whole lot of appeal.
Aw, come on, Mitchell, she cajoled in a sultry tone of voice that snared his attention and made him lift an inquiring brow her way. Sounds like fun, dont you think? Slipping off her sandal, she slid her bare foot beneath the hem of his pant leg and rubbed his muscled calf with her toes, teasing him. Or maybe youre worried youll come in second against me in competition.
The unmistakable dare hung between them. His gaze narrowed with a distinct but discreet message only she could decipher: she was playing with fire. In more ways than one. In her estimation there was nothing wrong with playing with his brand of sensual heat when she had no intention of getting close enough to the flame to get burned.
Yet scorch her he did when he caught the underside of her knee with his long, warm fingers before she could move her leg away. A sizzling spark ignited and flared upward. She intercepted a startled gasp before it had the chance to escape her throat, then had to swallow a groan of pleasure when he grazed the smooth flesh in the ultrasensitive curve behind her knee. With Mitchs help, shed just discovered an erogenous zone she never knew existed.
And the wholly satisfied gleam in the depth of his golden-brown eyes told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her. Knew that with just a bit more pressure in the right place, shed be putty in his hands.
She was beginning to realize what a formidable opponent Mitch was when provoked. She had no choice but to silently endure his blatant caresses and her bodys feverish response to his touch or risk a scuffle under the table that would bring too much unwanted attention to their private battle of wills. So, with concentrated effort, she remained outwardly unruffleda talent shed perfected at a very early ageand waited for him to acknowledge her deliberate challenge.
He didnt disappoint her. The very last thing Im worried about is coming in second to you, he replied with a slow, lazy grin infused with a potent amount of confidence. With one last brush of his thumb against that arousing spot behind her kneea soft stroke as tantalizing as a whispered promise of more to comehe released her quivering leg and shifted his gaze back to his mother.
Ill do it, he announced in a steadier voice than she would have been able to summon at the moment. Count me in on the vacation and the contest.
Joyce clapped her hands together in pure delight. Thats wonderful! Isnt that wonderful, Rhea?
Most definitely, Rhea agreed with an exuberant nod of her head. Weve arranged your flights so that the two of you will arrive on the island separately. Now, you need to remember to play the game like the rest of the contestants. You start off as strangers before pairing up for the charity event and competitions
What do we need to pair up for? Nicole interrupted, wondering if shed missed an important part of the conversation while shed been perusing the brochure and thinking about her own personal fantasy.
Her mother looked at her as if the answer to her question was obvious, but explained anyway. The two of you are going to be a team.
A team? she echoed in confusion.
Yes. According to the rules, single couples pair up as a team, and each person in the team wins half the prize money for their chosen charity. Obviously, the two of you together will increase our chances of winning the entire one hundred thousand dollars.
Of course. Nicole blinked, unable to argue with her mothers logic, even as she realized her mistake in believing that she and Mitch would be competing against one another. According to their mothers plan, she and Mitch would be partnersa coupleand would have to rely on one another and their combined skills to win.
Its all or nothing, Nicole. What do you say? Mitchs deep, rich voice penetrated her thoughts, an indisputable dare in his tone this time.
All or nothing. The thought of spending one entire week in the constant company of Mitch Lassiter threw her off balance and caused a slow simmer in the pit of her belly. But there was no way shed renege on her promise to her mother.
She summoned a bit of sass and attitude, just enough to boost her own confidence and resurrect personal boundaries between her and Mitch. I say I hope you can keep up with me and dont slow me down during the events.
His answering grin assured her that hed have no problem at all keeping up with her pace. Thats the last thing youll have to worry about.
He was right. She was more worried about their attraction, and spending a week alone with him.
2
LETS SEE The overly voluptuous redhead in tight pink spandex licked her lips as her gaze raked up and down the length of Mitchs body. If I had to take a guess Id say that youre the male exotic dancer.
2
LETS SEE The overly voluptuous redhead in tight pink spandex licked her lips as her gaze raked up and down the length of Mitchs body. If I had to take a guess Id say that youre the male exotic dancer.
Mitch winced inwardly, having been pegged as a stripper by three different women in the span of half an hour. No, Im an auto broker.
What a waste of a great body. The woman with Rita written on her name tag shook her head, obviously disappointed that he didnt take his clothes off for a living.
She glanced down at the paper in her hand once more, consulting the list of hobbies and individual interests each person on Wild Fantasy had contributed in order to participate in that evenings singles mixer. The event was a getting-to-know-you icebreaker to get everyone better acquainted with participants of the opposite sex before selecting their weeklong partner at the end of the night. If it wasnt for the fact that Mitch was assured Nicole as a partner, he might have changed his mind about this whole fantasy and charity business. The singles scene had never been his thing, and hed yet to meet a woman he had any desire to spend an evening with, let alone an entire week.
So far, his experience on Wild Fantasy was proving not only to be interesting and surprisingly relaxing, but amusing as well. Other than being sized-up as a potential partner and possible plaything for the week, he was enjoying the luxuries offered by the resort and the fun, laid-back atmosphere of the island. He hadnt known just how badly hed needed a vacation until the moment hed stepped off the commuter plane and the tranquility and hospitality of the island had enveloped him.
Hed arrived earlier that day on a separate flight from Nicole. Hed spent the afternoon unpacking then walking the grounds, taking in the lush beauty of the island and familiarizing himself with the fabulous amenities included in his vacation package, a vacation that was his own private fantasy. One that had been incredibly easy to put into writing once hed agreed to this spontaneous getaway.
He was going to thoroughly enjoy this week away from business and the real world. Leaving responsibilities and obligations in the hands of his younger brother had been extremely difficult to do after eight years of holding tight to the reins of Executive Fleet Auto Sales, but Mitch was determined to embrace a whole lot of fun, pleasure and all the potential this incredibly sensual island had to offer. Hed become used to taking care of everything and everyone else, but now he was going to do something for himself for a change, without an ounce of guilt or worry to hamper the experience.
And his decision to enjoy himself included finally discovering if the strong chemistry between him and Nicole could be taken any further than the flirting theyd engaged in for much too long. Hed refrained from asking her out on a date a few years ago, but this vacation afforded him a chance to make up for that regret, as well as the opportunity to pursue Nicole at his own leisure and in his own way.
All or nothing. Mitch had meant what hed said, in more ways than just giving one hundred percent to the charity events and competitions. For years hed sensed a depth to Nicole buried beneath a cloak of complex, multifaceted emotions hed only seen glimpses of so far. Now he wanted to peel away each fascinating layer, until he revealed precisely what had molded this incredible woman into who and what she was. Not that he expected her to make the discovery process easy on him. He had no doubt Nicole would try to thwart his attempts every step of the way.
Rita looked back up at him, hope and excitement mingling in her eyes. Youre in the auto business, right? she asked, repeating the information hed just given her. Then you must be the one who owns a Ferrari!
Nope, he replied, watching as her interest in him gradually dwindled with each question he refuted. I drive a Ford Excursion.
Frowning at his choice of vehicleshe apparently preferred fast sports carsshe perused the list of data again.
Two questions down, one more to go, Mitch thought wryly. After the third wrong guess the general rule was to recirculate within the group of guests, unless there was a mutual attraction the two people agreed they wanted to explore further. No worry of that happening with Rita, thank goodness.
Rita lifted her gaze from her notes and graced him with a sly smile. I bet you like to wear leather beneath your clothes, dont you?
The restricting and very uncomfortable image that popped into Mitchs mind made him grimace. Sorry. Im strictly a cotton brief kind of guy.
Too bad. Sighing in defeat, she moved on to another male guest with long hair, a goatee and a pumped-up physique. The first words out of her mouth were, Ill bet youre the male exotic dancer.
Chuckling at the womans relentless quest to find the stripper in the group, Mitch continued to mingle in order to look as though he was searching for his perfect match for the week. The variety of women he met ranged from sweet and shy to the more direct and brash. They exchanged information on their lists to learn more about one another, and while he found a few of the women very nice and likeable, none of them so much as kindled anything more than friendly interest.
The only woman he wanted to be paired up with was Nicole, and so far shed done an exemplary job of avoiding him since arriving on the island. But as it was getting late and couples were starting to sign up as partners for the charity event, Mitch decided it was time to stake his own claim on the woman he desireda gorgeous, sexy, spirited woman that would be all his for a week.
Strolling around the large, outdoor courtyard that had been set up for the welcome reception, he perused the crowd for a certain evasive, blond beauty. Torches illuminated the area, casting flickering light over the elaborate buffet of food and the dance floor, which was already half full with couples whod paired off and were enjoying the soft rock tunes the band was playing. An occasional balmy breeze sifted through the palms and lush foliage, bringing with it the fragrant scent of tropical flowers and something more illusive and seductivelike wild, forbidden fantasies.
The familiar sound of vibrant, teasing laughter stimulated a very basic male response in Mitchthe kind of heated anticipation directly linked to Nicole. Glancing to the left, he found the object of his search flirting with a group of eager men vying for her attention.
Considering how fresh and energetic she looked, even after having spent the better part of the day traveling from Denver to Florida, he could easily see why those men had flocked to her. She was wearing a white eyelet top that played peekaboo with her flawless, tanned flesh shimmering in the torchlight, and the rounded neckline displayed her full, rounded breasts in a way that was enticing, yet innocently provocative. Slim pink capri pants hugged her hips, thighs and calves, outlining a centerfold figure, and strappy, heeled sandals boosted her height a few inches, making her legs seem endlessly long.
One of the men leaned close to say something to her, and another burst of amused laughter rent the air. Then she slanted the other man a coy look, and the possessive spark that jolted through Mitch took him completely off guard. Hed never been the jealous type with women, but much to his surprise he was feeling a tad territorial where Nicole was concerned. The sensation was a novelty, but one he didnt find at all intrusive. In fact, he welcomed the potent mix of desire and need she inspired, knowing he had a week with her to sate every emotion, curiosity and craving she evoked.