LONG-LOST bride-to-be, if you please, Belle corrected precisely.
She had to work to keep her smile in place. As much as shed have preferred to avoid reference to their past, shed known Mitch, for all his gentlemanly reputation, wouldnt sidestep the issue. She took a little breath before she lifted her chin. Since she had to deal with it, shed face it head-on.
Or at least make him think she was dealing with it just long enough to flirt her way off the topic.
Dont you look gorgeous, she commented with a wink. Since hed made no attempt to hide his visual tour, she let her eyes take their own leisurely stroll, appreciating the view from head to toe.
Damn, he really had gotten better with age. His hair, still that deliciously rich auburn, was a little longer, a little less formal. His face was leaner, his shoulders broader. She was tempted to ask him to turn around so she could decide if his ass was any tighter. But it was awfully hard to beat perfection, so she doubted it.
The years have definitely treated you well, Mitch.
Beneath her husky words and confident smile, her insides felt as though they were on a wobbly roller coaster. Despite that, she slid to her feet in one slow, sensual motion. His cinnamon-brown eyes blurred as she stepped forward. Heat flared between them, the same heat that had lured her from interested to obsessive so long ago.
Then, so quickly she wondered if shed imagined the desire, he blinked and the look switched to simple curiosity. Belle had to fight to keep her smile in place. Damn him, thats how hed always twisted her into knots. One second shed been sure he was hot for her, the next he had total control.
Not this time.
Instead of the expected move, another step closer so she was in body-heat distance of him, Belle shifted her weight. Her hip to one side, she lifted a shoulder and gave a flutter of her lashes.
Well? she asked.
Mitch just arched one brow. His shoulders, she noted, were stiff, as though he was preparing himself. For what? she wondered. A handshake, a hug or, even worse, a big sloppy kiss.
She was tempted. But lurking behind that polite curiosity in his eyes was something edgier. Perhaps he was just waiting to verbally rip into her. Instead of intimidating her, that just added to the excitement.
Well, what?
Some insane impulse urged Belle to blurt out an apology. To tell him how sorry she was for the pain she must have caused. To confess her immaturity, her lack of consideration. Luckily, nerves trapped the words in her throat.
Did you miss me? she asked instead. Getting Mitch to deal with her, to give her the contract and with it the opening to butter him up so hed help her father, was going to be hard enough. Why throw fuel on the flames? Especially when she was much more interested in starting a whole new fire.
About as much as I miss the Macarena, he shot back.
Belle snickered. Then, unable to help herself, she laid her hand on his forearm. It is good to see you again.
Eyes narrowed, he glanced down at her hand, then back at her face. With a shrug, he gave a half smile and jerk of his chin. Only an optimist would call it a nod. Belle, being a glass-half-full kind of gal, took heart.
Why are you here?
Right to the point, hmm? Belle used the seconds it took her to return to her seat to take a deep breath. Control was crucial here. She had to play it just right.
With that in mind, she leaned back against the soft leather and gave Mitch a warm smile.
Ive got something you need, she told him.
Ill pass, he responded instantly. I tried to get it once before and look how that worked out.
Belle hid her wince. Whether the pain in her chest was from a singed ego or her bruised heart she didnt know.
Maybe you were using the wrong inducement.
Obviously, he said. Apparently resigned to the fact that she wasnt going to explain her presence until she was good and ready, he moved around his desk to take a seat.
Oh, please. Lets be realistic. I was young and hot for you. For what I imagined would be incredible sex between the two of us. I wasnt looking for marriage, but that was the price you put on yourself. Talk about role reversal. She might be a jerk for her way of handling the situation, but he was a bigger jerk for being willing to use her lust to advance his career. But if she wasnt holding any grudges, why should he? Wed have been much better off if youd just gone for the kinky affair I was hoping for instead of insisting on milking the free cow.
Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free, he corrected.
There you go, she said with a smile. Except we were both after something other than milk, werent we?
Shed wanted sex, hed wanted a foot up the career ladder. Neither one of them came off lily-pure, so she didnt bother pointing that out. Instead, she leaned down to pull a file out of her black leather portfolio.
I understand you need an event planner.
Mitchs jaw tightened, but he just gave a dismissive shrug. His shirt rippled over arms that looked very intriguing. Shed bet there were some sweet biceps under that pristine cotton. Her teeth itched to take a nibble and see just how hard his muscle was.
I might have considered a planner for the grand opening, but Im not overly attached to the concept, he hedged.
Which meant he wanted one, he just didnt want it to be her. No problem. Shed change his mind.
Thats smart, she said, leaving the file in her lap instead of handing it to him. Your grand opening should make a statement, of course. But you want that message to integrate with Lakesides theme, its purpose.
This isnt Disneyland, he pointed out, rolling his eyes.
No, but you would do well to look at the success of theme parks like that. They have a clear message. A purpose that fulfils the guests specific needs. Everything they offer, every single thing, supports that purpose.
My resort has a purpose. You grew up in the hotel business, you already know this.
But youre not trying to launch a hotel here, are you? You arent targeting the average vacationer, honeymoon couple or getaway guest.
Im not?
Even though he phrased it as a question, his tone was pure lets-humor-the-airhead. She was used to people taking one look at her blond hair and sexy image and judging her by stereotypes. Since it usually worked to her advantage, Belle didnt mind. At least, she told herself she didnt. It wasnt like Mitch knew her well enough to understand her or anything. So she fell into her typical lure-em-in-and-close-the-deal mode with a flutter of her lashes.
Are you? What do you see this resort offering? she asked off-handedly.
Offering? What any resort offers, of course. First-class luxury accommodations. Relaxation and pampering. The perfect getaway.
I can get luxury and pampering at my fathers hotels for half the price, she pointed out.
His eyes flashed at the mention of her father. Uh-oh, not a good sign. But instead of commenting, he just pointed out the window.
Not with this lavish view, prime location or decadent opulence. Lakeside is top of the line. Luxurious suites, each with its own fireplace and bar. Three-hundred-count Egyptian sheets and down comforters, one-of-a-kind artwork and a stunning view from every room. We have the hottest golf course, three four-star restaurants, a ballroom, spa, designer shops.
Belle pressed her lips together to hide the smile brought on by his fervent recital of his resorts brochure. He sounded like a momma defending her baby against the crime of mediocrity. Good, that meant he was heavily invested in making Lakeside the biggest success possible.
Lets cut to the chase, hmm? she said once she was sure she could keep the triumph from her tone. To really make your resort stand out, to make it a certifiable success, you need a hook. If you want the wealthy southern California clientele to flock here like flaming moths youre going to need to offer something a little more exotic than nice sheets, a golf course and hot stone massages.
Moths to a flame, he corrected.
Exactly, she agreed with a wink. And like those moths, the wealthy and famous will swarm here. With the right incentive, of course.
What do you have in mind? he asked, sounding reluctantly intrigued. His gaze fell to the papers in her lap.
She tapped one red-tipped fingernail on the file and smiled.
To use that Disney analogy again, Im talking about a theme park for adults. Wealthy adults. Or better yet, famous wealthy adults. Ones who are looking for a grown-up park to play in.
Belle leaned forward to put the file on his desk. Mitchs gaze dropped to her cleavage. From the heat in his eyes, the way they went dark and intense, she figured her Twisted Knickers leather-and-lace demi-bra had just paid off.
You want to make this resort a standout, you need to cater to the rich and famous. If you want them lining up to get in here, you need to offer them the one thing they want more than anything else. The one thing theyd pay almost any price for.
Keeping his eyes locked on hers, Mitch used one finger to pull the file toward him. He didnt flip it open, but sat there with his hand over it as if considering whether it was even worth the effort.
And that is? he finally asked.
Sex, of course.
MITCHS JAW dropped. This was a multimillion dollar venture, prime real estate, and he had everything on the linehis money, his company and, even more important, his reputation.
Youre suggesting I turn my luxury resort into a sex club?
He didnt know why the idea surprised him. Everything about Belle made him think of sex. It always had. From her husky voice to her bedroom eyes and on down that gorgeous body to her suckable toes.
But hed screwed up his career once because hed been obsessed with her. Blinded by the dream of having it all, hed tossed aside his own plans to accommodate her and her fathers wishes, and ended up with nothing. Itd taken him three years to rebuild his reputation, another two to regain lost ground. He wasnt about to screw up again.
Actually, I doubt youd be able to pull off the sex club, she replied with a long look that made it clear shed love to see him try. There are some fabulous ones around that make good money, of course, but thats not quite the niche I had in mind.
It took physical effort to keep himself from asking her just how familiar she was with these fabulous sex clubs. He managed, just barely, to smother the biting jealousy that clawed at his gut when he imagined her hitting those clubs with another man. Or, given the clubs, other men.
Dammit, six years ago, that ugly green monster had goaded him into proposing marriage instead of taking her up on the wild sexual affair shed offered. He hatednot just disliked, but viciously rip-the-head-off-whoever-it-was hatedthe idea of some other man touching Belle. She was the only woman in the world to inspire him to want to brand her. To make her his and his alone, in every way possible. For a man who considered himself evolved beyond caveman idiocy, it had been a blow to the ego. Not enough of a blow to stun the jealousy monster, though.
To distract himself from the images, and from the memory of her lush, lace-clad breasts, clearly visible when shed leaned across to hand him the file, Mitch tilted his head in question.
What exactly are you proposing?
Private sex, she said in the same tone shed use to share a national secret.
Huh? He didnt get it. The rooms had locks. There were no video cameras around.
The paparazzi and gossip hounds have declared open season on celebrities. They have no degree of privacy anymore. Not only actors and musicians, but any big name in the industry. Before you relocated here, you were based in New York, right? At his nod, she continued, You probably see it, or would if you paid attention, on the east coast. But its nothing like the insanity here in southern California.
What does that have to do with sex? Or, how did you put it? Private sex?
Belle arched one brow. Everything. Havent you ever wanted some hot, wild getaway sex at a luxury resort?
Hell, yeah. He wanted it now, as a matter of fact. Mitch did a quick mental tally of how many bedrooms were complete here at the resort. He could do Belle in fourteen hot, wild ways without using the same room twice. Even more if they went vertical. And that wasnt even counting the private cottages scattered around the resort grounds.
Your rich and famous are welcome to come have sex here, he told her. Were an equal-opportunity resort in that regard.
Her look made him laugh. Like a crack in her perfect image, she went from glossy sex kitten to cute and adorable in the wrinkle of her nose.
Im glad to know you have no restrictions on sex, she responded, her tone husky and blatantly interested. I hope that applies to your personal life as well as your resort?
The only restriction I follow is to avoid trouble. His grin fell away as he remembered that Belle was pure trouble, inside and out.
She tut-tutted. Safe sex? How boring is that? The only time those two words belong together is in reference to health precautions.
Images of swings, leather and handcuffswithout the cushy fur liningflashed through his mind. His body stirred in instant reaction. Damn, maybe he needed to rethink this keeping-Belle-at-a-distance thing? After all, she was here, he was here. They had no commitment beyond the moment, were free to do as they liked. Maybe instead of cursing the past, he should take her up on the offer of pleasure so clear in her eyes.
Fourteen rooms.
Wild sex.
Handcuffs.
And then show her on her way.
I take it youd rather have unsafe sex? he asked with a slow, teasing smile. Mentally watching his caution trampled by lust, Mitch waved good-bye to good sense and gave Belle a look that said just how unsafe hed like sex to get between them.
Her expression didnt change, but a faint flush washed over her chest, letting him know she wasnt unaffected. His mouth watered to taste her there, just above the curve of her breasts. The rational, ambitious voice in his head warned him not to get dragged down by his dick. She was trouble. Shed proved that by almost ruining him when shed walked out. His dick didnt give a damn.
I like sex, she corrected, without rules and restrictions.
I like the sound of that. Tell me more.
What I really want is a chance to show you.
Rock-hard and ready to sweep his desk clean for a hot, fast preview, Mitch bit back a groan. Principles fought lust. Need smothered angst.
Then Belle stood, took two short steps to his desk and leaned forward. One leg bent, she rested her knee and hip on the desk. Right there on the redwood surface where hed just fantasized about stripping her bare.