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Chapter 41: PART TWO
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2022-04-29 14:05:02Related chapters
Sunstroke Chapter 1: PART ONE
SUNSTROKEPart OneThe story beginsI won't jump on him the minute he gets here. I'll take my time.Bailey George paced back and forth in the tiny living room of the miniscule apartment she and Zack Wallace had been sharing for the past year. She had pinched herself every day since they'd moved in together. Her family hadn't been too excited about their baby girl, a sophomore, "living in sin" with a big bad senior, and a fifth year senior at that. But then they met Zack, and he won them over so smoothly, they had no objections left. She hoped when she broke her news to them they would realize she was as at fault as Zack.She was nervous about his reaction, but they loved each other. Underneath her nerves, she was secure in the knowledge that, together, they'd handle the situation. So maybe her plans might have to change a little, but that would be okay. Just as long as they were together.She stood in the middle of the combination living/dining room, checking everything for tonight
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Sunstroke Chapter 2: PART ONE
Zack picked her up and sat down on the couch with her on his lap, turning her slightly so he could see her face.She laughed. "You'd tell me before you pop.""Well, you know how crazy I am about flying." He grinned. "Addicted, right?"She forced a smile. That was the damn truth. "Of course. And you're good at it, even if I did get airsick at first."One of the first things Zack had done when they started seeing each other was take her up in a small plane he'd rented from a nearby airfield. She knew his father and his uncle owned a private charter service and had taught him to fly when he was thirteen. He received his pilot's license at sixteen and never lost his hunger for flying. His father had passed away four years ago, and his uncle had sold the business and moved away. She wasn't sure where. Maybe he was going to give Zack some free flying time as a graduation gift."Remember me telling you last year how my uncle sold the business after my dad passed away?"What on earth? Of
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Sunstroke Chapter 3: PART ONE
"Bailey?"Bailey George turned and looked across the busy lobby of Casa Blanca Resort and Spa to see Lacey Walker, the owner, threading her way through the crowd. She stopped and waited for her. In the past few years, especially since Lacey's architect husband had taken her son, Michael, under his wing, the women had become close friends."Hey, Lacey. What's up?""Whew!" Lacey juggled the large box she was holding. "We're really rocking this week. Just checking to make sure everything was set up the way you wanted and the menus are okay.""It's fine. Are you kidding?" Bailey laughed. "Everything is perfect, just as it always is."Lacey winked. "We want to be sure we're taking good care of one of our favorite law firms. We're just thrilled to have you here."As one of the junior partners in Blake, Rothbart and Padilla, it had become Baily's responsibility to plan the partners' annual retreat. A few years ago, she and senior partner Warren Blake agreed that the retreats did a lot t
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Sunstroke Chapter 4: PART ONE
Zack Wallace handed his lone passenger over to Gabe Rossi and watched the black SUV drive away from Page Field. He'd been more than happy to do a favor for his friend Grey Holden, head of The Omega Team, a security agency that did a little bit of everything and most of it dark. Like this."I need you to do a little favor for me," Grey told him when he called."I know you and your little favors," Zack laughed. "But okay, lay it on me.""I have a passenger I need you to give a ride to, and it all has to stay under the radar.""Oh? Should I expect to be arrested at some point?"Grey laughed. "Nothing like that." Then his voice had turned serious. "She's a witness in a murder trial, and the killer would do anything to wipe her off the face of the earth.""Does that mean I need to be armed?" Zack wanted to know. With Grey, anything was possible."Only if you want to. She's in Atlanta. I need someone to fly her to Fort Myers, Florida. Gabe Rossi runs an operation there for situations
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Sunstroke Chapter 5: PART ONE
Thirty minutes later, Zack's car was parked in the lot and he was in a luxurious suite with Moroccan décor and the biggest bed he'd ever seen. And then there was the view. When he looked out the window, he saw a long stretch of beach bordering the Gulf, smooth waves rippling the surface of the teal water. There were people on the beach, some sitting, some walking. A young boy ran down the beach with a dog following. And, right below him, he could see others on a patio enjoying drinks and conversation.He stashed his gear, wondering what to do next. He wasn't used to having time to do nothing. When he had any free time, he spent it deep sea fishing or getting his exercise doing sexual calisthenics with the female of the moment.Female of the moment. Doesn't that just make me sound like the biggest jackass in the world.The problem was, in twenty-three, no almost twenty-four years, he hadn't found a woman he cared to spend more than two days with. After all these years, he still had a
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Sunstroke Chapter 6: PART ONE
Bailey was afraid she was going to throw up. Or pass out. Or scream. Or maybe melt into a puddle or something. What on earth was Zack Elliot, the man she'd walked away from despite the pain it caused her, doing here on Mimosa Key? And at the Casa Blanca? Why wasn't he in Nowhere, Alaska, immersed in his dream of a life of flying? And just like that, a truckload of memories slammed into her. She wondered if it would cause too much of a commotion if she just turned and ran from the lobby as fast as she could. Back to the villa. Back to...where? Naples?Don't be ridiculous.She drew in a deep breath in an effort to calm her skittering nerves, and wet her lips."What a surprise to see you here. Aren't you a long way from Alaska?" There. She sounded calm, didn't she? Not as if her entire life had just been turned upside down and sideways.He just stood there for a long moment, staring at her, apparently having as much trouble getting himself under control as she was."I, uh, flew a cli
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Sunstroke Chapter 7: PART ONE
Bailey was desperate to say something to break the silence, so she blurted out the first thing that came to mind."So how do you like Alaska?"When he took a moment to answer her, she wondered if there was something wrong."I left Alaska," he said at last."Oh?" Smart answer, Bailey. Duh! "But I thought it was everything you wanted"He nodded. "It was, for a long time. Uncle Nate had bought a small charter company and steadily built it into one of the premier charter services in the state. God, Bailey." His smile said it all. "You wouldn't believe the places I've flown. Most of Alaska is accessible only by plane, so we were flying people and supplies into places so desolate, sometimes I thought I'd reached the end of the world." His eyes got a faraway look. "It was like being as close to heaven as you could get. Sunrise on all that pristine snow was incredible.""So why did you leave?" Maybe she could just keep him talking about himself and not about the two of them.He was quie
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Sunstroke Chapter 8: PART ONE
"Bailey?"Bailey turned to Neil Rothbart seated to her left. "Yes, Neil?""Nothing, really. You just looked like you were deep in thought." He studied her with keen eyes. "Everything okay? Any problems at the firm I should know about?""No." She shook her head. "None at all. In fact, everything's great.""We were pleased to see you'd snagged Hyerdahl Industries as a client." Neil's voice broke into her mental conversation with herself. "That's a big one."She certainly knew that. She'd worked for a year to get Evan Hyerdahl to agree to switch to Blake, Rothbart and Padilla as his corporate counsel. She'd spent a lot of hours on his boat when he came to Naples, chatting with him and members of his board. She knew they figured in every major decision he made, so it was worth the investment of time. She also was aware he'd checked with two other conglomerates she handled and had done an intense study of the firm itself. That was okay. A man didn't grow a billion dollar enterprise wit
Last Updated : 2022-04-29
Latest chapter
Sunstroke Chapter 41: PART TWO
Robin thought springtime in Bozeman, Montana was possibly one of the best seasons ever. The air was fresh and crisp without being too cool. The sun warmed you as a gentle breeze played across your face. And everything was so right and clear. Robin Hanna sat in a coffee shop in downtown Bozeman waiting for Trey to finish his morning at the Gallatin County Courthouse. When everything came down about the Russians and the FBI needed a safe place for her until the trial was over, Trey insisted on taking her home to Bozeman and hiding her from the world there."They'll never think of looking for her there," he'd assured Jonas Faulkner. As soon as they got the final all clear from Jonas she promised they'd move forward with their wedding plans. As Robin pointed out, neither of them was getting any younger and they didn't want to waste a minute more being single. They for sure had no doubts about their feelings for each other. Now she was anxious to tell him about the call she'd gotten
Sunstroke Chapter 40: PART TWO
Trey thought about getting quietly drunk. He had to admit it seemed like a damn good idea. Too bad it wasn't his style. He hadn't done it when Laura served him with divorce papers and he wasn't planning to do it now. What he was going to do, instead, was call Zack Elliott, see how soon the man could fly him out of here, pack his stuff and check out. He should have known better than to come to a place like this. Zack had meant well giving him the brochure, but this was for couples. Apparently he was destined not to be part of one. He had just put his suitcase on the luggage stand to pack it and was searching for Zack's number on his phone when there was a knock on the door. He ignored it at first. There was no one here he wanted to talk to. At least, not any more. But the knocking persisted until, at last, in anger, he stalked over to the door."Go away, Robin," he growled, as he yanked open the door. Only it wasn't Robin standing there but the guy from McBain Security. Seth Somebody
Sunstroke Chapter 39: PART TWO
"Oh, Seth." Beside her Trey tensed. "What's up?""Can I see you for just a moment, please?" He looked at Trey. "Could you excuse us, please?"Trey nodded but stood there, frowning, as Seth tugged her out of the lobby into a little hallway. "What's up? Seth, this is just not a good time for me, as you can see." He itched his voice low. "What's up is that Jonas has been trying to call you for more than an hour. Where were you? He's about to have a fit worried about you.""Oh, sorry. We went for a hot air balloon ride." She forced a smile. "Trey arranged it. Why?""Jonas has been trying to call you and losing his mind because you weren't answering. He said you always answer his calls. You know him. If something is out of sync he gets paranoid.""Oh, he does? Just who the hell is Jonas and why does he have to talk to you right now?"Neither of them had heard Trey come around the corner until he spoke. When Robin looked at him she could see he was seething with anger and something
Sunstroke Chapter 38: PART TWO
A balloon! OMG!She never would have thought this was what Trey had in mind. Her stomach flopped up into her throat and back again. Good thing she didn't scare easily, she thought.A woman Robin guessed was somewhere in her thirties stood by the balloon, tending to its tether while a crew checked the sandbags holding it in place and steadied it. As they came closer she smiled and waved at them."Hi." She shook Trey's hand. "Glad you made it.""Are you kidding? I've always wanted to go up in one of these things. Zoe, this is Robin Hanna. Robin, meet Zoe Tamarin Bradley."Robin just stared. "Is this your balloon?"Zoe nodded. "My baby.""And you drive it? Or pilot it? Or whatever it is you do to a balloon.""I do, and I love it. Well, we've got clear skies and a pleasant breeze so let's get to it, shall we?"As soon as Zoe and one of her crew had climbed into the gondola, Trey swept Robin up in his arms and lifted her into it, then followed her. Zoe stood at the controls, waitin
Sunstroke Chapter 37: PART TWO
Trey would love to have moved all his stuff into the villa with Robin. It would make things so much easier. But his brain put up a roadblock when he thought of it. Not a good idea, he finally told himself. He knew nothing about her except she hadn't tried to steal his money, making love with her was off the charts, and she was easy and fun to be with. For the first time in a very long time he felt like a young forty-eight, maybe looking forward to the next chapter of his life instead of looking backwards and living with the pain. Who said life began at forty? For him he might be saying it began at forty-eight. How was it possible they had met less than forty-eight hours earlier? Or that despite the lingering pain of Laura's betrayal and his vow never to become involved with another woman, little by little he was losing his heart to Robin Hanna. In point of fact, at the moment the only thing he could find to complain about was her friend who picked the most inopportune times to call
Sunstroke Chapter 36: PART TWO
The shrill sound of her cell phone woke Robin. At some point during the night she had fetched it from her purse and put it where she could reach it, just in case. Now, as she blinked against the bright sunlight pouring in through the sliding glass doors, she wished she'd buried it instead. Throwing her arm over her eyes to shield them she picked up the phone and looked at the readout.Damn!Jonas!A tiny shaft of fear stroked through her, as it always did with his calls. Bad news. That's what she always expected.Beside her Trey's big body shifted and he looped an arm casually around her waist, pulling her back to him. She could feel the thickness of his morning erection and the heat of his body where they were skin to skin."Just give me a second here," she murmured. Lifting the arm around her, she kissed his hand before placing it back on the bed. Then she slid out from between the covers, grabbed the phone and hurried into the bathroom. "Hi, Jonas. What's up?"She pitched her
Sunstroke Chapter 35: PART TWO
Trey thought if he'd ordered a perfect evening it couldn't have been better. The air was warm but not hot. The sky was clear, stars glistening against its velvet backdrop. The night air was filled with the rich scents of the luxurious foliage. Something out of a movie set, he thought, then wondered where all this imagery was coming from.He had never considered himself a romantic, something that Laura had teased him about, except maybe it hadn't all been teasing. He thought of all the little road signs along the way in their twenty years together. Road signs he had just missed because he wasn't expecting them and was unprepared, so he'd apparently just ignored them. When he'd married her, in his mind it was forever. He still felt the shock of discovering it wasn't in hers.And that's enough of that. You're supposed to be changing your outlook on life. Putting the past behind you. And damn, he sure hoped he could. He looked at the woman sitting across the table from him in Junon
Sunstroke Chapter 34: PART TWO
I can't let my guard down.Robin had been telling herself that from the moment she spilled coffee and water on Trey DeMarcus. She should never have agreed to have breakfast with him. And driving into Mimosa Key in that convertible and wandering around town like lovers on a date was a bigger mistake. There was some kind of electricity between them, invisible but still crackling in the air.Seth had told her to make an effort to enjoy herself while she was here and forget about the mess back in Boston. That was Jonas's problem and he and the FBI were keeping it well away from her. She didn't think he meant jump the bones of the first good looking, single man she met and take the edge off all that frustration building in her since she'd dumped her last relationship. How was it she was so bad at picking men? She must have warped radar that it only vibrated toward men who were already in a relationship-with themselves. Trey was so different it amazed her how taken with him she was. Alth
Sunstroke Chapter 33: PART TWO
He couldn't help letting his eyes roam over her figure, so appetizing in her shorts and T-shirt. She was the first woman who had really lit up his hormones in more than twenty years. Laura had been the one for him and he'd never even thought intimately about another woman. Did he admire appealing bodies? Sure, he wasn't dead. But always in an abstract way.So what was it about Robin Hanna with the nice breasts and delectable ass that was turning him on so much? Nice breasts? Delectable ass?He'd better put his libido in deep freeze or he'd be in big trouble.She chuckled. "Wait until you see me in a bathing suit before you hand out the compliments.""I look forward to it."Trey wanted to smack himself in the head. He was just looking for a companion to do things with, so he wasn't alone. He shouldn't hint at things that weren't going to happen.On the drive back to the resort, Robin leaned back in her seat, scarf wound around her head and sunglasses in place, the sun bathing he
