Читать книгу Seductive Fantasy - Janelle Denison - Страница 9

DON’T LOOK OUT the window and you’ll be just fine.

Alexis Baylor chanted that litany over in her mind as the small seaplane started its ascent from Miami for the fifteen minute flight to Seductive Fantasy off the Florida Keys. Keeping her eyes closed since boarding the compact aircraft, Alex now forced herself to take deep, even breaths to ease her anxiety as the plane scaled higher and higher. Her entire body felt the building velocity, and the buzzing sound of the engine seemed to rattle her bones. Despite her best efforts to remain calm, her stomach insisted on gauging even the most subtle dips they encountered during their upward climb.

Relax, relax, relax…

Her muscles remained tense; her heart beat triple-time. Alex never believed she harbored a fear of flying. In fact, her flight from San Diego to Miami had gone smoothly and remarkably well, without any incidences or panic attacks. Sitting in first class and being surrounded by luxurious leather seats while listening to a soft jazz station on the supplied headset, she’d been lulled by the comfort and security of being in a big, sturdy jetliner. But the moment she’d stepped aboard the Fantasies, Inc. commuter plane, an acute case of apprehension and claustrophobia had seized her, along with a flood of painful childhood memories that had a more profound effect on her than she’d realized.

Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…

Thankfully, the plane reached elevation and leveled out. Gradually, so did Alex’s erratic pulse, but she knew better than to open her eyes and look out the window beside her. She had no desire to see the vast blue ocean below, or think about the awful last moments her parents must have spent together before their own private Cessna airplane had plummeted, taking them to their watery grave off the coast of San Diego.

She settled back into her seat as comfortably as her rigid body would allow, determined to keep her mind on other, more delightful matters for the duration of the flight…like the fantasy she’d bought and paid for and would soon experience. Yet even that exciting diversion was encumbered with troubling thoughts when she recalled how she’d nearly cancelled this trip at the very last minute.

Yesterday afternoon, to be exact. Right after her company had been served with an unexpected and disturbing complaint alleging copyright infringement and seeking an injunction against Gametek. The plaintiff, Extreme Software, claimed that it owned the proprietary code she’d used in her game and was filing a lawsuit to keep Gametek from marketing Zantoid. A hearing had been set for the week after she returned from her vacation. Her lawyers assured her it wasn’t necessary for her to attend the proceeding, but she intended to go nonetheless and see for herself the parties who were suing her company—and trying to cash in on her success.

But until that court date, Dennis Merrick, the VP of her company, assured her that nothing would be gained by her calling off the trip she’d booked six months prior. He’d insisted she go, relax, and have a good time, and promised to handle the lawyers, investigations, and any legalities that might arise in her absence. As always, he made it more than clear that she could always count on him.

A wry smile touched the corner of her mouth. If Dennis knew the nature of the vacation she’d been saving toward for the past two years, ever since she’d read a magazine article about Fantasies, Inc., she was certain he wouldn’t have been so supportive of her decision to leave. In fact, he would have been downright appalled. But his opinion made no difference. She knew what she wanted and nothing could change that. She wanted to be swept off her feet and seduced by a sexy man, no strings attached, and return home pregnant with the child she’d desired for years. A baby who would love her unconditionally and give her the sense of family she’d never really had.

Dennis would have gladly volunteered to fulfill her fantasy. Except she didn’t want the complication of mixing their business relationship with something more intimate. There was also the important fact that she didn’t connect with him on a physical and emotional level.

She’d known for years that Dennis harbored feelings toward her, but she’d always been careful not to lead him on or give him the wrong impression. She adored him as a friend, trusted him as an employee and respected him as a man. Dennis, for all his loyalty and obvious affection toward her, didn’t make her feel breathless with excitement. No man ever had. Then again, she wasn’t the type of sensual, sophisticated woman who inspired a man’s intense, sexual interest. And since she’d recently come to the conclusion that she’d probably never experience the kind of passionate, impetuous, devoted relationship her own parents had shared, this fantasy would be her last chance to embrace all those lush, uninhibited, thrilling pleasures she’d been denied before she settled into motherhood. Alone and on her own.

In the meantime, with an attractive, enticing stranger picked out for her sole enjoyment and gratification, she’d wholeheartedly indulge in the feeling of being desired and desirable. She planned to drench every one of her five senses in the luxury of being romantically pursued.

Alex released a calm breath and shifted in her seat. Because of the personal, intimate nature of Alex’s request, Ms. Weston had assured her that she’d do her best to make sure that her fantasy man would possess the same physical characteristics as she—black hair and blue eyes—so that there would be a much greater chance of conceiving a baby with her same traits.

Obviously, there was no promise that she’d leave with a child—only Mother Nature, not a paid fantasy, could guarantee that. But in five more days she’d be at her most fertile, and she planned to make the most of that opportunity.

Without warning, the plane hit an air pocket, and the cabin shook from the unexpected turbulence, jarring Alex out of the tranquility that had settled over her. She sucked in a sharp breath and her hand automatically shot out to grip the armrest between her seat and another passenger’s. Instead of cushioned upholstery she came into contact with the firm, sinewy muscle of a man’s arm. Hair roughened and incredibly warm and inviting, his skin disturbed her more than the aircraft’s brief change in altitude.

Chagrined that she’d latched onto a stranger, a very masculine, athletically built stranger if that strong arm was any indication, she immediately snatched her fingers back and settled her balled up fists in her lap.

“Sorry,” she murmured, keeping her eyes tightly closed, as if that could conceal her acute embarrassment. She might have been able to hide her eyes but there was nothing she could do to disguise the obvious heat spreading up her neck, across her cheeks, and all the way to the tips of her ears. The burning sensation made her feel restless in a way she didn’t fully understand.

Before she could contemplate her startling reaction, long fingers grazed lightly across her clenched knuckles, and her pulse skyrocketed. Someone, the man she assumed was sitting beside her, picked up her hand, drew it across the armrest separating them, and slowly and gently unfurled her fingers. She swallowed, hard, as he flattened her hand between two incredibly large palms, engulfing her in a strange mixture of heat and soothing comfort. She’d been alone for so long, she couldn’t recall the last time she’d experienced such a tender gesture.

He swept his thumb along the veins in her wrist, then pressed it against her rapid, erratic pulse. “Your heartbeat is unsteady. Are you okay?”

His voice was smooth and rich, like the decadent Amaretto truffles she indulged in on occasion. Spirals of awareness curled through her, wreaking havoc with the feminine nerves that had lain dormant for too long. Unable to speak for a variety of reasons, most prominent of which was her response to him, she nodded jerkily.

“Then open your eyes and look at me so I can see for myself that you’re okay,” he coaxed in that deep, delicious tone.

For the first time since boarding the seaplane, she lifted her lashes…and stared into a dark, velvet blue gaze that made her own blue eyes pale in comparison. Her stomach dipped, and this time being thrown off balance had nothing to do with the plane hitting an air pocket, and everything to do with the man sitting next to her.

He was big, solidly male and gorgeous in a way that made her feel extremely self-conscious of her own ordinary features. For the sake of comfort during her long ten-hour trip to Florida, and admittedly, out of routine, she’d twisted her hair into a French braid to keep it neat and tidy, and had worn a comfortable loose skirt and blouse to travel in. Never in her entire life had she been more aware of her appearance…and how frumpy she must look.

“That’s better.” A charming grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “At least now I’m assured that you’re not going to pass out on me.”

No, but she was feeling a bit light-headed from all this attention. She struggled to find her voice. “I’ll be fine…just as soon as we land.”

“Which can’t be soon enough for you, I take it?”

She shook her head and laughed, the sound strained with nerves and the kind of tantalizing awareness she wasn’t used to feeling. “No. The sooner the better.”

His hair, she noticed, was cut into a neat, executive-type style that accentuated his handsome, chiseled features. The thick strands were an inky black, and a perfect complement to her own ebony mane. So far, he had the makings of her own personal fantasy man.

A staggering excitement rushed through her blood at the thought, though she couldn’t be certain that he was the one. He could be just as he presented—a gentleman assisting a woman in distress. And most likely he was exactly that.

He tipped his head, regarding her curiously. “Are you afraid of flying?”

“Sort of,” she admitted. “My parents died in a small plane just like this one.”

“Aah,” he said in understanding, giving her hand a gentle, compassionate squeeze that tugged at something equally elemental within her. “I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago.” She rested her head against the back of her seat, keeping her gaze averted from the window. “I was only ten at the time, but being closed in and flying over the ocean brings back memories of how they passed away.”

“Understandably so,” he murmured.

Realizing he still held her hand between his, and sure he’d rather let her go but was being polite, she attempted to withdraw from his grasp. He held her captive, his hold firm, his fascination with her undeniably genuine. Pressing her splayed fingers against a taut, denim-covered thigh, he lightly trapped her hand beneath the press of his palm.

As if she was going anywhere!

Absently, he stroked the skin between her thumb and forefinger, the caress so intimate and sensual it made her quiver deep inside. “Maybe I can help keep you distracted for the remainder of the flight.”

Oh, she was most definitely distracted…and mesmerized. His sole focus was on her, which was beguiling in itself.

“I suppose we should start with introductions,” he said, another lazy, sexy smile making an appearance. “I’m Jackson Witt. And you are?”

Completely smitten. Alex supposed that’s what happened when a woman was the focal point of a gorgeous man’s attention. She’d dated a handful of men, one long enough in college to constitute a relationship, but none had ever made her feel so entranced and infatuated at first glance.

She noticed the suddenly intense way he was staring at her, as if he was waiting for some kind of reaction. Well, she was definitely affected by him, except there was no way for him to see the internal flurry of rippling heat and sultry desire he evoked.

She called up a reciprocating smile that she found came easily to her lips. “It’s nice to meet you, Jackson,” she said, and was taken aback by the visible relief that passed across his expression. It was gone so quickly, she had to wonder if she’d imagined the odd emotion. “I’m Alexis Baylor, but everyone calls me Alex.”

“Why?” he asked abruptly.

She shook her head in confusion. “Why what?”

“Why does everyone call you Alex when Alexis is such a beautiful name?”

She ducked her head, contemplating his comment. Honestly, she’d never felt much like an Alexis, a name which to her implied elegance and grace.

Slanting him a glance, she shrugged, having long ago grown used to the boyish nickname. “My uncle, who raised me after my parents passed away, always called me Alex, and I suppose it became a habit.”

He grinned with sinful intent, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously. “One I intend to break…Alexis.”

The way her name rolled off his tongue was like a silky, sensual caress to her senses. Adding to that pleasant mental stimulation was the featherlight stroke of his fingers between hers, where she’d suddenly become ultrasensitive. While his touch was innocent, her entire body hummed with a luxurious warmth, one that was provocative as well as enjoyable.

“So, where are you from?” he asked.

She knew he was trying to make idle conversation, and she appreciated the diversion. “San Diego.”

A dark brow winged upward. “Considering how uncomfortable you seem in a plane, how did you manage to get to Miami? By train?”

She laughed, and this time the sound was light and carefree, lacking the tension that had engulfed her earlier. “I flew, of course. It’s the smaller commuter planes I have a problem with, not big, sturdy jetliners. And where are you from?”

“Atlanta.”

She toyed with the end of her braid, which curled over her shoulder and rested just above her breast. “And I take it you’re going to Seductive Fantasy, too?”

He nodded, his gaze shifting from the play of her fingers to her mouth, then her eyes, his perusal slow and lazy. “Yes.”

So, he either had a fantasy or was someone’s fantasy—or maybe both. “For a fantasy?” she asked, hoping the obvious question would unearth deeper information about the man.

His eyes darkened, turning a smokey shade of blue. “Most definitely for a fantasy,” he murmured.

She shivered at the sudden intensity cloaking him. Unable to help herself, even though she knew she was venturing into private territory, she asked, “What is your fantasy?” Was that her voice that sounded so breathless?

Beneath her trapped hand, his muscles bunched, belying his relaxed expression. He sent her a chastising look, tempered with flirtatious charm. “Why, Ms. Baylor, shame on you. I believe that information is confidential, as is your fantasy. Unless you care to share yours first?” he invited.

Her skin flushed, at being so bold as to ask about something so intimate, as well as at the thought of divulging her own deepest desires. Not only did she not really know this man and his personal intentions on Seductive Fantasy, but she wanted her request to play out on its own accord, without planting any preconceived notions in another man’s head. Though with him admitting that he had his own fantasy to explore at the island resort, she didn’t hold out much optimism that they’d be paired as a couple.

She let out a regretful sigh. “No, I’d rather not share my fantasy, and I apologize for asking about yours.”

“No apology necessary,” he said sincerely. “I suppose the nature of this vacation retreat does stir one’s imagination. I have to confess that I’m equally curious to know what you’re looking for on Seductive Fantasy.”

Unadulterated passion. Uninhibited desire. A father for my baby. She kept those secrets tucked away. “Let’s just say I’m trying to cram a lifetime of missed opportunities into one short week.”

He turned the hand resting on his thigh over and traced a long, tapered finger against her palm, tickling her skin and arousing her to a fever pitch at the same time. “Well, I hope all your fantasies come true, Alexis.”

She stared into his compelling eyes, hopelessly lost in the sea of sensuality she saw shimmering in the depths. She licked her suddenly dry lips. “I hope so, too,” she replied huskily.

He continued doing incredible things to her hand, her fingers. Subtle, yet provocative caresses that had her breathing deepening and her body softening against her seat. Despite her best efforts to remain immune to his alluring touch, her belly quivered and her breasts swelled against the lacy webbing of her bra. The man was very close to providing the unadulterated passion part of her fantasy—and she couldn’t help but wonder if that was part of his plan, or merely just a coincidence.

“We’ve arrived at Seductive Fantasy.” The voice of Mark, their pilot, drifted from the cockpit and into the cabin. “Please stay seated a moment longer, until the plane is secured and the door is unlatched.”

Alex’s eyes rounded in shock. “We’re here?” she asked incredulously.

Jackson’s chuckle vibrated with a wealth of amusement. “Yep. I think it’s safe for you to look out your window now.”

Trusting him, she glanced out the small portal, stunned to discover that they had, indeed, landed. Water lapped at the floats attached to the seaplane as they glided smoothly on the ocean. They were slowly drifting toward a wooden walkway extending from the white sand beach of a lush island. Beyond stood a gorgeous hotel designed with Mediterranean appeal, and surrounded by bright tropical plants. Excitement blossomed within her at the sight of such beauty and elegance—the backdrop for her personal fantasy.

“Incredible.” She looked back at her companion, unable to stop her own laughter from bubbling up out of her. “I wasn’t even aware of the plane descending.”

He winked at her. “Then I guess I lived up to my promise to keep you distracted.”

Oh, he’d definitely managed that. Her elation dwindled as reality made an uninvited appearance. So, his attention had been a ruse after all, to keep her mind off the short trek across the Atlantic. Of course. She’d been silly to think otherwise, even briefly.

“It was very nice meeting you, Alexis,” he said, drawing her out of her disappointing thoughts. Lifting her hand, he brushed a featherlight kiss across her knuckles, then finally released her from his hold.

She immediately missed the warmth he’d generated. “Likewise,” she replied.

Once the cabin door was open and they were free to exit the aircraft, they unbuckled their seat belts, along with two other female guests Alex hadn’t realized were sitting across from them until that moment. The four of them stepped out onto the walkway, and Alex squinted against the late afternoon sun as two men unloaded their luggage. The women’s bags were the first to appear and were tossed onto a brass cart. Jackson’s suitcases were next.

“Right this way, sir,” one of the employees instructed, and started down the walkway toward an older woman waiting at the end of the platform. Without a final backward glance at Alex, Jackson followed the other man.

Alex watched him go, and with each step he took that put distance between them, she grew more desperate to catch his attention again.

Just one more time.

“Jackson…” his name slipped from her lips before she could stop the impulse.

He turned around, inclining his head questioningly. “Yes?”

Now that she had his undivided attention, as well as the interest of the Fantasies, Inc. employees, what did she say?

“Thank you,” she said, expressing the gratitude he deserved. Self-consciously, she smoothed a hand down the front of her skirt and summoned a smile. “You made the flight more bearable, as well as enjoyable.”

“It was my pleasure,” he drawled in a low, sexy voice any woman would find vastly appealing. No doubt, many women had. “Maybe we’ll run into each other on the island.” With a final wave, he turned back around and continued on.

Butterflies hatched in Alex’s stomach, making her feel like a schoolgirl in the throes of a crush. And oh, what a wonderful feeling it was! “Yes, maybe,” she whispered to his retreating back. I certainly hope so.

Once her luggage was secured on a separate cart, Alex followed her guide to the end of the walkway. The woman who’d greeted Jackson moments ago now turned a bright smile her way. They clasped hands, and Alex was instantly immersed in the other woman’s warmth and hospitality.

“I’m Merrilee Schaefer-Weston,” she said, introducing herself. “And please call me Merrilee. Welcome to Seductive Fantasy, Alex.”

“Thank you. I’m thrilled to be here.” Alex had known just by talking to the other woman on the phone that she cared a great deal about her clients and their requests, and she immediately liked Merrilee. The kindness and dedication she witnessed in her gaze gave Alex more proof that the woman was devoted to her business and making her guest’s fantasies come true.

“The island is yours to do as you please, in whatever way it pertains to your personal fantasy,” Merrilee continued, and Alex was certain Jackson had received the same commentary before he’d disappeared down the path leading to the hotel. “If there is anything I can do to make your stay more enjoyable, I’m only a phone call away.” She indicated the pager clipped to the waistband of her taupe-colored slacks. “My guests and their comfort are my number one priority, and I’m available 24-7. Do you have any questions before your fantasy begins?”

“I do have one,” Alex admitted, chewing absently on her lower lip. “How will I know who my fantasy man is?”

A knowing smile curved Merrilee’s lips. “He’ll be everything you asked for, maybe more. He’ll pursue you and make his intentions known.”

Relief swept over Alex. “That’s good to hear, because I’m not real good at making the first move when it comes to the opposite sex.”

“You won’t have to.” The assurance in Merrilee’s voice rang strong and true. Then her expression softened perceptively. “And if I might impart a few words of advice before your fantasy begins, I’d tell you to follow your heart, Alex. It might lead you places you’ve never been before.”

Alex couldn’t contain the shiver that coursed through her at Merrilee’s statement.

Two hours after they parted ways, Alex sat on the patio of her opulent suite, watching the sun set over the horizon in brilliant shades of pinks, purples and oranges. She contemplated the other woman’s pearls of wisdom, and found Merrilee’s choice of words odd considering love and emotional commitment weren’t a part of her fantasy. She was entering this fantasy with practical expectations, not unrealistic hopes for the future.

Still puzzled but now hungry, Alex went back inside her room and flipped through the menu for room service. She had decided to eat in her room tonight—even if that meant missing out on her first opportunity to get acquainted with her fantasy man. She was too tired to be engaging, too exhausted to even enjoy a flirtatious advance. And admittedly, she was still too wound up from her encounter with Jackson to give another man a fair chance. She’d be refreshed and ready for romance and adventure after a good night’s sleep.

As she waited for her meal to arrive, she strolled back out to the balcony, wrapped her hands around the cool railing, and scanned the suites across from hers. She wondered which one was Jackson’s, and if he was off enjoying his own fantasy…and with whom.

WITH TIKI TORCHES and moonlight illuminating his way, Jackson strolled from his private cottage on the beach along the curving walkway that wound around the resort’s lavish pool area. Without a doubt, the island was ideal for romance, forbidden temptation and erotic trysts. Unfortunately, disappointment was his only companion after his late-night walk to burn off the restless energy that had consumed him since arriving on Seductive Fantasy that afternoon.

Thanks to Mike’s help, Jackson had managed to discover Alexis’s flight times and book himself a seat on the same shuttle to the island, a way of insuring that they met before they even arrived at the resort. After how exceptionally well his first encounter with her had gone, he’d been hoping to proceed with his romantic pursuit this evening, but she hadn’t cooperated with his personal strategy. Much to his frustration, he hadn’t run into her since they’d parted ways at the dock.

With a harsh sigh of dissatisfaction, he made his way toward the Players’ Lounge, deciding that if he didn’t find Alexis in the singles’ club, he’d call it a night. He entered the establishment, sidled up to the bar, and ordered a Tom Collins. While he waited for his order, he searched the guests mingling in the lounge and the couples dancing to the tunes the band was playing, hoping to find a certain black-haired, blue-eyed woman.

“Looking for someone special?” a female voice asked.

Jackson turned on his stool and wasn’t surprised to find Merrilee standing beside him at the mahogany and brass bar. During the day he’d seen her around the resort tending to her guests’ comfort and needs. And checking up on the progress of her clients’ fantasies, he assumed. “As a matter of fact, I am.”

A knowing smile made its way to her lips. “Alexis Baylor, by chance?”

He stiffened in his seat, wondering how in the world she’d made that connection when he’d been so careful to keep his intentions to himself. “What makes you think I’m looking for her?” The bartender delivered his drink, and Jackson thanked the other man.

“It was just a guess.” She tilted her head, regarding him through kind blue eyes. “My pilot told me that the two of you hit it off on the flight over from Miami, and I saw the interaction between you and Alexis at the dock.”

He laughed, breaking up the tension that banded his chest. Seeing no harm in divulging the truth, he said, “An accurate guess, I admit.” He took a long swallow of his cool, tangy drink and reached for the bowl of shelled peanuts on the counter. “I was looking for Alexis.”

“Well, Ms. Baylor opted to eat dinner in her room,” Merrilee informed him. “At last account she was in bed for the night.”

Jackson met Merrilee’s gaze as he took another drink, trying to gauge why she was supplying him with so much personal information on Alexis. “Looks like my efforts at trying to find her tonight were futile then.”

“But tomorrow is another day.”

“So it is.”

Merrilee hesitated for a moment, then said, “On your fantasy application and when we spoke on the phone before you booked your trip, you said you wanted to find a woman you could open up to and trust.”

“Yes.” He managed, just barely, to refrain from wincing as a twinge of guilt nudged him. The lie he’d fabricated for a believable and acceptable fantasy had been a necessity, one he wasn’t exactly proud of considering how much he liked and respected Merrilee. But he’d been pushed too far by one woman too many, and in order to obtain what he truly wanted from Alexis Baylor, he had no choice but to hold tight to that pretense.

He continued. “My relationships with women have been…lacking. And I’ve been betrayed one time too many.” That much was pure truth. “It’s a novel concept to me to be able to trust a woman.”

She gave a compassionate nod of understanding. “I did tell you that you’d have to see how your request played out once you were at the resort, that I couldn’t guarantee that you’d find a woman who suited your fantasy.”

He tossed a few peanuts into his mouth and chewed. “I remember.”

“However, I did want to ask, how does Alexis fit your perception of the kind of woman you want to open up to and trust?”

Jackson nearly choked on his peanuts. Coughing, he washed down the snack with a huge gulp of his drink. If he wasn’t mistaken, she was singling him out, and offering him exactly what he wanted—a direct link to Alexis, all based on their connection on the seaplane.

He regained his composure and clung to his pretense. “I’ve only met her once, but Alexis could be that woman.” He stared Merrilee straight in the eyes. “I definitely want to get to know her better, but the question is, do I fit into her reason for being here at Seductive Fantasy?”

“I believe you could, very easily. But of course the decision to accept you will ultimately be up to Alexis.”

If all went as he planned, Jackson didn’t see that as a problem, not after the way Alexis had reacted so favorably to him on the seaplane. He’d use that attraction to his advantage. “So, how do I go about doing this?” he asked.

“Well, I can help you out a bit.” She smiled mischievously. “As part of your fantasy, and Alexis’s, 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 isn’t 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 she’s the one who makes up for all those other women in your life.”

Jackson forced a smile and held back the comment, she’s 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 Alexis’s room for future reference.

He shook his head as the day’s events filtered through his mind. His first evening on the island certainly hadn’t turned out as he’d expected. Then again, if he was honest with himself, Alexis Baylor wasn’t what he’d anticipated, either. Not at all.

The pictures Mike had taken of her had accurately depicted her physical attributes. What those candid snapshots hadn’t 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 wasn’t 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 she’d displayed on the seaplane had clashed with the image of the ruthless businesswoman he’d conjured in his mind. She’d been far more demure and reserved than he’d 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-minded—a combination most women found difficult to withstand. And Merrilee had offered him the perfect opportunity to make Alexis the center of his attention. He’d 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 wouldn’t be able to resist him. Pursuing her, and delving past all that reserve, wouldn’t 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 Alexis’s room. The interior was dark, but she’d 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 couldn’t stop himself from wondering what she slept in—something silky and decadent as Mike had suggested during his investigative report, or nothing at all? A slow burn settled in Jackson’s belly at the thought.

Soon, he’d find out.

Tomorrow, the seduction would begin.