Chapter 326: Dream Versus RealityHe was staring up at an azure sky. A warm summer breeze caressed his face. He turned his head and Jackie smiled at him, her deep blue eyes sparkling. "Where were you?" she asked.Scott shrugged. "I don't know.""Well, you're back now. That's what counts." She took his hand and led him to a bed in the middle of a sun-drenched field full of flowers. The bed's sheer white canopy billowed in the breeze. Kissing his hand, she released it, reaching up to slide first one, then the other spaghetti strap of her filmy white dress, allowing it to slide down her body and pool at her bare feet. His gaze slid from her sapphire eyes to her succulent lips. Then it traveled over the firm globes of her breasts with their pert pink nipples, to the flair of her hips, to the junction between her thighs where tight black curls were neatly trimmed. When he met her eyes again, she smiled knowingly and sank to her knees, bowing her head and resting her hands palm
Chapter 327: No Time Like the Present"You should go home and get some rest, Jackie."Without taking her eyes off Scott, asleep in his hospital bed, she reached for Blake's hand. "I can't. I need to be here when he wakes up.""You're sure?"She nodded, then looked to her brother. "Can you take care of the kids? I hate to impose, but…""No worries, Jackie. Now that the storm's over, we'll take them back to our house. Amy's more comfortable there, anyway. We'll have a sleepover party."Jackie sighed. "I know they're ready to be back in their own beds. But I'll be home tomorrow, for sure, at least overnight.""Okay, sis." He kissed Jackie on the cheek. "Keep us posted."In the quiet of the hospital room, Jackie pulled a chair beside Scott's bed. As soon as they'd arrived back at the lodge, Blake and some of the others had carried Scott to the battered Suburban, laying him on the back seat.At Amy's insistence, Blake had driven Jackie and Scott to town. By the time they reache
Chapter 328: Epilogue"Just one more push, you're doing great," the doctor said."How are you holding up, Dad?"Bleary-eyed, he nodded to the pink scrubs-clad nurse. He was ready for this long night to be over.He felt her starting to squeeze his hand again. "You've got this, babe," he murmured, kissing her forehead.Eyes closed and teeth clenched, she bore down, releasing a grunting squeal with the effort."Stop! There we are, Mom. The head is out. Now don't push, just breathe for a moment."Still holding her hand, he leaned over to see the back of the baby's head. His heart was in his throat and tears streamed down his face."Now this is it. On the next contraction, go ahead and push."He turned back to her. Eyes wide, she panted, gripping his hand for dear life."Oh, God, here it comes," she cried."You're doing great, I'm so proud of you," he murmured, turning to watch as their child was born.Fifteen minutes later, he strode down the hospital corridor to the family waiting
Chapter 1: The Beginning…She was excited. And nervous. Which she felt more she couldn't say. Anything to get out of Akron. Not really. Not just anything. The most amazing opportunity she'd had.Is this really happening? Or will I wake up and realize it was only a dream?Bella Grant checked her trunk again. Three months was a long time. What have I forgotten? She frowned. Don't be stupid. You can get anything you need. You aren't going to the Amazon rain forest.After calling down to the front desk for bell service, she made one last tour of the suite to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything. Hearing the knock, she opened the door to find the bellman waiting in the hallway. She stepped back and admitted him to the suite. "It's just these," waving her hand to indicate her trunk, cosmetic case, and camera bag.The bellman hesitated when he saw the trunk. Inwardly, Bella smiled. It was huge, a vintage Louis Vuitton steamer trunk that had once belonged to her grandf
Chapter 2: Meeting Destiny?Bella walked up to the Virgin Atlantic First-Class ticket counter. "You should have a reservation for Bella Grant?" she asked."Ms. Grant. Yes, your tickets are not available at this time. I've been instructed to ask you to wait in the First-Class lounge. Your party is already there," replied the clerk."Thank you," she said. Approaching the door to the lounge, to herself, "Here we go…"She walked in and glanced around. There were several men waiting alone. None was immediately apparent as a television photographer. "Crap…" whispered to herself. Then she heard a deep voice behind her."Bella?" She turned to see a man with deep brown eyes looking her way, his closely cropped salt and pepper hair matching his mustache and goatee. He was tanned as though he spent a great deal of time outdoors. She smiled her best TV anchor smile and moved toward him with her right hand outstretched. "Hello! Bella. Isabella. Um, just Bella. Grant. And you are?"
Chapter 3: A Job Offer(One month earlier)Luke awoke, a sharp pain pulsing over his left eye. I should have had more water, he thought reproachfully. He tossed off the covers, glancing back at the sleeping form on the other side of his bed. The brunette shifted in her sleep, the sheet falling away to reveal an ample left tit with a dark erect nipple. And no tan line, he noticed. What was her name again? Martita? Marina? He vaguely remembered chatting her up at the bar last night. God, I do stupid things when I drink Scotch.He pulled on some shorts and went up on the deck of the boat to smoke and think. Lighting his cigar, he reflected on his life. Six months ago, he'd retired from being a news photog, moved back to Tampa and was living on a boat he rented from a buddy. He'd finally had enough.Charlie had said it would happen, that he'd get sick of all the war and blood and tragedy. At the time, he'd considered the old man jaded, just plain tired. After all, Luke was a
Chapter 4: I Loved That Glass"Good to know you still have a way with the ladies," Charlie quipped."Yeah, fuck you!" Luke laughed. "Why are you calling?""I'm executive producing a new show," said Charlie. "I need a first-rate photog.""If I come across one, I'll let you know.""I'm talking to one right now.""No, no, no," Luke replied. "I am loving life right now. No responsibilities. No commitments. I'm living on a rented boat. Fish all day, drink all night, plenty of beautiful women. I'm quite ok, thanks.""You sound bored, you ask me.""Notice I didn't ask you.""You don't even know the concept. It's not news, no blood and guts and shit. I'm working for TLC—the This is Living Channel. It's a travel show…""Ooohhh, not no, then. It's oh, HELL NO!""Just wait. I want this to be different from anything else out there. You'd co-produce. I'm going to tell you where to go, my office will make the travel arrangements, then you find the stories, make it what you think peop
Chapter 5: Last Chance to Change Your Mind(An hour ago)Luke arrived at the airport slightly hung over. Should have known better than to go out drinking with Charlie, he thought. The two men had barhopped for a while, finally landing at Luke's favorite Manhattan pub, Paddy Reilly's on the lower east side. They'd been in luck and caught the Prodigals' set at eleven.Charlie had been in chat mode all evening. "So tell me about the dame you were with when I called you that day," he probed.Luke rolled his eyes. "Just some chick from a bar. I don't know. What do you want me to say?""What you need is to find a nice girl, settle down," Charlie slurred. "Bella is a nice girl.""Bella?" Luke asked."Aw, dammit, I didn't mean for you to know her name before you met her," Charlie shook his head. "Bourbon loosens my lips." He blew a raspberry for emphasis.Luke had felt a flash of irritation at the notion of settling down. "I've been married, and you saw how that turned out.""You ma