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Chapter 18: PART ONE
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Sunstroke Chapter 19: PART ONE
Zack had taken Michael to his suite where they'd spent hours talking, feeling their way toward each other, equally hungry for details about then other person. It had been an agonizing night for both of them as they tried to figure out this unexpected relationship, both venting their bitterness that Bailey had kept them from each other.By four in the morning, they still had no answers, but exhaustion overtook them. Michael conked out on the couch, and Zack lay down in his bed, sure he'd never be able to sleep. He was shocked when he opened his eyes again and saw it was morning and Michael was standing in the bedroom doorway."I used one of the toothbrushes in your bathroom," he said. "Hope that's okay.""Of course." He sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. "I could use a hot shower and a gallon of coffee. How about you?"Michael nodded. "You bet. I went down to my car before and brought my duffel up here. I hope that's okay. I just came back from a trip for Clay."He'd alre
Sunstroke Chapter 20: PART ONE
Bailey turned over in bed, pressing herself against Zack's muscular body. She wondered if she'd ever get used to the joy of being with him. Of waking up with him every day and going to sleep with him every night."I don't think I'm ready to get up yet," Zack murmured, stroking her back with gentle fingers. "But I suppose we can't stay in bed forever.""Who says?" Bailey teased."How about the man who wants your body twenty-four seven?""Oh." She giggled. "Then I'll have to think about it."He continued to caress her body, following the line of her back and the curved shape of her bottom."Don't think too long. I think we have company in bed with us." He jerked his hips slightly, enough so she could feel the hard length of his cock, swollen and pressing into her belly."Well, well." She swallowed a smile. "Eager little thing, isn't he.""Hey!" He adopted an offended tone. "Don't use the word little when you talk about him.""I'll give you that the word doesn't apply where he's
Sunstroke Chapter 21: PART TWO
SUNSTROKEPart TwoThe story continuesI still can't believe this is happening. Maybe I'll wake up and find out it's all just a bad dream.Yeah, right.Robin Hanna tucked her long brown hair behind one ear and looked at the computer screen for perhaps the one-hundredth time. She had a headache from staring at numbers for so long and the taste of frustration was bitter on her tongue. She'd worked late three nights in a row and still didn't feel as if she'd accomplished what she needed to. Getting information for Jonas Faulkner had been the easy part. Protecting her clients was a lot more difficult. Damn Raymond Forrester anyway.Damn herself, while she was at it, for being smart enough to spot what was happening. And stupid enough to work for a man who was laundering money for the Russians and stealing from his clients while doing it. If only she could wave a wand and make things go back to the way they were. She had spotted the discrepancies by accident, her business and
Sunstroke Chapter 22: PART TWO
Robin wanted to ask her what was going on but she figured she'd better just shut up and do what she was told. Jonas had the uncanny ability to make things happen when he needed to and she'd learned to trust him. So she stripped off her clothing, including her shoes, pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and slipped her feet into rubber-soled shoes. "Not glamorous," the woman said, "but they'll protect your feet from the snow. The plows cleared the streets this morning and the drifts have done a little melting today."A fleece-lined jacket completed the outfit. Then Robin took the ponytail holder the woman handed her and yanked her long hair into a tail. "Ready." At least she hoped she was. "Good. Here we go."Robin's heart was thumping as the woman opened a door in the back wall and ushered her outside. A brown sedan idled just beyond the door. The driver, a muscular man in a soft collared shirt and jeans, leaned over and pushed open the door. "We need to get going, anyway."
Sunstroke Chapter 23: PART TWO
"Yes. Because tomorrow I'm getting you someplace safe, far away from here. I started that in motion as soon as I hung up from your call.""Oh!" She hadn't given much thought to what she'd do next. "Well, sure, although I'm not sure how much help I cam be.""You'd be surprised at what the brain registers and remembers. At least it gives us a starting point."The tea had taken the edge off the cold enough that she could unzip her jacket although she didn't take it off. In fact, she wondered if she'd ever be warm again."Okay, go ahead and see if you can get someone. I'll do my best.""One more thing." He slid over a pad of paper that was sitting on the table and handed it to her along with a pen. "I need you to write down all your sizes, even for your...He paused."...your delicate items."If she hadn't been so uptight, Robin would have laughed. Unflappable Jonas, uncomfortable discussing ladies lingerie."Okay, but what for?""We're sending you out of town and you obviously can't
Sunstroke Chapter 24: PART TWO
Trey DeMarcus, Commander, US Navy, Retired, ushered his client from his office to the reception area. As they walked he reassured him one more time that all the paperwork was in order and he had nothing to worry about. Today Lloyd Bridger had seemed more tiresome than usual. He was a nitpicker without equal, although Trey figured to amass as much wealth as he had, he'd have had to be. But the man was now in his late eighties, retired and occupying himself with nitpicking changes to the dispersion of his estate. Trey chastised himself for being irritated, but this was so far from the law he'd practiced for twenty years-and the law he wanted to practice now- it wasn't even on the same map.You wanted the change.No, I didn't. Laura did.Laura. Even thinking her name sent a shaft of pain right through his heart. "Did you get Bridger all squared away?" Trey looked up to see Art Finnergan, one of his partners, lounging in his office doorway. Art handled estate planning for the firm,
Sunstroke Chapter 25: PART TWO
"Trey?" Art's voice cut into his reverie."What?" He gave himself a mental shake. "Oh, vacation. I don't know. I can't seem to work up the enthusiasm.""Well, give it some thought, okay? We're just a little concerned for you." He paused. "You know we're all happy to take up the slack to give you whatever time you need."He ground his teeth. "Worried I'll fall down on the job? Am I not pulling my weight?"Art had the good grace to look a little embarrassed. "Not at all. You more than pull your share around here. Hell, just taking Bridger off everyone's hands ought to earn you a bonus. But-" He paused."But you're worried about my state of mind. Is it because Laura's making no secret of the fact that she's seeing someone while I'm not? Is that it?" He had deliberately not ventured out into places where he might run into her. Even after a year, seeing her with another man would be the pits."Trey, we all know this is a painful thing to go through. The partners all want you to know w
Sunstroke Chapter 26: PART TWO
Instead of heading home to his high rise condo, he decided to try a new bar he'd heard people raving about. It had a fireplace, which today would be a big plus for him. He could enjoy its warmth, have a drink and lick his wounds once and for all. Because, truth be told, it ate at him that Laura seemed to have her life under control and had moved on without so much as a ripple, while he beat himself up every day over what he could have done differently."Nothing," Art Finnergan had told him. "Don't get upset with me, but from what I hear, everyone's surprised that it lasted as long as it did."Trey had stared at him. "But people are just getting to know me. I haven't lived in Newport for almost twenty years.""True. But your ex-wife has been back a lot since you first lived here and she took up residence nearly a year ago. She's a partner in a business here that puts her in contact with half of Newport. People have had a chance to assess her and get to know her."Trey wasn't sure i
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