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  “Go where?” he’d asked her.

  Cynda relaxed against the makeshift bed Reid had created on the floor. Her breasts jiggled when she landed. “Anywhere.” She smiled. “Let’s just go.”

  To tell her no, that he couldn’t go because of his obligation to her family broke his heart. Why couldn’t she just come with him?

  He felt his shaft throb. Not wanting his boss or coworker to see his newly aroused state, Reid sat, still holding the remote control.

  “Cynda, why did you swim naked in the Planet Hollywood pool?” a reporter asked before she got stuffed into the backseat of a police car.

  Reid had to hear this. Her family owned resorts everywhere including a clothing-optional place in Jamaica. She could have gone anywhere where she wouldn’t have caused a stir.

  “One more thing to check off my bucket list.” She smiled and stared directly into the camera. “Check!” She puckered her lips and mimicked a kiss.

  Reid had to bite his bottom lip to keep from laughing at her response. From her stare, Reid felt like she could see him, as though she spoke directly to him. He couldn’t pull away from her light brown gaze from her almond-shaped eyes.

  Even years later, even with the heartbreak, Cynda still managed to snag his attention, his lust, his absolute need. Reid had seen her do some wild stunts in the past. This public nudity thing had him stumped.

  “Damn it!” Donald slammed his fist down on the table.

  The noise jolted Reid so that he and Graham had to bring their attentions to him.

  Donald wiped his hand over his head and then removed his glasses. “I apologize. I’ll have to cut this visit short.” He gathered his paperwork. As though the three of them hadn’t just watched the same news story, he said, “A family matter has come up.”

  “I know this isn’t a good time to ask, but, sir, have you decided which plan you would like to go with?” Graham rose to his feet, towering over Reid.

  Reid’s gut tightened from Graham’s no-nonsense attitude. He couldn’t give the man a break from him talking about business so that he could concentrate on his family.

  Maybe Reid should have been envious of Graham’s business sense. His heart wouldn’t let him forget that at one time Cynda Richmond had been an important person in his life. Overall, he still cared for her as a friend and as a person he used to date.

  Donald volleyed his gaze between Graham and Reid who remained seated. “Both ideas have merit. I want them both to work. Reid, come up with a schedule. Graham, come up with advertising ideas to support both the singles and the family activities.”

  As Donald gathered his things, Reid summoned the strength to ask him something important.

  “I know this is not the best time to ask you, but—”

  “I told you to go with both ideas.” The level of frustration rose in Donald’s voice, but Reid knew Donald’s attitude had nothing to do with him.

  “No, my question has to do with the marketing.” Reid remained seated, a position he didn’t want to adopt, but with his current erection, he couldn’t stand up just yet to talk to his boss eye to eye.

  “What about the marketing, Reid?” Graham asked from behind him with a little bite to his tone.

  Reid felt the heat from Graham’s gaze behind his head. He kept his focus on his boss. “I want to oversee all the marketing for this project and for future—”

  “Graham can do that.” Donald threw his coat over the crook of his arm.

  As Reid felt his erection subside, he started to stand from his chair. “Yes, but I can—”

  “At this point, I just need for people to do what they’re supposed to do.”

  Reid felt deflated. He knew Donald’s statement had everything to do with Cynda and her recent stunt. It still hurt him that Donald seemed to dismiss him.

  “Right, of course.” Reid slipped down into his seat. “I know you’re dealing with a lot with your family. I will stay here and work through Christmas.”

  Donald stopped at the door and stared at Reid.

  “Please tell your wife I’m sorry I won’t be visiting Virginia during the holidays.” Reid smiled as a way to cover his disappointment. On the inside, it felt like his stomach sank to the floor. “Maybe next year.”

  Donald gave Reid a single nod before walking out the door.

  Reid had hoped for a normal Christmas. He had to look at it on the positive side. He had a place to live. He still had a job. Cynda Richmond, even though she was stateside, would be far, far away from him.

  As the police car drove away on the TV screen, Reid turned off the TV. It hit him at that moment that he never got the chance to show Donald his presentation of his fully fleshed out plans. Probably a good thing he didn’t attempt to continue to push his ideas, not after Donald witnessed Cynda’s antics.

  “What was that about?” Graham glared at Reid as he settled into his seat.

  Although Reid didn’t feel the need to explain himself, he did offer an honest answer. “Just trying to expand my skill level.”

  His thick but manicured eyebrow shot up. “I see. Maybe you should take Mr. Richmond’s advice and do what you’re supposed to do. It’ll make it easier on everyone not to rock the boat.”

  Reid glared at the man but bit his tongue, careful not to start an argument. He didn’t need to make enemies. He would try again another time.

  Graham released an exasperated sigh. “I guess we both have some work to do.” He occupied his chair again. “Let’s get started. I’m only in town for a short while.”

  Reid liked that Graham wanted to get to work on this project now. That meant he didn’t have to think about how his two ideas he presented to Donald did not get the full stamp of approval that he’d hoped.

  “Sure. Let’s come up with a plan.” He smiled as he resigned himself to the idea that he would be spending another Christmas with his staff.

  Not a bad thing. Just not what he expected.

  Chapter Two

  Cynda Richmond threw clothes into a flowered suitcase, a sweet-sixteen gift she’d kept for more than twelve years. Nearly two months had gone by since her arrest for skinny-dipping in a Vegas pool. She didn’t think it would be a big deal for her to strip down and take a swim at the same place that hosted a party for those New Jersey kids with their own reality TV show.

  Some of her clothes and other personal items remained in her parents’ house in Virginia Beach. Cynda felt that wherever she landed became her home. Right now the hotel room in Miami substituted for her home until she checked out to hop on a plane.

  She left the TV on for some mindless white noise. Ducking into the bathroom to retrieve the rest of her hygiene products, she heard a reporter on the TV bring up a topic she tried to avoid for the last few months.

  “So, folks, just a few more days until the reported end of days based on the Mayan calendar.” The female reporter sounded way too chipper in relaying this information.

  “Any plans in case all of this is true?” her male counterpart asked.

  “I don’t know. Eat a pint of ice cream and drink margaritas.” She laughed. “I won’t have to worry about dieting again, right?”

  Cynda straightened the platinum-blonde wig she wore today as she stared at her reflection in the mirror while trying to ignore the mindless reporter banter.

  Dressing to the nines for a long flight didn’t rate high as a place where she should look glamorous. Out of habit, she did slather a pink-tinted lip gloss over her lips. For who she would be seeing, she couldn’t believe her nerves didn’t attack her more. Then again, she always felt a sense of calm around her childhood friend, Reid Weller.

  “Ice cream and margaritas? Not what I would have thought. I think I’m going to ask Angelina Jolie on a date. If we’re all going to die, at least I know the embarrassment of her turning me down won’t kill me.” He laughed and it sounded like one of those fake, full-bellied game-show host laughs.

  Cynda stormed into the room and picked up the remote. “So stupid
.” She turned off the TV.

  No one should make fun of dying. She loved life. No matter what she did, she hoped people understood that about her, especially Reid Weller.

  Could she settle down with just one man? Definitely. She could see herself married. To have herself be rooted to one spot seemed like a death sentence. In her own way, she’d tried freeing Reid of his self-imposed imprisonment. He seemed to like being shackled to mediocrity, bound to her family.

  Knowing that Reid found happiness with her parents but hadn’t bothered to reach out to her seemed strange. She and her parents, especially her father, had butted heads so many times she almost wore a football helmet to one of their last meetings. Getting him to understand her topped her list of things to do on this trip.

  Make Dad love me again. Check…soon.

  Cynda grabbed her phone and stared at it. One great lesson her father had taught her about business had to do with the right time to negotiate. People seemed to be more giving around the holidays. If she wanted to be taken seriously, she had to do the right thing.

  For years, Cynda had been wanting to open her own resort spa. She knew she wanted to name it Cyn’s Hideaway. She knew she wanted to cater to all people, not just the rich folks her parents chose to befriend.

  She’d talked to a business friend of hers about her dream, and he’d been begging her to call him to put her plans in motion. That next hurdle always stopped her in her tracks.

  Come on, girl. Just call the man for a meeting.

  Cynda shook her head and stuffed her phone in her purse. Once she got to Colorado, she would call him. If nothing else, she could plan something at the beginning of the year…if she made it.

  She didn’t have a lot of time before she had to catch her flight and get to Colorado. Several hours later and too many small bags of peanuts to count, Cynda landed in Colorado, the one place she never thought she would want to go if the earth were to end. She had a goal, and Reid Weller topped the goal list.

  Instead of enlisting the family’s company car service, Cynda took a cab to the Village Resort. She didn’t mind taking the semipublic transportation. Most cab drivers didn’t know her so they wouldn’t ask her the typical annoying questions that got posed to her all the time like how much money her family had and who she dated.

  She had no idea about the money. When people brought the subject up, Cynda quickly changed the topic. As far as dating, she hoped to remedy her singlehood status with this trip.

  As soon as she got dropped off at the resort, Cynda hit the ground running. She grabbed her suitcase, ignoring the pleas from the doorman, and sauntered to the front desk.

  The registration desk clerk smiled. Then she did what Cynda called the “recognition blink.” The young woman stared at her for a moment and blinked while she let her mouth hang open.

  Cynda expected that the employees at her family’s business would recognize her. She also suspected that they felt obligated to be nice to her even though she’d been labeled as reckless and immature by her family and the media.

  “Hello, Ms. Richmond.” The clerk sounded almost breathless.

  “Please. Cynda. Ms. Richmond is my stuffy older sister.” Cynda smiled to reassure the nervous woman. “I know I didn’t call ahead. It’s sort of a surprise for me that I’m here. Are there any rooms available?” Below the registration counter, she crossed her fingers and hoped the answer would be no.

  The clerk didn’t even bother to look down at her screen. “I’m sorry, Ms. Rich—uh, Cynda. We are booked solid. Your parents’ quarters are being remodeled. It’s just framing right now. I’m so, so sorry.”

  Cynda put her hand up. She had to fight the urge to hop around and do a happy dance. “Not your fault. Like I said, this was a spur-of-the-moment trip for me.” She pretended to think for a moment as she tapped the heel of her stiletto on the marble floor, but she already had a plan in mind. Getting the staff’s buy in on her agenda had to be factored in to her goal, otherwise her actions would look suspicious.

  “I can call around and look for another hotel for you.” The clerk picked up a phone receiver and started to dial.

  “No.” Cynda peered to her right and caught the image of the resort’s concierge who struck an alarming resemblance to Reid.

  He had the immense height. He had shaggy, brown hair. When he glanced her way, Cynda’s heart sank. He didn’t have the same puppy-dog brown eyes like Reid or that strong, angled nose or his cute, kissable lips.

  Cynda brought her attention back to the front desk. “The general manager has a two-bedroom chalet here, right? I can stay there.”

  The clerk’s bottom lip hung open again. “Ms. Richmond, uh, Cynda, ma’am, I can’t do that.”

  “Why? Does he have someone staying with him already?” A twinge of jealousy swept through her belly.

  It had been a few years since Cynda and Reid had separated. She couldn’t expect that the man would still be single, not a man as sexy and smart and kind as him.

  “I don’t think so, but Mr. Weller keeps his personal life very private.” The desk clerk cleared her throat. “I don’t have the authority to allow you to stay in Mr. Weller’s chalet. I mean, essentially that’s his home.”

  She stared at the frightened young woman with slicked-back blonde hair who now had a hard time looking at Cynda in the eyes. “I know you can’t authorize me staying in Reid’s home. If Reid and I hadn’t grown up together since before we hit puberty, I wouldn’t have even proposed the suggestion. But I’m here. I need a place. I would really hate to call my dad and tell him that his daughter couldn’t stay on one of his properties.” Cynda would never do that because it sounded like something a spoiled brat would do.

  Judging from the clerk’s wide-eyed reaction, Cynda achieved her goal.

  The clerk returned the receiver to its cradle. “No, ma’am. That will not be necessary. Please let me at least call Mr. Weller to let him know that—”

  “No!” Cynda picked up her suitcase. “I want it to be a surprise.”

  “I’m sure it will.” The clerk picked up a small walkie-talkie and called over to housekeeping.

  Good. Josie knew her and knew how to keep a secret. The woman had seen Cynda in many eyebrow-raising situations in the past without uttering a word to anyone.

  She watched the petite firecracker with short, spiky, brown hair to boot marching down the long corridor toward her. The closer she got to Cynda, the wider her smile became. Her light brown eyes sparkled. In her gaze, Cynda found the understanding and acceptance she could never get from her own father.

  When Josephina got to the front desk, she wasted no time in embracing Cynda. For a tiny woman, her hugs matched that of a linebacker.

  “What are you doing here?” Josie asked then kissed Cynda on her cheek.

  “A surprise. Figured I would do a Christmas holiday here.” It would be better than spending time with her parents.

  “You mean you’re visiting publicly?” Josie cut her a suspicious stare.

  Cynda knew what she meant and had to clear her throat and pull the woman away from the front desk to prevent the clerk from overhearing something she shouldn’t. “Colorado is gorgeous in the winter. Who wouldn’t want to be here for Christmas?”

  “And you’re going to Reid’s chalet?” Josie’s eyebrows shot upward.

  Cynda’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Two bedrooms, right? I’ll take one room, and he’ll have the other.”

  Josie screwed up her lips and pushed an “uh-huh” through them.

  Cynda remembered that during her high school graduation party, Josie caught her and Reid making out pretty hard in her parents’ pool house. If she remembered it right, Reid had had his hand up her skirt and Cynda had her hand down his pants, not a great image for a family friend to see.

  Had the woman not walked in on them, she would have caught her losing her virginity to him. She did accomplish that a week later when they stayed at her parents’ beachside home in the Outer Banks.

&
nbsp; Even then, Reid had had it all together. He never seemed nervous around her. He’d protected her in so many ways, with her secrets and her body.

  Before Reid, Cynda had dated a myriad of boys from their school. Every one of them fumbled and stuttered around her, especially when it came to kissing and any type of intimacy.

  Not Reid. As she remembered him, as a kid, he matched her goofball attitude. When it came to sex, he turned into a man who knew how to take care of a woman.

  In her parents’ Outer Banks vacation home, he took off every piece of Cynda’s clothing and kissed every part of her body from her eyelids down to the soles of her feet. She never felt more cherished in her life.

  She remembered how great his body looked once he stripped out of his clothes. Long, lean, and fit thanks to his training with the school’s basketball team. The very first time she saw his hardened cock, she had to blink. Like Reid, it sat up long and strong. Unlike him, it curved. Being unpredictable didn’t match Reid’s demeanor.

  When he finally entered her, ever so slowly, he never took his gaze off hers. That intense connection heightened the experience, so much so that she compared every sexual experience she had, including the ones with Reid, to that one. None of them ever lived up to that moment.

  Years later, just thinking about how good Reid felt inside her had her knees buckling as she walked next to Josie. She had to keep herself together until she reached Reid’s place.

  “Look, I just want to spend a quiet holiday with my friends. No one is more subdued than Reid. Between his long working hours and his quiet nature, I’ll have a lot of time to myself.”

  Cynda said the words, but she didn’t truly mean them. She wanted to spend every waking moment with Reid, getting to know him and finding out why he couldn’t pick up and leave with her when she left.

  “I want to believe you, sweet pea, but I know how you are. Where you go, drama tends to follow.” Josie shook her head. “Come on. Get in my truck. I’ll take you to his place. It’ll be faster than walking through the labyrinth.” She held up a gold card. “I have a key. I can get you in.”