Island Pleasures(4)

Quinn swallowed uncomfortably. He already failed in the romance department with Carly. Most likely she’d run in the opposite direction when she saw him coming.

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” he asked, slumping in his seat.

“No.”

He stood, clutching the file. “You own me big time.”

“I imagine I will,” Jagger muttered, reaching into his desk drawer to pull out a bottle of aspirin.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll research my mark.” With a cocky salute, Quinn stomped out of the room.





Chapter Three





Her picture didn’t disturb him as he’d expected. Even though her hair was a lighter shade and tied in a braid, and thick-framed glasses hid her large, beautiful brown eyes, he’d recognize the face anywhere. Quinn traced a nail over the spotting of freckles on Carly’s nose. He had touched and kissed them in his dorm room, which led to one of the most memorable nights of his life. He had also kissed the other freckles on her body. He especially liked the grouping near her navel….

A screech from the pool area jerked him out of his musings. He took out his handkerchief and patted his forehead, glad he’d left his jacket and tie in his office. He wanted Carly to believe he took life easy, like Woody who sat at the bar talking to a woman wearing an understated sundress. Laughing, she tilted her head back, allowing a few of her tresses to escape from her clip and land on her shoulders.

“Carly,” he whispered, rolling up the file.

She suddenly stared in his direction.

He slapped the file against his hip, smiling when her jaw dropped and alarm filled her face. Something electric and searing settled in his groin. He went to stalk his prey.





Oh, shit.

She ran her damp palms over her lap. What were the odds not only an old classmate would be working for the resort, but an ex-lover as well? Well, more like a one-night stand when it came to Quinn Alfasi, the reserved, half-Irish, half-Moroccan hunk who’d made her horny for most of her senior year at LVU.

“Earth to Cassidy.” Woody waved his hand in front of her face.

“Sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew. It’s such a small world.” She struggled to think of an excuse to leave before Quinn ruined everything.

“You can say that again.” Woody took a long pull of his beer and beamed at her.

“Too bad Carly couldn’t be here. You remember my sister, right?” She admired the way the sun bounced off his hair, displaying the burgundy strands and drawing attention to his magnetic, bronzed face. “Speaking of which, I should give her a call to say I’ve arrived. She tends to worry, especially with me so far away.”

His brow knitted. “She’s probably concerned about you vacationing alone so soon after your divorce.”

“Divorce?”

She turned to find Quinn staring at her with blinding green eyes. Her legs turned to Jell-O.

“My man! You’ll never guess who I ran into.” Woody slapped him on the back. “Cassidy, do you remember Quinn Alfasi? He was my roommate at LVU. Now he makes sure the resort runs in tip top shape. Wasn’t your sister good friends with him?”

Her heart jumped into her throat. “Ah, I think so.”

“The resemblance is remarkable. Good to see you again, Cassidy. How long has it been?” Quinn held out his hand.

Here goes. Giving him a cheery smile, she met his stare straight on and lifted her chin, refusing to cower.

He curved his hand around hers and peered down at her chest.

Gritting her teeth, she resisted the urge to snap her fingers in front of his face. The Quinn she once knew would have never done such a thing. But his appreciative, rather lusty expression indicated times had changed.

Two can play at this game. She captured his wrist, noting the rapid beat of his pulse. Hmm…interesting. She squeezed. Come on, let me go. He didn’t.

He lifted their linked fingers to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. His eyes glittered in defiance, his warm breath rushing over her, making her stomach clench.

“It’s been years,” she whispered, tugging.

He released her and fiddled with his shirt collar. “Six years to be exact.”

She zoned in on his movements, noting the dusting of black hair rising from the opening of his shirt. Once she had run her tongue across his—

“I can’t believe it’s been that long.” Woody said, breaking the moment.

“What a strange coincidence, seeing you again and here of all places.” she said, grabbing a napkin and blotting away the sweat on her upper lip.

“Here, use this,” Quinn offered her an ivory handkerchief. When she didn’t take it, he waved it in front of her face. “It won’t bite.”