ASTONBy the time my shift ended, I was bone tired and yet still strangely exhilarated at the same time. The hard work that came with being the manager now that the hotel was so much busier left me exhausted at the end of each day, yet more fulfilled than I've ever been before.My exhilaration wasn’t only work-related though. My earlier conversation with Blake left my head in the clouds and my heart beating double time. During that conversation, for the first time I felt like I really knew him and that there was something between us that was real.I logged out of my computer and locked up my office, still wishing I could have taken Blake up on his offer. Tiffany was walking down the hall just then, skipping up to me when she realized I had my bag slung over my shoulder."Well, would you look at that? Our fearless leader is packing up on time for once. Hey, what are you going to do now? I’m heading to the beach. Running into you like this makes me think fate wants you to come with me."

BLAKEMom? I blinked, and then I blinked again. I kept thinking the woman standing in front of me was going to be gone when I opened my eyes again.My feet wouldn’t move. Neither would my legs. It seemed my limbs weren’t responding to the signals my brain was sending them. My hand was still on the doorjamb, my feet rooted to the spot right in the entrance of my father’s room.I hadn’t seen this woman since I was a child, but she was smiling at me with her arms extended a little, like she either wanted to squeeze my cheeks or was waiting for a hug. Neither of those things was going to happen.Over my dead fucking body was I letting this woman touch me. She left us when I was so young I barely had any memories of her. I could count the ones I did have out on my fingers. We hadn’t seen or heard from her since, which begged the question.“What are you doing here?”The hopeful smile on her face fell. Her hands dropped limply to her sides, then she started toying with her slender fingers. “

ASTON“I want to assure you that I will only be a phone call away at all times. If you need me, call. I only plan on taking vacation for a few days, but if I need to come back earlier, I will.” A sea of faces looked at me from around the biggest conference room we had at the hotel.I had called a staff meeting first thing this morning to announce I was taking some time off. While I’d made up my mind to go to Florida, I didn’t want my employees to feel like I was skipping out on them. I needed to make sure everyone knew I was only going for a few days and that they could contact me anytime they needed to.Most of the people scattered around the room smiled at me. A few looked just plain bored and were staring out the windows at the beach and ocean beyond. Calling a meeting to talk about my vacation wasn’t strictly necessary and I understood why some people were bored, but I needed people to be assured my leaving had nothing to do with the cuts.Smiling or bored now, everyone expressed

BLAKEAston? My lips curled all the way up. I couldn’t believe it. She was the second woman I’d seen unexpectedly in as many days, but this one I actually wanted to see. I was moving toward her before I even realized what I was doing.I spread my arms wide when I got to her. She stepped into them and buried her head in my chest. I hugged her close and breathed in deeply. “What are you doing here?”She lifted her head, her green eyes bright and happy. “You’ve done so much for me, I wanted to return the favor and be there for you for once.”I pressed a kiss to her forehead, nuzzling her temple. “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.”“I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.” Giving me a dazzling smile, she stood up on her toes and brushed a kiss to my lips. “I can do that now, it feels good.”“Not as good as this will,” I lowered my head and sealed my mouth over hers. Her lips were warm and soft, and she tasted like coffee and a sweetness I was learning was all her. She gasped so

ASTONHe thought he owed me and wanted to make it up to me? I liked the sound of that. We only just made it into Blake’s room before his lips were slanted over mine, soft and firm and hungry. The feel of his tongue licking at the seam of my lips made everything else disappear from my mind in an instant.My lips parted, a soft moan escaping before his tongue darted into my mouth, expertly licking and sucking and exploring.He tasted just as good as I remembered. Like only Blake could.When he kicked the door shut behind us, we were like animals. He was on me in a second, my back pushing into the hard mattress. A soft moan escaped from my lips. Blake’s hips had a mind of their own, rolling against me in a way that made my mind splinter into a million pieces.One of his hands dug into my thigh while the other was clamped to my ribs. He had me caged underneath his big body. I had longed to feel like this again since the last time we were together.As if I was possessed by him. Enveloped b