Chapter 1
"Damn," Shane said under his breath as the bedside phone began to ring. Bright sunlight assaulted his eyes as he brushed his shoulder length brown hair away from his face and looked at the offending instrument. "Leave a fucking message," he murmured before he rolled over. When he heard the click of the answering machine in the living room pick up the call, he rolled over.
The scent of the woman beside him filled his senses. She smelled of expensive perfume and stale wine as she turned her face toward him and opened her eyes.
"Good morning, lover," she purred as she touched his cheek with her hand. Her long blond hair, no doubt from a bottle, splayed across her pillow as she smiled at him with love swollen lips.
Shane winced at her touch. Her hand felt cool against his unshaved face. Bringing her home from the party last night seemed like a good idea at the time. She had been flirting with him all night, making sure he knew what she wanted. He didn't let her down.
Shane broke his number one rule, he'd let her come home with him rather than going to the woman's place. He had no intention of bringing her to his apartment, but she'd made him so damn horny and said they couldn't go to her place.
Now he was faced with finding a way to get rid of her. The last thing he wanted to do was share breakfast with the woman and plan the day with her. God, he wasn't even sure what her name was. Susan? Shirley? Something with an s, he was certain of that much.
Shane pulled away from her touch and sat up on the bed with his back to her. "I need a shower," he grumbled as he got up and walked to the bathroom.
Shelly. That was it!
When she gasped and chuckled, he turned to look at her. "You've got the imprint of my fingers on your ass. I didn't realize how hard I was holding on when I sucked you off last night."
Shane sighed. "Look, Shelley, we had a great time last night but--"
Her laugh cut him off. "We had a fabulous time. I've never met a man who could fuck better. But if you're trying to come up with a nice way to tell me to get lost, I'll spare you the effort."
Shane blinked as she got out of bed and reached for her clothes. "I've got a husband who is probably wondering why I didn't come home last night."
Shit!
She grinned as she walked up to him. "You see, I used you just as much as you used me." She planted a kiss on his lips as she buttoned her blouse. "Thanks for scratching that itch for me. You were great."
As she walked to the bedroom door, she turned and looked at him. "By the way, my name is Sandy."
Her laughter split the air as he heard the apartment door close firmly, leaving him standing in the middle of his bedroom stark naked.
Shane walked to the bed and sat down. No fucking wonder she didn't want to go to her place. That's what he got for thinking with his dick. Damn!
Shane flopped back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Since his marriage broke up three years ago, Shane often enjoyed women's company. The short-lived marriage had left him bitter enough to know he'd never commit to anyone again, but that didn't mean he didn't want great sex as often as he could get it.
He'd always been the user. Until now, that is.
Shane sighed when the phone rang. He considered letting the answering machine get it again and then decided to answer it.
"Shane!" Cordelia Von Helt's familiar voice sounded on the other end. "I heard you got to town and moved into your new apartment a couple days ago."
Shane smiled fondly. "Yeah," he said, "Still a bit of unpacking to do, but I'm here."
"And you didn't call me immediately? I'm disappointed in you, Shane," she chided softly.
"I'm sorry, Cor. This past week has been crazy." He decided not to tell her about the party he'd gone to the night before. "I'll come by to see you today."
"Well, that's why I'm calling. I'd like to you come to my summer house on Carleton Island for the weekend."
"Oh, Cor, I can't do that. I'm starting my new job on Monday and I've still got so much to do around here." He hated the idea of disappointing the old woman, but he didn't have a choice. "Maybe we can do it some other weekend, after I'm settled in."
Cordelia's voice grew cool as she replied. "Shane, I've known you for many years and I've never asked you to do anything for me. I need you to come to my summer house this weekend and I won't take no for an answer."
"Cordelia," Shane said, "It's not that I don't want to--"
"Good," she said quickly. I'll send my driver to pick you up in an hour."
)
Cordelia Von Helt is on a mission. The eccentric rich widow wants to prove that love really can happen. After a disastrous marriage, Lucy is convinced she'll never love again. There was simply too much pain involved. Besides, the sex with her ex-husband was never very good anyway. Why go through all that again? Shane has his own concerns to deal with. After his own bad marriage, he promised himself he'd never fall in love again and, since his divorce, he's had a long line of willing women keeping his bed warm at night. What more does a man need? Cordelia sets out to prove them both wrong, and tricks Lucy and the disillusioned playboy into spending a long weekend at her summerhouse. The moment Lucy and Shane find themselves alone, passionate sparks fly. Still, good sex is one thing, but how can they find the love they both so desperately need?
