Double Dare
By
Rhonda Nelson
Copyrights
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This book is an original publication of the author who wrote the story herein contained.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
“Double Dare” copyright © 2011 by Rhonda Nelson.
This book has been published by Rhonda Nelson at Smashwords.
Cover Art by Dee Tenorio, Laideebug Digital
Formatting by Laideebug Digital, www.laideebugdigital.com
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Table Of Contents
Chapter One
“Drive, Jaynes!”
In a blur of white satin and lace, Louisa Marie Honeycutt dove into the waiting limousine, slid across the expansive leather seat, then with a furtive look out the tinted window, issued the desperate order again.
Befuddled, her driver started to protest. “But—”
“Now!” Lou demanded, frantically battling the clinging net of her veil from her face.
Startled by her vehemence, Jaynes’ usually light foot hit the accelerator hard. Tires squealed as Lou’s head snapped back from the unexpected jolt.
Lou blinked, then sighed with overwhelming relief as the big car swiftly lengthened the distance between herself and the church.
She’d done it! She’d escaped! Narrowly, and admittedly not by conventional methods, but the fact remained that she was free.
Giddy with a sense of liberation, Lou clamped a hand over mouth to keep a wicked giggle from escaping.
“Might I ask where we are going, miss?” Jaynes’s distressed voice asked hesitantly.
Lou frowned. Her mental cheerleading session came to a halt. “I haven’t gotten that far in my plan yet, Jaynes. Just get as far away from the church as you can,” she instructed grimly. The satin of her gown hissed as she shifted into a more comfortable position.
Eyes darting nervously between the road and the rearview mirror, her timid driver cleared his throat.
“May I be so bold as to ask a question, miss?”
In the process of removing the dratted veil from her head, Lou sighed patiently. Though she was certain Jaynes had played the part of spy for her exasperating overprotective father, Lou had always had a soft spot in her heart for the aging driver. For whatever reason, she had the uncanny notion he returned her feelings.
“Permission granted, Jaynes. Ask away.”
“I was, uh, curious as to the w-whereabouts of your, er…groom?”
Lou removed the last pin from the veil, wadded it up and banked it off the glass into the floorboard, then set about removing the pins from the elaborate knot of curls on her head. Excitement bubbled through her and she resisted the urge to do a wriggly little dance in her seat.
“I imagine he’s at the altar,” she replied matter-of-factly. “Where I left him.”
Jaynes’ eyes bugged and a little choking sound emerged from his throat. “Uh, miss. This— This is highly irregular. Your father will not be pleased. I must return—”
Lou’s grin disappeared and her gaze snapped to his. “You’ll do no such thing. As for my father, I’ll deal with him…at a later time.” An image of her intimidating sire flashed before Lou’s eyes, momentarily taking the starch out of her newfound spine. Lou winced. She’d also be forced to deal with her equally intimidating almost mother-in-law, but she, too, would have to wait.
“For now,” she told Jaynes, “you’ll do as I say, and I say we will not be returning to the church. Understood?”
Jaynes nodded reluctantly. “Fine, miss.”
One more hurdle taken care of, she thought. Lou tugged the last pin from her hair, then shook it free and massaged her tender scalp. Now what? Now what? Now what? she wondered. She couldn’t go back to the house. Her father would surely find her, then drag her kicking and screaming back to the sacrificial altar of marital bliss.
Humph. Like hell.
James Whitehorn Honeycutt would simply have to find another way to merge Honeycutt Foods with Reedwater Snacks. Regardless of what her father thought, the merger wasn’t worth her freedom, or her happiness.
“Miss?”
“Yes, Jaynes?” Lou said absently, her mind occupied, her gaze trained on the changing sky—partly cloudy, partly clear—as they neared the downtown Atlanta area.
“Y-you realize, of course, that this is only temporary,” he offered hesitantly.
Lou met his gaze in the mirror and quirked a brow.
Jaynes reddened, but blustered on. “Your father and Ms. Reedwater will insist upon the match. They’ll chalk up your defection to pre-wedding jitters and will simply reschedule the wedding.”
A line of displeasure formed between Lou’s brows. Drat. Double drat. Jaynes was right. As soon as her father managed to find her, he’d do exactly as her insightful driver had pointed out. And undoubtedly Lou thought grimly, the second time around he would see to it there was no avenue for escape.
Which was why she couldn’t be captured just yet, Lou decided, thoughtfully tapping a finger against her chin. She needed time. Time to formulate a plan and prepare an argument for her overbearing, well meaning, if misguided, lovable parent.
In order to pull this off, she would have to lie low. Obviously, staying with a friend was out of the question. Undoubtedly, he’d check with them first. Her next thought was a hotel, but she quickly nixed that plan as well. Her father was a resourceful man and wouldn’t hesitate to trace her credit cards. Lou made a mental note to stop by an ATM and withdraw a substantial amount of cash to subsidize this escape.
Okay. She couldn’t go home, she couldn’t go to a friend. Getting cash and checking into a hotel would take care of the immediate problem, but not the long-term one. She needed to get out of town. Her brow furrowed. But where could she possibly— Suddenly a phrase emblazoned on a nearby awning snagged her attention.
Are you ready for the time of your life?
Lou read the slogan of Double Dare, Inc., on the awning outside the red brick building, and felt a rush of excitement swirl through her. A bright ray of sunshine pierced the clouds and bathed the business front, giving the fanciful impression of divine intervention. A wonderful idea came to her, resulting in a small smile. Lou instructed Jaynes to circle the block, then attempted to recall everything she could about the rather unorthodox firm.
As best she could remember, Double Dare specialized in adventure guides for thrill seekers. In fact, several friends who’d employed the company’s services had also suggested that Lou hire them to plan her honeymoon. Lou hadn’t even considered the idea. In all truth, she’d worked up even less enthusiasm for the honeymoon than she had for the wedding. She’d let Chad take care of those arrangements.
She felt a little guilty, remembering the man she’d just humiliated before all of Atlanta’s elite. Though he’d never been so crass as to admit it, she didn’t believe Chad had particularly wanted to marry her either. Like herself, he’d just assumed he was obliged to help secure the merger and had gone along with what his high-handed, imperious mother had told him to do. A shudder of dread shook her at the thought of her almost-mother-in-law.
Coolly beautiful, Edwina Reedwater had a way about her that could make the most courageous person uneasy. Occasionally, Lou had even witnessed a tremor or two in her father’s unshakable fortitude when faced with the intimidating widow.
Edwina would be furious. With Lou. And out for blood.
Indecision gnawed at her.
Jaynes circled the block, once again passing the impressive business front, which housed Double Dare, Inc. Impossibly, the shaft of light shining on the building appeared brighter.
Lou made up her mind.
“Jaynes, keep circling until I tell you to stop.”
Suddenly, her father’s loud baritone blared over the radio attached to the dashboard. “Jaynes! Jaynes! Where the hell are you? Is Lou with you? Come in, Jaynes.”
Horrified, Lou met her driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror. But to her surprise, Jaynes took a deep breath and gave her a reassuring smile. He switched the radio off and Lou smiled gratefully.
“You’d best hurry, miss,” Jaynes advised.
Lou nodded and quickly went to work on her dress. She couldn’t very well waltz into Double Dare in her wedding finery, but she didn’t have time to stop and change. Especially not now.
Lou was thankful for the simple satin sheath she’d chosen for today. Though quite formal, it would suit her purposes with a little altering. Lou scooted forward, reached behind her back and deftly unhooked the chapel-length train, then shoved it aside. Seed pearls ricocheted off the tinted windows and pinged to the floor as she yanked the lacy overlay from the bodice of the dress. Her mood lightened with each tear of the fabric as she enthusiastically attacked another row of pearls. White gloves and thigh-high white stockings joined the growing heap of discards.
When there was nothing else to rip or tear from the dress, Lou smoothed her fingers over the modified Vera Wang and studied her handiwork. Not bad, she decided, suitably impressed with her impromptu alterations. Alterations which had proven very therapeutic, she thought with a smile. She flipped the visor down and checked her makeup, deemed it acceptable, then attempted to do something with her hair. Lou frowned. The tight blond ringlets were both her crowning glory and the bane of her existence.
And, despite the amount of hairspray the stylist had used, right now it was the latter. Her corkscrew curls stood out every which way, making her resemble a cross between Cruella DeVille and Medusa, she thought disgustedly. She needed a barrette, a headband, something.
Inspiration struck. Lou rifled through the bridal debris until she found the item she’d been looking for: her veil. Lips pursed, she inspected the fabric, then yanked it free of the headband. When she’d positioned the new accessory on her head, Lou smiled. Perfect.
“Okay, Jaynes. Take me to Double Dare, Inc.”
Lou wasn’t so interested in having the time of her life—she was more concerned with saving it.
***
Sam Rawlins looked at the depressing figure displayed in ominous LED green on his desktop calculator, then flipped his pen on the desk. The tiny thump it made was positively pitiful.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbed the bridge of his nose and exhaled a mighty breath. Hell, at the rate he was going, it would be at least another year before he could get the magazine off the ground.
Another year of performing stunts, when he’d rather be writing about them.
Sam muttered a heartfelt, “Aw, hell”—his greatest concession to any setback no matter how bad—then leaned forward and set his mind to today’s task. Though the thought of further delays was bitterly depressing, The Edge would simply have to wait until he possessed the capital for the start-up.
He reached blindly into his bottom drawer in search of his daily nourishment. Empty cellophane wrappers rattled, heralding a futile search. Annoyed, Sam frowned and pulled the carton from the drawer. Empty. It figured. Another “Aw, hell,” emerged from his mouth as he stared at the carton. A blond, blue-eyed pixie with rosy lips stared back at him. No more than eight, the bright-eyed child on the box wore an impish grin that always made him smile.
His stomach grumbled and the smile disappeared. “Not even eleven o’clock and it’s already been a double Aw-hell day,” he said to no one in particular, then tossed the box into the trash.
Outside his office, Sam heard the telltale swoosh of the door closing. “Mona, you’re late,” he called threateningly.
“Yeah, I know, but I brought a peace offering,” she returned, not the least bit repentant or intimidated. A few seconds later his punctually-challenged, slower-than-a-sloth secretary shuffled into his office, then hurled a carton of Honey-Lu’s Fudgy–Nutty cakes at him. “It’s Saturday, Sam,” she said in an unhurried drawl, which perfectly matched her equally speedless personality. “Be thankful I’m here.”
Sam grinned and caught the box in midair.
Mona rolled her eyes disgustedly, “Geez, you’re easy. I had to sleep with my last boss to get a grin like that. Gimme a minute, “she added, “and I’ll get your coffee. Make that five minutes. No ten.”
Having grown accustomed to Mona’s slightly warped brand of humor, Sam ignored her comments. “What have we got this morning?” he called to her retreating figure.
“Nothing,” Mona’s disembodied voice returned. “So why am I here?”
“Mona,” Sam warned, his usual response to these verbal skirmishes. He heard her put-upon sigh and smiled.
“Simon and I are both on schedule,” his secretary informed him finally. “Brent had a setback yesterday due to inclement weather, but plans to complete his expedition this afternoon.”
Sam nodded, simultaneously digesting the information and the food. Good. Now if there weren’t any major setbacks—there are always a few minor ones, no matter how many precautions were taken—then this week would go off without a hitch.
As for himself, he didn’t have an adventure planned until the middle of next week. Ordinarily, he didn’t have a lengthy break between stunts, but the leaky roof on his mother’s house simply couldn’t wait any longer. He grimaced. Another spring shower and her foyer would resemble an ornamental pond.
Mona returned, the promised coffee in hand. “There’s a limo out front. You didn’t have an appointment scheduled. Are you expecting someone?”
Sam shook his head and chewed thoughtfully as Mona left to investigate. A limo. That sounded promising, he thought, so long as it wasn’t a woman. Sam had nothing against the fairer sex, per se. However, despite their best intentions, they usually balked at some point, which often meant he lost half his profit.
Furthermore, most of the socialites who had the money to afford the agency’s services seemed to think that his guides came as part of the deal. Sam employed men who kept themselves in excellent shape, not just to look good, but because physical fitness was imperative in this line of work.
As a result, to avoid lawsuits and other unpleasantness, Sam strictly prohibited any sort of romantic involvement between his guides and clients. He didn’t advertise much, but counted mostly on referrals. Hell, one broken-hearted debutante with a rich daddy could ruin him professionally as well as financially. He refused to allow the risk—he couldn’t afford it.
Sam was brushing the cake crumbs off his desk when Mona returned. “So, who’s here?”
“One Louisa Honeycutt.”
Damn. A woman. “Honeycutt,” Sam murmured thoughtfully. Why did that name ring a bell? Before he could ponder it any further, Mona announced his impromptu appointment—without asking him, of course—and ushered the woman into his office.
She didn’t fit the picture in his mind of a female client who’d arrived in a chauffeur-driven limo. He’d seen them before. The face and shape changed, but the uniform and posture rarely did. Sleek, polished, Donna Karan suit, Ferragamo pumps, an expensive sort of glow.
But this woman was different.
Clouds of curly, honey-colored hair framed a heart-shaped face that was virtually devoid of makeup and too charmingly cute to be called beautiful. She had big, baby blue eyes, glinting with intelligence and something delightfully mischievous, and long, gold-tipped lashes. A spattering of tawny freckles dusted her nose, and a little dimple winked beside her rosy lips. He’d seen that face before…but where?
She reddened under his stare and cleared her throat. “Good morning, Mr. Rawlins. I appreciate your seeing me on such short notice.” Her gaze slid to his desk and a hint of a smile teased her lightly glossed lips. “I hope I didn’t interrupt your breakfast.”
The sound of her voice snapped Sam to attention. “No, no. Not at all.” Feeling foolish, he summoned a smile and extended his hand. Hers was soft and so small that he gentled his grasp to keep from hurting her.
Feel uncharacteristically disconcerted, Sam willed himself to focus on business. He cleared his throat. “Ms. Honeycutt, have a seat.”
“Call me Lou, please,” she replied.
Per his invitation, she perched on the edge of the chair. At that point, Sam noticed her dress. And what healthy male—hell, living male—wouldn’t notice that dress?
Made of white satin, it was a long, scoop-necked, body-hugging confection that left little doubt as to the slender, yet curvy form beneath. The dress was so tight Sam was inclined to believe it had been shrink-wrapped on. He could see the outline of her ribs. Her hips. Teeth clenched, he sucked in a slow breath. If she were wearing underwear—and that was a big if—it would have to be white silk and he’d bet his next mortgage payment it was a thong.
Sam shifted in his seat and took a sip of coffee to wet his suddenly parched mouth. Aw, hell he thought again. She was a potential client. Placing mental wagers on the choice of her undergarments was hardly professional. Still, the idea made him think of other unmentionables; and, before he could stop himself, Sam’s wayward gaze had moved to her breasts. He swallowed tightly. Just as he suspected—no bra either.
“I need to go on an adventure today,” the woman who wanted to be called Lou announced brightly.
Sam blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“An adventure, she said, excitement sparkling in her baby blues. She leaned forward. “What can you arrange for me immediately? Like today. Preferably in another part of the country. I’d like to leave as soon as possible.” She smiled and made a little victorious salute with her fist. “I’m ready for the time of my life.”
Chapter Two
Sam’s libido wilted. He felt an idiotic grin curve his lips. “You’re serious.”
“Quite,” she confirmed with a patient smile. “Now if you’ll just outline your packages, I’ll choose one and we can be on our way.”
She folded her hands in her lap and waited with an expectant smile.
Dumbfounded, Sam raked a hand through his hair, let out a heavy breath, then leaned forward. He could feel the idiot grin on his face again and made a valiant effort to erase it from his lips. “Look, Ms. Honeycutt—”
“Lou, please,” she demurred with a smile. “And I assure you, any adventure will do. I’m quite flexible. However, time is of the essence, so whatever package you think will suit—”
“Ms. Honeycutt. Er, Lou,” he corrected at her arched brow. Sam gave a little disbelieving chuckle. “I’m afraid you’re confused about the service my company provides. We aren’t a travel agency, ma’am. We’re adventure guides.”
“Perfect,” she beamed. “I’m in need of an adventure. Now which one would you suggest?”
Was she purposely misunderstanding? Sam wondered. Inwardly, he sighed. “Again, I think that you’ve been given some misinformation about our firm and the services we provide. We don’t have any packages or unplanned adventures. You plan your own adventure and Double Dare provides a guide and handles all the necessary preparations.”
Her delicate brows drew together. “You mean I have to think up something on my own?”
Sam chuckled at the note of dread in her voice. “Well, it wouldn’t exactly be your adventure if you didn’t.”
She frowned thoughtfully. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t, would it?” She sighed, then brightened and aimed a thousand-watt smile at him. The familiarity of that grin struck Sam once more, but to his puzzlement he still couldn’t place it. “Well, be that as it may,” she said determinedly, “I’d still like to go on an immediate adventure. Couldn’t we just do a by-the-seat-of-our-pants affair?” She waved her hand airily. “Maybe start with a trip to the beach? I’ve always wanted to try snorkeling.”
Snorkeling? Same smothered a laugh. She didn’t need Double Dare, she needed a big bathtub…and a buddy.
Admittedly, he needed the money and her adventure would most likely be the tamest expedition he’d ever hosted. But something told him—some innate sense of self-preservation—that getting involved on any level with this gorgeous creature would be a monumental mistake. For someone who made his living by taking risks, Sam was exceedingly careful with personal decisions. His swift physical reaction to her had made Lou Honeycutt a personal decision.
Presently, Sam didn’t have time for a relationship, permanently or otherwise. And wouldn’t ever have time for one if he didn’t concentrate on business.
“Look, Ms. Honeycutt—” Sam leaned forward and prepared to stand. “—I really think that given your needs, you’d be better off soliciting the aid of a good travel agent. I can recommend one, if you—”
“I see,” she interrupted crisply. “Snorkeling is too tame for you. Okay. Fine. I can think of something else. Quite honestly, I didn’t think that I would have to justify my adventure.” She speared him with a dry look. “And you are the one who pointed out that I must invent my own. Nevertheless," she sighed, “if snorkeling isn’t your style I’m certain that I can come up with something a little more…titillating. Let’s see,” she mused.
Aw, hell. “Ms. Honeycutt—”
“What if I swam with sharks?” she suggested. “Personally, I have always found dolphins more to my liking. Such graceful creatures. And we wouldn’t have to worry about getting eaten by them, but I guess that’s the draw, huh?” She frowned with distaste. “The danger of being ripped apart limb from limb. Bit in half by a great white or the like.” Her eyes widened. “Dismembered or disemboweled by a flesh-eating fish that anyone with half a brain shouldn’t want to be near, much less swim with, but…”
At this point, Sam almost laughed. She seemed to be talking more to herself than to him and, despite his intentions otherwise, he found her preoccupation oddly delightful. Nevertheless, he needed to steer her to another agency.
“Ms. Honeycutt,“ he tried again.
“Or,” she kept right on, as though he hadn’t spoken a word, “I suppose I could see trekking after Bigfoot. Truthfully, I’ve never given more than a passing thought to the fabled Sasquatch, but…”
“Ms. Honeycutt,” Sam interrupted more forcefully before she could regale him with her thoughts on the pros and cons of chasing the mythical being. “I really think—”
“Look, Mr. Rawlins,” she interrupted anxiously. A hint of desperation rang in her voice. “I’m in need of an adventure.” She took a deep breath and a wobbly smile teased her lips. “A t-ten to fourteen day adventure, to be exact. Obviously, I don’t have anything specific in mind, but I need to leave at once.” Her gaze searched his. “I’ll pay handsomely for your services.”
Something in her tone, her demeanor set off a warning bell in Sam’s head. Man-eating sharks and Bigfoot forgotten, he paused and gave her a considering look. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”
A sharp titter of patently false laughter erupted from her throat, reinforcing Sam’s suspicions. Giving him a don’t-be-silly look, she reached up and twisted a coil of gold hair around her finger. “T-trouble?” she stuttered. “No, of course not. Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know…” Sam trailed off absently. A broken string with a few tiny pearls lay next to the curve of her breast. A breast he shouldn’t have been looking at, but… Puzzled, Sam frowned. Noticing the direction of his gaze, she blushed and jerked her arm down.
“As an added incentive, I’ll offer a b-bonus.”
With that remark Sam tensed and looked away for a moment. Why did the haves always assume the have-nots could be bought? He forced a tight smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t work that way.”
“I never assumed you did. I’m not trying to buy you, Mr. Rawlins,” she assured, smiling again. “I’m trying to buy some ti-, er…an adventure,” she hastily corrected. Puffing a breath of air on her nails, she blithely polished them on her dress. Her gaze darted to his, then back to her nails. “A spur of the moment request deserves additional compensation, of course.”
She casually named another figure—one so staggering Sam’s jaw dropped. One that, despite his reservations, he couldn’t simply reject out of hand…because it would make his dream—the premiere issue of The Edge—a reality.
***
Lou waited silently for Sam’s response to her offer. The moment she’d walked into his office, for reasons she couldn’t explain, it had become increasingly important to her that he be the one to facilitate her getaway.
The fact that he was utterly gorgeous played little part in the illogical reasoning, Lou was sure. She couldn’t be that shallow. Could she? Yes, she admitted as her gaze once again strayed to the sensual curve of his semi-smiling lips, she most definitely could.
Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Lou found herself incredibly drawn to the man. He was big and rugged and all those adjectives which referred to an ultra-masculine man. The kind of man a woman sighed over. Lou gulped. And wanted. Not the kind of man who she generally kept company with, for sure.
But what female in her right mind wouldn’t find him attractive? Sam Rawlins was classically handsome and powerfully built.
Silvery eyes, the palest shade of gray Lou had ever had the pleasure to gaze into, were set above a nose that looked as though it had been broken at least once. His hair was a deep brown--like dark chocolate--and a tad longer than what was presently considered fashionable. Oh, yeah, Lou thought, swallowing another sigh. Definitely gorgeous.
He simply had to help her.
“Ten to fourteen days?” he asked her at last.
Lou’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes, I’m afraid I can’t be flexible with that issue.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “And you have to begin at once?”
“At once,” Lou confirmed. Wincing, she added, “And I’m afraid that I can’t be flexible on that point either. I need to leave as soon as possible. Sooner, really.”
His brow lifted a fraction of an inch and a corner of his lip twitched into the impression of a smile. “Just what exactly can you be flexible on?”
“Everything else,” Lou assured him with a contrite grin. She felt like a recalcitrant child who’d been called into the principal’s office.
He sighed deeply and gave her another long, considering look. Lou fought the urge to fidget under that liquid silver gaze. “All right,” he relented at last to her relief. “I’ll consider guiding your adventure. However—” He smiled. “—even I can’t make a snorkeling adventure last your required number of days.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s a little after eleven now. Why don’t we meet for a late lunch? Say…two? I can get a start on the initial arrangements and you can plan the rest of your adventure.”
Lou stiffened her shoulders to keep them from sagging with relief. Another hurdle taken care of, she thought, nodding in agreement. She smiled happily. “Sounds like a great idea to me,” she told him. “See how flexible I can be?”
His lips quirked again, as though he didn’t quite know what to make of her. Lou liked that. Liked being mysterious…adventurous. A thought struck her so suddenly, she almost laughed out loud.
This would be fun! In a few short minutes, she’d be planning her very own adventure…
An adventure she would be taking with a sinfully good-looking man. With a covert look in Sam’s direction, Lou instantly warmed to her topic. Warmed, period.
His sole purpose was to ensure that she had a good time. She felt positively wicked. What a perfect setup! Why hadn’t she done this before?
“So, where would you like to meet for lunch?” the object of her lusty thoughts asked.
Lou blinked. Meet for lunch? Uh-oh. Another hurdle. “Would you mind if we met in my suite?” she asked him. She didn’t have a suite yet, but she’d get one. Somewhere.
“Sure,” he said slowly, giving her a perplexed look. “Where?”
Where, indeed? Lou thought. She gave him the name of a local hotel the company used for various functions and prayed they’d have a suite available.
At his nod, Lou stood and prepared to leave. “Well, if everything’s in order,” she trilled, hastily moving to the door before he could reconsider, “I’ll leave you to your work and see you at lunch. Thanks so mu—” Lou turned to bid him good-bye and slammed into the hard wall of his muscled chest. She blinked and stepped back. “—much,” she finished lamely, staring at the bottom button of his polo shirt. Eyes wide, she looked up.
“Sorry,” he murmured, lips tilted slightly upward into that almost-grin, which seemed to be his trademark.
This close to him, Lou didn’t seem to be able to get her breath. “No p-problem,” she squeaked. “See you at two.”
With that, Lou ducked her head and quickly made her escape. Once outside, she leaned against the brick wall and took a deep breath. Partly because she hadn’t since slamming into Sam Rawlins and partly out of relief. Head back, she giggled a little. The absurdity and stress of the past few weeks hit her all at once, resulting in a stream of laughter that had several people glancing oddly at her as they walked past.
Are you ready for the time of your life? Lou read again.
Not yet...but she was getting there.
***
What in the hell had he just done? Sam wondered for the umpteenth time since Lou Honeycutt had fled his office. Well, he supposed it didn’t matter now. He’d taken her on as a client and, in more than seven years of service, had never reneged on an agreement. He’d promised her an adventure and, as soon as she could give him something to go on—besides the snorkeling trip—he’d get to work on it.
Rather than think about all the possible consequences of taking her on as a client, Sam chose to focus on the positive—his magazine.
Lou Honeycutt’s “additional compensation” would more than adequately cover the start-up costs of The Edge. Within a couple of months, the glossy adventure magazine that had been his dream for the past three years could be on the stands.
The idea had originated from the popularity of Double Dare’s monthly brochure. Mona’s brainchild, the brochure detailed some of the more adventurous exploits of his clients and had served to generate a great deal of referral and second-trip business.
With a sporadic schedule, occasionally the circular—which he’d enjoyed putting together as much as the adventures themselves—got shoved to the end of Sam’s to-do list. His clients complained. They enjoyed reading about the feats of fellow adventurers. Many clients didn’t wait until the pamphlet could be mailed out, but stopped by the office to pick one up instead.
Their avid interest in a company brochure that had been primarily designed to improve business had given Sam a brainchild of his own—The Edge.
In addition to cutting back on the necessity for him to lead adventure tours, he hoped to eventually phase out of his participation as a guide. A successful magazine would enable him to start his own permanent adventure—a family.
When he’d first started his business some seven years ago, Sam had given little thought as to how he could successfully manage this particular business and a family. Quite frankly, he’d never imagined himself as a married man when he’d been traveling all over the world performing death-defying stunts.
But the dreams of the young risk-taker he’d been then differed greatly form the man he’d become. The glamour had long since worn off and now left Sam feeling restless and at odds. He wanted the whole “Honey, I’m home” dream. A grin tugged at his lips. A modest brick rancher and a barbecue grill. Someone to share his life with, who would greet him with a smile and a kiss, and a toddler to tackle him around the knees. Not much by today’s standards, but everything by his own.
That’s why, against all reason, Sam couldn’t send Lou Honeycutt to a travel agent. She’d unwittingly dangled the means to his dream beneath his nose and he’d taken the opportunity. In return, he’d see to it that she got the time of her life.
Which meant he’d better get started.
“Mona,” he called, absently making notes to himself.
“What?” she bawled back.
Sam squashed his irritation as best he could. Simply announcing her name should have brought her to the office door. “Come to my office, please,” he told her through gritted teeth.
“Am I gonna be in there for a while? Jerry Springer’s on.”
Ruing the day the day he ever told her she could bring her small color television to the office, Sam struggled to keep his voice calm. “That depends on how long it takes you to come in here, receive your instructions and complete them.”
“Oh, all right,” she huffed testily. Sam heard the TV go off, then heard Mona’s chair slam against her desk. He winced. A moment later, she skulked into his office and glowered at him. “What?”
How she packed so much venom into that one word, Sam would never know. He ignored it. Mona’s nasty disposition had gotten her fired from more jobs than she could list on a typical resume. She was a perpetually unhappy, foul-mouthed, quick-tempered pain in the ass…with one redeeming quality.
She was one hell of a saleswoman, who could talk almost anyone into anything. Her phone skills were incomparable. Had any of those previous employers kept Mona around long enough to discover that, Sam wouldn’t have one of the very best secretaries in the greater Atlanta area. In this business, an employee with her particular skills was a must. Besides which, the moody Mona had grown on him. Despite her surly attitude, he sensed a kinder nature in her. She was nice to her cat. An animal lover couldn’t be all that bad, could they?
Sam smiled to butter her up, then outlined what accommodations he’d need to begin with. “Book us on the first available flight after four. Tampa’s not Fiji, but it’ll have to do on short notice. I’ll call you with the other details as soon as I know where else we’ll be going.”
Mona gave him a disbelieving look. “You want me to do this now?”
He nodded patiently. “Now would be good.”
“But it’s lunch.”
“Mona,” Sam warned, patience vanishing. He didn’t have time for this. “Come on now. Work your magic and show me why I hired you.”
Giving him a death-ray glare, his secretary pivoted and began her slow trek back to the reception area. “Humph. We both know you didn’t hire me because I possessed any skills.” She stopped and threw him an evil smile. “You hired me because I had a great ass.”
Stunned into silence, Sam chuckled and shook his head.
Chapter Three
Lou raked a brush through her hair, then twisted the tangled curls up and secured it with a clip. Her honeymoon luggage had certainly come in handy, she thought with a wry grin. On any other given day, she would have jumped at the chance to renew her wardrobe. However, today she wouldn’t have had the time. Just remedying her cash problem and getting this suite, then planning her adventure had taken up most of the three hours Sam Rawlins had given her.
The thought of the handsome adventure guide made Lou’s pulse leap. And considering she’d thought about him almost every other minute since leaving his office, her blood had been particularly active.
A knock at the door announced his arrival. Lou’s plasma did a little somersault. More than a little nervous, she made the quick trip to the door and pulled it open.
Sam Rawlins’s big frame filled the threshold. Impossibly, he looked even better than she remembered. Lou took a deep breath. “Come in,” she told him, ushering him into the suite. Lou started across the plush maroon carpet, then looked back over her shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of ordering for us. Club sandwiches okay with you?”
“Sure.” Grinning, he sauntered in behind her. “I’m flexible.”
Lou’s lips twitched and she felt a blush creep up her throat to her face. “Uh, well…good,” she remarked for lack of anything more clever to say. “Lunch should be here in a few minutes.”
“Great, because we don’t have very much time.”
Lou paused and turned to face him. For some unknown reason, apprehension momentarily gripped her. “We don’t?”
“That’s not a problem, is it?” Seemingly perplexed he paused and gave her a look. Concerned shadowed his steely gaze. “You said you needed to get started immediately.”
“Oh, no. It’s fine,” she assured. “The sooner the better.”
Feeling foolish, Lou shrugged off her uncertainty. This was what she wanted. Needed. Undoubtedly, she was plagued by last-minute jitters because she hadn’t contacted her father.
Manipulative though he was, her father wasn’t a bad person. Just a misguided one. She knew he’d worry, and didn’t want the guilt of his unwarranted anxiety heaped upon her shoulders. Lou worried her bottom lip. She’d send him a note, a telegram—were there still telegrams? Maybe the old fashioned yellow missive would only worry him more. Since her mother’s accidental death eleven years ago, James Honeycutt had becoming obsessively overprotective. Lou appreciated and even understood his concerns, but she still needed some breathing room. And a measure of freedom.
She fully intended to have it. Starting now.
She took a deep breath and blew it out with a whoosh. “So, when do we leave?”
His gaze shot to hers. “At a quarter ‘til five. We need to be at the airport an hour before departure.” He paused and scratched his temple. “I’ve brought along some paperwork you need to sign.”
Lou whistled inwardly. He worked fast. Puzzled, she frowned. “What kind of paperwork?”
“A disclaimer of sorts,” Sam replied, leafing through the sheaf of papers he’d brought along. He gave her a sheepish look. “In the event you meet an untimely demise during your, er, adventure.”
“Ah,” Lou replied, lifting her chin knowingly. “You wouldn’t want to be held liable for my folly. Say, if I got eaten by a shark? Or trampled by Bigfoot?”
He treated her to another of those sexy half smiles. “Exactly.” Sam plowed a hand through his hair, then reached back and rubbed his neck. He shot her a sideways glance. “You were kidding about the shark thing, right?”
Lou laughed. “Oh, definitely.”
Seemingly relieved, he anchored a hand at his waist and leaned casually against a dining room chair. “Well, in that case, how do you feel about manatees?”
The smile Lou wore froze on her face as she listened with feigned interest while Sam briefly outlined the first part of the adventure. Regret tugged his lips and he shrugged apologetically. “I know it’s probably not what you had in mind, but I think that you’ll enjoy them.”
Well, he’d been right, she thought. It wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind. Lou had imagined herself in a postcard-perfect travel fantasy, oohing and ahing over the brilliant colors of tropical fish—not slogging along behind a sea-cow. On the plus side, she’d look particularly thin compared to the aquatic heifer.
“It sounds lovely,” she told him, giving him a nod. “A nice start to my adventure. Speaking of which,” she said, pivoting on her heel,” I made a list of things I’d like to do over the next couple of weeks.” Lou hurried to her room, then returned with her notepad. She’d almost reached Sam’s side when lunch arrived. She thrust the pad at him. “Here. You can go over it while I take care of lunch.”
When Lou returned, Sam had made himself comfortable at the table. An ankle hooked over his knee, he’d pushed the chair back and sat in a casually slouched position she found inherently sexy. Only a man completely comfortable in his own skin could appear that relaxed in such a short period of time.
Looking at her notepad, he wore a bemused smile. He glanced up as she approached. His eyes twinkled with undisguised laughter and he tapped her notepad. “This is quite an unusual list.”
Lou drew her shoulders back and fought the urge to preen under his praise. She’d put a lot of thought into her adventure—of what he would think of her adventure, specifically. Smiling, Lou began to set their lunch onto the table. “Unusual, huh?” she remarked, shamefully fishing for another compliment. “Is that good?”
Tongue in cheek, he gave his head a little shake as he perused the list again. “Oh, yeah.” Sam wanted to laugh. “Though I have to say, most of these things would have been simple enough to have done at home.”
At home? She wondered. How the hell was she supposed to skydive from home? Lou’s head jerked up as panic and dread rocketed through her veins.
To Lou’s mounting horror, he began to read off the items…from the wrong list. “Eat ice cream straight from the carton. Get drunk. Smoke a cigarette.” He stifled a chuckle. “Give a traffic cop the single-finger salute—”
Mortified, Lou snatched the notepad from his hand. Heat climbed her neck and suffused her cheeks. “That, uh, is the wrong l-list.” Too humiliated to look at him, Lou tore the personal list from the pad and returned the notepad to him. “That’s the correct one.”
“Oh,” Sam said, looking sheepish. “Er, sorry. I thought—”
“That’s all right,” she interrupted quickly, fervently hoping his roving eye hadn’t read the last item on her list—the one in which she’d indicated she’d like to lose her virginity.
When she’d sat down to plan her adventure, it had occurred to Lou that the majority of the items on her list were things she should have experienced as a teenager. But then the average teenager hadn’t had James Honeycutt for a father. As such, her opportunities to raise a little hell had been pitifully lacking. Lou’s cheeks puffed as she exhaled heavily.
So she’d made two adventure lists. One for Sam to see to, and one for herself.
And she fully planned to check off every item on both lists before she returned to Atlanta.
Sam tapped the notepad again. “This shouldn’t be too hard to accommodate. I’ll contact my secretary and get her to handle the additional arrangements.” He looked up and his gaze met hers. Something wonderful, something electric, connected between them for an almost unbearable moment. “Well, Lou Honeycutt,” Sam drawled. “What do you say? Are you ready for the time of your life?”
Lou gulped and nodded mutely.
***
So she wanted to get drunk, get laid and smoke a cigarette, Sam thought later that evening as he leaned against the headboard of his bed. Hell, why didn’t she just join a sorority? It would have been considerably less expensive than the adventure she would be getting from him.
Legs crossed at the ankles, he chuckled softly and idly flipped through the local cable channels offered by Tampa’s West Winds Hotel.
Night had fallen hours ago, and he and the delightful Lou had long since parted company. Her smile had dimmed a little when he’d declined her invitation to dinner, but considering the fact that he’d had a perpetual erection since the moment she’d jogged up the concourse in that skimpy little dress she deemed proper flight attire, Sam didn’t think spending the evening with her a good idea.
Furthermore, Sam thought, mentally adding another con to the reasons-not-to-seduce-Lou list—she was a virgin. While Sam found the idea of innocence appealing, he wasn’t in the habit of seducing virgins. No matter how tempting. A woman who’d managed to keep her virginity intact for this long, obviously had a reason. Probably saving herself for her future husband, Sam concluded, annoyed at the sudden jolt of jealousy which shot through him. No, Lou Honeycutt was definitely off-limits.
In retrospect, Sam realized he’d been so blinded by her “additional compensation,” he’d failed to fully consider the fierce attraction he felt for her. It was a mistake he’d pay for and one that could only be remedied by not spending any more time with her than was absolutely necessary. A pang of something akin to regret struck him.
Frowning, Sam labeled the disquieting sensation hunger and reached for another Honey-Lu snack cake from his travel stash.
In all truth, Sam didn’t think he would be slighting Lou on her adventure. He wasn’t required to be a companion, just a guide. During the initial consultation with the client, he always made certain to distinguish the difference. Lou hadn’t been an exception. Besides, no fraternizing with a client during off hours had been his own rule and it had never bothered him. Until now.
Sam blew out a breath. He’d glimpsed vulnerability behind her bright smile, a combination of neediness and uncertainty that made something near his heart lurch.
Steeling himself against the notion, Sam refused to let himself think about Lou Honeycutt as a possible damsel in distress in need of a hero. She was his client. A means to an end. The path to his dream. With everything he’d ever wanted on the line, it was imperative that he keep his perspective, keep the ultimate goal in sight.
Besides, in addition to the sizable profit he’d make on this adventure, Lou apparently had some connections in the advertising business. She’d made off-handed comment on the fight south about contacting her publicist about some possible advertising for Double Dare. As a businessman, Sam couldn’t help but think what a little free advertising could do for his bottom line.
Vaguely, Sam wondered if Lou Honeycutt had her own fortune, or if she were delving into someone else’s to finance her adventure. No husband, he recalled thoughtfully. So that meant one of two things—either Lou was independently wealthy…or there was a daddy. He smirked.
Another reason to cross Lou off as a potential bed partner.
Really, Sam thought, despite all the oddness surrounding Lou’s impromptu adventure, this expedition should be a cinch. His flagging confidence perked up. Just as he’d suspected, her adventure didn’t require anything too bold. Pretty mundane stuff really. Skydiving, bungee jumping, deep-sea-fishing. He wouldn’t be bored, but he certainly wouldn’t suffer from adrenaline shock either. This would be a good vacation for him, Sam decided. A much needed vacation.
Then, as soon as his two weeks were up with Lou, he’d return to Atlanta and set everything into motion to launch his magazine. A confident feeling of well-being and harmony filled Sam. Lacing his fingers behind his head, he pulled in deep breath and sighed with supreme satisfaction. All was right with his world. He reached for another Fudgy-Nutty bar.
Chewing thoughtfully, Sam channel surfed until he landed on a Braves game. In his opinion, a man needed only three channels—news, sports and weather, in that order. Speaking of news, it was ten o’clock. Chipper was up at bat. Wincing regretfully, Sam flipped the channel. Maybe they’d show a replay.
“Good Evening,” a serious brunette announced to the viewing public. “WBHG has a heartbreaking story to report. Snack Cake mogul James Honeycutt—” She coughed and Sam paid attention. “Excuse me. Honeycutt’s daughter, Louisa—I’m sure we’re all familiar with the little angel on the popular snack-cake box—”
Sam did a double take as a picture of Lou Honeycutt was suddenly flashed on screen. His jaw dropped and his eyes bugged. His gaze flew to the box on the nightstand, then back to the screen.
“—was apparently abducted from her wedding this very morning.”
Abducted? Sam thought. From her wedding? Oh, God. The dress, the pearls…” Police have no leads at this time,” the brunette prophet-of-doom confided. “Mr. Honeycutt received a cryptic message this afternoon, informing him his daughter was indeed safe, and someone would contact him at a later time. Via satellite communication, our own Mitch Melville is with James Honeycutt and Louisa’s distraught groom at this very moment. Mitch?” the brunette queried.
Sam leaned forward with terrified fascination. The cake crumbs in his mouth turned to dust.
“Mitch Melville here,” another reporter announced. “I’m here with James Honeycutt and Chad Reedwater, Louisa’s father and groom respectively.” Mitch turned to the older man and thrust the microphone under his nose. “If this is, in fact, an abduction, will you cave to the kidnapper’s demands?”
“Of course,” Lou’s father boomed, affronted. Nauseated, Sam repeatedly swallowed while James Honeycutt pleaded for a safe return of his little girl. The Fudgy-Nutty cakes he’d just eaten sat like stones in the bottom of his churning stomach.
“Please,” her father pleaded to the unknown abductors. “Don’t hurt my little girl.”
Sam had a mental image of his dreams evaporating like a puff of smoke. Hell, when her father figured out what had happened, Sam would be lucky to keep his present business, much less start a new one. He was ruined. Utterly and completely ruined.
“Oh, I’m not gonna hurt her,” Sam murmured darkly, springing from the bed. He pulled on his shorts and strode to the door. “I'm going to wring her slender little neck.”
Chapter Four
Lou secured the bikini top, then pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail. True, it was a little late for a trip to the pool, but she’d been too wound up to sleep. Being poised on the brink of her very own adventure had left her nerves stretched to the breaking point. She couldn’t sit down, much less sleep.
How could she, when she’d finally gotten her first taste of freedom?
Getting on that plane had been the most unbelievably liberating experience. Admittedly, fleeing her wedding had taken guts, but that had been a quick decision made under extreme duress. Boarding that plane and telling her father and fiancé good-bye had been a calculated action designed to please no one but herself.
And it had been thrilling. Just plain thrilling.
Of course, she’d had a firm and respectful hand at her back--Sam’s. And that hand had been attached to one of the most gorgeous male bodies she’d ever had the sublime pleasure of gazing upon. A definite perk, Lou decided, her mind instantly calling up a mental image of the attractive adventure guide.
What better way to start her new life? A brand new adventure with a heart-stoppingly handsome guide to lead her. She had never been this excited about anything, Lou knew. Or this happy. Lou considered the smiling face in the mirror, the bright shining eyes and congratulated herself all over again.
Towel in hand, she pivoted and headed to the adjoining bedroom to get her mesh tote. She’d just added a book to her bag when a loud knock sounded at the door.
Lou jumped and apprehension momentarily seized her. Had her father found her already? But how was that possible? How could he—
“Lou?” Sam’s voice came through the door. “Lou I need to speak with you. Now.”
Relief hurtled through her. Sam. Excitement made her pulse leap. Smiling, she opened the door to find a barely dressed and oh-so-handsome Sam. “To what do I owe this honor?” she asked.
Her smile died a swift death at his thunderous expression.
“Pack your stuff,” he instructed sternly. His gaze traveled the length of her bikini-clad body and a muscle twitched in his jaw. “We’re going back to Atlanta.”
Lou blinked. “What? Why?”
Sam strode past her, grabbed the remote and aimed it at the TV. He flipped through a few channels until he found the station he sought. Lou ventured closer, hoping, but not expecting to find the reason for her adventure guide’s sudden unreasonable attitude.
Sam gave her a smile completely devoid of humor. “Because, Louisa, according to the ten o’clock news, you’ve been abducted. From your wedding.”
Even if she hadn’t heard him, the ominous black letters that proclaimed “ABDUCTED” beneath her picture on the TV screen, would have told Lou all she needed to know.
Black spots swirled before her eyes and nausea roiled in her stomach. That last taco she’d eaten for dinner threatened to make an encore appearance.
“Oh, God,” Lou murmured thickly, sinking onto the end of the bed. How on earth had this happened?
"He’s your only hope, lady,” Sam’s angry voice came to her. “You’d better start explaining. Now!”
Lou’s head jerked up at his ominous tone and another wave of nausea assailed her trembling belly. She managed a sickly smile. “Well, uh… It’s quite funny, actually.”
Sam’s snort wasn’t exactly encouraging.
She managed a few weak ha-ha’s, then forged ahead. “I-I ran away.”
That was good, Lou thought. Simple. Straight-forward. He seemed to be the type of man who would appreciate those qualities.
Sam replaced the snort with a smirk, sending a shiver of foreboding down her spine. Uh-oh. She’d been wrong. Okay, time to take a different tack.
Lou heaved an exasperated sigh. “Well, obviously I haven’t been kidnapped,” she said, shoving up from the bed to work off some of her nervousness.
“Obviously,” came the lethally calm reply. Sam grabbed her luggage from the closet and slung it on the bed. “Let’s go.”
Lou blanched. “Go? Go, where?”
“Back to Atlanta, darlin’. I’ve put too much time and energy into my business to let your little flight of fancy ruin it.”
Lou took exception to that remark, but was more concerned with other, more dire aspects of his comment. “Go back? Are you crazy? I can’t go back.” She shook her head. “I won’t.”
Impossibly, Sam’s scowl deepened. He muttered an unkind remark about rich debutantes which Lou chose to ignore. “Obviously I’m not making myself clear—we’re leaving on the first flight available back to Atlanta. Get packed.”
Lou plopped down on the end of the bed and glared at him stubbornly. “You can get packed if you want. I’m not going anywhere…except on my adventure.”
“The adventure is canceled,” he told her from between clenched teeth.
Lou quirked a brow. “You’re reneging on our contract?”
Sam growled, momentarily at a loss. “Look, lady, you don’t seem to get it. Your father thinks you’ve been kidnapped! When he finds out that I’m the one who helped you leave Atlanta, I’ll be ruined. Finished! Kaput!”
“I can clear this up with a phone call,” Lou insisted, slightly sympathetic to his concerns.
James Honeycutt could be ruthless when angered. Nevertheless, Lou had made a decision—an adult decision—and Sam had simply been an unwitting participant. Her father would understand that.
Sam’s ire eased, but still looked at her dubiously. “If you could have cleared it up with a phone call, then where on earth did he get the idea that you’d been abducted?”
“The message,” Lou mumbled under breath.
His eyes narrowed. “What message?”
“The one I sent to let him know that I was okay.” She hesitated, suddenly miserable. “I-I didn’t want him to worry.”
“Humph,” Sam snorted. “Well, I guess it’s safe to say that plan didn’t work.” His gaze locked with hers. “Why do I feel like there’s more to this story?”
Common sense, Sherlock, Lou thought, but wisely kept the comment to herself. Somehow she didn’t think Sam would appreciate her wit at the moment.
Oh, Lord. What a mess. How on earth could she fix it? And how much would she have to tell Sam in order to keep him from calling her father? Lou took one look at his grim countenance and decided she didn’t have much choice other than to level with him. Given the mess she’d gotten them into, it hardly seemed fair to be anything but honest.
Lou releaseda whooshing breath. “You might want to get comfortable for this,” she warned.
He rolled his eyes and gave her a put-upon look, then sat down on the bed. “You have my full attention.”
Ah, what she’d been dreaming of—Sam’s full attention and a king-sized bed. Of their own volition, her eyes strayed to the impressive landscape of Sam’s perfectly formed chest. His skin looked smooth as marble, tanned, and she was suddenly hit with an almost overwhelming urge to smooth her palms over the masculine contours. The snap of his jeans hung open, revealing an intimate peek at his tan line. Lou shook herself, shoving the thought to the back of her mind.
“As I’m sure you’ve deduced from the ten o’clock news—” Lou shot a dark look at the TV. “—I was supposed to get married today.”
Sam smirked. “Yeah, I got that part.”
“Well…I didn’t want to.”
“Obviously,” Sam drawled. “But here’s a thought—why didn’t you just call it off?”
Lou groaned in despair. “You don’t know my father. He can be quite, um, intimidating. And I never should have agreed to the marriage, but I wanted to make him happy; I wanted to do what was best for the company.” Lou groped for a way to make him understand the tumult of emotions rolling through her.
“The company?” Sam frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“The merger,” Lou confided hopelessly. “Honeycutt Foods and Reedwater Snacks.”
“Strangely, I’m beginning to understand,” Sam said, scowling. “I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not.”
Lou managed a weak smile. “Look, I know that this doesn’t make a lot of sense to you and I should have been more, er…forthcoming. But I had to do what I had to do.” Her brow creased with determination. “I’m not spending my life in a loveless marriage just to make sure some business deal goes through. I shouldn’t have ever let it get this far.” Suddenly weary, Lou sagged onto the end of the bed. “It just got out of hand. The gown fittings, the flowers, the caterer. Before I knew it, I found myself at the church and…and I just couldn’t go through with it. So I left.”
“And ended up at my door,” Sam concluded.
Lou nodded. “Good slogan. It certainly got my attention.”
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