Page 1 of Hot Summer Nights

Chapter One

Take a deep breath.

Brooklyn O’Reilly stepped into the Exotica Island resort lobby and slowly took in her surroundings. A sparkling chandelier hung high from the intricately designed trey ceiling. The walls were olive in color, complementing the cream-colored marble floors beneath her favorite Jimmy Choos. She lowered her sunglasses and glanced around at the furnishings. A massive water wall sat in the center of the waiting area, filling the space with tranquility. Two overstuffed leather couches gave guests a comfortable place to wait, though only one guest seemed to take note. Everything about the place looked expensive and rare, adding to the exquisite décor.

To the left side was the check-in counter with a few women standing around, chatting with each other. The place really didn’t come across as a sex resort as Molly, her assistant, had said it was, but nevertheless it eased her nerves a bit that she wasn’t the only woman visiting for the weekend.

Brooklyn dragged her one suitcase behind her as she stepped into line at the check-in counter. From what she’d gathered, Exotica Island cared most about their clients’ privacy. Reservations were under the strictest of confidence, and Brooklyn had no fear that her encounters might become public.

Encounters. Is that what she was really going to call a no-strings-attached sexual weekend? Molly promised it wouldn’t be awkward. There wouldn’t be pressure, and she would have the time of her life if she’d let loose and allowed things to happen naturally. For the money she paid to visit this place, she’d better have the time of her life.

At thirty-five, she lived a prominent life as a high-profile reporter, sharing her apartment with her younger sister when she visited Boston. Granted, Carrie-Ann was flight attendant and was hardly ever home, but their apartment was just as much hers as it was Brooklyn’s.

Brooklyn sighed. She’d never married. She didn’t have any kids. And more importantly she barely had time for a relationship. It wasn’t as if she wanted her life to turn out this way. She’d planned on having the American Dream with a husband and kids, but her career came first in her life. It always had and now she found herself booking a weekend at a sex resort that promised her every fantasy would become reality.

The woman in front of her moved, stirring Brooklyn’s attention back to the present. She stepped to the counter and smiled at the attendant. “Hi. Reservation for Brooklyn O’Reilly.”

“Welcome to Exotica Island, Ms. O’Reilly.” The clerk typed in her arrival information and grabbed a key card. “You’ll be in Cottage Six.” She handed Brooklyn the card then reached for a map of the island. Pointing, she gave directions. “Here is your cottage, and Rob here, will guide you to the proper cottage and help you with your bags. The spa is on the north side, the boat docks at the south, and the hiking trail around the waterfall is in the center. Should you get lost, this path will lead you anywhere you need to go.”

With a red marker, she circled the cottage labeled Six, and handed her the map. “Do you have any questions?”

It was on the tip of Brooklyn’s tongue to ask where the available men were, but she shook her head instead.

“Great. Enjoy your stay at Exotica Island, and please know if you need anything, all you have to do is ask.”

With a big smile, the clerk dismissed her, and the man she assumed was Rob grabbed her pink bag and loaded it on the luggage rack. He smiled and nodded toward the door before pushing the cart out the exit, Brooklyn following behind.

To her surprise, walking a quarter mile in Jimmy Choos with five-inch heels didn’t kill her feet. She should have changed after leaving work and scolded herself for not doing so. Rob said little to her beyond light, friendly comments about the weather, and she didn’t mind. The air was tropical and relaxing, and the sun seemed to melt all her troubles away. She enjoyed the peace of walking mostly in silence. He unlocked her cottage door for her and unloaded her one bag, placing it just inside the door. Brooklyn thanked him and grabbed some cash from her wallet for a tip.

When she was alone, Brooklyn surveyed the room. Instead of the musty wood-paneled walls she knew from camp, this cottage was just as luxurious as the resort’s lobby. Stylish with a red and black theme, the room was hardly beach-like. She’d expected turquoise or white—something of that nature—but the cottage they’d given her was contemporary with the finest fabrics and a sexy appeal.

“Wow.”

She walked around her luggage, toward the hallway. Her heels clicked against the tile floors as she entered the bathroom, complete with a whirlpool tub and large, separate shower. Her jaw dropped when she noticed the amenities were supplied with her favorite color bath towels: hot pink. Upon making the reservations, the resort sent out a survey for their potential guests so they could accommodate their most specific of needs—right down to the color of their bath towels. This place truly was heaven on earth.

Shaking off the disbelief, she went to the next room and gasped. A massive bed dominated the room, the headboard seeming as wide as the wall itself. Black silk sheets made up the bed with soft, fluffy pillows beckoning to her. Overhead, a skylight presented a beautiful view of the clouds. The room was exquisite and went way beyond Brooklyn’s expectations, but it was the picture hanging over the bed that caught and held her attention.

In black and white, a very sexy man lay on top of a car staring up at the sky while an innocent woman looked right in the camera, teasing onlookers as she lay on top of his nearly naked body, her head resting on his toned abs. She curled into him, hooking her fingers in his boxers. The picture was highly erotic and Brooklyn wanted to be that woman.

“I may never leave this place.” She finally forcing herself to look away, turned the corner and walked back to the living area.

“Uh, hello?” a voice called out.

Brooklyn stopped when she entered the living area again. “Yes? Can I help you?”

The man standing in her doorway smiled. Ruggedly handsome, dressed in a tight white t-shirt with camouflage pants, the stranger nearly took her breath away. His hair stood in dark brown spikes with blonde tips, though Brooklyn couldn’t tell if they were natural highlights or from a salon.

“Uh, I’m Channing Hastings.” He took a step toward her and extended his hand.

Brooklyn smiled and shook his hand.

“I’m a photographer for the resort, and we used this cottage for the last photo shoot. I think I may have forgot one of my cameras back in the bedroom. Would you mind if I retrieved it?”

“Not at all.” She stepped back. “I didn’t realize the Island offered photography. What exactly do you take pictures of?”

He smiled. “Sex.”

Brooklyn squeezed her legs together, feeling a flood of moisture in her panties. Damn.

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