Hell, he didn’t even know her real name, but that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered to him was he wanted her and he wanted her bad. More than he could recall ever wanting a woman before, and that was definitely a new experience for him.

He led Red into the elevator and no sooner had the door swooshed close behind them, he crushed her to him, had her against the wall, and his mouth came charging down. He heard her purse drop seconds before she wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips to return his blazing kiss. He actually felt every part of him on fire and blood was pumping through his veins like crazy.

He loved her taste and deepened the kiss. His tongue skillfully moved from one side of her mouth to the other, exploring, tasting, stirring sensations he wanted her to feel. Some primitive force was taking over his senses, somehow convincing him that she would be different than all his other one-nighters. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand or accept that nonsense. But still, a part of him was helpless to control the raging desire fueling within him.

Dear Reader,

Please envision six men who, for various reasons, are members of the Bachelor in Demand Club, and are determined to stay single for as long as they can. With each book I write in this series, I am having fun making each man open their hearts to love when the right woman comes along.

Bachelor Unclaimed’s hero is Winston Coltrane and his leading lady is Ainsley St. James. Winston is a dedicated, hard-working marine biologist who knows when he needs play time. When he meets Ainsley while she is vacationing in Hilton Head, he is ready for the fun to begin. They soon discover too much fun can lead to memories you can’t shake no matter how much you try. The big question is whether Winston and Ainsley can have their fun and keep their hearts intact.

I hope all of you enjoy reading Winston and Ainsley’s story.

Happy reading!

Brenda Jackson

About the Author

BRENDA JACKSON is a die “heart” romantic who married her childhood sweetheart and still proudly wears the “going steady” ring he gave her when she was fifteen. Because she’s always believed in the power of love, Brenda’s stories always have happy endings. In her reallife love story, Brenda and her husband of thirty-nine years live in Jacksonville, Florida, and have two sons.

A New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over ninety romance titles, Brenda is a retiree from a major insurance company and now divides her time between family, writing and traveling with Gerald. You may write Brenda at PO Box 28267, Jacksonville, Florida 32226, USA; email her at AuthorBrendaJackson@gmail.com or visit her website at www.brendajackson.net.

Bachelor
Unclaimed
Brenda Jackson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To the love of my life, Gerald Jackson, Sr.

To the ladies of Diva Dayz 2012.

I enjoyed the week of friendship and sisterhood during our time in Savannah and Hilton Head.

Special thanks to author Beverly Jenkins for her history lesson on Robert Small.

To the Michelville Preservation Society for providing tours and lectures that were rich in Hilton Head Island and Gullah history and heritage.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.

—Ecclesiastes 3:11

Chapter 1

“So, what brings you across the Port Royal Sound, Win?”

Winston Coltrane sat across the counter from his childhood friend, Grady Parker, who moonlighted as a bartender at the Sparrow, a popular nightclub located within the Regency Resort in Hilton Head. Winston shrugged and asked, “I need a reason?”

Grady chuckled. “Hell, yeah. Even when we were kids it was hard to get you off that damn island.”

Winston couldn’t help smiling as he took a sip of his Scotch. What Grady said was true. Even leaving Barrett Shores, the ten-thousand-acre barrier island that had been in his family since the end of the Civil War, to attend college hadn’t been easy for him. The island had withstood a lot over the years, including several hurricanes and a hostile takeover attempt by a group of developers with plans to transform the island into an exclusive resort community. “Well, I’m here with a room upstairs for the next two nights,” he said.

One of those cheesy grins slid onto Grady’s face. “Two nights? Must mean you need to get laid pretty bad. I understand. Happens to the best of us.”

Grady paused from wiping off the counter to add, “If you thought Sophie was going to take care of your horny needs then I hate to disappoint you. She left New Year’s Day for Miami.”

A hot liaison with Sophie Causey had been foremost in Winston’s mind. He hadn’t had a woman in over six months, and he’d counted on those two nights with her. “Who does Sophie know in Miami?”

“Some cousin who’s competing in a tennis tournament. She’ll be gone for two weeks.”

Disappointed, Winston took another sip of his drink. His very casual affair with Sophie worked well for him and for her. After Sophie’s divorce three years ago, she’d sworn up and down Main Street that she would never marry again and that her only relationship with men would be for pleasure-sex only. Those had been Winston’s sentiments exactly. Any thoughts of settling down with one woman had come to a screeching halt in college when a coed by the name of Caroline Darling had shown him just how deceitful some women could be.

He was about to ask for a refill on his glass of Scotch when something beyond his shoulder made Grady’s eyes almost pop out of the sockets. “Hell, if I didn’t love my wife so much, I would be all over her. She’s hot.”

Curious, Winston jerked around his head, nearly getting whiplash in the process. He let out a low whistle as his gaze roamed up and down the woman who’d just walked through the door. His pulse quickened and a breath was released from his lungs in one heated rush. She was more than hot. The woman was in flames.

Her hair, a mass of spiral curls, highlighted her cinnamon-toned complexion and made every feature of her face striking. His fingers actually itched at the thought of running through those curls on her head.

But what really had his erection throbbing big-time was her outfit—a one-sleeved formfitting red mini dress that showed off every curve of her body. And she definitely had the legs for it in those killer red stilettos.

She had captured the attention of every man in the room, even the musicians who all but stopped playing their instruments to stare at her. But she seemed oblivious to the attention she was getting as she glanced around for an available table.

“Um, do you think Carol would forgive me if I was unfaithful just this one time?” he heard Grady ask. He knew his friend was joking because Grady loved his wife to distraction.

“Carol might forgive you but I won’t because I’m going to claim that woman tonight for myself, so don’t get any ideas,” Winston said.

“Evidently you have a few ideas of your own. You think she’ll agree to any of them?” Grady asked him.

“Yes.”

He heard Grady chuckle. “You sound pretty damn confident as usual, Win.”

The woman crossed the room to an empty table and Winston watched how the hem of her short dress rode up her thighs with every step she took. And when she slid into her chair, that itsy-bitsy dress barely covered those same thighs. He swallowed deeply. And they were luscious brown thighs.

“That’s the only way to get anything done,” he finally said. “Just watch how things are about to go down.”

And going down they would, he thought, already envisioning their hot naked bodies on silken sheets making love nonstop. He took another sip of his drink, licked his lips and then placed the glass on the counter and slowly began moving across the room toward the woman in red.

Ainsley St. James glanced around thinking this was exactly what she needed, especially tonight. She had been in Hilton Head only a couple days and was still trying to replace the angry Ainsley St. James of Claxton, New Jersey, with the I-don’t-give-a-royal-damn Ainsley. The same one who’d escaped to this seaside community, to forget that the man who’d defeated her in her bid as mayor of her hometown had been sworn in today, and she hadn’t wanted to be anywhere near Claxton.

She could just imagine what kind of inauguration party Luis Higgins was throwing about now. She’d heard the guest list was long and it wouldn’t surprise her if the small town of fifteen thousand was going in debt to pay for the new mayor’s extravagancies.

Okay, it wasn’t meant for her to be mayor of Claxton. She got that … finally. But what she couldn’t get past was the nasty campaign Higgins had run, especially the lies he’d fabricated. And even worse was how the good people of Claxton—those who’d vowed to back her until the end—had been gullible enough to believe them.

However, her intention tonight was to put all that to the back of her mind and have some long overdue fun. The concierge at the resort where she was staying for the next two weeks had suggested the Sparrow. The club was crowded but then it was a Friday night. She’d been lucky to find a table, even if it was a small one in the corner.

She watched several couples move toward the dance floor to enjoy the hip-hop sound the live band was blasting out. Tonight she intended to get on that same floor even if she had to dance by herself. She liked dancing, hadn’t done it in a while and had quite a few issues to shake, rattle and roll right out of her system.

She took a sip of the water from the glass a waitress had quickly placed on her table before hurrying off to service another customer. At that moment Ainsley wasn’t sure what made her tilt her head to look toward the bar but, when she did her breath caught at the dark, intense gaze that snagged hers. Her heart skipped a beat and a warm surge of heat flooded her.

She’d heard of immediate sexual attraction but hadn’t believed such a thing existed until now. She sat there, mesmerized as the tall, dark and handsome man appeared to be weaving his way through the crowd toward her.

Her?

Lordy, she mouthed under her breath. She hoped not, because she was definitely not ready for the likes of him. Everything about the man was overwhelming. He had to be every bit of six-three and was wearing a pair of pleated black slacks and a white shirt that was opened at the top and revealed just a smidgen of a hairy chest. Too bad she’d always had a thing for hairy-chested men because now she wondered just how far down his chest that patch went. Then there were his broad muscular shoulders, flat abs, strong arms and powerful long legs. Never had she seen a male so good-looking and fine.

And he was eating up the distance between them in a sensual stride that had shivers inching up her spine. Her gaze moved back to his eyes that were focused solely on her.

She would guess his age at thirty-three or thirty-four. He had chestnut-colored skin, bedroom-brown eyes, a perfectly shaped nose, rugged jaw and an arrogant mouth. That mouth gave her pause and she immediately concluded that he saw her as a conquest with him as the conqueror.

For the first time in all her twenty-six years of life, the thought of such a thing did not bother her because she could definitely understand any woman lowering her guard a little for the likes of him. The thought of being taken by him, in any shape, form or position, had her stomach fluttering wildly.

Okay, Ainsley St. James, get rid of all those lusty thoughts or you might end up in his bed later. You came here to let your hair down, but, girl, please keep your panties up, she lectured herself. Deciding it was time to get her guard back in place, she squared her shoulders and sat straighter in her chair, wanting to stop him in his tracks.

When he came to a halt in front of her table, she tilted her head and met the intensity of his dark eyes when he simply said, “Hi.”

That was it? No pickup line? Just a simple hi? She frowned. “Do I know you?”

For a moment he only stood there and smiled at her, and then he leaned down close, his breath warming the skin near her ear when he whispered, “No, not now. But the minute I make love to you, you will.”

Chapter 2

Winston was tempted to kiss that shocked look right off the woman’s lips but decided he needed to retain his cool. He stared at her knowing it was just a matter of time before she put him in his place, and when she did he would do the same to her. But even with the shock on her face, he’d seen it—that flash of desire that had lit her eyes before he’d come on to her.

“How dare you say something like that to me,” she said in a breathless rush.

He slid into the chair across from her. “I dare because I saw the way you were looking at me.”

The frown on her face deepened. “I was not looking at you in any particular way.”

“I beg to differ,” he said, leaning close to her and thinking the shape of her mouth was a total turn-on.

“You can beg all you want, mister.”

“Not mister. Winston. And you are?”

“You don’t need to know my name.”

He shrugged. “That’s fine. For now I’ll just call you Red. That color looks great on you, by the way.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t exert your efforts since they won’t work on me.”

“They won’t?”

“No.”

“I think any effort I invest in you will be well worth it,” he said. “May I join you?”

“It seems you already have.”

She was right, he had. Was that irritation he heard in her voice or anticipation? Usually he wasn’t this forward with a woman, nor as pushy. But there had been this instant connection between them the moment their gazes had met, whether she admitted to it or not.

“So where are you from, Red?”

If he thinks he’s getting any information out of me, he’s as crazy as he is bold, Ainsley thought, taking another sip of her water. And where was the waitress? She needed that margarita right now. Up close the man was simply gorgeous and each time he spoke she could feel her stomach quivering.

“What makes you think I’m not from here?” she asked, feeling pleasure radiating through her traitorous body. The man had a sexual magnetism that was slowly drawing her in, eroding her resistance. And he smelled so darn good. She was tempted to ask him what cologne he was wearing.

“Lucky guess,” he said, reclaiming her attention.

She glanced around for a waitress before returning her gaze to him. When their eyes locked, her pulse rate increased. She swallowed deeply before saying, “I take that to mean you’re from Hilton Head.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then where are you from?” she inquired, trying to see if she could decipher his accent. There was enough of a Southern drawl to let her know he was from the South. Possibly Tennessee or Texas.

“I asked you first.”

And she had no intention of telling him. She doubted he’d ever heard of Claxton, New Jersey, but still, he might begin asking questions for conversational purposes and she didn’t want to talk about her hometown. “And I’m not talking,” she said, glancing away. His eyes were too mesmerizing. They were like a magnet, pulling her in.

At that moment a waitress appeared. “Sorry to keep you waiting. What will you guys have?”

“I want a margarita,” she said.

“Please make that two margaritas but hold them until later,” Winston added.

Ainsley frowned when the waitress walked off. “Excuse me, but I want my drink now.”

“We’re about to do something else now.”

She tilted her head and tried steadying her heart rate which wasn’t easy. “And just what do you think we’re about to do?”

“Dance. You said you’re not talking so I figured we’ll dance first.”

Ainsley leaned back in her chair. “And what makes you think I want to dance?”

A smile touched his lips. “I know you want to dance because I noticed you were tapping your feet to the music and even rocking your body a little.”

He’d noticed all of that? Jeez, the man was too observant. “I don’t need a partner to dance.”

“True, but what fun would dancing alone be?”

At that moment the band struck up another number and a rush of people hurriedly moved to the dance floor. “Come on,” he said, standing and extending his hand out to her. “Let’s dance.”

She glanced down at his hand. Should she? She had come here to loosen up on the dance floor. Besides, it was a fast number and their bodies wouldn’t even touch.

“Unless …”

Ainsley lifted a brow. “Unless what?”

He smiled. “Unless you think you’ll embarrass us both out there,” he said.

She knew he was only baiting her, but still, she didn’t take too kindly to his assertion. If anything, she could probably show him up. In addition to taking dancing classes all her life, she’d also worked part-time as a dancer at a hot spot in New York City, earning extra money while she’d attended journalism school at Columbia University.

She placed her hand in his and the moment their hands touched, she felt her nerve endings ignite. She looked up and met his eyes. It was as if he was staring straight into her soul, seeing things she didn’t want anyone to see, especially a stranger. Specifically, she didn’t want anyone to know how painful losing the election had been to her.

“Red?”

The man called Winston reclaimed her attention and she fought to ignore the heat sizzling through her veins. The attraction she felt to him was unsettling and she was tempted to pull away her hand but couldn’t.

Ainsley stood, tilting her head and meeting his gaze directly. “I’m not afraid of embarrassing you, Winston,” she finally responded, saying his name for the first time. “Lead the way.”

He lightly tugged on her hand and they moved toward the dance floor. He indicated he wasn’t from here and she couldn’t help wondering what had brought him to Hilton Head. Was he here trying to escape his troubles like she was, or was he here just to have a good time? She’d glanced at his left hand earlier and noticed he wasn’t wearing a ring, nor was there any indication one had recently been on his finger.

When he stopped on the dance floor, she faced him and saw they were standing under the bright lights. The music was lively and funky. The rhythm flowed through her, making her body instinctively move to the beat. She put her all into it.

She noted the surprised look on his face and threw back her head and laughed. Served him right for insinuating she would embarrass him on the dance floor. He laughed as well and then he surprised her when he joined her in the dance, his muscled thighs and broad chest moving in a way that made her insides sizzle. How could such a masculine body move with such grace, style and unfaltering virility? Out of nowhere she remembered hearing that a man who was good on his feet was probably good in bed.

The thought made her nipples harden against her dress and when he eased closer to her and rubbed those muscular thighs against hers, she felt desire flow through her bloodstream, drenching her pores. He continued to surprise her with his dance moves. It seemed they were even. He had pulled one on her, as well.

Ainsley didn’t have to be an onlooker to know they danced great together and they looked good as a couple on the dance floor. The room was noisy, the music loud, but none of that mattered. The only thing that attracted her full attention was Winston. She wasn’t even sure that was his real name but she would take him at his word. Yet she had no intention of sharing her name with him. If he wanted to continue to call her Red, that was fine with her.

Feeling somewhat feisty she deliberately brushed her body against his. In response, he leaned in close and whispered the words “Naughty Red” in her ear, sending hot waves through her and making a deep longing flare up between her legs. When he moved back to make a turn around the floor, their eyes connected and his penetrating gaze seared her.

She fought for breath when the dance came to an end and he bowed gracefully to her and she smiled. It had been quite a workout. She was about to go back to her table when he captured her hand and asked, “Another?”

Ainsley should have had the mind to decline and return to her seat, especially when the musicians began playing a slow number. Instead she nodded and he gently pulled her into his arms.

She automatically placed her head on his shoulder, not wanting to think about anything but what was happening to her. She had just completed a fast dance with a very handsome, virile and sexy man and now she was on the dance floor in his embrace as their bodies swayed to a slow number.

He tightened his arms around her, bringing her closer to him, and she felt all the contours of his body. She drew in a deep breath and pulled her head away from his shoulder to glance up at him as he moved them in a circular motion around the dance floor. “You didn’t tell me you could dance,” she whispered accusingly.

Laughing, he showed dimples in both cheeks and she immediately felt her pulse go wacky upon seeing them. “You didn’t tell me you could dance, either,” he countered.

He was right, she hadn’t. There was a lot they were keeping from each other but this was not a night to get serious. It was a night to live life and forget troubles. Besides, there was no reason to get personal. It was just a dance. “I’m not talking, remember?”

He chuckled. “I remember. You don’t have to talk but I do want you to feel.”

And with those words he drew her deeper into his arms and she could feel the weight of her breasts against his chest and how her nipples tingled with the contact. Then there was the way his hard, muscled thighs brushed against hers while his hand at the center of her back held her close. And she was fully aware every time his lips brushed against her forehead. If he was taking advantage of the soulful, sinfully sultry sound of the music to seduce her, it was working.

Tension curled in the pit of her stomach as the dance became more sensual. A soft gasp escaped from her lips when she felt the hard length of his erection settling indecently between her thighs. She closed her eyes as they moved together in perfect unison, melding their bodies in a lusty configuration around the dance floor. Heat was building between them; she could feel it like a tangible force storming her senses. The man had an intoxicating sensuality that was overwhelming.

They continued to dance and he was effectively wiping all unwanted thoughts from her mind and replacing them with ones too scandalous to think about. She opened her eyes and leaned back to look up at him and his intense gaze captured hers.

She could feel how his body was gliding against hers, igniting pleasure points wherever he brushed her. Her gaze traveled from his eyes to his mouth. She thought it arrogant before but it was sensuous now. His lips had a decadent shape to them, and immediately made her think of kissing … and tasting. She could imagine joining her lips to his while their tongues tangled desperately. Such thoughts made her lips feel dry and she swiped them with the tip of her tongue. She watched his gaze follow the movement.

All too soon she heard the music winding down and reluctantly their bodies parted. He took her hand and led her back to their table. As soon as they were seated, two margaritas were placed in front of them.

“Thanks,” she said to the waitress. The woman nodded and smiled before rushing off with the other drinks on her tray.

“Busy night,” Winston said smiling.

“Undoubtedly,” she said, taking a much-needed sip of her drink.

He was sitting across from her, intently holding her gaze while he sipped his. Sensations began overtaking over and they were sensations she’d never felt before meeting this stranger. There was something about being with this man that prevented her from thinking straight. Prevented her from thinking at all.

She felt dizzy and breathless and drew in a deep breath, trying to control all those lusty thoughts taking over her mind. He reached out and took her hand and smoldering heat suffused her. Why did she feel like a stick of dynamite ready to explode whenever he touched her?

“I’d like to make a suggestion,” he said in a deep timbre that continued to wash over her like hot molten desire.

“What kind of suggestion?”

“Come with me.”

She swallowed. “And go where?”

“Upstairs. I have a room in this hotel.”

Ainsley didn’t say anything. She wasn’t dumb. She understood his invitation well and knew what would take place in that room. She had come here tonight for a good time, not to tangle between the sheets with a man. But he was making the thought of such a thing incredibly irresistible since he was stroking needs she hadn’t taken care of for more than a year now.

She didn’t say anything and took another sip of her drink as she continued to watch him with the same intensity that he was watching her. Heat was flowing between them and suddenly she felt an intense need to be alone with him and do what grown folks do.

She didn’t have to probe deep into her mind to discover why she was considering his suggestion. She’d been under a lot of strain lately and the election and all the campaigning had wound her up tight. All that negativity had been a crushing blow and she hadn’t had a means to escape or regroup. Now it was over and her body was looking for a release.

Maybe a night of mindless, overpowering pleasure was just the thing she needed. Chances were high that she wouldn’t see him again since her visit to Hilton Head was short-term.

“Red?”

Lifting her gaze, she tried to fight back sensations that were hurtling around inside her like a violent storm, stroking her needs. She was always someone who hadn’t hesitated going after anything she wanted, so why should she hesitate going after him when she did want him?

After taking another sip of her margarita, she set down her glass and said in a breathless quiver, “Okay let’s go.”

A smile eased to both corners of his lips and his hold on her hand tightened. “All right.”

Releasing her hand, he stood to pull out several bills and tossed them on the table to cover their drinks. And when she stood, he placed his hand at her waist as he led her out of the nightclub.

Chapter 3

Winston was grateful he knew his way around the Regency Resort. Holding Red’s hand firmly in his, he maneuvered their way past the guest elevators to the private one that would take them directly up to his penthouse suite.

Once or twice when they were forced to slow their pace or else plow into people in front of them, he would take her hand and bring it to his lips. And whenever he glanced over at her, she would give him a heated look that assured him that she was still with him all the way. He definitely appreciated that. Although this was not his first one-night stand and he doubted it would be his last, for some reason getting Red up to his suite was of monumental importance right now.

Red.

Hell, he didn’t even know her real name but that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered to him was he wanted her and he wanted her bad. More than he could recall ever wanting a woman before and that was definitely a new experience for him.

Knowing he would be scoring big tonight, he led Red into the elevator. No sooner had the door swooshed closed behind them, he crushed her to him, backed her against the wall and his mouth came charging down. She wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips to return his blazing kiss. He actually felt every part of him become on fire.

Liking her taste, he deepened the kiss. His tongue skillfully moved from one side of her mouth to the other, exploring, tasting, stirring sensations he wanted her to feel. Some primitive force was taking over his senses, somehow trying to convince him that she would be different than all his other one-nighters, but for the life of him, he couldn’t understand or accept that nonsense. Still, a part of him was helpless to control the raging desire fueling him.

The buzzer went off and he remembered that this was the express elevator, which meant they had gotten to the twentieth floor already. He lifted his head and gazed down at her, taking note of her flushed cheeks, her dilated brown eyes staring at him. He took a step back at the same moment the elevator door opened and quickly stepped out, holding firmly to her hands again.

There were only two suites on this floor and they walked toward the one at the end of the hall. Releasing her hand he pulled the key card from his back pants pocket and then turned to her and said, “I didn’t lie. My name is Winston and for the record, I’m not a crazy person or anything. I’m safe.”

She nodded. “And for the record, I’m safe as well and you can continue to call me Red.”

Obviously she had no intention of giving him a name—first, middle or last. If that’s the way she wanted to deal, that was fine with him. The only thing on his mind was making love to her.

“Good enough,” he said quickly, inserting his key card in the door. It clicked and he opened it. Taking her hand again, he smiled and said, “Let the good times roll.”

He then pulled her inside.

Ainsley recalled getting a fleeting glimpse of Winston’s suite before he was all over her, pulling her into his arms and capturing her mouth. The moment their lips locked, his tongue went into action, treating her to all kinds of erotic pleasures while tasting her with openmouthed thoroughness. She’d never been kissed this way before and all coherent thoughts oozed like molten liquid from her brain.

His hands on her backside and thighs had already hiked up her short dress to her waist, and his fingers began working their way underneath the edge of her panties.

Desire was seeping into her pores. It had been a long time since she’d felt a man touch the swelling fullness of her womanhood and the moment he eased a finger between her folds to stroke her clitoris, every part of her began shaking.

This man had a way with his fingers and she clung to him, fearful if she let go he would stop and she didn’t want that. His fingers were plunging back and forth inside of her, stroking her in a sensual rhythm, as he licked the corners of her lips with his tongue. Both his fingers and tongue kept an erotic pace until she was certain she would die from the sweet torture.

“Winston …”

She could barely get out his name as his lips trailed along her chin, stopping only for an occasional scrape of his teeth along her jaw.

“Yeah, Red?” he answered in a tone so sexy it made her breath catch.

“I—I want …”

“Tell me what you want. Tonight I’m your delivery man. Whatever you want, I’ll deliver. Just tell me.”

Evidently the intent was to make her ask … beg or possibly plead, but at that moment, she was past caring. The only thing she wanted was to be taken by him. “I want this,” she said, reaching out and tracing her hand against the front of his pants, caressing the hard bulge there. His manhood felt powerful and large and nearly made her weak in the knees. Intense desire had her pressing her legs together at the same time she cupped his groin.

A hand suddenly grasped her jaw. “You sure that’s what you want?”

She drew in a deep breath. More desire than she could ever think about was seeping into her pores and triggering an intense throbbing in her womb. “Positive.”

From the smile on his face she could only assume he liked her response. In one easy move he took her dress off her body, then he stepped back and she felt the heat of his gaze roam over every inch of her, taking in her red lacy bra and matching panties.

Then he was lifting her in his arms and carrying her across the room to sit her on the high-top table where he quickly proceeded to remove her shoes. In the process he glanced up at her and in a low and guttural tone said, “Just so you’ll know, I plan to ride you hard.”

Before she could react to what he said, his hand began stroking up her thigh in a way that made her breath shallow. His hands cupped her bare bottom and lifted her to tug down her panties past her hips. The feel of his hands on her backside caused a tingling sensation in her nerve endings.

He leaned close to kiss the waxed flesh covering her femininity, and she felt the tip of his tongue trace a trail along the folds. At that moment she wasn’t sure if she would survive his brand of seduction …

But she would die trying.

Winston doubted he’d ever met a more sensuous woman in his entire life. And her scent was doing a number on him, drawing him in and pushing him to take her with an urgency that was driving him insane. And here she sat on his table wearing nothing but a red lacy bra. He couldn’t help but take pause to check out the lush curves of her body.

Straightening, he met her gaze seconds before undoing the front clasp of her bra, releasing the most gorgeous twin globes he ever had the pleasure of seeing. He cupped them, used his fingertips to fondle them, causing the nipples to harden before his eyes. He leaned in and with the tip of his tongue, licked them hard before easing them between his lips to suck them hungrily.

Hearing her groan out his name did something to him. He pulled back to look at her and saw passion and desire in the dark depths of her eyes. She was completely naked now and he intended to get naked, as well.

Kicking off his shoes and reaching down to pull off his socks, he straightened and focused his gazed directly on her as he pulled the belt from his slacks and proceeded to ease them down his legs along with his briefs.

He heard her soft gasp when his throbbing manhood was there in full view, and from the look on her face, she appreciated what she saw. Making quick work of removing his shirt, he moved back to her. His hand spanned her small waist, traced a path around her curves and stroked up her back. He leaned closer and asked in a deep, husky voice, “Sure you still want it?” He then took a step back to stare at her.

All Ainsley could do was stare back while every part of her body throbbed with a need she felt from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. Yes, she still wanted it and refused to think why. From the moment their gazes had connected in the nightclub, something about this man had touched her, sent hot desire rushing all through her bloodstream. She had been sexually drawn to men before, but this one was different. Even now there was something in the depths of his gaze that was making her ache. And he was toting more than a six-pack; the man was so well endowed it should be against the law.

“Red?”

He was waiting on her answer? Seriously? Standing in front of her naked, erect as any man could get and he expected any answer other than “bring it on”? Fine. If he wanted an answer then she would give him one. “Yes, just as sure as you’re standing there naked with that pointed directly at me,” she said of his erection.

He nodded slowly, looking at her beneath gorgeous long lashes. A satisfied smile curved his lips. And before she could draw in her next breath, he swept her off the table into his arms.

Winston headed for the bedroom and once there, he glanced down at her and she looked up at him with those gorgeous brown eyes. And then there was all that hair on her head, those beautiful spiral curls. He liked it. He liked her.

He placed her on the bed and immediately joined her there, going straight for her mouth and kissing her with a hunger that made blood rush all through his body. Shifting to move over her, he eased a hard thigh between her soft ones.

Releasing her mouth he went straight for her breasts, remembering how sweet they’d tasted earlier and devouring them like a starved man. She twisted beneath him and her moans echoed through the room in a heated call of need and desire.

When he lifted her hips, instinctively she wrapped her naked limbs around him and he sucked in a deep breath at the feel of her wet femininity pressed against his flesh. Then in an unexpected move, she slipped from beneath him and pushed him onto his back.

Their gazes locked for a brief moment before she lowered her head between his legs and took him into her mouth.

“Oh hell …”

Those were the only words he could groan from his lips before a tirade of sensations swept over him. He reached out and grabbed hold of the mass of her hair but she kept her mouth fixed on him. No matter how much he tugged, she wouldn’t let him go.

The woman was letting him have it, feasting on him, and making him groan out words he probably wouldn’t remember in the morning. He felt as if every inch of his skin was electrified, unbelievably sensitized. A multitude of new sensations, some he’d never experienced before, flooded his body as she licked her tongue over every inch of him.

And when he felt his body about to explode he tried pushing her away, but she locked her mouth down on him with the steely pressure of a suction cup, refusing to let him hold anything back.

“Red!”

His body quaked, shivering in a release so profound and powerful he felt pushed way over the edge. A different kind of intensity fired his loins and a sense of awareness labored down hard on him. Not being able to take her brand of torture any longer, he reached under his pillow to retrieve the condom package he’d put there earlier when he’d assumed Sophie would be his bedmate.

He quickly slipped on the condom with the experience of a man who’d done this, with or without a female audience, a number of times.

She automatically lifted her hips when he moved to settle between them. The scent of their aroused bodies filled the air like an aphrodisiac, intoxicating him, destroying the last shred of self-control he might have had.

Effectively pushed over the edge with no return, he slid fully inside her, going deep and filling her with every aroused inch of him. She let out a deep moan and her legs tightened around him, pulling him in deeper.

Winston began moving, establishing a rhythm, and the sound of flesh against flesh mingled with their moans, filling the room. He’d warned her that he would take her hard and he wasn’t backing down. Every thrust into her body was with a purpose, meant to drive them closer to the satisfaction they both urgently sought.

She screamed the exact moment his body bucked as intense spasms tore through him. He murmured something, not sure exactly what, as he tilted her hips at an angle that would make her aware of just how deep inside her he was.

Screaming again, her inner muscles clamped down and triggered a multitude of sensations that had his body convulsing. This was one hell of a sexual mating and he doubted he would ever forget it.

She dragged in a deep, quivering breath and he adjusted his position to lie beside her and draw her into his arms. “I got this room for two days. Stay with me.”

She leaned back and looked up at him. “Stay here?”

“Yes. You’re on the island alone, right?” he asked her.

“Yes.”

“So am I, so there’s no reason we can’t spend another day and night together.”

Ainsley was about to tell him that she could think of several reasons. But that was before he leaned down and claimed a nipple with his mouth, shooting all kinds of sensations through her. “Say you’ll stay,” he murmured against her lips.

She was about to tell him there was no way she could stay, but then he lowered his hands to the juncture of her thighs. His fingers began caressing her womanly core, igniting new sensations to stir within her and causing sexual need lined with anticipation to strip her senses. At that moment she couldn’t turn him down for anything. Somehow in between gasps of pleasure she murmured, “I’ll stay.”

Chapter 4

The next morning Ainsley opened her eyes when she heard the sound of the shower. It was time to make her break. She’d only pretended to be sleeping and now she needed to get the hell out of there.

Scooting off the bed, she looked around for her bra, found it and swiftly put it on. Leaving the bedroom, she found her dress and panties where they had been taken off her. Wiggling into her dress she wadded up her panties and quickly shoved them into her purse while sliding her feet into her shoes. Time was of the essence and she was determined to be gone before Winston got out of the shower.

Winston.

For crying out loud, she had spent the entire night with a man and she didn’t even know his full name. But then, she thought, hurriedly moving toward the door, he knew none of hers, so what did that say about him?

At some point last night she recalled him asking her to spend the day and another night with him and she’d foolishly agreed. But now that she had reclaimed all her senses, there was no way she would spend two nights of marathon sex with a man she didn’t know. It was bad enough she had spent one night with him.

Before opening the door, she glanced around, really seeing the suite for the first time. It was humongous, nearly twice the size of her condo back in New York. She wondered what he did for a living to afford such extravagances. Last night she’d been too busy to appreciate the elegance of the oceanfront two-bedroom suite with its separate living and dining rooms, as well as a nice kitchen nook with a high-top table and chairs.

Ainsley blushed when she remembered what they’d done on that table, which was why she needed to leave now. Winston whatever-his-name had the ability to make her do things she normally didn’t do … like one-night stands. And then to agree to spend a day and another night with him, undoubtedly for more of the same mind-blowing sex. There was no doubt in her mind it would be enjoyable, but then her brain cleared from all that pleasure and she recalled that he had had condoms stashed under his pillow. That meant he had intended to bring some woman back here last night for a treat and she’d been the willing delicacy.

Easing shut the door behind her, she swiftly walked toward the elevator, ignoring the curious looks from an older couple who were stepping out of it. She didn’t need a mirror to realize all those passion marks on the side of her face, neck and upper chest were visible to the naked eye. She hoped she could make it out of the hotel and to the parking lot without too many people staring. It was early morning and she was wearing the outfit from last night as if she was ready to go partying. If the Claxton news reporter Luis had paid to dog her heels all during the election were to see her now, he would certainly have a story. She could just imagine the headlines: Ainsley St. James spent the night with a man she didn’t know.

You couldn’t get any more scandalous than that, she thought, finally leaving the hotel without making a spectacle of herself. A few moments later she was in her car and driving away, and it was only then that she released the breath she’d been holding.

It wouldn’t be so bad if every cell in her body didn’t vibrate from all the memories that were flowing through her head, memories her mind just refused to let go of. Like how with Winston’s help she had managed to quench a feverish hunger that had been inside her, a hunger she hadn’t known she’d had until he had exposed it in the most delectable way. Even now her nipples were jutting hard against her dress in memory of how much attention he’d given them.

Not to be outdone, the area between her legs was twitching, remembering how his hands, mouth and shaft had invaded her in a way that she would never forget. It had taken coming to Hilton Head to meet a man capable of making her scream at the top of her lungs.

Glancing at the clock on her car’s console, she was surprised to see it wasn’t quite seven in the morning, as she continued driving toward the Inner Harbor Resort. She tried not to think about what Winston’s reaction would be when he walked out of the shower and found her gone.

As it stood now, he didn’t know a single thing about her and that was a good thing since last night meant nothing to either of them. There was no doubt in her mind that women came and went from his bed in a steady stream.

As for her, she would spend the next ten days relaxing, and then at some point she needed to call her former employer to try and get her old job back as a journalist for The New York Times.

She had resigned from her job in August of last year, certain she would win the election because she had the backing of the entire town. Besides, at the time it had been an uncontested race. So to her way of thinking, it should have been a sure win for her. However, at the last minute, Higgins, a newcomer to town, had made a surprise move and thrown his hat into the ring. In no time at all his campaign had strategized by going after her character, literally cutting it into threads.

The election in November had been a shocker since Higgins had won by a landslide victory. She had been ready to pack up and leave Claxton and return to New York, and would have done so had it not been for her father’s heart attack the day after the election.

Ainsley was certain the negative campaign had taken a toll on her parents, her father in particular since she was a daddy’s girl. She felt somehow responsible and since she was her parents’ only child, she’d remained in Claxton for the past two months during her father’s recuperation period. Now he was a lot better and had returned to work last week.

And it was time for her to do the same.

As she continued to drive to the resort, her mind drifted and she couldn’t help remembering last night. Why hadn’t she listened to her best friend, Tessa Spencer? Tessa had warned her the Sparrow would be full of men with only one thing on their mind. Your cookie. “Unless you’re prepared for them to gobble it up, then go someplace else,” Tessa had said. But Ainsley had gone anyway. It wasn’t that she hadn’t believed Tessa. She hadn’t placed a lot of significance on the warning because she’d been certain she could handle any situation. She was a big girl and could take care of herself.

Only thing for certain, she hadn’t been prepared for the likes of Winston what’s-his-name and last night he had been hers completely. Every single sexy, make-a-woman-drool part of him. And she had acted like a greedy hussy. It didn’t take much to remember how those dark eyes would stare her down with that I-want-to-make-love-to-you look, stimulating within her a need she hadn’t known existed.

Her hand tightened on the steering wheel when she brought the rental car to a stop at a traffic light. Then there were those naughty messages he’d whispered in her ear right after they’d made love that first time when he held her in his arms. They had made her breathless anticipating him doing just what he said he would do. And he had. With an experience she didn’t want to wonder how he got, he had used his tongue to taste every part of her body, inch by sensual inch. He seemed especially partial to her breasts. But then other parts of her hadn’t been neglected, either.

While he’d been atop her, stroking into her body in a rhythm that nearly drove her insane, she had looked up at him and seen the intense expression in the hard angles and planes of his face. She had gotten absorbed in the deep, dark eyes staring back at her as he sent her over the edge. His lovemaking had been so profound it took her breath away just thinking about it. He had definitely been her fantasy.

Now it was back to reality. As she turned into the entry gates to the resort, she decided that she would shower and go to bed and get the sleep she’d been deprived of last night.

Leaving the bathroom after his shower, Winston didn’t have to look at the empty bed to know Red was gone. She had agreed to stay for another day and night and he had been looking forward to it. He figured he should be grateful she had left, but couldn’t help feeling disappointed that she had left without first telling him …

What? Her name? How to contact her again?

He rubbed his hand down his face in frustration. He didn’t handle one-nighters that way. Usually he would have a name, a first one at least, although most of the time he wasn’t certain it was genuine. And he’d never felt the need to keep one woman around. So why had he tried making Red different?

Because she was.

The moment he had eased between her legs and thrust hard inside of her, he’d known it. Never had he engaged in such mindless, erotic pleasure. Her inner muscles had clenched him, nearly made him beg for mercy, and driven him to make his strokes harder. Pound into her deeper. She would scream and he would growl.

And then her going down on him was no joke, either. What she’d done with her mouth had shudders running up his spine even now. He had known when he’d seen her at the club that her mouth could deliver and it had. She’d given him mindless pleasure and had ignited something wild and untamed inside him, making him want to go another round, then another, and another.

Hell, it had definitely been one incredible night.

Now she was gone and chances were he would never see her again.

He moved toward the bed and glanced around. There wasn’t a trace of her anywhere. But all he had to do was sniff the air to inhale her lingering scent. It was an aroma that hadn’t just entrenched in the air but was embedded in his skin even after his shower. The woman had worked her way into his mind.

A fierce frown settled on his face and he drew in a deep breath while giving his mind a mental dressing-down. Then you need to get her out of your mind. She was a one-nighter, so why are you getting so worked up about it? You don’t do relationships, don’t have time and wouldn’t do one if you did. Do you need to be reminded of Caroline Darling and all the pain she caused you?

Yes, at that moment he needed to be reminded of Caroline, and the memory was like a douse of ice water to his body. It didn’t matter that his night with Red had been off the charts. Great sex was great sex but that was all it was. No woman would get under his skin again no matter how great the sex was.

A short while later Winston was glad he’d managed to get his mind back in check. He had dressed to go down for breakfast and play a game of golf when his cell phone went off. He could tell by the ring it was Uriel. Each of his godbrothers had their own ring tone. Uriel happened to be the oldest of the six, besting Winston’s thirty-four by eighteen months.

Most people knew the story as to how six guys had become best friends while attending Morehouse and had on graduation day made a pact to stay in touch by becoming godfathers to each other’s children, and that the first-born sons’ names would carry the letters of the alphabet from U to Z. And that was how Uriel Lassiter, Virgil Bougard, Winston Coltrane, Xavier Kane, York Ellis and Zion Blackstone had come into existence.

Winston was close to his godparents and godbrothers and couldn’t imagine them not being a part of his life … although at the moment he was somewhat annoyed with three of them: Uriel, Xavier and York.

A few years ago when he and all five of his godbrothers were going through some sort of issues with women, they had come up with the idea of the Bachelors in Demand Club. They were supposed to be die-hard players—all six of them—who would enjoy life without any serious entanglements. But now the club of six was down to three after Uriel, Xavier and York had fallen in love and married. As far as he was concerned they were all whipped men.

It didn’t matter one iota that he happened to like the women his three godbrothers had married. That was beside the point. The fact remained that they had defected.

“What’s up, U?” Over the years they had shortened their names for each other to just the first letter.

“I haven’t heard from you since the New Year’s Eve party. Just checking on you, W.”

He wasn’t surprised since he and his godbrothers stayed in contact pretty regularly. “I’m fine. How’s Ellie doing?” Uriel’s wife was expecting their first child in May. Xavier’s wife, Farrah, was expecting that month, as well. Winston had to get used to the idea of U and X as fathers, just like he’d gotten used to them as married men.

“Ellie’s fine. She’s working on another novel and believes this one will be a bestseller.”

“They always are.” Ellie was a romance author who wrote under the pseudonym of Flame Elbam. Uriel and Ellie hosted a New Year’s Eve party every year at their home in Cavanaugh Lake in North Carolina. It had been at that party a couple of weeks ago that Ellie had announced her last novel had been on The New Yorks Times Bestseller List for six weeks straight.

“I hear you’re off Barrett Shores for a few days,” Uriel said.

Winston didn’t have to guess where U had gotten that information. More than likely it had come from York since he had been the last one Winston had spoken with. York had called this morning when Winston was throwing items into an overnight bag.

It hadn’t been loneliness that had driven Winston across the Sound to Hilton Head. The need to get laid had been the driving factor. And the trip hadn’t been disappointing.

“Yes, I needed to come into town,” he heard himself saying.

“How are things going with the project?”

Up until a month ago, very few people had known that his research as a marine biologist had reached a major breakthrough in the medical arena. Since word had somehow gotten leaked to the press, he’d been inundated with emails and letters wanting interviews.

“Pain in the ass right now. I prefer keeping my hands in the research side of things versus the business side, you know that.”

“Yes, and you should have taken my advice and hired a public relations expert. It’s only a matter of time before your true identity gets out and Barrett Shores won’t be your private island anymore.”

Winston frowned at the thought. When he had left his six-figure job with Destin Pharmaceuticals a few years back, he had decided to further his research under a pseudonym to keep his private life private. And following Ellie’s advice, he’d even gone so far as to set up a Facebook page with a picture of his grandfather for publicity purposes to appease the serious diggers determined to uncover his true identity. However, Uriel was right. Pretty soon some determined reporter would dig deep enough and find out Winston Coltrane and the renowned Dr. R. J. Chambers were one and the same.

He and Uriel talked for a few minutes more, ending with their plan for all the godbrothers to join York and his wife Darcy in New York next month over Valentine’s Day weekend when the couple would celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

As he walked down the corridor to the elevator, he could still smell Red’s scent and knew it would remain with him for a long time whether he wanted it to or not.

Chapter 5

“So, how are things going?”

Ainsley smiled upon hearing Tessa’s voice. “Fine. I’m stretched out on the beach watching the waves come in. It’s so relaxing. I wish you could have come with me,” she said, pulling up in a sitting position.

“I wish I could have come, too, but some of us have to work for a living.”

Ainsley groaned, thinking of her own employment situation. “And some of us are unemployed.”

“Have you called The New York Times to see if you can get your old job back?” Tessa asked her.

“I put in a call to Bobby a few days ago and he hasn’t returned it. The last time we talked, I was lectured on how the company was reducing their staff so he couldn’t make me any promises. I knew when I resigned that the downsizing was due to the economy. However, at the time, I was so sure I was going to win the election and wouldn’t need that job.”

“And you would have, if Luis Higgins hadn’t lied about you being a stripper instead of a dancer at that New York club during your college days.”

“Doesn’t matter.” She wouldn’t admit it to Tessa but it had mattered. The good people of Claxton, many of whom she’d known all her life, had let her down by believing such nonsense. They had been quick to believe the worst and decided a mayor with a history of pole dancing just wouldn’t cut it, regardless of the fact it was one of her ancestors, the first Ainsley St. James, who had founded the town and had been the town’s first mayor.

“I’m hoping Bobby calls me back before I leave. I want to have some definite plans in place before returning to Claxton. With Luis Higgins as mayor, I won’t stay in town any longer than I have to. Dad is doing better so he doesn’t need me any more. I’ll return just long enough to pack my bags. Mom and Dad understand.”

Ainsley was glad she had sub-leased her New York condo in Harlem. The couple had only wanted a six-month lease, which meant she had a place to stay when she returned. However, with this trip and the personal money she’d thrown into the campaign, she needed an income to pay her bills.

“So, have you run into Mr. Hot-Throb any more?”

She’d told Tessa about meeting Winston at the nightclub a week ago, but she hadn’t told her anything about spending the night with him. That was too much to share with anyone, even a best friend. “No, I haven’t run into him. He’s probably left the island already.”

She couldn’t help wondering if he had. She hadn’t gone back to the Sparrow, but she had gone to a couple restaurants on that side of town. And she’d always felt the need to look over her shoulder, nervous about running into him again.

It was hard to believe it had been a week already. She hated admitting there hadn’t been one single day that she hadn’t thought about Winston—remembering something he had said or recalling how he would look at her with those dark penetrating eyes of his.

Some days a part of her wished she hadn’t sneaked out of his hotel room like a thief in the night. It would have been nice to have spent the morning after with him, possibly even sharing breakfast if nothing more. Then on other days she was convinced she had done the right thing. One-night stands didn’t need to extend into the next day and night. It was best to make a clean break and move on.

She had ended her phone call with Tessa, gone back to her room to shower and change for dinner at one of the resort’s restaurants when her cell phone rang again. Her heart kicked up a beat when she saw it was her old boss, Bobby Ryerson. “Bobby, I was wondering if you were going to call me back.”

“Hey, kid, I didn’t want to interrupt your vacation until I could deliver good news.”

“And you can?” she asked, crossing her fingers. She needed her old job back. The sooner she could return to New York and the life she’d had there the better.

“Sort of. Like I told you, with the economy the way it is the paper isn’t hiring or doing rehires … except for special projects. I think I’ve come up with a freelance piece I can bring you back to write if you’re interested.”

“What’s it about?”

“Not what but who. Ever heard of Dr. R. J. Chambers?”

A frown burrowed her brow. “No.”

“But you have heard of the prescription drug Norjamin.”

“Yes, although it’s still pending approval by the FDA, it’s the drug that’s supposed to run rings around Viagra. I’ve heard it’s better all the way around with minimum side effects.”

“That’s good news all the way around, and Chambers is the marine biologist who was the mastermind behind that pill. His identity is a heavily guarded secret. The only thing anyone knows about him is from what’s going through social media. But I have a lead that Chambers is working on this remote island off Hilton Head. I want to put you on it right away. The paper will cover everything.”

“Okay.” Additional time on Hilton Head wouldn’t be so bad, especially when the last weather report indicated it was snowing in New York. “For how long?”

“At least three weeks. We want you to get inside his head. Get the scoop on his next project. Find out why he prefers living the life of a recluse. And it’d be ideal if we could put something in print around Valentine’s Day weekend, when sex is on a lot of people’s minds.”

Ainsley rolled her eyes. “I believe it’s romance that’s on everyone’s mind on that day.”

“Same thing.”

Deciding not to give her opinion on that, especially after her recent one-night stand, she said. “I need an address.”

“Does that mean you’re going to do it?” Bobby asked and she could hear the smile in his voice.

“Like you didn’t think I would. But I have a few stipulations,” she said, pulling the hotel notepad out of the drawer.

“You know I can’t promise you anything, St. James.”

She didn’t believe that for one minute. “I want my old job back, Bobby—including my office and weekly column.”

“You resigned, so sure that you were going to win that election, and we hired someone else.”

He was right. She had thought she would win. Deciding to use another approach, she said. “My replacement is doing a piss-poor job with that column and you and I both know it. I read the reviews.”

Bobby let out a deep sigh. “Giving you your old job back won’t be that easy. She’s the niece of someone at the top.”

Ainsley nervously gnawed on her bottom lip. In that case, it wouldn’t be easy but not impossible. “I’ll give you what you want from Chambers and you work on getting me what I want.”

Bobby didn’t say anything for a minute and then, “You deliver the goods on Chambers and I’ll see what I can do. And I need a newsbreaker, St. James. Chambers has been a recluse on that island. So far we’re the only ones who’ve gotten a lead as to where he lives so we need to move fast. It’s going to be up to you to convince the old man to do the interview.”

“Wait! Hold up! Are you saying Chambers hasn’t agreed to talk to me?”

“Not just you, he hasn’t agreed to talk to anyone. I understand he prefers the solitude with all those sea creatures. He doesn’t have a life. In fact, he doesn’t even know anyone has discovered his whereabouts. Chances are he won’t be too happy when you show up, but hopefully you can soften up the old man.”

She frowned. “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

“No problem and if you get discouraged, just remember that this story makes you one step closer to reclaiming your old job, including your office and your column.” He quickly added, “But I can’t make promises.”

Ainsley smiled. “Too late, Bobby. You just did. Get the presses ready. I plan on giving you one hell of a scoop.”

Chapter 6

Ainsley brought her car to a stop and glanced at the huge sign. Entering Barrett Shores. You’re not welcome unless you were invited.

Well, she thought. You couldn’t get any clearer than that. She then looked ahead at the bridge in front of her, the one that would take her across the Port Royal Sound to the island. The first question that came to her mind was whether or not it was safe. It was made of wood and the planks didn’t look sturdy enough to hold a cart much less a car. But tire tracks ingrained in the wooden surface over time indicated vehicles had driven across without making the old bridge come tumbling down. She compressed her lips deciding she would take her chances. What choice did she have if she wanted her old job back?

Humming “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” she put her car in Drive and slowly moved ahead. As soon as her front tire touched the plank, she held her breath and tried taking her mind off the lack of sturdiness of the bridge by noticing the beauty of the surrounding area. Through the tall oak trees peeked the blue-green of the Atlantic Ocean. The view was simply breathtaking.

She released a sigh of relief when she made it off the bridge and lifted her head to give thanks. Hopefully, she’d be going back across before dark. If old man Chambers didn’t agree to the interview she would be leaving the island a lot sooner than that. Refusing to consider he wouldn’t do the interview, she squared her shoulders and drove on, following the one-lane road that, according to her GPS, would lead her right to the sanctuary where Dr. R. J. Chambers lived and worked. She had spent the last two days trying to get as much information on the man as she could. There had been plenty, on his Facebook page and in Wikipedia. Both of those had provided a picture of a distinguished-looking man in his late sixties or early seventies. However, nothing she’d researched had provided anything else about his identity and whereabouts. Bobby was right. The man was living the life of a recluse.

She rounded a curve in the road and quickly brought the car to a stop when her breath caught. “Wow!”

Ainsley wasn’t exactly sure what she had expected of Chambers’s home but it definitely hadn’t been this. The view while driving across the bridge had been spectacular, but this here was so magnificent it actually left her breathless.

Tucked away amid the tallest oak trees she’d ever seen was a sprawling three-story house with over eight hundred feet of beachfront. It was early January, yet all the leaves were a deep evergreen. It was as if spring had come early here while some places farther north were snow covered.

The house itself looked as if it could hold four or five families easily. But she figured most of the rooms were where Dr. Chambers did his work. The man usually published a book every eighteen months, in addition to being a regular contributor to numerous marine publications. But the drug before the FDA was rumored to be his biggest achievement yet and already several pharmaceutical companies wanted his named linked to their corporation. So far he had committed to none.

Her gaze traveled to the sky, saw the strength of the sun and how it appeared to kiss the blue-green waters of the ocean. She could imagine waking up to such a view every morning. The old man was a recluse and now she could see why. If she had this at her fingertips, she would never leave the island, either. She could imagine sitting on the docks nursing a margarita while enjoying the view of endless water. She wasn’t surprised that a man, successful in the study of eliminating sexual dysfunction, would live on a private island like a king.

After parking the car, she got out and glanced around. She expected a member of Chambers’s staff to appear and tell her that she was trespassing. When it became obvious no one would be there to intercept her, she began walking around the gate trying to find a good place to enter. After risking her life by driving across that bridge, there was no way she was leaving without attempting to see Dr. Chambers.

Winston muttered a curse when the buzzer went off in his lab. Someone was on his property. He pushed away from the huge aquarium and angrily snatched the work gloves off his hands. He was in the middle of cleaning out one of his tanks and there was no reason to get interrupted. Evidently someone hadn’t read the huge sign before crossing the bridge. It wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last. He had thought about removing the bridge completely, which meant he could only use his boat whenever he needed to get to Hilton Head or Parris Island. But why should he be inconvenienced because someone refused to adhere to his wishes?

Ignoring the dolphins flipping around in the huge tank as he passed by, he checked his watch. It would be feeding time for them soon and, with all he had to do, he should stay on schedule. He moved into the lobby of his work area and picked up the remote to turn on the nearest security monitor. A flat screen mounted on the wall flared to life and he immediately saw the car parked on the west side of his property.

Switching to other security channels, he didn’t see a thing. York, a former officer for the NYPD, who owned a high-tech security firm in New York, had installed the state-of-the-art system himself. And knowing how much of a stickler York was to detail, it would be just a matter of time before Charley discovered the location of his intruder.

Charley was the name he’d given the talking security system that had the capability of scanning not only every inch of the island but up to one hundred feet of the waterways, to alert him of any intruders arriving by boat, as well. At first it had been hard getting used to the talking device since it seemed to have a mind of its own at times. It reminded him of Kitt, the voice of the talking Trans Am in the Knight Rider TV series.

“Warning. Warning,” Charley blasted. “Trespasser. East grounds.”

“Scan perimeters, Charley,” Winston ordered, switching out of his work shoes into a pair of Nike shoes.

“Vehicle located. Rental. Currently empty.”

“Tell me something I haven’t figured out for myself,” he muttered to the machine.

Charley’s light began flashing. “Repeat command. Didn’t understand. Failed communication.”

Winston rolled his eyes. “Find trespasser and scan.”

He was halfway through the door when Charley blasted out the information. “Found. Female. East grounds.”

Winston nodded as he went toward the door. So his intruder was a woman. Well, she had a lot of explaining to do. Not only had she crossed the bridge to his property when she should not have, but somehow she had gotten through the east gate. The only way she could have done that was by picking the lock.

“Notify authorities?” Charley asked.

“No” was Winston’s single response before stepping out the door. Whoever the brazen woman was, he would handle her himself.

Making his way to the balcony, he saw a glimpse of her as she quickly crossed the east patio. He took the stairs two at a time as he moved up to the main floor. Easing open the French doors, he stood concealed by several huge plants. It would only be a matter of time before she came dashing his way.

Suddenly, there was a stirring in the pit of his groin and he wondered why. Then he knew. His nostrils had picked up a scent and it was the same fragrance that had remained with him for the past week and a half. The same scent he woke to each morning and went to bed with at night. The scent of the woman whose memory just wouldn’t leave him.

Red.

A fine time for his imagination to run wild, he thought. Steeling his mind against the scent he wished like hell he could forget, he pressed against the wall, determined that whoever she was, she wouldn’t slip past him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a slender figure and then a flash of blue. And then as if on cue, he emerged from his hiding place and grabbed her by the arm, bringing her body to his. “Look, lady, this is private property. You have no right to be here. And you’re leaving now!”

She fought, trying to reclaim her arm but he held tight in an attempt to drag her back to where her car was parked.

“Let go of me, you ass.”

Something about that voice, as well as the scent that continued to corrode his senses, made him loosen his hold on her at the same time she swung around and lifted her foot to deliver a firm kick in his groin. He jumped out of the way and his jaw dropped when he saw her face. “Red?”

She gasped and froze when she pushed all that hair from her face. Shock etched her features and rendered her speechless for a moment. Finally she regained her voice. “Winston?”

He continued to stare at her while struggling to decipher just why she was there. Seeing her again did something to him. It was as if a keg of dynamite filled with lust suddenly exploded inside his entire body. Without thinking, he reached out, pulled her close and captured her mouth with his.

Ainsley had intended to shove him away, bite his tongue, or scream in protest … however, she did none of those things. The moment her senses reacquainted with his taste, a taste she hadn’t been able to forget, there was nothing she could do but stand there and moan.

And while doing so she disregarded everything, including the way his hands moved all over her body, over her curves, cupping her backside and tightening around her waist. Instead his touch compelled her to react—so she did, by kissing him back and wrapping her arms around his neck.

This was insane. This was madness. Totally crazy. She knew this and figured he knew it as well, but something was driving them to lose themselves in this kiss.

The intensity of it increased and she felt his hand ease up the back of her blouse to touch her skin. The moment he did, her flesh felt scorched from the heat of his fingers.

Suddenly he broke off the kiss and gazed down at her, his eyes filled with as much desire as they had on their night together. He reached out a hand and used his fingertips to trace a trail across her moist lips. “I hadn’t expected you to come looking for me, but I’m glad you did. And since you’re here, let’s not waste any time.”

What? Did he actually think she had come here looking for him? He moved closer and drew her to him again, intending to get another kiss. She shoved him away. “I didn’t come here for this … or for you.”

She could actually see the look of surprise in the dark depths of his eyes. “You didn’t?”

“Of course not.”

He lifted a brow. “Of course not?”

“Yes,” she said straightening her blouse and tucking it back inside her jeans and then smoothing her hair. “Why would you think such a thing?”

Why indeed? Winston thought, leaning back against the brick wall and regarding her intently. He liked the way she did that, fluff all that hair from her face with a single flick of her wrist. He thought she looked good in jeans, just as good as she had in a dress. Almost. He liked seeing her legs. But then, it seemed that no matter what she put on those luscious curves of hers, it could set his body on fire.

“Well?”

He glanced away from those curves and up to her face. “Well, what?”

She placed her hands on her hips and shifted her legs in one of those I’m-ready-to-take-you-on stances. “What made you think I came here looking for you? In fact, that night, you led me to believe you weren’t from Hilton Head.”

Winston placed his arms across his chest. “I’m not. This is Barrett Shores, an island separate from Hilton Head. And it’s private property and you’re here uninvited. Sex was good between us that night, so what else am I to think other than you came looking for me?”

Ainsley frowned. The man had an oversize ego. She had no intentions of stroking it by agreeing to how good the sex was. “I’m not here to see you. I’m here to see Dr. Chambers.”

He dropped his hands to his side, straightened from the wall and lifted a brow. “Dr. Chambers?”

“Yes.”

After pausing a moment, he asked, “And what is your business with him?”

She narrowed her eyes. “What are you, his bodyguard?”

Winston inwardly smiled. She didn’t know just how close to the truth that was. “Yes, I’m his bodyguard and you need to state your business with me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She then opened the small pouch around her neck and pulled out a business card. “Here. Now if you’ll just let him know I’d like to meet with him, I would appreciate it.”

Winston studied the card she handed him. Ainsley St. James, News Reporter, The New York Times. He glanced back at her. Ainsley? Her real name was Ainsley? He smiled, liking it already.

“What’s so funny?” she asked in a waspish tone.

He wiped the smile off this face. “Nothing.”

He then glanced back down at the card … at her occupation again. She was a reporter? Aw, hell. Winston immediately thought about his brother Evan who’d played in the NFL. A couple years back Evan had fallen for some reporter who had only wanted a story. She had pretended affection for Evan while doing an exposé on NFL players’ use of steroids. Although Evan’s reputation hadn’t gotten damaged by the story, several of his teammates’ had and he’d felt partly to blame. Winston recalled his brother’s pain at the woman’s betrayal and he had made up in his mind after that episode to never get involved with a reporter.

He glanced back at her and slid the business card in the pocket of his shirt. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your car,” he said, taking hold of her arm.

She dug in her heels. “Wait! I can’t leave yet. I told you I’m here to see Dr. Chambers.”

“He doesn’t want to see you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “How would you know?”

“I know because he doesn’t do reporters.”

“I understand that. I also know he’s gone to great lengths to keep his whereabouts hidden and all.”

“Yes, he has,” Winston replied, and then one dark brow rose. “And that has me wondering how you found him.”

She blew out a deep breath. “Surely you don’t expect me to expose my sources.”

“Yes, I do. Either to me or Chambers. Either way he won’t see you.”

“Then I want to hear it from him.”

“He’s busy.”

“I’ll wait. You’re his bodyguard, not his spokesman.”

Winston chuckled as he leaned back against the wall again. “He values anything I tell him, trust me.” Every muscle in his body went rigid when a suspicion Winston didn’t like floated across his mind. Had she been on to him that night? He looked at her and frowned. “That night you told me you were in Hilton Head on a vacation.”

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