Hot in Aruba
by Marissa Campbell Publication Date: December 1, 2017 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Read for FREE in KindleUnlimited!
Vulnerability is Samantha Mackay’s kryptonite, and she keeps her emotions—and her men—at arm’s length. But when her good friend Carlos Naldini invites her on an all-expense-paid trip to Aruba, her resolve waivers. Tired of being relegated to the friend zone, Carlos enacts his foolproof plan, inviting Samantha to join him in Aruba, hoping the trip to paradise will soften her reluctant heart. Samantha agrees to Carlos’s proposal, giving him exactly ten days to prove he’s boyfriend material. After some wild Aruba nights and hot, sexy days, things appear to be progressing swimmingly, until Carlos’s ex-girlfriend arrives, exposing an intricate web of deception and betrayal. When news from home shatters Samantha’s hopes further, she leaves Aruba, giving up on her dreams of happily ever after. Devastated, Carlos is determined to do whatever it takes to bring Samantha back to Aruba and into his arms. Secrets, lies, and heartbreak lurk in the shadows behind sunshiny days of sex on the beach, cocktails by the pool, laughter, and friends. It’s getting hot in Aruba—but the sparks might just consume them.
“Every woman should feel appreciated and know that she’s loved.” He
moved one of his red checker pieces.
We sat tucked away in the library at Meadows, rows of worn paperback
books, their stories bereft, spines scored with decrepit wrinkles, surrounding
us. It was a blistering summer’s day, but inside, the rush of cool air through
the vents rasped in a constant hum, and the fog of disinfectant and decaying
sickness seeped into your clothes.
I scoffed at the sentiment.
“Jaded?”
“Practical.” I studied the board. It never mattered how much I tried
to plan or strategize, the man beat me every time.
“Don’t let the past influence your future. You never know who or what
you might find, and one day, you might like someone reminding you how much you
matter to them.”
“Not likely to happen.”
He hopped one of my pieces, removing it to his side of the board. I
hadn’t even realized I’d left myself open.
“Catharine and I have been married almost sixty years. You don’t get
that far without mutual respect and genuine affection. Young people these days
are too quick to jump ship when the waters get choppy. There’s something to be
said about loyalty.”
“I don’t need a lecture on relationships.”
He raised a bushy white eyebrow. “What about that iron worker…”
“Jesse? I’m over him. Moved on.”
“Every night, from the moment we were married, I placed a note on
the bedside table. Some days, I’d write something I loved about her, or I’d
thank her for something thoughtful she’d done that day. Other times, I’d point
out how wonderful she made me feel. I wanted her to go to bed each night
knowing how much I cherished her, knowing how grateful I was to have her in my
life.” He scooped up two more of my men on a double hop. “None of these
boyfriends of yours lift you up. They don’t offer you anything. You fall too
easily for convenience. You need to stand on your own.”
“I do stand on my own. I’ve been on my own forever, doing just fine.”
Now both eyebrows inched up his forehead.
“I like having someone around. It’s lonely.” I leaned back, arms crossed,
chest tight.
“It can be just as lonely in an empty, meaningless relationship.” He
pointed to one of my pieces. “Probably want to move that one over there.”
I considered his advice. Shit.
Sliding the plastic diagonally, I moved where he suggested.
About Marissa Campbell
Marissa Campbell is the author of the Avelynn series and coauthor of the award-winning self-help book, Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day. She is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society and Romance Writers of America. An E-RYT hatha yoga instructor and studio owner, Campbell lives in Ontario, Canada, with her three amazing sons, dashingly handsome hubby, and adorable golden retriever, Razz.
0 Σχόλια