A job? Stone’s offering her a job. What the hell?
“We have a website person creating our sites for our new club. But she needs help with the content and none of us has the time or the skill to get the wording right. I’d also like some internal documents, like brochures.”
Brochures? What is Stone gonna pass them out at the next Commerce meeting or maybe ask the Alabaster innkeepers to post them in their B and B’s?
“That sounds interesting but I usually have a point of contact for my product descriptions.”
I suddenly see where this is going. “Don’t you need to work on your book? You’re already behind.”
Stone’s glare through the rearview mirror is impossible to ignore.
“Actually, it might be just what I need to get over my writer’s block. Something else to focus on but still on topic. Might even prime the pump.” She shrugs and gives me a smile over her shoulder.
“Perfect. We’ll work out the details on the pay and due dates when we get back to the Sunflower. Alex will be your subject matter expert. You can show her the ropes, can’t you Alex?”
Stone backs me into the corner perfectly and there’s not a damn thing I can do. His steely gaze dares me to try. I could argue that I’m too busy with the construction but he’ll call it out as the lame excuse it is. I’d settle this like I used to with my buddies back in Texas, a good punch to the gut, but Stone probably knows six ways to kill me before breakfast and could make my body disappear for good measure.
I nod while the voice in my head screams fuck.
Six
SJ
It’s been almost two weeks and I’ve barely seen Alex. He’s out in the morning before anyone else wakes up for breakfast. From what I understand, he’s working his ass off to get the club ready. Everyone else is busy with the club as well. I’ve done a ton of research on BDSM, specifically bondage. I keep coming back to the beautiful images of Shibari. The intricate wraps and perfectly aligned knots. There is such symmetry and artistry in the pictures. Some of the more typical BDSM bondage is a little rough for me, but the Shibari is intriguing. No matter how much I’ve searched, the couple at Pandora are unmatched in any videos I’ve found. Each day I add to the notes in my notebook, filling it with as many questions as facts. I even started toying with the idea of using it in my book.
Finally, I find Amy in the dining room after everyone has left for the day.
“You’re still here?” I ask.
She sets her coffee cup on the coaster. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been such a bad host. The guys have me busy picking paint colors and fabric and artwork for the guest suites and all the public spaces for the resort.”
I sit down across from her. “Please don’t apologize. I’ve been making some progress on my book at least some notes for some scenes.” At least I’m not lying. “And I started work on the copy for the website. But the best stories are personal. What’s the origin story of the club or resort? How did all of you get invested in this project? How’d you even meet? You’re all so different.”
“We met through the club we belonged to back in Missouri.”
“Is that where you met Tyler? He said something about you being in witness protection?”
“The two are related. I had a really bad work situation—literally the boss from hell.”
Boss from hell. That’s what my uncle is becoming. Convinced me he had only my interests, my future in mind when he gifted me this writing retreat. Now I’m helping him track a fugitive. I haven’t called him to tell him I confirmed Alex is Alex Craig. Every time I consider making the call, my guts clench.
Amy twists her tea cup on the coaster. “I was looking for an emotional release for my anxiety. No strings attached.” She lifts her chin and her gaze assessing. “Something about impact play allows me to let go of all the details, the future worries, the churning of possibilities in my head. I was desperate when I went to the club.” Her face softens, her eyes are dreamy and soft. Even her shoulders dropped to a more relaxed position. “And I met Tyler.”
It’s clear how much she loves him from that change in expression alone.
“Even though I write books with these kinds of relationships,” I say, “they’ve always been easy in my head.” I laugh through my nervousness. I’m not completely lying. The books I’ve read leave me with a lot of unanswered questions. “Happily ever after—the end. When I write it, I don’t think about what actually comes next. Do you scene at home?”
Her cheeks pinken and she drops her gaze to her cup.
“Why go to a club if you can express yourself at home?” I’m getting too personal. This is supposed to be about my assignment. “What makes a resort like The Yacht Club appealing to people?”
Amy’s brown eyes are twinkling the she faces me again. “Are you asking me if Tyler spanks me outside the club?”
“Not if you don’t want me to.” I twist a lock of my hair around my finger. As soon as I realize I’m doing it I stop and unwind my finger. This conversation is making me nervous too.
“Everyone’s reasons and ways to express their sexuality is different. For me and Tyler, we occasionally like to express ourselves in a more public place like the club. At first, the club was safety. There were dungeon monitors and other members I could rely on to make sure my boundaries were respected. In a private setting, the possibility for abuse, especially from someone you don’t know well, is higher. At least that was my reasoning. Luckily, I met Tyler on my first visit. Like it was mean to be.”
“You said ‘at first’. Why do you go now?”
