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  “Because I wanted to talk to you alone.”

  I shook my head. “No. Why are you in Vail at this house with Eden? How did that come to be?”

  The longer he stared at me, the more his eyes narrowed. I snorted, knowing he was trying to conjure an answer.

  “Could you be honest for once?” I asked, throwing up a finger emphatically.

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “You’re so fucking sexy. Could we just… one more time for old time’s sake?”

  He was blocking the door. I glanced at his cock—it was swollen. In the past, that would be the moment I would give in. He wanted me. Someone wanted me. I would let him have me. But as I stood there, I felt stronger than ever. My brokenness had been fixed.

  “No,” I said, shaking my head adamantly. “I’m over you. And you probably should get some help or something. I see you’re still eye fucking other women while sitting across from your current girlfriend. And now you’re in here trying to do me.” I folded my arms, raising my chest high. “Can you see that you have a big problem, Dale? Huge, glaring issues.”

  That glossed-over look hadn’t left his eyes. “What do you want from me, Bryn? Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just… I miss you. And I don’t like that guy for you.”

  He was moving toward me.

  I shot an arm out. “Do not come closer.”

  Dale stopped in his tracks. I knew he would. Suddenly, I was struck by déjà vu. We’d been in the same situation on many occasions.

  I snapped my fingers. “Earth to Dale. Come out of it.”

  He blinked hard until his eyes had softened. We were staring at each other. He inhaled audibly.

  “I’m not going to make you feel ashamed, Dale. But it’s time you got help.”

  His nostrils flared, and his face tightened. “Fuck you.”

  I remained motionless as he turned his back on me and slithered out of the bathroom just as inconspicuously as he’d slipped in.

  When I made it back downstairs, I learned that my suspicions were true—Alex and Alana had carried all the textiles, including the modules, back to the SUV. Eden had hired a personal chef for the remainder of her stay, a hot, young guy with a winning smile, and was in the kitchen with him, going over menu ideas. She paid very little attention to me when I waved goodbye. For certain, she was upset that I’d set boundaries with her. But I didn’t care.

  I made it to the stairwell leading to the garage, finally alone, and stopped and checked my messages. When we’d arrived at Eden’s house that morning, I’d sent Jamison a cute I love you and can’t wait to see you later message. At a certain point, I stopped listening for his reply, and as I saw, he hadn’t answered.

  His lack of a response wasn’t a cause for concern, though. Jamison hadn’t used his cell phone a lot in recent days. I suspected he was avoiding Boomer. I would see him soon, and I debated telling him what had happened between Dale and me. His protectiveness reminded me a lot of my brothers. Jamison would probably have zero tolerance for Dale from that point on. He would insist on accompanying me to the jobsite in the morning so that he could officially set a line that Dale would not dare cross.

  “Why so quiet, Bryn?” Alana asked as we rode back to the resort.

  Alana and Alex had been going back and forth about whether we should go out to a restaurant, eat at the grill on the premises, or just go back to our rooms, relax, and order room service. She was also overprotective and always ready for a fight with someone like Dale. After a moment of contemplation, I decided to keep what had happened in the bathroom from Alex and Alana too.

  “Nothing. Just tired. The day was long, and so was last night.”

  “Oh, right. Too much great sex.”

  I smiled, happy that she’d opened the door to that discussion. “And what about you? Remember what you said last night about good-looking men and orgasms?”

  “What?”

  “We were on our way to the toilets and…”

  “Oh yeah.” She chuckled. “I remember.”

  “Good-looking guys and orgasms?” Alex said, keeping his eyes on the road.

  “Were you proven wrong last night?” I asked.

  Alana looked at Alex, who stole a glance at her.

  “Mm-hmm,” she said. “Most definitely.”

  I nudged Alex in the shoulder. “Good for you.”

  “What’s good for me?” He seemed annoyed to be so lost about what we were talking about.

  “I’m sure Alana will explain it to you when we each”—I cleared my throat—“go back to our own rooms and order room service, and you two go to sleep in your own beds. Right?”

  “Oh…” Alex finally said and then smirked as he grunted. I caught him winking at Alana through the rearview mirror.

  When we arrived at the resort, I went straight to my suite. “Jamison,” I called as soon as I entered.

  The eerie, cold feeling of emptiness gave me the chills, and I folded my arms as I walked from one end of the suite to the other, calling Jamison’s name. On my next walk-through, I noticed something else—his bag and all his toiletries were gone. My heart turned to granite, and my breathing became labored.

  “Shit,” I whispered, tears filling my eyes. “Jamison?” I called, walking through the apartment again.

  He’d mentioned going downstairs to the gym before I left that morning, which seemed like another rational reason none of his things were in the room. Maybe he’d taken a shower in the locker room. I could have critically analyzed that possibility until it made no sense at all, but I decided to check into it.

  Once I made it to the gym on the first floor, I searched every corner of the space.

  “Can I help you?” a grinning, overly muscular man asked.

  “Have you seen a guy, tall, whiskey eyes, dimples, um… early thirties? You won’t be able to miss him.”

  At first, he seemed confused by my description. Then he smirked flirtatiously. “Sounds like me.”

  My frown intensified. “Then you haven’t seen him?”

  He kept grinning. “No, beautiful, I haven’t seen him.”

  “Thank you,” I said in a rush and turned my back on him.

  As I power walked to the front desk, I thought about Jamison not answering my text message. Also, it wouldn’t be like him to not send me loads of messages throughout the day, telling me how much he couldn’t wait until I was back and he was inside me. We were in that can’t-keep-our-hands-off-each-other stage. My pussy had been missing him all day.

  When I made it to the desk, I was happy to see Kara on duty. I waited anxiously behind two guys who looked as if they skied way too much. They both stole looks at me. I swore the people around there were always looking for a hookup.

  Fortunately, another front-desk clerk opened her station and called the two guys to her. Kara seemed disappointed by that. I was happy when she stopped gazing longingly at the two boys and smiled at me.

  “Hi, Miss Christmas. How can I help you?”

  I could feel the guys’ eyes on me as soon as she spoke my name. There weren’t very many Christmases on the planet. I was positive they had recognized me as the heiress to the Christmas fortune.

  “Hi, Kara. Remember the guy from two days ago?”

  “Jamison Hot?” she asked.

  The other girl chuckled.

  “Yeah, Jamison Hot,” I said, deciding to go along with it.

  “I heard he left this morning with a woman.”

  “A woman?” I asked.

  She went on to say that she was a pretty brunette in a suit. They were going to the airport. According to the message that was conveyed to Jamison, he was to come down and see her or she would meet him at my jobsite. That sounded like a threat to me.

  Brunette. Suit.

  “How did she sound?” I asked.

  Kara shrugged. “I don’t know.” She turned to her friend. “That woman that came for Jamison Hot. How did she sound?”

  “Weird. Like… OMG, that agent on that show. Um…U
m…”

  “Twin Peaks,” the two ski bros and I said at the same time.

  “Yes,” the other clerk said. “Agent Tammy Preston.”

  Destined, book 2 releases on September 2, 2020

  Available on that date wherever ebooks are sold!

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  Did you love Crave? Then you should read The Powerful Billionaire Jasper Christmas Trilogy by Z.L. Arkadie!

  Get the Christmases all year long with this sensual, steamy and addictive romance trilogy by Z.L. Arkadie

  Intrigued, Book 1

  Billionaire Jasper Christmas was a tortured soul, who was unable to love until Holly Henderson walked into his life. Now he can't resist the one woman, who has the power to expose his family's darkest secrets and ruin the Christmases forever.

  Desire, Book 2

  Christmas is over, the new year has begun, and I still can't get Jasper Christmas out of my system. Here he is in my life once again. I don't know if he's playing me or if he's genuinely falling in love with me. As a top investigative reporter, I have to keep my head in the game. The Christmases secrets are dark indeed and each discovery more unbelievable than the former. If only Jasper Christmas would go away. His desire for me is insatiable as is mine for him. And then the one story that could destroy the Christmases forever falls into my lap.

  Claimed, Book 3

  The Christmases most shocking secret has been revealed. What does that mean for Jasper and my relationship? My lover once told me he's a man who has obligations. He was once ready to destroy his foes to be set free from them, but is he prepared to ruin his family's reputation for the sake of our love?

  Read more at Z.L. Arkadie’s site.

  Also by Z.L. Arkadie

  His Second Chance with Heiress Bryn Christmas Duet

  Crave

  LOVE in the USA

  Find Her, Keep Her: A Martha's Vineyard Love Story

  There's Something About Her, A Manhattan Love Story

  Say You Love Her: An L.A. Love Story

  Know Her, Love Her: Daisy & Jack, #1

  Still In Love With Her: Maggie & Vince, #1

  Explore Her, More of Her (Daisy & Belmont, #2)

  He's So Bad, A San Francisco Love Story

  Made To Like Her (Maggie & Vince, #2)

  Made To Love Her: Maggie & Vince, #2

  He's So Good: Robert & Carter

  Say You Love Me: Charlie & Angel

  Adore Her, More of Her: Daisy & Jack, #2

  LOVE in the USA, The Hesters

  Once Friends

  Now Lovers, A Hollywood Love Story (Sonja & Jay, #2)

  Taming The Shrewd

  Waiting On You

  Parched

  Parched

  The Seventh Sister

  Quenched

  Ignite

  Vanquish

  Steal With A Kiss

  Parched: Forget Me Never

  Forget Me Never (Pt. I): The Search For A Vampire

  The Dark Billionaire Christmas Trilogy

  Intrigued

  The Dark Billionaire Jasper Christmas

  Desire

  Claimed

  The Freed Billionaire Spencer Christmas Trilogy

  Enthrall

  The Freed Billionaire Spencer Christmas Trilogy

  The Secret Billionaire Asher Christmas Duet

  Seduction

  Embrace

  The Sterlings, Billionaire Family Saga

  Secrets and Lies

  Secrets That Hide

  Secrets That See The Light

  The Secret Keeper

  Standalone

  The Fifth Sister ( A Parched Novel)

  Love in the USA, The Lords (Books 1-3)

  The Sterlings Billionaire Family Saga (Books 1-3)

  The Dark Billionaire Jasper Christmas Trilogy

  Exposed, Boss Billionaire Spencer Christmas

  Watch for more at Z.L. Arkadie’s site.

  About the Author

  Z.L. has been writing romance full-time since 2011, which has allowed her to amass quite a catalog of romance novels. She loves what she does, and as she's evolved, so have her stories. Now, she's focused on writing brooding, boss billionaire heroes, and the smart, plucky heroines they can’t live without. She has always loved writing great, intense heroes that readers can't help but fall in love with.

  Read more at Z.L. Arkadie’s site.