Heating Up Hawaii by Carmen Falcone Read Free Book Online Page A

his.
    He nodded, and with only a couple of strides, he reached another door, the one next to her. Blood pounded in her veins when he took another keycard from his pocket and slid it into the slot.
    “Is that where you’re staying?”
    “Yes, this is my suite.”
    “With an enormous hotel like this, it’s funny that we are neighbors.” A little strangled chuckle escaped from her lips. There wasn’t anything funny about this.
    “It’s easier for housekeeping to clean the rooms, since most of this wing is still deserted.” He gave a long sigh, his expression blasé. “Is there a problem?”
    “No.” She tightened her hold on the door handle in her hands. “No problem at all.”

Chapter Four
    A week in, and the beachfront view from her balcony still arrested Penny whenever she glanced past the golden curtains that flowed all the way down to the high-thread carpeted floor.
    Tall coconut trees and their long leaves framed the ocean’s sparkling blue waters and the pristine beige sand. Most of the time, tourists crowded the beach. They sunbathed, maneuvered sleek speedboats or simply strolled along the sea.
    Not today. Today, solitude had washed off any liveliness at the beach. Almost deserted. She remembered the silly questions her teenage friends had asked her during slumber parties. Who would you take on a desert island with you? She often named a singer from a boy band instead of the boy next door, who was the one she really had a crush on.
    She chewed on her lower lip. Nowadays, who would she name?
    Not Luc . Although their suites were side by side, she hadn’t seen him much. He’d introduced her to Brad, the friendly resort manager, and had a couple of meetings with her about goals and expectations. However, Brad had usually participated in those.
    She’d found out their suites actually adjoined, but of course only if both of them wanted, would a door in each room open and turn into a ridiculously enormous penthouse.
    Every time she looked at that door, a strange sensation coursed through her. It bothered her that a simple grasp of the handle would unlock a world of sexual excitement and bittersweet memories. Sometimes, she could almost hear the click in her head. Which was crazy, because even if she was foolish enough to open her door, it didn’t mean he would open his.
    No. She had to look at the door and remember all she’d been through with Luc. All her losses.
    A knock on the door startled her out of her contemplation.
    She sighed, smoothed her orange sweater and white skirt with her hands, and headed to open the door. “Luc.” She acknowledged the man in front of her.
    “I’m leaving for Paris for a couple of days,” he told her, business-like and distant. She made a motion with her hand for him to enter her suite, and they both sat on separate sofas in the living area.
    He wore a suit jacket over a patterned tee shirt and worn jeans. This was the most informal he’d looked since she’d met him. Her heartbeat turned into an ascending drumming when she realized his casual clothes enhanced his strong arms, long legs and tight butt even more.
    “Water?” She got on her feet and grabbed the crystal glass carafe on the top of the minibar.
    He shook his head. “Brad mentioned to me you had an interview in the works. I just wanted to make sure I’ll be back by then.”
    She cleared her throat, and poured water into the long glass.
    “It’s in the works. I’m waiting to hear back from the local channel.” She raised the glass to her lips, the cool water soothing the dryness clogging her throat.
    “Well, you just let me know then.” He stood up.
    “There’s one more thing, Luc,” she said before he turned. “I found out in my research that you’ve been giving large donations to special needs organizations and children’s hospitals.”
    She felt wrong in assuming he had the enormous tax write-off in mind, but the point was he contributed to the cause. After she’d lost her grandma to