Stranger in Paradise by Amanda McIntyre Read Free Book Online Page B

steak, potato, salad, and a slice of fudge chocolate cake, which he offered to share. “They said about twenty-five minutes.” He glanced over his shoulder at the stack of her DVD’s. “What other movies have you got?” He meandered over and started sifting through them. She guessed his displeasure with each grunt or groan. “Is this all you have?”
    “They’re for inspiration.” Kacey held a package of chilled lunchmeat against her cheek.
    That’s sexy, Eau de bologna, her muse scoffed.
    She watched with interest as he flipped over a few more titles, perusing the descriptions and checking ratings, no doubt.
    “Inspiration? Given what you write I was thinking more along the lines of—yes ma’am.” He held up a Karma Sutra instructional video. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
    Promising night.
    She smacked her muse upside the head--mentally, of course.
    Hey, don’t hurt the messenger.
    He held the DVD in his hand and gave her a wicked grin. “Do I dare ask if…?”
    “No.”
    His perfect eyes held hers. “Private collection?”
    “Not part of my normal collection. It’s not plot-driven. It’s…” She lost track of her thoughts. Processed meat was beginning to permeate her brain.
    He chuckled. “Yup, not plot-driven maybe, but definitely driven.”
    She tossed the bologna back in the fridge and leaned on the counter. “What did you hope to find, Debbie Does Dallas ?”
    His gaze snapped to hers, those green eyes fairly sparking.
    “Forget it, and before you ask, you won’t find X-Men or Jurassic Park in there, either.”
    “Then I’m stumped. How can you consider any of these— Pride and Prejudice , Somewhere in Time , Legends of the Fall ….” He looked up, holding one up as an example. “Really? Sabrina ? You call this inspiration for writing erotica?”
    A knock on the front door saved her from throwing a nearby vase at his head. She started down the hall.
    “I’ll answer that.” His big hands--amazing hands, really--fell on her shoulders and gently pushed her aside as he stepped around her and opened the door.
    “Good evening, room service.”
    Zack focused on the rolling cart of covered dishes and pulled out his wallet, ready to tip the young waiter.
    “Excuse me, sir. I’ll just set this up inside.”
    Surprise registered on his face, but Zack stepped aside. He wasn’t the only one surprised. Even if Zack hadn’t noticed, Kacey caught the hesitancy in the young man’s reaction to Zack answering the door. It was Andrew, the same young man who had put her groceries away the day before.
    “Good evening, Ms. Winters,” the young waiter said congenially, his expression briefly dumbfounded as to the absence of the dining room table turned ready-made office area.
    “Thank you, Andrew. You can just put it on the breakfast bar.” She snagged a glass of ice water from the cart and pressed it against her cheek. Momentary relief flooded her, but not before her astute observation skills took note of Andrew’s clear discomfiture. She figured it had everything to do with Zack’s six-foot-plus, ready-for-hand-to-hand-combat look that would intimidate the toughest of men.
    Agreed, he’s yummy, her muse responded, causing tingles where there hadn’t been any in…well, too long. She pressed her knees together.
    Without another word, the waiter worked quickly and, when finished, directed his attention to Kacey.
    “Will there be anything else, Ms. Winters?” His expression changed as his gaze fell upon her cheek. He glanced at Zack, who was too busy inspecting the food to notice. Some detective. “The, um, extra ice you requested is in the bucket.” He reached under the cart and pulled out two ice cube trays. “Though these might come in handy.”
    Zack plucked them from his hand. “Thanks, junior. Here’s a little something for getting you out on a night like this.” He held out a folded five-dollar bill.
    “We have a no tipping policy, sir. This is part of the resort