Sweet Escapes: Romance Story Boxed Set (7 page)

"Victoria, exactly what
did
you do?"

Victorias face crumbled and tears ran down her cheeks. Her arms fell to her sides, the gun along with them.  Ayla saw her chance and knocked the gun out of her hand.  It skittered across the floor away from her, landing at Seamus feet. Seamus picked it up.

Ayla expected him to take over where Victoria had left off and point the gun at her, but instead he unloaded the clip, removing the bullets and held the gun at his side.

"Now, will someone tell me exactly what this is about?"

Victoria covered her face with her hands. Her confession spilled out between sobs-- how she had hired hackers and corporate spies to steal technology for several products, GreenGas being one of them.

Seamus turned to Ayla, "But what do
you
have to do with all this?"

"The technology for GreenGas was stolen from my father.  The proof is right there on that computer,"  she nodded towards her laptop.

Ayla saw a cloud of anger on Seamus face as he turned to Victoria. "
You
did this?  How
could
you?"

At Seamus's harsh words, Victoria buried her face further in her hands and sobbed even louder.

"Do you realize what you have done?  Our company will be ruined once this gets out and you, Victoria, will not be the only one to suffer the consequences.  I'm afraid we both will."

Seamus pulled out his cell phone. 

"You're not going to call the police on me, are you?" Victoria pleaded. But the blare of sirens getting closer could already be heard through the open door.

"It sounds like they are already on their way. Someone must have called when they heard the shot. I'm calling Simon Chase, our corporate lawyer. He'll be able to find someone to help you avoid seeing the inside of a jail cell. Although I
should
send you to jail after what you have done. But I won't, as long as you do things
my
way from now on. That means focusing your efforts towards righting the wrongs you have done so that we can save what's left of our company."

Victoria nodded her head enthusiastically, "I'll do whatever you say, Seamus."

Ayla felt her brows knit together. It seemed like Victoria was getting off awfully easy considering what she had done but her doubts faded when she saw the worried glance Seamus gave her.

"Are you ok?"

Ayla nodded. She didn't trust herself to speak. Seamus came to her side and gently took her into his arms. He lifted her chin, brushing her forehead with his lips.

"I don't know if you can ever forgive me, but I promise I will do whatever it takes to make this right."

Chapter Eight

"Daddy, over here!" Ayla waved at her father from across the crowded restaurant.

Augustus Henderson sat down next to his daughter and gave her a peck on the cheek. He reached his hand across the table to meet Seamus's.

"Seamus, good to see you as always."

"Same here, Auggie."

It had been four months since she had uncovered the truth about the GreenGas project at McDonough International and her father was back to his old, happy self.

Despite what had happened, the two men had become fast friends over the past four months. Seamus had made good on his vow to make restitution for the technologies Victoria had stolen, and he had instituted Ayla's father as Vice President of the GreenGas division, giving him full reign over the direction and production of the product.

This included a hefty salary and all the funds her father could ever need to develop new products. Ayla was delighted with Seamus's generosity and how things had turned out because her father might never have had the opportunity if he had attempted to bring the product to market on his own. Instead of being angry and bitter over the theft, Ayla had been happy to see her father put it all behind him and take up the reigns of the division with his old enthusiasm and ambition.

Much to Ayla's surprise, her father had even taken a shine to Victoria, who was quickly approaching their table. Augustus stood and pulled the chair out for her.

"Hello everyone." She smiled cheerfully.

Ayla studied the other woman from across the table. Four months ago she would have recoiled at even being in the same room with her, but to be honest, Victoria had stepped up to the plate and worked tirelessly to repair the damage she had done. She seemed truly remorseful and on a more positive path now.

It was still too early to say if she would ever go as far as to be
friends
with Victoria, but at least now she didn't mind being in the same room with her ... or even at the same dinner table, which was very important ... especially now.

A waiter started over to the table, but Seamus waved him away. He cleared his throat and Augustus and Victoria looked up from their menus quizzically.

"I didn't invite you here just to have dinner," he explained.

"Ayla and I... we have an announcement." He pulled Ayla's left hand up from the table and the huge diamond ring she wore sparkled in the light. "We're getting married." Seamus grinned with pride.

Ayla's father leaned over in his seat and hugged her, "That's wonderful!"

"Thanks!" Ayla gushed the word out. She wore a huge smile which had been plastered on her face since Seamus had proposed the night before.

Augustus made his way around the table to Seamus, clapping him on the back and shaking his hand in congratulations.

Victoria clapped her hands together in delight. Hesitantly, she reached across the table and touched Ayla's arm.

"I couldn't have picked a better person to marry my brother or to call
sister-in-law
. I'm so happy for both of you." She turned to Seamus and gave him a hug.

Ayla felt her heart thaw just a bit towards Victoria. Maybe there was hope for her soon-to-be sister-in-law after all.

At Seamus's signal, a waiter came over and filled their glasses with champagne.

"I'd like to propose a toast," he smiled at Ayla. " To new beginnings!"

Four glasses clinked together sending up a melodious chime, much like the happiness bubbling up inside her.

Her father was back to his old self and immersed in his work again. Victoria had made restitution for the wrongs she had done. McDonough International had quietly recovered from the damage and looking like it would be stronger than ever. But most importantly, Ayla was going to marry the man of her dreams.

Four months ago when she'd started work at McDonough International, her entire goal had been revenge. Now, sitting with her father and future sister-in-law, she smiled to think how her single act of passionate vengeance had led to such a happy ending.

The End.

Physical Attraction

Leighann Dobbs

This is a work of fiction. None of it is real.

All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.

PHYSICAL ATTRACTION

Copyright © 2012 Leighann Dobbs

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under "fair use," without the express written permission of the author.

Table Of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter One

So
this
was the juice bar, Olivia thought. She'd been visiting the gym for months now, but today was her first time here.

Stepping up to the counter, she ordered a strawberry banana smoothie and found a table near a window so she could watch traffic as it passed by the back of the building.

Or rather, she
tried
watching out the window, but her attention kept getting snagged by the ladies seated at a table on the other side of the lounge.

They were talking about Jordan Waycross, the sexy new trainer who'd come on staff about six months ago.

Olivia couldn't deny their allegations about him. At six foot two, with dark, curling hair, flashing green eyes which always seemed to reflect an inner tease, and all those muscles and tongue-temptingly defined abs, who could?

It was their insinuations about how he had an eye for anything female she found disturbing. A man with a roving eye spelled trouble. Unfortunately, she knew this first-hand.

Five years ago, her husband had found himself some newer-model 'eye candy', and he'd left her to raise their four-year-old daughter alone.

"Fancy meeting you here, Ms. Stretton. Never figured you for the 'bar' type," Jordan called from the counter.

Speak of the devil, she thought. Or rather,
eavesdrop
of the devil.

He grinned, and she felt her own lips turn upward in an answering smile. It seemed he had that effect on everyone.

A chuckle slipped out before she could squelch it.

"You figured right, Mr. Waycross. Today is my first time in any kind of bar even a juice one."

She raised her smoothie glass in salute.

He paid for his drink and sauntered across the lounge to her table.

Prowled, more like it, she thought, watching the way he moved closer, noticing how the room seemed smaller with him in it.

"Care if I join you?"

Olivia considered for a second before reaching out to slide her purse over to her side of the table. "We may as well give them someone else to talk about. Take a load off, Mr. Waycross."

"Take it all off? My, my, you move fast, Ms. Stretton," he teased.

She laughed. "You're bad, you know that?"

Inclining his head toward the group of ladies across the lounge, he sat, and then shook his head in disagreement. "Not what they say. To hear them talk, I'm very, very good."

Olivia wasn't used to being the object of a man's attention. Not since her ex-husband had become an 'ex'. She felt a bit threatened by his teasing. "Are you bragging?"

He sipped at his drink, and then leaned back. "Not at all. Just letting you know I'm aware of what's being said about me behind my back. Or at my side."

He leaned forward, a bit more in her space than she could handle at the moment. Olivia realized he was flirting with her. The urge to shrink back pulled at her. She ignored it, but a sudden attack of nerves made her smile tremulous. "I need to know this
why
?"

"So you'll believe me when I say you'll have to find out the truth for yourself. Contrary to whispers, Olivia, I've never been with either of those ladies outside the gym."

For some reason, his quiet revelation made her relax. "Which means I'll never know, will I? I've never seen you outside the gym either."

"Ah, but that is about to change as soon as you say yes when I ask you to have dinner with me tomorrow night."

His smile was engaging. A short, unexpected laugh burst from her lips. "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely."

"Oh, I might as well," she teased. "Rumor around the gym says I'm the only woman left on your training roster you haven't dated."

His low chuckle sent a frisson of warmth tripping through her.

"Hardly. But you
have
accepted. Not letting you go back on your word now," he warned, wagging a finger at her. "I'll pick you up at seven?"

"No, actually. I'd rather meet you someplace. Here?" She didn't think she was ready to have a guy over to her house for any reason just yet.

"Here is fine." Picking up his now empty glass, he stood, a grin on his lips and laughter in his gaze. "See you tomorrow night. And Olivia?"

"Yes?"

"I like that pink tank top you're wearing. Goes perfect with your tan."

He winked and walked away, leaving her feeling a giddy, warm sense of anticipation she hadn't felt in years.

* * *

Everything had happened too fast.

Three times Olivia had almost changed her mind and stood Jordan up anyway. She wasn't sure going out with her personal trainer was such a smart idea. Especially for Danielle.

When her ex had left, Dani had been crushed. Felt it was her fault. Bringing another man into their lives might not be the best thing for her and Danielle right now, even if it had been five years .

It shouldn't matter that Jordan was the first man in five years to make her smile, to make her feel good about herself again. She had to consider Dani.

Granted, she would love to listen to the little voice in her head that told her she was worthy of consideration as well, but she was a grown woman, able to bear or at least deal with the slings and arrows of life. Dani was just a child.

With twenty minutes left to shower and change, Olivia made up her mind. It was just one date, right? One date, and if it went badly, Dani would never have to know, after all she was away at camp for the week and would be none the wiser when she got back.

Her suddenly racing pulse said her body was pleased with her decision, but her urge to be extra careful with her makeup and clothes would have to wait.

She'd left the decision so late, she barely had time to do more than swipe on a quick brush of mascara and dab a bit of lip gloss across her lips before it was time to go.

Chapter Two

The restaurant he had chosen obviously surprised her. Rather than some high-end, reservations only dining room with slow music and low lights, he'd brought her to Porters more of a family-type eatery than one meant to prime nervous divorcees for seduction.

One twelve-ounce steak and a pasta salad later, dinner was over and instead of leaving the cool interior of the building, Jordan leaned back in his chair, sipping the last of his iced tea.