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  A Fresh Start

  Published by Martha Dlugoss at Smashwords

  Copyright 2011 Martha Dlugoss

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  So you’re forty, newly divorced, and unemployed. Just enjoy your vacation and think about the rest later. She sighed, adjusting the chaise lounge, and turned the page of the lusty novel she was halfway through. She looked up and smiled as the cabana boy set her drink on the table by her side. Some boy. He’s probably thirty and he’s hot as hell. He smiled back and asked her, “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “No thanks,” Samantha said.

  “If there’s anything else you need from me, just call the front desk any time. My name is Luke.” With a wink and a flash of dimples in his tanned face, he headed to the bar to pick up his next order.

  Samantha sighed again. If only. She really didn’t want complications in her life right now.

  ****

  The next day, Samantha woke late. The sun was brilliant in the clear blue sky. She stood in her tank top and panties in front of the patio door of her hotel room on the fifth floor and spotted Luke waiting on a table full of young women by the pool. Figures, Samantha thought. He probably services ALL the women here. She snorted. As though able to hear her, Luke looked up—directly at her. Her breath caught in her throat, and she stepped back from the door to head for the shower.

  After showering, she dressed in a light sundress, strappy sandals, and a wide hat. Time for shopping. Maybe that will make me stop thinking, she thought dryly. She grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the mini fridge and her purse and headed out.

  She headed for the main shopping district on foot, since it was only a few blocks from the hotel. She spent a few hours walking through the open marketplace, haggling for a beautiful sarong in bright pink. She blushed slightly as she walked away from the vendor when he said, “Wear it for your man. He will like.”

  Back in her hotel room, she changed into her brief white bikini—the one she hadn’t worn because her ex-husband had told her she was too old to wear it. Screw him, she thought, looking in the mirror. Then she wound the sarong around herself and headed down to the beach.

  She sat in a chaise lounge and opened her book. A few minutes later, Luke’s smooth, deep voice murmured near her ear, “How can I be of service today?”

  Samantha started, nearly dropping her book, and looked back at him. “Oh, uh, how about a seared tuna salad and a virgin strawberry daiquiri?”

  Luke smiled roguishly, his white teeth gleaming. “You don’t look like the virgin type.”

  Samantha blushed, then said, “Maybe something stronger later.”

  Luke laughed, a rumble low in his chest, and left to get her lunch.

  Samantha relaxed again and went back to her book.

  When Luke returned with her food, he sat on the chaise next to her and said, “Why are you all covered up?”

  “Oh, no reason,” Samantha said, “just not ready to take off my sarong yet.”

  “Take it off. I’ll put lotion on your back,” Luke purred.

  What the hell. I’ve wanted his hands on me all week, she thought, and stood to remove her sarong as Luke watched, feeling wicked as she hadn’t in a very long time.

  Luke whistled. “Nice.”

  “Thanks,” said Samantha, “but I probably shouldn’t wear something like this at my age.”

  “Are you kidding? You can’t be a day over thirty. Besides, with a body like yours, you should be out here topless.”

  Samantha laughed breathlessly. “Thank you, but I’ll keep my top on. Um, lotion?”

  “Sure. Lay on your stomach.” Luke warmed some lotion in his hands and started to rub it into her shoulders. “So, what’s your name?”

  “Samantha, but you can call me Sam.” She groaned as his hands smoothed the lotion over her skin, his hands large and warm as they moved over her body.

  “No, I think Samantha suits you perfectly.” His hands began to move lower, caressing her waist, then her hips just above her bikini bottom. Then he moved down to her thighs, and she nearly came up out of the chaise lounge. He chuckled and put a hand on her back to hold her down, then continued smoothing lotion between her thighs. She moaned again at the feel of his hands so close to the ache that was quickly becoming unbearable. Then, suddenly, his hands were gone. His voice teased her, “If you need anything else, just call. Any time.” He jogged back up to the bar, leaving Samantha overheated and gasping.

  Oh my God. Samantha couldn’t believe what had just happened. She groaned again, then grabbed her daiquiri in the hopes of quenching the fire.

  That evening, Samantha decided to throw caution to the wind. Naked, she spritzed herself with perfume, then put on the pink sarong. She tied it under her left arm and walked around the room to be sure she was decent. Finally, she pulled on a pair of pink high heels and headed down to the outdoor dining area near the pool.

  After she was seated at a table, she looked around at the wait staff. Stop it, she thought. It’s not likely he’ll be working tonight too.

  She ordered a daiquiri, not virgin this time, and the catch of the day, then she sat back to watch the other diners. She loved people watching. It was a good way to pass the time alone. Taking a sip of her daiquiri, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Alone again at forty. Tears pricked her lids. Mentally shaking herself, she rolled her head forward and opened her eyes. Across the table from her, in a loose-fitting white shirt that accentuated his tan, was Luke.

  He grinned at her. “May I join you for dinner?”

  “Oh, of course,” she said. “How are you?”

  “I’m great.” He asked the waiter for a rum and Coke, then turned back to her. “Have you been enjoying yourself?”

  “More and more by the minute.” She blushed, then took another sip of her daiquiri.

  He grinned again, showing the dimple in his left cheek. Looking at him, Samantha was tempted to grab him and run for the closest bed but managed to restrain herself…barely.

  Dinner went on for three more hours as they sat and talked. Too soon, Luke said “It’s probably pretty late. I should let you get some sleep.”

  “Yes,” Samantha said reluctantly. She stood, then turned toward him to say good night.

  Luke rose slowly from his chair. “Or we could take a walk on the beach. The ocean is beautiful at night.”

  Samantha looked at him, considering. “Okay.”

  Grabbing her hand, he started walking toward the beach. At the edge of the sand, she stopped him so she could take off her heels, and he removed his shoes, revealing large, well-formed feet.

  When they resumed their walk, he curled a possessive arm around her waist. She reciprocated, leaning her head on his shoulder. They walked to the edge of the water, then followed the curve of the beach. The moon was so bright that they could see their way easily along the sand. After several minutes, he led her to a secluded spot where tropical flowers grew riotously beneath several coconut trees, sat down and pulled her down next to him. Leaning back on one elbow, he looked at her in the moonlight and said, “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

  Samantha looked back at him. “When you say it like that, I can almost believe it.”

  He frowned. “Why wouldn’t you believe me?” />
  She sighed. “Because my life lately hasn’t exactly made me believe anything good about myself.”

  “Talk to me about it,” he suggested, then reached up and tucked some wayward strands of her long brown hair behind her ear then cupping her cheek in his hand. “I promise you, I want to know everything about you. You can trust me.”

  “Where do I start?” She laughed shortly, “Well, I just went through a nasty divorce. My ex-husband told me that I wasn’t hot enough, so he had to go elsewhere. I was fired shortly after that because my ex-husband was sleeping with my boss. Now I’m 40, alone, and unemployed.”

  “Good.” Luke laughed at the shocked expression on Samantha’s face. “If you ex-husband had been smarter, you and I wouldn’t be here, and I couldn’t do this.” He leaned slowly toward her and pulled her closer with a hand on the nape of her neck. When he kissed her, it was all she could do not to rip off his clothes and throw caution to the wind. Breathing hard, she pulled away.

  “Um, as nice as this is, and believe me it is, I can’t do a casual affair,” Samantha said, biting her lip.

  Luke’s eyes glowed hotly into hers. “Who said anything about casual?”

  Samantha laughed breathlessly, “I’m only here for three weeks.”

  “You’re alone and unemployed. Stay here with me,” Luke said.

  “God, Luke, don’t tempt me.” Samantha rested her forehead against his and groaned. “I can’t stay here. I have a life in Michigan.”

  “Then spend what time you do have with me,” he coaxed.

  “Okay,” she said. “I’m sorry, could we go back now?”

  “Of course,” Luke said and smoothly got to his feet. He held out his hand and helped her up, straight into his arms. He kissed her again, hot and persuasive, but then he turned and started walking back toward the hotel.

  At the door to her room, he kissed her again, but said “I won’t ask to come in tonight, but when you’re ready, all you have to do is let me know.”

  She practically floated into her room, then took off the sarong and flopped on the bed. She was grinning so hard it hurt, but it was a good hurt.

  ****

  The next few days passed in a blur of playing in the surf, relaxing by the pool, and exploring the city with Luke. He took her to his favorite restaurants, shops, and sights only the natives knew about. Each night they walked on the beach, kissed under the stars, and ended the evening at the door to her room.

  On the fourth morning, she stood at her balcony door looking down at the dining area by the pool in her tank top and panties again. Again, Luke found her with his eyes as he did every morning while he worked. This time, she smiled and took off her tank top, never taking her eyes from his. She shook back her hair and smiled at him. He stood below looking up at her for several seconds, then turned to another waiter, handed him his pad and tray, and took off into the hotel at a dead run. A minute later, there was a knock at her door. She ran to it, opened it, and was swept into Luke’s arms. They kissed blindly, then he stepped back and looked at her.

  “You’re even more beautiful than I knew.” His hands rested on her ribcage below her breasts, then he brought his palms up underneath them and rotated his thumbs across her nipples. She groaned, grabbing onto his shoulders, and pressed her hips into his.

  “Luke, if you don’t make love to me right now, I may combust.” She laughed, then pulled his shirt off over his head. He grabbed her butt in his hands and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around him and hung on as he walked to the bed, kissing her as though he were going to devour her. He put her down on the bed and reached for his shorts, kicking off his shoes as he slid them and his underwear down his legs.

  Samantha licked her lips and reached for his thick, engorged staff. He said, “Honey, if you touch me now, I won’t be able to control myself.”

  She smiled and took his smooth, hot length in her hand. “Good,” she purred. “Get over here.”

  Luke sank onto the bed next to her and kissed her again. Then he removed her panties with one hand while toying with her breasts. He pushed her down onto the bed and levered himself over her. He kissed her again, then lifted his head and said, “I can’t wait any longer.”

  “I never asked you to.” Samantha rolled with him until she was straddling his hips, then took him inside her.

  “You feel so good, Samantha.” Luke’s hips surged upwards as his hands pushed down on her hips. Samantha moaned, and then started sliding up and down his shaft. Luke groaned, then rolled over and started pounding into her. “Next time will be slow. I promise.”

  Samantha could only wrap her legs around him and say, “More.” Moments later, Samantha cried out her release as Luke poured himself into her. He rolled over and lay with Samantha sprawled out on top of him, his hands gliding up and down her back.

  Some time later, they stirred themselves and headed for the shower. They took turns soaping each other, then he washed her hair, massaging her scalp and kissing her while he did so.

  “I could get used to this,” Samantha told him.

  “That’s my plan,” Luke said, getting out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and started rubbing her skin with it. When he was finished, she did the same to him and ended up on the floor at his feet. She looked up at him and got a sparkle in her eye.

  “Hmm. This is interesting,” she said, and proceeded to tease him into erectness. She scratched his scrotum with her fingernails gently, then swirled her tongue around the tip of his penis.

  “Damn,” Luke exclaimed softly. She smiled up at him, then proceeded to take him into her mouth. Once he started pumping his hips, she stopped and stood up, then ran into the bedroom. He stood there for a moment, then smiled and followed her.

  Samantha lay on the bed, reclining on her elbows with one knee bent. He went to her, smoothed a hand up her leg, then turned her so her legs were off the bed. He put her legs over his shoulders and went to work with his tongue and hands until she was nearly screaming, then stood and said, “I could use a nap.”

  She lifted her head off the bed with a glazed look in her eyes, got off the bed, and punched him in the shoulder. He laughed, wrapped his arms around her, and fell on the bed, twisting as he landed to avoid hurting her.

  The next several days rushed past in a sensual haze. They walked on the beach, made love in the surf by the light of the moon, and talked for hours. Too soon, she had to leave.

  ****

  They said goodbye in her room, and she shed a few tears. They exchanged numbers, and she headed downstairs to her cab. As she rode to the airport, she sat with her forehead against the window, trying to remember why she couldn’t stay with Luke.

  Back in Michigan, she put aside her heartbreak during the day in order to find a job. The economy was not conducive to a job search, but she poured her heart and soul into it. She sent out resumes, visited online job sites, and attended job fairs. But she could never put Luke completely out of her mind, which made the nights seem endless.

  One month after returning to Michigan, she received a phone call for an interview with a large hotel chain. She had applied for a job as a desk clerk, hoping to at least pay the rent and put food on the table until something more in line with her business degree came along. The human resources specialist she spoke to said that the clerk’s job was taken, but would Samantha be interested in a job in hotel management?

  “Of course,” Samantha said. “I have experience in business management, and I have worked in the travel industry before.” She made an appointment for the following day at their corporate offices in Grand Rapids. Thankfully, it was only a short commute from Plainwell where she lived.

  ****

  The next day, she went to the interview feeling confident and hopeful. She sat down with Mr. Hayes and answered his questions readily, and left with a relaxed attitude she hoped boded well for the job.

  ****

  She spent the rest of her week trying not to listen for the phone to ring. She couldn’t have s
aid whether she was waiting for Luke to call or Mr. Hayes.

  Friday night, she decided to go out with friends. She called Susan and Cathy and invited them to go out to dinner. They agreed to meet at their favorite Mexican restaurant. At six, Samantha walked into La Cantina and spotted her friends. They spent the evening sipping margaritas and eating fajitas, then went their separate ways, promising to meet again soon.

  When Monday came around, Samantha decided it was time to stop waiting. Seize the day, she thought to herself. She dialed the number Luke had given her, but she got his voice mail. Deciding not to leave him a message, she quickly hung up. Then she called Mr. Hayes. She thanked him for the interview and asked if there was anything else he would like to know about her.

  “No, I think I have enough information,” he said. “I do have a question for you, though. When would you like to start?”

  “I can start tomorrow if you would like,” she said, trying to sound calm.

  Mr. Hayes laughed. “How’s a week from today? The president of the company will be here then, and he would like to handle your orientation personally.”

  “I’m honored. Of course, Monday would be just fine. Thank you.” Samantha hung up the phone and started dancing around her apartment. I did it! she thought giddily. Oh my God! What am I going to wear? She stopped, grabbed her car keys and purse, and ran out the door.

  She drove to Grand Rapids and visited her favorite department store, Macy’s. She picked out a whole new work wardrobe, thinking she would need more business clothing than she had at her last job, and she spent a few hours finding just the right pieces. She spent another hour picking out shoes, then put her bags in the car and went back to the food court for lunch. After lunch she decided to spend some time wandering around the mall. After a while, she found herself looking at a window display filled with sand and bikini-clad mannequins. She sighed, thinking she would probably never see Luke again unless she took another vacation to Fiji.