After finishing her meal and noting the time, Haley drove back to the resort, surprised by the huge line of people parading down the quaint paths. Luckily, valet parking wasn’t too busy, and she had to wait only about five minutes before a good-looking young man opened her car door.

“Sorry about the wait, Miss, but opening day has been busy. Are you staying with us tonight?”

“Yes I am, and the wait wasn’t bad at all.” She gave him a huge smile and was delighted when his cheeks flushed. Too bad he was so young — and so shy. She needed a man, not a boy.

“Um…just take this slip inside with you, and we’ll be sure to bring your bags to your room,” he stuttered, giving Haley confidence she didn’t know she had.

“Thank you…,” she said, pausing as she looked at his name tag, “…Sammy. You have a great day.”

Life was already looking up. As she stepped inside the plush lobby of the resort, Crew was nowhere to be seen, but that was OK with her, because there were plenty of men to take his place.

As she looked around, she suddenly felt like sinking through the floor. This place was so far out of her league, she felt it was a sin to be standing on the magnificent floors. Though, she had seven figures in the bank, the clientele here spent that kind of money in a month, for vacation homes, expensive cars, and charity donations.

When her grandparents had died, a big chunk of their estate had been taken in taxes and payment on debts, but she still wouldn’t complain at what she had. She could live comfortably on the interest alone if she chose, but she wouldn’t be able to come to resorts such as this on the money in her bank account.

Beautifully dressed staff members were walking around the crowded lobby, carrying trays filled with eye-catching appetizers and full glasses of wine in honor of the grand opening. The lobby oozed elegance and perfection. Every last touch seemed to have been planned, down to the minutest detail.

Overwhelmed and hoping she hadn’t made a mistake, Haley found she couldn’t get her feet to move. She was underdressed and she stuck out like a sore thumb in the roomful of sophisticated people. Even the cleaning staff were dressed better than she was.

In every direction she looked, handsome men in hand-tailored suits were standing around chatting with other people also dressed to the nines, or leaning against the romantic railings lining the whimsical staircases.

This was a high-class place, one where even the floors stood out with their unique marble patterns, and she felt a thrill to be a guest. Not entirely a good thrill, but she refused to allow herself be too intimidated. Though she felt an intense impulse to turn around and run back outside, she fought it and was winning. She wasn’t that girl who was allowed to associate only with the servants and certainly no one of any social standing, not anymore.

She wasn’t living with her tyrannical grandparents — they were long gone. She had money, and she could go wherever she felt like going.

Still, her surroundings filled her with the overwhelming emotion of not being good enough. It was impossible to go through life on the outside, and then suddenly feel as if you were a part of the action. No matter how much was in her bank account, she knew who she was, and she just didn’t fit in with this diamonds-and-caviar crowd. Refusing to cower, though, she raised her chin and squaring her shoulders, sauntered up to the granite-topped front desk, where a smiling woman greeted her.

“Welcome to the Catalina Couture Resort. We’re delighted to have you on our opening day.”

“Thank you,” Haley replied as she reached into her purse for her identification and credit card. Though her room was free, she would definitely take advantage of the room service options. This was the vacation of a lifetime and she was going to enjoy every moment, even if she had to plaster a fake smile on her face.

“Your reservation is all set, Ms. Sutherland. I’ll just have you sign right here, and our bellman will assist you to your room and explain about our services.” With a smile that still betrayed a hint of awe, Haley thanked the woman, grateful for her genuine kindness that somehow settled her nerves, then followed a young man to the elevators, where he pushed the number for the tenth floor.

When she’d won this vacation, she hadn’t thought she’d get the top floor. This was truly a cream-of-the-crop prize. She’d have a nice view of either the ocean or the island.

As they began the short journey up, Haley turned toward the kid assisting her. “Do you enjoy working here?”

His eyes glanced down, but not before settling a split second longer than usual at her chest as he replied. “We’ve only done training so far, but yes, this place is the breast…I mean…um…best!” he exclaimed; his face reddened and he stared at his shoes in mortification.

Haley could fully understand the poor kid’s feelings. She had put her foot in her mouth more often than she cared to think about. Patting his shoulder, she waited for him to look up again, which he did with obvious reluctance.

“Don’t worry about the slip. I do it often,” she said with a kind laugh. Well, not that particular slip, but…

He breathed out a sigh of relief and his eyes practically worshipped her. If only she could speak to men she was attracted to as easily as she spoke to service employees. It was just that she felt closer to the workers, as if they were her kin, because she’d been raised by her grandparent’s staff members.

“You have one of our larger suites, reserved for our VIP guests,” the boy said as he stepped from the elevator. He escorted her a short distance down the hallway before sliding a card into a key slot and then holding the door open for her to walk in ahead of him.

“Perfect,” Haley gasped as she glanced around the spacious living room area. The scent of roses drifted to her from the large bouquet on the coffee table — with a box of chocolates next to it. The furnishings were antique, matching much of the resort decor. Across the room, opening onto a private balcony, were ornate French doors displaying a spectacular ocean panorama.

At least if she couldn’t find a man to teach her all she wanted to know, she’d spend two fabulous weeks in complete paradise. This room was too good to be true, and she hadn’t even wandered into the bedroom yet.

The young bellhop began telling her about all the amenities of the resort: spa, gym, room service, lounges, and more. She didn’t really care. She could learn all of that by looking through the catalog on the small desk in the corner.

She just wanted some food and a lot of sleep.

When he finished speaking, she handed him a nice tip and moved him toward the door. He smiled in delight before finally departing. Not wanting to wait for room service, Haley ripped into the box of chocolates, then walked to the small fridge and found a Coke.

Grabbing her sugary dessert, she carried them to the bedroom, where she smiled in pure happiness. The four-poster king-size bed was heaven on wooden feet. She ripped off her pants and shirt, dived onto the bed, and wriggled gleefully under the covers.

It didn’t take her long to devour half of the box of chocolates and guzzle down the Coke. She knew she should at least get up and brush all the sugar off her poor teeth, but the feather pillows were calling her name.

With a sigh, she gave up the fight. Closing her eyes, she indulged in her first good nap in ages. How could she do anything other than relax while in such a fantastic place? Tonight, she needed to be fully alert when she went on the prowl.

Chapter Five

Haley awoke with a huge yawn, stretching her arms above her head until she grasped the headboard. She’d left the curtains open and she watched as the last rays of a spectacular sunset glowed through the huge open windows, a salty breeze blowing in from the Pacific Ocean.

A smile flitted across her face as she let go of the deep cherry wood and sat up. Her days of finals at school and planning her summer assignment had worn her out and she hadn’t rested this well in what seemed like eons. She’d have to find out where Crew purchased his beds because the mattress was simply divine.

As a loud growl from her stomach interrupted her happy thoughts, Haley laughed, then bounded out of bed. She loved waking, finding herself in a whole new day — well, a whole new night, since it was beginning to get dark outside.

Rapidly moving to the bathroom, she stripped down and jumped into the oversized shower, moaning as the forceful jets did their job of fully waking her up and of washing the grime of the day down the drain.

Maybe it was time she dipped into her inheritance funds for more than her schooling; she had a feeling that after staying in such a nice place, it would be difficult to go back to her small apartment in Seattle. If she could transport this shower, it might not be so bad…

The brass fixtures and granite tile gleamed, and the beveled glass was crystal clear. The bathroom even had a separate beauty area with a dark velvet bench where she could sit if she wanted to apply makeup and do her hair. It wasn’t her style to get done up, but maybe she should experiment, spend some more time on trying to look her best.

It was evident that Crew insisted on only the best, because the shampoo was amazing and the scent of peaches and mangoes drifted around her as suds enveloped her hair. Maybe there was something in aromatherapy — Haley was energized to face the night and Plan B in the seduction stakes.

Within an hour she was showered, dressed, and ready to seek out conversation and perhaps a bit of food, so she decided on the jazz bar inside the resort. And since Haley had worked a number of years in restaurants, she knew it was wise to make friends with the resort staff and especially the cooks. If you were friendly with them, tipped well, and sucked up a bit, you could eat so much better and get to try dishes no one else knew existed.

Anticipation hurried her movements. She tucked some cash into her pockets, along with her room key, then grabbed her small handbag. She preferred leaving it behind, but it had a couple of essential items she couldn’t go without.

Ready to roll. She had a determined set to her mouth as she shut the suite door behind her and made her way toward the elevators. It was time to find a teacher.

The lobby was even busier now than when she’d arrived, with people speaking excitedly as they sat in the high-backed chairs circling small tables with stunning vases sitting atop them. The flowers had to be real, making her want to touch them to make sure, but she kept on moving forward, on a mission to find a friendly staff member to give her information. She wished she had the courage to sit down and join in a conversation with the other hotel guests, but she didn’t at this point. Maybe soon...

Put a uniform on a person, and she could open up like a pirated book, but a man wearing a business suit like her grandfather had worn made her want to hide in the farthest corner. She was going to work on that —– even if it took her a while, as change often did, she’d eventually gain the courage to step outside her comfort zone.

Approaching the busy bar, she saw and heard an attractive musician playing soft music in the corner. His fingers caressed the keys of the grand piano, and several guests at nearby tables applauded when he finished a piece.

Hmmm. Those fingers showed promise.

Haley could picture herself sitting next to him on the bench, his chords washing over her as her own fingers drifted up his thigh. Whoa! Such thoughts weren’t helping her. She had a mission — a mission to ask the man she liked back home out on a date — not to hit on every eligible bachelor in this place. All she needed was to find a man willing to give her some pointers, give her some confidence, teach her how to seduce the man she wanted.