Free Sex on Flamingo Beach by Marcia King-Gamble Page B

Laughing, Emilie hung up.
    Who would have guessed that Rowan had the kind of contacts he did? She’d have to put aside her reluctance to initiate contact with him. This was business.
    Emilie picked up the phone again and punched a number. There was a fluttery feeling in her stomach as she waited for the phone to be answered. She hated that she felt this way.
    â€œRowan James.”
    She’d expected a secretary, not him. Her tongue was a pretzel. Finally it unknotted itself.
    â€œUh, hi, this is Emilie.”
    â€œEmilie. It’s great hearing from you. Tell me you missed me?”
    He chuckled. The man never gave up.
    â€œNo, but I did see you on TV earlier. How did that come about?”
    â€œAsk your mayor. Let me guess, after seeing me on TV you couldn’t control yourself. You felt the need to reach out to me.”
    She couldn’t help laughing. He had a way about him.
    â€œActually I need a favor,” Emilie said.
    â€œAsk and it’s yours.”
    â€œYou think you could possibly get a couple of your more prominent rapper friends to Flamingo Beach?”
    â€œHow did you find out that Twenty Cents and Ice Cube are buds of mine?”
    â€œI have my ways,” Emilie said.
    â€œWhy do you need them?”
    It was not an unreasonable question and one she would have to answer.
    Emilie explained what she’d just discussed with Tre.
    â€œThat is an awesome idea. It won’t exactly be a Las Vegas–style revue like a casino might have, but it’s innovative.”
    He would have to mention the casino.
    â€œSo you’ll do it? You’ll get Ice Cube and Twenty Cents here?” Emilie asked.
    â€œYes, on one condition.”
    â€œAnd what would that be?”
    â€œThat you agree to go away with me. I have a business trip coming up in a couple of weekends and I’d like you to come along.”
    Emilie pinched the space between her eyebrows and gulped in a breath.
    What happened to the days when people did you a favor without expecting something in return?
    Nothing in this life was free. She’d always known that.

Chapter 7
    R owan held the receiver to his ear long after Emilie had hung up the phone. What was it with her? he wondered. She’d been noncommittal about the invitation he’d extended to spend the weekend with him. He’d expected her to be more excited about the prospect of three whole days on Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Shoot, he was excited even though it was supposedly work.
    Brian Lanterman, a wealthy entrepreneur, had purchased land in Harbour Island way back when with the thought of one day having it developed. Now that day had come. He’d invited Rowan to come over for a weekend, which really meant they were going to enjoy the water sports and talk. Rowan had done work on some of Brian’s other properties so he knew the drill. Brian would fly him and whomever he chose to Harbour Island, put him up at an inn and pick up all of his expenses. It would be the perfect opportunity to get to know Emilie better.
    Well, at least she hadn’t turned him down flat. He’d managed to get an “I’ll think about it” out of her.
    He now sat in his office, hands clasped behind his head, feet up on the desk, trying his best to get Emilie out of his mind. The flashing green eyes, fiery red hair and sprinkle of freckles across her nose were making him crazy. He’d never been so obsessed with a woman before. Of course that might have to do with him getting his way with the ladies. Emilie was proving to be a challenge.
    The ironic thing was that he’d always been attracted to dark-skinned black women with features that clearly defined their African heritage. He loved the dusky velvet of their skin and the bewitching flash of their brown eyes. He loved Afro-centric hair-styles, and the confidence and assurance those strong women exuded. Often their lives weren’t easy, yet they remained fiercely