Free A Fresh Start by Martha Dlugoss Page A

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