![[Invitation to Eden 24.0] How to Tempt a Tycoon](http://fs.thenovelorange.com/584795/thumbs/152x264/invitation-to-eden-240-how-to-tempt-a-tycoon.jpg)
Free [Invitation to Eden 24.0] How to Tempt a Tycoon by Daire StDenis Page B
Authors: Daire StDenis
and holds it up against a small black square just above the door handle. “It’s your key.”
The door swings open and I’m greeted by a cool breeze and...the scent of frangipani blossoms again. I love the scent, sweet and promising, they remind me of the little hotel Chase and I stayed in Hawaii when we were there for our honeymoon.
Andre gives me a tour of the eight thousand square foot villa—I suspect the whole wedding is going to take place here—constructed from what looks like local limestone combined with rich hardwood. The vaulted ceilings make the villa airy and natural and each of the five bedrooms are gorgeous, each with their own en suite bathroom. I pause in one bedroom and eye the four poster, king sized bed draped in billowing cotton. Believe it or not, my mind does not automatically imagine the kind of fun the posters of the bed could be used for, all I want to do is curl up on the enormous bed with the open window overlooking the infinity pool and private beach and catch up on some sleep before the boys arrive.
“Unless you have any questions, I’ll leave you to get settled.”
“Thank you.”
After Andre leaves, I head back to the bedroom, fully intent on crawling under the fluffy white duvet when I hear what sounds like a cart outside. Andre’s already gone. I heard his cart leave. That must be Wade and Connor. When I go to open the door, it won’t budge. Strangely, there are no locks, no bolts, just a handle. I pull. Nothing. I push, thinking I’ve made the classic mistake of pulling on a push door.
Nothing.
That’s odd.
I try waving my bracelet at every shiny surface on or near the door but still nothing works. There’s a phone in the living room, right beside the immaculate white couch, however when I pick it up there is no dial tone. I click it a couple of times but there’s nothing. After following the cord, thinking it must be unplugged, I find it is plugged in, just not operating.
I locate my cell phone in my hand bag and turn it on but there is no service. Going outside onto the patio, I hold the phone up, as if my arm’s an antennae and the movement is going to increase reception.
Hmm. That doesn’t work either.
I search for an available Wi-Fi connection but no connection comes up. Don’t tell me this is one of those Wi-Fi-free resorts where guests are forced to give up connection to the world at large in order to relax. God, this is frustrating.
After trying the door once more without success, I go out to the patio and walk around the villa. A retaining wall cuts access from the front to the back so I backtrack to the beach and strike off in the direction—I think—of the castle. As I walk, I begin to notice something strange. There are no noises coming from the neighboring villas. No guests are splashing in the neighboring infinity pools, lounging on the deck chairs or hanging out on the beach. I stop and look back the way I came.
There is no one on the beach that way either.
Curiosity takes over and I walk up the path to one of the deserted-looking villas, calling, “Hello?”
The villa’s French doors are locked and no one answers. I try the same thing at the next villa and the next.
What the hell? Where are all the guests?
My flesh goes cold and clammy which makes my skin feel prickly in the heat. Did all of the guests get trapped at various airports because of the storm? I search the sky, having a hard time believing there ever was a storm based on the endless blue and the lack of clouds. The urge to pound on the doors and to scream and holler and run around like a lunatic overwhelm me and I find myself doubled over, forcing deep breaths into my lungs.
You’re being silly, Tessa, get a grip and then go back to the beach.
I make my way back down the path to the beach and follow the small bay around the promontory, certain the castle is just around the bend. All I have to do is get to the main beach access, alert guest services of the problems with my
The door swings open and I’m greeted by a cool breeze and...the scent of frangipani blossoms again. I love the scent, sweet and promising, they remind me of the little hotel Chase and I stayed in Hawaii when we were there for our honeymoon.
Andre gives me a tour of the eight thousand square foot villa—I suspect the whole wedding is going to take place here—constructed from what looks like local limestone combined with rich hardwood. The vaulted ceilings make the villa airy and natural and each of the five bedrooms are gorgeous, each with their own en suite bathroom. I pause in one bedroom and eye the four poster, king sized bed draped in billowing cotton. Believe it or not, my mind does not automatically imagine the kind of fun the posters of the bed could be used for, all I want to do is curl up on the enormous bed with the open window overlooking the infinity pool and private beach and catch up on some sleep before the boys arrive.
“Unless you have any questions, I’ll leave you to get settled.”
“Thank you.”
After Andre leaves, I head back to the bedroom, fully intent on crawling under the fluffy white duvet when I hear what sounds like a cart outside. Andre’s already gone. I heard his cart leave. That must be Wade and Connor. When I go to open the door, it won’t budge. Strangely, there are no locks, no bolts, just a handle. I pull. Nothing. I push, thinking I’ve made the classic mistake of pulling on a push door.
Nothing.
That’s odd.
I try waving my bracelet at every shiny surface on or near the door but still nothing works. There’s a phone in the living room, right beside the immaculate white couch, however when I pick it up there is no dial tone. I click it a couple of times but there’s nothing. After following the cord, thinking it must be unplugged, I find it is plugged in, just not operating.
I locate my cell phone in my hand bag and turn it on but there is no service. Going outside onto the patio, I hold the phone up, as if my arm’s an antennae and the movement is going to increase reception.
Hmm. That doesn’t work either.
I search for an available Wi-Fi connection but no connection comes up. Don’t tell me this is one of those Wi-Fi-free resorts where guests are forced to give up connection to the world at large in order to relax. God, this is frustrating.
After trying the door once more without success, I go out to the patio and walk around the villa. A retaining wall cuts access from the front to the back so I backtrack to the beach and strike off in the direction—I think—of the castle. As I walk, I begin to notice something strange. There are no noises coming from the neighboring villas. No guests are splashing in the neighboring infinity pools, lounging on the deck chairs or hanging out on the beach. I stop and look back the way I came.
There is no one on the beach that way either.
Curiosity takes over and I walk up the path to one of the deserted-looking villas, calling, “Hello?”
The villa’s French doors are locked and no one answers. I try the same thing at the next villa and the next.
What the hell? Where are all the guests?
My flesh goes cold and clammy which makes my skin feel prickly in the heat. Did all of the guests get trapped at various airports because of the storm? I search the sky, having a hard time believing there ever was a storm based on the endless blue and the lack of clouds. The urge to pound on the doors and to scream and holler and run around like a lunatic overwhelm me and I find myself doubled over, forcing deep breaths into my lungs.
You’re being silly, Tessa, get a grip and then go back to the beach.
I make my way back down the path to the beach and follow the small bay around the promontory, certain the castle is just around the bend. All I have to do is get to the main beach access, alert guest services of the problems with my