Free Temptation Island by C.C. Soltry Page B

Stokes is waiting inside.”  She gave Carm a cursory once-over then strode quickly away leaving Carm alone.
    Bracing her courage, Carm placed a trembling hand on the doorknob.  Time to see what you’re made of Carmen.  Don’t let Kate down.
    Carm smoothed her hands down her jacket and inhaled.  On the release of air she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
    Her eyes fell across the spacious room to the man sitting behind the mahogany desk and froze.
    “You bastard.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    How could it be?  Carm didn’t want to believe her eyes, but couldn’t deny the truth.  The man she’d married and the man responsible for helping put her sister out of business were one and the same. 
    William Stokes was Marek.
    Anger and betrayal ripped through Carm with ugly force as she took a step further into the room.  A prickling sensation started at the back of her eyes and she blinked rapidly.  No way was he going to see her cry.
    Marek remained silent as she struggled with her control.  Carm hated the assessing, searching look on his face.  The bastard should be down on his hands and knees begging her forgivness.
    Carm took a deep breath and released it slowly.  Practicing her yoga breathing in attempt to calm down, Carm mentally counted to ten.  In, two, three, four, five.  Out, seven, eight, nine, ten.   Repeating the calming technique until her racing heart slowed Carm studied Marek.
    The devil wears many disguises .  A far cry from the easy-going man in the hammock, this Marek looked every inch the shrewd businessman.  Now he wore power and wealth like a heavy cloak.
    Marek held up a hand and flashed his fancy watch.  The damned Rolex should have been a dead giveaway that he wasn’t a hotel employee.  Hell, he probably owned the thing.
    Marching over to the large, glossy desk, Carm placed her palms flat down on the smooth surface and leaned forward.  Looking Marek hard in the eye, Carm growled, “You son of a bitch.  You’re ruining my sister’s life.  Fix it and fix it now, or I will make your life miserable, I swear to you.”
    Irritation flickered in his cold green eyes.  Not a trace of warmth or humor remained in the icy depths.  “While I admire your passion Carmen, I don’t take well to being threatened.”
    “Oh, I’m not threatening Marek.  I’m promising you.”
    Marek lifted the ballpoint pen in his right hand to his lips and seemed to contemplate her words.  “Well then, it appears that’s the second promise you’ve made to me in twenty-four hours.  Aren’t you just full of them, cheri ?”
    Carm saw red at Marek’s mention of her wedding vows to him.  Spewing forth a string of curses, Carm straightened and looked down her nose with disgust.  How could she have ever thought he was anything other than a bastard?
    Carm raked her eyes over his crisp pale blue linen dress shirt and scoffed, “You wouldn’t know the first thing about promises.  The only thing you know about is lying and deception.”
    “Watch what you say to me Carm—“
    “Or what?  You’ll have me flogged?  You are a liar Marek .  Wait, that’s not even your name. You let me believe you worked for the hotel and were a musician.  You put on a great act too because I bought it.  All you’ve done is lie.”  Carm folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.
    Marek pushed away from the desk and stood, sending the leather chair spinning.  “You think I’m the only one who’s lied?  That I’m the only one who didn’t disclose all information?  What about you?”
    Carm scowled and began to pace, “What about me?  I didn’t lie to you.”
    Marek made a sound of disbelief, “Sure you did, sugar.  Think I would have come anywhere near you last night if I’d known you were a virgin?”
    The harshness of the words hit Carm like a freight train.  It hurt to have that thrown in her face.  Her stomach took