Lust and Passion

CHAPTER 1: LETTING LOOSE“THAT’S IT. I’VE HAD IT with men, Abby,” Ella fumed as she cut the umpteenth photo of her most recent ex-boyfriend into tiny pieces. Her very recent ex-boyfriend, in fact. Just hours ago she’d walked into his apartment in the middle of the afternoon, intending to surprise him after arriving home early from a weekend work conference. Well, she’d certainly surprised him, and the woman who’d been riding him like a horse was shocked to see Ella there, too. Ella hadn’t freaked out at him like she’d seen so many times in movies and on television. She’d held it together quite well for the brief time she remained in the apartment. “Don’t let me interrupt your riding session,” she’d told the woman. “Though you may want to put blinders on this one; he seems to stray easily,” Ella finished before turning and walking out. She’d held it together long enough to make it home before breaking down on her living room floor. And that’s where Abby, her best friend and roommate, had found her an hour later. Since then, Ella had managed to pull herself back together. Though she supposed chopping photos into tiny bits wasn’t the most sane use of her time. “Do I just happen to have the worst luck out there? Or are all men scumbags?” Ella asked her friend. It’s not like Alex—the most recent scumbag—was the only jerk she’d come across. Each relationship she’d been involved in had ended badly. But this was it. She’d been naive, little Ella for long enough. She’d graduated at the top of her class, had been scooped up by one of the largest firms in the area and successfully proven herself an intricate and valuable junior member of the firm. And yet, she constantly found herself questioning her self worth as one relationship after another ended badly. Abby wrapped her arms around Ella, consoling her in the only manner she knew how. Unfortunately, it really did seem that Ella had a knack for finding the scum at the bottom of the barrel. “You know what, Ella?” Abby began, an idea formulating in her mind. “Let’s get away. We both have some vacation time owed to us. Let’s pick somewhere tropical and just go. A week of nothing but relaxing on the beach, sipping mai tais. What do you say?” She looked up at Ella enthusiastically. “Oh, I don’t know. Just take off out of the blue? An impromptu vacation...it doesn’t really sound like me, Abby,” Ella vacillated, but she had to admit the idea—so out of character for her—held some appeal. “That’s the point, Ella! Do something different,” Abby urged. A smile pulled at the corners of Ella’s mouth. “Let’s do it,” she conceded. Abby grabbed her laptop, opened it up and searched for a list of Caribbean islands. “OK. Close your eyes and point, and that’s where we’re going,” she explained. Ella’s logical and orderly side was already objecting, but she forced her arm out regardless, closed her eyes and pointed to the screen. “Belize it is!” Abby shrieked, thrilled with Ella’s choice. “I’ll make all the arrangements. You just make sure you can get the time off, and pack a suitcase—with the skimpiest, naughtiest swimwear you can find,” she advised. “Nevermind. I’ll pack your suitcase, Ella,” she said in afterthought, realizing her friend’s idea of a skimpy bathing suit was a boy-cut tankini or a full-coverage suit. “I can pack my own luggage, Abby,” Ella insisted, rolling her eyes. “Sure, hon. If we were packing for an Alaskan cruise, I’d believe you. But, you can’t wear a power suit on the beach,” Abby teased. As soon as Ella’s finger landed on Belize, another plan began to formulate in Abby’s mind. Her friend had spent enough time on the straight and narrow; it was time for her to let loose, have a little crazy fun—and get laid. Ella was the most intelligent person she knew, but knowing how to relax and unleashing her wild side were not her strong points. And what a shame. Ella was kind, compassionate, honest, and absolutely, positively drop dead gorgeous. Tall, bronze skin and thin, with a rack that Abby would die for, Ella’s figure got attention everywhere she went. It didn’t hurt that she had long, dark hair, perfect, soft, feminine features and expressive, big brown eyes. She could easily have been a model instead of a lawyer. “What are you going to do, Abby? Fill my suitcase with string bikinis and micro minis?” Ella laughed, imagining her carefree friend’s idea of a vacation wardrobe. “I promise you no micro minis,” Abby swore, raising her right hand like she was taking an oath. And right now, Ella didn’t care. Already, the hurt of today was fading as a rush of excitement flooded her veins. She’d never done anything so careless as planning a vacation on a whim, and it felt good. Before she could change her mind, she grabbed her cell phone from her purse and called her office, making sure she could go ahead with her plans before she chickened out and canceled them. Sure enough, next week was just fine. The firm had just finished up with an enormous case, so the work around the office was fairly light right now. She pressed the button to hang up her phone. “OK. As of Friday, I’m free,” she informed Abby. And her friend was on the phone a moment later with her travel agent, setting him to work searching out the best flights and hotels on such short notice. “Ella, I have a gazillion things to do before then, so if you’re OK, I’m going to take off and get started. You don’t worry about anything. Soak in the bath, put your feet up...just...no more cutting up photos, OK? You look kinda creepy sitting there with scissors,” Abby said, smiling good-naturedly. “You got it,” Ella replied with a mock look of chagrin. She looked at the pile of photos still lying next to her on the floor. After contemplating for a moment, she picked them up in a handful and tossed them in the trash bin, metaphorically putting an end to the relationship. She stood and hugged Abby, truly grateful to have such a devoted friend. Abby left a moment later, leaving Ella alone with her thoughts. The day had certainly turned out differently than she had planned, but perhaps it was for the best. Over a year with Alex, and the guy hadn’t once been the least bit interested in discussing where their relationship was going. It was time for a change, a chance to start over. And what better way to wipe the slate clean than with a tropical getaway where nobody but Abby knew anything about her. She could become a dark enchantress, a seductive vixen, a wild, wanton woman... “Ha!” Ella laughed aloud. As much as part of her loved the idea of taking on an entirely different persona while on vacation, she had no idea what to do with that side of her. She turned her attention to the files peppering her dining table. Paperwork was her least favorite part of the job, but at least she could do a fair portion of it at home, leaving her free to focus on the more important tasks at work.