CHAPTER 3

Leya sighed and took in the incredible view of the ocean from her room. Moongate Island was situated in the Atlantic, but this was unlike any water she’d ever seen on her brief trips to the shore.

It was crystal clear and almost teal in color. The waves tickled the sand with foam, and dozens of tiny little fish swam just a few feet from the hotel guests.

She longed to go down to the surf and frolic and play. Leya watched the couples scattered all over the sand. Each one an island unto themselves. She sighed, a little green with envy.

Oh well, at least I’m here. She had to stop daydreaming about finding true love. It clearly wasn’t gonna happen for her.

Instead, she needed to concentrate on the paradise she’d landed in! It was all so beautiful, and she could see every inch of Moongate Island from right there!

By some lucky twist of fate, she’d learned that the bargain rate room she’d booked was uninhabitable when she arrived. Some water damage or some such thing.

The hotel manager insisted she accept a luxury suite without any additional charges to make up for it. Leya happily agreed. She was due some perks in life, and a free upgrade was a fine way to begin her vacation.

After her disastrous encounter with the gorgeous stranger in the lobby of the hotel, she was determined to enjoy herself. Oh boy, was he hot!

Of course, she noticed the huge man when his blatant stare had become obvious. Of course it wasn’t all coming up roses, for Leya, the man had a fierce scowl on his perfect face as his eyes bore holes into her.

She doubted it was anything good that kept him staring. Then she had to go an open her big mouth, but whatever. He had no right to give her dirty looks! Just because he was hot as hell and she was, well, her.

Okay, so she wasn’t exactly used to big, good-looking men staring at her and as a result, she hadn’t been the friendliest when she spoke. He’d apologized and skedaddled out of there as fast as his long legs could carry him.

Oh well, nothing was going to come of that encounter anyway, so why mourn the loss? Leya shrugged to herself. For some reason, she’d missed the big guy when he’d walked away.

He was so out of my league, she stopped the thought. Leya had to get over this whole she wasn’t good enough thing.

How often did she come across a man who made her heart pound and her mouth water? Not fucking often. That’s it, she scolded herself. No more hiding!

“Here’s to the first day of the rest of my life,” she smiled and sipped from her complimentary champagne.

Not a big drinker, her first impulse had been to refuse the gift basket from the hotel staff. She was glad now that she didn’t. The bubbly drink soothed her nerves. It was like sipping sunshine.

She walked to the large bedroom and unpacked her carry-on luggage. What had she been thinking? Leya frowned at her clothes.

She picked up item after item, tossing them to the polished floor. I dress like an old lady. So many years wasted trying to hide her ample figure under oversized tunics and slacks. She resembled a piece of furniture most of the time!

The green outfit she had on was a gift she’d received last Christmas. She hated it, but since it fit her, she figured why waste an outfit. Oh Leya, you should’ve thrown it away!

Society spent billions in the fashion industry convincing women like Leya that they should hide their bodies. She knew it was wrong and biased, but thin was in! And she was not thin in any way shape or form.

She caught herself in the mirror and cringed. No wonder tall, dark, and studly stared. I look like an old cat lady’s couch!

She tore off the offending clothing and tossed it across the room. Uh! I know, a swim might cheer me up! Leya had one swimsuit and groaned as she put it on. Dear Lord! She shook her head in disgust. Well, this is what you get for ordering from a catalogue.

It was the wrong color. The wrong size. And it made her body look short and puffy. Her bust was uncomfortably pushed down, and her butt looked enormous. OMG! I am a mess! She frowned as she turned around in the mirror.

“No freaking way,” she put back on her ugly green outfit and left her room. First thing on my vacation-to-do-list, shopping!

She was looking through her wallet when she walked right into something. It was hard and immovable. A wall, perhaps? In the middle of the hallway…

“Oof!” Leya swayed, but strong hands reached out to steady her. Large, rough hands, hmm, definitely not the soft manicured hands of her ex-boss.

She’d thought about him with nothing but distaste for the last twenty-four hours. But all those thoughts went right out of her head as those strong hands that steadied her, suddenly pulled her closer.

She tilted her head back, eyes going wide with a mixture of surprise and, oh yes, desire. She was helpless to do anything but stare as the gorgeous giant from the lobby bent his head to her throat and sniffed.

“What are you-” before she could finish her question he straightened and stepped back.

“Easy there, you should watch where you’re going. You okay?” the man’s voice was as rough as his hands.

Not unpleasant, just deep and very, very masculine. She squirmed under his gaze and wondered if it was possible to die of humiliation twice in one day. But back up a sec…

Did he just sniff her? Maybe she imagined that? She looked up into impossibly dark brown eyes and was once again stunned silent.

His eyes were like molten chocolate, the sinfully expensive kind. The planes of his face gave way to full luscious lips that she’d just bet tasted like heaven. And he had the cutest little dimple in his chin.

He cleared his throat and her gaze went back to his. Was that a smile playing at the corner of his mouth? She couldn’t be sure, captivated as she was by his now, nearly black eyes. Recognition flared between them, and Leya gasped.

“Uh, sorry, I was just going to get a new bathing suit-” she shut her mouth abruptly.

“Were you now? Well, you be careful,” he grumbled the words and turned away from her.

Leya shivered unconsciously against the sudden cold that came with his departure. She could have kicked herself. Could she have acted any more like an idiot? Ugh.

She looked down at her dowdy clothing. Maybe if she didn’t dress like a circus tent, he would’ve done more than just glance at her and run away. Yeah, right.

She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. She was not going to let a man, any man, dictate how she felt about herself. She wanted to change her wardrobe for herself.

Not because Gary had called her fat, or because this gorgeous stranger left her tongue-tied. With new determination in her step, she took the elevator and headed to the exclusive boutique.

“Can I help you find something, miss?” the question was asked by an older woman with a brilliant smile as Leya entered the hotel’s one boutique and scanned the rows of colorful dresses and flimsy underthings.

She had never tried to dress for anything other than camouflage, and she had no idea where to begin.

“Yes, I, uh, think I could use your help,” she smiled and told the woman what she wanted.

The saleswoman seemed to be blessed with a perfect eye for her body shape and coloring! An hour later, Leya had several items lined up for purchase and was still trying on more.

“Ah, miss! Yes! Yes, this is the one for you! The yellow looks wonderful with your lovely hair, it accentuates your blonde highlights! Oh, mama those men out there best be on guard!” The lightly accented voice of the woman who ran the Island Body Boutique smiled and complimented Leya.

For the first time in her adult life, Leya felt wonderful. She turned around in front of the full-length mirror and could hardly believe it. The cut and color of the swimsuit looked amazing on her full-figure. She’d have never guessed yellow for her hair and skin tone, but the woman was right.

She added the swimsuit to a similarly cut red one along with a few sundresses, and some of those flimsy panties and bras she would normally have never dared to buy.

Leya grinned wickedly. She had money in her savings and had never splurged on herself. She justified the purchases as necessary for her vacation and her new life motto! Leya was going to please herself this trip! Yep, this is gonna be great! Gleefully walking down the hall, she went to her hotel room to change.

She’d spent three hours total in the boutique! Thank goodness the hotel sported a Bear Claw Bakery! Liandra, the saleswoman, had gotten her an iced mocha latte about an hour ago. Otherwise she’d have been dead on her feet.

It was too late to swim, but there was always tomorrow! Liandra told her about the light buffet and live band at the tiki lounge right on the beach, it was there every night from five till midnight. It was seven now, and Leya had skipped lunch in favor of shopping.

She smiled. Second thing on my vacation-to-do-list, let my hair down!