Chapter One
“How does that feel?”
Rhonda groaned in delight and smiled, keeping her eyes closed as she stretched on the massage table, the scent of lavender filling her nostrils. “It feels wonderful, Missy. Thanks so much.” She opened her eyes and pushed up with her hands.
“If you like, I could do a bit more for you,” Missy said, leaning down to her face level and giving her a wink.
Rhonda chuckled. “You know I’m only into men, Missy. But if I was interested in women, you would be the first one I’d hit on.” She rose to a sitting position, her legs dangling off the side of the massage table. “Do you know how many are expected this weekend?” she asked, pulling up the large, fluffy towel to cover herself. It was late Friday night, the whole weekend ahead of her. Starting it off with a massage was perfect. Next was a nice soak and a glass of wine then off for some much needed sleep.
It had been a busy week at the firm, and she was sure some of the members would escape to this paradise in the woods of upstate New York. The compound the firm owned was great for weekend getaways and for corporate bonding camps. Private and secluded, no one who spent any time here needed to worry about being seen or found. That’s why she was here this weekend. She had needed to get away from the busy office and her duties as the executive secretary to the partners. Sometimes, she just wanted to let down her hair—literally.
“I’m not sure how many are booked for this weekend,” Missy said, toweling the massage oils from her hands. “I think Morgan and Grace will be here. And of course, me and Rodgers. Rachel is off this weekend and spending it in town with her new beau.” Missy grinned.
Rhonda slid off the edge off the massage table, slinging the long train of the towel behind her. “I heard about Rachel and Joe. He’s a nice boy. I liked him from day one.” She shuffled over to the small fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “They make a nice couple.”
Missy picked up the used towels, bundling them in her arms. “They do.” She hugged the soiled towels to her stomach. “When are you going to find your perfect mate, Rhonda?”
Rhonda almost choked on the mouthful of water she struggled to swallow. Coughing, she swiped the back of her hand over her mouth. “You’re too funny. I gave up on finding Mr. Right a long time ago. I’ve just never really felt connected to anyone.” She shrugged. “You know, you need to be…what’s the word?”
“Bonded?”
Rhonda snapped her fingers. “Exactly. You’d think I would come up with that word, being here and all.” She took another long drink of the water, finishing the bottle. She tossed it in the trash can at the side of the fridge and whipped the huge towel from around her, handing it to Missy. “Here you go.” She padded over to the small closet and pulled out a thick white robe. Wrapping it around herself, she tied the belt tightly. “I’m heading for the pool house. I’m going to have a soak in the hot tub before bed.”
Missy shoved the used towels into a tall wicker hamper. “Don’t fall asleep in there,” she warned. “You’re pretty relaxed from the massage, and I’d hate for you to boil yourself in the hot tub if you happened to doze off.”
“Don’t worry,” Rhonda said, slipping her feet into some flip-flops. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Missy called after her.
“Good night.” Rhonda exited the spa and made her way through the silent building into the pool area. The lighting was dim, the bluish glow coming from beneath the water of the swimming pool. The smell of chlorine floated through the air, obvious but not too strong. The hot tub was at the far end of the building, past the pool. She stopped by a long, narrow table that was butted up against one wall and grabbed two nicely folded towels. Tucking them under her arm, she padded across the tile floor, admiring the clear sparkling
“How does that feel?”
Rhonda groaned in delight and smiled, keeping her eyes closed as she stretched on the massage table, the scent of lavender filling her nostrils. “It feels wonderful, Missy. Thanks so much.” She opened her eyes and pushed up with her hands.
“If you like, I could do a bit more for you,” Missy said, leaning down to her face level and giving her a wink.
Rhonda chuckled. “You know I’m only into men, Missy. But if I was interested in women, you would be the first one I’d hit on.” She rose to a sitting position, her legs dangling off the side of the massage table. “Do you know how many are expected this weekend?” she asked, pulling up the large, fluffy towel to cover herself. It was late Friday night, the whole weekend ahead of her. Starting it off with a massage was perfect. Next was a nice soak and a glass of wine then off for some much needed sleep.
It had been a busy week at the firm, and she was sure some of the members would escape to this paradise in the woods of upstate New York. The compound the firm owned was great for weekend getaways and for corporate bonding camps. Private and secluded, no one who spent any time here needed to worry about being seen or found. That’s why she was here this weekend. She had needed to get away from the busy office and her duties as the executive secretary to the partners. Sometimes, she just wanted to let down her hair—literally.
“I’m not sure how many are booked for this weekend,” Missy said, toweling the massage oils from her hands. “I think Morgan and Grace will be here. And of course, me and Rodgers. Rachel is off this weekend and spending it in town with her new beau.” Missy grinned.
Rhonda slid off the edge off the massage table, slinging the long train of the towel behind her. “I heard about Rachel and Joe. He’s a nice boy. I liked him from day one.” She shuffled over to the small fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “They make a nice couple.”
Missy picked up the used towels, bundling them in her arms. “They do.” She hugged the soiled towels to her stomach. “When are you going to find your perfect mate, Rhonda?”
Rhonda almost choked on the mouthful of water she struggled to swallow. Coughing, she swiped the back of her hand over her mouth. “You’re too funny. I gave up on finding Mr. Right a long time ago. I’ve just never really felt connected to anyone.” She shrugged. “You know, you need to be…what’s the word?”
“Bonded?”
Rhonda snapped her fingers. “Exactly. You’d think I would come up with that word, being here and all.” She took another long drink of the water, finishing the bottle. She tossed it in the trash can at the side of the fridge and whipped the huge towel from around her, handing it to Missy. “Here you go.” She padded over to the small closet and pulled out a thick white robe. Wrapping it around herself, she tied the belt tightly. “I’m heading for the pool house. I’m going to have a soak in the hot tub before bed.”
Missy shoved the used towels into a tall wicker hamper. “Don’t fall asleep in there,” she warned. “You’re pretty relaxed from the massage, and I’d hate for you to boil yourself in the hot tub if you happened to doze off.”
“Don’t worry,” Rhonda said, slipping her feet into some flip-flops. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Missy called after her.
“Good night.” Rhonda exited the spa and made her way through the silent building into the pool area. The lighting was dim, the bluish glow coming from beneath the water of the swimming pool. The smell of chlorine floated through the air, obvious but not too strong. The hot tub was at the far end of the building, past the pool. She stopped by a long, narrow table that was butted up against one wall and grabbed two nicely folded towels. Tucking them under her arm, she padded across the tile floor, admiring the clear sparkling
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