By Invitation Only Read Online Free

started began to make a little extra cash, back in the day when blogging was new and cutting-edge. He’d taken off and never looked back. He had a talent for storytelling and people just naturally gravitated to him, women in particular.
    His way with women had been shaped by his three older sisters. The truth was, he honestly enjoyed women, to the point where he was certain he could never settle on just one.
    Well, he liked most women. The nail-digging, arm-gouging female at his side was an exception. Okay, yes, she was sexy even in that buttoned-up business suit. And he admired how she didn’t use her feminine wiles to try to get what she wanted. He certainly didn’t have that strength of character.
    Which was ultimately why Olivia hated him.
    He cringed thinking of the incident over her friend Mica. He’d been a shit. He knew it and he felt badly about it. But hell, he hadn’t even slept with the woman. Mica had backed off, but then the next thing he knew Warrior Woman here had shown up at McGulicutty’s, reading him the riot act. As unexpected as her tirade had been, Nick couldn’t help respecting her loyalty.
    And the whole time Olivia had been chewing him out for his gadabout lifestyle—her words—he’d been wondering what her lips would taste like if he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her to his chest and kissed her silly.
    Ever after, when he ran across her at media events, he had thought the same thing about those lips. Inappropriately, he wondered about it again.
    They were sitting at the back of the plane, behind where the bride-and groom-to-be and their entourage lounged on dual couches facing each other. Nick and Olivia sat side by side on plush leather seats the color and texture of freshly creamed butter.
    His gaze lingered along Olivia’s tapered ankles to her lush thigh where the hem of her pencil-thin skirt had ridden up during the plane ride to reveal a sweet stretch of skin. Legs like a Rockette. Slim, trim and as long as daylight during an Alaskan summer.
    Olivia yanked at her skirt hem. “Cretin,” she whispered savagely.
    He chuckled.
    “Neanderthal, caveman, sex junkie.”
    He raised both palms. “I was simply enjoying the gorgeous view.”
    “Knuckle-dragger, missing link, ignoranus.”
    “Ignoranus?” He quirked a smile.
    “Part ignoramus, part asshole.”
    “I’ll have to remember that one for my blog.”
    “Are you sure that it’s not too subtle for your readers?”
    “Don’t get upset. My admiration of your legs is a compliment.” He shouldn’t tease, but damn, she made it too easy—all huffy and high-and-mighty. The woman was begging for a takedown.
    “Oh, yes, what every woman dreams of. Being eye-groped by an overly hormonal, over-the-hill adolescent.”
    He laughed again. “I have to hand it to you, Honey. You do have a way with words.”
    At the sound of his laughter, Holly broke from her conversation, turned her head, smiled and stretched out long over the arm of the couch to touch Olivia’s knee. “I’m so happy to see you so happy, Honey.”
    “Yeah, happy, that’s me,” Olivia said and forced a smile so fake Nick feared her face would crack. “Happy, happy, happy.”
    But Holly didn’t pick up on her true sentiment. “We’re almost there. We’ll be landing in just a few minutes and there’s a limo waiting to whisk us to the resort. We’re going to have so much fun! Tonight’s the bachelor and bachelorette parties, but you and Nick will have some alone time before then.” Holly winked.
    “Can’t wait,” Olivia muttered as if Holly had suggested she walk barefoot over glass shards, and she dug her fingernails into the flesh of Nick’s inner arm one last time.
    He got the message loud and clear. Just wait until I get you alone, buster. You’re going to pay for this and pay big.
    But for some strange reason, her unspoken threat just made him grin.

3
     
    T HE PRIVATE RESORT BOASTED long stretches of white sand beaches, brilliant blue