Formula for Passion

“I’ll see you then.” Jasper hung up. He was sure Courtney was used to dating rich playboys all the time and was probably bored to tears of the same ol’ same ol’. It was probably a refreshing surprise to have some fun with a hardworking chap like him. He told himself this charade was all for her benefit, but it was partly for him too. He’d been engrossed in work for far too long and needed to start enjoying life while he was still in his prime. Courtney Adams was just the outlet.

Yes, he knew who she was, heiress and spokesmodel for Adams Cosmetics. Yet she knew nothing about him and for now he was fine with keeping up the pretense. After they’d had their fun, Courtney would tire of him and be back on a plane to the U.S.

Chapter 4

Courtney had never been nervous about dressing for a man before, but oddly enough she was for Jasper. She wanted to entice him, but she also didn’t want to flaunt her wealth either. She decided on a casual, wine-colored strapless jumpsuit with a wide-legged pant. She dressed it up by adding a dangling gold necklace and a pair of sexy heeled sandals. She didn’t wear much makeup, as the tropical temperature wasn’t conducive to a fully made-up face. A touch of mascara and one glide of sparkling lip gloss and she was ready for the night.

Jasper arrived promptly at her suite door at 7:00 p.m.

He looked as dreamy as ever. His dark skin glistened from the crisp white shirt he wore casually opened at the nape, which he’d paired with a pair of well-worn jeans that did justice to his powerful build. But it was the sexy goatee over the full lips that she remembered, and it was why she went directly toward him. Courtney didn’t know why she was being so bold, but she’d had a burning desire, an aching need, to be kissed by him again.

She grasped Jasper by his shirt collar and touched her lips softly against his. He took the invitation and circled his arms around her waist and walked her backward inside the room and used his foot to shut the door behind him. His tongue parted her lips and hungrily caressed her while his hands smoothed their way down her backside. Courtney moaned and moved her hips provocatively against him.

It was divine ecstasy when he kissed her, and the flame that had been swelling inside her turned into an inferno. They shared passionate, deep kisses as they stroked and tasted each other.

With a groan, Jasper finally pulled away. If he didn’t stop now, there would be no turning back and he’d be making sweet love to her all night long until she called out his name.

Courtney’s eyes sprang open. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, baby,” Jasper whispered softly. “I thought you wanted to see the island, but if you’d rather I take you to bed, I’d be more than willing.”

A rose blush spread across Courtney’s fair skin, and her polished jade eyes shone at him. “You’re right. I don’t know what came over me.”

“Don’t apologize,” Jasper said. “I rather enjoyed your aggressiveness. But Punta Cana does have some nice treasures I think you might like to enjoy during your visit.”

Jasper had a point. “I would like to see some sights, other than my bedroom and this resort.”

“I thought we’d start off first at a local dive bar by the beach here in town called Captain Cook’s. It may not look like much on the outside so don’t expect any fancy sauces or elaborate presentations like at the resort, but I promise you it has some of the freshest seafood around. We’ll have some beers and maybe a Rum Runner before heading to the Bávaro Disco.”

Courtney gave Jasper a wink. “Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.”

“Not everything. Just save some energy for what I have in store for you later tonight.” And with that comment, he took her by the hand and pulled her toward the door.

“Wait, wait,” Courtney said, grabbing her clutch purse from the cocktail table. Seconds later they were out the door.

“Boy, you weren’t lying,” Courtney stated when they made it to Captain Cook’s. The position right on the beach was great, but it looked as if she were walking into someone’s garage. Large outdoor grills were near the entrance, and the plastic tables underneath palm-frond gazebos weren’t much to speak of. There were large bathtubs filled with ice and all kinds of seafood, from lobster to shrimp to crab, all caught fresh from the sea.

“You can pick whatever you want,” Jasper said, “and they’ll cook it for you.”

“Is this sanitary?” Courtney asked from his side, looking down in the tub.

“Trust me, okay?” Jasper gave her hand a squeeze. “I wouldn’t poison you. This place has been around a long time. C’mon.” He pulled her toward the entrance. “Let’s have a beer.”

“Isn’t there any air-conditioned seating?” Courtney asked. She was sweltering after the ride in Jasper’s truck, which didn’t have a working a/c unit.

“Don’t tell me you care about a little sweat?” Jasper asked. Because he could remember she was sweating plenty the other morning when he was buried deep inside her, and she was rising to meet his every thrust.

“I don’t mind it in the right moment,” Courtney clarified, “but I don’t like to sweat over my food.”

“There are fans outside,” Jasper said, and led her to a palm-frond gazebo. They passed by a local band that was coming by each gazebo and serenading them. “You’re going to live like a local.”

From where they were on the beach, Courtney could see the yachts moored off the beach and sunbathers and tourists on their Jet Skis and WaveRunners.

Once they were seated, Jasper ordered a variety of grilled lobster, shrimp and calamari off the menu along with some ice-cold beer.

Although she appreciated a man who took the lead, Courtney couldn’t resist commenting, “I am capable of ordering for myself.”

“I realize that,” Jasper replied, “but I know some of their best menu items. If you like I can get the waitress back.”

“No need,” Courtney said. “I trust your judgment.”

“You just wanted me to know you could.”

“Exactly.” She pointed at him.

“Why are you so desperate to be taken seriously, Courtney? Don’t you get enough of that in the real world?” As soon as he said the words, Jasper realized he’d let the cat out of the bag that he knew her identity.

“What do you mean? Do you know who I am?” Courtney searched his face for a sign of the truth.

Jasper struggled with whether he should lie or not, but considering he already wasn’t playing fair about his true identity, he thought better of digging himself farther in the hole. “I happened to overhear the staff mention that you’re a model is all.” In truth, it was Miguel who’d told him, but he couldn’t tell her that he’d been checking into her background.

Amusement flickered in Courtney’s eyes. “I’m no model.”

The waitress returned with their beer and set both bottles on the table.

“Cheers.” Jasper held up his bottle and Courtney clicked hers against his. “So, why do you say you’re not a model?”

“I’m a spokesmodel for my family’s cosmetics company,” Courtney replied.

Jasper bristled inside. “Oh and what does that entail?”

He wanted to appear curious and not give away that he knew more. His father’s animosity toward the Adamses had nothing to do with him. Jasper held no ill will against her family, though he suspected Courtney might not see it that way.

“You mean beyond being a pretty face?” Courtney jeered. “My job is to increase product awareness. Usually I do this by making public appearances at special events, department stores, malls, clubs and trade shows, that sort of thing. The goal, of course, is to reach as many consumers as possible.”

“So you’re a party girl?” Jasper asked.

Courtney glared at him with reproachful eyes. His words had stung. “I resent what you’re implicating, which is that I don’t work hard.” She was already very sensitive about this particular topic, because she felt her siblings didn’t take her contribution to the company seriously. “Research has shown that a consumer’s perception of a brand, product, service or company is profoundly affected by a live person-to-person experience. As a spokesmodel, I interact with many people at once to maximize a quantitative influence on consumer demand for our products.” She sighed. “Why does everyone undervalue my contribution?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” Obviously, he’d hit a nerve. “I only meant that I imagine it can get pretty tiring.”

“All that partying,” Courtney added bitterly, taking a generous swig of her beer.

Jasper ignored her sarcasm. “No. I meant being in the public eye and constantly surrounded by people. I prefer my solitude.”

“I’m used to it,” she replied wearily. She’d become immune to her situation. How could she not after a decade of being AC’s spokesmodel? But still, she was tired of being underappreciated. When she got back to the States, there were going to be some big changes at the company.

“If you ask me, sounds like you’re ready to move on.”