Pamela Stone - Last Resort - Marriage

Charlie beamed at her speechless grandfather. She tried to present the picture of calm confidence, but inside her stomach lurched. What now?

Edward glanced at her bare ring finger, leveled his pointed glare at Aaron and demanded, “Is that true? Are you planning to marry my granddaughter?”

Locking gazes with Aaron, Charlie silently pleaded with him to back her up. His eyes matched the murky green of the gulf right before a storm, and were just as dangerous. Hopefully he was crazy enough to take the challenge.

“Why would Charlie lie about a thing like that?” Aaron asked without looking Edward’s way. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

Dear Reader,

I’ve always loved to travel, and my favorite destination is always a beach. But in all my travels, I’ve found no place on earth that matches the eclectic character of the Florida Keys. The Keys are more than a string of islands linked by more than seventy bridges. They offer a hodgepodge of open-air bars, hot sandy beaches and boats of every description. There are colorful locals, breathtaking sunsets and key lime pie. Romantic? You bet. But what if your job is creating romantic island vacations for other people and you never have time for love of your own? In fact, it’s been so long since you’ve had a day off, you haven’t even noticed anything is missing! Until one day he walks into your office. All muscled and tanned, his mischievous eyes twinkling as he flashes a roguish grin. You might consider doing something wild. Something crazy. Something completely out of character. But only as a last resort.

I’m so thrilled to be writing for Harlequin American Romance. Let me know if you enjoy escaping to the Keys with Aaron and Charlie in Last Resort: Marriage. I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me and find out about my upcoming books at www.pamelastone.net.

Wishing you sand between your toes, a salty breeze rustling the palms and a special someone to share it with.

Pamela Stone

Texas native Pamela Stone is an accounting graduate who spent more than twenty years in the technology field before publishing her first romance novel.

Pamela still resides in Texas with her childhood sweetheart and husband of—well, we won’t mention how many years. In her spare time she enjoys traveling. From Hawaii to California to Florida to the Caribbean, if there’s a beach, she’s there. So not surprisingly, the majority of her stories are set on a beach. She also loves spending time with friends and family, but her laptop is never far from her fingertips for when that next inspiration strikes!

She insists that writing keeps her sane. Cheaper than a therapist and tons more fun.

I’d like to dedicate this book to my editor,

Johanna Raisanen, for taking a chance on me.

And to all my family and friends for believing in me.

And last but not least, to my critique partners,

Linda and Juliet. This dream wouldn’t

have come true without you, ladies.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

“After all, dear, you’re not getting any younger,” Charlotte Harrington’s grandfather stated in a tone that made intelligent, self-assured adults quake in their shoes.

Not getting any younger? “Twenty-nine isn’t exactly elderly.”

“There’s more to life than work.”

Charlotte blinked. Since when had Edward Harrington thought about anything other than his precious chain of resorts?

“I only want to see you happy and settled with a husband and family. I want to hold my great-grandson before I die.” He gestured to the man beside him. “Since you haven’t found a suitable husband on this godforsaken island, I thought I’d help you out.”

Perry Thurman held out both hands. “I miss you, darling.”

Charlotte almost gagged. Perry wore his toothpaste smile and tailor-fit Armani with all the confidence of Edward’s handpicked protégé. She drew a measure of satisfaction from the bump on his nose. Only the two of them knew the history of that little flaw.

Edward clapped Perry on the back. “Charlotte, Perry came to me and confessed that what happened between you two in college was entirely his fault. Give him another chance.”

Her nails dug into her palms. Perry’s sincerity might fool some, but not her. There wasn’t enough air in the room. She walked across her office and opened the shutters. Think, Charlotte. She glanced out at the beach where sunbathers baked on the clean white sand. She felt like the damsel in distress in one of her grandmother’s romance novels. Perry fit the part of the despicable groom to perfection, but this was the twenty-first century and Charlotte wasn’t buying into the plot.

She turned from the window to face Edward. “You, the man who lives and breathes work, are giving me advice about love?”

“There are a few things in my life I’d do differently. We all live with regrets.”

Like being away on a business trip the day your wife died?

“At least hear me out before you reject my plan.” Edward smiled that I-know-what’s-best-for-you smile. “It’s time you and Perry were back in Boston learning the ropes. Taking a more active role in Harrington’s.”

Charlotte caught her breath. Running Harrington’s had always been her dream. Five years ago, she’d have jumped at a chance at a management position at the head office. But here in the Keys and away from her grandfather, she’d become accustomed to making her own decisions. She couldn’t go back to working under Edward Harrington’s thumb. And with Perry there, Boston sounded more like a prison sentence than a dream.

“Perry’s done a phenomenal job with the Monte Carlo resort.”

Typically, Edward seemed more interested in Perry’s professional credentials than his husband potential. So much for the new family-first Edward Harrington. Begrudgingly Charlotte had to admit that Perry’s profit margin was the highest in the chain. So why had he given up the prestige of running the Monte Carlo resort? His idea or Edward’s?

“But what about this resort?” she protested. “I’ve turned Marathon Key into one of the most elegant, profitable resorts in South Florida.” She glanced at the gold-framed diplomas, certificates and hotel awards on the wall behind her desk. “I was helping run it even before Daddy died.”

“I already have several investors interested in taking this monstrosity off our hands.”

“You’re selling my hotel?” Marathon Key was all she had left of her father.

Edward glanced around. “It’s the oldest resort in the chain. Nobody pays prime rates to come to the Keys nowadays when it’s just as easy to hop a jet to the Mediterranean.”

How quickly he dismissed everything she’d accomplished. Her chauvinist grandfather didn’t have enough confidence in her to realize she could run her own hotel business without the help of a man.

“If you intend to sell Marathon anyway, then sell it to me. I can give you a hundred thousand down by tomorrow.” It’d be tight, but some decent investments combined with her inheritance would cover it.

Edward clasped his hands together and smiled. “I’ll do you one better. Marry Perry, move back to Boston and I’ll sign Marathon over to you as a wedding present. You can play with it in your spare time. Bring your children down here for vacations.”