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Chapter One

Mitch Magruder didn't hear the word "no" very often, especially in business, and usually never from a woman So when he heard that Greta Mason had said no to his offer to buy her rundown, dilapidated shack of a fifteen-rooht on the sands at Ft Lincoln Beach, Florida, which just so happened to be his hoo home for the holidays, and take care of a little business while he was there Turning down his sales tea down the CEO and a friend of her brother, soht be different

Besides, he could be da in person And surely she wouldn't say no to hih money to put her two kids in private school and settle herself in a nice beach condo Hell, he ht even buy the condo for her It was the Christenerous Especially if he could get her motel out of the way and clear the beach for one of his resorts

He turned left at the stoplight and headed down to the beach The waves rolled up against the white sand shore, beckoning to hihten One would think at forty-three he'd be well past surfing age, but it seerab a board, climb on top of a wave and ride it in, no matter where he was If there was an ocean, he wanted to be in it

And hell, why not? He'd worked hard to build Magruder Enterprises into the anization it was Last year he'd divested hiave him more free time to concentrate on the resort aspect of his business, and more importantly, more time to play He had money, he had time, and he enjoyed his life

Just hireeted hi lot of the Crystal Sands Motel

Oh, man, this location was perfect The motel sat on the white sand, not more than fifty yards from the water There was plenty of room east, as well as north and south of the motel to allow for an expansive resort area Beachfront property, baby

He stepped out of the car and took a walk down beachside to get a feel for the traffic in the area

It was pretty rereat for a fifteen-room motel A few families enjoyed the water with their kids, but Greta had nothing else to offer them other than the ocean No catah he did see a net for beach volleyball She was trying, at least, but her resources were obviously limited

She needed a lot more

She needed him

"Excuse me"

He turned around and was gut punched by a stunning woh ponytail on top of her head, she iainst her face Her shorts showed off tanned, well-toned legs, her polo shirt fit tight against luscious breasts and curved down around a waist lasses hid her eyes He wanted to see them

"Hi there"

"Hi yourself U in or just looking at the waves? I mean, you're more than welcome to park and take a walk on the beach, but if you could move your car, I like to keep the front of the uests ant to check in"

"Your front" Holy shit This was Greta? He was never, ever at a loss for words He'd stood in front of international conglomerates and executive board roo, but for soawky adolescent who'd turned into a siren had suddenly o move my car"

Then she smiled, and his dick took notice Perfectly even white teeth and those full, kissable lips

What the fuck rong with her ex-husband? This woman was a prize

"Thanks"

She pivoted on her bare feet and headed back to her motel

He groaned Her ass was just as good as the rest of her body Rounded, touchable Kissable He was getting a hard-on That just didn't happen to men like him who prided themselves on control

He focused his attention on the sand instead of Greta and made his way around the side of the ht there by the front door

"I said I'd move it"

"Sorry We get beach walkers all the ti lot I have to protect uests"

He took a glance down the parking lot Yeah, all three paying guests How did she stay in business? He climbed into his car and moved it to the back of the lot, then canize me, do you?"

She peeled her sunglasses off, revealing ereen eyes he remembered all too well With a frown, she searched his face, then scanned his body quickly before looking up at his eyes again "No Should I?"

Okay, so maybe it had been twenty years or so Still, it wasn't like he'd aged badly He was in great shape, daruder"

Her frown remained for a fraction of a second, then her eyes widened "Mitch? Holy shit" She bypassed the hand he held out and threw herself into his arainst his chest He wrapped his aret an erection That would be bad for the business he was going to propose to her

"Oh,on to his hands "I haven't seen you in years Like twenty years or so How are you?"

Her s well And you?"

She shrugged "I's you here? Don said your parents retired to Hawaii to be closer to you I heard you were quite successful God, I' Co on to the other and dragged him inside

"Heath, this is Mitch Magruder," she said, pulling hi man shot his head up and stared at Mitch, wide eyed

"Mitch Magruder the famous surfer?" Heath asked as they walked by

"Yup," Greta said "The one and only ho his, okay?"

"Sure" Heath stood to lean over the counter as they walked down a short hallway and to a door that Greta opened with a key in the lock She pushed it open and he followed her through

He thought she'd take him to her

office, but this was like a tiny house--really tiny A s area adjacent, and a short hallway that must lead to bedrooms He turned to her "You live here?"

She nodded and motioned for him to sit on one of the threadbare cloth sofas "I have to I run the motel, so I'm sort of on call twenty-four hours a day"

This place was a box His hotel suites were bigger than this And she lived here with two children? Of course, she didn't know that he already knew that

"So, you live here by yourself?"

She had gone into the kitchen and ca one off to hi onto the sofa next to him She pushed her hair off her face and smiled "No, with my kids"

"You have children?"

Her smile widened "Two Jeff is twelve and Zoey is ten"

"So youabout"

Her smile died "No I'm divorced It's just me and the kids now"

"I'm sorry"

"I'ood for the kids We're all better off without him"

He felt the pain in every one of her words, in the haunted look on her face He was never one to surround hily past Most of the ladies on his arer than hi as the women he usually dated

Not that he was thinking of dating her Not at all He was here to buy out her motel

He took a sip of the tea and s time"

"They probably don't make it in Hawaii, do they?"

He laughed "No, not really My h"

"How are your parents?"

"Loving Hawaii, and retiree club They stay busy and travel They're taking a cruise over the holidays"

"That's great I always did like your parents I was so happy you moved them to be closer to you"

"And how's your mom?"

Greta rolled her eyes "Feisty as ever Always in my business She never interferes in Don's life like she does in mine"

"You're her baby girl That's why"

"Uh huh"

He laid his hand on her aruy"

Again, the shadow crossed her face "Thanks We all ht and life of the fah he's not around any over me"

"I wanted to come for the funeral but I was in Japan at the time"

She placed her fingers on his knee "Don't worry about that Don understood We all did The flowers you sent were beautiful So was the note and the card"