WindSwept Narrows: # 1 Samantha Elliott

By Karen Diroll-Nichols

Samantha Elliott woke up with a headache and a really handsome man staring at her. He had dark hair, a sexy goatee and eyes that smouldered and made her twitchy.

It's too bad she didn't remember him. Or her, for that matter. She stared down at the snowy robe with the WindSwept Narrows logo and the honeymoon suite etched across the other side.

And all she could do was stare and try not to embarrass herself too badly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karen Diroll-Nichols
• Release date: Feb 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466171534

Karen Diroll-Nichols

At this time books are on AllRomanceebooks.com or smashwords.com or amazon.com. I write what I dream. I dream because I can't always be or do. And I always write to make people think and laugh and feel. I hope I succeed. I've been creating what I believe we're all in search of. Friendships and romance; communication and pure, simple fun. Throw in some misadventures and misunderstandings, not to mention a few not quite truths, and it should be a roller coaster of laughs, tears and thoughts. WindSwept Narrows Resort & Casino - Modern, contemporary romance with the occasional mystery and usually lots of family issues. They're building a community that's not greed based, but on the well-being of all. Hopefully. Yes, there's lots of romance - sometimes more than one per story. Yes, there's really sensual and sexy scenes. Devil Hills is a town between Seattle and Spokane, on the edge of the snow capped mountains on the Seattle side. It's a shifter town...and a few others. And of course, just like our world, there are those who believe they know what's best for everyone. Yep, lots of sex, arguments and laughter. Typical human mistakes and misunderstandings - but with a little fur thrown in to complicate things. Independence: Bailey is the first entry into this series that should fascinate and intrigue...what happens in a life when a little Dom and D/s are thrown into it. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart...but it'll make you laugh and maybe even identify. Breanna...slightly more spicy with 2 smart, caring guys falling for 1 slightly mixed up barista who makes wicked coffee and loves cooking. While I haven't a series name - there is a follow-up to her coming out before the end of the year, Danea...a fishy little tale on the coast of Washington. A Red Crystal Romance - well...what to say...imagine believing you're at the end of your life. You live in a retirement home. You're alone. The past in your memories and just fatigue in your bones. You visit a small metaphysical shop, buy some candles that smell good and are offered a chance to fish in a caldron of crystals. Free and for good luck. When you wake in the morning...nothing will ever be the same again. Yes, some of my stories have more than one romance in it. Because it's not a bad thing to have friends *************** A bio - wow - I live to the South of Seattle along the coast in a small town called Des Moines. Gorgeous Puget Sound as our backyard, with snow capped mountains in almost all directions. I've been writing for over 20 years and in that time I have noticed how hard it is for certain people to embrace their sexuality, and very very few have the backbone to even discuss it! I think sex is a very important attribute to our lives and is necessary in order to live a balanced, happy and healthy lifestyle. It exists for exploration and simulation; it exists for bonding and pure, simple happiness at the whirlwind of sensations that can overwhelm and take your breath away. I hope that my stories simply depict that, ignite the fires within and maybe even give some pointers on how to please your partner in some new exciting ways. Bottom line: they are here for enjoyment. So read, enjoy and live the happy healthy lives we are all meant to live. Now - a dedication: I can't say I grew up with anyone encouraging me, and that's fine, they had things in their life they were dealing with. My parents and 1st husband and current in-law said it was 'a nice little hobby'. When you get that kind of reaction from people who matter, it has the effect that you no longer tell anyone. And no one ever asked what I did for hours on end over a typewriter and then VIOLA! a computer keyboard! So no one knew. Until I met and fell in love with my 2nd husband. He found the large file cabinet filled with thick manuscripts, filed in alphabetical order by lead female name. And he talked to me about writing. My writing. The single thing in my life aside from my two grown children, that I adored and cherished. They became my community; my friends. It's an amazing thing what happens when someone believes in you. Maybe it rubs off and you begin to believe in yourself, too. So everything I've created and set free on the internet to share are thanks to him and his belief and love. He helps me with words I know but that are stuck in my head floating around somewhere; he helps me spot gaps in my stories and we bounce ideas off one another for covers for my girls. He encourages me and has also come to learn some interesting traits about himself that he'd submerged because of a bad relationship. So we've grown together and continue to explore all that we can. He has my love and my heart and my gratitude for sharing a little of his courage and belief. Email: [e-mail] Website: http://www.facebook.com

Book preview

Samantha Elliott

WindSwept Narrows

Book One

Karen A. Nichols

Copyright 2012 by Karen A. Nichols

Smashwords Edition

Published by Karen Nichols. Copyright, Karen Nichols. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter One

Logan Sheffield parked the SUV near the construction trailer. He stepped onto the damp pavement and surveyed the huge achievement laid out across the massive twenty-five acre property. The two story parking garage was almost complete. The arcade center was half finished. The restaurant and resort, half finished. The casino was at the almost done phase, too.

One palm rose, stroking the shortly clipped goatee and moustache, a newly acquired habit when he was deep in thought. Comfortable boots crunched on the unfinished gravel driveway, a small canopy with a large drafting table set up beneath it his destination.

Simon Oliver glanced up from the report he had and the plans laid out before him. The bright yellow hardhat sat on the table, his pencil moving over the large paper, making notes until the crunching gravel caught his attention.

Come to view your new kingdom, Logan? Simon leaned back on the stool, his palm out to greet his client and friend.

Can’t wear the crown without the kingdom, the peasants’ rebel, Logan drawled with deceptive laziness. So tell me about my casino.

Knowing you, you’ve read the report I sent you at least twice, Simon gestured to a stool, Logan’s head shaking.

Been driving for days…standing feels much better, Logan paced around the canopy. At least twice, true…I like the changes we talked about.

Green building is important in this area, Simon watched his friend. Wind and sun power will save you a great deal. You’re going to be on the ground level of the new private casino rush. You’ve pulled together one big project.

The four of us make a good team…we’re all after the same thing, he said thoughtfully. And in the same age range…similar values…combining the fun aspect to fit all needs was an interesting challenge.

The hotel is done and only the aesthetics being worked now, Simon checked his watch. Being Friday, there won’t be anyone here until Monday, though. If you want access…

I do…I’ll take one of the rooms and stay here, he accepted a master pass card from Simon. Thanks. I hear you’re married now?

Chloe…she’s an incredible woman, Simon admitted warmly. Have you talked to Ian? He’s at the compound…he’s engaged.

Engaged? Little brother made the move, huh? Logan slipped the pass card into the pocket of his jeans. Dad knows I’m relocated…I didn’t know you knew Ian.

Yeah…it’s a long story…interested in dinner? Or just crashing for the night? Simon closed his brief case and made certain anything of value was locked up inside the trailer. Security is here and I’ve sent out a text with your photo and name. You shouldn’t have a problem at the night entrance.

Dinner would be great…

Logan pulled his shirt from his jeans when he exited the elevator. It was somewhere eerie to wander the halls of an empty hotel. But it gave him time to look over the décor and various amenities. Very nice, thick carpeting, his footfalls barely registering as he went to the end of the third floor. He didn’t pay attention to the small brass embossed sign outside the room he selected as his for the next few weeks. All he knew was it would be roomy and comfortable.

He tossed the large suitcase onto the stand near the bathroom. When Henry Chambers designed a suite, he did a great job of it. A small kitchenette, a small washer and dryer, an excellent bathroom. He pulled his shirt over his head and threw it toward the open washer. He’d go shop for groceries tomorrow, wash clothes and spend time reading and taking a much earned partial vacation.

The generous balcony decked out with comfortable furniture faced the South Sound. The Narrows Bridge was off to the west and a wide expanse of rocky beach below.

Logan sunk into one of the cushioned chairs, his booted feet on the rail and head back with a long sigh. It had been a nice evening. Simon and Chloe were good together. That kind of happiness wasn’t something he’d had much experience about and listening to Chloe tell him all about Anya and his brother made him smile.

There were the sounds of cars and trucks in the distance. Even the now and then rustling of leaves when the breeze off the Sound swept through the trees. But it was the abrupt and shrill scream that broke the tranquility Logan had been sinking into. His body reacted instinctively, boots hitting the concrete and all six foot three of him pulled upright.

Dark eyes swept the direction he thought the sound have come in from just in time to see the bright spark of a gunshot further down the beach. Then his gaze caught on the bright color of a tank top, the flipping of a long ponytail and the outline of a woman falling to the low tide rocks.

Logan grabbed the pass card on his run out the door, not bothering with anything else. It was a nicely warm late May evening, the sun going down at nine in the evening as he took the stairs two at a time, hitting the door hard that led to the outside. He didn’t pause, but oriented himself as he ran over the concrete, weaving between the garage and the fencing.

He found a gate at the back, passing his card through the reader and hitting the solid packed sands at a hard out run. There was no sign of a shooter, his vision of the wide open beach sweeping as he ran. The only thing marring the stretch of kelp covered stones and sand, the crumbled figure of a woman, one of her hands wrapped tightly around a large backpack.

He reached her at the same time the first signs of lightening appeared in the west, winds sweeping across the water with a chill. Sure fingers found one wrist, her pulse pounding strongly beneath his touch. She lay on her side, long hair pulled back from her face in a high riding ponytail. She looked tall, his hands moving behind her back and beneath her legs after putting the backpack on his shoulder.

He stood up carefully, striding back the way he had come. It was thirty minutes before he used the pass card on the door to his room, grateful for the auto swing that latched it behind him. He laid her on the bed, dropped the pack and went in search of towels. They hadn’t escaped the rain. Thunder rumbled outside the open patio door, his hands pulling off the hiking boots she wore.

Logan straightened slowly, rubbing a towel over his head. This could go radically wrong, his conscience warned when he reached for the shirt tucked into the waistband of her jeans. But he was never a guy who didn’t because of what might be. It was pretty sure she’d get sick if she stayed in the soaked clothing and she was showing no signs of waking.

He found the complimentary robes, reminding the male in him that he was undressing an unconscious woman. A very nicely curved, beautiful unconscious woman with long, silky red hair. Pale eye lashes and brows and a genuine redhead, he mused, trying to work fast and get her wrapped inside the warmth and dignity of the robe. You are almost thirty-seven years old, his conscience stated firmly. You are old enough and mature enough to look at a naked woman and not drool like an eighteen year old. Yeah, right.

He took her clothes and his, threw them into the washer and added the complimentary soap before beginning the cycle. He took a long glance at the unconscious woman before he went into the bathroom, leaving the door ajar and standing for a very long time beneath the stinging spray.

Logan dragged the towel over him, staring into the mirror at the dark hair and dark eyes. Now and then the lights caught and sparkled off a stray silver hair either on his head or his chest. He sighed and pulled the belt tight on the robe, striding into the main room and freezing in place.

Hello, she was sitting in the middle of the bed cross legged, head tilted slightly. She’d watched the steam leaving the bathroom for a long time. Slim fingers had traced over the letters on the bathrobe she wore, dark green eyes taking in the very large room.

There was a sofa and very cushiony chair; a large TV and a beautiful view of the beach and waters, now quite choppy from the storm that tossed the drapes over the patio screen door.

Hello, Logan responded with the single word very slowly, long trained to assess situations quickly and efficiently, he met the bright green eyes without wavering.

There was no concern or fear on her face.

That made him frown just a little.

Not that he liked the idea that he was someone to be afraid of, but she should be looking slightly nervous at least. She had freckles over her nose, soft and light, and barely noticeable. Her chin promised a stubborn streak; a high forehead and cheekbones and a pair of sparkling stones in her ears completed what he could see.

I put our clothes in the washer, Logan said carefully, searching for something to fill the silence with. A big part of his common sense demanded to know why he hadn’t simply called the police. She isn’t your problem, a firm voice reminded him logically.

Oh…I see…did we get caught in the storm? It smells amazing. She looked toward the wonderfully scented air sweeping in from the open patio. Are we up very high?

Third floor, end, and yeah, we got caught in the storm, he watched her eyes move slowly around the room and land on the table littered with the contents of her backpack. He knew her name. He had an address and had gazed through her cell phone address book.

Slender fingers held the ties at her waist, pale lashes blinking and a soft wince crossing her face. She raised one hand and touched her head.

Ouch…did I fall? Came the curious, innocent question.

Dark eyes narrowed. Something was definitely off.

Samantha… He began carefully, moving into the room to sit at the small round table where her personal items lay.

Is that my name? How did I fall? Do we have any aspirins? My head is seriously giving me grief, she moved gracefully off the bed, long legs betrayed at the split in the robe but going unnoticed by her.

She crossed to look at the collection on the table. So focused on the items, she missed seeing the combination of quickly flowing male appreciation and stunned denial on his face at her words. She picked up the wallet, flipping through it and staring at the photo. Nothing fit. There was no niche in her brain for this information, no safe data file for them all to be called upon when needed.

Fingers that seemed to know what they were searching for found a multi partitioned plastic container, the small boxes labeled inside.

Ahh…good… she picked three of the small tablets from the inside and snapped it closed, padding on bare feet toward the kitchen. This is a lovely room. It’s huge, she said, taking a long drink of cold water with a grateful sigh. You didn’t say how I fell…I have a bump on my head…that’s how the clothes got dirty, isn’t it? I was on the beach, she said as if she knew that was