Surrender

By Susan K Morgan

Jessica’s future is signed, sealed, and delivered–including a sparkling country club wedding to her
wealthy boyfriend. Fate, however, seems to have other plans. After Jessica’s over-ambitious fiancé is a no-show for their pre-wedding trip, she travels solo to Cancun. When a handsome stranger takes the seat next to

• Language: English
• Publisher: IngramElliott
• Release date: Mar 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9780996686464

Susan K Morgan

Writing romance under the pseudonym of Susan K. Morgan, Susan Edwards was born and raised in the Midwest. She and her husband of 20 plus years now live in western Kentucky with their fur babies. They own a crystal store and metaphysical resource center in Historic Downtown Paducah. ​Susan is an eclectic old soul who draws inspiration from many muses. She is a licensed Spiritual Healer, Reiki Master, Christian minister, and a long time birder.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

How can he be late for his own honeymoon? Jessica Wirt whined into the phone at her mother.

Well, it’s not exactly his honeymoon now, is it, darling? Her mother’s sarcastic tone cranked Jessica’s blood pressure up a notch.

Excuse me . . . A passenger bumped into the distracted Jessica and she nearly dropped her cell phone. Jolted back to the situation, she could see everyone was lining up to board the plane. She glared at the clock in the corridor. It was decision time. Stay or go?

Almost 9:00 a.m. Where could he be? She searched the crowd again. Still no Harry. He was always a stickler for punctuality; and now his casual attitude about showing up on time was just one more thing to infuriate her. A quick goodbye to her mother, and she punched in Harry’s cell number. No answer. The intercept message informed her that his phone was turned off. Figures—God forbid that anyone should be able to reach him on his cell phone. She fumed at his ability to successfully avoid her.

She continued to pace, trying to walk off her anger and anxiety. It is just like him to infuriate me on purpose, but to be late now? Jessica felt the familiar rage building inside of her. Lately, it seemed he gave everything more priority than her.

Her mother’s stinging words still buzzed in Jessica’s ears like a meddlesome mosquito. It just isn’t proper, Virginia Wirt had harped. Nice girls wait until after they’re married before they travel with the man. What will the ladies at the club think? Going off with him like this. Really! It just isn’t ladylike.

They weren’t scheduled to be married for another two weeks; but neither of their schedules would permit a honeymoon after the wedding, so they had decided to take their trip before. It was enough for her mother to threaten to boycott the wedding.

Jessica Wirt paced the floor in front of Gate 6 like a sentry. She was already stressed to the max with wedding plans. Both she and Harry had been on edge lately, their arguments growing increasingly more intense. Her mother’s incessant meddling wasn’t helping the situation. She needed this getaway to relax, but now the very thing that had promised relief bore all the markings of a full-fledged disaster.

Clutching a bright, oversized beach bag close to her side, she hovered at the edge of the gate area. Leaning out to look past the hordes of people hurrying to and from their planes, she was almost run over by a man talking on his phone.

Excuse me! He huffed at the intrusion of having to swerve to avoid the collision.

It was a Monday morning and the airport was jammed with business travelers. Men in dark pinstriped suits and women in designer jackets scurried to their destinations. Jessica was a successful marketing rep, selling supplies to the banking industry. The presence of so many professionals reminded her that she would have been more comfortable in business attire with her hair pulled back into her usual neat bun. Twenty-seven-year-old Jessica was a class act, with a knockout body that she usually kept well camouflaged with conservative clothing. Suddenly she felt terribly self-conscious in her crisp white linen shorts, flowing over-shirt, wedge sandals and provocative tube top. She had abandoned the bun today, freeing her unruly auburn hair, allowing it to frame her face and set off her sparkling hazel eyes. She was definitely not dressed for business as usual.

Harry Evans III could have been the poster child for designer Ralph Lauren’s fantasy world of beautiful people. At six feet, he had a slight build and dark hair. His face was a composite of sculpted features, including a chiseled jaw, high cheekbones and a narrow mouth. He spent a fair amount of time at the country club’s spa, and despite his denials, Jessica suspected he had a facial at least once a week. How else could he account for such flawless skin? He kept his nails in better shape than she did, and she couldn’t remember ever seeing a single hair out of place. He wouldn’t be caught dead in anything but his designer clothing and five-hundred-dollar shoes, which were always impeccably shiny. She wondered how he would react to her glaring change of style. While tasteful, the shorts were just that—short. They showed off her shapely tan legs and thighs. She had selected the tube top at the last minute, deciding the view of her luscious curves on the flight would give Harry a reason to concentrate on something other than his business deals. Maybe he would even get so hot for her she’d finally be able to coax him into her bed.

Success in business had always been important to Harry. As the only child of Harry Evans II, it was assumed that he would eventually take over the family business—and the family fortune. But a stupid mistake he had made early in his career at the firm had cost the company—and his family—a small fortune.

He was young, just out of grad school and cocky. Six months into working for the family firm, Harry had convinced his father that he was ready for the big time.

With some reluctance, his father had agreed to let Harry handle the bidding of a huge contract that the company had held for almost a decade. It was worth millions and made up almost twenty percent of the company’s profits. Every three years, the company had to compete with other contractors and submit a new bid. As the incumbent, it was fairly routine, but they had to keep their pricing sharp and get the sealed bid in on time. Harry had gotten involved with a woman from their main competitor and, unfortunately, while he was pumping her, she was pumping him for information. The competitor put in a lower bid and Harry’s company lost the contract. When his father discovered the facts, he had fired Harry on the spot. Told him not to come back until he grew up and could run with the big dogs. Their relationship had been strained ever since.

It was a humiliating lesson that remained fresh in his mind. He was determined to show his father once and for all that he could hold his own in the business world, and with his marriage to Jessica, he would indeed be a responsible man.

But as their wedding date grew closer, Jessica noticed business had been all that mattered to him. It was more important than the wedding plans, more important than her struggles to keep both mothers happy, and certainly more important than she was.

Maybe I’m at the wrong gate, she worried. Pulling the tickets out of her bag, she checked the flight number, time and gate for the third time. Mexicano Air, Flight 67, Atlanta to Cancun, Gate 6, scheduled to depart at 9:45 a.m., Monday, March 16. She walked back to the counter and checked the departure board.

Bypassing the long line of people trying to check in for their flight, she waved to get the attendant’s attention. Pardon me, sir. Is this the right gate for flight sixty-seven to Cancun?

Yes, ma’am. The young flight attendant was curt and did not stop checking the last few people in. The plane from Cancun should be arriving in minutes. We just got a call from the tower. It’s landed. He delivered his speech without looking up.

Thanks. She ignored the glares from those in line.

She was in the right place. Her heart raced as she saw the big jet slowly taxi up to the gate. Oh, no. The plane was already here. Just this once, she wished for a delay. Soon they would have it ready and would call them to board the plane. Didn’t Harry know they would leave with or without him? She tried to contemplate her options. What would she do if he didn’t show up? Should she go on without him? She had her ticket, hotel information and all of the credit cards. It would serve him right. Let him take a later flight—why should I have to miss the trip just because of him?

She could be lying on the beach, sipping a cool drink while he would just have to find his own way to the hotel. She needed this vacation. She had been looking forward to this trip for months. She didn’t need this agitation on top of all the other stress in her life. Where was he?

Harry had never won favor with any of Jessica’s friends. He was snobbish and aloof, and one by one, Jessica’s girlfriends warned her of him. He’s a loser, they all advised. He’s not good enough for you . . . he’s more interested in making money than he is in you. You need to find someone who will really love you, not make you a trophy wife. The chorus had begun not long after they started dating, two years ago.

Harry had been perfectly happy to continue with their status quo. It had been at Jessica’s insistence that they make a decision about marriage. She desperately wanted to start a family and she was under increasing pressure from her mother to find a husband. He wanted to impress his father and prove he was stable. Harry began to see the advantage to the marriage.

Virginia Wirt wasn’t overly fond of Harry, but it was time for her daughter to get married and he would just have to do. At least he came from a prominent family, and his relentless pursuit of money was enough to keep her advocating for their union. It’s important to marry a man of means, she kept repeating.

The line waiting to board the plane was growing, and people were gathering for the dash that would occur as soon as the gate agent started the boarding announcements. Jessica hung by the edge of the crowd.

A young man dressed in navy shorts and white golf shirt with the logo Wild Hare Delivery approached the gate. Jessica Wirt. Is there a Jessica Wirt here? The young man’s booming voice rose above the din of the crowd waiting to board the plane and the combination of noises in the background.

Panic shot through Jessica. Why would anyone be looking for her here? Is Harry okay? What if he was in an accident? Her mind raced as she tentatively walked over to the courier.

I’m Jessica Wirt.

I’ve got something for you. The young man pulled out a large envelope and handed Jessica a clipboard with a pen dangling. Sign here that you’ve received it, he instructed, pointing to the line he wanted her to sign.

She was in a daze. A letter? Why would she be receiving a letter at the airport, minutes before leaving for Cancun? Her hand trembled as she inked her signature on the delivery sheet. As quick as she finished, the courier was gone, leaving without answering any of Jessica’s hundreds of questions.

She turned the envelope over to see Harry’s familiar handwriting. For Jessica Wirt. It was the only clue as to the nature of the letter in her hand. She felt a little woozy and gripped the handle of the rail as she made her way to the closest place to sit down. There were several empty seats now, as everyone was standing, waiting for their row to be called. She collapsed into a chair as she stared at the envelope for a long moment. It felt thick and she could tell there were several items in it waiting for her to discover. Using her forefinger, she sawed it open. There was a single sheet and another, smaller envelope.

Dear Jessica,

Please get on the plane to Cancun without me. I’m fine, so don’t worry, but something prevents me from leaving with you right now. I want you to enjoy the trip. I’ll join you at the hotel in a few days. I’ll call you later.

Please wait to open the other envelope until you are on the plane.

Love, Harry

She tried to wrap her mind around the note’s message. She knew it was some all-important business deal that could not wait. She, of course, could wait. Their wedding could wait, but not his chance to make an almighty buck. Angry, she contemplated trying to call him again, but heard the call for her row. Looking around, she could see most of the people had already boarded the plane. It was decision time.

To hell with him, she thought. Nothing is going to ruin my trip. Besides, how could she face her mother and friends if she returned home? Explaining this to them when she didn’t even know the reason wasn’t something she could face.

CHAPTER TWO

Jessica stuffed the envelopes into her bag, found her ticket and rose to board the plane. She was oblivious to everything but her mounting anger at Harry. She felt embarrassed to be alone, as though everyone must know he had stood her up. She couldn’t believe the position he had put her in as she shuffled forward with the other stragglers trying to get on the plane.

Seat 8B. The attendant ripped the boarding pass and handed the stub back to Jessica.

Passengers on the plane were struggling to stow their carry-on bags and find their seats. Jessica stood patiently as one-by-one they maneuvered into their assigned places. What seemed like an eternity later, she arrived at aisle 8. No one was sitting in any of the three seats. She was relieved when she realized she would have some privacy to open Harry’s second letter. She tossed her straw bag in seat A by the window. She never liked being able to see the ground from twenty thousand feet in the air. No, thank you, the center or aisle seat would do just fine. There she could pretend she was in a big bus, not an airplane so far above the safety of the earth.

She squeezed into the center seat, trying to avoid the seatback of the reclining passenger in front of her. Irritated, she wondered why they didn’t insist all seat backs be in their upright positions during boarding. How did they expect you to get into your already narrow space when the clod in front of you was infringing on your precious few inches? She finally made it into her seat and smoothed her shorts around her. They were short and when she sat, she showed much more leg and thigh than she had intended.

She had decided to wear this outfit at the last minute to please Harry. She was hoping if she looked particularly sexy that maybe they could stop arguing long enough to start making love again. As their fighting had grown more frequent over the past few months, their lovemaking grew increasingly rare. It was hard to get close when he was either away on business or storming out, mad.

He had always been a fan of her ample cleavage and long shapely legs. And this outfit did justice to both. Although it was still cool in Atlanta, mid-March in Cancun was going to be much warmer. She was dressed for Cancun and for seducing Harry.

Now, her new purchase was posing some problems. The elastic tube-top was riding down slightly, exposing even more of her voluptuous breasts. She had just adjusted her top when she noticed someone at her aisle.

Excuse me, but I think that’s my seat. He pointed to window seat A, and her purse.

Oh, I’m sorry, that’s my bag. Let me just move it for you. Jessica gathered her bag and perched it on her lap as she looked up into the stranger’s face. She gulped and felt her heart flutter as she met his eyes. Luckily the plane was noisy and Jessica was relieved knowing there was no way he could have heard her little gasp.

In a matter of seconds, the most incredible man Jessica had ever seen was going to sit down beside her. Over six feet tall, the stranger flashed a bright wide grin at his soon-to-be seatmate. He looked exotic, with his honey brown skin and jet black hair. European perhaps? Spanish? He was a big, strapping man with wide shoulders that narrowed down to a washboard stomach and slim hips. There was an earthy sensuality about him that added mystery to his exotic essence.

His black hair was short and neatly combed straight back. Black, bushy eyebrows framed dark brown eyes that sparkled. Despite the fact that it was morning, a slight five o’clock shadow gave him a sexy, just-rolled-out-of-bed look. He was dressed casually, in light khaki shorts, cotton shirt, and hiking boots. He carried only a backpack. She wondered what was taking him to Cancun.

Sorry. He gave her an apologetic look as she stood up and leaned back slightly to allow him to slide past her. Inch by inch, he moved to pass Jessica in his attempt to make it to the window seat. She tossed her bag off to the side to give him more room. He slipped a bare leg between hers and the electricity from his touch ignited a fire inside of her.

She felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Trying to catch her breath, she looked into his face. She could see the handsome grin had been replaced by an intense stare, one that told her he too felt something when their skin touched. The narrow passage offered no room, and Jessica found herself face-to-face with his chiseled features. Her tube top was sliding dangerously lower, and the dark stranger still lingered in front of her. She watched his eyes trail down to the soft round mounds of her breasts. His hungry eyes undressed her and she felt utterly naked under their glare. They couldn’t help touching, and she felt his body harden through her thin shorts.

The musky scent of his cologne swirled around her like a spell from a thick love potion. Her heart pounded as she felt him gently nudge the inside of her bare thigh with his knee. Oh, my God! She had never felt so turned on so quickly. This man was a complete stranger, and yet it was as though he were an old lover who knew every secret to her soul. Something deep inside her body stirred, and Jessica felt as though she had known him all her life. Her pulse raced as she looked up at him and their eyes made wild, passionate love for the stolen instant they had together.

Pushing the seat of the passenger in front of him with his back, he was finally able to move to his seat. What just happened? Jessica was equally glad and distressed that their intimate encounter was finished and this man was in his own seat. She discreetly adjusted her top again, pushed the curls back from her face and gathered herself as she sat back in her seat.

Jessica’s linen shorts had only so much material, and despite her tugging, continued to ride up, exposing her tan, smooth thighs. She didn’t have to look to know his eyes were surveying the shape of her legs. She felt them . . . hot and intense on her skin, like laser beams slowly moving up and down her body.

Jessica didn’t even know this man’s name, yet what had happened in the last thirty seconds had been the most intense, passionate moment she had ever experienced. Her body was fluid and hot, ready to give herself to this man, to possess him, all of him. Right now. But they were on an airplane, with almost a hundred people around. Suddenly she felt as though everyone on the plane had just witnessed them abandoning all decency and making wild love in the aisle. Of course, in truth, no one had even noticed. The entire encounter had lasted only seconds.

She grabbed her straw bag and laid it on her lap to cover some of her exposed legs.

Please don’t.

Surprised, Jessica glanced up at her handsome stranger.

Don’t what? she asked, feigning innocence.

"Don’t cover your beautiful body. I