To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) by Jane Cousins Page A

Could she go through with something
like that?  Be bold, don’t think about the consequences and tempt Drum
into having an affair with her? 
    Listening
to the birds trill and warble as dawn broke she stretched and yawned.  So
much for a goodnight’s sleep.  On bare feet she padded to the panoramic
windows to take in the gorgeous scenery past the lush private garden
below.  The sea was blue and calm as birds swooped and frolicked over the
gentle waves coasting into shore.  A few fishing boats dotted the horizon,
probably locals getting a jump start before the heat of the day took its
toll. 
    Her
life back at the Sanctuary seemed very far away from this tropical
paradise.  No house calls, no demanding relatives cornering her at the
supermarket to get her opinion on their latest symptom; real or
imaginary.  No long hours at the hospital or clinic she manned with four
other doctors.  Sighing in blissful contentment she promised herself she
would spend the next three days relaxing, despite Drum’s presence and his
insistence there was some mythical danger stalking them.  Step one in that
plan would be to turn off her mobile.  That thought had no less popped
into her head when the darn thing beeped that a text was waiting.  She
should ignore it.  But what if it were important?  What if someone
was genuinely hurt? 
    Forgetting
all her selfish intentions Nell hurried to the side table and picked up her
phone.  Smiling as Julie’s text message came into focus.  ‘Baby
dancing on bladder all night.  Fancy an early breakfast?’ 
    She
texted back promising she’d meet Julie in fifteen minutes.  Heading for
the open bathing area situated directly behind the huge bed she quickly shed
her nightgown.  It felt strangely naughty but nice to be showering with
the balcony doors wide open and the warm sea air scenting the breeze. 
After the shower she brushed her teeth, lathered herself with 30 plus sunscreen
and then donned a red bikini that she quickly covered with baggy blue shorts
and a blue and white striped t-shirt.  Pulling her hair back into a pony
tail she slapped a wide brimmed hat on her head before pulling on an old ratty
pair of bright blue sneakers. 
    It
was an exceedingly sensible outfit but an entirely appropriate one considering
she’d signed up for the paddle board activity that commenced just after
breakfast.  The one thing it wasn’t was a particularly sexy outfit or even
for that matter a cute outfit.  Oh well, she shrugged giving herself a
last rueful look in the mirror, better for Drum to face the fact early that she
always favoured practical over glamorous.  If this outfit didn’t kill the
simmering sexual tension between them then nothing would. 
    Then
maybe she could... could what?  Run scurrying away like a little scared
mouse or tap into her inner temptress and invite Drum to indulge in a three day
affair?  Yeah right, who was she kidding as she crept down the stairs doing
her best not to wake him.  Drum was intimidating enough fully clothed but
the thought of coming face to face with a seven foot naked elite warrior. 
Just the thought sent her cheeks supernova red.  Yet a large part of her
was intensely disappointed that there was no sign of the frustrating man. 
Would it have killed him to be a sound sleeper so she could creep past whilst
accidently indulging in a little sneak peak? 
    Goddess
she was out of control, wavering between running from the man one moment and
perving on him the next.  This was so unlike cool collected practical
Doctor Nell Montgomery.  She needed to stop acting like a silly schoolgirl
with an out of control crush and channel the cool reserve years of being a
doctor and leader in the community had instilled in her. 
    Grabbing
a pen and some paper she scrawled an impersonal note to let him know she was
meeting Julie for breakfast.  There, she’d promised him she wouldn’t go
off alone and having breakfast with her best friend followed by an