CEO in the Sand Read online

  CEO in the Sand

  Second Chance Romance

  By

  Summer Wynter

  Copyright © 2017 by Summer Wynter

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book contains mature scenes and is not meant for those under 18. All characters in the book are over the age of consent and are at least 21 years of age.

  I’m just your normal, everyday woman who can’t get enough out of life. When it comes to writing, I enjoy stories about couples who just can’t say no, even when life says that they should.

  Come get passionate with me and see where my dirty little mind can take you.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/summerwynter2017/

  Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/cpQOpn

  Being a social worker’s assistant means long hours for little pay, but Stacey Keller knows her luck is bound to change. When a girls night out has her meeting an older man, sparks start to fly.

  Being a millionaire isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for Jax Burn, and when he pops into a non-descript bar to drink his cares away he definitely wasn’t expecting to meet her.

  While the relationship starts off hot and heavy, secrets and misunderstandings tear them apart only to have them meet again years later. Will this be the time when everything works out?

  Chapter 1

  Friday night at last. The blessed beginning of the weekend, and another long stretch of work was over. One that seemed to drag on for Stacey Keller. The invite she’d received to a girl’s night out with her friends was sounding sweeter by the minute. After the week she’d had, how could she refuse? She was well-accustomed to juggling numerous tasks, conversations and file details, but with only three caseloads completed and an added twelve in less than a fortnight, Stacey had had more than her fill this week. Now all she wanted was take a break from the chaos and spend time with friends. They always knew how to brighten her day.

  Work had been crazy lately for Stacey. This was the first night in months that she would have any free time. Being a social worker’s assistant was certainly rewarding. She liked knowing she was not only aiding the protection of numerous people, but also taking some of the weight off her boss’s shoulders at the same time. Still, that didn’t mean her job was easy. The social worker had taken on an extra twelve cases, nine of which involved high-strung individuals with addictive and violent behaviors. Threats and concerns about restraining order violations were present almost endlessly, and it was her job to help keep track of every person involved and potentially involved in each case, as well as keep the more rational ones informed while her boss handled the more difficult situations first hand. All day she had counted down the hours until she was done for the weekend. She had been organizing her desk at the end of the day in preparation for work come Monday, when she saw an incoming text:

  Meet us at our favorite hangout.

  Stacey smiled. Her friends were already at the restaurant waiting for her. She got up from her chair and grabbed her jacket, hoping luck would send a cab her was as soon as she left the building.

  Outside, the night air was refreshingly cool. Traffic moved smoothly enough since most people had already gone home for the night.

  Stacey glanced up the street and, as luck would have it, a cab was driving down toward her building. ‘Ever a lady tonight, Luck’, she thought as she whistled the cab to a stop. She requested the address of The Flatiron and was soon on her way. She sat back with a sigh, hoping she’d be able to let go of life’s stranglehold a bit and loosen up tonight.

  Stacey’s best friend, Morgan Swenson, greeted her as soon as she entered the restaurant. “What, were you waiting for me?” Stacey laughed.

  “We were beginning to think you were going to cancel on us. So I took it upon myself to make sure you actually showed up,” Morgan smiled. She had the most perfect teeth. Stacey thought back to high school when Morgan had been mortified to learn she needed braces for two years. Now she could charm just about anyone with that smile, and Stacey often got a kick out of teasing her over it.

  Now, the not-so-fashionably late brunette pulled her hair to one side and gave Morgan a quizzical look. “By standing near the entryway all night?”

  “I saw you get out of the cab and got up to meet you.”

  “Why would you think I’d cancel on you?” Stacey asked.

  “Maybe because all the other times we wanted to have a girl’s night out, you decided that you weren’t going to show. Last second, of course.”

  Stacey wore a look of mocked offense. “Not every time.”

  “And,” Morgan went on, “even though none of us got a text from you saying you weren’t coming, we can’t exactly take that as a ‘yes’.”

  “Trust me, Morgan. If there was any night I needed to get out, it’s tonight.” Stacey smiled and hugged her best friend. After all of the solidly booked nights and the less-than-cheerful phone calls that work required of her, it felt like it had been ages since they last saw each other.

  “Is everything alright?” Morgan asked as they broke apart. She looked a little worried. She’d tried for months to get Stacey to go out with her and the rest of the group, but work was always an excuse.

  Stacey nodded. “Everything’s fine. Now come on, are we going to get drinks and enjoy tonight or what?”

  Morgan didn’t look convinced. She’d known Stacey long enough to know a lie when she heard it. She followed the 22 year old woman to the bar.

  “Now tell me the truth,” she said. “Something going on at work?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary,” Stacey said as she put in her drink order with the bartender. She leaned against the counter and interlaced her fingers, flexing them thoughtfully. “It’s just that sometimes I wonder if I made the right career decision.”

  Morgan shrugged. “You love helping people. You always have for as long as I’ve known you. And that’s pretty much all our lives. In college, when you told me you wanted to go into social work, I was hardly surprised.”

  Stacey sighed. “I know and I thought that was what I really wanted to do. Now I’ve been at this office for almost five years and it has me second guessing my decision. This has been the worst week at work. I kept hoping it would get better, but today topped it off.”

  “So you had a bad week at work,” Morgan said, trying to lighten the mood. “Happens to all of us. Do you know how many bad weeks I’ve had at my job? If I wanted to quit each time it happened, I would’ve been unemployed years ago. Don’t let one bad week ruin something you love doing.”

  “I feel that there’s something much more that I can do that would involve helping people.”

  “Sure, but you’ve worked really hard to get here. I wouldn’t give up just because it gets tough now and then. And yes, I realize it does. It’s written all across those bags under her eyes.”

  Stacey groaned and looked at herself in the bar’s mirror. Morgan grinned.

  “They’re subtle, don’t worry about it.”

  “Yeah, right,” Stacey said with a smirk of her own.

  “You’re just in a slump right now with work. It’ll pass. That’s why we’re here tonight. So we can all forget about our jobs for a second and chill out. Have some fun.”

  “As only the best ladies know how,�
�� Stacey said playfully, trying to avoid being the buzzkill.

  Morgan feigned narcissism and pretended to flip her blonde highlights even though her hair was tastefully pinned up.

  “Tsk. Of course.”

  Stacey grabbed her drink before walking with Morgan to the table where their friends Rachel and Chloe were already starting the night. They exchanged happy hellos and took turns hugging their long-lost friend before Chloe keyed them in on her latest magazine research while Rachel made remarks about her new makeup purchases whenever it seemed remotely relevant.

  The air in the restaurant was pleasant. Light music, mellow lighting, and plenty of customers without anything feeling rushed or crowded. Stacey had to admit, she missed being able to come out as often as the others did.

  About an hour into it, Morgan turned to her.

  “Know what you need to do?” she asked, pointing her tiny drink straw at the brunette. “You need to start dating.”

  Rachel, the youngest of the group, instantly agreed. “Yea, Stacey. The best way to forget about your troubles is by having some fine man to warm your bed and make you forget your own name.” She grinned playfully at the idea. Rachel wasn’t one to mince words.

  Stacey started to laugh. She couldn’t remember the last time she was on a date. “Me? Date someone? Ain’t going to happen, Morgan.”

  “Stacey, don’t you see?” Morgan asked, more sincerely. “Maybe if you were dating someone, or get yourself a boyfriend, you wouldn’t be so stressed out. If you had a bad day at work, you would have someone to go home to who would make everything better.”

  Stacey lightly traced her finger along the rim of her glass. “Dating isn’t for me. You know that.”

  “If there’s anyone on this group who should be dating, it’s you Stacey,” Morgan said. “Trust me, dating would definitely make you feel less stressed. In fact, I bet if you found some guy, you would be loving your job again because you’d be happy.”

  Stacey rolled her eyes. One bad relationship after another had caused her to give up on the dating scene. She’d had enough of going out with the wrong type of guy and had decided to put her career first.

  “I should be able to make myself happy before I try to get someone else to fill that role. Besides, when do you suppose I’d have time to go out on these said dates?”

  Chloe gave her a look. “Stacey, don’t tell me you don’t take any time for yourself during the week. Even if it means going out and casually dating someone.”

  Stacey shook her head. “It’s true, this is the first time I’ve even been out to have drinks in months. When I cancel on you guys, it’s usually because work is either running late or I just want to go home, get into my pajamas, put a movie on and go to sleep. I have no time to date with this job.”

  “That’s nonsense,” Morgan said.

  “Every person deserves time for themselves,” Rachel added. “It’s not healthy to stay cooped up and do nothing but work all the time, Stacey. It’s not!”

  Stacey sighed. “I know. But you’re right, I do love my job. And I don’t see the point in jeopardizing it for the sake of going out with a guy who will end up not being right for me.”

  Morgan’s face softened and she reached across the table for her friend’s hand. “Stop thinking in the past,” she said gently. “Those relationships weren’t right for you and you know it. But if you keep yourself locked inside your office all hours of the day, the perfect man for you may slip between your fingers.”

  Stacey laughed. Morgan was always the romantic in the group of friends. She made it her job to set every one of her single friends up. “I think I need to just concentrate on my job right now. I’m one of the top social workers in the office. I’m always booked with caseloads and appointments. I couldn’t even take time off if I wanted to.”

  Morgan shook her head at her best friend. “Stacey, you need to have a social life too.” She received a look bordering on exasperation and quickly added, “Look, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you came out with us tonight. But one night every four or five months isn’t healthy. One night or even two a week is normal.”

  “Even if I wanted to have a social life, it’s been so long since I even went on a date with anyone,” Stacey said. “I don’t even know how I would pick up a man.”

  “Leave that to me,” Morgan smirked.

  “What do you mean by that?” She asked, only to immediately answer her own question. “Errr…I don’t like that look on your face.”

  “What look? The one that says I’m going to find you a man tonight?” Morgan’s smirk spread into a grin.

  “What do you mean tonight? We’re at a restaurant!”

  “Exactly. It’s less shady and depressing than a bar but there’s still a healthy amount of men here getting their drink on. This is exactly how I meet people.” She straightened her posture with confidence. “Be assertive, be fierce, and be your beautiful, authentic self.”

  “I just thought you were being your normal, friendly self,” Stacey said sarcastically. “I don’t want to date some random guy from a bar.”

  “It’s not a bar, it’s a restaurant with a lounge. Completely different,” Morgan ignored her best friend’s protests as she scoped out the place. There had to be a single cute man that would be perfect for Stacey. “Found him!”

  “You found who?”

  Morgan turned her friend toward the lounge area instead of the dining tables. “The man that is going to be your newest boyfriend. Right there, ordering a drink.”

  “You can’t pick some random guy for me!” Stacey said. “How do you even know he’s single?”

  “Because if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be at the lounge alone. And I don’t see a ring on his finger which means he’s not married. Now are you going to go over to talk to him?” She noted the hesitance on her friend’s face and leaned closer. “Or do I have to go bring him over here?”

  “No, Morgan!” Stacey said, a bit louder than the general hum of the room. She wanted to do this on her terms if she was going to do it at all. But she had to admit, Morgan picked a good one. A bit of silver dashing across his temples, steel blue eyes, and a swagger that told her that he was accustomed to the finer things in life. He was tall, in great shape, and looked as if he never heard the word ‘no’.

  Morgan knew she was getting on Stacey’s nerves, but she couldn’t help it, she was worried for her friend and wanted her to find happiness. She smiled, knowing that her plan was going to work.

  “If you don’t go up there and strike up a conversation with him, then as your best friend, I’ll have no choice but to bring him to you. So what’s it going to be?”

  Stacey got up from her chair and smoothed her skirt. She knew Morgan was serious and if she didn’t act fast, she would be bringing the guy to the table. She really wouldn’t be able to get away. “Fine. I’ll go talk to him. But I make no promises.”

  “Don’t go over there with that kind of attitude. Go with the attitude of ‘I won’t be going home alone tonight’,” Morgan smiled.

  Stacey shook her head and gave a laugh as she walked over to the lounge. Her attempts at a proud, confident stride fizzled out almost immediately. There was no way this was going to work. She was out of practice when it came to dating and men. Locating a chair next to the man, she sat down.

  “Hi,” she said nervously.

  The man turned his bar stool towards Stacey and smiled. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you too.” Stacey took a deep breath. So far so good. But she needed to make more conversation. “I couldn’t help noticing you while I was sitting over there.”

  He smiled. “Then we’re both guilty. I have to admit I was looking in your direction more than a man should.” He put out his hand for Stacey to shake. “Name is Jax.”

  Stacey took hold of his hand and shook. “I’m Stacey.”

  “Stacey. Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. May I buy you a drink?”

  “I…” She swallowed
her nerves and gave her best attempt at a ‘casually pleased’ smile. “I would like that very much.”

  Jax smiled back and waved his hand to the selection across from them. “Lady’s choice.”

  She thought of something fruity, and Sex on the Beach came to mind much quicker than she would have liked. For that matter, Fuzzy Navel didn’t sound quite appropriate yet, either. She struggle not to giggle at the thought as she felt heat rise in her cheeks.

  “I guess a… Lady Chairman.”

  “Could we get a Lady Chairman with -” he turned to her, “cherries?”

  “Oh. Yes, please.”

  “Double cherries, please.”

  “Coming up,” the bartender said.

  Stacey raised her eyebrows as Jax turned back to her. “Double?”

  He gave a little shrug. “Little something extra. Why not?”

  His smile was intoxicating. She was sure she was blushing now. She only hoped the low lighting hid most of it. She nodded to him in agreement.

  “Why not?”

  She couldn’t believe how smoothly this was going. And she knew that she would never live it down if Morgan knew she was right. No doubt the girls were already giggling to each other just from the body language happening. Oh well, so what if they were? For the first time in months, Stacey felt hopeful. Even a little sexy. Maybe a break from work every now and then couldn’t hurt.

  Chapter 2

  A few minutes into her conversation with Jax, Stacey started to feel at ease. This must’ve been what Morgan was talking about. The gentle ease of getting to know someone. The feeling she was getting, she hadn’t felt it in a long time. She caught herself looking at his hand, making sure Morgan was right and she was. There was no ring. This man was free for the taking and Stacey couldn’t be any happier.

  “I take it you’re not here alone?” Jax asked, gesturing with his eyes toward her table.

  “Came with a few girlfriends. Girls night out after the work week.” She looked over and saw that Morgan and the other girls had invited guys to the table. “As you can see they’re all pre-occupied.”