DesertIslandDelight Read online

  Desert Island Delight

  Wynter Daniels

  Book 3 in the Wanton Weston Women series.

  New York advertising hotshots Diana Weston and Chase Cunningham have had a thing for each other since they met, but they are always at each other’s throats. Yet again in competition, the find themselves in the Middle East vying for a sheik’s ten-million-dollar account. When they share a water taxi to go to the sheik’s private island, they’re hijacked, robbed, then dumped in the Persian Gulf. After barely making it to a deserted island, they must work together to stay alive.

  Alone on the private island, they set aside their competitive tendencies and give in to the powerful attraction drawing them together. But their bliss is short lived when they find out there are sinister forces at work threatening to tear them apart.

  Desert Island Delight

  Wynter Daniels

  Chapter One

  Diana Weston had never seen a real gun up close, and she’d certainly never had one pointed at her before. She sure as hell didn’t care for it. The gunman had his finger on the trigger and he appeared a little too jittery for her comfort.

  The water taxi bounced and the man stumbled. She fisted her hands, bracing herself for the pain of a spray of machine gunfire to her chest that, thank God, never came.

  “Do what they say, Diana.” Chase Cunningham’s narrowed gaze darted from the gunman to the boat’s pilot then to her. “We’ll be fine. Just stay calm.”

  Easy for him to say. Her sister Wendy had warned her before her trip that American women were targeted for rape in the Middle East more than other foreign nationals. She clenched her jaw as she handed her captor the eight-hundred-dollar designer purse she’d lusted after for months before she’d given in to the splurge. With any luck she’d live long enough to file an insurance claim.

  The man rifled through her bag and tossed a few of her possessions into the Persian Gulf—the hotel room key card, a tube of hand sanitizer.

  No—not my lip-gloss.

  Damn it. She couldn’t get through a day without the stuff and that was in New York where the humidity was a jillion times higher than here in the desert. She glanced overboard but the lip-gloss tube was long gone in the foamy wake.

  The man grinned, revealing teeth way too straight to belong to a sleazy criminal.

  Please don’t let him be a killer.

  He took out her phone and touched the screen. Then he turned to his accomplice, held up her cell and said something she couldn’t understand. The few phrases of Arabic she’d managed to pick up only came in handy when ordering in a restaurant or searching for a ladies’ room. She remembered the word for water taxi—abra. Who knew she should have learned how to say please don’t shoot me?

  She glanced toward shore and her throat thickened with emotion. The towering buildings faded to Tinker Toys as the boat sailed farther out to sea, away from the safety of the city.

  Will I ever see land again?

  Would she ever get to apologize to her mother for the silly argument they’d had last week or wear the ugly yellow bridesmaid dress for her sister Wendy’s wedding? Tears welled in her eyes. No. She couldn’t think that way. She’d get out of this. The men would probably just rob them then let them go. But where?

  The azure sea stretched to infinity ahead of them but there were no other boats anywhere in sight. She clasped her hands to keep them from shaking.

  What could they gain by killing them?

  Eliminate the witnesses.

  The local authorities executed criminals for all types of crimes here so what did the kidnappers have to lose? They had to get rid of her and Chase. She forced the terrifying notion from her mind and licked her suddenly dry, un-glossed lips.

  Why hadn’t she hired a bodyguard to ensure her safety until she’d arrived at her client’s private island? But the sheik’s assistant had assured her she’d be fine on her own. And why in hell had she agreed to share a water taxi with Chase when they’d run into each other in the hotel lobby this morning? She should have insisted on them taking separate transportation. Guilt poked at her for the mean thought. Regardless that she and Chase were bitter rivals, he was still a human being.

  God, would she die out here? With Chase Cunningham of all people, the man who’d stolen accounts out from under her and badmouthed her to more than one client, or so she’d heard through the advertising grapevine.

  Their disastrous date last year should have been enough of a sign for her to stay the hell away from him. But there was that kiss at the end of the night—that one heart-stopping, mind-blowing kiss. The moment they’d stepped off the elevator back at her place—after arguing all evening about whose ad campaigns were better—Chase had cornered her in front of her door and surprised her by scooping her into his arms and covering her mouth with his.

  There was nothing soft or gentle or sweet about it like most first kisses she’d had. That kiss had been all about possession and control. And she’d loved it. She wished she could get it out of her head, but dissecting that amazing kiss was a hell of a lot better than imagining what the kidnappers would do to her.

  The gunman fished her wallet out of her purse, then he discarded her beautiful purple leather bag like a sack of trash. She remembered her antique pillbox was inside and her eyes filled with tears. It was the only thing she had left of her grandmother and now it was gone.

  The man rifled through her credit cards and cash before pocketing them and flinging her empty wallet into the sea.

  They’re just things.

  Now that death stared her in the face, what did her possessions matter? All the money in the world didn’t mean squat when it came down to it. Her loved ones—her mother and her three sisters, her niece and nephew—they were infinitely more important than any of the things she owned.

  Chase sat beside her on the deck holding his hands in the air as the gunman searched his pockets. The turbaned villain took Chase’s billfold and cell then handed them to the guy driving the boat, a lanky man with greasy black hair and hooded eyes the color of coal. The kidnappers spoke in hushed tones in their language then glanced at her and laughed.

  She hugged her arms tightly around her body but that didn’t stop her from shivering despite the warmth of the day. She leaned closer to Chase and pulled in a breath laced with his spicy cologne. “You think they’ll take us back to the city now that they have what they want?” she whispered.

  He nodded but his brow remained crinkled. “Sure. It’s going to be fine.”

  His well-meaning words did little to reassure her as one of their captors slid his gaze slowly over her body. Her breakfast churned in her stomach and she feared all those honey-soaked pancakes might come back up.

  The armed hijacker seemed to be scrutinizing her then he pointed at her right ear. “Coredo,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

  He shouted the word again as he motioned to her other ear.

  “He wants your earrings.” Chase kept his voice low but the rage simmering beneath the surface was evident in his gravelly tone and clenched teeth.

  She touched her fingers to her diamond studs. “Okay.” It took her longer than usual to remove the jewelry with shaking fingers but she managed to get them off and set them in the gunman’s palm, careful not to touch him, as if he were a venomous snake.

  He held the baubles up to the sun then showed them to his partner in crime. The men conversed as they gestured at her. She glanced away, telling herself they weren’t actually leering at her. The city had all but disappeared, along with her hope.

  “Bastards,” Chase ground out.

  “It doesn’t matter.” But her heart drummed furiously. The situation was growing
more frightening by the minute. She slid another inch or two toward Chase and was somehow comforted by his bulky arms and head-to-toe muscles. “I wish to God I’d have let you steal the sheik’s account like you did Trident Software. Then I’d have never come to this godforsaken country.” But the lure of a ten-million-dollar piece of business had proved too tempting not to go after.

  “I don’t have to steal accounts.” He muttered a curse under his breath. “Trident liked my ideas better, fair and square. So did All Seasons. And we’re both here to pitch to the sheik. You don’t have his account so how can I snatch it from you?”

  “Sheik el-Tayid would have loved my presentation. I have no doubt I’d have had this one in the bag.” Her leg brushed against Chase’s granite-hard thigh. Even in his dress pants, the man’s legs were amazing. He was way more muscular than either of their captors and he could probably overpower both of them if they didn’t have that damn machine gun on their side.

  “Give me a break,” he shot back.

  “Shut your mouths!” the gunman barked. He trained his weapon on Chase.

  Hot fear coursed through Diana’s veins. She and Chase weren’t exactly friends but that didn’t mean she wanted to see the guy get shot. Her hands trembled in her lap but she refused to give in to her panic. She squared her shoulders and held her head high as the wind whipped her hair around her face.

  We will get out of this alive.

  If not for the fact that they’d been hijacked, she would have appreciated the beauty of their surroundings. The sunshine heated her skin but every few seconds the salty sea spray cooled it. They sliced through the water in silence for twenty or more minutes.

  She told herself they were headed to some other city where the men would release her and Chase, but she didn’t quite believe it. Tears welled in her eyes but she fought them back. She’d learned not to show her fear a long time ago, thanks to her bastard of a father.

  The boat slowed and the driver spoke to his accomplice. The gunman pointed out into the gulf as he laughed and nodded.

  Diana glanced in that direction and glimpsed a tiny dot of land in the distance, a small island in the middle of nowhere. She swallowed hard. “W-what do you think they’ll do to us?”

  “I don’t know, but I won’t let them hurt you. I promise.” Chase took her hand and squeezed.

  The surprising gesture dissipated a small measure of her terror. She studied the sharp eyes that had sized her up on numerous occasions. There was a kindness in his blue stare. She curled her fingers around his, hoping to impart some of the calm he gave to her.

  The motor cut off and the boat coasted, then stopped. Waves lapped at the hull as the taxi gently rocked in the eerily quiet desolation.

  “This is your stop,” the pilot said in heavily accented English. He gestured at the water.

  After a long moment of silence, Chase released her hand. “What the hell does that mean?” He started to stand but the gunman jabbed the barrel of his weapon into Chase’s chest.

  Diana gasped as Chase stumbled backward. The pilot gave him a hard shove and he fell into the gulf with a splash. She kneeled on the seat and bent over the water, searching for him. Just as he breached the surface, someone picked her up and tossed her overboard.

  The shock stole her breath but she immediately started treading water, not sure if her best move was to grab onto the side of the boat or to get the hell away from it. Chase made the decision for her when he took hold of her arm and pulled her against the solid wall of muscle that was his chest. “Stay calm,” he whispered.

  How was she supposed to do that when they would probably drown or be shot to death?

  The boat’s motor whirred to life, drowning out all other noises.

  “Have you a nice day,” one of their captors said with a snicker. Then the craft took off.

  They bobbed in the wake, neither saying a word. Diana shook like crazy even though Chase’s body was warm.

  Relief and fear warred inside her. The men couldn’t shoot them, they were too far away. But now she’d probably drown.

  I will not die today.

  How many times had she been giving a presentation and felt herself drowning—figuratively, of course? Most of those times, she’d rallied, fought for the account and won. This time she was fighting for her life and losing wasn’t an option. She let go of Chase’s neck. “Now what?”

  He tipped his chin to her left. “Now we swim.”

  She followed his gaze to the island she’d noticed earlier. Holy cow, it was still miles away. Were they kidding themselves that they could make it that far? It had been almost seven years since she’d competed on her high school swim team and had done more than a few laps at a time. All those medals her mother kept in an old trunk meant nothing now.

  Tears threatened again but she couldn’t give in or she’d never survive. She kicked off her shoes. It would be a workout to swim that distance but she could do it. She didn’t have a choice. “And then?”

  “One hurdle at a time.” He peeled off his shirt and pants then tied them together with his belt. “We might need our clothes later but they’ll only hinder us now.”

  He was right. She worked out of her skirt and top.

  “Give them to me.” He took the soaked garments and rolled them together with his in a tight bundle.

  She tried to cover her red lace bra and panties but it proved impossible while she treaded water. Modesty be damned. Her life was at stake.

  Sucking in a big breath, she started stroking toward shore. Alternating between the crawl and the backstroke, she kept pace with Chase. But a few minutes into their journey, her instincts nudged her.

  The sky had emptied of the birds that had been accompanying them. The air grew too still. Swallowing back a kernel of trepidation, she quit stroking. “Chase?”

  He stopped swimming and turned to face her, treading water. “Are you hanging in there? It’s not too much farther.”

  Seriously? They hadn’t even covered a tenth of the distance to the island but she didn’t have time to dwell on that. “Did you notice the birds?” She gestured to the clear sky.

  He glanced up, then back at her. “What birds?”

  Then she saw it out of the corner of her eye. All she could manage was a broken gasp as she pointed to the gray fin fifteen or twenty yards away. And it was coming toward them, zigzagging just beneath the surface.

  He grabbed her arm and tucked her behind him then shoved the bundle of their clothes at her. “Sure it’s not just a dolphin?”

  “P-positive. Dolphins swim up and down, not side to side. That’s definitely a shark.” Despite the coolness of the water, her insides burned with alarm. She hugged his back, peeking around him at the terrifying sight. “Oh God. It’s coming right at us.”

  Chapter Two

  “Try not to kick your legs around. Do you have any jewelry on?” Chase asked Diana. He could barely suck in a breath, incredulous that a shark was about to attack them.

  “No. The hijackers took it all.” She gasped.

  “Shit. It’s a hammerhead.” He shook her off his back then lunged at the shark and managed to poke his fingers right into the creature’s eye. Then he punched its nose. The shark immediately jerked away then swam in the opposite direction at warp speed.

  Diana eased up the death grip she had on his shoulders. His skin stung from the bite of her fingernails. “Thank God. Where’d you learn to do that?”

  He turned himself around to face her and managed a smile although his heart was still thudding so fast and hard he felt like Pete Marovich was dribbling a basketball on his ribs. “Shark Week on one of the nature channels, I think.” He took the clothes from her and hooked them over his arm. “I can’t believe it worked.”

  She laughed but the lines etched around her mouth didn’t go away completely. She leaned her head against his chest then apparently realizing what she was doing, backed away and met his stare. “Why do I have the feeling this is only the beginning of a harrowing o
dyssey?”

  Damn, she was pretty.

  I want to kiss her.

  “We’re going to come out of this.” He studied her cat-like eyes, as brown as fine sable, and those sexy lips. Even wet, her blonde hair curled a little around her face. All rational thought drifted away like seaweed on a lazy current. Their bodies met at all the right spots—chest to chest, abs to abs, thigh to thigh.

  She exhaled and he drew in her breath. They could very well die out here.

  Together.

  He pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers. They were just as soft and sweet as he remembered. When she didn’t protest or back away, he deepened the kiss.

  But before he could get a good taste of her, she abruptly shoved him away.

  “Come on.” She started swimming again, leaving her cold and feeling like a complete idiot.

  What the hell?

  Had he conjured up that jolt of torrid electricity arcing between them? No. She’d obviously had a change of heart. Probably for the best. He had no business concentrating on anything but getting them safely to land.

  Snapping himself out of his dumbfounded silence, he managed a swallow then took off after her. What the hell had he been thinking?

  He passed her then kept glancing over his shoulder to make sure Diana was keeping up. He swam fairly regularly at the gym and he couldn’t remember ever spotting her in the indoor pool there. Hell, he’d have noticed that hot body in a bathing suit. Good thing she seemed to be keeping pace with him. They had to make it to the island before another shark appeared. No telling if he’d be able to poke another one in the eye. He’d been acting on pure adrenaline and more than a little luck.

  Damn his libido for roaring to life back there, but after two near-death experiences in less than an hour he’d forgive himself for doing something stupid. He’d always been attracted to her, how could he not be? Between her model’s face, those high, perky breasts and that incredible ass, what red-blooded male wouldn’t be turned on?