Champagne Rules by Susan Lyons Page A

stretch of ocean, was a spectacular view of Vancouver. The setting sun created an eye-dazzling glitter on the windows of distant high-rises. At another time, he would have stopped to admire, but now he turned his back and began to walk. Most people were wearing sunglasses, but not Jax. He wanted to see Suzanne without any barriers. Had she cut her hair? How would she be dressed? He had absolutely no idea of her taste in clothing. Or in anything else. Except sex. She liked it hot and wild.
    * * *
    Suzanne’s legs were so shaky she could barely walk. But as her bare feet got accustomed to the grainy feel of damp sand and the breeze cooled her flushed cheeks, she gained confidence. She felt herself becoming the sexy twin, the woman who’d attracted Jaxon on Crete. Her head came up, her shoulders went back and she began to smile. Up on the grass, her friends sat at a picnic table, eating KFC
    and pretending not to watch her. It was good to know she wasn’t alone, though she was embarrassed that they’d witness her meeting with her mystery lover. She’d taken forever deciding what to wear, and had ended up with a crop top in a shade of peachy cream almost her own skin color, and a long, gauzy skirt striped in yellows and oranges. The skirt opened at the front and she’d only buttoned it down to mid-thigh. A breeze teased her hair and tossed the filmy fabric of her skirt, peeling it back to show her legs, then floating it forward to wrap demurely around her.
    Her jewelry was gold to match her hair: strings of dangly coins in her ears, a dolphin ring she’d bought on Crete on her right hand, a bangle bracelet on her left wrist. People dotted the beach and her gaze moved nervously from one to the next. What would he be wearing? He’d had great legs, yet shorts seemed too casual for such a significant meeting. Her breath caught. A tall man had just come down to the beach. All she could see from here was that he was black. From head to toe. Dark skin, dark clothes.
    She knew it was Jaxon.
    She wanted to run toward him as much as she wanted to run away. The muscles in her legs locked and she had to force herself to keep walking. As she got closer, she could see the exact color of his skin, so warm and alive in comparison to the sexy black clothing. 
    Clothing tight enough to leave no doubt his body was still lean and firm.
    He was clean-shaven now and the dreads had been replaced by short, tight curls, but the new look suited his strong features. Her muscles became fluid again and she felt strong, sexy, powerful. They were magnets coming together. When finally she stood in front of him, she smiled up and he smiled down.
    “Suzanne.” His husky voice caressed her name, making it beautiful.
    “Jaxon.”
    He looked a little older, but even more attractive. Mature. His eyes, deep chocolate, full of light, were the same. Captivating. Her sexy, mysterious stranger.
    He held out a tiger lily.
    She smiled and took it. “Thank you.”
    Then he held out his hand, and she took that too, her own hand enveloped by heat, a throbbing pulse of sensation. Wordlessly, they began to walk, strolling away from the city, toward the more remote stretches of Spanish Banks.
    “I can’t believe you’re here.” She tilted her head to gaze up at him. She had no idea who he really was. Part of her wanted to know everything, but another part said it would spoil things. Besides, if she asked him questions, then he’d be bound to ask her. She didn’t want to lie, nor did she want to confess to being such a humdrum person. I’m outrageous69 , she reminded herself.
    “I can’t believe we’re together,” he said. Suddenly, he stopped and released her hand. He touched her shoulder, stopping her, then gripped her around the waist and lifted her effortlessly onto a chunk of driftwood, so now she was his height. “Beautiful Suzanne.” He lifted a hand, traced the line of her cheekbone, then twisted a curl of hair around his finger. He touched her