and sashayed away, leaving the scent of honeysuckle and cloves lingering on Abby’s skin.
Two minutes after her mother had returned to the rectory, Tess came bouncing back outside, beaming like a flood lamp and waving a piece of paper in her hand. “I found us the perfect getaway spot.”
With a sinking sensation, Abby wondered if they would be shooting craps in Vegas or getting smashed on hurricanes in the French Quarter or mamboing with Latin lovers in Miami.
Could she do this? Should she do this? Would she do this?
Abby sneezed delicately into her lace hanky, and the parting words that Ken had spoken when he’d called to tell her he wasn’t showing up for the wedding echoed in her ears.
“You’re just not fiery enough, Abby. Look at you. If you were emotionally committed to me, you’d be jealous of Racine and scratching my eyes out for treating you this way. Instead you’re telling me it’s okay. That’s what’s wrong with us. Why I can’t marry you. No fire.”
And then she heard Tess say, “The best way to exorcise the Durango demon would be to find the delectable Mr. Creed and screw his brains out.”
And lastly came her mother’s dangerous challenge. “Let yourself go. Do something wild and crazy. Prove once and for all you’re not like me.”
Part of her wanted to accept the dare. Take a risk. Vanquish her fantasies.
But part of her was terrified. What if her mother was right? What if they were alike?
“Earth to Abby.” Tess snapped her fingers in front of Abby’s face.
“Huh?”
“Don’t you want to know where we’re going?”
Abby closed her eyes and braced herself for the worst. “Lay it on me.”
“A week of total pampering at the Tranquility Spa in Sedona.”
Abby opened one eye and peeked at her friend. “Sedona? Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You’re not kidding me? Serene, slow-paced Sedona? With the soothing red rock mesas and inspirational vortices?”
“I figured peace and quiet was really what you were looking for.”
Love for her friend overwhelmed her. This was exactly the kind of regenerative trip she needed. She didn’t require endless thrills or excitement. She didn’t have to act wild and reckless in order to prove herself. All she needed was a calm place where she could relax and get some perspective on her life.
She jumped off the swing and enveloped Tess in a big hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Hey,” Tess said, “what are friends for?”
“But what about you? You wanted fun and excitement and to get laid.”
“Well.” Tess grinned. “My fantasy lover, Colin Cruz, happens to be making a movie in Sedona. I was hoping we could watch them film. Plus, you know what I heard?” She lowered her voice.
“What?”
“The electromagnetic energy in Sedona intensifies orgasmic pleasure.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Apparently, there’s no sex like vortex sex.”
2
“GOOD MORNING, HANDSOME,” the low, husky voice of Sunrise Jeep Tours dispatcher Connie Vargas oozed from the two-way radio on the dashboard.
“Morning, Connie.” Durango Creed grinned. Connie was sixty-five if she was a day, but she flirted like she was sixteen. He admired the woman’s spirit. She didn’t let her age slow her down. “Did you sleep well?”
“Not too well, cowboy.” Mischief sparkled in her tone. “You weren’t in my bed.”
“Connie, believe me, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, right. I’ve heard the rumors about you.”
“Lies, all lies.”
Connie snorted indelicately. “What about the flock of city girls who come here and personally request you as their guide? You tryin’ to tell me you don’t offer any additional services that aren’t part of our regular tour package?”
Durango pretended to be offended. “Are you impugning my virtue?”
“No, but I think your next customers might give your virtue a run for its money.”
“Oh?”
“You’ve got a pickup at Tranquility Spa. Name’s Baxter, party of two for the private Vortex Tour and the lady specifically asked for Durango Creed. She sounded very sexy too.”
“I’m on it.”
“I’m sure you are, cowboy. Over and out.”
With a shake of his head, Durango grinned and wheeled his bright orange Jeep up the narrow L’Auberge Lane and then headed west toward the secluded, chichi health spa. He blew past the Black Cow Café, the warm desert wind stirring both his hair and his blood, and hung a right at the split.
From his peripheral vision, he caught a glimpse of Cathedral Rock jutting proud and majestic in the distance. The sun, filtering in and out through the shifting clouds. made it appear as if the formation was in motion, a subtle, graceful dance of light and shadows. The sight of those mesas never failed to rouse something primal inside Durango.
A motorcycle came up on his left. He turned his head. The sound of the bike’s engine captured his attention. When he saw it was a Ducati he found himself thinking about Abby Archer, and a double twist of wistful longing and downright horniness knotted his gut like a pretzel.
Without any difficulty at all, he could still picture how she looked the last time he had seen her. Standing on the balcony of her father’s palatial house, wearing a thin white sheath that in the moonlight showed off every inch of her nubile seventeen-year-old body. Her dark hair, which was usually pulled back in a sleek ponytail, was hanging loose about her shoulders, her breasts rising high and firm, her creamy skin gleaming seductively.
God, she’d been something special. Just like Sedona herself. Beautiful, calm, tranquil on the surface but underneath ran all that raw passionate energy. Maybe that’s why he had ended up in Sedona. He’d always been a sucker for the fire-and-ice paradox.
And if he and Abby had ever fully explored the chemistry surging between them, they probably would have spontaneously combusted.
But she’d told him she didn’t trust him. That he was too wild, too untamed, too reckless for her. The tears shining in her eyes had belied her words, but he’d had no choice other than to leave her behind.
Durango exhaled. It was just as well nothing had happened between them. Even though they came from the same privileged
