All Bottled Up Read Online Free PDF Page A

spices washed over her, sending her head into a spin.
    He was only an inch or two from her now, but he still didn’t make any contact. He didn’t need to. His eyes held her motionless. She watched as their color blended back from dark to crystal blue. Her body instantly responded to his. Her nipples hardened, pressing against the silky fabric of her bikini top. A shiver of longing washed over her and pooled in a puddle of heat between her legs. She wanted her heart to stop pounding, but there was no way to calm it.
    “I am a genie. You are a mortal. Please make your wishes so I may return to my bottle in peace.” His voice was rich, like a sweet dessert.
    Viola tried to ignore the little flip her stomach gave at the sound of his voice. Oh this really was bad, she really shouldn’t be reacting this way to a complete stranger, handsome or not. She had to get out of here. Now.
    “Look, I’m sorry you don’t enjoy your job. But I didn’t ask to be a part of your game.” She saw the other resort guests playing beach volleyball up ahead. “I’m going to head back now. Please don’t follow me. I promise I won’t say anything bad to your bosses.”
    She didn’t wait to see how he’d react to that one. Viola scrambled to grab her beach towel that held her hat and room key. With the bottle now covered by her towel and pressed between her breasts, she jogged as best she could on the sand toward the resort.
    Her calves were screaming from exertion when she finally reached the closest gathering of people. It didn’t help her heart though. It still pounded like mad.
    Rule number one. Don’t wander the beach alone again.
    A group of high school students cheered as one of the boys in the volleyball game made an impressive dive. Viola noticed several of the girls giggled as they passed a very large water bottle filled with a drink that looked surprisingly similar to her glass of rum punch this morning. Her stomach lurched at the memory.
    Rule number two. Don’t drink large quantities of alcohol on an empty stomach then 25

    wander off alone.
    She stood in the middle of the group of students and felt very small and very much on her own. What made her think she could come to a tropical paradise solo and have a good time? A group of adults sitting off to the side caught her eye. They were chatting and laughing in a very civilized manner. Viola took a deep breath and made a few steps in their direction to join them. She stopped when a man wearing a faded Yankees cap and Hawaiian shorts shouted at the group of students. The teacher.
    She had about as much in common with these people as she did with the crazy actor down the beach. No, her room was looking very nice at this point. Maybe after a nap she’d be able to try this again. Go out for a late lunch or an early supper and see if she could meet any interesting people.
    She walked through the lobby toward the elevator and tried to ignore the whistle and catcall of a hairy, overweight man with a heavy accent.
    Rule number three. Never wear this red piece of floss again.
    The elevator doors were starting to slide closed when Viola ran up and stuck her arm out to catch them. The cleaning woman inside pressed the open door button for her.
    “Thanks. Really hot out there today.”
    “ Sí .”
    The woman kept her eyes forward and didn’t react to the fact that Viola was standing there clutching an unusual bottle.
    “Excuse me? Does the resort hire actors to role play characters? Say…like a genie?” The woman shook her head. “No, ma’am.”
    Shit . Viola’s stomach turned and she suddenly needed to lie down. She’d have to call security once she got back to her room. And then bolt the door shut.
    Some vacation. She’d been here one day and she’d already attracted the attention of a few high school students and an apparent stalker. Why were all the really good-looking ones completely nuts? And there was no denying the fact that Jerod was unbelievably hot. She was