Quarter-Life Fling Read online

  Quarter-Life Fling

  Clare Murray

  Single and with a quarter-life crisis looming, Alanna impulsively books into a New Age retreat. In addition to meditation and hot tubs, she finds Jude, a hot landscaper who promises a four-night stand she’ll never forget. Glow-in-the-dark condoms, sensual motorcycle rides and sex in the computer room are things she missed out on in college. Now that she’s experienced them, she wants more. But do she and Jude have a future together?

  A Romantica® contemporary new adult erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

  Quarter-Life Fling

  Clare Murray

  Chapter One

  I couldn’t believe I was doing this on my own. I eased the BMW down the dirt road, keeping my eyes peeled for a nudist welcoming committee or rogue shamans. It was tempting to turn around and blaze out of here, hit the highway back to Silicon Valley and pretend I was just out for a long scenic drive.

  Charlotte would kill me if I did that. We’d promised each other we would check into the Daydream Retreat for few days, take some time off, lose some weight, meditate, all that jazz. It was supposed to be a hippie-type place with crystals and hot tubs, which sounded fun…at the time.

  “We’re adults, Alanna,” my best friend had said, slurring a bit after her fourth beer. “We graduated, baby! We’ve got nine-to-fives and the next step is to embrace our quarter-life crisis.”

  Crisis? More like quarter-life slump.

  “Have another beer,” Charlotte had said when I’d questioned her about the exact definition of quarter-life. “We’re close enough to twenty-five. Mid-life crisis has a huge age window, so why can’t we start ours right after graduation?”

  I’d made the move from college student to adult—on paper, at least. I had an apartment and a plush new job at a software startup that paid really well. But not even six months into the job and my parents were making noises about finding Mr. Right and asking way too many pointed questions about my love life, or lack thereof.

  So I’d bitten the bullet and checked into a wellness retreat. Only to find out this morning that Charlotte had mumps. Of all illnesses, she had to go get something serious. I didn’t have the heart to argue over the phone when she insisted I still go to Daydream, especially when she sounded so pathetic. That’s why I was driving down this stupid dirt road right now. Besides, my boss was cool with my taking some time off as long as I replied to urgent emails and did a bit of coding on the side.

  Just when I thought maybe I’d taken the wrong turn, I finally drove into the parking lot. There were not one, but two flower-covered camper vans and a couple of motorcycles, both with sidecars. Groaning, I parked as far away from everyone as I could.

  I cut the engine before I could wuss out of the whole thing. Going to Daydream had been Charlotte’s plan, so I had no clue what went on here, apart from a vague idea of meditation and hot tubs and log cabins. We’d been pretty drunk when we booked.

  I scoped the place out. There was a gardener leaning on a shovel at the end of the parking lot, shirtless and staring at my car. I stared back through the double protection of tinted windows and oversized sunglasses. Damn, he was ripped. Of course, he probably got a ton of exercise in this place with all its high-maintenance greenery and varied plants. Hell, keeping grass green in this part of California was probably a full-time job in itself.

  The guy’s six-pack contracted as he shifted position, checking something off on a clipboard. He looked up again as I got out of the car to begin getting my stuff out of the trunk. A year or two ago I might have flattered myself, thinking he was looking at me. But I was no fool. Dude was checking out my car, not my slightly-too-big ass.

  No matter, I’d be in a cabin soon, enjoying air conditioning and WiFi. I could treat this place like working from home…with worse food, probably.

  Laptop, check. Headphones, iPod, new smartphone, emergency stash of chocolate, check. I was good to go.

  I stole a casual look over my shoulder as I made my way toward the front office. Yeah, he was totally looking my way. I drew myself up a little taller, sucked in my stomach, kind of wishing he was still looking at my car. I was almost relieved when I got inside and away from his intense gaze.

  “Can I help you?” the receptionist piped. Petite, gray-haired and practically glowing from exuberance and health, she glanced up from her computer with a bright smile.

  “Yeah, uh, I booked in a few weeks ago.” On a drunken, peer-pressured whim. “I was supposed to be here with my friend but she had to cancel. Name’s Alanna Shelby.”

  “Yes, I have you right here.” She tapped the keyboard, typing painfully slowly with her two index fingers. I winced and looked away.

  “Okay,” she said after like five minutes. “We’re going to need your credit card too.”

  I handed it over, mentally preparing for another long wait. “Is it a long walk to my cabin?”

  She typed. Slowly. “You’re in number seven. It’s just over the footbridge past the crystal garden. Less than ten minutes’ walk.”

  “Thanks.” I picked up my stuff, but she cleared her throat.

  “Miss Shelby? We’ll need to take that laptop. And your phone too.”

  “What?” The word burst out of me before I could stop it. I probably had ten emails to respond to by now. And my boss really wanted me to put in some time on the latest app our company was developing…

  “You did read the Terms and Conditions on our website, didn’t you?” The receptionist gave me a semi-apologetic smile. “Personal phone calls can be made from your landline. You can check your email from the communal computer near the dining room. The Daydream Retreat strives to distance the individual from the material world, granting them a full reprieve from—”

  “Okay, here’s my laptop. And my phone.” I gritted my teeth as I handed them over. “Do you need my iPod too?”

  “No, that you can keep. We have complimentary meditation music available if you would like us to load it onto your device.”

  “No, I’m good without, thanks.” I really didn’t want to stand through another marketing lecture, so I grabbed my bags and sidled toward the door. “See you later.”

  “Dinner is at six thirty,” she called after me, her voice far too cheerful. “There are a few other younger people here you can sit next to.”

  “Cool. Yeah.” I closed the door behind me. Other “younger people”? I really didn’t know what to think about that. One thing was for sure, without my laptop to keep me distracted, I was going to plan some real revenge on Charlotte for getting me into this.

  First things first. I needed to walk past that sexy gardener. He was still shirtless, still just as muscular. My mouth went a little dry. Should I say hello? Or should I play it cool, maybe give him a little Mona Lisa smile or something?

  I’d barely settled on the latter when he spoke first. “Good afternoon.”

  His voice was deeper than I’d expected, his hazel eyes more intense. He looked as if he was in his late twenties, maybe early thirties, so older than me but nothing crazy. And no wedding ring. Not that I was checking or anything.

  “Uh, hey.” I stopped, not sure whether to continue or not. My body wasn’t exactly obeying me the way it should.

  “That’s a really nice car you drive.”

  I deflated. Shit, he really had been checking out my wheels and not me. I felt pretty stupid. It’s not that I can’t deal with men—working in software, I hold my own with them every day. But that was business and this was personal. At work, I’m respected because I can out-code half the guys and multitask with the best of them. Men don’t care that I’m geeky and plump because frankly, it doesn’t matter. Behind a computer screen I’m equal or better, and even if they initially smirk, the
y learn to respect me.

  On a personal level…well, my last date had been like six months ago and I’d chosen some real losers as boyfriends. I didn’t do men on a personal level. Not anymore.

  “What’s the mileage?”

  Case in point. I’d been standing there like a landed fish as he complimented my car. Talk about making a good impression.

  “There’s less than a thousand miles on it. I work from home a lot.”

  “Really? I think that means you should go on a road trip.” He grinned and part of me melted. Even if I couldn’t have him, I could appreciate his hotness.

  “I’ve always wanted to, but finding the time is difficult. Besides, going alone seems kind of dumb.”

  “I’d go with you.”

  Was he being flippant or was he just lusting after my car? I laughed nervously. “Any destination in particular?”

  “Florida Keys. Then up the coast to New York City. Maybe visit Niagara Falls. Then into Colorado via a scenic route.”

  “Sounds good to me.” I was smiling just thinking about a trip like that. With him along, it would be nothing short of amazing.

  “It’s a date, then. I’ll call you.”

  I shored up my drooping smile. He’s joking, genius. “Can’t. They take away your phone when you check in here.”

  “Well, what cabin are you in?” He shifted his clipboard from one hand to the other, reaching for the pencil behind his ear. His closely cropped dark hair was thick and straight, gelled slightly at the top. I really wanted to run my fingers through it, muss it up a little bit.

  I clenched my hands tighter around my suitcase. “Number seven.”

  Was he writing that down? His pencil scraped briefly against the paper, and I forced myself to let go of the bag before I accidentally snapped the handle.

  “All right. My name’s Jude, by the way.” He tucked the pencil away. I got a whiff of aftershave and my knees went a bit weak.

  “I’m Alanna. Nice to meet you.” My voice came out fainter than normal. I waved and set off again…only to come back a second later to pick up my bag. “Have a, um, good afternoon.”

  “You too.” Thank all that was holy, Jude made no reference to my awkwardness. If only I could communicate with him through text. I’d come across so much better. Instead, I’d portrayed myself as a stuttering, ever-so-slightly incompetent chatterbox.

  I hurried up, heading toward the footbridge in the distance and the temporary refuge of my cabin.

  * * * * *

  Jude watched the woman go, wishing he could walk with her. Although her car had been what first caught his attention, Alanna herself kept him captivated. Maybe it was lust at first sight, but the feeling hit hard. He’d kept his eyes off her gorgeous rack out of respect, but as she walked away he checked out her ass unashamedly.

  Funny, he hadn’t expected to see such a normal-looking woman here. He had taken on a contract to improve the retreat’s landscaping, and from what he’d read, the place probably attracted women who were…well, not exactly his type. Then Alanna had opened her car door and proven him one hundred percent wrong.

  Her red-brown hair, shoulder-length and slightly curly, hung tantalizingly loose, daring him to reach out and tidy up wayward strands. He couldn’t see her eyes behind those oversized sunglasses, and it had taken a lot of self-control not to lift them up and peek. If he’d done that, he would have had to run his hands across her curvy body as well…

  “Everything okay?” Jude’s foreman came up, glancing at the clipboard. “Got the location for the pond yet?”

  “Yeah, all set. They want it near the path, so I’ve mapped out the most promising spot.” Jude tucked the pencil behind his ear again. “You know, I think I’ll pitch in myself. Been a while since I was able to work outside.”

  “Sure, boss. This kind of work tones you better than gym stuff, anyway. I’ll start unloading the stuff from the truck.”

  The other man sauntered off, and Jude looked after Alanna’s retreating form. There was no way in hell he could go back to his boring office with a woman like her dangling in front of him. She’d been the perfect combination of confidence and sweetness all wrapped up in a lusciously curvy body that he longed to undress.

  A road trip with her? He’d settle for a tryst among newly planted rhododendrons.

  * * * * *

  I dropped my bags and looked around the small cabin. The place was comfortable but I resented the lack of WiFi. There was a kitchenette, a surprisingly luxurious bathroom with a large Jacuzzi, and the bed was king-size. Too bad I wouldn’t be sharing it with anyone.

  I sighed, remembering Jude’s good looks. It had been really nice of him to chat with me. How long had it been since I’d had a non-work conversation with a guy? Probably not since that ill-fated blind date Charlotte had set up for me.

  That dude had been geeky as hell (which wasn’t a problem, except he wore an actual, honest-to-God pocket protector) and all he wanted to do was talk about console games and make out. Awkwardly.

  I’d dumped him after the second date. I’m cool with gaming, but I prioritize dinner-and-a-movie over shooting aliens. Besides, I played better than him and he was a sore loser. If he got so butt-hurt over a stupid console game, what would he be like down the line if we decided to have kids or something?

  Resisting the urge to flop down onto the couch, I wandered around the cabin. Email withdrawal was starting to hit hard. My fingers itched to type something—anything—whether it was a text or the beginning of a new software program. I’d settle for playing Farmville at this point. Watering virtual crops had to be better than this.

  A sheet of laminated paper atop the table suggested I go for a walk around the grounds to familiarize myself with my new surroundings. A pasted-on addendum apologized for the landscaping work in progress, chirpily adding that most features, such as the crystal garden, would be open as usual.

  Crystal garden? I snorted. What was that? Intrigued despite my initial skepticism of the retreat, I grabbed my sunglasses and left the cabin, tucking the brochure-with-a-map into my pocket in case I got lost. The retreat was huge, three hundred acres or so bordered by hills, trees and, on one side, the highway leading home.

  No, I wasn’t going to think about going home. Wasn’t Daydream all about developing a positive outlook? Well, I could fake it ’til I made it. I was certainly used to that. The faking it, not the making it, that is.

  The path led me past other cabins, most of them with their curtains drawn. Were their occupants taking naps or would I find them wandering around like I was doing? It really sucked that Charlotte wasn’t here. She was the people person in our friendship.

  I froze in my tracks after rounding the next bend. Jude was standing in the middle of what had to be the crystal garden, chatting with another gardener. Both men were shirtless.

  I had about three seconds to decide what to do before one of them noticed me. But my mind was blank and Jude turned around unexpectedly. He lifted one tanned arm in a wave, white teeth flashing in a grin. His reaction sent a warming tingle all the way down to my toes. I knew it shouldn’t—he probably just wanted to discuss my car in front of his buddy—but I walked toward him anyway.

  I could discuss cars if it meant ogling washboard abs.

  As I approached, the other man walked off, carrying Jude’s clipboard as he strode out of sight. We were alone and I had zero attention to spare for the beautiful crystals surrounding us.

  “I was hoping I’d see you again.” Jude closed the remaining gap and suddenly I was hyper-focused on those ridged abs.

  “Me too,” I blurted, and cringed internally. By now he must think I was completely nuts.

  “You thought any more about that road trip?” His head cocked slightly to one side, hazel eyes resting on my face as if he really wanted to know the answer. “Would anyone miss you while you were gone?”

  “My boss, maybe.” I gave him a rueful smile.

  “So you’re single?”

 
; I moistened my lips. Whoa. “Yes.”

  Then he was looking around, as if making sure we were alone. I was just about to take a nervous step backward when he stepped forward and kissed me. I wasn’t expecting that, so it took me a moment to pucker up.

  Once I did…yeah, that was good. He was good. His large hand cradled the back of my head, keeping me close as he guided me through the deepest kiss I’d ever experienced.

  His stomach muscles contracted against my hand as he moved closer, and I blushed instantly. I didn’t even remember bracing my hand there. His warm skin felt amazing, and almost of their own volition, my fingers hooked down the waistband of his jeans, trailing against his pubic hair. I didn’t dare go farther.

  Not to be outdone, he curved his other hand around my ass and made an appreciative noise against my lips. If this was a dream, I didn’t want to wake up. This was crazy far out of my normal routine, so unlike what usually happened that my mind simply accepted it and yelled for more.

  When he broke it off I nearly wailed. What was wrong?

  “You okay with this?”

  Fuck yes, I was more than okay with this. I nodded, maybe too enthusiastically, because the skin around his eyes crinkled in amusement. Funnily enough, I got the impression he was laughing with me, not at me. That was cool.

  “You want to stay here or go somewhere else?” He eyed the crystals in a meaningful way, and I immediately got his drift. The rocks would be pretty uncomfortable if we ended up on the ground.

  “Elsewhere is good.” I found my voice, and it didn’t shake too much.

  “Your cabin? Or am I moving way too fast?” He looked a little bit abashed, which I found incredibly cute.

  Even so…you weren’t supposed to fuck on—or before!—the first date, were you? That was one experience I actually regretted not having. College was supposed to be a time of testing things, pushing boundaries, and I’d spent most of it programming stupid little games and studying. Sure, my programming skills had gotten me a great job but hadn’t gotten me much in the way of life experience.