Read Clifftop Fantasies [BDSM Menage Fantasies] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) for Free Online Page B

hadn’t been able to believe her luck when the lawyers had called last year and told her she had inherited the beautiful house on the California coastline. She had known there were bound to be issues with property taxes and upkeep costs, but she’d been determined to make it work somehow. And when Karl had approached them, saying that he’d been living there as her father’s assistant for ten years and was willing to help them remodel it to make Allie’s dream of owning a bed-and-breakfast real, it had seemed like the perfect solution.
    But Brad hadn’t been quite as optimistic. He hadn’t really trusted Karl from the beginning, but Allie had been so thrilled with the idea that he’d gone along with it.
    And now the dream seemed to be grinding to a halt. If they couldn’t find some way to drum up business and get the bank off their backs, they would have to give it up and sell the place. Brad had hinted at wanting to go back to Kansas City, where his family lived, but Allie had fallen in love with the California view, weather, and ocean breezes. Having breakfast on her very own back porch every morning while looking at her own gorgeous view was the best feeling she could imagine. As she sat there, aware of the huge house behind and above her, she would have sworn it was aware of her, too, and was consciously accepting and protecting her. It was crazy, she knew, but the house represented to her the possibility of building a life with significance and meaning. She didn’t want to go back to a small apartment and a day job. She loved the feeling that this place belonged to her, and she to it. She occasionally had a vague idea of other people living there with her, working by her side for a shared purpose, but that didn’t make much sense. She wondered if it meant her biological clock was ticking. She’d never wanted children, but she did crave the feeling of being part of something larger than herself.
    Jane was saying to her, “Allie, you’re so pretty. Why didn’t you make a career of modeling?”
    Allie’s throat tightened in fear, and she glanced at Charlie to see if he was going to say anything, but he was simply smiling at her.
    “That wouldn’t have suited me at all,” she finally said, picking up her water glass to cover her confusion. “I’m really not very photogenic.” She knew that was leaving her wide open for comments, and she desperately tried to project Don’t say anything to anyone at the table who might be tempted to make one.
    “I’m sure that’s not true,” Jane said, smiling at her. There was an almost gleeful glint in her eye. Allie was positive that Jane was baiting her. “I’m sure Charlie here would love to do some pictures of you for your hotel flyers.”
    Allie had a visual of herself posing naked on a rug in front of the fireplace with the words “Come enjoy our scenery” underneath and almost choked again. She hastily took a drink of water to cover her reaction.
    Charlie was nodding emphatically. “Of course you’re welcome to use the pictures we took today, but Jane is right. There should be at least one of you and Brad.”
    Brad was nodding thoughtfully. Allie tried desperately not to visualize what that picture might entail. She laughed lightly and said, “Brad, maybe. Sure. But I don’t think anybody wants to see me on the flyer. We don’t want to scare people away.”
    The rest laughed with her, and the waitress fortunately showed up then with their food.
    Charlie persisted. “Have you ever considered contacting a travel magazine? I had a friend I could introduce you to. He might be interested in doing a story about your father.”
    “No.” It was out before Allie could control her tone. She forced a smile, aware that everyone was looking at her in surprise. “We couldn’t possibly put you to so much trouble,” she said to Charlie, trying to sound pleasant but aware that she wasn’t succeeding very well. It really didn’t matter what his suggestion was.