Read Passion's Mistral for Free Online Page B

give up, does she?”
    “One of these days she just might get what she’s wishing for,” Julian said softly. “Who did you assign to
    her?”
    “Frederick. She likes him well enough. He’s put in for a three-week leave after her departure. I okayed it
    since he always seems to need R&R after one of her visits.”
    Julian narrowed his eyes as the fourth woman stepped onto the gangplank. He stared at her for a moment
    then stepped over to the computer monitor showing the closed-circuit camera view of the arrivals and
    reached for the mouse, clicking on the magnification icon to zoom in on Sara Trevor’s face.
    And it was a lovely face, Julian thought as his gaze moved over the young woman’s features. A pert,
    slightly upturned nose, high cheekbones, sultry lips and a determined chin gave sensuality to the face. Her
    athletic body, shapely curves beneath the short-sleeve pullover and tapered slacks, and slender arms held
    his attention and caused a slight stirring he had not experienced in his groin in quite some time. There was
    self-assurance in the way she moved, unconscious class in her stride and command in her body language
    as she spoke to Dr. Carstairs. He watched her until she was out of the camera’s range.
    “I will interview Miss Trevor,” Julian said quietly.
    “She doesn’t wish to participate in—”
    “Bring her to me tomorrow morning.”
    Henri inclined his head, knowing better than to argue with his boss. What Julian wanted, Julian always
    received. “As you wish.”
    “And give her the Forest Suite,” Julian ordered.
    Henri looked up from his writing. “You will be handling this personally?”
    “Yes,” Julian replied in a low voice. “This one is mine.”
    She had never seen anything to match the suite to which she was shown. The parlor had exquisite dark
    oak furnishings complimented by a delicate floral print on the twin loveseats, occasional chairs and the
    fabulous chaise lounge that beckoned a try. Glass-top tables with carved bases made to look like
    woodland creatures made up the desk and chair side tables. A vast armoire held the entertainment center
    where several hundred CDs and DVDs were housed.
    “The sleeping area is through here,” the bellman said, holding the door open for Silkie.
    Upon entering the sleeping area, Silkie’s mouth dropped open, her eyes flared wide and she could not
    seem to find her voice. As the bellman rattled on about room service and the other amenities available at
    the resort, Silkie stood where she was, marveling at the most remarkable bed she’d ever seen.
    Soaring over a king-size mattress set higher than normal from the floor was a headboard that resembled
    an ancient gnarled tree. The two-foot-thick trunk rose up from the carpet in one twisted column,
    resembling an ages-old oak sliced in twain. With sweeping branches fanned out along the wall and
    arched over the mattress, the intricately carved wood was dotted with silk leaves in myriad shades of
    green with a few yellow, orange and red leaves to make them appear life-like. The leaves moved gently
    in the light breeze coming from a pair of opened French doors and made a soft rustling sound. The
    coverlet spread over the bed gave the illusion there was a bed of flowers growing beneath the knotted
    oak.
    The only fixture in the room, the bed was set at an angle to two walls done in a spectacular forest scene
    with rolling hills and a silver-shot stream rambling between lush green banks. The room smelled of a
    mixture of wisteria and gardenia and upon closer inspection, those heady plants had been painted along a
    rustic fence in the mural. The third wall contained the French doors and the fourth was covered in
    mirrored panels up and down its entire expanse, the reflection of the mural making the forest scene go on
    as though forever.
    Silkie walked over to the bed and ran her hand along the coverlet. The sensuous feel of the material
    made her sigh.
    “Does the room meet with your