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“Yes, I…”Wait.She blushed.Damn it, she needed to stop that! “Someone knocked into my drink.”

With a sly smile, her sink mate said, “I promise you, you can get messier than that here. Don’t worry about the spot. Unless you’re worried about it ruining your blouse?”

“No…” She only wore washable clothes. She leaned toward being more practical, and that included her wardrobe.

“Or you could simply take it off. Going topless is encouraged around here.”

Fire licked at her cheeks at the idea of walking around with her breasts hanging out. She was certainly not ready for that, and she might never be. She gnawed on her bottom lip.

The woman squeezed her arm. “Look. Don’t stress over it. You won’t be judged for anything you do. You could walk completely naked around this ranch for a week and no one will blink an eye. They might give you an appreciative glance, maybe invite you to join them for a session or two, and then move on.”

“A session?”

“Yes, in their room or cabin. Out along a riding trail. In one of the paddle boats. Or in one of the playrooms. If you keep yourself open-minded, the opportunities are endless. Do as much or as little as you’d like.”

The voice over the phone whispered through her mind.The only limits will be of your own making.

“Enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you. Same to you.”

As the woman met Cara’s eyes in the mirror, she purred, “I always do. This is already my third time here. I’ve visited alot of clubs and resorts all over the world and I have to say, this place is now my favorite.” With a last smile and a tip of her head, she walked out of the bathroom, leaving Cara alone.

Cara stared at the woman in the mirror.

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

Did you really think this was for you?

When have you ever done something so irresponsible?

She sighed. Then, with a last glance at the dark spot on her royal-blue blouse, she pulled in a bolstering breath, gave herself a nod, and headed back out to the party. One more lap around the room and another martini wouldn’t hurt.

The second she stepped out of the restroom, the loud music and crazy lights bombarded her again. Was it possible that the crowd managed to swell even more? Where were all these people coming from?

Once her anxiety with the situation began to spike again, she realized it was time to go. It was all too much for her first night.

Like a quality wine, she needed to take small sips instead of guzzling down the whole bottle at once.

Not wanting to fight the crowd to escape, she searched for the closest exit.

Chapter Two

As soon asCara spotted an exit, she worked her way toward it. Being at the rear of the event hall and near the ladies’ room, it wasn’t the same way she entered, but it was at least a way to get outside quickly to take a few breaths of fresh air.

Clear her head.

Maybe reevaluate the situation.

When she began to head back to the lodge, she noticed a group of people standing and chatting near the front corner of the hall. She changed course and decided to walk around the other side of the building, hoping not to run into anyone who would make her feel more out of place than she already did. Not on purpose, of course, but still…

At the very rear of the building, she was surprised to find an exterior stairway with a small lighted sign pointing up to the second floor that read,Stairway to Heaven.

With a frown, she glanced up and saw another sign over a second-level, windowless door that simply saidHeaven.

Interesting.