TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

Sheesh. She needed a diversion, a new hobby, or something. Maybe some time away from the resort was in order. Neither she nor Sandro had taken any real time off since they’d taken over the running of the resort when their parents retired last year. Those first six months had been killers. But she and her brother now had their systems in place with excellent new hires and longtime loyal employees making sure everything ran smoothly.

Even before taking on running the place, she’d been the sole activities coordinator for nine years after Marc literally ran off to join the Navy. That had also kept her busy. Thankfully, they’d hired a new activities coordinator eight months ago, and he did a fabulous job. Still, some of her former guests always requested her services, like these businessmen from New York. She’d been taking them up various fourteeners for the past six years.

As much as she loved going on these treks, they were still work-related and a lot of responsibility. When was the last time she’d had no one to consider but herself and what she wanted? Even her all-girl weekend in May with former college suitemates had taken place here at the resort in order to save her friends some money. None of them had been given the job of running their family’s multimillion-dollar resort after earning their degrees.

Carm counted her blessings every day for having hard-working immigrant parents with a vision and determination who had created this place and thrived in their new homeland. She and Sandro took seriously their responsibilities for keeping that dream alive while improving the resort.

Part of which included numerous trips she made to trade shows around the country, but that didn’t count as vacay time, either, even if they were held in exciting cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. Those events were brutal, nonstop, eighteen-hour days without any opportunity to sightsee, visit a spa, or just chill. Besides, she didn’t enjoy going to the shows. Purchasing and marketing were more Sandro’s expertise anyway, although she still tried to take one or two off his hands each year.

Maybe she should see if Martina would be interested in taking on the last one Carm had scheduled this year. The woman was efficient to the extreme and seemed to want to know everything about running the resort. She’d love the new challenge. Maybe Sandro could travel with her to her first one to show her the ropes.

Oh yes, Carm would welcome a chance to escape for a little while to recharge. While Carm loved her job, the thought of a vacation on some sunny beach far away from her family’s Rocky Mountain resort niggled at her brain the rest of the afternoon and even at the reception for the outdoor adventurers.

As she headed back to her condo afterward, a fleeting glimpse of Tony lying on the sandy beach with her invaded her mind.

Stop thinking about Tony.

What had made her think about him in context with her vacation anyway? It wasn’t as if the two of them had anything in common other than family members. She wouldn’t be seeing him or having anything to do with him—well, except for planning Angelina’s birthday party.

Unlocking the front door, she forced her thoughts in that direction. August was the lull before the tourist-season storm. Maybe after Angelina’s party, she could get away for a week or ten days in the Caribbean. She didn’t want to make the same mistakes as Mama and Papa, who had remained chained to the resort during the best years of their lives. Thank goodness they both still had their health and were enjoying traveling again.

I need to take this trip for myself.

That settles it. I’m going to do it.

Well, as soon as she spoke with Sandro. But she’d urge him to do the same during a different week this summer. They had to look out for each other’s well-being. She had no doubts that he’d agree, especially since things would be slow then.

Now, where would she like to go? A girlfriend had booked a villa on a private beach in the Caribbean somewhere. Carm definitely didn’t want to go from one resort to another, because she’d find herself scrutinizing it from a professional standpoint rather than enjoying the amenities and location as a paying tourist.

But a secluded villa or something like it would be the perfect place to unwind and not have to think about work or anyone but herself. She’d text Sara tonight for recommendations about the villa and other places she’d stayed down there.

Sand.

Seclusion.

Serenity.

Provided a hurricane doesn’t tear through while I’m there.

She banished that negative thought and immediately replaced it with visions of sunning herself in the nude on the isolated, private beach. Maybe the owners would loan her a cabana boy or two to take her mind off Tony.

Chapter Three

At the fire station later that afternoon, Tony struggled to keep his mind on the simple task of preparing a huge pot of minestrone for the crew’s supper. Today’s cold, cloudy weather was in sharp contrast to yesterday’s warmth, but he was glad the sun had shined brightly for Angelina’s wedding. But nothing would warm them up better than some of Mama’s hearty soup. It had become Tony’s specialty on his days to cook, and he tried to make it at least once a month.

While he wasn’t on duty, being here helped him avoid the incessant memories of the feel of Carmella’s silky thigh against his lips.

Yeah? How’s that working for you?

Okay, so his thoughts had remained on her all day, despite his best efforts at distractions. Carmella was hot, for damn sure—hot to look at, anyway—but she was cold as ice water toward him. Not that he’d seen her warm up to any other guy. She always seemed to be working and was way too serious for his taste in women. Hell, she’d even been overseeing things at her own brother’s wedding reception