This story is the second series by emerging author Saira Musa. The Valontina Connection - Mutual Attraction, Book 1.
She holds secrets and has an aura of danger around her. He strives to keep his distance.
Vacationing on the beautiful island of Tobago, superstar Argentinian footballer and womanizer Daniel Al Bañesa meets Rachel Rodrigues, a scientist working between the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. They are both lodged in the same hotel on the island.
Daniel is compelled to keep an eye on his beautiful neighbor, Rachel, who was involved in a recent accident on the hotel premises where they are both staying.
As events unravel, Daniel becomes intrigued by his gorgeous curvy neighbor. She is not the type of woman he usually goes after, but something about her compels him to look after her.
Daniel is drawn to Rachelâs pretty face and lush curvaceous body as they get to know each other. Rachel refuses to succumb to Danielâs sexual overtures because she is wary of his intentions. A sexual fling is not one of them.
Will Daniel pursue this beautiful curvy gorgeous woman for a holiday fling? Despite their mutual attraction, will they turn from friends to lovers?
This story is the second series by emerging author Saira Musa. The Valontina Connection - Mutual Attraction, Book 1.
She holds secrets and has an aura of danger around her. He strives to keep his distance.
Vacationing on the beautiful island of Tobago, superstar Argentinian footballer and womanizer Daniel Al Bañesa meets Rachel Rodrigues, a scientist working between the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. They are both lodged in the same hotel on the island.
Daniel is compelled to keep an eye on his beautiful neighbor, Rachel, who was involved in a recent accident on the hotel premises where they are both staying.
As events unravel, Daniel becomes intrigued by his gorgeous curvy neighbor. She is not the type of woman he usually goes after, but something about her compels him to look after her.
Daniel is drawn to Rachelâs pretty face and lush curvaceous body as they get to know each other. Rachel refuses to succumb to Danielâs sexual overtures because she is wary of his intentions. A sexual fling is not one of them.
Will Daniel pursue this beautiful curvy gorgeous woman for a holiday fling? Despite their mutual attraction, will they turn from friends to lovers?
As she hit the curb of the sloping driveway Rachel's heartbeat tripped and a loop of fear rolled in the pit of her stomach. When she mashed the brakes she sent the vehicle into a tailspin, veering off the road and onto the immaculate lawn of the kept grounds of the White Pelican hotel. A few minutes passed before she staggered out of the rented sedan and collapsed on the lush green grassy ground.
Rachel Rodrigues laid unconscious on the lawn. She used this hotel mostly for work traveling between Trinidad and Tobago.
The two bell boys at the revolving doors were shocked as they observed a woman dressed in pale blue jeans and a plaid shirt making her way from the car. Suddenly, she went down and lay sprawled out on the green grass. The men looked at each other with concern on their faces before they galvanized into action. Sprinting towards the accident scene, they checked for other persons inside the car and then focused their attention on the woman.
âHarry, call for the hotelâs emergency medic!â Evan ordered as he unclipped his radio from his belt. As they checked the womanâs pulse, a small crowd of guests gathered around the car.
Someone exclaimed, âI smell gas! Itâs coming from the car!â The people dispersed in all directions as soon as the observation was made.
The bellboys shouted in unison, âItâs going to blow! Go! Go! Move it! Move it!â
Both men moved the woman away from the vehicle. She was a mere three feet away from it. The men hustled with her towards the entrance of the hotel.
At the other end of a phone call, the front desk manager grounded to a halt when the bellboys frantically gesticulated for her to open the side entrance. Lorraine, a dark-skinned beauty, who was working the evening shift, blanched when she recognized the woman transported by the bellboys.
âWhat happened?â Lorraineâs voice shook with emotion. The men looked at her before settling the unconscious woman upon the plush couch facing the reception. Then they turned towards her and gave their account of the accident they had witnessed a mere five minutes ago. As they spoke, a sudden blast rocked the glass panels of the doors. They all turned towards the scene of one burning sedan, which emitted crackling noises. Luckily, the crowd had disappeared, and neither human being nor animal was in the vicinity of the combusting vehicle. Overheated metal began to dent and take on a different form.
Lorraine dampened her troubled heart and thoughts as a voice crossed the line.
âHi, this is Lorraine at the White Pelican Hotel. We have a situation with one of the guests. There was an accident, and the patron was unconscious. Can you please make it fast? Thanks.â Lorraine disconnected to put through another call, this time to the nearest police station. She looked at the room listing while on hold.
Lorraine snapped her head up and sputtered into the phone when a harsh voice boomed across the phone.
âWho âŠis⊠this?â a man's voice uttered.
âThis is Lorraine from the White Pelican Hotel. There has been an accident at the premises, sir. Our staff saw what happened and the guest is safe in the hotel. Can you come as soon as possible?"
"Yes. Please ensure that the persons involved give us their full cooperation in our investigation,â the officer replied.
âCertainly, Officer,â Lorraine said.
At the city hospital, Rachel received stitches for the gashes from the fall and the accident itself. The doctor, a distinguished looking man, approached her bed, and she tipped her chin up at him.
âMiss Rodrigues?â said the doctor, who held a smile on his austere countenance.
âY-yes,â she said, observing the man with her tired eyes. She felt drained.
âYour stitches need to be checked in two days,â the doctor informed her as he looked at her pretty face and felt compassion.
She was fortunate to be alive. While attending to her, he had been all business, but now was different. He was face to face with her now. Her high cheek-boned, heart-shaped face and nut-brown eyes attested to part of her ethnicity. She was very fair-skinned. Her almost olive-toned skin was translucent, and her long medium mahogany brown hair fell in wavy and glorious curls. She was a full-figured woman with all the necessary curves and assets to attract any average hot-blooded male.
âI will arrange for the ambulance to take you back to the hotel if you wish,â he advised Rachel.
She arched her elegant brow at that offer and asked the doctor, whom she assessed to be close to his late fifties.
âIs that possible?â
âI can make the necessary arrangements now.â
Out to impress upon her the need not to move too much, he said, âYou will need to stay put in bed for at least a few days. How long are you going to be in Tobago?â
Rachel looked at him, âI am here on vacation, and I only got in today. I will be here until next Tuesday.â
Nodding at this information, the doctor left to arrange her return to the hotel.
As the medics took their time to strap her back onto a gurney, Rachel said, âWhy strap me down like this? I can walk.â
The nurse hovering around Rachel, removed the drip bag attached to her arm informed her, âYou cannot move too much, Miss, as the stitches can open, and you were unconscious for about thirty minutes. So, we are just taking precautions here. Okay? Shall we continue?â
Bemused and chagrined, Rachel settled on the gurney again and held herself in check. It was jarring to her system to swing in mid-air as the emergency team mobilized her body to the stretcher then the gurney.
âRachel!!!!!â Martin shouted as he hurried to her side.
âHi, Martin,â Rachel modulated her voice to sound normal, although inside, she was upset about the whole accident.
An inkling of suspicion reared its head in her mind about this accident. She was looking forward to enjoying her few days touring with her friends Bea and her husband Martin, who was knowledgeable about the island.
Rachel held a special friendship with Bea ever since they met at a university in Spain several years ago. Both Bea and Martin, Bea's husband became an integral part of her life. Martin thought that Bea, his wife, would have a fit knowing that Rachel was involved in another accident so soon.
The medics glanced at Martin as he tagged along with them. As they rolled the gurney to the back of the awaiting ambulance Martin got out of the way.
Martin told her, "I'll meet you at the hotel."
The opening sequence for The Valontina Connection: Mutual Attraction featured Rachel making a dramatic entrance. Her car went into a tailspin and stopped on the grounds of the White Pelican hotel. She emerged from her vehicle and collapsed on the lawn. The smell of gas permeated the air. Hotel workers scrambled to get Rachel and themselves to safety just before a blast shook the glass panels of the doors. Not the ideal way to start a vacation with her friends Bea and Martin.Â
After being treated and released from the city hospital, an ambulance transported Rachel back to the White Pelican hotel to recoup and continue her vacation. Her body ached, particularly her leg. Through the shooting pain, Rachel's mind was plagued with fears of her ex-husband and whether he could be lurking nearby.Â
Daniel, a resident celebrity from Argentina, wasn't enthused the room connected to his was occupied. The famous footballer wanted privacy while he stayed at the hotel. His "detest" for the situation didn't stop him from taking notice of his neighbor's full hourglass figure, though. Rachel's initial reaction to Daniel made her dizzy. If locking eyes for a hot minute elicited this reaction, I couldn't wait for the moment their lips touched and other body parts too. Â
Daniel started his stay wanting privacy. That changed quickly. Daniel couldn't take his eyes off Rachel. He found himself drawn to her, seeking out her company. Rachel wasn't feeling her best psychologically or physically; her confidence was shaky. Still recovering from the accident, she couldn't fathom why a man who looked like Daniel wanted to spend time with her. Throwing caution to the wind, she took a chance on him. It was a vacation, after all! Time for Rachel to have a bit of fun!Â
When he invited her out, Rachel questioned why he was "being so nice" to her. Daniel stated he wasn't interested in her; he was sympathetic to her situation. Then two pages later, he says, "You look so damn hot I can just imagine how you would look above me." Talk about sending mixed signals! Rachel didn't mind the abrupt change; her body reacted to his dirty talk.Â
Rachel found it difficult to ignore Daniel's sexual allure. Her body reacted before her mind could tell stop. Eventually, though, her mind regained control of the situation. Rachel's unwillingness to have carnal relations with Daniel didn't deter him from spending time with her. He enjoyed her company and was curious about the beautiful woman. He wanted to know her past as much as he wanted to know her body. Painful memories were shared.Â
For personal reasons, Rachel wasn't entirely forthcoming with Daniel. He had to learn her secrets through a third party. Those secrets changed everything. No longer is heat words fueling their passion for one another. Now heated words are tearing them apart.Â
I'm glad there's a part two because book one ended abruptly. Things were left unfinished between Rachel, Daniel, and her ex-husband (Eduardo). Speaking of the ex, we only got a small taste of Eduardo, and that small glimpse showed us he is the poster child for the scum of the earth. I hoped we'd see his character utilized more in the first book, like Rachel was running from him when she skidded onto the hotel's lawn. Hopefully, book two will have the monster in play.Â
The Valontina Connection: Mutual Attraction contained only six chapters but had enough heat, action, and drama to fill a full-length novel. I zipped through the story, eager to find out if Rachel and Daniel's romance lasted forever or until one checked out of the hotel. It was a good story; I recommend you read it. My main issue was the author's odd choice of punctuating dialogue. They chose to italicize and encase them in quotation marks. They chose the same writing style for thoughts. I recommend using quotation marks around active discussions and only italicizing thoughts. Not both for each.Â
There were styling issues, but (overall) it's a good read for those who like passionate scenes in and out of the hotel room.Â