Turning the Tide (Eastern Shore Swingers, #5) Read online

  Copyright © 2019 by Phoebe Alexander

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Mountains Wanted Publishing

  PO Box 1014

  Georgetown, DE 19947

  www.mountainswanted.com

  Cover design by Teresa Conner of Wolfsparrow Publishing

  To my own Luke

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  EPILOGUE

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ALSO BY PHOEBE ALEXANDER

  ONE

  As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will; he will be sure to repent. – Socrates.

  “There’s a bit of a stigma against single men, but you should still come check it out,” Cap had told him. “You gotta get laid, man.”

  Luke couldn’t understand why Cap would invite him to the swinger club he owned if he wasn’t going to be welcomed.

  “Some women really love the single guys,” Cap explained. “You gotta trust me on this, Doc.”

  “But I’m not really a single guy. I’m not sure why you keep calling me that.” Luke ran his fingers through his salt and pepper hair and studied his friend’s face for clues as to what planet he was living on and why he thought the females of that planet might be even remotely interested in him.

  He hadn’t been with a woman in...

  He’d lost track of how long, actually. With every year that passed, he grew more and more embarrassed. “Embarrassed” was not a strong enough word, though. “Mortified” might be more accurate.

  The only touch he’d known in nearly a decade was his own. He could scarcely imagine a woman’s touch at this point.

  “‘Single’ meaning they’re not part of a swinging couple,” Cap tried to explain.

  Luke had been Cap’s ear-nose-throat doctor for nearly a decade. At that point, Luke was new to the Eastern Shore, and Cap was a native who suffered from chronic sinus infections—not a good look on a boat captain. Cap invited Luke out on his boat to welcome him to the Eastern Shore way of life, and from that day on, they were friends. It would be hard not to like Cap—so laidback and easygoing, he always had a word of wisdom, a funny story to share, and a kind smile.

  Luke wished he could be that self-assured, that confident of who he was and what he could offer.

  Professionally speaking, he supposed he did have that kind of confidence. He graduated at the top of his class from medical school at Johns Hopkins. That’s nothing to sneeze at, his mom always said. Being an ENT doctor meant he found it a particularly funny joke. But it was yet another joke his wife Barbara failed to laugh at. Her lips didn’t even curl up with any hint of amusement whatsoever.

  “So what kind of things do single men do at the club?” Luke had tried to ferret out.

  Cap scratched his silvery beard. “Well, a lot of them watch and observe other people playing. Some are invited to play with couples. Others hook up with single women or the female half of couples where the male just wants to watch.”

  Luke had stared at his friend like he was not only from a different planet, but he was speaking a different language altogether.

  Cap patted him on the back. “Don’t overthink it, Doc. Just come this weekend and see for yourself. Leah and I will sponsor you, and if people know you’re with us, they’ll give you a chance...”

  Give me a chance, he rolled the phrase around in his head. He had no idea what that meant, but he felt like he was auditioning for a movie role, or he was up for election. He wished Cap hadn’t given him even a shred of hope as he took uneasy steps toward the entry of the nondescript warehouse-looking building out in the marsh between Ocean City and Assateague Island. The parking lot was full of cars, and that only made his heart pound faster.

  So this is The Factory. He couldn’t help but be skeptical of the club his longtime friend owned. The idea of a celibate person visiting a swinger club was preposterous, really.

  He pushed the door open, and a spacious lounge greeted him on the left with a glass-enclosed office in the corner. The hostess at the door looked up at him through thickly lashed eyes and a full-toothed grin. “Hi there. Are you new here?”

  Luke couldn’t help but smile back. She was pretty, and he hadn’t had a woman other than a patient or one of his nurses smile at him in so long now. “I’m a friend of Cap Sheldon’s,” he said. “Where do I need to go?”

  “Just head over there to that office,” she pointed to the glass enclosure, “and they’ll get your information. Have fun!”

  “Thanks.” He paused as his eyes lingered over her ample cleavage and skin-tight skirt. Why did Cap think this was going to help me? Luke figured he may be in worse condition after his visit rather than better. Blue balls are a thing, you know—a condition with which he was well acquainted.

  A couple greeted him in the glass enclosure. They were older than the hostess, more seasoned-looking. The man was bald with a reddish-blond goatee and a black button-down shirt, and the woman wore a tiny, silky black dress that emphasized her slim hips and small, perky breasts. She was in great shape, especially for a woman her age, and he couldn’t help his wandering eyes. She didn’t seem to mind, though. Rather, she seemed to flaunt her tight little curves, inviting him to stare as long and as hard as he wanted.

  “I’m Luke Cannon,” he introduced himself. “Cap told me to tell you he was putting me on some ‘single guy list.’ Do you know anything about that?”

  The man smiled and extended his hand. “I’m Rob, nice to meet you. My wife Donna and I are hosts here. We’ll just have you fill out some paperwork, give you a brief tour, and then you’re free to enjoy yourself. Usually on the first visit, we tell single guys to stay with their sponsors, but since yours is Cap, you’re free to roam about the cabin.” He gave him a wink and an elbow nudge as his wife burst into uproarious laughter.

  Luke wasn’t sure the joke was as funny as they let on, but he was trying to give the place as much of a chance as Cap hoped the place would give him. That’s a fair trade, right? he rationalized. Bob and Donna gathered the requisite forms and set them in front of him to initial and sign. Once he was all set to go, they snapped a bracelet to his wrist and led him out the door into a wide hallway.

  They took him past the lounge area again, then to the dance floor area with its leather couches, tables, DJ booth, small stage and a long bar. “It’s BYOB,” Bob explained. “You just check your alcohol in with the bartender at the beginning of the night, and then he’ll serve you all night long. We have plenty of mixers, so bring whatever booze you want.”

  Luke barely heard him as his gaze caught on the sole dancer moving across the parquet floor. The way she rotated her curvy hips was absolutely mesmerizing. She had long, golden blonde hair that fell in soft waves around her bare shoulders, and she was wearing a glittering beaded bustier that caught in the lights overhead as she gyrated to the slow, grinding beat of the music pumping from the speakers. She moved so erotically, his cock instantly jerked to attention—she charmed it like a cobra. He assumed she was dancing f
or a man or group of men, but the only person matching his intense stare was a curvy brunette woman.

  “Oh, that’s Sirena,” Donna said, noticing the blonde had caught his attention. “She’s with Jessie, that Latina lady watching. They do invite single men to join them every once in a while, though.” She shot him a sultry wink as they proceeded down the hallway. Bob began to point out individual rooms and describe what theme they were decorated in and what kind of equipment was found inside.

  “She’s really beautiful,” Luke uttered before he could stop himself, but his hosts just smiled and nodded in agreement.

  At the end of the tour, Luke thanked Bob and Donna and decided to head over to the bar to check in the liquor he was still carrying around. He asked the bartender to mix him a whiskey sour, then turned around on the barstool to give himself a view of the stage and dance area. Before Luke knew it, Cap was sitting down in the stool next to him and raising his beer bottle to Luke’s glass for a toast.

  “You made it!” Cap sounded surprised.

  “Yeah. Managed to get out for the evening. A rare treat.” Luke tried to make himself look comfortable, even though he felt anything but.

  “Good for you. You need some fun in your life, Doc.” Cap took a swig of his beer then set the bottle down on the bar. “See anything you like?”

  The dance floor had filled up with some couples, but there were still more women than men. The blonde he’d noticed earlier was now dancing with the shorter, curvier Latina who had been pointed out as her girlfriend earlier. There was also a striking redhead dancing with a blonde nearby. Luke was surprised at the diversity in ages and sizes. The tall blonde and Latina looked to be in their thirties, while the redhead and the other blonde were probably closer to his age, maybe even older. Two black women were grinding against each other in the cage to the right of the stage, and a white couple, both with dark hair, were slow-dancing in the far corner.

  “Who is the redhead?” Luke questioned.

  “Oh, that’s Casey Fontaine. I thought everyone in Ocean City knew her—she’s a retired realtor.” Cap smiled wide enough that dimples appeared just above the line of his beard. “She co-owns this place, actually.”

  “Wow, really?” He was having trouble reconciling his preconceived notions with the fact that so many normal-looking people were swingers. What was I expecting? he wondered. More chains and leather, I suppose. Tattoos and wild hair? A room full of people who looked like porn stars?

  “Yes, she’s in a relationship, though, and they aren’t really open to play at the moment. Now, her sister, on the other hand—”

  “Sister?”

  Cap chuckled as he patted Luke on the back. “Don’t be so shocked. We’re a tight-knit family here at The Factory!”

  “I guess so! Is the blonde her sister?” He tilted his head toward the woman she was dancing with.

  Cap nodded. “Yes, that’s Connie. She just moved here from California. Casey was out there staying with her sister while she underwent treatment for breast cancer, but now she’s back here and healthy. Her little sis missed her so much, she decided to move back too.”

  “Well, this area does tend to sink its claws into you,” Luke agreed. “I haven’t been able to leave yet, anyway.”

  “True.” Cap smiled. “But you were brought down here against your will, right?”

  Luke rolled his eyes as he shrugged. “Eh, they needed an ENT down here. I guess it all worked out for the best. So, what’s Connie’s story?”

  As he said her name, the blonde whipped her head around and looked right at him. He was sure there was no way she could have heard her name, but her face burst into a wide grin anyway. Then she lifted her hands over her head and continued to sway to the beat, her shapely body moving seductively as the song faded out and a new one began.

  “She’s new to the lifestyle,” Cap explained. “Divorced, I think. I don’t know too much else, but I can vouch that she’s a good woman. Her sister is one of my very best friends in the world.”

  Luke nodded and raised his glass to her when she turned back to look at him again. Her eyes seemed to be beckoning him onto the dance floor, but he could very well be mistaken. Or imagining it. No woman had shown interest in him in years.

  “What are you waiting for?” Cap slapped his back again. “Go out there and join them! They won’t bite!”

  Luke drained the rest of his whiskey sour. “Oh, I don’t know—I’m not much of a dancer...”

  “Nonsense. Alcohol makes everybody a dancer! I’ll come too.” Cap took the glass out of Luke’s hand and held it out for the bartender, who swooped over to retrieve it in a flash. He stuffed a bill into the glass tip jar and jumped off his stool. Luke could tell by the determined look on his friend’s face that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  Luke’s heart kicked into a heavy thump against his ribs as he followed Cap the few short yards to where the two women were dancing. They didn’t miss a beat, both reaching up to plant kisses on Cap’s lips, one after the other. Then they waited for an introduction.

  Cap presented him to his friends with a broad, dimpled grin. “Hey, ladies, this is my buddy, Luke. He’s new here.”

  “Well, hellooooo, Luke!” The redhead didn’t bother with a handshake. It was obvious the boisterous woman was a hugger, and Luke found himself squeezed tightly in her embrace only seconds later. When she let him go, she added, “You’re mighty handsome, Luke. I’m Casey, nice to meet you!”

  He didn’t even know what to say. He’d never had such an introduction in his life. His parents were stiff, unaffectionate midwestern types, and his wife was also touch-averse (“Ouch, you’re hurting me!”) Casey’s touch was still tingling on his skin when he noticed Connie had extended her hand toward him with an expectant smile.

  “Hi, I’m Casey’s younger, better-looking sister, Connie,” she said with a smirk. Then she looked over her shoulder at her sister and stuck out her tongue. Both women erupted in laughter.

  He got a better look at Connie when he took her hand into his. A spark instantly shot up his arm as he squeezed her soft hand and raked his eyes up and down her body. She had shoulder-length blonde hair that looked as though it might be bleached as there was about a half-inch of darker roots at the top. It was hard to tell what color they were under the flashing lights and swirling pattern of the disco ball.

  Connie was a little shorter than her sister, maybe 5’5” or 5’6”, and she was dressed somewhat conservatively compared to a lot of women he’d seen that night, wearing a fitted V-neck tank top and a pair of sleek black capri pants. She wore strappy black sandals with a low heel, and her shapely calves and arms implied she’d spent some time in the gym. Her eyes were bright and blue—at least he thought they were blue—and she had full lips, defined cheekbones, and a light golden tan. She was very attractive, and he couldn’t believe she was eyeing him curiously.

  “Is this your first time here?” Casey asked, breaking the silence while Luke and Connie scoped each other out.

  “It is,” Luke answered then waited to see their response.

  “Mine too!” Connie piped up. “Casey told me I had to give the place a chance.”

  His lips spread into a grin he didn’t expect to be so wide, but he found he was unable to rein it in. “Funny, that’s exactly what Cap said to me!”

  “Huh, you’d almost think this was a set-up,” Connie theorized, that cute smirk ravaging her face again.

  “And our work here is done!” Casey grabbed Cap’s hand as she shot him a knowing smile. Cap lifted his shoulders in a boyish, dimpled shrug and disappeared moments later with the redhead right behind him.

  “Do you want to get a drink?” Luke questioned, glancing back into Connie’s expectant gaze.

  I think that’s what I’m supposed to ask. He had never been part of the dating scene. He’d been set up with Barbara so many eons ago that he couldn’t remember going on even one real date, not unless meeting up with girls at high school football g
ames counted. He was pretty sure it didn’t.

  “Sure.” Connie offered a soft smile and led him toward the bar. She didn’t hesitate to tell the bartender what she wanted, then she turned to Luke, who ordered another whiskey sour.

  He wondered how many of those things he would have to drink to loosen up. Then he wondered how many he could drink and still be able to drive home.

  “So....” Luke tried to remember his manners then pulled out a barstool for Connie. He realized he was clueless when it came to conversing with a woman who wasn’t a patient or his employee. He was used to initiating every interaction with, “How have you been feeling?” or “What do I need to know?” But neither was the right opener in this venue.

  Connie climbed up onto the stool, and he took the one beside her. She was close enough he could smell her perfume, a blend of citrus and florals that echoed her vibrant smile. If she was nervous, he couldn’t tell. She looked comfortable as she lifted one leg over the other to cross them at the knee. Her eyelashes fluttered as she picked up her cocktail and brought it to her lips seductively.

  She’s flirting with me, he thought with a predominant note of shock cascading through him. There was no denying it now.

  “Casey told me not to talk about specifics, you know, like what I do for a living or where I live. She said I should concentrate on sensations,” Connie explained as she set her drink on the bar top. “It all sounds pretty weird to me.”

  “Me too,” Luke agreed. “I’ve never done anything like this before.” He was glad she at least felt like a fish out of water, even if she didn’t look like one.

  “I haven’t even really dated since I got divorced, and that was years ago now. I was busy raising my kids and working; you know the drill.” She let out a little sparkling laugh before she took another sip of her cocktail. Luke didn’t hear what she ordered, but whatever it was happened to be pink. Very pink. Like her lips, the bottom one of which slipped underneath her teeth while she bit it ever so slightly.

  Damn, she is so sexy. He felt his heart rate pick up as he questioned for the four millionth time that night if he should really be doing this.