One Way Ticket

by Tricia O'Malley

Genres: Contemporary Romance; Holiday Romance; New Adult Romance; Book Prizes & Literary Awards; Enemies to Lovers; contemporary romance; tropical; vacation romance; holiday romance

Synopsis

NY Times & USA Today bestselling author, Tricia O’Malley’s latest romance is a funny and heart-pounding story where booking a one-way ticket to paradise means starting over, letting go, and taking a chance on love…one more time.

Narrated by the amazing Amy Landon. A classically trained actress and audiobook narrator with over 300 titles recorded. Amy is an AudioFile Earphones Award winner and Audie nominee in humor, original work, and romance.

One Way Ticket

When Paige Lowry discovers her boyfriend and boss, owner of Yoga Soulone studio, has decided her chakras need realignment in the form of inviting several bendy yoga instructors into their bed – she realizes it’s time to smack him with her yoga mat and namaste away. When she calls to cancel the studio’s upcoming Caribbean retreat, the last thing Paige expects is to be offered a job. What better way to give the middle finger to her old life than to hightail it to a tropical island to work at a fancy resort?

But all signs point to an impulsive mistake when she arrives at the dusty airport on Poco Poco Island and nobody is there to pick her up. The alcoholic owners don’t remember hiring her, the skeleton-staff barely holds the hotel together, and the moody yet gorgeous manager, Jack Byron, seems irritated with her very existence. Things go from bad to worse when Paige learns that her ex and his flexible mistresses are arriving in three days for the retreat she thought she had canceled.

Caught in the eye of the storm and her growing attraction to her new boss (been there, done that, didn’t turn out well), Paige must scramble to prove she can run this upcoming retreat with no disasters. But even she can’t be blamed for the hurricane that swerves left and suddenly has the tiny island in its sights. As tensions explode at Tranquila Inn, Paige learns that taking it poco poco might be the only way she’ll survive.

Release date: June 29, 2021

Publisher: Lovewrite Publishing

Print pages: 278

Reader says this book is...: action-packed (1) entertaining story (1) escapist/easy read (1) happily ever after (1) plot twists (1) realistic characters (1) rich setting(s) (1) satisfying ending (1) sex scenes (1) strong chemistry (1) strong heroine (1) swoon-worthy (1) terrific writing (1) unputdownable (1)

Sample

The door was locked.

Paige jiggled the handle, confused, because her boyfriend Horatio subscribed to an open-door policy. This welcoming attitude and willingness to trust others was what had originally drawn Paige to him. Sometimes she felt like his mother, trying to caution Horatio to protect his interests, but he’d just laugh, pat her on the head, and tell her she worried too much. If she pressed an issue, Horatio would pull her to bed and make her forget what had ever bothered her to begin with.

Maddening at times? Sure. But fun? It certainly was. It made the responsibilities that weighed heavily on her shoulders each day seem less of a burden and more a badge of honor. Especially when the other yoga students at the studio gazed her way, envy in their eyes, when Horatio wrapped his arms around Paige and insisted his students defer to her for all their scheduling needs. “In time, my goddess, in time,” Horatio would say, soothing her worries away.

Finally finding her key, she unlocked the door and pushed it open, hanging her tote on a hook by the door. The front door opened directly into a small main living area, with a tiny but efficient kitchen done in white on white, tucked to the side. Two doors led from opposite sides of the main living area, each leading to generous-sized bedrooms with attached baths. One of the rooms they’d converted into an office and Paige poked her head in there first. A sigh escaped her as she surveyed the mess of papers that had been dropped onto her desk while Hora- tio’s remained immaculate except for his sleek little computer, a bowl of crystals, and a large framed photo of himself in warrior pose. Turning, Paige left the room and opened the door to their shared bedroom.

“Oh my god!” Paige gasped, her hand to her mouth, as she took in the tangle of limbs and...so much nakedness... on her bed. Their bed.

“Paige, my goddess, you’re home,” Horatio smiled to her from where he leaned against the cushioned head- board, one she’d picked out, and sliced a sliver of an apple with his ritual knife. He handed the slice of apple to one of the current teachers-in-training, Lily, who was curled at one side. On the other, Nadia, also an instructor in the same class, stretched languidly and smiled at Paige like she’d just inked the deal on a well-padded prenuptial agreement.

Everyone was naked.

“I am home. The...the door was locked...” Paige said, feeling stupid as they all stared at her like she was the intruder. Nobody made a move to get up or even exhibit any type of chagrin. If anything, Lily looked annoyed at Paige for interrupting.

“It was? That’s odd,” Horatio mused, stretching his tanned limbs out – a spray tan, at that – and offered a slice of apple to Nadia.

“I locked it, Horatio.” Nadia batted her eyelashes up at Horatio while Paige tried to breathe through the murder fantasies currently playing out in her head.

“Now, Nadia, you know that’s unacceptable. Having an open-door policy is very important to me,” Horatio said, his voice stern, and turned to hand her piece of apple over to Lily instead. Pushing her lush lower lip out, Nadia picked at a wrinkle in the sheet.

“I thought it was for the best.”

“I’ll have to punish you, as you well know,” Horatio sighed, and laid his hand across her bum, spanking Nadia enough to make a small squeak emanate from her perfect doll-like mouth but not enough to leave a mark.

“Excuse me,” Paige said, drawing their attention back to her, “but what the hell is going on here?”

“What does it look like?” Lily giggled, winding a leg around Horatio’s and smiling up at Paige. It hurt to see them so casually wrapped around Horatio, but Paige couldn’t decide if it was because they were younger and bendier, or because Horatio was cheating on her, which probably said something about the current nature of her relationship.

Paige filed that thought away to examine more deeply on another day when she wasn’t confronted with a smor- gasbord of boobs and butts on her favorite sateen sheets.

“Both of you...out!” Paige ordered, pointing to the women, and it was a credit to her patience that she didn’t grab for Horatio’s ritual knife when they both looked to him for guidance instead of listening to Paige’s command first.

“You look tense, my goddess. Why don’t you join us?” Horatio asked.

“I’m sorry...what?” Paige stood there, mouth hanging open, feeling like she’d walked into a play that she didn’t have the script for.

“Join us, please,” Horatio said, his blue eyes crinkling at the corner as he smiled at her and patted the bed. “It will relax you.”

“You can’t be serious,” Paige said, heart hammering in her chest, as her world tilted on its axis.

“Please, my goddess, join us. You’ll feel wonderful after. I’m certain we can loosen that dark energy in your third chakra. I can feel it from here.”

Paige’s eyebrows almost hit her hairline.

“My chakras? You’re concerned about my chakras right now?”

“Seriously, Paige, we’ve been meaning to talk to you about them anyway,” Lily sniffed, and Paige zeroed in on her.

“I’m sorry...what?” Paige said, feeling like a parrot squawking the only phrase it knew.

“Your chakras. They’ve become a bit of a problem at the studio.”

“It’s bringing us all down,” Nadia confirmed.

“I think I’m going to take a shower.” Lily yawned and reached for a pink robe next to the bed. Paige’s pink robe. She’d saved for weeks for that robe and was pleased when she finally decided to splurge on herself.

“You and you,” Paige said, finally jumping into action and grabbing each of the women’s arms, “get out!” Pulling them unceremoniously from the bed, she bent and picked up discarded clothes, tossing them into the living room, and shoved the astounded girls from the bedroom before slamming the door in their faces.

“Hey! My iPhone’s in there!” Nadia yelled.
Paige turned and locked the door.
“Not feeling like sharing? That’s fine. You only had to say

so, my goddess. No need to get rough with the girls.” Horatio stretched before standing and turning toward the bathroom.

“Nope,” Paige said, blocking his path and forcing him to step back until his butt hit the bed again. Looking up at her, he pinched his nose and sighed.

“Paige, I guess it’s time I talk to you about this. It’s something I should’ve brought up earlier...”

“This being the fact that you’re cheating on me?” Paige crossed her arms over her chest and glared down at him. His golden hair was tucked into his usual man-bun and what she’d once thought was cute now looked like a good handle to grab and smash his face into something. Some- thing hard, preferably.

“No, about your chakras... and your attitude. It’s really bringing a cloud to the studio,” Horatio said and to Paige’s shock, he reached out and patted her arm. “I think you need to get some help. I’ve done what I can, but there’s only so much you can work out during yoga. It might be best for you to find a counselor.”

“I...what? You’re saying this is my fault?” Paige’s mouth gaped as she pointed from Horatio to the bed.

“There is no blame here,” Horatio said, using his soothing yoga voice as though he was trying to calm an unruly dog.

“Yes, Horatio, there is blame here. On you, specifi- cally, for cheating on me,” Paige enunciated clearly, her body almost vibrating with anger.

“How can there be cheating? I don’t cheat. I’ve always had an open-door policy,” Horatio said, shrugging a shoulder and once more reaching out to run a hand down her arm. Paige pulled away from his touch, her mind scrambling as she tried to take in his words.

“Open-door policy to your teachings. To your classes. To your home for rituals or meditation sessions,” Paige clarified.

“Yes, for that too.”
“But not to your bedroom. Our bedroom.”
“I never said that.”
“Wait...are you telling me that all along...” Paige

gulped a breath as her mind flashed back over the past two years. The other students eying her. The whispers. She’d always thought it was because they were envious of her relationship with Horatio. He was a charming man and he’d gathered admirers with ease. Paige had never begrudged any of his students for looking up to him.

“Paige, my goddess, you know I don’t believe we’re meant to be monogamous.”

“I do?” Paige asked, incredulous. She most certainly did not.

“Of course. It’s too restricting for our carnal nature. We’re meant to come together with others, to enjoy the beauty and union that can come from sharing in physical pleasure together. It’s important to our chakras that we remain open and welcoming to all.”

“I’m fairly certain our chakras can be healthy without my bed being a revolving door of partners.”

“That’s coming from a place of judgment, Paige. What did I say about that?”

“Judgment comes from fear,” Paige said automatically and then clamped her mouth shut. How easily was this man leading her to his side in this argument? What a fool she’d been.

“Exactly. And we shouldn’t judge others on their path. This is my path, Paige. I’m meant to share my love and my expertise with the world. It’s what I’m here to do. Don’t you see? That’s why I’m so at peace with myself.” Horatio smiled blissfully up at her, assuming Paige would understand.

“I suspect it’s the multiple orgasms that have brought you calm, not some higher calling,” Paige bit out.

Horatio recoiled as if slapped. “This is what I mean, Paige. Your attitude...well, it needs adjusting. I’ve tried, but I think it’s best if you seek your help elsewhere. I’ve done all I can here.”

“I’m sorry, what? You’re...breaking up with me? Even though you are the cheater? And the liar?”

“I never cheated or lied. I’ve always been honest about having an open-door policy.”

“A little clarification on what that meant might have been nice before I moved my entire world into yours!” Paige shouted, hands on her hips, fury raging through her.

No way was he going to deny her the righteous indignation she was due.

“I don’t think I could have been any clearer. Open-door is pretty self-explanatory.”

Paige’s mouth fell open as she struggled for words. Had she been that blind? Was he in the right about this? Or was he just twisting it for his own benefit? Confusion raced through her as she stared down at him.

“You’ve a good soul, my goddess, but you need more help with clearing your chakras than I can give. It’s time for you to move on. Your path will be lighter for it.” Horatio nodded as though he was giving her a roadmap to happiness. He was so sold on his own guru status that he couldn’t see he was being a condescending prick. Luckily, Paige wasn’t so far gone that she couldn’t.

“You’re a fake,” Paige said, and a storm cloud washed over Horatio’s face. “A fake. A liar. A user. A manipulator. And you’ll never get what you want, no matter how much you seek your path, Horatio. I’ve never seen dirtier chakras in my life.”

Not that Paige could see chakras, but she enjoyed the anger that roiled across Horatio’s face.

“It’s time for you to pack your things and go,” Horatio said.

“Oh, trust me, I was on my way.”

“Most of your stuff is packed for the retreat anyway. It shouldn’t take long. I’m going for a swim in the mean- time.” Horatio stood, his tall lanky body hovering over hers before he bent to press a kiss to her head. “Be well, my goddess.”