No Boundaries

  Cover Design by: Vanilla Lily Designs

  Interior Design & Formatting by: Integrity Formatting

  Copy Editor: Elaine York, Allusion Publishing

  Proofing Editor: Julie Deaton

  Copyright Kelly Elliott 2024

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used, including but not limited to, the training of or use by artificial intelligence, or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For more information on Kelly and her books, please visit her website www.kellyelliottauthor.com.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter One

  MY HEART RACED AS THE plane landed on the runway of the Key West International Airport. I closed my eyes and dropped my head back against the seat.

  “I really hate flying,” I whispered.

  “I’m sorry?”

  Lifting my head, I turned to the older woman who was seated next to me in first class. I smiled. “Oh, I just said I hate flying.”

  She returned my smile with one of her own. “What brings you to the Keys?”

  “I’m here with a couple friends of mine,” I said as I pointed to the two women seated across the aisle from us. Both of them were passed out sleeping with headphones on. “We’re celebrating.”

  The woman glanced at them then focused back on me. “Looks like they’ve already started to celebrate.”

  I laughed. “They have. At the airport in Austin. I just graduated nursing school. The three of us have been planning this trip for as long as I can remember.”

  “Are they nurses as well?”

  Peeking over to Lori and Parker, I laughed. “Lori works at her parents’ stationery store, and Parker is a chef, even though her father wanted her to follow him in the gas and oil business because he told her she wouldn’t starve.”

  The older woman laughed. “My husband is in the oil business.” She held up her hand to reveal a rather large diamond ring. “It does indeed pay good.”

  As the plane taxied to our gate, I asked, “What brings you here?”

  She sighed. “My son.”

  That was rather vague. I wasn’t sure if I should ask or wait to see if she offered up more information.

  “He’s been living here for the last year or so. He worked for his father and they had a bit of a falling out. He’s smart as a whip, graduated high school early, then got his degree in petroleum engineering. Then decided he wasn’t a fan of being bossed around by his father. He’s a bit of a rebellious young man. He’s handsome, so he is loving the life of being here in the Florida Keys, but it’s time for him to stop playing and come back home.”

  I nodded. “What if he’s happier here?”

  She gave me a weak smile. “That’s what I’m afraid of. He is very happy here. My daddy was in oil and my son and daughter were his only grandchildren. So he left them nearly all of his fortune, and a stake in the company. So, he gets a nice little trust fund check each month.”

  “Ahhh,” I said with a wink. “No incentive to come home then.”

  She pointed to me. “Exactly. And no reason to be serious about his future or anything. I’m here to help him see the error of his ways.”

  We pulled up to the gate and the flight attendant woke up Lori and Parker as everyone started to gather up their things.

  Facing the woman, I smiled. “Good luck with your son.”

  Placing her hand on my arm, she gave it a slight squeeze. “Have fun…?”

  “Amelia.”

  “My name is Lynn. Have fun celebrating with your friends, Amelia. And congratulations on graduating.”

  “Thank you so much, Lynn.”

  I watched as she grabbed her expensive Tiffany bag and made her way off the plane.

  Lori slung her bag over her shoulder and asked with a smug smile, “Did you make a friend?”

  “I did. She was sweet. Kind of wish I had started talking to her earlier.”

  “Why?” Parker asked as we made our way off of the plane.

  Once we headed toward baggage claim, I filled them in on why Lynn was here in the Keys. I shortened the story with just the highlights since baggage wasn’t that far away from the gate seeing as the Key West airport wasn’t that big.

  “So, she’s here to bring her rich son back home to work for daddy?” Parker stated.

  I nodded. “Yep.”

  Lori rolled her eyes. “Sounds like a douche. He’s probably some preppy little creep who hangs out at the beach all day and blows all of his money that he hasn’t earned.”

  Parker and I both laughed.

  After getting our luggage, Parker nudged my arm and looked at someone. I followed her gaze and saw Lynn.

  With a tsk, Parker said, “He couldn’t even come to the airport and pick her up? He sent a car for her?”

  I smiled. “That’s just it…I have a feeling he doesn’t know his mother is here.”

  Parker snickered. “Serves him right. What does the dad do?”

  “Oil.”

  “Oil?” Lori asked as she swung her bag over her shoulder and nearly hit the guy next to her.

  “For the love of all, Lori,” Parker said. “Stop tossing that thing over your shoulder. It’s like a weapon and it’s going to take someone out.”

  Lori ignored Parker and started toward the exit doors. “Let’s go! I’m so ready to slip into a bathing suit and hit the beach!”

  “It is officially vacation mode!” I said as Parker entangled her arm with mine and we followed Lori out of the airport.

  “Amelia?”

  My head turned toward the female voice and I saw it was Lynn.

  “We meet again!” I chuckled and turned to Parker and Lori. “Not that it’s that hard to do considering there’s one terminal and only six gates at this airport, right? Lynn, these are my two best friends. Lori and Parker.”

  “Nice to meet you both,” Lynn said as she shook their hands. “What resort are you girls staying at?”

  Lori and Parker both looked at me. I was the planner of our group and handled all of the arrangements for our trips. The only thing Lori and Parker cared about was if there would be alcohol and hot guys.

  Smiling at Lynn, I replied, “Sunset Key Cottages.”

  With a brightness in her eyes, she said, “I’m heading there as well.”

  I should have figured her son would be staying there. It was a resort on a private island, and the only way we could afford to stay there was by pooling all the money we’d saved over the years for this trip. I knew Lori and Parker would flip when they found out where we were staying. It was beyond luxury.

  “Really?” we all said at the same time.

  “Give the driver your bags and we’ll all drive to the boat.”

  “Boat?” Lori and Parker asked as Lynn looked confused.

  With a laugh, I said under my breath, “I did all the planning and the resort is a surprise for them.”

  She gave me a smile and a nod. Before I could say we’d take a cab, Lori walked over to the driver and handed him her bag. Parker followed her lead.

  “Um, well, I guess thank you would be in order,” I stated as I shot them both a look that said they had forgotten their manners.

  “Thank you so much for the ride!” Lori said, pulling poor Lynn in for a hug.

  Parker, again, followed Lori’s lead and grabbed Lynn. But before she hugged her, she planted a kiss on her cheek, then they both stumbled into the back seat, laughing like two schoolgirls.

  I shrugged. “Like I said, they started drinking at the airport.”

  Laughing, Lynn motioned for me to hand the driver my bag. Thank goodness we had all packed smaller bags and it all fit. But of course, the car was a limo that could probably seat twenty people, so we had room even if it didn’t fit in the trunk.

  Once I slipped in after Lynn, we fell into an easy conversation. Lori and Parker were polite and asked Lynn what brought her to the island. I was glad they hadn’t told her I had already filled them in about her spoiled son.

  “I’m here to collect my son.”

  Lori and Parker both leaned forward as Parker said, “Do tell.”

  Lynn launched into how her son was supposed to be following in his grandfather, and his father’s, footsteps in the oil industry. How he had a degree in petroleum engineering, and that his place was back in Houston, not living off his trust money on the beach in the Florida Keys.

  When she turned to look at me, I simply smiled. “Well, at least he’s living in style on a private island.”

  Lynn didn’t look amused by my comment, but she did offer me a tight smile.

  Once we got to the boat dock, we piled onto the boat and headed across the water for the short seven-minute ride to Sunset Key Cottages. I had never been so excited for a vacation as I was for this one. We had a few spa days booked, and one sightseeing tour. Other than that, it would be drinks, beach, and lots of reading. I had loaded my Kindle with so many romance books, there was no way I would get to a quar

ter of them.

  “Wow. This place is amazing!” Lori stated as she stepped off the boat.

  “I want to move here,” Parker whispered as Lynn and I took in the resort that was laid out over the entire little island.

  “No wonder he doesn’t want to come home,” Lynn softly said.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Can’t blame him after seeing this place.”

  Turning to face me, Lynn smiled. “It was such a pleasure talking to you girls. I hope I’ll get to see you around the island. And maybe I can introduce you to my son before I pull him back home.”

  Lori poked me in the back. It was a silent way of saying get out of meeting the son.

  All I could do was grin and nod. “That would be…amazing.”

  “I’m going to go check in. Then I plan on sending him a text to let him know I’m here. I’ll see you girls around!” Lynn stated as she gave us each a hug.

  “It was a pleasure meeting you, Lynn,” Parker said as Lori nodded in agreement.

  “Thank you again for the conversation on the plane,” I said as I hugged her goodbye. “I hope things work out with you and your son.”

  She sighed. “Me too. Have fun, girls!”

  We waved and watched as Lynn made her way toward the lobby of the resort.

  “I was so worried she was going to ask for your number!” Parker stated, reaching for her bag. “Then we would for sure have to meet her son.”

  “He might not be that bad,” I said, following the path Lynn had taken moments ago.

  Lori scoffed. “Please…if a guy can come and live in a place like this full time, he has more money than he knows what to do with. It’s probably the only way he can get a girl to go out with him.”

  Looking at Lori, I said, “What do you mean?”

  She shrugged. “Money. He throws it out there that he is rich, which means he most likely isn’t handsome.”

  “That’s terrible, Lori,” I said as Parker nodded. I wasn’t sure if she was agreeing with me or Lori.

  “When did you become such a snob?” Parker asked, clearly on my side of thinking.

  Lori stopped and looked at us. “Please, like the both of you hadn’t thought the guy was probably not good looking and only uses his money as a tool to get women.”

  “As a matter of fact,” I stated, “that never crossed my mind. His mother is simply stunning.”

  “She is beautiful,” Parker agreed.

  By the time we made it to the lobby, Lynn was gone. Lori and Parker were in awe of everything in the hotel, and I was thrilled they were happy with the resort I picked out.

  “Ms. Baker, we have your three-bedroom cottage ready for you,” the man at the desk said with a smile.

  “We each get our own bedroom?” Lori exclaimed.

  I nodded. “Yes, we get a whole cottage, which is even better.”

  After arranging for our luggage to make it to the cottage, another young gentleman showed us around a bit as he took us to where we’d be staying for the next few days.

  The first thing I noticed when we walked into our cottage was the large, floor-to-ceiling windows that led to a covered patio. Beyond that was the beach and ocean.

  Parker gasped while Lori headed straight to the doors that led outside.

  “Talk about an oceanfront view!” Lori exclaimed. “Amelia, you outdid yourself.”

  Grinning, I set my purse on the counter and took in the cottage. It was decorated in blues and whites. The living room, dining area, and kitchen were all in one big open area. I headed out to the large patio that wrapped around the cottage. Another dining room table was outside, and I couldn’t wait to sit and eat breakfast and drink a cup of tea out here in the morning.

  “This is fantastic,” Parker whispered.

  Feeling the bubble of excitement build, I replied, “I know. The pictures on their website don’t do it justice.”

  “I’m going to claim my room!” Lori said as she rushed past us.

  Parker rolled her eyes and turned to follow her.

  After staring out at the clear blue ocean, I made my way back in to find that both Lori and Parker had picked out their rooms. I knew they would all be amazing, so I wasn’t concerned if one of them got the better room.

  “They all have ocean views and doors that lead out to the patio!” Parker shouted from her room.

  My room had a king-size bed covered in a beautiful white comforter that looked like a giant cloud. I wanted to faceplant on it and take a nap. Off in the corner was a desk, and on the other side of the room was a small dresser. Two large French doors led out to the patio and the table that seated six.

  Our luggage had already been delivered, so I headed back to the living room to grab my bag. After unpacking my clothes, I grabbed my bathroom bag and headed to the en suite bathroom. It was just as luxurious as the rest of the cottage. A large soaker tub was in the corner with a double vanity sink. The walk-in shower had a rain shower head, as well as jets coming from two sides.

  “No wonder Lynn’s son wants to live here permanently,” I mused.

  A knock on my bedroom door had me poking my head out to see Lori and Parker already in their swimsuit with cover-ups and beach bags.

  “We’re heading to the bar, then on to the beach!”

  “Okay. I just need to change. Meet you at the bar in like fifteen?”

  They both nodded. “Don’t be late! I want to take advantage of the few hours of sun left, and you don’t want to miss the sunset!” Lori called out as she bolted and Parker stared at me.

  “Why are you staring at me?” I asked.

  “Please tell me you brought some sexy swimwear. You have an insanely fit body, Mel.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I brought four suits. One is modest, the other three are bikinis.”

  Her eyes landed on the large sun hat and she groaned. “You’re going to be wearing that giant ass hat I told you not to bring!”

  “It’s not giant, and someday when we’re sixty and I look forty-five, you’ll be wishing you wore one as well.”

  She gifted me with another eye roll before she slipped away. As she headed down the hall, she called out, “Don’t be late! Fifteen minutes.”

  I sighed and headed over to my suitcase. I pulled out the blue bikini, knowing it would bring out the blue in my eyes. I’d noticed Lori and Parker had put on a bit of makeup, but I wasn’t here to impress. I had on mascara, and that was going to be the extent of my makeup this trip. Maybe some lip tint as well.

  After putting on the suit, I gave myself a hard look in the mirror. Three years ago, I had weighed close to two-hundred pounds. With the stress of college, I had gotten in the habit of eating takeout and junk food. It wasn’t until one day I couldn’t catch my breath walking to class that I decided to take control of my health once again. I’d never been a small girl, and had always had a bit of fluff. My mother liked to call them curves. Where Lori and Parker were both around a buck fifteen, I weighed anywhere from a hundred twenty-five to one thirty now. I wasn’t overweight, but I wasn’t stick thin. I was shorter than both of my best friends, coming in at five feet two inches, where they were both around five feet four. But I was fit. I had muscles from running and lifting weights. I ate healthy, mostly plant-based, but when I wanted something sweet, I ate it. I no longer stressed about being a size two, and was thankful for a healthy body that did what I needed it to do.

  I sighed as I looked at myself. A part of me would always see that overweight girl, no matter how much positive talk I gave myself. But today, as I turned from side to side, I loved what I saw. I had a butt and I had boobs, and I could see the result of all my hard work.

  Slipping the cover-up on, I grabbed my hat and sunglasses, as well as the beach bag I had packed. It had sunscreen, my Kindle, and a paperback. I was set.

  One last look in the mirror at myself and I smiled. “You did it, Amelia. You made it through college and nursing school. You did all the things, and you kicked ass doing them.”

  With that, I slung the bag over my shoulder, put my hat and glasses on, and made my way to the bar to meet up with Lori and Parker.

  Chapter Two

  “JAX, THE TWO LADIES AT the end of the bar asked about you.”

  I glanced over my shoulder to see two attractive women sipping on piña coladas. One was blonde, petite features and her hair up in some kind of bun. The other had reddish-blonde hair that was pulled up into a bun, as well, but had some sticks poking out on each side.

 

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