Welcome to The Pleasure Club, where fantasy becomes reality.

Sherilyn Jax has laid out her heartache to The Pleasure Club, and they've promised to find her the perfect Pleasure Master to fulfill all her needs-to finally say goodbye to the man who left her years before to go off to war, and never returned.

The Pleasure Master is perfect in his reenactment of that fateful night, down to his wide shoulders and milk chocolate skin. And when she does what needs to be done, just like her beloved fiancé, he makes everything all right.

He takes her back to the one night of her life she's never been able to forget…and helps her change the past.

In the back corner of the Waldport Astoria restaurant, Sherilyn Jax sat at a small, round table. Alternately staring at the door, waiting for her Pleasure Master and gazing out the window at the dusky evening ocean beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, her nerves were shot.

Would tonight be all she expected? All she needed? Dear God, she hoped so. After five years, it was time to move on. To say goodbye. She just didn't know if this was the way to achieve her objective.

She sipped her pale ale then examined the dark plum smudge of lipstick on the glass. The last five years hadn't been good to her. Her gaze slid from the glass to her hand. The fine lines of age on the back of her knuckles, deep on her pale skin.

A tear slipped from one eye, but she quickly swiped it away. For the first time in half a decade, her left hand was naked. Her ring finger too light without the thick, diamond-encrusted band.

"Sherilyn."

The deep voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she jerked her head back to look up at the man her name had come from. Her breath caught in her throat and more tears threatened to spill.

Oh, God. "William," she said on a soft sigh. This man looked so much like him that from just a glance, she could honestly mistake her Pleasure Master for her long-lost lover.

A smile tilted up the man's lips before he leaned down and brushed a breezy kiss over her lips, and then he sat down across from her. "Sorry I'm late. I was in meetings all day."

She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Déjà vu. Surreal. He even smelled right. Drakkar Noir. His olive green T-shirt hugged every sensual bulge of his muscles, and his matching tactical pants looked just like...

"Have you ordered?"

Dumbly, she nodded.

He grinned, and his hazel eyes sparkled, just like William's always had. His teeth were perfectly straight and white, his skin as dark as hot, melted milk chocolate.

Sherilyn's mouth watered.

The waitress approached the table. "May I get you something to drink, sir?"

"Same as she's having." He nodded toward Sherilyn as he folded his hands together on the table. Big, strong hands. Her tummy fluttered, remembering what hands like those once felt like on her body.

"Your dinner will be up in just a moment." The waitress shamelessly flirted with him, but he smiled pleasantly, just the way William always did.

"How was your day?" William asked after the waitress walked off.

Sherilyn swallowed hard and let out a slow breath. She forced a smile, trying to recreate that night so long ago. It had been a sad night to some extent, but mostly it had been a joyous occation. "Good," she answered and met those hazel eyes. God, this man looked just like William. It was easy to imagine… "Rumor has it they're going to offer a partnership to one of the associates, and I'm on the short list."

"Oh, babe! That's great." He grinned.

Though she hadn't been offered the partnership then, she'd made it two years ago.

The waitress returned with William's drink and their food. "Anything else I can get you?" she asked.

William shook his head as he spread his napkin across his lap.

"No, thank you," Sherilyn said, her voice a little rough.

"Just holler if you need something."

They ate in silence. Sherilyn picked at her steak and downed her beer. She caught the waitress and ordered a second, though that hadn't happened the last time she was here with a man, she needed the liquid courage tonight. Because she knew what was to come, and as the time drew near, her nerves jangled so hard her hands shook.

"It'll be okay," William said as he set his knife and fork down.

She looked up and met his eyes. "Could we just go, please?"

He nodded. "Sure, babe." He stood and extended his hand, those long fingers looking so beautiful.

Slowly, she slid her hand into his and stood. This man, this William, was taller than he should be. She had to tip her head back to look into his face. He cupped the side of her face, and she closed her eyes as warmth seeped into her. It had been so very long since she'd been touched. And when she breathed in and his spicy cologne tickled her senses, she could fall into the fantasy. Needed to, in fact, for this to work.

"I know this is hard on you, Sheri girl."

Tears sprang to her eyes at the use of Will's nickname for her.

"Saying goodbye is always hard, baby. But you knew what you were getting into when we started seeing each other."

Her stomach tightened, and she nodded, his palm lightly caressing her cheek. Master Sergeant William Mastersen USMC. When the troops started being sent to Iraq, she'd known he would go. He loved her, but he had a duty to his country. It was one of the many things that made her love him even more.

"Come on," he whispered and let go of her face, but tightened his grip on her hand. She opened her eyes and let him lead her out of the restaurant toward the bank of elevators across the hotel lobby.

As they stepped into the elevator, she pulled the room key card from her purse. William wrapped his arm around her and held her snug against his side. His body was so hard, so warm. Turning into him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tight, buried her face against his throat. His hand coasted up and down her back, and she closed her eyes. This… Touching, holding, comfort. Five long years. Oh, God, how was she going to survive this night?