week or so, and it’s not like we’re doing it anymore. I simply should’ve had the shot before I sailed. That’s all.”
“You’re sure it’s nothing?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then let’s get some fresh air and take a walk.” He tugged her out the door, jabbed the elevator button then steered her inside. From the v-neckline of his black shirt, he swiped his sunglasses hanging over one edge and slid them on.
“Where are we going for this walk?”
“The beach,” he answered.
“Great. I have my bikini on underneath. I’d love a swim.” The elevator doors opened onto the ground floor and she raced ahead. Instead of taking the main entrance, she snuck out the side door leading to the meadow, which would bypass the crowds.
“The jungle is this way, not the beach.” Ben marched behind her.
“Dr. Hika and I walked out here the other day. Luke turned up and showed me a small gap in the trees. There’s a path to the beach, but it’s a tight fit.”
“I’d rather do something which doesn’t require me watching you strip down to two flimsy pieces of material. Bikinis should be outlawed, particularly on you.”
“You’ve seen me in less. I think you can handle a little of my bare skin.” She shuffled through the thin gap between the bushes and down onto the beach. “It’s less populated here too.”
“You go for a swim, and I’ll”—his cell phone beeped and he pulled it out of his pocket—“answer this.” He turned away. “Hammers. Yeah, I’m still in the islands with the girls. What’s up, Gilchrist?”
She lifted her cream tank top over her head, tossed it onto the sand then tightened the top ties of her bikini. Four or five hundred feet offshore, waves broke over a short coral reef. Two men sitting at the stern of a small boat tanked up then flipped off the back end and disappeared under the water. She had to go diving along this reef while she was here. It would be so much fun. She shimmied out of her pink skirt, dropped it on top of her shirt then walked into the gloriously warm water.
Ben paced the beach as he continued his conversation with Gilchrist. She waved and he groaned. So stubborn. Sure, they weren’t well-matched when it came to what they wanted in life, but in every other way, they were. If only he’d take a chance with her.
She walked in then at waist-depth, dived. Stunning blue starfish graced the sandy bottom while multicolored tropical fish darted around and snuck close as if hoping for a feed. Next time she came swimming, she’d bring some bread or fish food.
After coming up for air, she dove again then kicked out toward the reef. A swish of sand plumed on the base as a stingray far below shot off. It glided along to a clear spot and settled again. The ocean was alive and so beautiful. She swam to the surface and floated on her back.
On the beach, Ben stripped off his black shirt, rolled his cell phone into the folds then tucked it beside her clothes. The sunshine bathed his chest and tanned pecs. Then he slid his denim shorts down and exposed slim black swim trunks. It looked like he’d changed his mind and decided to come swimming with her after all. Nice.
He ran into the water then swam out toward her, his strokes powerful and fluid. With a splash, he stopped and treaded water. “I didn’t think you’d head this far out.”
“There’s a coral reef on this side of the island, so we’re fairly protected.”
“Sharks can still swim in over by the wharf. If The Idle Dream can sail in, so can the dangerous marine life.”
“What are you trying to say?” She drifted closer toward him on her back. “That I’d make a tasty meal?”
“You’d be a treat no shark could turn down.” He swept his hand under her back and tugged her up against him. His gaze remained glued to hers, so heart-pounding precious. “Your eyes are the richest, darkest shade of brown. I love it when you look at me.”
“And yours are the same pale blue as the sky, the most
“You’re sure it’s nothing?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then let’s get some fresh air and take a walk.” He tugged her out the door, jabbed the elevator button then steered her inside. From the v-neckline of his black shirt, he swiped his sunglasses hanging over one edge and slid them on.
“Where are we going for this walk?”
“The beach,” he answered.
“Great. I have my bikini on underneath. I’d love a swim.” The elevator doors opened onto the ground floor and she raced ahead. Instead of taking the main entrance, she snuck out the side door leading to the meadow, which would bypass the crowds.
“The jungle is this way, not the beach.” Ben marched behind her.
“Dr. Hika and I walked out here the other day. Luke turned up and showed me a small gap in the trees. There’s a path to the beach, but it’s a tight fit.”
“I’d rather do something which doesn’t require me watching you strip down to two flimsy pieces of material. Bikinis should be outlawed, particularly on you.”
“You’ve seen me in less. I think you can handle a little of my bare skin.” She shuffled through the thin gap between the bushes and down onto the beach. “It’s less populated here too.”
“You go for a swim, and I’ll”—his cell phone beeped and he pulled it out of his pocket—“answer this.” He turned away. “Hammers. Yeah, I’m still in the islands with the girls. What’s up, Gilchrist?”
She lifted her cream tank top over her head, tossed it onto the sand then tightened the top ties of her bikini. Four or five hundred feet offshore, waves broke over a short coral reef. Two men sitting at the stern of a small boat tanked up then flipped off the back end and disappeared under the water. She had to go diving along this reef while she was here. It would be so much fun. She shimmied out of her pink skirt, dropped it on top of her shirt then walked into the gloriously warm water.
Ben paced the beach as he continued his conversation with Gilchrist. She waved and he groaned. So stubborn. Sure, they weren’t well-matched when it came to what they wanted in life, but in every other way, they were. If only he’d take a chance with her.
She walked in then at waist-depth, dived. Stunning blue starfish graced the sandy bottom while multicolored tropical fish darted around and snuck close as if hoping for a feed. Next time she came swimming, she’d bring some bread or fish food.
After coming up for air, she dove again then kicked out toward the reef. A swish of sand plumed on the base as a stingray far below shot off. It glided along to a clear spot and settled again. The ocean was alive and so beautiful. She swam to the surface and floated on her back.
On the beach, Ben stripped off his black shirt, rolled his cell phone into the folds then tucked it beside her clothes. The sunshine bathed his chest and tanned pecs. Then he slid his denim shorts down and exposed slim black swim trunks. It looked like he’d changed his mind and decided to come swimming with her after all. Nice.
He ran into the water then swam out toward her, his strokes powerful and fluid. With a splash, he stopped and treaded water. “I didn’t think you’d head this far out.”
“There’s a coral reef on this side of the island, so we’re fairly protected.”
“Sharks can still swim in over by the wharf. If The Idle Dream can sail in, so can the dangerous marine life.”
“What are you trying to say?” She drifted closer toward him on her back. “That I’d make a tasty meal?”
“You’d be a treat no shark could turn down.” He swept his hand under her back and tugged her up against him. His gaze remained glued to hers, so heart-pounding precious. “Your eyes are the richest, darkest shade of brown. I love it when you look at me.”
“And yours are the same pale blue as the sky, the most
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