didn’t want to drop any bombshells and have relationships scattering like sand in the wind. With the attraction between them so palpable, how would she be able to hide it from her father?
“ Vrolijk kertsfeest, ” Dutch called out as they neared, giving both men back-slapping hugs before taking her hand. “Thank you boys so much for looking after my girl.”
Harm coughed into his hand and looked away with a grin. Smart ass.
Dutch clapped Johannes on the shoulder. “You should come back to the house. You both should.”
“This is your time with Saskia. I don’t want to get in the middle of that. Besides, Harm has put me to work at his latest villa. With everyone working so much for the high season, he’s gotten behind schedule.”
Harm narrowed his dark eyes at his brother. “My schedule is just fine. You’re the one who stayed up tiling the kitchen instead of sleeping like a sane person.”
“You boys are family,” Dutch said. “You can’t get in the way.”
Harm’s obnoxious cough returned. If she weren’t wearing sandals she might kick him.
“Dutch, enjoy this visit.” Joe turned his cool gaze on her. “If Saskia decides to come back, maybe then we’ll all spend time together.”
Harm barked a laugh. “Yeah, just like old times.”
Saskia put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Yeah, except a few things have changed since you used to think it was your place to order me around.”
“Just a few,” he replied without a glint of humor. Such a jerk.
Dutch chuckled. “You two always did like to snap at one another. Did you make Joe spend the entire time keeping the two of you apart?”
“Something like that.” Harm shook his head, his dark hair falling over his eyes. “Hannes, I see those dance teachers from earlier. I’m going to go talk them into having dinner with us.” He cast her a dirty look and strode off towards the market stalls.
She wanted to feel better that he’d finally left, but there was a gnawing dread in her stomach that Johannes would be having dinner with another woman. It felt as if she had a right to be angry, but she knew she didn’t. Still, she thought he was a better man than that. Wasn’t he? Had she imagined how special things felt with him, or did he make everyone he liked seeing in a bikini feel that way?
“You boys have your fun, but I expect you tomorrow for Christmas dinner. No excuses.”
Johannes smiled and nodded, his gaze trained on her father. She needed him to look her way, to give her some kind of clue as to what was going on.
She cleared her throat. “You could have dinner with us. I’m sure you’ve had enough of dealing with your bother of a brother and could use a break.”
He turned, his pale blue eyes twinkling in the waning light. He held her with his gaze, understanding and attraction relaxing her fears and tightening her desire.
“You’ve been away so long your dad shouldn’t have to share you. Besides, we already had a chance to catch up. When you come back, we’ll do it again.” He winked at her then turned back to Dutch. “We’ll see you for dinner tomorrow.”
She watched him walk across the patchy lawn, making his way to his brute of a sibling and a trio of top-heavy blondes. She’d need the trust of a trapeze artist to make it through the next few months until she could return to the island.
“Merry Christmas!” Dutch announced, pulling open the door for Harm and Johannes.
Her heartbeat stuttered as she caught his pale blue gaze. He hadn’t been home, telling Dutch he wanted to give them space. And she’d let him stay away.
She’d wanted to concentrate on her father, get his advice on how to maintain her integrity and run a business. Plus, she didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the bond between her father and Johannes. He spoke with such adoration and respect it was obvious her father loved him as a son. While it hurt like hell to know he’d directed that energy elsewhere, he
“ Vrolijk kertsfeest, ” Dutch called out as they neared, giving both men back-slapping hugs before taking her hand. “Thank you boys so much for looking after my girl.”
Harm coughed into his hand and looked away with a grin. Smart ass.
Dutch clapped Johannes on the shoulder. “You should come back to the house. You both should.”
“This is your time with Saskia. I don’t want to get in the middle of that. Besides, Harm has put me to work at his latest villa. With everyone working so much for the high season, he’s gotten behind schedule.”
Harm narrowed his dark eyes at his brother. “My schedule is just fine. You’re the one who stayed up tiling the kitchen instead of sleeping like a sane person.”
“You boys are family,” Dutch said. “You can’t get in the way.”
Harm’s obnoxious cough returned. If she weren’t wearing sandals she might kick him.
“Dutch, enjoy this visit.” Joe turned his cool gaze on her. “If Saskia decides to come back, maybe then we’ll all spend time together.”
Harm barked a laugh. “Yeah, just like old times.”
Saskia put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Yeah, except a few things have changed since you used to think it was your place to order me around.”
“Just a few,” he replied without a glint of humor. Such a jerk.
Dutch chuckled. “You two always did like to snap at one another. Did you make Joe spend the entire time keeping the two of you apart?”
“Something like that.” Harm shook his head, his dark hair falling over his eyes. “Hannes, I see those dance teachers from earlier. I’m going to go talk them into having dinner with us.” He cast her a dirty look and strode off towards the market stalls.
She wanted to feel better that he’d finally left, but there was a gnawing dread in her stomach that Johannes would be having dinner with another woman. It felt as if she had a right to be angry, but she knew she didn’t. Still, she thought he was a better man than that. Wasn’t he? Had she imagined how special things felt with him, or did he make everyone he liked seeing in a bikini feel that way?
“You boys have your fun, but I expect you tomorrow for Christmas dinner. No excuses.”
Johannes smiled and nodded, his gaze trained on her father. She needed him to look her way, to give her some kind of clue as to what was going on.
She cleared her throat. “You could have dinner with us. I’m sure you’ve had enough of dealing with your bother of a brother and could use a break.”
He turned, his pale blue eyes twinkling in the waning light. He held her with his gaze, understanding and attraction relaxing her fears and tightening her desire.
“You’ve been away so long your dad shouldn’t have to share you. Besides, we already had a chance to catch up. When you come back, we’ll do it again.” He winked at her then turned back to Dutch. “We’ll see you for dinner tomorrow.”
She watched him walk across the patchy lawn, making his way to his brute of a sibling and a trio of top-heavy blondes. She’d need the trust of a trapeze artist to make it through the next few months until she could return to the island.
“Merry Christmas!” Dutch announced, pulling open the door for Harm and Johannes.
Her heartbeat stuttered as she caught his pale blue gaze. He hadn’t been home, telling Dutch he wanted to give them space. And she’d let him stay away.
She’d wanted to concentrate on her father, get his advice on how to maintain her integrity and run a business. Plus, she didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the bond between her father and Johannes. He spoke with such adoration and respect it was obvious her father loved him as a son. While it hurt like hell to know he’d directed that energy elsewhere, he
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