Dangerous Tides by Christine Feehan Page B

with him. He was arrogant and antisocial, didn't believe in magic and he thought all her sisters were con artists. He'd drive her crazy. Libby touched her fingers to her lips. But the man could kiss and that counted for something.
    "You don't need makeup, Libby. I like the natural look."
    She laughed. "You like artfully done makeup that makes women look natural. If I went like this you'd tell me my nose was sunburned."
    "It is."
    "Go away, Ty, before I come to my senses and change my mind."
    "An hour, Libby. I'll be back and you'd better not be hiding in your house."
    "At least you know my first name. If you'd kept calling me Drake I was going to shove you over the cliff."
    "I kissed you. I can't call you Drake after I've kissed you."
    "You have to forget you kissed me. There's no more kissing."
    He touched the red mark on her neck. "There's proof. I won't be forgetting—and neither will you. Take the aspirin, Libby."
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    Chapter Five

     
    "YOU have dirt all over your face and a hickey on your neck." Hannah greeted her sister with a cup of tea. "I don't suppose you want to tell me what you've been up to while I've been grocery shopping."
    Libby blew on the steaming cup. "I have dirt on my face?" She was mortified. Of course she had dirt on her face. Dirt, a hickey and a bright red sunburned nose. She was about as elegant as it got. Standing next to Hannah didn't help. Tall, blond, a runway supermodel with unbelievable exotic looks, Hannah had appeared on nearly every magazine cover there was. Hannah was thin, but she couldn't look bad if she tried.
    "Yep. Your face is streaked with dirt, like a commando or something. What have you been doing? And I'm particularly interested in the hickey."
    "It's a birthmark. A strawberry birthmark." Libby tried to look innocent as she sipped the hot tea.
    Hannah nodded her head. "Mom will be interested in that birthmark. I'll bet she's never seen it before. She should be home in a week or two. She called and said Aunt Carol and Dad were exploring the Napa valley, make that wineries, and she was busy hitting all the wedding shops to get ideas. I think they're having a great time."
    "They always have a great time when they're together," Libby observed. "After I scared them to death, it's good for them to take a little time off." She paused before dropping the bombshell. "I'm going on a date tonight and I thought I'd wear something classy. You know, jeans and a T-shirt."
    Hannah nearly tipped over her teacup. "You? A date?"
    "Hey, now," Libby cautioned with a small frown of reprimand, "that's not very nice. I do get asked out on dates."
    "Sorry. I know you get asked out, you just never go. Are you planning on washing your face or is your date the wild type?"
    Libby sank into a chair. "I have no idea how I got myself into this."
    "I'm guessing the brand new birthmark may have had something to do with it," Hannah ventured with a small grin. "You weren't rolling in the dirt with him, were you? And who is this man who managed to make you forget you're Doctor Libby Drake, always prim and proper?"
    "I'm still prim and proper."
    "Well, the dirt doesn't go with that image and neither does the hickey."
    " Birthmark ," Libby corrected.
    "Neither does that very large and outstanding birthmark on your neck. Were you rolling in the dirt with him? Inquiring minds want to know."
    "Of course not." Libby couldn't control the blush that stole up her neck and flushed her cheeks a bright rose to match her nose. "Of course not," she repeated.
    Hannah shook her head, the platinum spiral curls swirling around her shoulders and down her back. "Oh, Libby. You're in real trouble with this one, aren't you? Who is he?"
    "I'm not saying." Libby kicked off her shoes and put her feet up on the small ottoman. "I don't even like him."
    "Oh dear, that's worse. He must kiss like a fiend. He's hot, isn't he?"
    "He's an arrogant, antisocial adrenaline junkie. With an extraordinary body." Libby scowled at her sister. "I meant