used to fancy meals. Not me. My background is pretty humble. What about you?” He chuckled. “My roots aspire to be humble.” He spread butter on a blueberry muffin then took a bite. Maybe he was trying to throw her off track. She bit into her banana and eyed him. “I like the way you handle that thing. Kind of reminds me of how you handled something last night.” Heat rushed to her face as she recalled the taste of his cock. She cleared her throat and tried to refocus. He’d said he was from Baltimore but not much else about himself. “Tell me about your family.” Not that he would if he wanted to keep his pedigree a secret. Lines fanned out from his eyes and his lips flattened to a thin line. “There’s nothing to tell,” he finally said. “I have no family.” She tried to imagine life without her three sisters and her mother. They were so close, such a huge part of her world. “None at all?” “My mother was murdered when I was five. I never knew my father.” The sadness in his eyes broke her heart. “I’m so sorry. I never would have asked if I thought…” He covered her hand with his. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago.” But she knew from experience that thinking and talking about those early traumas never really got any easier. She wondered who’d raised him but she’d be prying if she asked. “What about you?” He sipped his coffee and stared at her expectantly. “My parents divorced when I was a kid. My sisters and I stayed with our mother.” She dropped his gaze. He didn’t need to know that her father had been abusive although she sensed if she wanted to, she could tell him about it and he wouldn’t judge her. Too bad she had to say goodbye to him today…unless she indulged for one more night. He’d said he was going to be there for her speech so why not make her last night of vacation count? The sex couldn’t possibly continue to be so amazing. Sleeping with him again was the only way to prove to herself that the fire between them had merely been a fluke. She downed the last of her coffee. “You will be at the keynote banquet tonight, right?” His throat twitched with a swallow and something unreadable settled in his expression for a moment. Then he gave her a warm smile. “I wouldn’t miss it.” For some reason the notion that he’d be there took away a measure of her fear. “Good. I have an appointment at the salon in an hour, so I’d better get dressed.” Guy shoved the rest of his muffin in his mouth and washed it down with coffee. “I have a few things on my agenda too.” He got up from the table when she did and pulled her into a comforting hug. Lifting her chin, he captured her stare. “You’ll do fine, okay? I have lots of faith in you.” “Really? Why?” He brushed his lips over hers, reigniting the passion that had carried her through the most blissful night of her life. “Because you’re wonderful and I heard part of the speech as I was getting dressed. It’s good. You’re good.” Bolstered by his confidence in her, she smiled. Maybe she’d do okay after all. As long as she saw his handsome face in the audience, she’d be fine. * * * * *
After a relaxing couple of hours at the hotel spa, Laura returned to her villa to shower and get ready for her speech. She checked her watch. Two and a half hours until the golf cart arrived to take her to the banquet hall, which gave her plenty of time to take a nap since she hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. Although she was tempted to stretch out by the pool, she didn’t want to risk a sunburn, not tonight. She set the alarm clock then climbed into her bed, and Guy’s scent invaded her senses. “Don’t get too used to it,” she said in her empty bedroom. She’d have to say goodbye to him in the morning. Shutting her eyes, she pictured his handsome face and chiseled body. Her insides ached for his touch. The buzz of the alarm clock roused her out of a deliciously