Rivals in Paradise by Gwyneth Bolton Page B

student fees allocated to student government could be used most efficiently, she knew he had the ability to get under her skin and possibly into her heart. And she’d made it her business—worked damned hard at it, even—to make sure they never agreed on anything. Except for that one kiss that nearly cost her the election and brokeher heart, she’d survived her college experience with Chase almost unscathed.
    But now…now…she was very close to running through hell with a pair of gasoline thongs on, and she was pretty sure she wouldn’t come through this round with Chase unscathed.
    Just thinking about how he looked in his purple-and-gold swim trunks almost had her breathless again.
    That chest. Lord, that chest!
    The man had a washboard stomach and pectorals that gave new meaning to the words “perfectly sculpted.” And when he’d asked her to spread some sunscreen on his back?
    Mercy.
    She had to beg for mercy, because she didn’t think she was going to be able to stop touching him, until he’d asked her if she wanted him to put some sunscreen on her back…
    She would never really know or understand how she was able to make it off that beach and back to her hotel without making wild, passionate love to Chase Yearwood. All she could do was hope that whatever it was would get her through the rest of the night out with him.
    The knock at the door startled her out of her reverie. She glanced down at her outfit and decided she didn’t look bad. Her tangerine wrap-style dresswas formfitting and stopped just about mid-thigh. She had paired the dress with some copper-colored leather strappy sandals, copper drop earrings and copper bangles. She went stockingless and just oiled up her legs. She had to admit the mid-thigh dress made it seem like her already-long legs were even longer.
    Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, and for the umpteenth time that day she found herself staring speechlessly at Chase. He must have gotten the same wardrobe memo, because he had on a deep rust, short-sleeved silk shirt and some perfectly creased brown linen slacks. They looked very much like a couple about to have a sensuous night out on the town. And that was the problem….
    They looked like a couple!
    His eyes traveled down her legs and back up to her face. He gave a slow, easy, sexy grin. “So, are you ready to get a taste of Dahinda’s nightlife?”
    She was nowhere near ready for whatever Chase had in mind with his hooded eyes and his deep make-a-girl-weak voice. But she wasn’t a punk, either. Stevens girls were tough!
    She tilted her head and gave a half smile. “I’m ready. Are you?”
    He held out his hand and she took it just to feel the warmth of that electric shock. She was startingto get used to it, welcome it, even. And that was the problem.
    They drove to the restaurant in silence. She didn’t trust herself to talk because she was pretty sure she would have said something stupid like, Hey, Chase, wanna have a fling?
    So she twiddled her thumbs and let the island breeze relax her. She had come to the realization that she wasn’t going to have an island fling after all. Because Chase Yearwood was the only man she wanted to have a fling with.
    And she couldn’t have a fling with him. She just couldn’t.
    When they reached the restaurant, she could hardly believe her eyes. It had everything. It was beautiful, romantic and right on the beach. They sat at a table that allowed them to look out onto the beach and ocean. The soft candlelight flickered off of the white tablecloths around the room. A steel-drum band played in the corner, and there was even a small dance floor. The restaurant exemplified upscale island chic.
    â€œThis is nice, Chase.” Cicely finally trusted herself to say something.
    â€œThe food is good, too. Not as good as my mother’s, but close.” Chase smiled at her.
    â€œThank you so much for taking