a good sign.“
„There’s nothing like getting back to the real world to put things into proper perspective, is there?“ she returned in
liquid tones. It was the truth.
Again a pause from Lucas. „You never answered my question.“
„About kids? I don’t know, Lucas,“ she replied honestly. „I’ve never spent much time around them.“
„The Scanlon hotel world doesn’t cater to children?“ he drawled.
„Not particularly. We aim more for the international traveler and the vacationing, two-income couple. We get kids
into the hotels, of course, but I rarely encounter them.“
„Or pets?“
She laughed. „I’m afraid we don’t encourage pets, either.“
„Doesn’t it seem like a fantasy world sometimes?“ he persisted gently.
„Perhaps, but it’s a very pleasant fantasy and it’s been good to me,“ she told him firmly. Her tone of voice was
meant to warn him off; he backed down at once, letting the subject drop immediately.
The knowledge that Lucas was going out of his way not to antagonize her or push controversial subjects pleased
Jessica. He was trying very hard not to offend. She relaxed a little more beneath the hot sun as the ship moved with
stately grace toward its destination.
In fact, Jessica told herself as the afternoon came and went, the whole situation was becoming downright amusing.
Lucas was acting as if he were walking on eggs around her. He was considerate, attentive, and careful to please,
obviously determined to prove himself a charming companion. Charming to her, at least, Jessica clarified silently at one
point. What would her aerobic dance companions think about him if they were in her position?
After all, nothing could alter the fact that Lucas wasn’t a wealthy and recently divorced businessman or lawyer. A
pet shop owner wasn’t very likely to be deemed a „good catch“ by some women. But Jessica knew that she,
personally, had never been so deeply aware of, or intrigued by, a man in her life. Now that she seemed to have him and
the situation under control, she could free her mind to examine the curious electricity that sparked between them.
That night she danced once more in Lucas’s arms after dinner, amused at the benevolent smiles the Howards had
showered on them during the meal. It was easy to give herself to the masculine grace of his body on the dance floor,
perhaps a little too easy. Lucas held her close, folding her into the heat of his body. Later they made their way through
the small, glittering casino on a lower deck. Lucas teased her into throwing several coins into a gleaming slot machine
and then they wound up the evening with a walk around the moonlit deck.
Jessica was still asking herself how she would deal with him at the end of the evening as they approached her
stateroom door. He silently took the key from her hand, unlocked the door and stood aside.
As he shut out the corridor behind them, she turned, pivoting smoothly around to find herself in his arms. Jessica
felt the possessive but still-lashed strength in his arms as they circled her, heard her name whispered in a husky,
masculine plea, and then all thought of firmly dismissing him faded from her mind as his mouth found hers. There was
no harm in letting him kiss her, she thought wildly. After all, there had been no harm in him all day.
Whatever she had been subconsciously expecting from his embrace, however, one thing was immediately clear.
Lucas was still bent on practicing restraint in every aspect of the relationship. For some obscure reason, that annoyed
her. Jessica realized belatedly that she wanted him to want her.
Deliberately she leaned against him, her hands sliding around his neck as she let herself respond to the pull of the
undeniable attraction they shared. His mouth seemed to harden with heightened desire, slowly increasing its demands.
Jessica knew a part of her reveled in the reaction she was provoking. Here it was safe to indulge some of the
„There’s nothing like getting back to the real world to put things into proper perspective, is there?“ she returned in
liquid tones. It was the truth.
Again a pause from Lucas. „You never answered my question.“
„About kids? I don’t know, Lucas,“ she replied honestly. „I’ve never spent much time around them.“
„The Scanlon hotel world doesn’t cater to children?“ he drawled.
„Not particularly. We aim more for the international traveler and the vacationing, two-income couple. We get kids
into the hotels, of course, but I rarely encounter them.“
„Or pets?“
She laughed. „I’m afraid we don’t encourage pets, either.“
„Doesn’t it seem like a fantasy world sometimes?“ he persisted gently.
„Perhaps, but it’s a very pleasant fantasy and it’s been good to me,“ she told him firmly. Her tone of voice was
meant to warn him off; he backed down at once, letting the subject drop immediately.
The knowledge that Lucas was going out of his way not to antagonize her or push controversial subjects pleased
Jessica. He was trying very hard not to offend. She relaxed a little more beneath the hot sun as the ship moved with
stately grace toward its destination.
In fact, Jessica told herself as the afternoon came and went, the whole situation was becoming downright amusing.
Lucas was acting as if he were walking on eggs around her. He was considerate, attentive, and careful to please,
obviously determined to prove himself a charming companion. Charming to her, at least, Jessica clarified silently at one
point. What would her aerobic dance companions think about him if they were in her position?
After all, nothing could alter the fact that Lucas wasn’t a wealthy and recently divorced businessman or lawyer. A
pet shop owner wasn’t very likely to be deemed a „good catch“ by some women. But Jessica knew that she,
personally, had never been so deeply aware of, or intrigued by, a man in her life. Now that she seemed to have him and
the situation under control, she could free her mind to examine the curious electricity that sparked between them.
That night she danced once more in Lucas’s arms after dinner, amused at the benevolent smiles the Howards had
showered on them during the meal. It was easy to give herself to the masculine grace of his body on the dance floor,
perhaps a little too easy. Lucas held her close, folding her into the heat of his body. Later they made their way through
the small, glittering casino on a lower deck. Lucas teased her into throwing several coins into a gleaming slot machine
and then they wound up the evening with a walk around the moonlit deck.
Jessica was still asking herself how she would deal with him at the end of the evening as they approached her
stateroom door. He silently took the key from her hand, unlocked the door and stood aside.
As he shut out the corridor behind them, she turned, pivoting smoothly around to find herself in his arms. Jessica
felt the possessive but still-lashed strength in his arms as they circled her, heard her name whispered in a husky,
masculine plea, and then all thought of firmly dismissing him faded from her mind as his mouth found hers. There was
no harm in letting him kiss her, she thought wildly. After all, there had been no harm in him all day.
Whatever she had been subconsciously expecting from his embrace, however, one thing was immediately clear.
Lucas was still bent on practicing restraint in every aspect of the relationship. For some obscure reason, that annoyed
her. Jessica realized belatedly that she wanted him to want her.
Deliberately she leaned against him, her hands sliding around his neck as she let herself respond to the pull of the
undeniable attraction they shared. His mouth seemed to harden with heightened desire, slowly increasing its demands.
Jessica knew a part of her reveled in the reaction she was provoking. Here it was safe to indulge some of the
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