“What do you want?”
She swallowed and somehow found the courage. “I want to feel your mouth against mine. I want to taste you. I want you to taste me. I want you to want me,” she whispered, realizing she’d made herself completely vulnerable.
“If it’s in my power, I will always give you what you want,” he said in a deep, rough voice.
He lowered his mouth, and she waited and wanted. The music began. She felt the first brush of his lips and melted. The wanting got worse.
She reached for him, but her fingers were suddenly empty. He was fading.
She panicked. “No!” she cried, but he’d turned into mist. “Don’t go.”
The dampness from her eyes woke her. Her breath backed up in her chest, and she blinked hard, staring at her ceiling. “Oh, God.” She threw an arm up over her eyes. “It was just a dream.”
Katherine rolled onto her side and curled into a ball. The anguish still flowed through her. It was worse than a nightmare. Her subconscious had played the most cruel of jokes on her this time. That she could please a man was impossible. God knows, she’d tried every trick in the book with her ex-husband. Making love had been the most awkward, humiliating experience of her life.
Twice now, she’d dreamed of Al and heard that damned music in the background. It was because of that kiss this afternoon. Her lips tingled even now at the memory. She touched them.
Unsettled, she kicked off the covers. She was too warm, yet goose bumps stood up on her skin. Why was this happening to her? What did it mean? She took a deep breath, fighting and accepting the crazy truth. It meant she was vulnerable to Al Sanders, and she’d best watch her step if she didn’t want heart trouble.
After a busy Saturday spent checking in the new week’s campers, Katherine was glad to escape for a late-night swim. She took a little extra time in the ocean, knowing she’d pay for it tomorrow morning. Finally, she reluctantly left the warm, caressing waves.
There was Al standing on the sand, next to her T-shirt. The crazy dream flashed through her mind, and her heart tightened in her chest. Willing herself to relax, she made her way to his side and reached for her balled-up T-shirt. She’d forgotten a towel again.
Al’s gaze lingered on her wet, scantily clad body for a long moment, then he draped a towel over her shoulders. “I brought this for you.”
His kindness made her contrite for being so guarded. “Thank you. It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Al sat down and patted the sand beside him. “Join me.”
Katherine paused in the act of rubbing herself dry. He’d done it again. Was that a request or an order? Then again, after midnight, who cared?
“I love the ocean,” she said, watching the pulse of the whitecaps against the sand. “During the school year I live in Greensboro. So I really miss it then.”
“You’re going to miss it even more when Pirate Island is sold.”
Katherine stiffened. “How—”
“You got a call from Mr. James Logan. He’d heard from someone in Charles City, and he wants to tour the campground with you tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.”
“Tomorrow!” The news hit her like a brick. Even though she knew selling Pirate Island was for the best, taking this next step hurt. She wasn’t ready emotionally or logistically.
“Oh, this is just great.” She stood and struggled with her T-shirt. “We’ve got a ton of children’s activities planned tomorrow morning. It’s supposed to rain, so all the parents will be dumping their kids on us.” Trying to pull the armhole of the shirt over her head, she made a muffled sound of frustration. “What is wrong with this shirt?”
“I’m sure Chad and the others will cooperate with you once you tell them your plan,” Al said, deftly righting the shirt for her.
She jerked the shirt on and glared at him. “I don’t want Chad and the others to know. For that matter I don’t want you to know. But I guess it’s too late for that.”
“And your uncle Jasper?”
Katherine gripped his arm. “Swear you won’t tell him.”
“I won’t. But you shouldn’t have to do this alone. You care too much about this place. You can trust me.”
Katherine stared at him. She almost believed him. He stood there so tall, so sure, so strong. She could feel muscles like steel beneath her fingers. She dropped her hands, but he caught them.
He was getting too close. She felt crowded. She’d always felt more comfortable helping others than being helped. Katherine tried to pull her hands away, but he wouldn’t allow it. She pulled her gaze from his instead.
“Let me help you,” Al said in a low murmur that sent goose bumps down her arms. “Call it payback,” he offered. “You took me in when I needed help.”
“I didn’t want to.”
“But you did.”
Katherine finally succeeded in pulling away. “I don’t know you.”
Al shook his head. “You know me. You told me so yourself. You’re not following your instincts.”
Her stomach fluttered, but she held her ground. “My instincts with men haven’t been very reliable.”
“Then you must follow my instincts.”
Katherine blinked and checked the hard planes of his face. He was serious. “Has anyone ever told you you’re the teeniest bit autocratic?”
Alex considered that. “No. People are grateful for my advice.”
“Or maybe they’re just too intimidated to point out your arrogance,” she muttered.
Alex was just about to firmly address her breach of protocol when he remembered that Al Sanders wasn’t due any special treatment. He stared down at the woman who got under his skin more than any other had and reined in his consternation. “I prefer to call it confidence.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that,” she said in a dry tone.
“Are you so frightened of me?”
He watched her face and realized he’d hit a nerve. His quick surge of triumph gave way to something less comfortable. He took her hands again.
“Can’t you just leave me alone?” she whispered, hoping to appeal to his mile-wide chivalrous streak.
Alex shook his head.
A lump of dread formed in her throat. The sheer power of his personality overwhelmed her. He was so sure of himself. His hands, she noticed irrelevantly, were warm and firm, just as they’d been in her dream.
He pulled her closer.
Katherine’s heart raced. Oh, no. Not on the beach. Not when she felt weak and confused.
Not tonight.
Not any time.
Chapter Three
It was inevitable, Katherine realized. She braced herself, stiffening her body, closing her eyes and tightly pursing her lips. Then she waited.
For a moment nothing happened. His hands still held hers, his breath mingled with the night breeze against her cheek, and his body emanated heat and power, but he didn’t move any closer to her.
Then he rubbed his lips across her cheek and chuckled next to her ear. The tickling vibration of his voice had her curling her head toward her shoulder. She opened her eyes and glared at him for laughing at her.
“You look like you’re