The only problem was that everything in the island boutique was geared to leisurely, fun-in-the-sun clothes. There were no suits, not even jeans because it was hot outside with only the sea breeze to cool you off. There was actually a pair of gray sweats lurking on the back shelf, but Lea dismissed them. Xander would melt in them.
She moved on to a pair of navy shorts with a white anchor pattern. This was more like it. Her mind filled with an image of Xander in them, showing off his well-defined calf muscles. The man was a walking advertisement for the benefit of working out daily.
She picked up a white T-shirt with Infinity Island emblazed across the front of it. Her gaze moved to the section of the shop with the more intimate items, but there was no way she was buying him underwear. Not a chance. She had to draw the line somewhere.
She started for the checkout but realized she was being silly. If she could have his baby, she could pick out some boxers. Still, it felt like something a girlfriend or, dare she say it, a wife would do. As she scanned over the various colors and styles, her mind conjured up images of Xander wearing them.
She resisted the urge to fan herself. Boy, was it getting warm in here. Eager to get this over with, she grabbed a few pairs of extra-large boxers. If he wanted something else, he could come here and shop for himself. With her face still warm, she started for the front of the store, passing by the rack of flip-flops. She grabbed a pair. He would be all set to go—to go home to Athens.
With her purchase made, Lea headed back to her place. Soon Xander would be gone and then she could relax. She glanced at the time. The once-a-day ferry would be arriving at lunchtime and he could hitch a ride back to the mainland. Whatever he’d hoped to accomplish by coming here wasn’t going to happen.
He had his life.
And she had hers.
Could they stay in contact for their child? If he wanted. She didn’t have any qualms about updating him on the progress of the pregnancy.
And that was exactly what she planned to tell him when she entered the bungalow. She dropped her purse on the living room couch and moved to the guest room. She knocked on the open door but got no response. It was then that she noticed the sound of running water. She moved to the bed, hoping to leave the clothes there and get out before he came out of the shower. She’d just placed the bag from the boutique on the bed when Xander emerged from the bathroom.
A billow of steam surrounded him like he was some Greek god. His hair was still wet and spiky. His face and shoulders were damp. And beads of water trailed down over his muscled chest before being absorbed by the fluffy pink towel slung low over his trim hips.
Lea swallowed hard. It was like having her very own hot-guys calendar come to life—not that she had such a calendar. But after seeing Xander, the idea was tempting. So long as he was in it. But then she knew she’d never switch the month. It’d always be Xander’s month.
He cleared his throat, drawing her gaze upward. “Is that for me?”
Heat rushed from her chest to her face, scorching her cheeks. With great reluctance, she glanced away. “Yes, there are some, uh, clothes. They should fit.” And then realizing she shouldn’t be here at this particularly awkward moment, she said, “I’ll, um, wait for you in the living room.”
“There’s no need for you to run off.” A knowing smile lit up his face.
But Lea didn’t look back and didn’t pause until she’d reached the kitchen sink. Noticing that her mouth was parched, she grabbed a drinking glass from the cabinet and filled it with some ice-cold water from the fridge. She downed the entire thing in one long gulp, but it did nothing to cool her down. Thankfully he would soon be on that boat and out of her space. Not much longer now.
“Thanks for the clothes.” Xander’s voice came from behind her. “But you didn’t have to.”
“It’s the least I could do—” The words died in her throat as she turned to him. On second thought, she should have gone with the sweat suit. Then he’d be just as uncomfortably warm as her.
The T-shirt barely fit him as it was pulled tight over his broad shoulders and chest. The man could probably lift one of her in each hand without breaking a sweat. His waist was narrow. And the shorts didn’t hang as low as she’d have thought. She definitely had a view of his legs—legs that weren’t tanned. Her gaze moved to his arms. They weren’t tanned, either. The man definitely spent too much time in a suit.
She could ask him to stay. He obviously needed some downtime in the sun. But that was not a good idea. She did not need any more complications.
He moved to the couch and sat down. “No more distractions. We need to talk.”
He was right. It was time to get it all out there in the open. “I don’t expect anything from you if that’s what you’re worried about. I can take care of the baby.”
He patted the couch cushion next to him. “Come over here.”
She didn’t trust herself being so close to that sexy hunk of a man, but she refused to let on that he still got under her skin. She forced her feet one in front of the other. She perched on the edge of the couch, leaving as much space between them as possible.
She could still remember how good his kisses were and how his hands created the most arousing sensations wherever he touched. The mere memories sent her heart racing. When her gaze met his, there was a challenge reflected in his eyes.
She glanced at the clock on the stove. “If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss the ferry. It’s the only one today.”
“Is this the way it’s going to be?”
She turned her full attention to him. “How what is going to be?”
“You and me. How do I even know the baby is mine?”
“I’d like to think that no one would lie about such an important thing. But you obviously don’t trust me. So after the baby is born, a test can be done. But there’s no way I’m having one of those great big foot-long needles stabbed into my stomach.” She visibly flinched at the memory of what she’d seen on the internet. She didn’t like needles. They all looked huge to her.
“I want to trust you, but I’ve had people lie to me in the past about much smaller matters.” Pain reflected in his eyes.
“It’s understandable that you would want confirmation. It isn’t like we’ve been in a loving, committed relationship.”
His eyes widened. “Is that what you want? For us to marry for the sake of the child?”
“No.” It was a short, straight-to-the-point answer.
His gaze narrowed. “Are you sure?”
Why was he pushing this so much? Surely he didn’t think marriage was a good idea, did he? It was not even like they were in love. They were, well, they were friends at best. And not very good friends at that.
“I’m sure.” Her tone was firm. “Besides, you don’t have time for a family. You’re always working.”
“I can make time for everything—” Just then his phone buzzed and he retrieved it from his pocket.
“Point proven.”
After nothing more than a glance, he returned the phone to his pocket. “So you’re planning to do this all on your own?”
“If you mean raising the baby, then yes, I plan to be a single parent. It’s not like there are a lot of single guys on the island. Most are bridegrooms or a guest of a wedding party. They generally bring a date and don’t flirt with the island staff.”
“You’re going to stay here on the island and raise the baby?”
“This is where my ancestors were born and raised. It’s