Without a doubt, she was in trouble. They’d been gone two days, and here she was getting all tingly whenever she looked at him.
Of course, she wasn’t going to do anything about it. That would be too foolish to consider. But there was no law against looking—if she could keep herself from doing something obvious, like drooling.
Five
His wristwatch alarm woke Dean and he was surprised how soundly he’d slept. He sat on the side of the bed and looked out the sliding glass doors. The sky was turning to a deep blue as the day faded. Checking his watch again, he went down the hallway and knocked on Jodie’s door.
There was no response.
Finally he opened the door and saw her sound asleep, a cover thrown over her.
“Jodie?”
No answer.
He walked over to the bed. “Jodie, it’s time to wake up.”
“’Kay,” she mumbled into the pillow without moving.
Giving in to temptation, he turned on the radio on her night table and turned up the volume, which certainly did the trick. She jerked up on all fours and looked all around in alarm.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, trying not to smile.
She sat back on her heels. “Oh. Guess I should have warned you. I’m a sound sleeper.”
“I gathered that. I’ll let you get ready and meet you in the living room.”
“Are you going to wear your new clothes?”
“Absolutely,” he said and removed himself from the room.
“Wow,” she said to him when she joined him later. “You’ve definitely gone native.”
“When in Rome…” he said with a shrug, trying not to stare.
She wore a tropical print with a sea-blue background. It looked to be wrapped around her, revealing her shapely shoulders and hugging her delectable body. There was little evidence of the secretary tonight.
“What do you think?” she asked and slowly turned in a circle.
He swallowed. “Looks good. Fits nicely.”
She laughed. “Actually it’s a wrap. The clerk showed me how to put it on. I’m wearing an honest-to-goodness sarong.”
That’s when he knew he was in serious trouble.
She walked toward him. “I also bought this shell necklace to go with it.” She took his arm. “This is going to be so much fun, I just know it.”
He silently agreed—if he could survive the evening without grabbing her and kissing her senseless.
* * *
Jodie decided that the luau was everything she’d dreamed about and more. Foods—some she liked better than others—and mai tais, a drink she’d never had before and found delicious, all added to the occasion. The native dances called to her. She had no idea how the women moved their hips so rapidly to the beat of the drums.
It was the drums that kept her pulse throbbing. She glanced at Dean beside her, who seemed to be enjoying himself and the entertainment. She glanced back at the young women. They really were something. Every man there watched them with avid eyes.
She leaned against his shoulder and gave him a slight nudge. “Think you could dance and play the drums like that?”
He glanced at her. “I wouldn’t attempt to try. Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Oh, yes.”
“You might want to go easy on the rum drinks. They have a delayed kick.”
She looked at her almost-empty glass. Was that her second one or her third? “Oh. They taste like fruit juice.” She glanced over at his glass. “What are you drinking?”
“Piña colada. Want to try it?”
“No, thanks.” She sipped on her drink. “There can’t be much rum in this or I’d be able to taste it.”
“You’re not much of a drinker, are you?”
“Not really.” She grinned. “But I’m on vacation, so I thought I’d indulge.”
The drums came to a sudden stop and Jodie looked around. The dancing girls were carrying leis in their arms and placing them around each guest’s neck.
She liked the way Dean looked with the flowers draped over his shoulders.
“Are you ready to go back to the condo?” he asked.
“Sure.” They had walked along the beach to this location and would walk back. He helped her up and she realized that she was a little dizzy. Maybe Dean had been right about the drinks.
He slipped his arm around her waist and she naturally did the same to him. He looked good tonight. The shorts he’d chosen to wear showed off his muscular legs. She smoothed his shirt beneath her hand, enjoying the feel of him. She smiled to herself. This was definitely a romantic evening, and Dean was fulfilling her fantasy of a midnight stroll with someone she cared about.
As they ambled along the edge of the water, she looked up into the sky and said, “I’ve never seen the stars so bright.”
“Big cities tend to put off too much light to see the stars.”
“That explains it.” She rested her head on his shoulder. The sound of the surf added a sensuous rhythm to the night. She’d never been this close to Dean before and she inhaled the scent of his aftershave.
His warmth radiated along her side, and her body tingled everywhere they touched.
“It’s going to be hard to top this experience,” she said dreamily to break the silence that had fallen between them. They turned toward the path that led to the condos. When he didn’t answer, she lifted her head and looked at him. He looked grim as he stared ahead of them. She eased away from him and promptly stumbled.
He grabbed her arm to keep her from falling.
“I think you were right about the drinks,” she said ruefully. “I’m beginning to feel the effects.”
He opened the door to the lobby for her and waited until they were in the elevator alone before he said, “I’m afraid you’re going to have a bad headache in the morning.”
They stepped out of the elevator and he unlocked the door to the condo. Once inside, she replied, “Probably. But it will be worth it.”
He nodded. “Hope you feel the same way in the morning.” They walked toward their bedrooms. They reached hers first.
“Thank you for tonight. I hope you weren’t bored,” she said.
“Not at all. I don’t think I gave the business a thought for, oh, at least thirty minutes.” He grinned at her.
She smiled. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about you.”
“A good-night kiss would be nice.”
His comment caught her off guard. It was the last thing she’d expected to hear from him.
“Of course,” she said and leaned toward him. She closed her eyes, expecting a peck on her cheek. Instead he slowly drew her into his arms and brushed his lips against hers. What was happening to her? Was it the rum that suddenly made her melt against him…and put her arms around his neck?
By the time he loosened his grip, they were both gasping for air.
“I’ve wanted to do that all evening,”