Destination Romance

by Barbara McMahon

  "Damn right!" His hand encircled her neck, slowly pulling her toward him while his head dropped until his lips were inches away. His warm breath fanned her face, mingled with her own, as her eyes widened first in startled surprise, then narrowed as she shook her head.

  He ignored her protest, his warm mouth covering hers. Mary-Kate hesitated, remaining unyielding for a moment, then capitulated as her own desires rose.

  She moved fractionally closer, and moved her lips beneath his. His free hand moved beneath her cover-up to caress her.

  She moved closer, her hands finding their way to the strong muscles of his chest, tracing the hot skin, the smooth muscles that gave strength to his arms. She moved to his neck, to the thickness of his hair. Moving even closer, she opened her mouth to his demands. While his tongue learned the sweet secrets of her mouth, she learned what a man's touch could do to her, what pleasure and delight it could cause. But it was not enough.

  Never mind that he didn't trust her, never mind that he didn't believe her story about being left behind. She didn't care. All she wanted was for this moment to go on endlessly.

  When his hand cupped her breast, pushing aside the scrap of pink that covered it, Mary-Kate shivered and drew back. "Dane, please; Nora--"

  "Nora's at the village. Everyone's there. There's no one within a mile of this place." His hand fondled her breast, feeling it swell to his touch, the nipple hardening to a thrusting peak. "There's no one here but you and me." His voice was low and seductive. He moved to kiss the slope of her breast, to capture its saucy peak in his mouth, suckle gently, rasping its tip with his hot tongue.

  Mary-Kate was thrilled, and scared, wanting more, knowing she must stop now if she was ever to stop. But for another long moment she let Dane kiss her, bring her to the edge of rapture.

  "Dane, stop; I can't let you seduce me." She pushed against his shoulders, closing her eyes against the pain she felt as he pulled back.

  His laugh was as unexpected as it was harsh.

  "Me, seduce you? Sweetheart, I thought you were seducing me!" his voice mocked, his eyes glittering down at her.

  "Well, I wasn't." She wasn't leading him on. She wasn't a tease, as he'd said once before. He kissed her. He started it.

  But you didn't resist. Not at first, her conscience said.

  He sat back and watched her from brooding eyes, his hand still at her waist, gently massaging her hot skin. Mary-Kate could scarcely breathe. She didn't want him to stop, but he had to, or they'd be back where they were a moment ago, and this time she might not say no.

  A long black nose poked over the seat from the back; Marco whined at still being confined in the car. Startled by the interruption, Dane swore softly and opened the door, motioning the dogs to get out. They took off without further invitation.

  Mary-Kate reached for his hand, pulled it slowly away, her eyes wide as she tried to keep the tears that welled from falling. She felt such an inept idiot. Why could other women gracefully get out of situations like this, while she acted like a scared fifteen-year-old?

  "There's a barbecue at the village; that's where Nora is. Everyone's eating together tonight. Want to go?" He stared out of the windshield, his face impassive.

  She nodded. Anything was preferable to being alone for the next few hours. And she dared not trust herself around him.

  "I'll give you a head start on the shower. Be ready in half an hour."

  Mary-Kate scrambled from the jeep, and fled to the house, her breathing constricted, her eyes blurred with unshed tears. She closed the door to her bedroom, and raced for the shower. Once beneath its warm water, she let the tears flow.

  Why can't you play the same game? Or at least be sophisticated when refusing? Damn everything! He probably thinks I'm the biggest prude in America, she berated herself.

  How could she explain to him that she believed in love and fidelity—that she wasn't interested in casual sex, no matter how appealing? And boy he had appealing down in spades. Still, she wanted someone who loved her, whom she could love.

  As she could love Dane Carmichael given half a chance. She felt the strong attraction when she was around him. She thought of him constantly when they were apart. But he had made it very clear that he was not interested in anything permanent. And she was not interested in anything temporary.

  Stalemate.

  She'd go to dinner, and enjoy herself. She would take pleasure in all the different aspects of the island, storing up memories for the days ahead when she would never see it again.

  Mary-Kate was pleased to be at the jeep before Dane. At least he couldn't complain about her promptness. The sun was sinking toward the west, and the breeze from the water had picked up. She wondered if she'd be cold later, but it couldn't be helped—she had nothing to use as a wrap.

  When Dane joined her a few moments later, he nodded and climbed into the jeep. Gone was the would-be lover of earlier. Back was the scowling plantation owner.

  It was better that way, she thought as they started off. Safer for her, anyway.

  The barbecue was in full swing when they arrived. Makeshift picnic tables with wooden benches encircled the large yard in front of the processing plant, and colorful lanterns were strung around, providing illumination. There was a huge barbecue pit with a pig rotating above the fire. Several tables were laden with food.

  Many faces were familiar to Mary-Kate when she walked to the food tables. She smiled at those she recognized, calling a greeting, hoping she wouldn't be called on to remember their names.

  Lisa waved to her and motioned her to join them. Once Mary-Kate filled her plate, she walked across to her new friend. She sat on the bench opposite Lisa.

  “This is great. What's the occasion?”

  “Someone had a pig to slaughter, so we decided on a barbecue. Celebrating today's surfing is as good an excuse as any.”

  Seconds later, Dane's plate was placed beside hers, and he slipped into the bench.

  "How're you feeling, Lisa?" he asked without a glance at Mary-Kate.

  "Great. Morning sickness is finally gone, and I feel wonderful." She glanced thoughtfully at Dane and Mary-Kate and then back at her plate. "Mike'll be along in a minute. He was checking something at the plant. Surfing was good today, wasn't it?"

  "For summer, it was a good day." Dane concurred.

  "Mary-Kate, how did you like it?" Lisa's smile was friendly.

  Dane's leg brushed against Mary-Kate's, startling her. She was instantly aware of the man sitting only inches from her, the crisp hair of his legs rasping against her silky skin.

  She swallowed hard, and kept her gaze on Lisa. Apparently the other woman saw nothing amiss; she was politely awaiting Mary-Kate's response. "I think I'd rather be a spectator to the sport than actually do it. It was totally awesome and scary at the same time."

  "But fun, too," Dane murmured at her side.

  She darted a quick glance at him, and it was her undoing. His eyes twinkled down at her; he knew what his touch was doing, and was amused by her efforts to ignore him.

  "Fun, but overrated—like some other things I can think of," she retorted, glaring at him and deliberately moving to her left a bit to break contact.

  Dane chuckled and turned back to his food. Two could play this game.

  Mike joined them, and another couple—Roy and Joyce. Mary-Kate was glad of the opportunity to thank Joyce in person for the loan of her clothes. The conversation flowed among them, with Mary-Kate listening to stories of the life they lived—so different from her own.

  Mary-Kate felt like she'd developed a split personality—one part of her concentrating on the conversation that flowed around the table, contributing where she could, asking questions about things she didn't know. The other part of her, however, was focused on Dane. His every movement caused her blood to surge, her heartbeat to change rhythm. When his hands picked up the mango and held it a moment before biting into it, she remembered his hands on her that afternoon, on the surfboard, in the jeep. When h
is mouth bit into the fruit she remembered the touch of his lips on her skin, the feel of his mouth enveloping her when he'd kissed her breast, when his tongue had invaded her mouth and brought her to the edge.

  When Roy suggested coffee for the table, Mary-Kate breathed a sigh of relief. She'd proved her point that she could sit beside him and not give way to the clamoring need to touch him, listen only to him. She needed to prove to Dane Carmichael that he had no effect on her.

  Gracefully she shifted positions on the bench, moving away from his disturbing presence, gaining a moment's respite against the assault on her senses that his very nearness, wrought.

  Soft Polynesian music played in the background. Conversations around the various picnic tables gradually died, and everyone watched when one of the teenaged girls stepped into the open and began a lovely, graceful hula.

  As Mary-Kate turned on the bench to see better, Dane turned also, his arm coming around her shoulders. She stiffened for a moment, but, when she glanced at him to protest, his attention was clearly focused on the lovely dancer before them.

  Mary-Kate watched the young girl as she moved through the motions of the song. Her hips gently swayed from side to side, and her feet stepped to the beat of the music as her arms made lovely motions before her.

  "Do you know how to interpret the hula?" Dane's soft voice asked in her ear.

  Mary-Kate shook her head, eyes on the dancer.

  "She's alone... working... The house she has is sad, for it is empty... A man comes to woo her, but when he discovers she is poor he leaves... No others come to woo her, and she is alone... A big storm comes, and the waves crash on the beach, and she is frightened—alone and frightened... When the storm passes, the day is beautiful... She walks along the shore... and finds the body of a sailor... She nurses him to health... and he leaves... and she is alone, but not sad, because she has found love with the sailor... A long time passes... then the sailor returns, with many presents, to stay with the girl... She is no longer alone... she is loved."

  Mary-Kate was enchanted. The pantomime of the song was clear as Dane explained it. The melody was haunting, the theme sad, until the end. Everyone applauded, and the young girl flushed with pride and happiness, bowed to her friends.

  "I bet all tourists who see the hula want to learn it." Mary-Kate turned to Dane, her comment forgotten when she saw how close they were. His lips were only inches from hers, and his eyes were disturbing as they gazed down at her in the light of the lanterns.

  "Of course. The South Pacific is known for romance; that's why people come here, isn't it?"

  She nodded, unable to look away, uncaring what the others at the table might think, what Dane might think. She only wanted to go on looking into his silvery eyes until daylight.

  The music changed, and several couples moved to the center space to dance. Dane didn't ask Mary-Kate; he simply took her hand and led her to the clearing. The tempo was slow, and he drew her into his arms, wrapping his around her as they moved together to the sweet melody.

  One hand was at her spine, the other on her hip where it flared. He drew her against him. Her soft breasts flattened against the strength of his chest, then swelled with longing and desire.

  Her body was pressed hard against his, feeling his muscles move as they swayed and danced. She could feel his desire for her and she looked up into his knowing eyes in startled awareness.

  His mouth found hers and took it in a kiss, passionate, hot and pulsating, in sharp contrast to the dreamy music they swayed to. Mary-Kate moved against him, instinctively moving closer, her hips moving in tempo with the music, her heart beating against his. She was floating on a sea of delight, an endless time of enchantment, lost to the world, as she knew it, alive only to feelings and emotions never before experienced.

  The music stopped. It was several seconds before Dane released her, and drew back, his eyes never leaving hers.

  "Break it up, you two, or you'll start talk," Mike jokingly broke in.

  Mary-Kate flushed in embarrassment and looked away, knowing Dane would be furious now and would withdraw and be impossible to be around. Another song was starting, with a fast beat, and Mike asked Mary-Kate if she'd care to dance with him, since Lisa preferred to sit out the fast ones.

  Smiling at the man for his intervention, she nodded and moved out, ignoring Dane. She did not want to be the latest in the line of schoolteachers who tried to ensnare the man.

  Halfway through the dance, Mary-Kate glanced around, and found Dane sitting beside Lisa, but his gaze was focused on her. She danced with several of the young men over the next few hours, but only to the fast songs. When the next slow song started, Mary-Kate turned to her last partner, only to find Dane before her.

  He drew her into his arms and passion flared. Mary-Kate took a deep breath, and tried to talk calmly, to keep her emotions at bay. "Don't you dance fast ones?"

  "Sure, but why not give the other guys a chance? You'll notice the men outnumber the women by quite a bit."

  "Maybe I should be dancing this with someone else?"

  "No; I don't want anyone else taking you in his arms. Do you?" Dane looked down at her, his face in shadow, hers illuminated by the fire.

  She looked away. In truth, she didn't want to dance any of the dances with anyone but Dane, and she didn't want to be anywhere but where he was. To be in his arms was to be in heaven.

  He didn't pursue it, only drew her closer, burying his face in her soft curls. She relaxed and gave herself up to the enjoyment of the moment.

  Twice more, when the songs were slow, Dane claimed her. The rest of the time, he seemed content to let her do what she wanted; but his eyes never left her. She wondered what he was thinking as she danced with the other men, broke off into small groups, chatting with the friendly island people. It was a good party. Was Dane also enjoying it?

  It was late when people began leaving, late when Dane found her with a small group of mothers, discussing day-camp programs for young children. The topic was interesting, and she felt the frustration of the young mothers because there was nothing for their children.

  The ride to the house was quiet, Mary-Kate thinking about the party, remembering their dances.

  The closer they got, the more nervous Mary-Kate became. In only a few days, the island supply boat would come, and she would be on her way back to the life she knew—the life she'd loved before coming here. She wasn't into summer romances. Yet if he kissed her again, she wasn't sure she'd stop.

  When he pulled the jeep to a stop in front of the house, she quickly fumbled for her seat belt, wanting to escape to the safety of her room. His hand stopped her, unfastened her belt, and held her hand in his.

  "You're not playing your cards right, sweetheart," he murmured.

  Mary-Kate did not want to get into a duel of wits with him tonight. Her emotional state was too precarious. Without much more incentive, she'd throw caution to the winds and take whatever he offered.

  "Thanks for taking me to the barbecue. And for the dances." Her voice trailed off to a whisper.

  "I can't figure you out." Dane's voice sounded puzzled.

  "I know; I can't either," she said, giving him a fleeting kiss at the edge of his mouth and scrambling out of the jeep.

  "Mary-Kate?" His voice followed her as she sought the safe darkness of her room. She closed the door, and undressed in the dark, not wanting to give any invitation to the man on the other side.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The droning of a small plane woke Mary-Kate the next morning. Idly she sought it through the window, catching a glimpse of the low flying craft. It had white and blue markings bright in the clear morning sky. It was the first airplane she'd seen in a long time, and she wondered where it was from and where it was going. It was flying low, so either in trouble or planning to land somewhere on the island. Was there a landing strip?

  For one mad moment, Mary-Kate considered dashing out on the lanai and waving to the plane, signaling her need for help. But the
pilot would likely think she was being friendly. Who'd imagine she'd want to be rescued from such a paradise? Besides, she smiled to herself, where would he land, in the pineapple fields? Wouldn't Dane just love that?

  Time to get up.

  Mary-Kate ate a solitary breakfast, Dane having already gone for the day, as Nora informed her. She didn't know whether to be relieved or not. After yesterday, she wanted some time to herself to sort out her feelings, clamp down on runaway emotions. Make plans for the future. If the supply boat took her to an island with air service, she'd have to arrange to get money sent so she could buy a ticket—and a few outfits to wear until she returned home.

  Without her passport, however, she wasn't sure how easy the trip home would be.

  The days were slipping away as the date of the supply ship's arrival drew nearer. And at anytime the Lombard’s could return. Though Mary-Kate was finding that more unlikely as each day passed. She shook her head at their lack of concern for her safety. What if this had been a deserted island? Or if Dane had refused any help? And how was she to get home without identification and money?

  She lingered over breakfast, but, after that, Mary-Kate was bored. During the school year, she taught, tutored slower students, assisted the drama teacher in the school productions and had homework and tests to grade. She had a wide assortment of friends in Ames, and usually found someone to go shopping with, or see a movie, or go out to dinner when wanting a break from schoolwork.

  Even on the Lombard yacht, she'd had things to do, people to talk to, although she had spent most of the time avoiding the more amorous friends of Rob Lombard.

  She took stock. She had no watch, no clothes- except those borrowed—no money, no credit cards, no passport. When the supply boat came, she'd have to have money. It would cost something for her passage. Once she reached the other islands, it might be a day or two before her family could send her funds, or before she found the Lombard’s yacht. She definitely needed money.

  With the glimmer of an idea, Mary-Kate got up from the table and sought Dane's study. She was too impatient to wait to talk to Dane about her idea; she wanted to work on it, formulate it, and have it all in place before telling him.