He’d have to get to the bottom of this on his own, and figure out if he was being played by the woman with the starfish belly ring. He wasn’t going to let last night’s kiss cloud his focus. He wasn’t going to let that blue bikini that hugged her hips, and had the good fortune to snuggle up to her breasts, distract him. Absolutely not.
“I’m glad you made it. I thought you’d get a kick out of Happy Turtle Cove, since you named me Happy Turtle,” she said, then dropped her voice to a faux whisper. “But it’s really a cove for turtles. I was just swimming with them.”
Stop. Just stop.
Swimming with turtles was too adorable. Especially when her nose crinkled. A constellation of freckles was splashed across her nose. He hadn’t noticed them yesterday. Briefly, he wondered where else she might be hiding freckles that he’d uncover on a proper and thorough investigation of her fantastic body. Preferably with his tongue, across every inch of her skin. “You were actually swimming with turtles?”
She tapped the mesh bag on her shoulder. “My snorkel gear is in here.” She gestured to her body. “Sorry, I’m still in my bathing suit. I’ll put on a sundress as soon as this is dry.”
“Or just remove the bikini entirely so it’ll dry faster. It’s not ever necessary to put on a dress on my account. I’m completely OK with the bikini as a sole item of clothing on a woman like you,” he said, then nearly smacked himself. He had to stop thinking with his dick. He had to use that head on his goddamn shoulders.
Cover up that body. Put a paper bag over your face. Stop being so damn sexy and sweet. Stop making me think about taking you back to my hotel room and peeling off that bikini and tasting how sweet your sun-kissed skin is.
“I’m glad to know that both nudity and skimpy bathing suits have your sartorial approval. But I actually hope to look somewhat decent when you take me to the Coconut Iguana. My friend Sandy runs it.”
He arched an eyebrow in question.
She tapped her wrist, even though it was bare. She didn’t strike him as a watch wearer. “Lunch time. I’m hungry. So I decided to let you take me out to lunch as a reward for your showing up and following my napkin instructions. Plus, they have the best fish tacos on the Islands, and absolutely amazing coconut drinks,” she said, stepping closer and bumping her hip against him.
A groan rumbled in his chest. Why was the universe torturing him?
He forced his brain to take over. To focus on facts, not lust. Because it made no sense why she’d be hungry, since he’d seen her at a restaurant two hours ago, and she didn’t look like she noshed around the clock. This was another sign that she might be working for the enemy.
“I’m hungry, too. Let’s head to the Coconut Iguana.” He held out a hand, telling himself that lunch was the perfect opportunity to get to the heart of who this woman was. Since she knew Eli, she might be a valuable asset. And if this woman was playing him, he could play her.
Also by Lauren Blakely
Check out my contemporary romance novels!
BIG ROCK, the hit New York Times Bestselling standalone romantic comedy!
The New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights series including Night After Night, After This Night, and One More Night
And the two standalone romance novels, Nights With Him and Forbidden Nights, both New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers!
Sweet Sinful Nights, Sinful Desire, Sinful Longing and Sinful Love, the complete New York Times Bestselling high-heat romantic suspense series that spins off from Seductive Nights!
Playing With Her Heart, a USA Today bestseller, and a sexy Seductive Nights spin-off standalone! (Davis and Jill’s romance)
21 Stolen Kisses, the USA Today Bestselling forbidden new adult romance!
Caught Up In Us, a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! (Kat and Bryan’s romance!)
Pretending He’s Mine, a Barnes & Noble and iBooks Bestseller! (Reeve & Sutton’s romance)
Trophy Husband, a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! (Chris & McKenna’s romance)
Far Too Tempting, the USA Today Bestselling standalone romance! (Matthew and Jane’s romance)
Stars in Their Eyes, an iBooks bestseller! (William and Jess’ romance)
My USA Today bestselling No Regrets series that includes
The Thrill of It (Meet Harley and Trey)
and its sequel
Every Second With You
My New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Fighting Fire series that includes
Burn For Me (Smith and Jamie’s romance!)
Melt for Him (Megan and Becker’s romance!)
and Consumed by You (Travis and Cara’s romance!)
The upcoming Sapphire Affair series...
The Sapphire Affair
The Sapphire Heist
A Seductive Invitation
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much for reading my books! I am so very grateful to each and every reader for making it possible for me to keep doing what I love — writing romance. I am grateful to so many people for bringing MISTER O to your hands. First and foremost, a big thank you to my Brainstorm Mermaid Princess Who Loves Sushi and Chocolate, Jen McCoy. I am indebted to my cover mastermind Helen Williams, my chief strategist KP Simmon, my daily grind gal Kelley Jefferson, my NY eyes Nelle, and all my editors and early readers, including Kim Bias, Dena Marie, and Lauren McKellar. A humongous thanks to my husband and kids! And as always, much love to my dogs!
Contact
I love hearing from readers! You can find me on Twitter at LaurenBlakely3, or Facebook at LaurenBlakelyBooks, or online at LaurenBlakely.com. You can also email me at [email protected]
Mister O Page 25