She gave him a penetrating look. “Heard enough? Can we do without the messy details for now?”
He rubbed his fingertips along his jaw. “Maybe they simply didn’t understand. Is it possible a sudden move to Hawaii, such a spur of the moment decision, was out of character for you?”
Her eyes grew round and she sucked in a breath. “Are you a part-time mind reader?”
“Not at all. You seem steady and organized. My guess is, after breaking up with the idiot ex, for once, you made a snap decision. Fresh start. Take the new job in paradise.”
She gave a faint nod.
On a roll, he crossed his fingers under the table. “Is there a current guy?”
“No,” she whispered.
The knot in his chest loosened.
“My turn,” she said in a firmer voice and lifted her chin. “Is there a girlfriend…or anything, waiting at home?”
Keeping his face serious, he met her gaze. Held it. “No one. No wife, no fiancé, no girlfriend.”
She nodded.
Giddy relief bubbled through him. This was incredible. They’d just exchanged critical information. Gotten past several possible roadblocks. And so early in their relationship.
Whoa. Slow down. Since when was a first date a relationship? They’d only known each other a matter of hours.
He watched her pick up a small piece of fruit. When she placed it in her mouth, he had to stifle a groan. One thing for sure, he didn’t want the night to end.
When the pu pu platter was picked clean, their drink glasses empty, he plucked the largest orchid from his stash, and wiped the stem. Leaning close to Dee, he whispered, “Aloha.” He slid the delicate flower behind her ear. Kissed her on both cheeks
“Mahalo,” she whispered back. “Thank you.”
He sucked in a deep breath. “I’d like to see you again.”
She seemed to consider the question. “Like a second date?”
“Exactly. A southern gentleman never presumes a good-night kiss on the first date.”
“Ah, but at the end of the second date?”
He extended his hand and she automatically shook it. “Good night, Dee Smith. Thank you for the date. I had a great time. Hope we can do this again, real soon.”
“Good night, Major.” She burst out laughing. “Quinn, aren’t you going to walk me to my door?”
“Not yet. I’m asking you to take a walk with me on the beach. I’ve been on my ass since early this morning. I’m seriously tired of sitting.”
“A romantic stroll in the sand. Would that be like a second date?”
“Absolutely. It certainly qualifies as number two. Shall we go?”
“You get us each a Mai Tai in to-go containers, while I check my phone. Then let’s see if our server will stow these killer shoes and my bag.”
“I wouldn’t mind carrying the shoes and purse.”
“Ah, a true gentleman.”
“You bet
CHAPTER 5
DeAnna ducked into the restroom to check for any neglected messages in private. Before the door closed behind her, her phone chimed with a missed call from her newest contact: Quinn. She stared. He must have accidently pocket-dialed her from right outside.
She deleted the notice and moved on to email. She opened a long one from Mr. Martin’s assistant, with a confirmation for the Garden Resort’s Luau later in the week. The accompanying paragraphs noted that hundreds of resort reviewers mentioned the themed dinner show as the highlight of their stay at Fragrant Garden. In particular, honeymooners. She couldn’t wait to find out why.
When she returned, Quinn stood beside their table, studying his phone.
“It occurred to me,” he said, looking up with a smile, “if you want to bring your phone or wallet, I could carry those for you.”
“Thanks, Sir Raleigh, I’ve decided to leave it all at the front desk.” The man was thoughtful. Just one of his many sterling qualities, if you believed Olivia, who bragged about him constantly. Her best friend had a big-brother-crush.
Why hadn’t she met Quinn during her senior year? She started remembering details. He and his roommate pilot had attended a war games deal for two weeks in Las Vegas. Not long after that, they’d deployed.
She had to give Major Quinn kudos for his service and the tough, dangerous job he continued to do. How much would he share? Particularly if she asked him about the deployments? Maybe when they knew each other better.
Outside, the surf was louder, the breeze stronger. Stepping off the path onto the sandy beach, she tucked her arm through Quinn’s. Just before they reached the water line she stopped, breathed in a lung-full of salty air. The tangy aroma of the ocean in front of them mixed with the sweet scents of the garden behind.
“Which way?” Quinn asked.
“If I get us lost, can you find the way back?”
“Sure can.”
She pointed and they headed away from the lights of the resort. After a few steps, they’d adjusted their strides and walked smoothly side by side.
“Tell me about the Strike Eagles,” she asked. “Are there lots of them at your base?”
“Yep, four squadrons.”
She listened as he described the flight-line, the maintainers, and his part in the sorties. Excitement slid into Quinn’s words. He obviously loved what he did. While she listened, another part of her soaked up the deep timbre of his voice. Everything about the man was sexy. He was temptation on two feet.
When he asked about her job on Waikiki, she gave him the bare bones. As she spoke, she realized that like Quinn, she was willing to work her butt off because she loved the work. In the companionable silence that followed, she considered. There were two aspects of the hotel industry she especially loved. Managing the staff and helping unhappy guests resolve their issues.
To hear him laugh, she told him several anecdotes that featured the crazed actions of tourists. Then they were quiet again.
Without breaking stride, Quinn linked his fingers with hers. “Your decision to come to Oahu may have been sudden, but when you talk about your work there, it sounds like you made a good decision, a good move.”
“I agree. But the decision was made on impulse.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “Tell the truth. Have you ever been tempted to chuck it all and run away?”
“Not really.” He appeared deep in thought. “I’ve had bad days. In the last deployment, I had a couple of bad weeks.”
She remained silent. Waited.
“I love to fly. The airmen in our squadron are closer than most families. I’m working for my country. Imagine, they trust me and a pilot with an extremely expensive toy. And the team, maintainers, pilot, the Strike Eagle and me, we make a difference. We can shoot the bad guys out of the sky, or take ‘em out on the ground. Call in an airstrike and we’ll do our damned-est to clear the way for the troops on the ground.”
Olivia’s words whispered in her head. “My brother Eddie is up there with Steve protecting all our nineteen-year-olds on the ground with guns.”
She took in a deep breath. “May I say how proud I am of you?”
“It’s my job.”
Quinn didn’t have a dishonorable bone in his body. He seemed to be a man who cherished the truth. She was here undercover, using a fake identity. While nothing she planned to do was illegal, or unethical, she was misleading him. Better start keeping her distance. Before things got any more complicated. She kicked at a seashell. That resolution would get easier tomorrow, when her busy schedule kicked in.
They made the turn and retraced their steps back to the Garden Resort. As the lights of the hotel’s torch-lit garden got closer, her footsteps slowed. Her second and last date with Quinn was almost at an end. At the hotel, they’d part for the night. Possibly forever.
Quinn seemed to read her mood. Stopping, he gently grasped her arms, turned her to face him. As he looked deep into her eyes, her breath caught in her lungs.
“We should have our first kiss,” he whispered,
“out here in the moonlight, instead of in a hotel hallway.”
Her chest ached. “What a nice idea.”
Moving in slow motion, he leaned closer. His warm hands slid up her arms, across her shoulders until he cupped each side of her face. Angling her head to the position he wanted, Quinn slowly, carefully, pressed his lips to hers. Her heart stopped.
As warmth flooded her, DeAnna swayed forward. Moving into Quinn. Her thighs, her breasts, her lips all pressed into him. He was rock-solid strength, with soft firm lips. She moaned. Lord, the man was a great kisser.
Quinn sent one hand to the nape of her neck. His other arm circled her waist and tugged her closer. They were plastered against each other.
His tongue stroked along her bottom lip. She opened to him and their tongues met and danced. The onslaught of sensations was overwhelming, every inch of her responded.
A burst of raucous laughter sounded close by. Quinn pulled away and partially turned. Shielding her with his body.
As the noise drifted away, he turned back, pressed his forehead to hers. “Guess we’d better get moving,” he murmured.
When she shivered, he asked, “Are you cold?”
Taking his hand, she smiled. “The opposite.”
“Good. Me, too.” He squeezed her hand and started them moving forward. “Let’s talk about tomorrow morning. I’m scheduled for an early tee time. Do you play golf?”
“Not at all.” Tell him you can’t see him again.
“Since I never practice,” he said, “my game sucks. Here on the resort course, carts are required. If we go together, we could pretend to play. Maybe get lost in the rough?”
She laughed. Then bit her lip to squelch the humor. “I’m sorry, Quinn. I can’t. Please remember, I have work obligations, a schedule to keep. Tomorrow, I’ve got an early appointment followed by a full morning at the spa. You need to go ahead and play your round of golf.”
“Since you don’t play golf and I have no intention of stepping foot in the spa, it’s a damn shame we can’t exchange notes.”
“You know we can’t do that.”
“I know, but it’s also a terrific excuse to meet for lunch.”
“And if I did agree to eat with you?” She poked a finger at him. “You’d share your evaluation of the golf course?”
“Tempting, but no. You were right the first time. Unethical. I’ll email my comments to Frank, and burn the originals.” He captured her hand, brought it to his mouth. Kissed her fingers. “Have lunch with me?”
She gently but firmly pulled her hand away. “Don’t push me on a personal level, Quinn. I can’t start something…I can’t afford to play around this week.” She tried to read his expression in the dim light.
“Message received loud and clear. Hey, I respect that, Dee, and I respect you. Let me walk you to your door. Starting tomorrow, we’ll leave everything up to fate.”
* * *
DESPITE A NIGHT OF SENSUAL DREAMS, ones featuring a shadowy man in a flight suit and then the same man in only his birthday suit, DeAnna woke well before dawn. She braided her hair and pulled on her running clothes and shoes.
The resort advertised a variety of lighted jogging paths threaded through different gardens. A solitary run, just the thing to clear her mind. She completed her stretches in the suite, then grabbed the reusable water bottle and a towel. When she reached the closest starting point on her route, she was startled to find Quinn there, down on one knee, tying a shoelace.
He looked up, a cocky smile lighting up his handsome face. “Hey, are you following me?”
She sighed. How had he arranged this? “Would it do me any good to deny it?” she teased. He looked delicious and her stomach knotted.
“No. Let me cling to my fantasy.”
“Yeah, like your ego needs an assist.”
“Good morning to you, too.” He turned all business. “The plan is to jog four miles through the garden routes then onto the beach. About a mile into the beach path, there’s a place to stop.” He checked his fancy wrist watch. “If we time it right, we can enjoy the sunrise from there. Care to join me?”
“You’re calling this fate? Or are you ready to admit you planned this?”
Silent, Quinn met her gaze and raised one eyebrow.
The beach portion of the run ended on a spacious deck facing the sunrise where they joined other joggers stopped to enjoy the spectacle.
Quinn stood behind her, one arm wrapped loosely around her waist as the sky turned pink, then streaks of orange appeared, until finally the rising sun dissolved all the colors and became a brilliant yellow ball surrounded by blue sky.
He pressed his long body to her back, his mouth next to her ear. A shiver of desire shot through her.
“Shall we try the resort’s breakfast buffet?” he asked in a hushed voice.
“Quinn…” He was making this much more difficult than it had to be.
“You must be hungry,” he said. “I know I’m famished.”
Stepping off the low plank platform onto the sand, he threaded his fingers through hers. “You’re going to need your strength to face the rigors of the spa.”
With a gentle tug, he separated them from the other departing joggers. In a wedge of shade, his movements careful and slow, Quinn folded her into his arms.
She remained tense for a moment, then relaxed against him. One kiss.
The two of them fit together just right. After another long moment of anticipation, he lowered his lips slowly to hers. The long, thorough kiss left her body humming, her lungs unable to breathe.
Nuzzling her neck, he murmured, “I’ve been thinking about kissing you like that since last night. This fate deal is sure working great.”
She grabbed his head. Tugged him away from nibbling her earlobe. Forced him to look straight into her narrowed eyes. “So, fate is throwing us together?”
“Seems that way.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“You’re sticking to that story?”
“What can I say? I’m a believer.” He dipped his head and kissed her chin. “Any chance we can change plans today?” He waggled his brows, softening the naked lust in his eyes with a layer of humor. “Give fate a rest and spend the morning together?”
“Not a chance.” Lord, she was tempted. Dee frowned up at him. She, at least, needed to stick to business. “Today’s the perfect opportunity to check-out two of the resort’s biggest offerings. In one morning, I’ll experience firsthand several of the spa offerings and afterward, take a tour of the golf club. I suggest you do the same, in reverse order.” She dodged his mouth and wiggled out of his embrace.
On the final leg of the run back to the resort, heat rose in her cheeks as her mind flashed to last night’s dreams. Only this time, the lover was no longer shadowy or faceless. The dream lover in her flashbacks was Major Edmund Quinn.
CHAPTER 6
In the dining room, Quinn returned from his second trip to the breakfast buffet. He balanced two plates, one piled high with fresh fruit, the other stacked with golden waffles swimming in butter and maple syrup.
His plan to finagle a seat at the same table with Dee couldn’t have gone better. When they arrived for breakfast, the room was full, crowded with hungry guests. Dee approached the beleaguered hostess, inquired about a table for one, and the poor young woman paled.
Seated across from him at their small table for two, Dee’s eyes grew big as he positioned the two plates of food and eased into his chair.
“I’d kill for that metabolism,” she muttered under her breath.
He glanced up and smiled. When the waffles were gone, he switched to the fruit. “Okay, I really like your idea. I’ll check out the spa after golf. Then what time shall we meet for lunch?”
“I can’t have lunch with you.” Her meager bowl of oatmeal long gone, Dee nabbed a pineapple slice from his hoard.
“Hey,” he grumbled. But, giving her a good-natured shrug, he slid his fruit plate to the middle of the table. “Wo
uld it break your ethics code to at least share with me how you plan to format your information?” He doubted she had fill-in-the-blank questionnaires.
“I don’t understand the question.”
“Besides general observations, you’re keeping track of problems you notice.”
“Right.” Dee swallowed the fruit and sucked pineapple juice from her fingertips. A bolt of stark need blindsided him and he choked on a slice of mango.
“You okay?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Mmm,” she said, “I’d recommend including suggestions to address or solve any issues you find. Also, if you can come up with value-added extras that’s good.”
He drained his water glass. “Could you give me an example?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “Sorry.” Maintaining silence while a server refilled both their water glasses, when they were alone again, she whispered, “That’s all I can share.”
Quinn raised one eyebrow.
“You have to appreciate my position,” she murmured. “Yours is basically the same.”
She sat back and sipped her Kona coffee.
“I bet you really know a lot about this hospitality thing.” Quinn gave her a direct look. “How to make people feel special.”
“Thank you. That’ll be why our bosses expect different things from us. I’ll be expected to go into more detail in my reports while yours will be from a tourist’s point of view.”
“If I happen to come up with an idea or two for extras, I’m adding them in.”
He sounded like a man challenged. She’d bent the line to help him. Offered one suggestion to perk up his reports. Had she gone too far? Had she sparked his competitive streak?
AFTER PLAYING eighteen holes of golf, followed by a thorough inspection of the driving range, the putting green, and pro shop, Quinn showered and dressed in the luxurious club house facilities, and walked through the 19th Hole Lounge.
Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads Page 84