by Jaci Burton
She stilled, then turned to face him. "I do not. I'm very nice."
He pinned her with a look. "Yeah, you were all warm and welcoming when I took a seat at your table tonight."
"That was different. You barged in on my time with my favorite book."
"Duly noted. Don't get between you and your books. Otherwise you're totally approachable."
"Okay, maybe not so much. It's not that I don't date anyone famous. I don't date ... anyone."
He pulled her to a sitting spot on the sand. "Okay, now I find that hard to believe. You're young, you're beautiful, and well traveled. This is the time of your life you should be dating your ass off. And you're telling me you don't go out. Why not?"
She shrugged and stared out over the ocean. "I don't have time."
"Okay. I get that you're busy, and you're in high demand. But you get time off."
"I spend my time off with the kids."
"They're teenagers and likely want to spend their time off with their friends."
She didn't answer.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
She still didn't answer, but that gave him time to study her profile. A lot of women didn't like to be viewed at certain angles. Especially the models he'd dated. There were all these angles they'd preferred. Something about head-on being their most attractive feature, or they liked gazing into his eyes, or some such bullshit. Katrina didn't have a problem giving him her profile. And why not? She was stunning from any angle. Or maybe she just didn't want to make eye contact with him, because he was hitting too close to the truth.
"Katrina. You took on a lot of responsibility at such a young age. You're entitled to go out and have some fun, ya know."
"I have plenty of fun when I travel."
He cocked a brow. "Do you? Are you having fun now?"
She gave him a half smile. "Loads."
"I'll bet." He stood, brushing the sand off his butt and legs. He held his hand out for her, then tugged her up. "Come on."
"Wait," she said as he held tight to her hand and pulled her back toward the hotel. "Where are we going?"
He shot her a grin. "To have some fun."
THREE
KATRINA FELT LIKE SHE WAS ON SOME ROLLER coaster, being dragged to the top, only to plunge down the abyss at around a hundred miles an hour.
In the dark.
While blindfolded.
In the short span of an hour, she'd been sent to her room to change. Grant had told her "comfortable," and since she had no idea what he had in mind, she changed into a sundress, plus sandals. She'd thought about objecting. Hadn't he been listening when she'd told him she didn't date?
Why did she even agree to this? She could have told him to kiss her ass, which was her typical response to pushy, aggressive men, especially the ones who asked her out. Though he hadn't asked her out, had he? He hadn't even given her time to ask what the hell was going on. He'd told her to change, that it was high time she have some fun.
Whatever. Fine. She'd have "fun," because it was obvious he wasn't going to go away until she did. Then she was going to bed, because they were shooting again in the morning.
When she'd come out of her bungalow, Grant had been waiting for her. He'd changed, too, into cargo shorts plus a short-sleeved shirt. She had to admit, he was some rather nice eye candy, and not in the typical pretty-boy-model way, either. He was real. Rugged, tall and lean and good to look at.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"You'll see." He held out his arm, which she took, letting him lead her to the front of the hotel, where there was a private car waiting for them.
"Seriously," she asked. "Where are we going?"
"You said you don't get out much. So we're going out."
"I already had dinner."
He held the car door for her. "Never said we were gonna eat."
She knew she should have hidden out in her room tonight. This was ridiculous. Still, it might not hurt to get out a little, and she was curious now.
She slid into the seat and he climbed in after her. The car took them for a ride around the island, to the bay, where they got out at the docks.
"You're not going to throw me in the water, are you?"
He laughed, then took her hand as they walked down the dock. "No."
At the end of the dock was a catamaran.
"I thought we'd take a cruise tonight--see the sunset."
Normally she worked, then she went to her room to read, or hung out near the water. She very rarely went in it--or on it. She loved the water, and getting out on it wasn't the worst idea ever. "Sounds okay."
He held her hand as she climbed aboard, then kept hold of it, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Don't get too enthused."
"I'll try my best."
They were met by the captain and two crew members, one named Jay, who told them all about the catamaran and the cruise, including where they'd be sailing.
"We'll take a tour around the coast of the island, and make sure you're able to catch an awesome view of the sunset tonight. If you'll come forward, we have some champagne."
Grant looked over at her. "I suppose you don't object to champagne."
"I do not."
He held her hand as they moved toward the front of the catamaran when they took off. She took in the sensation of the breeze blowing through her hair. They leaned against the front of the catamaran, and Katrina watched the view of the shore as they pulled out farther into the water.
The sea was like turquoise glass, the waves calm as they turned and began to make a slow, leisurely trek parallel to the shore.
When Jay brought champagne, Grant picked two glasses and handed one to her. Katrina looked around.
"Where are the other people?"
"Just us."
She blinked. "You rented the entire boat?"
"They offered private sunset cruises. I thought that sounded fun. Maybe a little romantic."
She shook her head. "Seems a waste of money. You could fit a lot of people on this thing. And don't go looking for romance with me, Grant, because it isn't going to happen."
"You're welcome, Katrina. I thought it sounded nice, too."
She cocked her head to the side. "Fine. Thank you. But I'm still not interested--"
He held up his hand. "How about you stop worrying about all the things that aren't going to happen, and just enjoy the view--and the champagne?"
She still couldn't believe they were alone on the huge catamaran. What was he thinking? Even worse, what was the boat owner thinking? She mentally counted the number of people that could fit on there, and how much money he could have made fitting all those people on here.
Then again, maybe he'd charged Grant the same amount.
Whatever. Not her problem, since she wasn't paying. She sipped her champagne and decided that was Grant's problem, not hers. If he wanted to waste his money taking a private cruise, he could. She wouldn't have done it, but since he had, she walked along the side of the catamaran, taking in every view since they had the run of the boat. Grant followed behind, commenting about things he saw on the land like fishing boats or shopping areas or hotels and places where people lived.
"Must be nice to wake up to a view like this every morning," he said, noting some of the beachfront property.
"It would be, wouldn't it?"
"I sometimes think about retiring to a place like this someday," he said, his gaze searching out over the shore. "But then I figure after a month or so, I'd be bored as hell and I'd miss civilization."
"I don't know. I could get used to the island life. It's pretty decadent. You wake up in the morning and throw on your swimsuit. If you have to run an errand, you put on a sundress and your flip-flops and head into town or wherever the nearest market is. You get to know all the locals, so you feel safe and protected, and everyone takes care of everyone else. Since I live in such a big city, that idea sounds idyllic to me."
He nodded. "I can see your poin
t. Still, I'd miss going to football games. I'd miss my family."
She looked at him. "They have airplanes for that. You could visit."
"True. But then there are the kids. Wouldn't they be missing out on city life?"
She shrugged. "Who'd miss city life when they could grow up with something like this?"
"You raise valid points, Katrina."
"Or, wait until your kids are grown, then retire to your island paradise."
"Then I'd miss my grandkids, and someone's got to teach them about football."
She laughed. He was a pretty good companion, but she wasn't going to say that because she didn't want him to think she was interested in him. She was just along for the ride because he'd more or less bullied her into coming with him. And okay, the champagne was pretty good.
The boat had slowed. The sun had started to set, a beautiful orange glow sifting through the clouds and melting into the water. The glow sizzled as it sank lower by the second.
With no buildings or trees to obstruct her view, she had to admit this was a stunning way to see the sun set.
Grant held out his hand for her. "Come on, let's move to the front and watch."
She slid her hand in his, mainly because the boat was rocky and she didn't want to fall overboard. They headed to the front of the catamaran, where nothing stood between them and the sunset but the water.
It was a little cooler here, and she shivered.
"Cold?" he asked.
"A little."
He wrapped his arm around her and tugged her against him.
"Kind of makes you feel like you're hovering at the edge of the world, doesn't it?"
She watched the sun dip into the water, imagining she could hear it sizzle. "When I was little, I was always an early riser and I'd dash up to our building's roof whenever I could and watch the sun come up. My mom hated for me to be up there all alone. She was always afraid a strong gust of wind would blow me off the roof. But I loved it there. I felt so free. It was just me up there, all alone, waiting for the sun to greet me."
It took her a few minutes to realize Grant hadn't said anything. She pulled her gaze away from the setting sun to find him looking at her. "Shouldn't you be watching the sunset?"
"You're a lot better to look at than the sunset. And I liked your story about the roof."
She laughed. "It wasn't a big deal."
"Still, you shared it with me and I appreciate it."
She didn't know why she had. Another part of her past she'd divulged to someone who was practically a stranger. Maybe it was the champagne loosening her tongue. Then again, she'd been drinking iced tea over lunch when she'd told him about her parents and siblings, so she had no excuse.
What the hell was wrong with her tonight? She normally kept her past locked up tight. No one knew about it, yet in the space of a couple of hours Grant now knew more than she'd ever told anyone.
Not that it mattered, since after this shoot she wasn't going to see him ever again.
After the sun set, the boat turned around and made a leisurely sail back to the dock. Katrina couldn't recall having a nicer, more relaxing evening, other than being alone and reading one of her favorite books.
Grant didn't talk incessantly, and when he did, it wasn't all about himself like a lot of men she knew. The man was good company. She liked her own company just fine, and mostly preferred it that way, since men were a complication she didn't need in her already too-complicated life.
They both thanked the crew for a nice sail, and he held her hand as she stepped off the catamaran.
There was a car waiting for them at the end of the dock.
"It's like you planned it that way," she said as the driver got out and held the door for them.
"Kind of," Grant said, and slid in beside her.
The ride back to the hotel didn't take long. Grant took care of the tab for the driver, and then held her hand as she got out of the car. There was still a lot of activity at the resort, since it wasn't all that late.
"Care for a drink at the bar?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I need to get a full night's sleep since we're shooting again tomorrow."
He nodded. "I'll walk you back to your room."
"It's not necessary. I know the way."
"I'll walk you anyway."
She shrugged, and he stayed close to her as they made their way to her bungalow. She fished her key out of her bag, then turned to him.
"I had a nice time. Thanks."
"That was probably painful for you to say."
She nudged him with her elbow. "It was not. I can be charming and polite. Even fun."
"I'm sure you can. But I can tell you don't go out much. And you obviously aren't comfortable around men."
She pinned him with a look. "I'm extremely comfortable around men, since I shoot with them all the time."
"That's work. I'm talking about fun. Dating. Romance. You know, romance? That thing you said we weren't going to have together? Or is it just me you don't like?"
Now he was putting words in her mouth, and irritating her. "I never said I didn't like you."
"So you do like me."
She rolled her eyes. "I didn't say that, either."
He laughed, then took the key card from her hand and opened the door to her bungalow. "Get some sleep, Katrina. I'll see you in the morning."
She was kind of shocked he didn't push to come in for a drink, or even try to kiss her. "Okay. Good night, Grant."
He nodded, and waited there while she closed the door and locked it. She put her purse down and kicked off her sandals. When she went to the window to check, he was gone.
Interesting man.
And one she couldn't figure out at all, which was odd, because she thought she knew men very well. But this man she intended to avoid, like she had made avoiding men a practiced art her entire life.
She had made independence her priority, knew better than to trust any man.
I'll never leave you, my printsessa.
She could still hear her father's voice in her head, promising he'd always be there for her.
Right up until he'd disappeared from her life forever, abandoning her and her mother without a word, shattering her world and her trust.
And then her mother had died, and she'd been on her own, spending years carving out the independence she'd worked so hard to attain for herself, and for her siblings.
She'd never let a man--any man--screw that up.
Even if her libido thought otherwise.
Grant Cassidy might be hot and sexy, and her sex drive might be revved up, but her sex drive could be tamped down.
She'd worked for ten years to make a life for herself, to make sure she'd never end up broke and alone. She'd made a careful plan, never once deviating from it.
And no man would ever interfere with her plan.
She just had to keep her body and thoughts under control. She'd done it for twenty-seven years; she could do it for another couple of days.
Easy enough, right?
FOUR
IT WAS DAMNED HOT TODAY, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE to do much oiling of Grant's skin, because he was sweating like he'd just taken the ball himself and run it forty yards for a touchdown.
Good thing they decided on a shady shot, and in the water by some caves, which suited him just fine.
It also suited him that they decided to pair him up with Katrina again. The director told him he liked the chemistry between him and Katrina.
Yeah, Grant was into that chemistry, too. All over it, in fact. He'd like to find out if yesterday was just a fluke, or if it continued today.
They were at the mouth of the rocks in the shallow water. Katrina was in a turquoise swimsuit, some skimpy thing again that barely covered her. And again, she was oblivious to it all, just following directions as they set up the shot.
Grant had to lean against the rocks, with Katrina draped over him. The director was hot about this, saying it would be sexy as hell. Right now
it was uncomfortable as hell and the rock was digging into his back. Good thing he had a gorgeous distraction, and as Katrina eased over his body, her breasts mashing against his chest, his back forgot all about the pain.
"Stretch out, Katrina," the director said. "Now slide your fingers into his hair and extend your legs. That's it. Grant, I want your left hand on her lower back, your fingertips just above her swimsuit bottom. Hold it--that's perfect."
With her close like this, he easily got lost in the blue violet depth of her eyes. And she could really work the camera. Or maybe she was working him, because once again he was struck by her, by the way she looked at him, at the connection he felt when their gazes met.
Nope. Not just a fluke. That pow of attraction was still there.
She shifted, her center colliding with his hip. They were both wet from the water that had been sprayed on them, her hair falling over her shoulders, tickling his chest. At that moment, she started sliding off him.
He grasped her hips. "Are you okay? Uncomfortable?"
"No, I'm fine. Just realigning."
"It's really damn hot today," he said.
"I know."
"I hope I'm not sweating all over you."
"Don't worry about it. A little sweat isn't going to bother me."
"When we're done today, I'm going to take a dive in the ocean to cool off."
Her lips curved. "It's not the worst idea ever."
The makeup and hair team dashed over to fix Katrina's hair and dab some powder on her. The shoot seemed to go on for hours, with adjustment in positions. They draped Katrina over the rock, with Grant leaning over her. He felt bad for her, because he knew how damned uncomfortable that rock was, though she never even winced or complained, just did what she was told.
Though he noticed she arched her back. Now he knew whenever he saw those sexy shots of models thrusting their breasts up, it was probably because they were uncomfortable on whatever surface they were on. He had a new respect for what they had to go through.
Finally though, they finished off on their knees facing each other in the water. They'd taken off Katrina's top, and strategically placed her hair over her breasts. She and Grant were body to body.
"I want your lips practically touching, breathing each other's air. Make this sexy, you two. This is the last shot before we lose the best light."
Her head was angled, her lips full and as he moved in, he could feel her breath sail across his mouth. It was much cooler here in the water, which meant he was focusing a lot less on it being so goddamned blistering hot, and focusing a lot more on the sizzling woman in his arms. He tuned out the cameras and assistants and crew, and concentrated only on Katrina, on the feel of her body against his, the way she breathed, the way her eyes darkened as her lips touched his.