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“I’m not wound up.”
She finished the knot at her waist with an extra hard yank, almost cutting off her circulation in the process.
“No?” He sent a pointed stare at the twisted mess she’d made of her towel and she stopped fiddling with it, crossing her arms instead.
Bad move, considering the wicked gleam in his eyes as he dragged them away from her cleavage.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re coming to the island banquet. You won’t want to miss it.”
“That good, huh?”
“Better.” His lowered tone indicated he wasn’t just talking about the banquet.
This is where she struggled. She had no idea if he was being clever or flirty or deliberately naughty, had no idea how to respond without sounding repressed and uptight or foolishly naïve.
“Well then, I look forward to seeing your prowess at organizing events.”
“I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with myprowess.” He took a step toward her, ran his hand lightly down her arm, and she shivered, tiny goosebumps crawling across her skin as she belatedly realized she’d given him the upper hand yet again. “That’s a promise.”
Damn, he was good, too good. She should hoist the white flag now and surrender. He’d won. He’d bombarded her with enough smooth moves and clever words to prove he liked her. Though it was a game to him and she knew it.
Then why the urge to ignore her head, the logical part of her brain she always listened to, the part telling her to jump ship now before she was sucked into believing any of this was real?
“See you tonight.” His husky tone washed over her like a warm wave, soft, soothing, seductive, as he grazed her arm in a fleeting touch before walking away, leaving her helpless and yearning and cursing her inexperience with men more than ever.
* * *
Lana neededa shot of confidence and, in the absence of a ballroom dancing class, she settled for a squirt of that frivolous perfume she’d purchased in Noumea.
Considering her hand still shook as she pulled a brush through her hair, it hadn’t work, and she contemplated staying in and ordering room service rather than face another inevitable encounter with Zac.
Her nerves were shredded. She couldn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t and facing his incessant beguiling barrage would wear her down eventually and she couldn’t handle that.
As she strolled towards the huge marquee about a mile from the ship where the banquet was being held, the warm trade winds ruffling the hair at the nape of her neck, she knew wearing a new perfume and hoping it would give her poise while under duress from Zac’s charisma, was wishful thinking.
Fear settled in the pit of her stomach. Self-talk to stay cool and not let him rattle her was fine in the confines of her cabin, yet how would she stand up under pressure from his persistent charm?
Smoothing her old formal dress with nervous hands, she entered the marquee where suspended fairy lights created a magical effect as they reflected in the water. Tables lined the outskirts, heavily laden with local seafood delicacies, salads, and decadent desserts, and she tried not to drool. Easy, considering a persuasive sailor was nowhere in sight.
Mavis, resplendent in a vibrant teal floral dress and sporting an orange hibiscus tucked behind her right ear, sidled up to her, beaming as usual. “Aloha, dear.”
Lana didn’t have the heart to tell her the Hawaiian greeting wasn’t used here. “You’re looking very tropical.”
“Yes, well, we’ve got to get into the island spirit, don’t we? By the way, where’s your beau? I haven’t seen him.”
“My beau?”
Mavis tut-tutted. “Don’t play coy with me, my girl. I saw the way that sailor looked at you the other day in dance class. I may be old but I’m far from senile and if my eyes didn’t deceive me, I think you liked the attention.”
“No way—”
“Why don’t you live a little and have some fun, dear? You’re only young once.” She snapped her fingers. “In order to do that you need to keep mingling and stop wasting your time talking to an old chook like me.”
Mavis patted her cheek and said, “Say hello to that gorgeous sailor for me,” and waddled away, chuckling under her breath
Lana wanted to have fun, she really did, but ignoring the habits of a lifetime was tough. Even if she knew how to flirt, would Zac be satisfied with that? She doubted it. If she responded, he’d take it as a signal she was interested in more, would probably expect more, and she couldn’t give it to him.
She didn’t do casual sex for a reason, a damn good one, and casting away her inhibitions along with her reservations would be impossible.
