?Savannah,” Kit said. “This is Rafe. He likes to pretend he’s the supreme ruler of this little island of his. A Napoleon complex, you understand.”
Rafe’s reply was low-voiced and mildly obscene, from what Savannah could hear of it.
Leaving Kit chuckling, Rafe Dancer turned courteously to Savannah. “I can have security here in moments if this man is bothering you, ma’am,” he assured her.
A reluctant smile tugged at Savannah’s mouth. “No, I think I can handle him,” she lied. “But thank you for the offer.”
“It’s my job to make sure my guests are comfortable,” he replied smoothly.
“We’ll be sure and let you know if we need anything,” Kit said, his tone rather arrogantly dismissive.
Rafe only lifted an eyebrow. “I meant my valued guests, of course,” he remarked, making it clear that Kit did not fit into that category.
Kit only laughed and shook his head. “I never could get the last word with this guy,” he said to Savannah.
“I hope you’re enjoying your stay at the resort, Ms.—er—”
“Savannah,” she corrected him with a smile. “And, yes, thank you, I’m having a wonderful time.”
He inclined his head, apparently satisfied with her reply. “Then I’ll let you get back to it. Don’t hesitate to let me or one of my staff know if there’s anything you need. Kit, I’ll be seeing you later.”
The words seemed to hold as much warning as promise. And then Rafe Dancer slipped away into the greenery, as swiftly and silently as he’d approached.
Blinking, Savannah turned back to Kit.
“Forgive me, but your friend is a bit scary,” she said frankly.
He laughed. “If you think he’s scary, you should meet his wife. And their two-year-old terror of a son.”
Savannah was rather surprised to think of the man she’d just met as the father of a toddler. And then she remembered the warmth of his flashing smile and decided that maybe she could imagine it, after all.
“Okay, what are we going to do now? Shall we make passionate love in the bushes or go for a swim?”
Savannah whipped her head up and stared at Kit, not at all certain she’d heard him correctly.
His devilish expression confirmed that he’d said exactly what she’d thought he’d said.
She gave him a quelling frown, though she had to fight an answering smile. “Let’s go for a swim.”
He sighed deeply. “If you insist.”
He would never know how tempted she’d been to pull him into the bushes and take him up on his other suggestion, Savannah decided, resisting an urge to fan her overheated face with her hand.
3
IT WAS EARLY EVENING by the time Kit left Savannah at her door to shower and change for dinner. She entered the cottage with a smile that felt permanently etched on her face.
She’d had a wonderful afternoon with Kit. A picnic on the beach, followed by an afternoon of playful flirtation in the delightfully cool ocean waves. And when he had taken her into his arms and kissed her, with salt water clinging to their lips and dripping down their faces, she’d forgotten about anyone who might be watching as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her wet body close to his to kiss him back.
She moved slowly toward the shower, replaying every moment of the afternoon in her mind, carefully storing the memories. She never wanted to forget the way Kit had looked, stretched out on a beach blanket, the tropical sun washing over his delectable bare chest, glittering in his coffee-colored hair, gleaming in his wicked dark eyes. She’d nearly swallowed her tongue every time she’d looked at him.
He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. But it wasn’t only his appearance that drew her to him, she realized. She enjoyed being with him. She liked him, very much.
Maybe she even more than liked him.
But she refused to allow herself to indulge in if only…
She turned on the shower, then reached behind her ear to remove the splashy red flower Kit had impulsively tucked there while walking her back from the beach. He’d assured her gravely that Rafe wouldn’t mind that he’d picked just one of the many brilliant blooms on the island.