erything from the economy to their shared passion for plain old-fashioned Hershey bars. She'd never enjoyed the company of an adult more—except maybe his, the first night she'd met him.
And on the way home, she felt again the frightening sensations she'd felt that first night. Something she'd never experienced before—or since. The stirrings of desire.
"So, you're going to be stranded on a desert island and you can take one video, one CD and one book with you. What would they be?" Kyle asked as they cruised through the streets of Denver on their way back to Larkspur Grove.
Books. CDs. Videos. Anything but him. "The book would have to be the Bible," she said, thinking carefully. She'd never been more thankful for a diversion in her life. "CD would be the soundtrack from Phantom of the Opera and the video would be Annie.''
Kyle nodded, glanced briefly over and smiled. "Okay, why?"
"The Bible because it's one-stop shopping—mystery, suspense, action, romance, history and self-help."
He nodded again, and Jamie felt inordinately pleased with his approval. "Why Phantom?"
"It's incredible singing, there's lots of variety, a story to follow, and it's filled with passion."
"Passion's good."
There was that feeling again, sliding insidiously through her belly, making her far too aware of his thigh resting so close to her own.
TARA TAYLOR QUINN
"So why Annie?"
"It's about hope. Endurance."
"How so?"
"'The sun'll come out tomorrow,'" she quoted from the song the orphan sings with such gusto. "I figure if a little girl can endure, I can, too."
"I wouldn't have chosen the Bible, but after hearing your justification, I can't think of any other book that beats it," Kyle said, entering into his own game. She'd been afraid to ask, afraid to get that close.
"I'd choose one of those greatest hits CDs they offer on late-night TV for $19.95," he said, frowning as he considered. "Most variety."
"And a video?" she prompted. She had no business getting to know this man.
"One of the Raiders of the Lost Ark series."
Jamie smiled. "Why?"
"Because they make you laugh, for one."
"Superficial." She heard herself digging at him playfully.
' 'Nah, filled with all kinds of inventive ways to do things. I figure if I'm stranded I'll need all the ideas I can get."
Jamie was almost comfortable as silence fell around them.
After a few minutes he broke the silence. "What I'm not taking are planners of any kind." His tone was boyishly defensive.
Bursting into laughter, Jamie asked, "Whyever not?"
' 'They intimidate me, and if I have to be stranded, I'm not going to be intimidated, too."
HER SECRET, HIS CHILD
"But what if there are lions or bears on the island? Wouldn't they intimidate you?"
"Nope." He shrugged. "I've got Raiders to help me beat those."