Handing it to Drew, she asked, “Would you mind rubbing this on my back?” She reached around and tugged the bow on her red bikini, letting the strings fall to her sides.
After a click of the cap, warm hands began caressing her body. He slicked the lotion from her shoulders, down her spine and back up again. The sweet scent of coconut filled the warm air and tickled Lacey’s nose. Just one more thing to love about being in the tropics.
Although it had to be nearing ninety degrees, her skin tingled beneath his touch. This man… this wonderful genuine man ignited something so pure in Lacey, she couldn’t believe he was real. No, Drew was a man who rivaled all others she had known. And even with all her creativity, she never could have conjured up a kind man like him.
“Mmm…” Lacey let out a groan as Drew’s hands traveled the length of her legs, and when they reached her bottom, he let his thumbs sneak beneath her bathing suit. God, how she could get used to his attention. Why hadn’t she met him before she’d met Kevin? If that had been the case, maybe her heart would be more accepting of what he wanted to offer.
“Do you like that, Lacey? Because I could spend all day doing this.”
She tilted her head enough to see him, but not enough that would raise her chest and expose her breasts to anyone in the nearvicinity. “Yes, and that would be fine with me.”
Drew stroked her skin a few more times before clicking the cap shut and tossing the bottle of lotion back into her bag. “How long do you think you’ll stay?”
Lacey had to think about a few things. She promised herself nothing would get in the way of acquiring Pete Carson’s business, but if she worked a little bit there on the island, as she had that morning, then she wouldn’t feel as guilty. But she also promised her friends she’d be back for the holidays. “I’ll probably leave right before Christmas Eve. I suppose that isn’t too extended, but it would mean a few more days.”
“More time to woo you,” Drew shot back, waggling his brows and tossing in a wink for good measure.
She shook her head and let out a giggle as he moved over to his side of the chaise and took off his tank top. Lacey didn’t think she’d ever tire of looking at him. Every ripple of his torso, the definition in his arms, and the delicious vee that disappeared beneath the waistband of his board shorts—he was better than any male model in one of her company’s marketing campaigns. Rather than get her body in a tizzy, she closed her eyes and let herself drift away with the sounds of the ocean.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but when the scent of mango and strawberries hit her nose, Lacey opened her eyes, blinking away the bright sun until her pupils were ready to accept daylight.
“Did you have a nice nap?” Drew asked, popping a piece of fruit into his mouth.
Lacey reached around and retied her bikini top, looked down to adjust the front and make sure hergirlswere in place, and turned onto her back.
“I did. Sorry I conked out on you.”
“No worries. Listening to you talk in your sleep is fun.”
If Lacey wasn’t awake before, she was now. Her pulse raced and she thought of what she could have possibly said. Was it embarrassing? About him? Did she dare ask? No. Some things are better left not knowing.
“Oh, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Lacey smirked, leaning over Drew and purposefully grazing her breasts on his stomach until her hand reached the container of salad and silverware wrapped in a white napkin, which sat on the low table beside his lounger. “Is this for me?”
Drew chuckled. “Yes.” He handed her a bottle of water from a small cooler sitting next to him. “Has anyone ever told you that you do that?”
She twisted off the cap and took a sip. “Nope.”
The way Drew’s eyes sparkled in the sun made all her cares float away. She didn’t need to know what she’d said, if she’d said anything at all. And that was what she was going with… maybe he was just teasing her.
“Okay, but just so you know… you did it last night too.”
Lacey shrugged. Drew smiled, lay back, and closed his eyes, leaving her to wonder what she could have possibly said.
Chapter 10
Lacey:I want to get some souvenirs. Up for more shopping?
She giddily watched three little dots dance on her screen.
Drew:Meet you in the lobby in ten?
Lacey couldn’t keep her lips from curling up at the corners at how quickly Drew agreed to more shopping. Most men she knew despised it. But Drew proved once again that he wasn’t like most men.
Lacey:Perfect!
Lacey grabbed her beach bag and noticed a piece of paper that had been slid under her door from the front desk. Once again she smiled, looking at her new checkout date. She removed theDO NOT DISTURBsign from her door and left, waving to the housekeeper.
The elevator doors slid open on a ding. Drew stood in the lobby, laughing with an older couple. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he extended his hand. She took it and smiled at the couple.