“Sweetheart? Really. You’ll like this surprise.”
He bent to her and kissed her. Then he helped her onto the boat and in minutes, they were headed out to sea, he at the wheel and she in the curve of his encircling arm.
She lifted her face to the sun.
The day was perfect. Bright blue sky. Puffy white clouds. Turquoise sea.
And Roarke.
Roarke, holding her close to him.
Roarke, her amazing lover…
“Jen?”
“Mmm?”
He cleared his throat. “I’ve been selfish.”
“What?” She looked at him. “You? Selfish?”
“I haven’t taken you off the island. Not once since you got here.”
“You think that’s selfish?” She laughed. “I love the island. Why would I want to leave it?”
He smiled.
“That’s good to hear. Hell, it’s more than that. It’s important. I want you to love the island. I want you to love Susanna.” He paused. For the first time since she’d met him, he sounded nervous. “I want…”
She saw a muscle knot in his jaw. Suddenly, he swung the wheel hard and took them into a small cove where he shut off the engine. He turned to her and what she saw in his eyes made her breathless.
“The thing is,” he said gruffly, “that what I really want is for you to love me.”
She stared at him, speechless.
The muscle in his jaw twitched again.
“Dammit,” he said, “I’m not doing this right. I’m trying to tell you that I’m in love with you.” He waited. And waited. Then he cursed softly. “Jen. Say something. Tell me—tell me—”
No, her head said, Jennifer, don’t…
But her heart didn’t give a damn about her head.
“You don’t have to want me to love you,” she said. “Because I already do.”
Laughing and crying, she went into his arms.
* * *
He started the engine and took them further into the cove. They anchored just off a white sand beach.
Roarke explained that the island was uninhabited.
“It’s beautiful,” Jennifer said, gazing at the pristine beach and its tall, lush palms.
“Constancia packed us a lunch. We can swim and lie in the sun and talk.” He touched the tip of his finger to her lips. “In other words, we can do absolutely nothing but be together.”
“That sounds perfect.”