Summer Escape with the Tycoon

And so did he.

And he met her gaze—his was warm and alluring as a smile crawled up his cheeks.

Nerves went from her belly to her chest, making it hard to breathe. He slid across the hot tub to her side, not too close, and sat on the seat at the edge, his arms spread along the top of the tub on either side. “So,” he said, and she noticed that his hair was damp at the edges, making it nearly black.

“So,” she parroted, trying to act nonchalant. Huh. This usually wasn’t a problem. She had a reputation for being cold in the courtroom. Unflappable. Right now she was definitely feeling...flapped.

“Come here often?” He lifted an eyebrow, and she couldn’t help it. She giggled a little.

“We have to stop meeting this way,” she replied, playing into the cliché.

“Of all the gin joints...”

She really laughed now and pushed her damp hair out of her face. She could feel the curls against her fingers; the steam and dampness had taken her simple waves and made them go a bit crazy.

“This is a great spot,” she said, leaning back to look at the stars that had popped out overhead. “I mean, I know this is supposed to be some great adventure tour, but I feel as if I’m in the lap of luxury. Wineries and great food and a massage and a soak in a hot tub. It’s positively indulgent.”

“Enjoy it now. In a few days we’ll be roughing it.”

“I know.” While they were getting along so well, she decided to let him in on a little secret. “I’ve never been camping.”

“Never?”

She shook her head.

“I went when I was a kid. Summer camps and stuff. I’m sure the gear here will be a little more high-tech than what I was used to.”

“What were you used to?”

He looked over at her, his smile lazy. “Four of us crammed into a two-man tent with sleeping bags and pillows. No mats or air mattresses. But it might have been the best time of my life.”

“Really?”

“Except for the time we were clearing out and we found a huge spider in the tent. Our camp leader came in and sprayed the heck out of it with bug spray. The thing was coated in white foam and it still didn’t die for a good five minutes.” He gave a shudder. “I’m not saying I’m wimpy about spiders, but that thing was huge.”

Her eyes were feeling rather huge at the moment as she stared at him. “Um...are there big spiders here?” she asked.

“Nothing poisonous, I don’t think. Sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

“I’m not,” she defended, determined to appear steady when inside she was picturing a spider in her tent and trying not to shudder at the thought.

But the mood had changed a bit, and Molly felt a bit off balance. She hadn’t really been tested so far on this trip, and now she was afraid of looking silly in front of him as the more challenging aspects were just ahead. He seemed so...capable. Of anything.

“Just think, though,” he said soft

ly. “We’ll be out there surrounded by nature, seeing orcas and sea lions and who knows what else? It’s pretty amazing.”

“I’m trying not to be intimidated.”

“But you are?”

She nodded, deciding to confide a little. What would it hurt? That was the whole purpose of the trip, wasn’t it? To stretch her boundaries a little? Besides, after this trip was over, she’d never see him again. There was some safety in that.

“I’m good at what I do, but I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life.” Especially since Jack’s death, when she’d been left an only child. “I’m not used to feeling vulnerable. So while kayaking with killer whales sounds amazing and exciting, it’s also way out of my comfort zone. I mean...” She gestured down at herself. “I’m this size. And an orca is...”

“Much, much bigger.”

“I have this fear that one will swim under my kayak and flip me over.”