Summer Kisses

‘In what way are you wrong for me?’

‘For a start I’ve never had sex on a desk,’ she blurted out, and then paled in disbelief. ‘Oh, no—I can’t believe I said that—’

‘Neither can I. You’re saying some really interesting things at the moment.’ To give him his due, he didn’t laugh. But he did close his hands around her wrists and drew her closer. ‘I’m guessing that statement has some significance—am I right?’

Jenna stared at a point on his chest. ‘I walked in on them,’ she breathed. ‘She was lying on his desk.’

‘And you think that’s what was wrong with your marriage?’

‘No. The problems in our marriage went far deeper than that. I wouldn’t have wanted to have sex on a desk with Clive, whereas—’ She broke off, and he was silent for a moment.

Then he lifted his hand and slowly dragged his finger over her scarlet cheek. ‘Whereas you do want to have sex on a desk with me?’

‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Well, I don’t mean a desk specifically—anywhere…But that’s crazy, because I’m just not that sort of person and I know I’m really, really not your type.’

‘Number nine on the list. So what is my type, Jenna?’

‘I don’t know. Someone stunning. Young. You’re disgustingly handsome and you’re sickeningly clever.’ She mumbled the words, making a mental note never to commit her thoughts to paper again. ‘I may be naive, but I’m not stupid. You could have any woman you want. You don’t need to settle for a mess like me. And now you ought to leave, because all I ever do when you’re around is embarrass myself. I need to get my head together and think about Lexi.’

‘Why do you want to think about Lexi? She’s out enjoying herself.’

Jenna felt her heart bump against her chest. ‘I don’t want to hurt her.’

‘Is it going to hurt her if you spend the day with me?’ His head was near hers, their mouths still close.

‘No. But it might hurt me. I find this whole situation scary,’ she confessed softly. ‘What if I’m doing this for all the wrong reasons?’ She looked up at him. ‘What if I’m trying to prove something? What if I’m just using you to prove to myself that someone finds me attractive?’

‘That objection wasn’t on your list.’ His mouth was against her neck, his tongue trailing across the base of her throat. ‘You’re not allowed to think up new ones.’

‘I can’t think properly when you do that—’

‘Sorry.’ But he didn’t sound sorry, and he didn’t stop what he was doing.

Jenna felt her insides melt but her brain refused to shut up. ‘What if I’m just doing this because I’m angry with Clive?’

With a sigh, Ryan lifted his head. ‘You’re suggesting that kissing me is an act of revenge?’

‘I don’t know. I have no idea what’s going on in my head. What I’m thinking is changing by the minute.’

There was a trace of humour in his eyes as he scanned her face. ‘When you kissed me were you thinking of Clive?’

‘No! But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a reasonable theory.’

‘Answer me one question.’ His mouth was against her neck again and Jenna closed her eyes.

‘What?’

‘If Lexi wasn’t part of the equation—if it were just you and me—what would you like to do now?’

‘Spend the day together, as you suggested. But somewhere private. Somewhere no one will see us.’ She sighed. ‘An impossible request on Glenmore, I know.’

‘Maybe not.’ Stroking her hair away from her face, Ryan gave a slow smile. ‘In fact, I think I know just the place.’

* * *

The lighthouse was perched on a circle of grass, and the only approach was down a narrow path that curved out of sight of the road.

‘It’s the most secluded property on the island.’ Ryan held out his hand as she negotiated the stony path. ‘Even Mrs Parker has never been down here.’