It was the most words he’d strung together in the short time she’d known him and she wished he hadn’t because his voice was rich and deep and she couldn’t help but listen—and be seduced. And she couldn’t help but look at his mouth as it moved and really those lips alone were seductive enough.
As for what he’d actually said…
The blush deepened. But she didn’t have a chance in succeeding a second time. She’d have to get naked—and that she didn’t want to do. She’d never forgotten the look on Neil’s face. The way he’d recoiled. Everything would change.
‘One night. What do you say? Finish off what we started.’
She melted more into the sand.
‘It was only the beginning, you know.’
If she had any kind of backbone she’d stand and walk away. But her bones weren’t there any more, there was just mush. Wanting, so badly, what she couldn’t have.
He sat up. ‘Tell you what, I think we’ve done this all round the wrong way—topsy-turvy. Back to front. Did the sex before the date. Let’s do the date now.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘I’m serious. Dinner, a drink, some conversation. I think you owe me that at least.’
It was so tempting. And she did owe him. Could she even manage telling him the truth? No. She didn’t want to, didn’t want to see desire fade. She wanted to maintain the memory. Maybe, if she was careful, she could add to it just a teeny bit.
Rhys watched the conflict cross her face. She wanted to, but didn’t want to. Sitting there blushing like a schoolgirl. Apparently mortified over her wildness the previous night. Not her usual behaviour—that was for sure. You couldn’t fake a bodily reaction like that blush. Just as you couldn’t fake the fire between them.
He felt happier than the moment he learned he’d come first in his final med exams. Initial instinct had been right. It wasn’t a ruse. She had no idea who he was. She wasn’t out for a million-dollar baby. He believed her about the contraception. She’d wanted him. Still wanted him. So why the up-and-vanish act? He knew he shouldn’t be pursuing this. He was running a risk—the longer it went on, the more likely he was to be caught out. But as he sat near to her now, his body made up his mind for him, shoving the prickling doubt away with ease. He wanted to know her. Last night humour had sparkled in her eyes. She’d watched her friends flirt with the band with an unholy twinkle. He wanted in on her joke. And, OK, he’d lain awake the entire night harder than titanium, lusting after her again. He’d have her again right now if he could. But he was happy to do the conventional courting thing if that was how she wanted it this time. Given her all-over colour, he figured she wasn’t lying when she said she didn’t usually have one-night stands. So why had she? She’d been so bold. A contrary woman who had secrets. There were definitely secrets in those eyes. Rhys had secrets of his own and he was used to holding them close. But he wasn’t used to others holding theirs back from him.
He inched closer, her nearness not enough. He badly wanted to feel her hair with his fingers again—glorious colour, divine length. From the way her pulse was beating, she was not immune to his proximity. He shifted again so their legs almost brushed. He had her attention. Awareness arced between them. Why did she want to run from it? ‘You know, when I get close to you, you breathe a little faster.’
She nodded. ‘Fear.’
‘Maybe, but I don’t think that’s entirely true. What are you afraid of? You were fearless last night. Utterly fearless.’
She looked up at him. ‘I won’t say it was a mistake. But it was something that can’t ever be repeated.’
His blood ran cold. ‘You have a boyfriend?’ He looked at her hand. ‘A husband?’ A ridiculous knot of jealousy pulled tight in his belly.
‘No!’ She flashed a hurt look at him. ‘What kind of woman do you think I am?’
He relaxed, amused by her fire. ‘Well, I’m not really sure. That’s why I want to spend some time with you. So I can find out.’
‘I’m surprised you want to spend another minute with me, you’re so keen to think all these horrible things—first I’m out for a baby, then I’m cheating…’
‘OK.’ He held up a hand and grinned. ‘Believe me, I want to spend more time with you.’ She didn’t soften. He needed to change tack. He ruefully rubbed his hands over his face as he tried to think of a way to break through. ‘Look, let’s just start over. Completely fresh. Forget all this even happened.’
‘Forget all?’
‘Let’s temporarily forget last night, and totally forget the last five minutes.’
He finally got a glimmer of a smile. He leant a little closer. ‘I’ve just sat next to you—wanting to borrow some sunscreen.’
‘Sunscreen? Oh, come on, surely you can do better than that.’
He laughed. ‘OK, but it’s early morning and I had a sleepless night—’he gave her a meaningful look ‘—and it will do.’ He continued with his latest façade, getting the feel for it. ‘So it’s sunscreen. You’re a nice person, you smile, say sure, and pass me the bottle.’
‘You didn’t want me to rub it in for you?’
He blinked. Hell, yes, rub right where I’m aching. ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves again, OK?’
‘Too fast?’
‘A little.’
Her gurgle of laughter hit him in the solar plexus.
‘Anyway, we get to chatting. We swap names. I’m Rhys and you’re…’
‘Sienna.’
‘We chat idly. I tell you I’m here on holiday and isn’t the weather fantastic? You smile, nod, agree.’ He paused, looked at her expectantly.
She laughed. ‘OK. Yes, it is.’
‘Finally I get around to it. I ask. Have dinner with me.’
She went back to serious.
‘We’re two people on holiday. Why not join forces and see some sights together? Do a little dinner. Maybe we could hit a club afterwards?’ He caught her eye. She was blushing again and quickly looked away. Damn, he should’ve put the damper on the gas jet.
But then she spoke. ‘What about lunch?’
Lunch. She was playing safe. Tortoise speed rather than hare. He figured he should be glad it wasn’t ‘maybe a coffee’. Right now he was happy she was still in the game. Besides, a long leisurely lunch could lead to a long lazy after
noon—or not so lazy. A chilled bottle of sauvignon blanc and seafood perhaps? They could go to…
He halted. No. He was supposed to be as much of a tourist on holiday as she was, foreign to this town. They’d have to go to a place foreign to him. Actually he’d prefer they didn’t go to a restaurant at all. He wanted to keep out of the spotlight, to stay in this small stretch of beach. An idea bubbled. He answered. ‘Lunch would be fantastic.’
She smiled warily. ‘OK.’
It was his turn to look wary. ‘So it’s a date? You’re not going to disappear?’
‘No.’ She seemed both decisive and apologetic. ‘I’ll be there.’
‘The foyer of the hostel over the road? Midday? You’re sure?’
Her smile peeked out again. ‘As sure as you are.’
He couldn’t hold back any longer. Reaching out, he took her hand. The fire flashed. He looked at where his skin touched hers. Looked back to her face and saw it in her serious expression. No exaggeration. The current rippled from her through every inch of his body. ‘Good.’
He got away then. Needing some space to think, to plan, to perfect his new persona. He approached Reception quickly. Happy no one else was around. It was the same guy, looking ragged around the edges. He got a smile this time.
‘Maitland, wanting to check out?’
‘Call me Rhys. Don’t you ever stop working this desk?’
He shrugged. ‘I need the money.’
‘I need a few more nights.’
‘Sure. How many?’ He tapped at the computer with a cunning smile. ‘Find what you were after?’
Rhys gave him a narrow-eyed glance. ‘Maybe.’
He walked out of the hostel again, straight to the taxi rank—soon in the back of a car and heading to his apartment. He pushed away the guilt with determination. Rhys Maitland didn’t want to be Rhys Maitland for a couple of days. He wanted to be free and on holiday and able to do whatever—just Rhys. Maitland, Monroe, Smith—what was in a name? Justifying it because he couldn’t not. He’d gone a step too far to backtrack now and he wanted to be with Sienna more than he wanted to risk being honest with her.