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‘No secret—somewhere special…somewhere private.’

Private? How well did he intend them to get to know each other? Lisa’s heart started pumping. ‘How much more private does it get? This is your island, isn’t it?’

‘Why don’t you wait and see?’

Tino was right. The tiny cove they sailed into was completely secluded, and the only sound apart from the rolling surf was the beat of a thousand wings as birds rose in a cloud as they approached. The boat puttered in with its engine idling, and when she leaned over the side Lisa could see tiny fish swooping in vast shoals beneath them. ‘Come and see this,’ she called excitedly, forgetting the state of their relationship.

Cutting the engine, Tino joined her at the rail. ‘We’ll have to swim ashore. I can’t take her in any closer.’

‘What about our food?’

‘I’ll just drop anchor.’

Lisa turned to watch Tino pad across the deck. He looked like no businessman she’d ever seen before. The ones she was used to dealing with were somewhat lacking on the strong-tanned-leg front…and on the muscular-torso front too.

‘Food?’ he reminded her when he came back.

‘What? Oh, yes, the food.’

‘Well? Where is it?’

‘In the galley.’

‘So, go and get it.’ He folded his arms.

It seemed compliance was her lot—for now, Lisa accepted grimly.

‘There’s a waterproof ice-box in the galley,’ Tino called after her as she hurried off. ‘Fill it up with our provisions, and then attach the rope you’ll find on the shelf. When you’ve done that, give me a shout, and I’ll carry it up.’

‘I can manage.’

‘I’ll carry it up.’

She turned and they stared at each other unblinking.

‘I’m just going to check the lobster pots to see if I have a treat to take home for Stella,’ he told her steadily, ‘and then I’ll come down and get the ice-box and carry it up for you.’

When Tino returned he was as good as his word. Leaning over the rail, he carefully lowered the ice-box as close to the sea as the rope would allow. He let it drop the last couple of feet and then sprang onto the side-rail. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you up.’ Crouching down, he reached out to her.

Take his hand? Not in a million years.

‘Have it your way.’ He straightened up, balancing easily on the narrow rail as the boat rocked to and fro.

‘You mean I’ve got to dive in…from up there?’

‘Unless you’d rather go to the stern and climb down the steps.’

‘No. This is fine for me.’ Thrusting her hand into Tino’s, she let him help her up.

‘You’d better take this off before yo

u try to dive in.’

Lisa gasped as he tugged off her wrap. ‘That’s pretty slick. How many times have you done that before?’

‘Do you care?’

‘No, of course not.’