The Return of the Rebel

He realised he’d gripped her warm, slender hand for a moment too long and he released it.

She glanced down at the menu on the table, then back up at him, the smile still dancing in her eyes. She knew. Of course she knew. A woman like this would be used to the most powerful of men stuttering in her presence. ‘Have you ordered lunch yet? I can recommend the grilled snapper, freshly caught this morning.’

‘Thank you, no. I’ll order when my friend gets to the table.’

One winged auburn eyebrow quirked. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘A lady friend?’ She flushed. ‘Forgive me. None of my business, of course.’

‘Nothing to forgive,’ he said, pleased he’d given her cause to wonder about the sex of his lunch companion. ‘While I’m waiting for him, I’m admiring the view of the harbour,’ he said. ‘It’s really something.’

But the view of her was so much more enticing.

‘No charge for the view,’ she said. ‘It’s on the house.’ She laughed, a low, husky laugh that made him think of slow, sensual kisses on lazy summer afternoons.

He couldn’t look at her in case he gave away the direction of his thoughts. Instead he glanced to the full-length windows that faced east. ‘I reckon it must be one of the most beautiful harbours on the south coast.’

‘Hey, just on the south coast? I say the most beautiful in the whole of Australia,’ she said with mock indignation.

‘Okay. So it’s the very best harbour in Australia—if not the world,’ he agreed, playing along with her.

‘That’s better,’ she said with a dimpled smile.

‘I like the dolphins too.’

‘You mean the real ones or the fake ones plastered on every building in town?’

‘I didn’t see them on every building,’ he said. ‘But I thought the dolphin rubbish bins everywhere had character.’

She put her hand on her forehead in a theatrical gesture of mock despair. ‘Oh, please don’t talk to me about those dolphin bins. People around here get into fights over whether they should go or they should stay, now Dolphin Bay has expanded so much. It was such a sleepy town when they were originally put up.’

‘What do you think?’ he asked.

‘Me? I have to confess to being a total dolphin-bin freak. I love ’em! I adored them when I was a kid and would defend them to the last dorsal fin if anyone tried to touch them.’

She mimicked standing with her arms outstretched behind her as if there was something she was shielding from harm. The pretend-fierce look on her face was somewhat negated by her dimples.

In turn, Sam assumed a mock stance of defence. ‘I’m afraid. Very afraid. I won’t hurt your dolphin bins.’

Her peal of laughter rang out over the hum of conversation and clatter of cutlery. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ She pretend-pouted. ‘I’m harmless, I assure you.’

Harmless? She was far from harmless when it came to this instant assault on his senses.

‘Lucky I said I liked the bins, then,’ he said.

‘Indeed. I might not have been responsible for my actions if you’d derided them.’

He laughed. She was enchanting.

‘Seriously, though,’ she continued. ‘I’ve lived here for most of my life and I never tire of it, dolphins and all. April is one of the best times to enjoy this area. The water’s still warm and the Easter crowds have gone home. Are you passing through?’

He shook his head. ‘I’m staying in Dolphin Bay for the next week. I’ll check in to the hotel after lunch.’

‘That’s great to hear.’ She hit him with that smile again. ‘I’m the deputy manager. It’ll be wonderful to have you as our guest.’

Could he read something into that? Did she feel even just a hint of the instant attraction he felt for her? Or was she just being officially enthusiastic?

‘Let me know if there’s anything you need,’ she said.

A dinner date with you?