“Not many. Unless you’re a celebrity and can afford to go to secluded islands on your vacations.”
She shook her head again and looked at me with longing. “This is going to sound crazy because we only met a few hours ago but I wish you didn’t have to leave.”
The longing in her eyes and voice caused my breath to catch, but I didn’t like her insinuation that this was all we could have. “You live in Naples and I live in Sanibel. It’s not that far. Dating is doable.”
Regret lined her face and I knew what she was going to say before she opened her mouth. “There’s something about being on this island that makes me feel like it has to stay here.”
My heart twinged. It sounded sweet and romantic except for the fact she was shutting the door on me contacting her after this. “It doesn’t have to.”
“It does.”
“Why?” Was my timing with this woman always going to be wrong? When we were kids she was two years older and popular, which was a huge barrier. Now any chance was thwarted by her asshole ex and her fear of me being what—a rebound? She was going to discount whatever happened between us as being too soon or just a one-day distraction.
Her face pinched. “I’m not ready for anything else.”
“Hmm. That’s a valid point, but what if running into me on this island was the best thing that ever happened to you?” I stopped, turning to face her, her hand in mine as I brushed a wayward strand of hair off her forehead. “What if your ex was meant to cheat on you so you would be available to meet me? What if I’m your destiny—I’m your future?”
She rubbed her arm as if goose bumps had formed at my words, and hope shined in her eyes for a second before she visibly shut down. Her eyes shuttered and her shoulders slumped. “There you go with talk of fate again. I don’t believe in that. I’m not a dreamer, and the reality is that my last relationship didn’t work out, so why would this one? Especially when we’ve only just met.”
“I’m not promising it would.” Even if I had high hopes. “But if you don’t give this a chance you’ll never know. You’ll always wonder what if. I’ll always wonder what if. If you want good things in your life you have to be open to them.”
“Wow.” She smiled. “You certainly have a way with words.”
“Only around you, it seems.” Normally, I wasn’t this forward. But I only had this small window of time to convince her.
It was then I noticed it was cooler. The sun wasn’t shining through the canopy of trees anymore. I looked up to find dark clouds rolling by. “That doesn’t look good.”
She pulled her phone from her pocket. “It’s two-thirty, we better head back.” Her voice was filled with regret and sadness.
Why wouldn’t she let me in? Why was she allowing her ex to dictate her future? I’d give her time to heal from her last relationship, but I hoped she’d at least give me her number before I left.
Chapter Five
ALLY
“The winds are really picking up,” Ryker said, walking faster, “and I don’t like the look of those clouds.”
I had noticed the path was darker, no light was coming through the trees, and when I looked up, dark storm clouds moved quickly across the sky.
When the first raindrops fell on my nose, Ryker gripped my hand tighter. “Come on. Let’s run. I have a feeling it’s going to be pouring in a second.”
It was so windy now that if I’d responded he wouldn’t have heard me anyway. I ran as fast as I could to keep up with him. We didn’t slow until we reached my cottage. I unlocked the door with shaky fingers and shut the door behind us. Water dripped off our clothes, leaving a puddle at our feet.
“I need a shower.” I toed off my sneakers, my teeth chattered, and I hugged my arms around myself. A hot shower was all I could think of.
“I’d like that too but I need to get back.” He glanced at the clock on the wall, which read a few minutes before three.
“I’m going to run over to the Inn and see what’s going on with the boat.”
I didn’t want him to leave, not after that kiss we shared. I’d hoped we’d have more time together. The thought of being alone seemed even worse than when I’d first arrived. But he was only here for the day and he needed to go back. “Of course. Should I come with you?” As realistic as I tried to be, I didn’t want to say goodbye to him. I didn’t want to watch him get on that boat.
He rubbed my arms with regret in his eyes. “No, stay here and warm up.” He walked quickly to the bathroom, coming back out with two towels. He wrapped one large fluffy towel around me. Was it too much to hope that he’d stay and take a shower with me? My skin tingled as he rubbed me dry.
“I don’t want to go.” His voice was strained.
“I don’t want you to go either.” I bit my lip, wondering if I should have admitted that. I sounded so vulnerable and after what I went through with my ex, I wasn’t ready to be with anyone else. How could this one chance encounter stir up all of these emotions in me? Emotions I hadn’t felt in three years with Jon.
Ryker sighed, dropping his hands from my shoulders. “I have to. I’m due back at work tomorrow and the boat is my ride home.”
“I understand.” He was being practical and I needed to be too, but then he asked, “Can I call you?”
I wanted to say yes so badly but something held me back. It was too soon. The pain of Jon’s betrayal should have been too raw … except it wasn’t.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized what I had with Jon was nothing compared to how I felt about Ryker walking away after a few short hours together. I said I didn’t want to continue this when he left, but now I wasn’t so sure. Would it be a mistake to let this amazing man walk out of my life? He was sexy, but he was also sweet and kind. It might not work out, but shouldn’t I give it a chance—give him a chance? I licked my lips, tasting the raindrops. “Okay.”
His face lit up with a smile so huge it was breathtaking.
“That smile is dangerous.”
“That’s good to know.” And he smiled even wider.
I handed over my phone for him to input his name and number.
He placed the phone on the table by the front door, put his hands on my hips, and pulled me against him. My mouth opened in a gasp at the feel of his hardening erection through our towels and clothes. My hands explored the ridges of his chest. I could barely feel the chill between the warmth of his hands, his body, and his gaze on me. I wanted to tear off all of his clothes and trace the raindrops down his chiseled chest to the defined abs with my tongue. My core clenched as I thought about where else I wanted to lick and suck.
Ryker groaned, lowering his mouth to mine. This kiss was nothing like the one we’d shared by the creek. This one was hard and demanding. I could feel his desperation and his reluctance to leave. Was this why I wanted him so badly? Because I only had him for a few hours? Or was there something different about this man? Because I’d never reacted so strongly to anyone else.
He ripped his mouth from mine, our breathing ragged. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I’ll check in with you when I’m home.”