Visit Fortune’s Landing lighthouse
“She’s very specific. We have a few lighthouses on the island. I haven’t been to any of them since I was a little girl. I remember the one at Fortune’s Landing because the stairs seemed like they went on forever. I’d love to go in it again.”
Wish upon a star
Visit the winery
Read a novel
“Our friends own the winery,” she said. “That’ll be fun. And I can recommend a great novel for you to read. It’s called It Lies, and the author lives on the island. It’s super scary.”
Aiden’s lips quirked up. “Not much scares me.”
“We’ll see,” she said, and continued reading the list.
Window-shop
Eat a huge ice cream sundae
Nap in a hammock
Go to a bonfire
Eat with your hands
“Eat with your hands. Done!” She continued reading, wondering why she wasn’t doing all these things, too. It was the perfect list for a beach vacation.
Watch the sunset
Watch the sunrise
Take an evening walk
Flirt with a woman
“I’m pretty sure you can knock this off, too.” She pointed to flirt with a woman, and a low laugh rumbled from his lips.
Feed a seagull
Go skinny-dipping
Eat dinner with new friends. NO talking business!
Have a picnic with a friend (preferably a female)
Go dancing
Get your groove on. NOT your business groove!
She looked up, catching him watching her with an amused expression.
“Crazy, right?” he said.
“No. I want to live by your side for the next three weeks. I love picnics, and I haven’t had one—or done most of these other things—in a really long time. I’d like to do all of them. Well, except maybe the last one, unless grooving to music is an option. Not that I don’t want to get my groove on with you, because I’d totally be into that.”
He flashed that devastating grin, and she realized what she’d said.
“Oh my gosh. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“That’s a shame.” He chuckled, making her laugh, too.
“Ugh. Just . . . never mind. Forget skinny-dipping, by the way. I haven’t gone since I was a teenager, so that’s all you, big guy.”
“Skinny-dipping alone? What fun would that be?” He reached for the phone, his hand engulfing hers, and he stepped closer. The woodsy scent of sandalwood embraced her, and his piercing stare rooted her in place as he said, “I bet you’re excellent at skinny-dipping and getting your groove on.”
His seductive tone brought a rush of desire.
“I have to admit,” he said, holding her gaze, “I like the idea of you living by my side for the next few weeks.”
Me too.
“The only way to check these things off my list is to prove it with a picture. Would you mind if we took a selfie together?”
She couldn’t resist teasing him. “How do I know you won’t use it for some other purpose?”
“Because I don’t need a picture for that. I’ve got the image of you in those skimpy shorts etched into my mind.”
“Oh boy, you are good at the flirting thing.” And she loved it!
“Good to know, because I rarely do it. Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “Why not?”
“Not the hell yes I was hoping for, but I’ll take it,” he joked. He pulled up the camera on his phone, slipped an arm around her waist, tugging her against his side, and said, “Smile, gorgeous.”
He smelled delicious. His body was firm and broad, and they fit together as perfectly as a puzzle, like she belonged at his side. How could she do anything but smile?
“That should make your sister happy,” she said.
“The heck with my sister. That one’s mine.”
She tried to ignore the quickening of her pulse and poked his ribs, feigning a scowl. “You said it was for your sister.”
“It is, I promise. I just wanted to get a rise out of you because I love your facial expressions. You wear your heart on your sleeve, like Olive, and that’s a rare and delightful quality.”
Her heart stuttered. “But you said you were worried about her because of that.”
“Because I don’t want her to get hurt. I’m not worried that I’ll hurt you, Abby.”
Abby wanted to believe that, but her mother had lied to her so often, she was hedging her bets.
He pocketed his phone and said, “Why don’t I open the shutters and those barn doors so we can air this place out.”
“You don’t have to help.”
“Didn’t we just agree that I’m helping you today and you’re sticking by my side for the duration of my vacation, helping me with all those things on my list?”
“You’re serious?” She wanted to do a happy dance, but she couldn’t believe he was willing to give up his vacation time to help her clean the filthy restaurant.
“Do you think I know how to fly a kite or where I can go skinny-dipping without ending up in jail?” He pointed at her with a devious glint in his eyes and said, “A person’s word is gold, Smiley. That’s the first rule of good business, so think twice before backing out on me.”
His endearment only made her smile harder. “Are you kidding? It’s a win-win for me. I get the use of your muscles to help clean up this mess, and I get to have fun doing things I haven’t done in years with a guy who knows how to pull coffee favors. I’m in. But do you want to go change or something? That’s a really nice shirt, and it might get ruined.”
He looked down at his shirt and shrugged. “You’re probably right.” He began unbuttoning it, revealing a dusting of chest hair and lickable pecs.
Lust pooled low in her belly. “Wait! Stop. You . . . um . . . Don’t do that. Button up. I’ll buy you a new shirt if it gets ruined.” Her words came out too fast and flustered, causing him to laugh. “Don’t laugh at me. You’re like one giant distraction! How would you like it if I took my shirt off?”
A wolfish grin appeared, and he said, “I definitely would not tell you to stop.”
She rolled her eyes, but she loved his sense of humor. As he rebuttoned his shirt, she said, “You are not some regular guy here on vacation. Regular guys don’t look like you, carry around imported coffee beans, and set up breakfasts fit for a queen.”
“Aw, come on, Abs. I’m a regular guy who has a touch of class and likes good coffee.”
Abs? No one had called her that since she was a little girl, and she loved it. Guess he didn’t think of her as a stranger, either.
He rolled his shoulders back and said, “And I will reiterate my earlier sentiments. You need to raise your bar on your man standards. A beautiful, smart woman like you should be used to being treated like a queen.”