her?”
“Hell no.”
O-kay, so that big wave of relief really took her by surprise. “So we hate her then?”
Ryan laughed. “I don’t hate her. She had to do what she had to do.”
“And what exactly was it she had to do?”
Ryan shook his head before giving her a wicked smile. “Like I said, nosy.”
“Inquisitive,” she corrected, loving how easy he was to be with, how much she enjoyed his playful side.
“ R ight , inquisitive.” He grew quiet for a moment and then said, "When I came home injured, she left me. Said I was damaged goods.” Lauren watched him carefully, sensing he was sharing something very private with her.
“Well, you might not hate her, but I do.” Lauren stopped to pull a water bottle from her bag. She took a swig and offered Ryan a drink.
“Thanks.” He took a long swallow and handed it back to her. As they continued forward, Ryan asked, “What brought you to this island, Lauren?” She heard real interest in his voice. “Did you come here because of the magic elixir?”
“I don’t put much faith in it, but if it works, then great, especially where Abby is concerned. Danielle and I are hoping that after some time away from her soon-to-be-fiancé, Abby will see that marrying him isn’t her deepest desire. We’re hoping she’ll indulge in a wild affair and come to understand that not all men are emotionally reserved.”
His voice turned serious. “Do you believe all men are like that?”
“No. But I do believe that the men I attract only want me for my body. Honestly, if the elixir really does work, my desire is to find a man who appreciates me for me, without needing to see my body. A man who looks at me, and talks to me, not my breasts.” She tipped her head and glanced at his dark glasses, the angle of his head letting her know he was looking into her eyes. “Sort of like you’re doing right now. Then again, I guess you can’t really see my body.”
“I can see your body.”
His sexy tone caught her off guard, and then suddenly, the air around them changed. “Oh.” She swallowed. “How much can you see, Ryan?”
“Some days, enough. Other days, not enough.” The sensuality in his voice felt like an intimate caress.
“Today? How much can you see today?”
His powerful muscles bunched as he closed the space between them. He dipped his head and she quivered in response. He caught hold of her hand and the world around her faded. With his mouth close to hers he said in a husky tone, “Not enough.”
Just then the couple they’d chatted with on the boat stepped into the path, breaking the magical moment. Ryan inched back.
“Hey, you two, we’re having a bonfire down at the beach. Come join us.” Kayla hooked her arm through Lauren’s and tugged.
A few minutes later, they all hunkered down onto the sandy shore with the rest of the group. With Ryan so close to her, Lauren had a hard time concentrating on conversation. Everything about him played havoc with her libido as well as her emotions.
Lauren spent the next few hours watching him as they sat around the fire. She watched the way he moved, the way he talked and the sexy way he angled his head and cast a glance her way when he felt her eyes on him. She especially loved the way the sea breeze ruffled his mussed hair when he looked out over the horizon.
Hours later, after the marshmallows had been eaten and group conversation had dwindled, Lauren turned to Ryan and picked up their conversation where they had left off. She appreciated how they could talk about everything and nothing. She kept her voice close to a whisper, ensuring that their conversation remained private. “So, tell me, what’s your deepest desire, Ryan? If the magic elixir was true, what would be the one thing you’d want?”
He rolled one shoulder. “Naturally, I’d like to be able to see again and go back to my old job.”
Lauren grew quiet for a moment and then asked, “What will you do when you leave here?”
“I
“Hell no.”
O-kay, so that big wave of relief really took her by surprise. “So we hate her then?”
Ryan laughed. “I don’t hate her. She had to do what she had to do.”
“And what exactly was it she had to do?”
Ryan shook his head before giving her a wicked smile. “Like I said, nosy.”
“Inquisitive,” she corrected, loving how easy he was to be with, how much she enjoyed his playful side.
“ R ight , inquisitive.” He grew quiet for a moment and then said, "When I came home injured, she left me. Said I was damaged goods.” Lauren watched him carefully, sensing he was sharing something very private with her.
“Well, you might not hate her, but I do.” Lauren stopped to pull a water bottle from her bag. She took a swig and offered Ryan a drink.
“Thanks.” He took a long swallow and handed it back to her. As they continued forward, Ryan asked, “What brought you to this island, Lauren?” She heard real interest in his voice. “Did you come here because of the magic elixir?”
“I don’t put much faith in it, but if it works, then great, especially where Abby is concerned. Danielle and I are hoping that after some time away from her soon-to-be-fiancé, Abby will see that marrying him isn’t her deepest desire. We’re hoping she’ll indulge in a wild affair and come to understand that not all men are emotionally reserved.”
His voice turned serious. “Do you believe all men are like that?”
“No. But I do believe that the men I attract only want me for my body. Honestly, if the elixir really does work, my desire is to find a man who appreciates me for me, without needing to see my body. A man who looks at me, and talks to me, not my breasts.” She tipped her head and glanced at his dark glasses, the angle of his head letting her know he was looking into her eyes. “Sort of like you’re doing right now. Then again, I guess you can’t really see my body.”
“I can see your body.”
His sexy tone caught her off guard, and then suddenly, the air around them changed. “Oh.” She swallowed. “How much can you see, Ryan?”
“Some days, enough. Other days, not enough.” The sensuality in his voice felt like an intimate caress.
“Today? How much can you see today?”
His powerful muscles bunched as he closed the space between them. He dipped his head and she quivered in response. He caught hold of her hand and the world around her faded. With his mouth close to hers he said in a husky tone, “Not enough.”
Just then the couple they’d chatted with on the boat stepped into the path, breaking the magical moment. Ryan inched back.
“Hey, you two, we’re having a bonfire down at the beach. Come join us.” Kayla hooked her arm through Lauren’s and tugged.
A few minutes later, they all hunkered down onto the sandy shore with the rest of the group. With Ryan so close to her, Lauren had a hard time concentrating on conversation. Everything about him played havoc with her libido as well as her emotions.
Lauren spent the next few hours watching him as they sat around the fire. She watched the way he moved, the way he talked and the sexy way he angled his head and cast a glance her way when he felt her eyes on him. She especially loved the way the sea breeze ruffled his mussed hair when he looked out over the horizon.
Hours later, after the marshmallows had been eaten and group conversation had dwindled, Lauren turned to Ryan and picked up their conversation where they had left off. She appreciated how they could talk about everything and nothing. She kept her voice close to a whisper, ensuring that their conversation remained private. “So, tell me, what’s your deepest desire, Ryan? If the magic elixir was true, what would be the one thing you’d want?”
He rolled one shoulder. “Naturally, I’d like to be able to see again and go back to my old job.”
Lauren grew quiet for a moment and then asked, “What will you do when you leave here?”
“I
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