his arm.
“You think there’s something I’m hiding from you?” A wounded expression crossed his handsome face.
Pity for her friend just wasn’t going to happen. “I know you’re hiding something from me. The big question is what?”
“Aww, honey.” All the teasing left his voice. “I didn’t want to have to tell you about the two blondes in the hot tub down in Mexico. I know that’s supposed to be our place.”
Regin shot him a disgusted look.
Finally he gave in. “I just like knowing you won’t be out here all alone. That you have someone to watch you. Makes me feel better leaving you here.”
He crossed the porch to sit with her in the swing and lifted one arm to tenderly enfold her in his embrace. Damon then leaned back, stretching his long jean clad legs in front so he could gently push.
Regin tucked her head into the familiar curve of his shoulder and closed her eyes. “Why can’t I fall in love you?”
“Ah, baby, don’t do this.”
Though she knew it wouldn’t be good for either one of them to go down this road again, she couldn’t help herself.
They’d made their choices a long time ago and both had learned to be happy within the confines of friendship. But she still wanted to hear that from him. She tilted her head to peer at him. “Remind me why again? Just to refresh my memory.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “You and I would never make it as lovers. We are too different and want entirely different things from our lives.”
“You don’t know what you want. Look what happened with Tatum?” she pointed out. Immediately he drew away. “No, don’t leave me. We’ve never really talked about it, and now is as good a time as any.”
She unfolded her arms and patted his thigh gently.
“You think you know what you want, Damon. You’ve been told exactly what to look for. Just because something works for your family, doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. Tatum wasn’t right for you and, if you were honest with yourself, you’d admit it. She and Elliot compliment each other. They fight, yell, laugh, and have a good time trying to one up the other.”
She ignored the way he tensed at the sound of Elliot’s name. “You would never have been able to relax enough to do any of those things with her. You expected her to be perfect based on the way she looked and she’s far from it.”
“And what about you?” he asked. “At least I gave having a relationship a chance. You’ve never even gotten to the point of having a second date.” His eyes narrowed.
She pretended to think it over. After a few minutes, she abruptly started to laugh. “You know you’re right,” she said, shaking her head in amazement. “Where the hell do I get off giving anyone love advice? My track record, as we both know, sucks.”
Regin turned and gave him a wide cheeky grin. “You’ve spoiled me for other men. I’ll never love any man the way I love you.” She smiled and pressed her lips to his cheek.
The sound of a man clearing his throat surprised her and made Damon jump to his feet, knocking her to the ground.
“Sorry, Duchess. Your damned neighbor has a light foot.” Damon extended his hand to help her out of the tangle she was lying in on the porch.
Regin clasped his hand in her own and let him pull her to her feet.
She didn’t for one minute believe Galen had just walked up. She did wonder how much he’d heard and prayed he’d heard only the last few minutes.
She turned to glare at him, putting her hands on her hips, and demanded. “What the hell do you want?”
Chapter Five
Damon was shocked to hear the anger in Regin’s voice. Not that he didn’t think she could get mad, but he hadn’t expected her to get angry with the man for simply walking up to the house. If the two continued on this way, she would be off the island and away from Galen’s protection before the week was up. It was up to him to diffuse the situation.
He wrapped his left arm around
“You think there’s something I’m hiding from you?” A wounded expression crossed his handsome face.
Pity for her friend just wasn’t going to happen. “I know you’re hiding something from me. The big question is what?”
“Aww, honey.” All the teasing left his voice. “I didn’t want to have to tell you about the two blondes in the hot tub down in Mexico. I know that’s supposed to be our place.”
Regin shot him a disgusted look.
Finally he gave in. “I just like knowing you won’t be out here all alone. That you have someone to watch you. Makes me feel better leaving you here.”
He crossed the porch to sit with her in the swing and lifted one arm to tenderly enfold her in his embrace. Damon then leaned back, stretching his long jean clad legs in front so he could gently push.
Regin tucked her head into the familiar curve of his shoulder and closed her eyes. “Why can’t I fall in love you?”
“Ah, baby, don’t do this.”
Though she knew it wouldn’t be good for either one of them to go down this road again, she couldn’t help herself.
They’d made their choices a long time ago and both had learned to be happy within the confines of friendship. But she still wanted to hear that from him. She tilted her head to peer at him. “Remind me why again? Just to refresh my memory.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “You and I would never make it as lovers. We are too different and want entirely different things from our lives.”
“You don’t know what you want. Look what happened with Tatum?” she pointed out. Immediately he drew away. “No, don’t leave me. We’ve never really talked about it, and now is as good a time as any.”
She unfolded her arms and patted his thigh gently.
“You think you know what you want, Damon. You’ve been told exactly what to look for. Just because something works for your family, doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. Tatum wasn’t right for you and, if you were honest with yourself, you’d admit it. She and Elliot compliment each other. They fight, yell, laugh, and have a good time trying to one up the other.”
She ignored the way he tensed at the sound of Elliot’s name. “You would never have been able to relax enough to do any of those things with her. You expected her to be perfect based on the way she looked and she’s far from it.”
“And what about you?” he asked. “At least I gave having a relationship a chance. You’ve never even gotten to the point of having a second date.” His eyes narrowed.
She pretended to think it over. After a few minutes, she abruptly started to laugh. “You know you’re right,” she said, shaking her head in amazement. “Where the hell do I get off giving anyone love advice? My track record, as we both know, sucks.”
Regin turned and gave him a wide cheeky grin. “You’ve spoiled me for other men. I’ll never love any man the way I love you.” She smiled and pressed her lips to his cheek.
The sound of a man clearing his throat surprised her and made Damon jump to his feet, knocking her to the ground.
“Sorry, Duchess. Your damned neighbor has a light foot.” Damon extended his hand to help her out of the tangle she was lying in on the porch.
Regin clasped his hand in her own and let him pull her to her feet.
She didn’t for one minute believe Galen had just walked up. She did wonder how much he’d heard and prayed he’d heard only the last few minutes.
She turned to glare at him, putting her hands on her hips, and demanded. “What the hell do you want?”
Chapter Five
Damon was shocked to hear the anger in Regin’s voice. Not that he didn’t think she could get mad, but he hadn’t expected her to get angry with the man for simply walking up to the house. If the two continued on this way, she would be off the island and away from Galen’s protection before the week was up. It was up to him to diffuse the situation.
He wrapped his left arm around
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