I'Ve Got You by Louise Forster Page B

didn’t mean she missed the wicked gleam in them. He looked relaxed, casual, as he rested an elbow on a raised knee, chin cupped in the palm of his hand. She hoped his thoughts about her were similar to those she had about him. Without thinking, Belle gave him a slow seductive smile. He cleared his throat, adjusted his shorts, grinned and his sexy dimple appeared.
    Wow! She actually had an effect on him, it wasn’t her imagination. After all this time it felt good to have the tables turned.
    â€˜Hmm, trouble with your shorts?’
    â€˜You don’t know the half of it.’ He chuckled. ‘Are you ready to head out?’
    He lifted his cap high enough for her to see his eyes that held a determined expression full of delectable promises. Could it be that all her fantasies about Kabe were hers for the taking?
    Ensuring her voice wouldn’t falter, she cleared her throat. ‘Sure,’ she said without a hint that every bone in her body had turned liquid. ‘I don’t need shoes, do I? You’re not wearing any,’ she added, a little too brightly.
    â€˜If it becomes a problem, I’ll sling you over my shoulder.’ Belle gave him a look, which he ignored. ‘You’ll get hot in that though,’ Kabe said, inclining his head towards the tracksuit. ‘Shame, the sheet tangled around you, was …’ and he stopped right there and grinned.
    â€˜Are you going to misbehave all day?’ Belle’s I’m-not-amused look contradicted the humour she couldn’t keep out of her voice.
    â€˜Depends,’ Kabe casually replied.
    She eyed him, hands on hips, lips pursed, head slanted, trying to look like she had sass; she soon gave up that pretence, and clambered down the steps. She struggled to the makeshift clothes line, and yanked off her damp clothes. She quickly dressed and discovered that her practical, wide legged shorts had shrunk. She couldn’t close the top button, and pulling at the waistband made no difference. ‘Bugger!’ And her T-shirt had also shrunk—upwards . ‘Bugger! ’ Belle pressed her lips together otherwise she might let fly with unsuitable language and then she’d have to explain what had provoked her outburst. At least this way he might not notice. She looked down at herself. ‘Yeah right.’ She gathered her shirt to one side and tied a knot in it, and slung her camera around her neck.
    Belle came out on deck as if nothing were amiss.
    â€˜Can I borrow this?’ she asked, holding up a cap.
    * * *
    Kabe’s mind floated in girlie calendar heaven, with Belle on every page. And here she was, living, breathing, stunning, just for him. He didn’t notice the mast pressing against his spine. Yeah, Mr Cool in a hot daze, which he couldn’t hide, not even from under the shade of his cap. She had bunched her T-shirt up exposing a lightly tanned, firm midriff. It was going to be a long, but interesting day. Was that a bellybutton ring glinting in the sun? He hadn’t noticed her shorts were so loose and skimpy yesterday, but then he hadn’t time to notice anything except saving her from drowning. His eyes dropped to her shapely legs then slowly drifted up her torso to her lovely face.
    Belle moved closer. ‘Hey—I know you’re not asleep under there—far from it. For goodness sake, anybody would think I was wearing a string bikini.’
    â€˜You got one?’ he asked hopefully, while peering up in to her sweet, fresh face.
    She ignored him. ‘You haven’t answered me yet—can I borrow this?’ she asked again, jiggling the cap in front of him.
    â€˜Sure,’ Kabe drawled lazily, ‘I’d like nothing better than have you slip into something of mine.’
    Belle raised an eyebrow. ‘I already have, twice … Forget I said that! This is a cap, can I borrow it?’ she asked unable to hide her amusement.
    Yeah, Kabe thought , you have. With