angled his lips over hers. He slid his strong hand into the hair at the base of her neck, anchoring her in place while his other hand clutched the small of her back, bringing her flush against him.
She braced herself to endure his kiss. Didn ' t all men think they were world-class lovers? Instead of boredom, an unanticipated surge of pleasure almost buckled her knees as her lips willingly parted and his tongue aggressively mated with hers. The heat of his body engulfed her, molding her smaller frame against his with shocking intimacy.
For a moment she reveled in the unique sensations, allowing herself to respond even though she knew better. Suddenly the insistent bulge of his arousal chilled her like an arctic wind across Waikiki.
She pulled back her head, her lips still inches from his. " You creep! "
" Temper. Temper, " he chided with an infuriatingly sensual grin that said he didn't take her one bit seriously. He kept his arms locked around her, pinning them together f rom chest to thigh. He bent for ward as if to whisper something. His lips grazed her ear and she bit back a moan. Then he nipped gently at her earlobe and took its softness into his mouth.
Suddenly her body felt heavy and weak, yet alive with sensations that she'd never felt before this mo ment. He moved away unexpectedly and she rocked back on her heels. His eyes were almost black now, the irises dilated. And there was no mistaking the jutting ridge in his jeans.
" Let ' s get something straight. " Oh, Lordy, why did she sound so breathless? " This is a professional relationship. Nothing more. "
He picked up the bag on the counter and said with a drawl that evoked the image of a hot cowboy on a Saturday night, " Coulda fooled me. "
5
T he jet swept low across Maui, tipping its silver wings and giving the tourists aboard a better view of the crystalline beaches. The incandescent blue of the sky echoed the deeper blue of the sea. Even at this distance the water was so clear that Dana could see the reefs, dark shadows against the ocean floor.
She looked away from the dazzling white sand that was almost blinding in the morning sun, barely glancing at the rows of hotels nestled in groves of palms along the shore. She gazed inland at the green, rolling fields of sugar cane and pineapples that climbed up the hills to Maui's crowning glory, the dormant volcano Haleakala. As usual, the "house of the sun " was floating in a sea of its own, an ocean of clouds that nourished the rain forest along its slopes. It was early for the showers that came daily, but by afternoon the warm tropical rain would begin to fall in the hills.
Below Haleakala was the lush " up-country " area of Maui, with its myriad waterfalls, enormous tree ferns, and stretches of grassy pastureland where herds of cattle grazed. The Coltrane ranch was located there in a picture-postcard setting.
How would the Coltrane family take the news that Rob would be joi ning her for vacation? Dana won dered. He had decided to have Dana come alone while he ran tests on the knife and note. It was Dana ' s job to prepare Vanessa and the Coltranes for the arrival tomorrow of her "boyfriend. "
Dana knew it wouldn't be an imposition. Kau Ranch, the Coltrane family compound, was huge, with a large main house and several guest cottages. She ' d never been the only guest.
Big Daddy had always encouraged her to bring a friend. Last night she'd called to say someone would be with her. Big Daddy had taken the call and said he ' d be delighted to have another guest. Not that he was imbued with typical Hawaiian hospitality. Dana had decided that he liked to have a court of people around him so he could play king.
An unexpected guest wouldn ' t be a problem, but her choice of Rob as a boyfriend would surpr ise ev eryone, particularly Vanessa. She knew how upset Dana had been over the negative article. Not only had she told Vanessa she despised the man, but Rob was nothing like the men
She braced herself to endure his kiss. Didn ' t all men think they were world-class lovers? Instead of boredom, an unanticipated surge of pleasure almost buckled her knees as her lips willingly parted and his tongue aggressively mated with hers. The heat of his body engulfed her, molding her smaller frame against his with shocking intimacy.
For a moment she reveled in the unique sensations, allowing herself to respond even though she knew better. Suddenly the insistent bulge of his arousal chilled her like an arctic wind across Waikiki.
She pulled back her head, her lips still inches from his. " You creep! "
" Temper. Temper, " he chided with an infuriatingly sensual grin that said he didn't take her one bit seriously. He kept his arms locked around her, pinning them together f rom chest to thigh. He bent for ward as if to whisper something. His lips grazed her ear and she bit back a moan. Then he nipped gently at her earlobe and took its softness into his mouth.
Suddenly her body felt heavy and weak, yet alive with sensations that she'd never felt before this mo ment. He moved away unexpectedly and she rocked back on her heels. His eyes were almost black now, the irises dilated. And there was no mistaking the jutting ridge in his jeans.
" Let ' s get something straight. " Oh, Lordy, why did she sound so breathless? " This is a professional relationship. Nothing more. "
He picked up the bag on the counter and said with a drawl that evoked the image of a hot cowboy on a Saturday night, " Coulda fooled me. "
5
T he jet swept low across Maui, tipping its silver wings and giving the tourists aboard a better view of the crystalline beaches. The incandescent blue of the sky echoed the deeper blue of the sea. Even at this distance the water was so clear that Dana could see the reefs, dark shadows against the ocean floor.
She looked away from the dazzling white sand that was almost blinding in the morning sun, barely glancing at the rows of hotels nestled in groves of palms along the shore. She gazed inland at the green, rolling fields of sugar cane and pineapples that climbed up the hills to Maui's crowning glory, the dormant volcano Haleakala. As usual, the "house of the sun " was floating in a sea of its own, an ocean of clouds that nourished the rain forest along its slopes. It was early for the showers that came daily, but by afternoon the warm tropical rain would begin to fall in the hills.
Below Haleakala was the lush " up-country " area of Maui, with its myriad waterfalls, enormous tree ferns, and stretches of grassy pastureland where herds of cattle grazed. The Coltrane ranch was located there in a picture-postcard setting.
How would the Coltrane family take the news that Rob would be joi ning her for vacation? Dana won dered. He had decided to have Dana come alone while he ran tests on the knife and note. It was Dana ' s job to prepare Vanessa and the Coltranes for the arrival tomorrow of her "boyfriend. "
Dana knew it wouldn't be an imposition. Kau Ranch, the Coltrane family compound, was huge, with a large main house and several guest cottages. She ' d never been the only guest.
Big Daddy had always encouraged her to bring a friend. Last night she'd called to say someone would be with her. Big Daddy had taken the call and said he ' d be delighted to have another guest. Not that he was imbued with typical Hawaiian hospitality. Dana had decided that he liked to have a court of people around him so he could play king.
An unexpected guest wouldn ' t be a problem, but her choice of Rob as a boyfriend would surpr ise ev eryone, particularly Vanessa. She knew how upset Dana had been over the negative article. Not only had she told Vanessa she despised the man, but Rob was nothing like the men
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