Love in All the Right Places (Chick Lit bundle) by Chris Mariano, Agay Llanera, Chrissie Peria Page A

she had done it before; it was still a great way to watch the sunset.
    She turned her face up against the afternoon sky. Her face looked golden in this light. Her skin was just a tiny shade darker than it had been this morning, as evidenced by the light marks her bikini strings revealed whenever she fingered them. He was hopeless against girls like her—talking or flirting—but this afternoon wasn’t as bad as he feared it would be. Certainly he had done his best to make it pleasant for her. Sometimes, he even caught her looking his way but when he tried to smile, she’d immediately turn away. As they sailed back to White Beach, Gio thought they were probably giving someone on the shore a great scene: a local outrigger silhouetted against the fiery red sky. Travel ad moment. Conquering your fear. More fun in the Philippines.
    He turned to say goodbye but Min Hee had other ideas. “We’re having dinner, Mr. Museum,” she said as they approached the dock.
    The tide was low and the boatman had suggested docking elsewhere so they would have an easier time getting ashore. The only problem was that Gio still had to bring Min Hee back to her resort by tricycle, instead of hopping on a nearby boat to cross to the mainland.
    “Sorry, Min Hee, but I really have to get going,” he told her, his eyes spotting Marina I nearby. “But I’ll make sure I get a tricycle that will bring you home safely.”
    Min Hee shook her head. “Change of plans. You called the shots the whole day. Now it’s my turn.”
    Gio was amazed that she still had the energy. “Aren’t you tired yet? We still have tomorrow, remember?”
    “Dinner,” she said firmly. “Besides you said you were free, right?” When Gio looked surprised, she grinned. “This is my way of paying you back.”
    He tried to wave the offer away. But the boat had dropped anchor and Min Hee was already making her way off, her towel and bag slung on each shoulder. “Well?” she asked him, turning back to see if he was following.
    He had a second to decide. “Coming.” Then he gathered his towel and the rest of their things, and scrambled after her.
     
    * * * *
     
    They got off at D’Mall instead of her resort because she insisted. “I have an idea,” she announced as they walked down the path. D’Mall was the center of activity at White Beach. Near the highway, where they had gotten off, were stores that sold things like beaded trinkets and tie-dyed sarongs. Walking west towards the beach, the shops gave way to busy restaurants and pubs. The lights were all lit and people spilled out of the narrow lanes into the shops. Loud reggae music played out of one particular store, punctuating the island air with a personal soundtrack.
    “I’m not liking this,” he teased her.
    She ignored him, pulling on his arm instead. “Trust me, this is a good one. Besides, I’m the boss now.”
    Apparently, Min Hee had little need for a guide here. This seemed more like her territory than his, even if he was the local. She brought Gio to a store that sold shirts and dresses. “When I said I was free, I didn’t mean I was impoverished,” Gio reminded.
    “Hush.” She took a printed shirt off the rack and held it against him. It was black and white but had printed palm fronds over it.
    “Min Hee, you said dinner, not shopping,” he said.
    “Mr. Museum! We’re still having dinner,” she pointed out. “This is just a side trip. We’re working up an appetite.”
    “I’m not buying a shirt,” Gio informed her. “I don’t need a new one and you won’t be buying me one.”
    Min Hee put her hands on her hips. “You wear a uniform to work. This is the first time I’ve seen you out of it and you put on a white shirt that says 25 th Class Reunion? Ugh. I’m guessing that because you’re not ancient yet, it belongs to someone else.” She softens her expression. “Come on, you don’t have to buy it. Just try it on. It won’t hurt. Plus I give very, very good fashion