Siren's Surrender by Devyn Quinn Page A

wrists and wound their way up her arms. The art was awesomely impressive. Blake didn’t even want to think about the pain involved.
    “Any man not wearing a wedding ring is my business,” she shot back. “If he’s single and over twenty-one, then he’s fair game.” She winked. “You know how slim the pickings are around Port Rock.”
    Gwen sighed toward the cottage Addison had indicated as hers. “You know I’m not moving back. Kenneth and Tessa just have this big fantasy that we’ll all get married and raise our kids here.” A laugh escaped her. “I have a business, on the mainland. Remember?”
    “Don’t know why you couldn’t commute. It’s only a fifteen-minute ferry trip, twenty max.”
    “Winter,” Gwen reminded her recalcitrant sibling.
    Giving half an ear to the sisters’ conversation, Blake looked around the island. Some parts of it were still uncultivated, jungle wild. It was the kind of place a kid would love to run amok; climbing trees, playing on the beach, swimming in the cove. Such a wide-open space and fresh air seemed like paradise on earth, a terrific place to grow up.
    Trevor would go nuts for this, he thought. When school let out for the season, Blake would have forty-two blissful days to visit with his kid.
    Blake could almost imagine bringing Trevor to Port Rock, maybe show his son where he’d spent the first half of his life. Even though he and Debra couldn’t speak without shouting at each other, his four-year-old son still thought Daddy was a hero. And Blake was determined to keep it that way. The cycle of abuse and neglect he’d known as a child didn’t have to continue into the next generation. Why punish his son because he felt unlovable and unworthy?
    Without quite thinking about it, Blake let his gaze edge over toward Gwen. An hour ago he’d been chomping at the bit to leave town. Now he was mulling plans to bring his son to Port Rock. What was wrong with him?
    Blake hated to admit it, but his heart had sped up double-time when she’d touched him. Yeah, he knew it was simply a gesture of concern. Somehow she’d sensed his discomfort and tried to calm his fear.
    He shook his head. She might already have a boyfriend. Hell, she might even be in a serious relationship already. Or engaged. The one thing he did know was that her ring finger was bare.
    That meant she might be open to something with him.
    If I decide to pursue her, he thought.
    At this point it was all wild speculation.
    He’d had these gut-level attractions before and they’d never panned out, mostly because he’d always backed off at the last moment. Once bitten, twice shy didn’t begin to describe his hang-ups with women.
    Then there was his job, which often entailed insane hours and a lot of travel. Finally, he was tied up with trying to be a part of his young son’s life and wrangling with his ex-girlfriend. It was a lot to take care of, and twenty-four hours just didn’t cover all he needed to do.
    Still, Gwen was definitely different. The simple touch of her hand had set his nerves afire. He’d had to shift away and brush her off to keep his composure. That or end up with a very prominent hard-on. She’d accepted his slight with grace.
    He’d tried to make it up to her by asking her out. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
    “What about a hotel on the island?” he blurted out. “You know, one of those little inn-type places?”
    Blindsided by his unexpected entry into the conversation, Gwen looked at him like he’d lost every marble in his head. “Excuse me?”
    Blake pointed out an acre that had caught his eye. “I was just wondering why you don’t consider building on the island. With the lighthouse and access to the mainland, it seems like it would be a perfect tourist destination.”
    Gwen lifted her chin. “Maybe because I don’t happen to have a few million dollars sitting in my checking account,” she countered.
    Addison jumped in. “Ken’s made the offer—” she started to