Who Needs Mistletoe?

“You’ve thought about these things?”

“Well, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” he said. “Of course.”

“I live in these islands, Trey. I know what it’s like. It’s not like living in a big city with all the conveniences. Everything is simpler there, yet it’s much more difficult, as well. Here, everything comes in by boat or plane and it’s expensive.”

“Well, if we build it right, then it will sustain itself,” Trey said, pulling her to a stop. “We’ll power everything with windmills. We’ll collect rainwater. We’ll sail our guests to the island. We’ll prepare simple meals with all- natural foods, grown on the island. We’ll serve the kind of meals that islanders have eaten for centuries.” He paused. “What do you think?”

“What does your father think?” Sophie asked.

“I haven’t told him about that part of the plan yet. He’s kind of a traditional hotel developer. He really doesn’t have any imagination. Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“Yes!” she said with a smile. “I think it’s a marvelous idea.”

They continued to walk, Trey suddenly more excited about the project than he’d ever been. It was a good idea, but he’d been afraid to talk about it, afraid that his father would immediately find fault or discount it completely because he’d been the one to come up with the idea. But Sophie lived in these islands and she knew them well. If she thought the concept would work, then maybe it wasn’t so crazy.

“If you’re bringing people by boat, your location needs to be closer to an island with an airport,” Sophie suggested.

“I’m kind of flexible on that,” he said. “We could bring people in by plane.”

“Then an atoll is a better idea,” she said. “You can land in the lagoon or you can build a landing strip on a larger motu. And if there’s a deep enough channel, you could bring boats right into the lagoon.”

As they continued their walk, they discussed more of the details, Sophie listening quietly as he explained everything he wanted to accomplish. In the end, Trey felt as if the project were suddenly real. This wasn’t just a pipe dream anymore. He could make this work.

But he could use Sophie’s help. Why not hire her? After all, she’d be in on it from the very beginning. They could work together on the project. She certainly knew enough to coordinate all their transportation needs. And Madigan Air could use the business.

“I should hire you,” Trey said. “I’ll need someone here to be my liaison if the project goes through. Someone who knows the islands. Someone who can cut through the red tape.”

Once the offer was out there, Trey realized just how stupid it sounded. Though they might get along quite well as lovers, stuck on a deserted island, what made him think they could have a working relationship once they went back to the real world?

“I-I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be in the islands,” Sophie said. “The business isn’t doing real well and-”

“But don’t you see? This would be an answer to all your problems. I could hire you to fly me back and forth. I’d pay you well. And-”

“We’ll see,” she said, cutting him off.

They continued the rest of their walk in silence, their fingers laced together as they waded through a narrow channel that fed the lagoon.

After five minutes of silence, Trey was certain he’d made a mistake. Perhaps this was all they were supposed to have, just twenty-four hours on this island. She didn’t seem interested in anything more than that. But he didn’t want to believe it would end so soon. He was beginning to care about Sophie, and he wanted to know her much better.

He silently chastised himself. Hell, he’d never in his life felt so vulnerable. And it was his fault, letting himself believe what they were sharing was more than just a temporary passion. From now on, he’d accept the fact that their affair would end the moment they got off the island.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the pleasure her body offered. He just wouldn’t attach any expectations to their relationship. It would be purely sexual.

4

THE CLOUDS HAD BROKEN and sunlight filtered through the grove of coconut palms, illuminating the remains of the old resort. Trey stood at the edge of the beach, staring at the rotting fares, an odd expression on his face. He seemed almost perplexed by the ruins of the village, the scene putting a damper on his good mood.

Was he having doubts about his plan? Sophie wondered. The person who had tried to develop Suaneva thirty years ago had had big dreams, but this was all that was left of them. “Maybe he just didn’t know what he was getting himself into.”

“Maybe,” Trey said. He shook his head. “At least he tried.”

“Just because he failed doesn’t mean you will. With enough money, you can do almost anything.”

“My father is the one with money,” Trey said. “I was thinking if he doesn’t approve of my plan, then I might strike out on my own. You know, build the resort anyway. I could find investors or take out a loan against my trust- fund money.” He drew a deep breath. “Then again, maybe I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

She reached out and grabbed his hand. It seemed to help, for as soon as she touched him, he glanced over at her and smiled. “I think it’s a great idea,” Sophie said. She pulled him along toward the cottage. “Come on. Let’s go find something for dinner.”

They walked past the fares into the grove of trees and she led him up the steps of the weather-beaten cottage. The flowers on the vines created a thick scent in the air. Trey stopped to pick one and tucked it behind her left ear.

“There,” he murmured. “I like that. It’s perfect.”

She reached up and plucked it out, then drew a deep breath of the scent. “You have to learn the meaning of the flower,” she said softly as she ran it along his bottom lip. “When you wear it behind your left ear, it means you’re taken. When it’s behind your right ear, you’re available.”

He reached to take it from her, but she shook her head and held it back. “There’s more. If you wear flowers behind both ears, it means you’re taken, but available for the right person. And when you wear the flower backward, it means follow me and you’ll have a good time.”

With a playful smile, Sophie turned the flower around and put it behind her right ear, the bloom facing backward. Then Trey pulled another flower off the vine and did the same. “Now we know where we stand,” he said with a rakish grin.

Sophie opened the door to the cottage and stepped inside and he followed her into the dark interior. Light filtered through the slats of the shutters, creating an odd pattern on the floors and walls. Trey pulled her into his arms and kissed her, his hands running freely over her body. “Alone in a dark room. Is this what you mean by a good time?”

They’d gone past the point of denying themselves pleasure, Sophie mused. Now, it was possible to act on their urges without a second thought. If she wanted to touch him, she could. If he wanted to kiss her, he’d do just that.

The kiss was slow and delicious, his hands making her body come alive with wonderful sensations. He cupped her bare backside and pulled her against him, the evidence of his arousal growing hot and hard between them. Sophie sighed, desire aching deep inside her. Though they were still new to this passion, it didn’t make it any less powerful. Instinctively, she reached down and ran her fingertips along the length of his shaft, the thin fabric of the pareu providing little protection from her touch.

Slowly, they explored each other, using touch instead of sight to guide them. Sophie wondered if she should be playing harder to get. But why deny themselves the pleasures? They were both consenting adults and they only had