position at a multinational corporation, responsible for decisions that could bring the company millions of dollars-or lose it. I don’t have sex on public beaches.” He moved away from her and started hunting for his clothes.
Sara heaved a big sigh and sat up, also. She knew this had been too good to last. While his hormones were running amok, his conservative, sound judgment went right out the window, which was fine with her. But now it was back.
She pulled on her clothes, wondering how to recapture the intimacy they’d so recently shared.
When they were both dressed, Sara shook out their impromptu beach blanket and loosely folded it into a long strip, which she wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl. It had grown cooler, and not just between her and Reece.
“We should head back to the Sunsetter,” he said. “It’s getting late.”
She saluted him. “Sir, yes, sir.”
That stopped him. “I’m being a complete ass, aren’t I?”
“Absolutely.”
He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “God, I’m sorry, Sara. This has been an incredible night, all the way around, starting with the sandwiches-all of it. You’re the most…I don’t even know how to describe you. Beautiful, passionate, generous-that’s not enough.”
“Okay, you’re forgiven for being an ass.”
“You deserve champagne and a feather bed strewn with rose petals, not flat beer and a roll in the sand.”
She extracted herself from his embrace so she could look at him. “You’re kidding, right? We made love under the stars. No girl could ask for better. And if you would stop overanalyzing everything for one second and enjoy the moment, you would see I’m right.”
“But…”
“But
His eyes widened. “No, no.”
“All right, then. Look, if you’re worried that now I have big expectations, that I’ll be hinting around for an engagement ring or wanting to take you home to meet my parents, don’t worry. I’m the girl who doesn’t plan for the future, remember? I know you’re returning to New York. I know I can’t go with you. I’m okay with that. But that doesn’t mean tonight is trivial, not to me, anyway.”
“Not to me, either, Sara. I didn’t mean to give you that impression. Don’t be angry with me, okay? I’m not very good at living in the moment, so I’m bound to make mistakes.”
“Are we going to spend the night together?” she asked.
“Is that what you want?”
“I asked first.”
“I would like very much to go to sleep with you in my arms. In a nice, soft bed.”
She slid her arm around his waist and hooked her thumb in one of his belt loops. “Then I’m not angry.”
THERE HADN’T BEEN MUCH sleeping going on.
By the time they had arrived back at the Sunsetter, Reece had been looking at her as if she were a tasty morsel, the best oyster in the dozen, and for once he hadn’t guarded his feelings.
His intense scrutiny had made her squirm, and they hadn’t even made it all the way upstairs before clothes went flying again.
Reece was one of the most passionate, creative lovers Sara had ever known. Not that she’d had legions of lovers, but she’d had enough hamburger to know prime rib when she saw it.
She’d lost track of how many times they made love during the night. But she’d fallen into a deep, satisfied sleep in Reece’s four-poster bed some time before dawn, not caring how late she slept in because she wasn’t needed for breakfast.
When she awoke, the sun was high in the sky, streaming through the lace curtains, and she was alone in the bed.
Darn it.
There was a note on Reece’s pillow. She snatched it up and read it greedily. It informed her he had an early meeting at the bank and he hadn’t wanted to wake her.
That was sweet.
At least it gave her some time alone to think.
As she showered, feeling deliciously sore in all the right places, she wondered whether spending the night with Reece was an isolated incident, or if they would spend every free moment having wild sex until his return to New York.
And would he go public? Would they be a couple, even temporarily?
Last night she’d bravely told him she was okay knowing they had no future. But it wasn’t entirely true. When it came to Reece, she wasn’t quite the free spirit she wanted everyone to believe she was.
She couldn’t help envisioning a future with him, tentatively picturing various ways they could stay together. Maybe it had something to do with hormones, or maybe some part of her couldn’t link “Reece” and “casual sex” in the same sentence. Somewhere along the way, he had started to matter. A lot.
She called the hospital and talked to Miss Greer, who sounded good and said the doctor might let her go home as soon as tomorrow.
“That’s wonderful!” Sara said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice. Of course she wanted her employer to make a swift and painless recovery. But once Miss Greer was back home, things wouldn’t be the same with her and Reece. Their partnership would be over, as Miss Greer could resume running the business.
The house had to be sparkling when Miss Greer returned, so Sara threw herself into housework, trying not to worry. That was Reece’s job. She had to change all the linens-she’d gotten lazy yesterday. Then she attacked the mountain of laundry, vacuumed and dusted.
It was two o’clock when she realized she hadn’t eaten all day, so she went to the kitchen and heated up some leftover frittata and a couple of flour tortillas.
Still Reece hadn’t returned. Was he avoiding her?
Finally she heard the front door open as she was putting dishes in the dishwasher. She resisted the urge to run to the door and throw her arms around him. She would have to let him set the pace.
She heard footsteps going up the stairs, then above her head. But only moments later they came down again, and Reece appeared in the kitchen. Looking for her?
“Hey.”
“Hi, there,” she said cheerfully. “How did your meeting go?”
“It was fine.”
She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “It was long.”
“I was taking care of some other things. Do you mind if I make myself a sandwich?”
“Make yourself at home. But I can fix something for you.”
“A sandwich I can manage.” He draped his suit jacket over the back of a chair and opened the refrigerator.
Probably safer, she reasoned. If he built his own sandwich, he could be sure nothing exotic or spicy wound up between the bread slices.
She invented kitchen busywork for herself, studying him covertly while he went about the business of getting out the bread, ham, cheese and mayonnaise. He looked better in a suit than any man she’d ever known. Then again, she hadn’t known any but him who wore suits.
“Have any calls come in?”
“A few inquiries regarding our room rates. One reservation.”
“Sorry I wasn’t here to do my part.”
“That’s okay. I talked to Miss Greer. She’ll be coming home in a day or two.”
“That’s good. Do you want to visit her today?”
“Are you willing to drive me?” No way was she borrowing his car again. Not that he would let her.
“Sure.” Just then Reece’s phone rang. “Reece Remington,” he answered, as if he were at the office. “Oh, hi, Dad.” He sounded wary and looked annoyed.
The dryer buzzer sounded from the laundry room, and Sara used it as her excuse to escape. She wasn’t sure
