'This skirt is lively and fun. Like you. The top is flirty and sexy. Also like you.'
He braced his hand on the wall over her head and leaned close, inhaling the fresh, fragrant scent of her shampoo and savoring the excitement pulsing through his veins at the thought of spending another day alone with her. They might only have twenty-four hours but he intended to enjoy each one with no thought or pressure of his real life intruding.
'Did anyone ever tell you that you see what you want to see?' she asked through glossy lips.
He studied her for a moment. 'I see what the problem is.'
She narrowed her gaze. 'I didn't know there was one.'
'Just because you've outwardly made a transformation in how you dress, and just because my sisters' choice in clothing helps you along, doesn't mean you're used to it in here.' He tapped the left side of her chest, above her heart.
She swallowed hard. 'Am I that easy to read?'
'Only because I'm looking. I want to know all about you and I'm glad you're making it simple.'
She squared her shoulders.
Obviously that notion bugged her.
'So you didn't tell me where we're going,' she said, changing the subject.
'I'm going to show you around my part of the island.'
A sudden smile took hold and he caught sight of two dimples in both of her cheeks.
'What's got you grinning all of a sudden?' he asked.
'Finally you'll be the one doing the sharing and I'll get to know more about you.' She tugged on his hand like a kid anxious to get going.
'And this pleases you?' he asked, following her down the stairs and out the front door.
'Tremendously.' She swung herself into the passenger seat of the Jeep and honked the horn. 'Let's go, slowpoke!'
He laughed. The woman confounded him, astounded him. She aroused him and made him want to share. He'd never shown some parts of this retreat to anyone, male or female, not even his parents or sisters, but he wanted to share them with Micki.
He slid into the car, started the engine and they were on their way, only stopping at Pops' to pick up soda and sandwiches for lunch. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a secluded part of the island where he'd bought undeveloped land and put his own stamp on it.
No matter how many times he made this trip, he still marveled at the beauty of this island, the lush palm trees, the blue sky dotted with perfect white clouds and the warm sticky air blowing on his skin.
Beside him, he could practically feel Micki quiver with anticipation and excitement. He enjoyed how much pleasure she took in exploring his island and appreciated that she didn't talk and pepper him with questions during the ride. Instead she remained silent beside him, as if she understood he desired quiet time and respected him enough to give him what he needed.
Most of all he was grateful for their ability to enjoy a comfortable sense of peace together, something he knew from overhearing his sisters was a rare gift between two people. He'd just never found that sense of lightness with any woman before.
He glanced over. Micki had shut her eyes and tipped her head back to let the sun bake her face as they drove. He admired her profile, the pert nose and the full lips he'd already learned by kissing, tasting and completely devouring. And he had to admit life felt pretty good right now.
Even if it was only temporary. His stomach plunged at the necessary reminder and the field came into view just in time, so he wouldn't have to think.
'We're here.' Damian pulled up behind a metal backstop.
He'd wanted to share this with Micki yet he couldn't shake the fact that by bringing her here, he felt stripped bare and vulnerable in a way he couldn't understand.
Well, too late to back out now since they'd already arrived. Before she could ask questions, he hopped out of the car and strode to her side, helping her out. Together they walked toward his personal baseball field, complete with a pitcher's mound and all the requisite bases.
She turned to face him, curiosity etched all over her expressive face. 'If you build it, they will come?' Her blue eyes flashed with questions he didn't have specific answers to.
He merely chuckled in reply. 'I guess, except that in my case, there is no
'You built this for…?' She gestured toward the professional-size field.
'Me.' His reply sounded ridiculous to his own ears, except it was the truth. 'Growing up, I couldn't think of anything better than having my own place to hit a ball.'
'Your own personal ball field.'
He nodded. 'So when I made the money, I built the field.'
'At which point you could say you had everything you ever dreamed of?' she asked, too perceptively for his peace of mind.
'Not nearly.' Looking into her gorgeous eyes, the reply had slipped out without permission. He sucked in a deep breath, but he couldn't take the words back, nor could he deny their meaning.
Not when he realized that now, at this moment, in his sacred spot with Micki, he had everything he'd never let himself dream of wanting.
He reached out and caressed her cheek with his hand. 'You make it hard for me to concentrate on anything but you,' he said, letting her into his innermost thoughts.
'That's what happens in paradise.'
'You're doing it again.'
'Doing what?' she asked.
'Denying your own power. When I complimented you earlier, you squirmed and changed the subject and when I say you distract me, you deny you're the cause.' He let his thumb brush back and forth over her jaw. 'I think that's why you draw me so much. You don't know nearly how much you can affect a man.'
Her skin flushed pink beneath the summer sun. 'You're a charmer, Damian.'
'Can I take that as a compliment?' he asked, grinning.
'You can take it any way you want' Micki laughed despite how off center he had her feeling. He was right, of course. She wasn't used to compliments and intense stares from a man like Damian. A weekend like this was the stuff of dreams and she was happy to be here with him now.
'What are you thinking about?' he asked her.
She blinked and refocused on his handsome face. 'This field. I'm wondering about your motives in having it built.'
'You doubt I'd indulge my own childhood dreams?'
She shook her head. She didn't doubt his obvious motives. It was his subconscious ones that had her curious. 'Are you sure you didn't build this for your own team?'
He let loose with a laugh. “Hell, I never want to be an owner. Too many damn hassles.'
“I wasn't talking about you buying a professional team. I was talking about a different kind of legacy. I thought maybe you'd built this with your own kids in mind.'
In the silence that followed, Micki wondered if she'd gone too far.
'I never gave it a thought,' he said at last.
'You never thought about having kids that followed in your footsteps? Having kids at all?'
'I never left room in my mind for a family. Hell, I never left room for it in my life.' He tipped his head to one side. 'How about you?'
“Oh I definitely want a family' she said honestly. 'When you lose your parents as I did, you know how much you missed growing up. I want that security for myself one day. You know, mother and father and kids. It's like setting all things right in the universe,' she murmured, then realized how childish she sounded. 'It's not everyone's dream,' she admitted.
'But it's yours and I respect that'
She nodded. 'What about after baseball? Have you thought about what you want after your ball-playing years are over?'
He shook his head. 'In the beginning, I was too young and cocky, too full of myself to think about things like my
