His big hands circled her arms, steadied her. “Hey, you okay?”
She looked up, taking in the finely honed features of Kane Hathaway. He smiled at her with all the smooth confidence of a man who knew how he affected the female half of the population.
“Lilly, right?” he said. “Remember me? Alec’s second cousin?”
“Right. Hi.”
“What’s going on?” he asked, studying her face. “You look like you have something big on your mind.”
“Misgivings are smart,” she blurted out.
His response was prompt. “I completely agree.”
“Because you have to be careful.”
“I always am,” he said, smiling again, another blinding flash of I-have-it-all-figured-out-don’t-you-worry.
Lilly continued to stare up at him, noting the clear resemblance to Alec with those good looks and that bold self-assurance.
Then she thought of something else. Kane Hathaway ticked off all Audra’s boxes, didn’t he? With not a little concern, she realized she better make sure he stayed clear of her friend, who was out to reclaim her power by breaking some man’s heart.
Though really, could Audra hurt a man as strong and secure as this?
These kind of men, Alec and Kane, were immune to love.
As was Lilly. Nothing could persuade her differently.
Chapter 9
A tap on the bungalow’s door the next morning made Lilly jump. She’d been expecting Alec to make contact since deserting him at the pool the night before, but she hadn’t heard a peep. Could he be here now? But another discreet tap persuaded her no.
Alec would hit knuckles to wood with a preemptory knock, as brash as the question he’d voiced, the one that continued to worry her. What’s it going to take for you to fall in love?
Shoving that from her mind, and convinced it was maid service or some other member of the resort staff come to call, she sped to the entrance. Audra had retreated to her bedroom again, and Lilly was helpless in the face of her friend’s continued misery. The only thing that seemed to elevate her mood was her occasional mutterings about that anonymous man whose heart she intended to wrench in two. Since she continued to live in the ugly sweats, Lilly banked her fears on that score for now.
On the other side of the threshold stood a slender brunette around Lilly’s age, in slim-cut, linen ankle-length pants and a boat-neck T-shirt that looked like something a Venetian gondolier might wear. Her sleek dark hair was bobbed at her chin and she wore a friendly expression that included a bright-eyed curiosity.
“Lilly?” she asked, her gaze surveying her from top to toe.
“Yes…”
“I’m Jojo—Joanna—Alec’s sister.”
“Oh. Um…”
“I brought someone to see you,” she said, with a hint of smile, then drew Buster the puppy over the threshold. He rushed forward to pounce on Lilly’s athletic shoes, his leash trailing behind.
Chancing an attack from sharp little teeth, she bent down to save her laces and lifted the little guy into her arms. He snuggled under her chin, his fur soft and sweet smelling. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” she asked the dog, a traitorous warmth stealing into her chest. Maybe all her out-of-character responses and reactions lately could be traced to this one thing—a baby animal with the power to weaken the most formidable defenses. He’d surely wormed his way under hers.
She lifted him higher so their noses were nearly touching. “You are so cute,” she told him. “You are so cute that if you were a dinosaur you would be a cute-osaurus rex.”
Oh, God, she thought, hearing the silly comment and the sweet-talking tone to her voice. She darted an embarrassed glance at the clearly amused Jojo. “You didn’t hear that,” Lilly said. Then, addressing the puppy again, she lowered her voice and strove for a businesslike tone. “You, Buster, are a clear and present danger.”
He licked her face in answer, wiggling with delight.
“Not a shred of remorse in him,” she told Jojo.
“Not even when he nearly piddled on the carpet,” the woman said with a laugh. “I’ve been tasked with taking him for a walk and I was hoping you could be persuaded to join me.”
At Lilly’s hesitation, Jojo smiled. “Pretty please? I just checked into the resort an hour ago and I could use a guide.”
With no willpower, apparently, when it came to the dog, Lilly agreed. She didn’t even bother trotting out her lousy sense of direction as an excuse. But it didn’t fail her this time, and soon they had found the path that ran parallel to the beach.
Lilly sucked the cool, salty air into her lungs and she allowed herself to enjoy the warm sun overhead and the breeze tugging at her hair. It put her so at ease, she couldn’t stop from voicing the question hovering at the back of her mind.
“Where’s Alec?” she said, hoping like hell it didn’t sound plaintive. It just surprised her that he’d let her get away with running out on him—though she was grateful for it. “Not that it’s my business, but last night—”
“Gah!” Jojo slapped her palm to her forehead. “I forgot the message I was supposed to deliver.”
“Oh?” Lilly said casually. “From…Alec?”
“Yes.” Buster paused to inspect a flowering ice plant. They watched him nose a blossom and then jump when a bee buzzed up from bright petals. “This morning he’s been commandeered for a round of golf with some of the group. He wanted me to tell you he’s sorry. Last night he got waylaid when more of our relatives showed up.”
Including the one who had triggered Lilly’s discomfort. “New arrivals.”
Jojo made a face. “Aunt Ruby and Uncle Ernie. We console ourselves that they aren’t very close relatives, being they’re our mom’s third cousin and his wife or something like that. They’re famous for arriving early and overstaying their welcome, so we’re just glad they can only join us for a few days.”
“Ah.”
“If you happen to meet them, please don’t judge us by their behavior. Uncle Ernie is sure to pinch
