She leaned away from the edge of the pool. Her breasts floated, full orbs lit by the glow from the fire. Liam would be saying admiring things about her body. He wouldn’t have said goodnight at the door and left her to enjoy these sensual pleasures on her own.
A low growl vibrated in her throat. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with Daniel if she kept allowing thoughts of Liam to intrude into her days at the resort. Anna blew out a long breath and blamed her mixed feelings on her newly awakened hormones. Which only got her picturing Liam in the pool.
Naked. Again.
Time to stop that line of thinking. Her foot found the lowest wide step, and she emerged, dripping over the sandstone tile. She took a towel from the chair and padded to her palatial bathroom. The moisturizer supplied by the hotel smelled faintly of coconut and a woody spice she couldn’t place. She applied it to her feet and legs and the rest of her body, slipped a long, satiny camisole over her head, and brushed her teeth. The white cotton sheets enveloped her in their cool embrace, floating her toward sleep.
Floating her between one man and another.
Chapter Thirteen
Anna rose early, visited the gym, showered, changed, and made appointments for them to have side-by-side “Siesta” massages in the early afternoon. Hungry and in dire need of caffeine, she picked up a hotel phone and left a message for Daniel to let him know she was having breakfast in the restaurant that hugged the beach.
As she waited for her coffee and her companion, she pulled a fresh journal from her bag and sharpened a fresh drawing pencil. Inspired by Liam, she wanted to try her hand at sketching. The plant life on this part of the Pacific coast was wildly different from her island’s offerings, and she toyed with the idea of printing her original designs on the durable cloth used in most sailboats.
The waiter placed an assortment of sliced tropical fruit in front of her while she tried to match the right shade of pink with the bougainvillea blooming in the pots that formed a colorful barrier between the café and the beach. Daniel came in from the other side at the same moment. He kissed the side of her head and left an offering beside her plate.
“Good morning,” he said, lifting his sunglasses as he greeted her. He took the empty, wide-armed wicker chair and moved it next to Anna.
“Good morning,” she said, thrilled to see him. “How’d you sleep?”
He stretched his arms overhead, almost losing his glasses as he lifted his face to the sun, and smiled wide. “Very well, once I got used to the sound of the waves.”
“What’s this?” She pointed to the gift bag he’d placed between them. A bouquet of brightly colored miniature paper flowers decorated the handles.
“Just a little offering.” Daniel draped one arm over the back of the chair, turned his torso toward her, and crossed one leg over the other. The tightly wound man who’d arrived the day before appeared to be in a slightly looser mood.
Her reflection bounced off his glasses. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she could see the smile teasing the corners of his mouth. She turned her attention to the bag, spread the tissue paper, and lifted out a bracelet. Pieces of muted green sea glass dangled from a delicate silver chain.
“This is lovely!” she exclaimed.
Daniel reached for the ends and gestured for her wrist. “It’s a little something to remind you of the beach. Let me do the clasp.”
His fingertips were warm against the cool skin at her pulse point. Anna was touched at the gesture. The bracelet wasn’t extravagant, but it meant he was thinking about her. It was also a very nice way to start their day together. A kiss would work too.
She leaned over to him and pecked at the side of his mouth. “Thank you.”
He grinned, turning his face enough to catch her in a quick, coffee-flavored meeting of the lips. “You’re welcome.”
Anna picked up her fork, delighting in the weight of the silver chain and pieces of salt water-softened glass sliding on her wrist. Securing a piece of papaya, she offered her utensil to Daniel. “The fruit is amazing,” she said, “so fresh. And they squeeze lime juice on everything. Here, try it.”
He drew the succulent, bright orange fruit into his mouth, chewed, and agreed. “I’ll order a plate too.”
She put down her fork and picked up her coffee cup. She would wait to finish eating until Daniel’s food arrived. “I was up early. I checked out the gym and the spa and made reservations for massages this afternoon. I hope that’s okay?”
“A massage sounds great.” He removed his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes. “I probably should have booked one for the minute I arrived. Maybe I would have been better company last night.”
They smiled at each other. Some of the defenses Anna had erected hopped from her shoulders and headed off to frolic on the sandy beach. “What else would you like to do while we’re here?” she asked. “I was reading through some of the brochures in my room, and there’s a snorkeling trip I would love to go on, if you’re up for it.”
“Snorkeling? I haven’t put on a pair of fins in years, but why not? Shall we make a reservation for tomorrow, since today’s theme seems to be relaxation?” There was no denying the flirtatious tone to his voice and the desire dancing at the corners of his eyes and mouth.
“Yes!” Anna grinned and caught herself before she bounced out of her seat. She was thrilled. The diving company all but guaranteed they would be swimming with manta rays and other denizens of coastal Baja California.
Daniel’s food arrived, and Anna returned to
