Page 6 of Escape to the Sun

The truth was, Ash could have a lot of fun with Sara if she didn’t try to push so hard for a relationship. It was too bad, but there was no way Ash was going there. Not with anyone. No matter how fun they were. Or how far their legs bent—

“Ash, did you hear me?”

He hadn’t.

“Sorry. My mind drifted.”

“I bet it did.” The mischief in her eye and the way she licked her lips almost made him change his mind. Almost.

“Behave.” Not that she would. “How many boxes did Sherri order for me today?”

“That’s what I was telling you. Her order today is quite large. You’re going to need help.”

“I have Miguel.” He pointed to the boy, who’d been standing by, listening to everything with an interested ear. No doubt, the kid had gotten quite an education hanging out with Ash, despite his efforts to keep things as G-rated as possible when he was around.

“I think you might need more than Miguel for today’s load.” She shot the boy a doubtful look.

“Two strong men like us?” Ash nudged Miguel and they both flexed comically. “We got this.”

Sara rolled her eyes, but he didn’t miss the way her eyes traveled over his bare chest. Damn, he should have found a T-shirt to put on. Not that it would have stopped her.

“Wait here. I’ll get your stuff.”

When she returned moments later, wheeling a cart full of boxes and bags, even Ash had to admit it might be a little more than he and Miguel could handle. What had Sherri ordered this time? There was more than a few first-aid supplies on that cart. He mentally calculated the size and weight of each box, what each of them could probably handle and in the end, admitted defeat.

“I’ll have Miguel bring the cart right back.” He put one hand on it and attempted to glide it away from her. But Sara wasn’t having it. She held firm, the cart jostling awkwardly between them.

“No can do, Ash.” She shook her pretty little head, her mouth pressed into a line. “Clinic property.”

He gave her his sexiest smile, but still she didn’t relax her grip.

Ash knew when he’d been beat. “Okay, what will it take to let me borrow the cart?”

It was clearly the right question. She opened up; her lips curled into the smile of a woman who knew she was about to get exactly what she wanted. “A date. A real one.”

Dammit.

He took a step toward her, reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before his fingers drifted across her cheek. “Oh, baby. You know you don’t need to bribe me for a date.” He leaned in, just enough so she’d feel his breath on her skin.

Just as he knew she would, her body trembled, a sigh escaped her lips, and her hand released the cart. Ash pressed his lips in a gentle, sweet, dismissive kiss and pushed the cart back to Miguel, who started down the street with it long before Sara knew what’d hit her.

Ash was already a few steps away when she called out after him. “Call me about that date.”

“I’ll have Miguel bring the cart back right away.” He blew her a kiss. “Thanks, Sara.”

He probably should have felt bad about using the girl’s affections for his benefit, but she was a grown woman, and he’d been upfront with her from the beginning. She made her choices; he made his. It wasn’t his fault if they didn’t line up.

Besides, he didn’t have time to dwell on her or the feelings she may or may not be having for him. Feelings that may very well include causing him bodily harm when she realized he had zero intention of taking her on that date. He still had more orders to pick up before he headed back to Casa del Sol and if he didn’t hurry, he’d run out of daylight.

“Miguel, can you take this and load it in the boat? I’ll meet you there.”

“Si, Señor Ash.”

“You’re a good kid.”

The boy beamed and hurried off with the overloaded cart. Ash wished he could do more for the boy. He never asked what Miguel’s family life was like, but he had a sneaking suspicion there wasn’t much of one.

Ash hurried through the rest of the list Sherri had given him and by the time he returned to the dock outside of the Bitter End where he’d tied up his boat, Miguel had almost finished up loading the supplies.

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