Page 16 of Duty and Desire

I set my jaw. “We’ve had this conversation, remember? No. At least here I can live on my terms. I have freedom.”

She arched her eyebrows and glanced toward the entrance to the bar. “With Franz around? That doesn’t feel like freedom to me.”

I fired Franz a hard stare. “I try not to think about him.” My stomach roiled.

As if he’d let me forget him.

“Have I ever told you how happy it makes me that you let me visit?”

I forced a wry chuckle. “‘Let’ you? You make it sound as if I have a choice. And by the way, same rules as usual. You get the bed, I get the couch. And no arguments.”

“Icanafford a hotel, you know.”

“I know,” I countered. “But I also know you hate hotels. At least this way you can keep an eye on me.” Claudia flinched,and I realized how that had sounded. I grabbed her hands and squeezed them. “I don’t believe for a second that you’re here to spy on me. You wouldn’t do that.” I sighed. “You’re my best friend. My only friend, if it comes to that. But I also know you want to be more than that.”

She blinked. “You make me sound like one of those girls who tries to convince gay guys they’ve just never met the right woman. And sorry to disappoint you, but you arenotmy type.” Another glance toward Kai. “He’s nearer the mark.” She flushed. “And I wouldn’t kick Franz out of my bed either.”

I laughed. “Nowit all comes out. Does Franz know you have designs on him?”

“They’re not designs,” she remonstrated. “He makes great eye candy, that’s all.”

“That wasn’t what I meant, by the way.” I looked her in the eye. “You want to be a bridge between my former life and my desire for normalcy.” She fell silent, and I gave her hands another squeeze. “You know what I love most about you? Your honesty. How you’re never afraid to call me out when I’m being evasive or indecisive.” I chuckled. “Which is probably most of the time.”

“In that case, let me ask you something.” She grinned. “Any interesting guys on the horizon?”

I laughed. “God, you haven’t changed. I swear you ask the same thing every time you visit.” Maybe it was time I threw her a bone. “And the answer is… maybe?”

Yeah, Gio was a definite maybe.

Claudia blinked. “Seriously?”

I released her hands and held mine up. “Before you get all excited, I’ve met him once, okay?”

“And? Who is he? What’s he like?”

I loved her enthusiasm.

“He’s a writer. He’s staying on the island for a while. He’s…” I conjured up an image of Gio. “He’s American, maybe in his mid-thirties, with brown eyes, and a beard that’s not much more than mine. His hair is cut really short at the sides, and dyed blond on top.”

I didn’t mention the fact that he was hot. Or that once I’d seen him, it had been difficult to look away. I’d tried not to stare, tried to break eye contact, but I knew my glance had lingered just a beat too long.

Gio seemed to be suffering from the same problem.

“And are you going to make a move on him?” she demanded.

I locked gazes with her. “Do you know what happens every time I get interested in a guy?” I inclined my head toward Franz. “He scares them off.” I didn’t have to turn my head to know he was still there, sipping from a glass of water or soda, trying to make it look as if he wasn’t staring at me.

Except we both knew different.

“Maybe he won’t scarethisguy off. He might not be intimidated by your muscle-bound shadow.”

I huffed. “If he isn’t, he’ll be the first.”

Claudia stared out at the lagoon. “It’s beautiful here, but you know this is a short-term escape, don’t you? It can’t last forever.” She glanced at me. “Sooner or later, they’re going to haul you back to reality.”

“And what if I don’t want to go there?”

I knew she was right. There’d come a point when I couldn’t evade my responsibilities any longer, and when that day arrived, I’d have to pack my bags and get on a plane.

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