Page 5 of 7 Dirty Lies

Splash.

Well, one thing was for sure, he’d be reallycoolnow.

“Princess?”Colt murmured.“Your friend sent that shrimp cocktail over,didn’the?”

I spun back around, catching Colt’s gaze in hopes that he wasn’t freaked out.“Ted is the only one allowed to call me that,soyes.”

He glanced back at the tall crystal glass with six large shrimp curled over the sides.“Why?”His voice was deeper now.Rougher.Like he’d gone on thedefensive.

Interesting.

Did he think this was a setup?I mean, it was, sort of.Ted had sent the cocktail over in the hopes we’d talk, but it was just a gentle nudge.It wasn’t as if I were trying to trick him into a date or anything.This was about settingmeup with an opportunity to flirt, but maybe from Colt’s side it looked more likeatrap.

And by the way his eyes had narrowed into two wary slits, I had to wonder how many times Colt had gotten used for his position—because that was exactly what his reaction had to be.I knew because I’d been in the same situation more times than I couldcount.

At least this would be easy, if not slightly embarrassing, toexplain.

“My guess?”I took a deep breath and blurted out the truth.“He knows I find you attractive, and since I’m here to forget about my real life and relearn how to relax, I’m pretty sure Ted saw a chance to put us together in the hopes something fun wouldhappen.”

Colt’s gaze snapped up to mine and held.For a few moments I didn’t hear the splashing behind me or the laughter of the woman who’d pushed Ted.I didn’t hear the pool or the crashing waves of the Atlantic beyond.I didn’t even hear the murmurs from the other guests.Because in that moment an understanding passed between us.His eyes softened as he realized his mistake, and then grew darker with what I could only describe asprotectiveness.

“Do you want something to happen?”he asked, watching my reactioncarefully.

Yes.I wanted him to look at me just like that for the next two days.I wanted to feel free to be anything I wanted to be with a man who’d appreciate the rarity of it all.“Are you single?”I held mybreath.

His gaze dipped, studying the curve of my lips as a sadness seemed to fall over him.“I’m very much married to my work.So yes, I’msingle.”

There would be no work on this island.“Then yes, I’d like to see whathappens.”

He searched my eyes.What he was looking for, I couldn’t tell.“Relearning how to relax, huh?”He kicked up an eyebrow.“Sounds like we’re here for the same reasons.I’m a workaholic andyou’re?”

“Too invested in things I can’tchange.”

He nodded, seeming to understand.“Can I take you to dinner?I’m sick of eating alone and I’d really like to keep talkingtoyou.”

He really was on vacation at an exclusive resort all alone?That seemed...well...lonely.“I would enjoy that.”Even if it was just an hour of conversation over food with a sexy man, andnothingmore.

He stood up and held out his hand.“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable so I won’t ask for your bungalow number, but I’ll be waiting in the gazebo in an hour.I really like the food at the Starboard.Have you eatenthereyet?”

I shook my head, struck by how considerate he was.It was a very pleasant change from what I wasusedto.

“Well then we’ll gotonight.”

I slid my hand into his, knowing before it happened that touching Colt would feel a lot like magic.I was glad I was sitting.His hand tightened around mine like he needed it to stay steady, and when I glanced up I found his eyes just as wide with surprise asminewere.

Holyhell.

Whatwasthis?

But I didn’t have time to dwell on it because he smiled and released my hand, his gaze darting up and over my shoulder.“I’ll leave youtoit.”

He started back toward his chair and then turned, grinning back at me with a boyish charm.“An hour, Annie.Beready!”

My heart leapt into my throat.Colt was...well, he was unlike any man I’d ever met before and that scared me a little.My whole life I’d wondered if I would ever feel what my grandmother had described in her memoire about the day she met my grandfather.The detail of how electric it felt, the way her toes curled in her shoes when they kissed.It had seemed unfathomable that a stranger could make you feelthatway.

It wasn’t so unfathomable any more.I was pretty sure Colt’s handshake had justproventhat.

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