Her gaze scanned the man across from her, noting the way the sun glinted of his muscles, how his smile seemed to reflect that light.
And suddenly she didnt care. It didnt matter why. She wasnt worried about where it was going or what she was feeling.
She was on vacation.
She was simply going to enjoy it. Every delicious second of it.
Chocolate, Darby admitted. Chocolate goes great with chocolate.
* * *
CHOCOLATE-CHOCOLATE, HMM? That sounds delicious.
Intrigued, Nic watched the play of emotions chasing each other across Darbys face. The woman was a study of conflicting emotions. Sweet one second, edgy the next. She spoke of that birthday cupcake with a hint of joy, then dismissed it with a voice that spoke of heartbreak. She enjoyed the meal with gusto, from fried dough to champagne-laced fruit juice, yet seemed satisfied to celebrate her belated birthday with a generic latte.
Tell me more about these birthdays of yours.
Whats to tell? A year passes, age increases. Sometimes increase brings privileges, sometimes it brings wrinkles. And every once in a while, it includes candles, wishes and presents.
From her tone, it was just that matter-of-fact. Nic wondered what had happened to make her that way. Was it simply a lack of sentiment or was it something more?
What about holidays? Do you have a favorite?
Holidays? Her eyes widened behind the big round lenses of her sunglasses. You want to know my favorite holiday?
Sure. Cmon. Weve put jobs, careers and personal-life details off-limits, right? So lets talk generics. Whats your favorite holiday?
Presidents Day.
Seriously? Nic grinned.
Seriously. Its the one time of year that everyone in the country is equally enthusiastic about anything to do with political figures.
Now that was a great point. Well argued, clever and devoid of any partisan inflection. Nics brows arched as he tucked away that fact.
Favorite vacation spot?
Darby waved her hand to indicate the beach.
Hanalei was his favorite, too, so Nic couldnt fault her taste.
Favorite pastime?
Work.
Work is your favorite pastime?
What can I say? I love my job. She shrugged, the move making her breasts shift temptingly in that snug purple swimsuit. Yeah, beachside vacations in Hanalei were definitely his favorite.
Me, too, he admitted, totally feeling her. What he did, his career as a SEAL, as a team leader, a Navy Lieutenant Commander? Thats who he was. I suppose its important to love what you do, to do what you love.
Even if it takes over your life to the point that you forget your birthday until two days later? she teased.
Sure. But as involved as Nic was in his career, hed never missed a birthday. Or rather, his friendshis team, his familyhad never missed it. One year on a mission deep in the mountains of Afghanistan, hed hunkered down in a cave, blowing out a match stuck in a MRE while the men of Poseidon sang an X-rated birthday ditty.
Did that speak to his ties to his team being too tight? Nic pondered that for the brief second it deserved, then dismissed it as ridiculous. Which left Darbys ties being, well, nonexistent? Didnt she have family? Friends who remembered? Who celebrated with her? For her?
A part of hima part he barely recognizedwas tempted to reach over and pull her into his arms for a hug. A hug?
What the hell? Nic mentally cringed.
Time to lighten things up, he decided.
Favorite song?
All Summer Long.
Kid Rocks mash-up of Warren Zevon and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He nodded when Darby inclined her head. Nice.
How about you? she asked, sipping the last of her drink with a slurp. Whats your favorite movie?
The Hurt Locker.
Hmm, intense military flick starring hottie Jeremy Renner. Nice, she returned with a smile, pushing her cleaned breakfast dish aside and leaning her elbows on the table to lean toward him. Favorite color?
Purple.
Obviously picking up the humor in his tone, Darby arched her brows. But to her credit, she didnt ask. Instead, she kept the game going. How about your favorite treat?
You.
But just in case his taste for her was a fluke, he went with his second favorite since hed enjoyed it a lot more often.
Snickers.
Mmm, nuts, nougat and caramel. Great choice. Darby flashed a wicked smile. Favorite position?
Now thats a tough question. His smile was slow and appreciative. I was pretty into the ones we tried out last night. The standing in the shower this morning was pretty sweet, too.
But?
Tempting, but Nic refrained from going smart-ass and went with honesty instead.
But I think in some things, I simply dont have a favorite. Im willing to give it some time, to experiment with a variety of positions and compare notes. You know, see if we can find a mutual favorite.
I like that, she said, sounding delighted. It shows an open mind and a willingness to experiment.
Babe, when it comes to experimentation, Im all for doing it until Ive got it right.
Darbys laugh danced over the sound of the surf, filling Nic with an easy pleasure. Damn if he wasnt actually looking forward to the next few days of leave now, with her here to enjoy it with.
So. Last question, she promised as she stood. Her fingers made quick work of the fabric knotted at her waist. The watercolor hues slid off the temptation of her hips, leaving her standing in a bikini the color of crushed grapes. As bikinis went, it wasnt exactly skimpy. The bottom rose high in the sides and came nearly to her belly button, while the halter-style top showed a delicious view of her cleavage, but mostly covered those lush breasts.
Damn.
His brain went blank as the blood drained south.
So. Nic cleared his threat. Whats your question?
Im just wondering what are your plans for the rest of the morning?
Im supposed to meet my cousin, catch a few waves, Nic said absently, watching as she looked up the beach one way, then down the other. But I can blow that off.
Are you sure? she asked as she reached behind her neck with one hand, behind her back with the other. The move made her breasts thrust out, and put his body on full alert.
He tried to clear his head when Darby tilted her head to one side as if waiting for his answer. Really wanting to see what shed do next, he hurried to give it to her.
Yep. Sure. Definitely. He sat up a little straighter. Im positive.
With that and a flick of her fingers, the top of her bikini dropped away. Leaving her standing there, the sun glinting off those cherry-tipped breasts and making his mouth water.
Why dont we try a few of those positions and see if we can make up your mind.
* * *
MMM, YEAH. DARBY stretched her body out on the padded beach recliner, her flesh tingling as her toes dug into the warm sand and the sun drenched her supersensitized body with soothing rays. Her skin slathered with SPF 40 and her sunglasses shielding half her face, she stared out at the ocean in fascination.
Hours ago, shed ridden Dominics body the way he was riding those ocean waves. With the same enthusiasm, the same verve andshe tilted her head to the sidehopefully with the same skill.
Hours ago, shed ridden Dominics body the way he was riding those ocean waves. With the same enthusiasm, the same verve andshe tilted her head to the sidehopefully with the same skill.
She was going to go with a yes to that last part since hed seemed to enjoy himself.
Almost as much as she had. And why not. The mans body was like sculpted gold glittered with diamond-like sparkles of the oceans spray. Darby spent a good five minutes watching Nic surf, wondering how the guys muscles were impressive even from this distance. Not quite as impressive as they were up close and personal, but it was still enough to make her mouth a little dry.
Was it that body, though? Or was it his personality that had her so hooked? Shed never met a guy who challenged her brain, made her laugh and turned her on all at the same time.
It was a little scary how much shed liked it.
Desperate for distraction, she grabbed her ever-present cell phone and auto-dialed. It only took five minutes for her to wish shed found a different distraction.
Let me get this straight, Grace said, dragging the words out in her surprise. You, Darby Raye, ballbuster extraordinaire, woman who no man can con into anything, a chick with a deep mistrust of anything even approaching the emotional level, is having an affair with a stranger.
Cringing, Darby pressed the phone closer to her ear, then realized it was stupid to worry about the people around her on the beach overhearing that she was doing the naked mambo on vacation. Smarter would be to wonder what she was doing making such a huge confession by phone with her secretary. She was so not the touchy-feely sharesy type.
But she couldnt seem to stop herself.
Hes not a stranger.
You met the guy last night, Grace argued.
Have you ever met someone and felt an instant connection. Not some soul-mate romantic drivel connection, Darby quipped before Grace could finish the aww sound shed started. Just a connection. Like, you understood them. Even without all those random details, you feel as if you know them well enough to relax and be yourself.
Leaning back in the lounge chair, Darby slurped up a deep sip of her smoothie to the sound of silence.
Go ahead, she finally said, figuring Grace would grind the enamel off her teeth trying to bite back her opinion. Say it.
First, I want to know that youre really Darby Raye and that youre not responding under duress. So answer these questions three. First, what color is your desk chair? Second, what was the last thing we ate together? And third, who irritates you the most in the office?
This time it was Darby who went aww, although she kept the comment in her mind. There was something seriously sweet about having someone care enough to ask silly questions that most stalkers wouldnt have a clue the answers to, just to be sure that Darby wasnt being forced into multiple beachside vacation orgasms against her will. Especially since Darby knew that if she answered any one of them with anything but Graces expected response, the other woman would be on the phone to the authorities, pulling every legal string and connection she could to ensure Darbys safety.
It was the first time that Darby could remember anyone caring that much about her, and it was kind of touching.
My desk chair is aubergine, and dont try to say that its purple because we both know I won that argument when I showed you the receipt. The last meal we had together was some weird tofu stir-fry thing you insisted I try, but you know perfectly well I threw my portion in the trash as soon as you left the room. Darby waited for Graces relieved laughter to fade before answering the last part. And third, Id say that giggly brunette with the huge teeth in research irritates me the most, but I think this is a trick question.
Since you nailed the first two, Ill give you a pass on the trick question, Grace replied. Just tell me youre being careful.
Are you asking if Im having safe sex?
Darby! Graces gasp was half giggles.
Cmon, remember to whom youre talking, Darby reminded her with a laugh. You said it yourself. Im made of mistrust. Added to that, Im trained to read people. To understand body language, and to take care of myself. Theres nothing to worry about.
Nothing? You dont know his last name. You dont know where he works or what he does for a living. You dont even know if he lives in the United States. None of that merits a little worry?
Darby grimaced. She was already regretting mentioning Dominic in any way, let alone confessing her trip into sexual nirvana. Since she hadnt kept her mouth shut, she shifted to damage control.
I know his first name. The owner of the resort, an upstanding citizen who, according to the framed photos in the lobby, is on a first-name basis with numerous elected officials, as well as three Navy Admirals, is his uncle. I know that whatever he does for a living involves using his bodyand given the quality of said body, hes damn good at what he does.
She waited while Grace made a low humming noise, then asked, So when you get back, are you going to fill me in on the details of what he does with that body?
Isnt that a little tacky? Darby said as she leaned her head back on the thick lounge cushion and tried to keep from laughing. Ill plead the Fifth on that.
Appropriate.
This time Darby didnt try to hide her laugh. But she did try to reassure her friend.
Grace, Im good at taking care of myself. I promise, Im not in danger.
Okay, but please check in every once in a while, just so I dont worry.
Darby wanted to roll her eyes. She was a grown woman. She couldnt remember a single time any of her family had asked her to check in, let alone shown any worry for her. She wanted to tell Grace to quit being such a worrywart and chill out.
I promise, she said instead. Then, because feeling all gooey inside made her uncomfortable, she changed the subject. So hows everything in the office? Any exciting new cases?
Um, yeah. About that. I dont want to put a pall on your wild vacation fling or anything, but you should probably know that a certain ex has been in and out of the offices more than once this week.
Darbys smile fell away as she pictured Paul Thomas. She didnt shift from her lounging position, but her body tensed all the same. She tried to ignore the guilt trickling down the back of her throat.
Did you tell him I was away? Darby resisted the urge to look over her shoulder. She wouldnt put it past Paul to follow her on vacation.
Please, Grace sniffed. You know perfectly well that I wouldnt tell him anything. But I never got a chance to show off my discretion because he never actually stopped by your office. Word is he did stop by Carsons office, though.
Why was Paul chatting up the Deputy Director of the US Attorneys office?
Her unseeing gaze locked on the waves, Darbys mind raced. He was up to something. But what? He couldnt get her fired for dumping him, and besides, that wasnt his style. She could easily imagine him romancing another woman in the office to make her jealous. But she couldnt see him risking his own reputation by involving her boss in some scheme to get her attention.
She adjusted her sunglasses and blew out a long breath.
Odds were, he was simply playing it up to get her to call. He was playing her. It was totally his style.