Page 57 of Can't Fight the Moonlight

"It's really beautiful out on the water, and no trip to Whisper Lake is complete without a sail. You should go."

"By myself? That doesn't sound like fun."

She saw the gleam in his eyes. "You've told me more than once that you're happy on your own."

"True, but I'm also happy working, so if I'm going to be on my own, I might as well do that."

"You know your grandmother wants you to go."

"With you," he said pointedly.

"All right. I'll go. I'll take a quick shower and meet you back here."

"You really are dedicated to your guests' enjoyment."

"Happy guests usually lead to five-star reviews. I'll be expecting one from you."

"We'll see just how happy you make me," he teased.

She smiled back at him. "I'm only agreeing to a boat trip."

"For now."

She ignored that, heading to her first-floor apartment as Justin jogged up the stairs. She hoped she wasn't making a big mistake spending more time with Justin, but there was a good chance she was. But she wasn't going to worry about it. She actually loved going out on a boat on the lake, and it had been too long since she'd done that. Maybe a little time off would be good for her, too. She could use a little perspective on her life and being on the water might be just what she needed.

Chapter Eleven

Beingout on the water was more than a little fun, Justin thought, as they sailed around the lake. The captain, Mike Olenski, was a grizzled, weathered-looking man in his early fifties, who had a crooked grin and loved chewing on the toothpick hanging out of his mouth. Since they were the only two on board the fifteen-foot motorboat, Captain Mike, as he liked to be called, was happy to follow Lizzie's suggestion that they head north and then come back around the eastern shore.

Lizzie had brought along a picnic basket with bottled waters, orange juice, and some fresh scones, of which Justin had had several. They hadn't talked much but the quiet between them had been friendly and easygoing. Lizzie was a talker, but she seemed to be in a more reflective mood now, and he liked seeing that side of her, too. He was beginning to realize how much of her day was spent being on and ready to help someone else. He was also beginning to realize how long it had been since he'd taken even this much time off. It was a Thursday morning. He never just sat and did nothing for an hour and a half on a weekday. But he was having a good time. He was starting to feel like this obligation might be turning into a vacation.

As the boat took a fast turn, water splashed over the side, and Lizzie laughed in complete and utter abandon. No worry for her about getting her hair wet or her makeup washed off—if she even had any makeup on. She had a natural beauty. Her cheeks were warmed by the sun, her green eyes bright in the sunlight, her long hair flowing out behind her in silky waves. He found it impossible to look away from her. When she turned to him and met his gaze, his gut clenched with desire and another, more unwelcome emotion.

He was happy with the lust factor between them. He wanted to sleep with her. But he didn't want anything else coming into the picture. They lived in very different worlds, and while those worlds were intersecting for a short time now, that intersection would be gone soon. He didn't want to hurt her. Nor did he want to have any regrets himself. And while he'd always, always been able to walk away without regrets, he had this odd feeling that he'd never quite met anyone like Lizzie before.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked.

"How could I not?"

"The lake is beautiful, isn't it?"

"So are you," he murmured, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

Her eyes sparkled. "Don't flirt with me, Justin."

"I'm just stating a fact. Whatever you might think about me, I never lie. In fact, I've been told I'm ruthlessly honest."

"I can believe that," she said dryly.

"I don't bury facts or look the other way. No good ever comes of that."

"Ah, another clue to the secrets of Justin Blackwood," she said. "Something happened. And it involved a lie."

"Or maybe just an avoidance of the truth."

"Care to explain?"

"No."

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