Page 27 of Hot Buttered Rum

“I’ll say,” I said, teasingly, “the last personal island a man took me to had a two story mansion with a deck and whirlpool. And the one before that . . .”

“All right, I get it. I won’t disparage my little chunk of paradise anymore.” We hiked through the dense, shady forest of dark green succulents and wide leafed palms until we reached a perfect little clearing. In the center of the clearing sat a small four sided hut with a thatch room and a rustic stone walkway. Sunlight glinted off the round windows.

I couldn’t hold back a smile. “It’s like a hobbit house. It’s absolutely perfect. Who needs a mansion when you’ve got this?”

“Somehow I knew you’d appreciate it.” Turner turned and kissed me. Then he took hold of my hand and led me into the house.

The interior was as quaint as the exterior. A wood burning stove with its long crooked pipe leading up and through a hole in the ceiling stood in one corner. A small bed that was piled high with quilts sat against the opposite wall. A table with a driftwood base and two chairs sat beneath a round window. The window had a nearly panoramic view of the back side of the island and the ocean beyond.

“It gets stuffy in here on hot days.” Turner walked over and pushed open the window. “The bathroom isn’t much, I’m afraid. Sort of an outhouse with cold running water. The real one is a work in progress.”

“It’s wonderful, Turner. I can’t imagine how nice it would be to have something like this to get away from the stress of the real world.”

He walked over to a small cupboard that had been attached to the wall next to the stove. “I’ve only got a few things to eat. Nothing keeps. Whenever I plan to come here for a weekend, I bring an ice chest. So sorry that I’m not much of a host.”

I pressed my hand against my stomach. “Are you kidding? After a day and a half with Coco’s food, I’m going to need to fast just to get rid of the extra pounds.”

Turner walked over and pulled me against him. “Nope, not feeling any extra pounds just all the right curves in all the right places.” His blue eyes glinted in the light coming through the window. “Since I like you so damn much, I’m going to show you my favorite place on the island. But you’ll probably get wet, so you’ll want to leave your clothes behind.”

A laugh shot from my mouth. “Very funny.”

“No really. Unless you want to ride back to the inn in wet clothes. Your choice. But it’ll be a lot more fun naked. No one can see you because we are alone on this island.”

“My gosh, you’re serious.”

“Yep.”

“What about Dexter? He’s up in the trees somewhere keeping his eagle eye on the place.”

Turner reached up and started unbuttoning my shirt. “As I’ve said before, that bird can get his own pretty girl.” He parted the open panels of my shirt and pressed his mouth against the swell of my breast. “This one is mine.”

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