Page 35 of Natural Temptation

My attempt at humor seems to work. But as I take a long sip of my newly arrived piña colada, I wonder why I need to be secretive at all. Would Ryan care? I should ask him first.

As our laughter subsides, Zara's eyes light up. "Ladies, have you heard about the water volleyball tournament the resort's throwing?"

"Are you serious?" I ask. "Nude water volleyball?"

"Oh absolutely." Zara bobs her head enthusiastically, her curls bouncing. "It's this afternoon. Apparently, they're transforming the curvy pool for the big event, net and all."

"That sounds incredible," Maya agrees. "I've never been very athletic, which you guys know. But I'd love to give volleyball a go."

Zara launches into a detailed description of what she believes water volleyball will be like. But I can't stop picturing Ryan in the nude, spiking the ball and making his balls flap too. But I assume the general manager won't participate in that event. It wouldn't be professional.

Lila snaps her fingers in my face. "What about you, space cadet? Game for a little silly fun before the tournament?"

"Uh, what?" I smile, trying to disguise the face that I have no idea what Lila is talking about. "Oh, I don't know. Whatever you guys want."

Zara shakes her head in mock disappointment. "You weren't listening at all, were you?"

"Sorry, no, I zoned out for a minute."

"No kidding." Zara sighs. "Coconut painting, Mer. Yay or nay?"

"Sure, let's do that." I have no idea what coconut painting is, though it sounds bizarre.

Later that afternoon, I find myself wandering down to a secluded beach I'd seen on the map of the resort. The warm, silky sand feels wonderful between my toes. The sun hangs low now, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. And there, silhouetted against the setting sun, is a familiar figure.

As Ryan turns toward me, his lips curve into a slow, sexy smile. "Ditched the girls, eh?"

I return the smile, closing the distance between us. "You know what they say about great minds. You and I think alike so often it's almost supernatural."

Ryan roves his gaze my whole body. "And what exactly was your great mind thinking about?"

I bite my lip, feeling bold in the fading light. "Oh, you know...coconut painting, secrets, the usual vacation fare."

He raises an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Sounds intriguing."

"Not really. Painting a coconut is damn hard. They're slippery buggers."

Ryan's laughter is husky and rich. "I imagine they are. Maybe you should stick with landscape painting."

"I suck at that too. Lila tried to teach me, but I'm hopeless."

"How about a surfing lesson instead?"

My laugh turns into spluttering. "Aren't there sharks out there?"

He shrugs. "Some things are worth the risk."

"Like what?" Am I worth it? I desperately want him to tell me yes.

But Ryan gazes out at the horizon instead, his jaw tightening, a muscle ticking there. The tension I saw there lessens but doesn't evaporate. His voice drops to a rougher tone. "Speaking of surprises, I've got a few of my own."

I can feel the change in his demeanor, but I can't understand it. Maybe he's trying to avoid a deeper conversation. So, I keep my tone light, not wanting to push. "Well, if you'd like to get something off your chest, I'm here to listen."

He knifes a hand through his hair, a gesture I'm beginning to recognize as a sign of his discomfort. "Yeah, I...There's a lot you don't know about me, Meredith."

I take a step closer, drawn by the vulnerability in his voice. "I'm a good listener, if you want to share. I'm also good at keeping secrets—for the right reasons."

Ryan takes a deep breath, his eyes meeting mine. "This isn't exactly first-date material. But then, we blew past that line a while ago."

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