Page 20 of Escape to the Sun

Heather kneltin the dirt and took her time picking leaves from the mint bushes. She was going to make a big pitcher of mojitos for the afternoon cocktail hour. Besides the lovebird couple who’d been there when she’d arrived, there were two more arrivals, two girlfriends on a holiday, later that afternoon. She assumed Ash would be going to get them in Bocas Town. But that was a pretty big assumption considering she hadn’t asked him.

She’d have to talk to him in order to do that.

Which, of course, would mean she’d need to stop avoiding him long enough to have a conversation. Not that she’d really been avoiding him.

Not entirely. She’d just been giving him some space in an effort to be honest with herself.

It had made sense at the time after Sherri’s conversation with her, but as the days went on, she could no longer remember what she was trying to achieve with that plan.

Heather sighed and tried for the hundredth time to ignore the fluttering low in her belly every time she thought about Ash and the kiss they’d shared.

She plucked at the mint bush, filling her little basket with the fragrant green leaves before she scanned the rest of the little garden. There were mostly plants she didn’t recognize, which wasn’t hard to believe because she’d never been much of a gardener. But in the few days that she’d been there, she was learning a little bit. Mostly, just enough to fetch garnishes for Camila or Sherri, but maybe with a little time, she’d actually be able to identify enough of the plants to possibly even cook a meal. Not that her food would be better than Camila’s. It wouldn’t even come close to the deliciousness that she could create. But Heather missed a real kitchen. She missed being able to fool around with ingredients and create something.

She’d never been allowed in the kitchen at the marina. Not that she would have wanted to cook anything in there. It was a typical, lifeless commercial kitchen. Food couldn’t be created with love when there was no life.

She wasn’t in a hurry to get in front of the stove yet, but soon. Just being at Casa del Sol was starting to wake her up. She hadn’t fully realized it, but there was part of Heather that had been sleeping, or hiding, for a long time. Even before Joe and his betrayal. Long before. Maybe a little sunshine, sea air, and freedom was what she needed.

She needed something else, too.

That increasingly familiar heat in her belly reminded her that there was definitely more she needed.

But not from Ash.

Maybe from Ash.

Why not Ash?

“Ash!”

Heather jerked backward so fast, her hand caught on the basket and dumped the mint leaves she’d been collecting.

“Shit.”

She started to collect the leaves. More like she started to pretend to collect the leaves while she kept her eyes trained on the door of the kitchen, where Ash had appeared, carrying a large crate. At least she was fairly sure it was Ash, as she couldn’t see his face through the box he was carrying.

But she didn’t need to see. It was Ash.

He took another step out the door and half turned behind him to say something to Sherri, who’d yelled at him from inside. “I got it, Sher.”

The older woman appeared in the doorway next. “So help me—if you step on any of my plants…”

Ash laughed and took a few more steps into the garden. Closer to Heather. “I got this. Stop worrying.”

“I don’t know,” Heather said, unable to help herself from joining in. “I’d be a little worried.”

Ash jostled the crate and took a step backward, visibly surprised to hear her voice. For a split second, Heather was afraid he was not only going to step on the plants that Sherri was so protective of, but her as well. She jumped up to help him steady the crate as he bent to set it down.

Their eyes met and Heather knew by the twinkle in his green depths that he’d been well aware of her presence all along.

A thrill shot through her. Cocky bastard.

“Hi, Heather.”

“Hey.” She tried for casual, but there was no way she pulled it off. Avoiding Ash was one thing. Trying to pretend that his proximity didn’t stir up all kinds of feelings that made her want to throw all her ideals and good intentions out the window was a completely different thing altogether. “Moving out?” Not that he’d even moved in. In fact, it occurred to her that she didn’t really know where Ash lived.

“Don’t worry.” He crossed his arms over his perpetually bare chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The trip of relief in her gut didn’t make any sense.

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