Page 39 of Escape to the Sun

Ash pulleda thin blanket over their bodies and cuddled Heather closer. They’d worked up a sweat, and the breeze coming off the ocean could be cool, especially after the heat they’d created faded. Not that he thought it would. Not really.

She nuzzled into his chest, a perfect fit, and Ash felt something in his chest hitch. He’d never spent so much time with a woman. Not like this. Not since Carlie.

It was the first time he’d allowed himself to even think her name in months. Maybe years. The fact that he did so while holding another woman stopped him. His fingers, which had been tracing circles on Heather’s back, froze. It wasn’t until Heather pulled away and propped herself up on one elbow that he realized he’d been holding his breath.

“You okay?”

He nodded but it took him a moment to recover from the sudden wash of emotion. “I’m good.” He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head before he slipped off the couch. “I was just thinking there might be a storm coming in.” He grabbed his pants and tugged them on. “It feels a bit cooler than usual. We should check the weather. If there’s something coming in, I might need to take the guests back early.”

Ash was aware that he was being an ass, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. It was too much to be next to her at that moment. He just needed a little space so he could think and clear his head. It was far worse to lie next to Heather and be thinking of another woman. Even if it was Carlie, even if—no. He needed to stop.

“Do you want a drink or something?” He went to the bar and rooted around for something strong. “Scotch?” He selected a bottle from the shelf and grabbed a glass.

Heather watched him from the couch, the blanket pulled up under her arms, covering her body. She shook her head, so he poured himself a dram and swallowed it fast.

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

Ash nodded. “Fine. Just thinking about the weather.”

“Right.” She nodded slowly. “Well, if you’re this worked up by it, maybe you should fire up the computer and check. If you’re right, we’ll have to make arrangements for everyone to go early.” She slipped off the couch and, keeping her body covered, fetched her clothes from where he’d thrown them. Ash’s guilt grew as he watched the way she worked to get dressed without the blanket slipping. He’d done that. He’d created an awkwardness between them. And after the closeness they’d just shared.

He was an ass.

He poured another measure of the amber liquid and tossed it back quickly before he reached for the laptop and powered it up.

There were a million places he could have looked while the old laptop took its time powering up, but like the coward he was being, he stared at the black screen until it came to life. Heather came to stand beside him, and his reflex was to put his arm around her, but he stopped himself.

He knew she was feeling the sudden strangeness between them; she had to be. But instead of pulling away the way he expected her to, she slid her hands over his shoulders and squeezed. “Well?”

Ash turned and took her hand. “Heather, I—”

“The weather, Ash. How is it?”

It took him a moment to process the fact that she wasn’t going to call him out for being a jerk, and it was just the thing he needed to snap out of whatever it was that was going on in his head. Ash grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her hard.

“What was that for?” Heather laughed when he finally let her up for air.

“For acting like an idiot.” He hated lying to her, especially more than once. It just wasn’t the right time to tell her about Carlie, and it certainly wasn’t the right time to tell her what kind of man he really was. “I was just thinking about the weather and then I got worried that the guests would be stranded and miss their flight, and—”

“It’s okay.” She kissed him softly and smiled. “You don’t owe me anything, Ash.”

He opened his mouth to disagree, although he didn’t know what he’d say, but the incoming ding of an email interrupted.

In fact, there were multiple dings and the email program that had been left open lit up with the incoming messages that filled the screen. “Looks like someone is pretty popular.”

Heather’s arm shot across him and slammed the lid shut. “It’s nothing.”

It was most certainly something and he said so. “You don’t like email?”

She reached around him and slid the laptop away from him. “We need to check the weather.” With the screen turned away from him, she flipped it up and started to click buttons.

Whoever it was sending her emails, she certainly didn’t want him to see. A spark of jealousy flared in his gut. “A boyfriend?”

He couldn’t believe the question came out of his mouth. He had no right to ask her that. Especially after the way he’d just been acting. Besides, whatever it was they were doing together, it wasn’t serious. He didn’t do serious and he likewise, he couldn’t reasonably expect any kind of exclusivity from her. “I mean, it’s fine if—”

“No boyfriend.” She cut him off. “And before you ask, no husband either. I’m not that kind of girl.”

“I didn’t mean to imply that you were. I just…well…sorry.”

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