Page 41 of Escape to the Sun

“We just didn’t get our happily ever after is all. It happens sometimes.”

“It shouldn’t happen,” she said simply. “I still believe in happy endings.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Do you now?”

She couldn’t help it; Heather laughed and smacked him on the arm. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re crazy.” He winked and grabbed a pillow from a nearby chair and tossed it at her before taking off, running across the room.

It may have been a diversionary tactic, but it worked because she wasn’t thinking about failed marriages or past relationships anymore. Her only focus was on catching Ash and making him pay for his crazy comment.

If making him pay meant pinning him down and having her way with him, then all the better.

* * *

He let her catch him. Mostly because only good things could come from Heather straddling him on the floor. And all those things most certainly happened. And then some.

After they pulled themselves together for the second time and scrounged up some semblance of breakfast, it was long past time for opening up the rest of Casa del Sol and checking for storm damage. Screwing around was fun and all, but it didn’t help them get their work done. And he really should head up the hill and check on Sherri. It had been too long as it was, and he should make sure there was no damage on her place, and do any repairs if they were needed. But first, there was something he needed to take care of.

He waited until the dishes from their pieced-together meal were in the sink and he’d helped her open most of the shutters. “I know you feel like you’re failing at things.”

“Gee, thanks.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“That came out wrong.” He reached for her hand and pulled her close. “That’s not what I meant. All I was saying is I know you’ve had a run of bad luck the last few days. So what if I showed you something that I think would help?”

She tilted her head, waiting for him to continue. “What did you have in mind?”

“I want to show you how to run the boat.”

“The boat?”

He nodded. It had seemed like such a good idea in his head. The wooden panga could be a little tricky and if she knew how to handle the boat, it might make her feel more in charge of things and secure if she ever needed to go somewhere and he wasn’t around. Although he couldn’t think about where he’d be or why he wouldn’t be around. He didn’t plan to go anywhere anytime soon.

“I’ve driven a boat before.”

That’s right; she had said she’d been at a marina with her ex-husband.But something told Ash he hadn’t been the type of guy to let her participate in a whole lot. “So you know how to drive a boat then?”

“I’ve done it.” She put one hand on her hip.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I did.”

“Okay then.” Ash clapped his hands together. “Let’s do it.” He started to walk out to the dock and the tied-up panga. “Show me your skills, girl.”

He knew she’d follow and sure enough, by the time he got out to the boat, she was right behind him. “I don’t think we have time to do this today,” Heather protested. “There’s still so much clean-up and I should check the guest rooms to make sure they’re—”

“Chicken?”

That had the desired effect, just the way he’d been hoping it would. But instead of answering his question, she crossed her arms over her chest, planted her feet and stared at him. “Who are you calling a chicken?”

“You.”

“Me?” She jabbed a thumb at her chest.

“Yes, you.”

“You’re calling me a chicken?”

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