LITMIR.BIZ

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nodded and flicked his fingers at the man looking for a quick escape. “My wife is a beautiful woman. Hardly surprising you’d try to make a move. Now, though, if you’ll excuse us …”

      Chad disappeared so fast Caitlyn half expected to see sparks shooting up from the heels of his shoes. Then she was alone with Jefferson. “Why are you doing this?”

      He gave her shoulders another squeeze and smiled down at her. “Rescuing you from boredom, you mean? Well, because I’m a great humanitarian.”

      “How do you know I was bored?” she countered. “Chad was fascinating. Seriously. I was hanging on his every word.”

      “Your eyes were glazed over and your body language indicated imminent unconsciousness.”

      Caitlyn sighed, slipped out from under Jefferson’s arm and picked up her drink. Draining it, she held the empty glass up to him, and once again he signaled for the waiter. What was the point in pretending? She was too grateful that Jefferson had arrived like the cavalry. If he hadn’t, she might have been stuck for hours listening to tales of pork bellies and futures trading. “Fine. I admit it. I’ve never been so bored in my life.”

      “What did you expect?” he asked, grinning. “The man’s name is Chad. Is that even a name? Isn’t it really just a hanging piece of paper?”

      Caitlyn chuckled. “Stop it. He seemed nice enough on the beach.”

      “Aah, well. You met on the beach. Of course you’d expect him to be fascinating. Probably heatstroke.”

      “He’s handsome.”

      “So am I.”

      She shook her head at him. “Don’t forget humble.”

      “Goes without saying.” He sat up, leaned his elbows on the glass table and looked into her eyes.

      All around them, the small, round glass tables were full as the resort’s guests gathered to watch the sunset from the comfort of an elegant bar. Beyond the sweep of the sparkling glass walls separating the bar from the patio outside, the sun sank toward the sea in a glorious blend of vibrant colors that washed the surface of the ocean with reflected glory.

      Crystal clinked. The whispered hush of conversation rose and fell all around them. And music, something slow and bluesy, piped in from discreetly hidden speakers.

      Jefferson’s blue eyes were locked on her and Caitlyn felt the power of them sink deep inside. If she didn’t know that he was up to something … Never mind—she did know and that was all that mattered.

      She tried to ignore the romantic atmosphere and the fact that her mouth was still sort of humming from the casual, too-quick kiss he’d given her for Chad’s benefit. So, despite the fact that she really wished he were serious, that she really wished he did want her, Caitlyn steeled herself against her own desires.

      “Jefferson,” she said as the waiter delivered her fresh raspberry martini, “tell me what’s really going on.”

      He leaned in closer, keeping his gaze locked with hers and heat poured through her in a thick ripple. “Why is it so hard for you to believe that I’m here because I missed you? Because I realized that you were … more than just my admin. That you were important.”

      Caitlyn blew out a long breath, lifted her drink and took a sip of the icy liquid. It didn’t affect the roaring heat within her, but it did help ease the knot in her throat. “We worked together for three years, Jefferson. If I’m so important, why did it take you so long to notice?”

      He gave her a smile that was wicked. “Because it wasn’t until you’d gone that it hit me.” He reached across the table, took her hand and smoothed the pad of his thumb across her skin in slow strokes. “You’re … important to me, Caitlyn.”

      Her stomach jumped and her heart jolted hard against her ribs. Oh, if she thought for even a moment that he was telling the truth, she’d leap across the table and kiss him as she used to dream about doing. But how could she believe that? How could she trust that a man who changed women with as much ease as he changed shirts could suddenly want only her?

      She pulled her hand free and shook her head. “No, Jefferson. Whatever it is you’re up to, I’m not going to fall for it.”

      “Right now,” he said, standing up, then drawing her to her feet, “what I’m up to is a sunset stroll on the beach. Would you like to join me? Or do I make you too nervous?”

      Six

      She didn’t go on the moonlight stroll with him.

      She didn’t feel sorry for him as he complained in a barely concealed mutter while he tried to fall asleep on the too-short couch of her suite.

      She didn’t feel guilty as she stretched luxuriously in her wide, empty king-size bed the last few nights. Especially if she wished—maybe—for company in that bed.

      Caitlyn knew Jefferson all too well. He was up to something, whether he was forced to admit it or not. He wasn’t a man to come crawling after a recalcitrant employee. He wasn’t the type to crowd his way into her life without a self-serving reason.

      And whatever he had planned, Caitlyn had no intention of making it easy on him. She was through with Lyon Shipping and Jefferson Lyon.

      Now, if only he would go away.

      Because nothing short of that was going to keep her sane. Three days of his constant presence, his persistent … attention, and Caitlyn was weakening. She felt it. The man had more charm, more personal power than anyone she’d ever known. And when he chose to focus that power on one woman, he was nearly irresistible.

      When she went for a swim, he was there. When she stopped in the bar for a drink, he was there. When she took a surfing lesson and spent more time facedown in the ocean than standing on the board, he was there.

      Which was exactly why she’d left the resort that morning for a walk into the small village the owner of Fantasies had had built for his employees. The only people on the privately owned island were the hotel guests and the resort staff, who lived in postcard-perfect cottages sprinkled across the island. The village contained both necessity stores and opulent gift shops where tourists were tempted to spend whatever money they had left after paying their hotel bill.

      The only vehicles allowed on the island were electric golf carts and bicycles, so the main street made of brick was mostly empty and almost pristinely clean. The sidewalks were neatly swept and lined with flower boxes, spilling brilliant color and heavy scent into the sun-warmed air. Shop windows gleamed and displayed everything from fashionable clothing to designer jewelry. Tourists wandered, cameras firmly fixed to their eyes and shoppers loaded down with brightly colored gift bags made their way back up the hill to the resort.

      Caitlyn ignored all of it. “He’s making me crazy,” she admitted into her cell phone.

      Janine sighed heavily. “He’s got a plan.”

      “Well, yeah. I just don’t know what it is.”

      “I wish I was there, but— Damn it, Michael, the ferns go in the box first, not on top of the roses—I just can’t get away from here early.”

      “I know.” Caitlyn sighed, too. If Janine and Debbie were here, she’d be able to keep herself busy with her friends. She’d be able to avoid Jefferson much more easily than she could now. Of course, she’d still have to deal with him being in her room every night, but at least she’d have the daytime hours to keep him out of her mind.

      “He’s still staying in your room, isn’t he?” Janine demanded.

      “I checked with the front desk just this morning. They claim to be full up, so there’s nowhere for him to go.”

      “You could still toss his butt out and make him sleep by the pool or something.”

      A good thought, she admitted,

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