LITMIR.BIZ

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it. I’ve got my own private paradise here.”

      There was no denying that. Her place had to be the envy of the island. They made plans for Marco to come back the next day for another trip out to deep water, and then Shayna began to prepare him for their next stop.

      “I’m going to take him to Naliki Falls, the short way,” she told their hostess.

      “Uh-oh.” Gigi grinned. “That’s quite a hike.”

      Shayna nodded, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “I’ve been looking him over. I think he can handle it.”

      They both gazed at him critically, studying every part until he began to turn a little red under all this scrutiny.

      “Hey, don’t worry about me,” he said, flexing his wide shoulders in a manly manner. “I can hold my own. Just give me a chance.”

      Shayna looked at Gigi and shrugged. “He wants a chance.”

      Gigi frowned and twisted her mouth to the side. “Gosh, I just don’t know.”

      “Very cute,” he muttered, pretending resentment, but actually enjoying the give-and-take. He didn’t think he’d ever felt more comfortable with a woman than he did with Shayna. Somehow their personalities seemed to fit together in ways that pleased him. It was frustrating to feel that there was an obstacle between them, something he couldn’t deal with because he didn’t know what the hell it was. He sighed, rubbing his head. Today they were looking for his lost plans. Tomorrow he was going to dedicate to finding out what he’d done to hurt Shayna, and figuring out how to make it up to her.

      “Don’t forget, Elmo’s having a luau today,” Gigi reminded Shayna as they were leaving. “You should take Marco by. Didn’t he and Elmo go out on a fishing trip together while he was here before? Maybe Elmo remembers something.”

      “Good idea,” Shayna responded. She’d forgotten all about the luau and she’d planned to attend from the first time she’d heard about it. Half the island should be there. “It’ll be a good way to pick up an evening meal while we’re at it.”

      Marco appraised her—her lovely coloring, her brilliant blue eyes, the wonderful velvety texture of her skin—and wanted to hold her. “Will there be dancing?” he asked hopefully.

      “Hula dancers,” she responded brightly.

      Gigi laughed, seeing the way his mind was working. “I don’t think that is what he has in mind,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’m sure there will be a band.”

      “Good.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve got to work off some of this great food I’ve been wolfing down.”

      “Don’t worry about that,” Shayna told him with a laugh as they waved goodbye to Gigi. “That’s what the hike is for.”

      “What’s Gigi’s husband like?” Marco asked as they made their way back to the Vespa.

      Shayna smiled and stretched out her arms, enjoying a cool breeze that was coming through. “You got me. I’ve never met him.”

      That seemed strange. “How long has he been gone?”

      “That’s just it. I don’t know.” Shayna pulled the scooter around to get into position for starting off. “He’s been on the mainland getting supplies for as long as I’ve known her.”

      Marco grunted cynically. “Does the guy actually exist?”

      “That is the question, isn’t it?” Shayna waited to feel him settle in behind her and prepared to turn on the engine. “I don’t know if she really believes he’s coming back, or if she uses it as a way of keeping overeager suitors at bay.”

      “Whatever,” he said with sigh. “She knows how to manage beautiful sailing ships. The True Yar is in perfect condition. She must work on it night and day.”

      “It’s her obsession,” Shayna agreed. “At least until Jimmy comes home.”

      He thought about that as they raced on down the road. He was obsessed with ship design, Gigi was obsessed with her yacht. Were they both letting things get in the way of caring for people? He’d been down this path before, wondering why he didn’t find a woman and fall in love. Was the career too important to him? Were the yachts? Was he letting gorgeous objects blind him to the need for human contact—and love and tenderness? He hadn’t had time to find an answer to that question when Shayna turned off the main thoroughfare and started them bumping down a rutted side road.

      “Here we are,” she said, pulling the scooter into a small clearing. “This is the hike to the falls.”

      He got off the scooter and walked to where he could get beyond the brush, then looked at the sheer cliff she was pointing to.

      “What?” he said, reacting with shock. “No way. We’re not climbing up that, are we? That’s impossible.”

      “What’s the matter, big boy?” she said, giving him a little sock in the chest with her fist. “Too tough for you?”

      “I don’t know about tough,” he said, scratching his head as he surveyed the terrain. “I’m not an experienced climber, by any means. But I would say this climb is beyond the realm of an amateur. So if you think…”

      His voice faded away. She’d already begun the climb…and she was doing it barefoot, her zoris stuck in her pockets. He gaped at her. She was climbing like a monkey. This was nuts. He had no problem braving the high seas on a tiny sailboat, clinging to the rigging in high winds when the sails needed tending, sweeping out over rough waters in shark-infested areas. He’d done that sort of thing all his life. But climbing around on slippery rocks in a bug-ridden jungle? This was not his idea of fun.

      Still, he couldn’t stand here on the ground while she shimmied up into the clouds, could he? Grumbling in annoyance, he started up after her, only to find himself sliding back down on every other hold. It was definitely a case of two steps forward, one step back—when he was lucky.

      A bird swooped down and almost took a hunk out of his hair.

      “Hey,” he called up to her after he fended it off. “At least tell me what to look out for in the way of animal life.”

      She glanced back down and grinned, obviously tickled that she was beating him. Finding a small ridge, she sat down and waited for him to catch up.

      “Snakes,” she said at last as he sat down, too, panting. “Look out for snakes and silver lizards that bite.”

      “Great,” he said, giving her a baleful look. “I’ll do that.”

      “When I first got here,” she went on, “I was told there were no snakes, but that turned out to be a lie.”

      She realized the admission she’d made as soon as the words were out of her mouth and she groaned silently, hoping he wouldn’t pick up on it.

      But he did.

      “When did you get here, Shayna?” he asked right away. “How long have you lived here?” Reaching out, he gave her a little playful pretend punch in the arm. “Come on. Time to spill the beans.”

      The sparkle went out of her eyes. Slowly, she shook her head. “I told you my life was not up for discussion.”

      He stared at her for a long moment, then shrugged. “Okay. Let’s get this thing over with.” He frowned toward the jungle that surrounded them. He could hear animal calls in the distance. He would hold off on getting worried until they started to come closer. Maybe.

      “What is the purpose of this hike again?” he asked, the tiniest thread of resentment in his tone.

      “To see the falls,” she said, and started off confidently. “They’re wonderful. Come on.”

      But by now he’d gotten the knack and she soon found that her lead had dwindled to nothing. They hiked through

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