If I were brave and bold and the right kind of woman, I might say hell no. You’ll be sleeping with me in that massive bed with a view of the sea. But that’s not who I am.
“I guess so,” I mutter instead.
“For now.” He grins, folding his hands behind his head and closing his eyes as though he hasn’t a care in the world. And I guess he doesn’t. “Do we have anything on the agenda for today, or are we free to do our own thing?”
It’s still only midmorning, Hawaii time.
“Sadly, we’ve arrived too late to join the trip the whole party took to the lavender farm. They won’t be back till late this afternoon.” Just in time for dinner at a local restaurant.
Ant sits up, another smile lighting up his face. “You mean we’ve got the whole day to ourselves? Get into that dressingroom, woman. I want you out here in your swimmers in five minutes.”
“You don’t want a shower? Or a nap? Or something to eat?”
“We’ll be washing off the airplane stink and jet lag in the pristine waters of Kapalua Bay, Sparky. And afterwards, we can order room service and nap on the lanai. Chop, chop.” He leaps off the sofa, clapping his hands.
It’s impossible to resist him. With an attempt at an annoyed frown, to keep him on his toes, I close the bedroom door behind me. I throw open my suitcase and change into one of the new bikinis Mei had delivered to the hospital this week, along with instructions to use them for good or evil, and a sarong.
I don’t miss the look he runs up and down my body when I come back into the living room to find him in fresh board shorts and a rashie, which clings to his chest and arms in ways I really don’t need to see. He hands me a mesh bag.
“What’s this?”
“A full-face snorkel mask and fins. There be turtles in that there bay.” He waves his arm towards the glittering sea. “And we might just be lucky enough to catch them. If not, it’s good practice for later.”
“There’s what?” My pitch rises in excitement.
“Turtles.” Ant opens his arms wide, indicating their likely size, I’m guessing.
I can’t keep my feet from doing a little happy dance. “Do you really think we’ll see one?”
Ant laughs. “Would I lie to you?”
I’m out the door before he’s even finished speaking.
The walk to the bay takes us through gardens lush with frangipani and hibiscus, past pools with cascading waterfalls, surrounded by sun lounges and beds with canopies and curtains, and across a swathe of thick grass, leading onto the sun-warmed sand.
The beach attendants give us towels and set up sunbeds for us at the quieter end of the small beach. Ant stretches, drawing my attention to his body. As though I need the encouragement. His shoulders are wide, his abs ridged, and his skin is firm and tanned, with the dusting of golden hairs on his arms catching the sun.
Self-consciously, I slip my sarong off my hips and fold it neatly on my sun lounge. When I look up, expecting some teasing quip, I find Ant’s eyes sliding from my shoulders to my feet and back again. He clears his throat before he speaks.
“We might need to do something with all that hair. Could you turn around?” I obey and lean into his big hands as they smooth across my scalp and start working on the length of my hair.
“What are you doing?”
“Plaiting it so it won’t get in your way. Do you have an elastic?”
I point to my beach bag, and Ant reaches inside one-handed, coming out with a thick black band.
“Where did you learn to plait hair?” I’m incredulous.
“Did you miss the part where I said I have a sister and three nieces? Plaiting hair is an essential skill for an uncle.” There’s pride in his voice as he finishes his task and runs his hand down the length of the plait. “There.”
On the surface, Ant is what I’d describe as a blokey bloke. He’s all outdoorsy and sporty and masculine. That he’d learn to plait hair for his nieces is adorable. And I shouldn’t be surprised. Because blokey bloke or not, there’s a deep vein of gooey running through him.
Chapter Fifteen
Ant
Ihave to clamp my bottom lip between my teeth—hard—when Lilavati hands me a tube of sunscreen and asks me to do her back. If I don’t, I’m likely to lean forward and lick her neck beside the thick, shiny plait I just did. Or bite the flesh where her neck joins her shoulder. Or drop to my knees in the sand and bury my face against the slender curve of her arse. In front of everyone.
