“Are you cold?” He started to roll off his towel.
“No. I’m fine. Just a bit of a breeze.”
“Well?”
She frowned. “Well, what?”
He twirled his hand, urging her on. “What was it you were right about?”
“Oh, sorry. My mind’s wandering.” To forbidden places. This erotic fantasy thing was getting way out of control. “Your back. Wasn’t I right that your back did okay in the water?”
He nodded. “Nurse Cartwright, that was a right fine treatment you prescribed.”
“Really?”
“Really. A little twinge when we were on the poolside, but when we were underwater, everything was a-okay.”
His eyes twinkled, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was talking only about his back.
She pushed away the thought. He’d obviously been through something traumatic recently. The last thing he was probably interested in doing was getting involved with some woman.
This wellspring of passion she’d discovered with Michael was beginning to color her perception of all men, and she needed to rein it in. She and Tony were friends, and that was it. Besides, she didn’t want anything more with him. He was decidedly real, not in the least anonymous, and anything more than friendship would be completely out of bounds.
With a flourish, she picked up her daiquiri from the table between them. “To island friendships,” she said, holding the glass out.
He grabbed his, and they clinked glasses. “To friendship.” He took a sip, then caught her eye. “So, buddy, do you want to grab some dinner with me tonight?”
She thought about it. An evening with Tony, telling jokes, passing the time, enjoying each other’s company. A perfect evening, normally.
She slipped her drink back onto the table. “I can’t.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” Other than that she was sittingon the beach with this wonderful man while decadent images of a night filled with Michael filled her head.
“Uh-huh.” He raised an eyebrow and looked down pointedly.
She followed his gaze and realized she was twisting her hands in her lap. “Oh.”
“Wanna tell me about it?”
She gnawed on her lower lip. Yes, she wanted to tell him, but something was holding her back. Something? No, she knew exactly what it was: guilt. But that was silly. There was nothing but friendship between her and Tony. There couldn’t be anything else. So why should she feel guilty for wanting to meet up with her fantasy man? After all, that was the point of Fantasies, Inc., right?
“Kyra?” he prodded. “I take it you don’t want to tell me?”
“It’s nothing. Really. I just want to get some rest. Call it an early night.” She shrugged one shoulder lightly. “I’m not used to spending a full day in the sun, and I’m pretty tired.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Guess I’m just not a party kinda girl.”
“Guess not.” From his tone, she was sure he didn’t believe her. Even more, she had the feeling he was disappointed in her.
And frankly, she was disappointed in herself. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, Tony deserved better than some casual brush-off.
She took a deep breath. “I lied.”
“No kidding.”
