The soft green sundress made her skin look like burnished gold. The bodice was tight, cupping her small breasts, flaring out over her hips, and spilling to the ground. With each movement, the fabric clung and teased, showing off her extraordinary body. She’d worn her hair loose, tumbling over her bare shoulders with a wildness that stole his breath. Gold hoops flashed from her ears. Stacks of bracelets accentedher long arms. Her green eyes popped with color, gleaming like jewels against the green dress. He wanted to stare deeper to explore every flicker of hidden emotion.
Intimately.
Her lips were painted a lush cherry red. Her joyous laughter rang in his ears as she chattered with Kelsey and pointed out different activities to try. Had he once thought she was plain and uninteresting? When had his viewpoint changed?
“Dad! Come get tats with us!”
Rowan shot him an amused look. “Not sure your dad wants to mark that perfect skin.”
His brow shot up. “I dressed casually. I can let loose.”
Kelsey exploded into giggles, which made him grin. “Dad, you’re still wearing a suit!”
“It’s linen. And my shirt is pink. I’m completely chillin’.”
That made his daughter groan, but he was used to being poked fun at. It was Rowan’s reaction that intrigued him: the softening of her features; the parting of her lips; the interest flaring in her eyes before quickly being masked. Did she feel it, too? The awareness between them threw him off. She wasn’t his type, yet when she was around, his head went a bit foggy.
The line moved. Kelsey craned her head to see her choices.
“Do you have any tats?” he asked.
Rowan nodded. “I have one on my hip and another on my chest.”
His blood heated at the thought of her showing him. His pants tightened and he shifted his weight. “What are they?”
She patted her right hip. “Niho mano.A shark tooth in the shape of a wave’s curl.”
They moved another step. His gaze dropped, imagining the design under her dress. “What does it mean?”
“A shark represents strength and protection in Polynesian culture. It reminds me to swim with the current, not against it.”
The wind lifted her hair, then settled. He caught the scent of coconut and flowers. He wondered if it was her skin or hair. Or both. “What about your chest?”
Pain flashed in her eyes, then calmed. Her fingers lifted to trace the top of her left breast, hidden by her neckline. “For my father.”
“Rowan, which one are you getting? I think I like the flower.”
She refocused her attention on Kelsey, leaving him to wonder what the tat was. He imagined untying that sexy dress and pulling down her bodice to see for himself. He’d trace the tat with his fingers, relishing the smoothness of her skin, the color of her hard nipples. Then his lips would—
Everett shook his head hard to clear the image. He had to get his shit together.
Kelsey picked the flower to match the one in her hair. Rowan got a chicken on her lower arm, delighting his daughter. He stepped up to the stand and nodded to the half-naked man. “These are the choices,” the guy said brightly.
Immediately, Everett pointed to the simple tribal band. “That one.”
“Great choice. Where do you want it?”
He offered his arm and the guy rolled the stamp in ink, carefully transferring it to his upper arm to wrap around. Everett studied it with satisfaction. It looked cool. He took out a twenty-dollar bill and offered it over, but the guy stepped back with his hands up. “No, man, it’s free! Enjoy!”
Kelsey groaned. “Dad! Ugh!”
Everett shrugged and stepped away. “I didn’t know. Figured they worked on tips.”
Rowan laughed. “Come on, Suit. The dinner’s going to start soon.”
Somehow, her mocking nickname sounded more like flirting now. Unless it was his imagination.
He hoped it wasn’t.
