Page 9

He was a big guy.

Fit.

Muscled.

And on the delicious side of life that made him a silver fox.

Yes, she agreed with Missus Tamura, he looked good sitting there with Ebi leaning against his chest.

Her own mind was wondering what it would feel like to lean against him in the same way.

What would his heart sound like against the wall of his chest?

Deep and booming sounds?

Quick, fluttering beats?

But she knew he’d be solid and warm.

That appealed to her even though being warm wasn’t something she liked to be.

And in Hawaii? When wasn’t she warm?

She practically craved air conditioning like she craved sugar or lihing seasoning.

That was a lot.

Still, looking at this solid as a rock man who was now stroking his palm down the back of Ebi, she was starting to realize that change wasn’t such a bad thing.

Ebi lifted her head and swiveled it around to look at her with an almost smirk of a smile on her face as if to say, ‘Back off. He’s mine.’

She wasn’t about to argue with the cat.

He looked like a man who a lot of women would want but few could get close to.

He looked like a man who had everything he needed and wanted in life.

He was definitely someone out of her league.

She shook her head, a quick twist of movement.

Focus, she told herself. You’re here to do a job.

Well, she was there to volunteer.

And he was a patient.

Smiling at her fanciful thoughts, she sighed and stared helplessly as he turned to look back at her.

Caught!

“What’s her name?”

Mari felt her eyebrows raise a little. He had a nice voice.

Better than nice.

Deep and rumbly.