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  Seeing that engagement ring on the bed between him and made him angry, but not because of what it signified. The fact that some asshole had had a woman like Alyssa ready to marry him and had hurt her pissed him off.

  But he didn't want to feel that way. In a week, he'd be on a plane headed home and she'd be a good memory that would make him smile whenever he thought about Belize. That's how he wanted it.

  But right now he needed to get the hell out of here. He couldn't breathe. Her intensity had blown a hole through whatever wall he'd created to protect himself and he needed time to rebuild. He'd see her again in the morning for the Lamania trip.

  Shaking his head to bring him back down to earth, he wrapped a towel around his waist and walked back into the room. He stopped when he saw she'd gone onto the porch. One shapely leg dangled from the hammock, Rihanna's "Only Girl in the World" drifted softly from where she'd plugged in her iPhone, and a warm breeze drifted through the open door. Maybe this was her way of encouraging him to leave, too.

  Hint taken.

  He found his underwear, pulled on his shorts, grabbed his shirt, and walked outside. Dressed in a red silk robe that exposed more than it covered of her delectable body, she lay in the hammock with a lazy grin on her face, and hair falling over her eyes and stirring with the breeze. Sighing, he dropped the shirt and crawled next to her.

  "You're going to tip us over," she laughed against his neck as he adjusted himself.

  "We'll live."

  "I ordered a snack and some rum."

  "The perfect end to a perfect day." All thoughts of leaving evaporated on a sigh.

  "Savannah's not so scary. I think Bill's hot for her."

  He smiled at the roof of the cabana's porch. "Some people always want what they can't have and fail to see that what they need is right in front of them. It's always fascinated me how people's minds work."

  "Hmm...I suppose you're right. And some people take for granted that the person who loves them will always stick around no matter how they act."

  He twisted one of her curls around his finger and glanced at her profile. It would be easy to tell her what he did for a living and how that experience had taught him a lot about relationships. He'd seen and heard it all at this point in his career. She'd nailed it on the head. People become complacent and let a good thing deteriorate to rot.

  "Eight years is a long time to be engaged. When did it end exactly?"

  "A year ago."

  "And he's getting married on New Year's Eve?"

  "Yep." She looked at him with a crooked grin. "Do you know what I'm going to be doing on New Year's Eve?"

  "I've got a pretty good idea." He smiled.

  "I think I got the better end of the deal." She rolled onto her side and caressed his abdomen. "You freaked out for a minute, didn't you? When you saw the ring?"

  "Guilty, but not because of the ring." He slipped his hand beneath the folds of her robe and cupped her breast.

  "Really? Then why? If you think I'm down here crying my eyes out, you're wrong. I want to toss it into the ocean. That's why I brought it."

  "You don't owe me any explanations." His gaze flicked up to hers. "We both have lives that we're purposely concealing for the sake of escape. I don't want to be one of your regrets."

  "I have no regrets about any of it, not the fact that my ex is out of my life for good or that I'm here with you." Her fingers pulled at the snap of his shorts.

  "You're insatiable."

  "You said that already." She kissed him, eyes wide open.

  "Room service is on the way."

  "You took your sweet time in the restroom. It's already here." She kissed his neck. "It's on the table in the corner."

  He closed his eyes and sighed.

  "Even though I'm not asking, I do wonder what it is you're escaping from," she whispered against his ear. "It seems you're much more worried about this arrangement than I am." Her hand found his erection. "Are you afraid of me, Luke?"

  She laughed against his skin as her mouth moved over his shoulder and her hand worked its magic over his hard-on.

  "I can handle anything you have to dish out." He moved his body so that she straddled him and pushed open the robe to bare her breasts.

  "We're going to tip this hammock over and break our necks." She pushed his shorts down his thighs.

  "I'm willing to chance it." He braced them by putting one leg on the floor.

  Not only was he doing things he'd never thought he'd do in his life—like sex against a palm tree and now in a hammock—but he felt protective over her when he knew he had no right. That would be breaking the deal. He'd agreed to play a role of vacation hook-up and he never broke his word.

  When she leaned forward and tenderly kissed him, he pushed his hands through her hair and held on as if she were the only woman in the world.

  * * *

  Chapter Four

  Six in the morning was too early for an excursion to anywhere while on vacation. When she'd been sitting in her condo making reservations on her laptop, it had seemed like a great idea to schedule every minute of a solo trip. Now with limbs strangely numb from an all night sex fest with Mr. Blue Eyes and Dimples, she'd much rather be tucked into her comfy bed sleeping until at least noon and then repeating day one.

  "Don't look so enthusiastic," Luke whispered against her ear after settling into the boat next to her.

  "I'm not a morning person." She glanced at him over the top of her sunglasses and grinned. "You, on the other hand, look way too happy for this time of day. What is up with you and your constant smile anyway?"

  "Is it annoying you?" His smile widened. "I didn't expect my charm to wear off so soon. It's been less than twenty-four hours."

  "I'm not really talkative until after ten in the morning." She dropped her hand onto his knee. "I'm sure I'll warm back up to you by then."

  "Something to look forward to." He winked before putting on his sunglasses.

  "Hey, all!" Savannah called from the dock as she tossed a backpack toward Bill. "Ready for a day of exploring?"

  Alyssa sighed. Not only was it too early to be awake, but also now it looked like she'd need to be around Savannah and her pals all day. The group of six divers and a foursome from Kansas City surrounded them on the front of the giant speedboat equipped to take them from the island to the mainland of Belize.

  "There's a storm coming in, something the locals call a 'norther.' I heard they're already rescheduling dives for tomorrow," Bill said to Luke. "It might be a rocky ride home. I saw the news last night, looks like it's a big one."

  Storm? Land-locked all of her life, she held a fascination with the ocean but it scared her, too. Looking at the horizon now, it was hard to imagine a storm brewing. Sunshine burned off early morning mist clinging to a calm sea.

  "I'm Reggie, your captain and tour guide for the day." A man of about sixty-years old with bushy gray hair, brown leather-like skin, and bright brown eyes stood between the dozen tourists. "My son, Bobby, will be helping us out, too. We've got a big day ahead. It'll take about an hour and half to get to the mainland. I tend to go full-throttle between here and there so no walking or moving around the boat. Once we get to the river, feel free to take pictures of whatever you like and grab a drink from the cooler. We switch over to a bus and then another boat before reaching Lamanai. So get to know each other, settle in, it's going to be a long but fun day."

  She smiled at the prospect of adventure. Enthusiasm like that of a kid on Christmas morning rolled through her as Bobby pushed the boat away from the dock and Reggie steered the boat away from shore.

  Once around the tip of the island, the boat went full speed into the ocean. Its powerful engine lifted the front of the boat forcefully over the waves, eliciting appreciative laughter from the tourists. Thankful for the thick headband she'd worn for taming her mass of hair, she grinned into the wind and stretched her arms across the railing behind Luke's back. Sunlight burned against her skin.

  The boat p
assed pockets of mangroves and other islands. She leaned against Luke's shoulder and watched the water as he talked to Bill. His hand never left hers. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Savannah laughing at something one of her friends had said. Between the slapping of the boat against water, the music Reggie had playing, and the chatter of the other tourists; it was hard for her to concentrate on anything but the view.

  She loved it here in the sun. Even if she'd never met these people last night, she would have today because this particular excursion had been booked far in advance. Fate. She laughed at the idea, lifted her face to the sky, and savored the heat sinking into her skin.

  * * *

  He couldn't deny synchronicity. If he hadn't met her yesterday, he would have today. He watched her lean over the edge of the boat to get a picture of a crocodile slipping into the river and shook his head.

  The boat had entered the mouth of the river, surrounded by rain forest creatures like iguanas, crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, and birds. It felt like they had entered another world from the island. Moving at a slower pace, the boat slipped toward a village where they were meeting a bus to take them to yet another river.

  Once the boat had slowed, people began passing out sodas and water from the onboard cooler stashed beneath Reggie's captain chair. Humidity amplified times ten the further they moved inland even while the temperature cooled. Everyone talked about something called a 'norther' headed into the area, making him wish he'd paid closer attention to television since being on vacation. Apparently, rain was expected by the end of the day and people onboard were discussing the possibility of choppy seas on the way back to the island.

  He shrugged it off and watched Alyssa dangling too far over the edge to take a picture of a monkey that watched them from a low hanging branch that nearly skimmed their heads as they passed beneath it.

  "I love this," she said as she sank to her knees on the boat's bench seat. Smiling, she handed him her camera before rifling in her bag for a long-sleeved T-shirt that she put on over her tank top.

  In khaki pants for hiking the jungle, a t-shirt, hair wrapped in a wide green headband, and face devoid of makeup, she looked like an excited teenager instead of the thirty-something he knew her to be. Her enthusiasm carried over to Savannah who also sat facing the shore, camera in hand.

  Wildlife slithered and observed them as they passed the thick foliage of the rainforest. Leaning his elbow on the railing, he eyed the monkey with suspicion, fairly certain it wasn't as cute and cuddly as it appeared.

  "Why aren't you taking pictures?" she asked when she stood on unsteady legs in front of him. "Want a Coke? I'm headed to the cooler."

  "So many questions...I took a few pictures, and, sure, I'd love a Coke." He never wanted to leave this place, he realized as he pulled his gaze from her and scanned the wide river ahead of them. The idea of returning home to snow and court cases felt like a prison sentence.

  "She's nice, I can see why you wanted to keep her to yourself." Bill nodded toward Alyssa who laughed with a man from Kansas who knelt near the cooler.

  He shrugged, wishing he hadn't lied about the seriousness of their relationship because it required thinking on the fly and he was fully engaged in vacation mode. At the time, he hadn't realized that they'd be stuck with the Dallas group all day.

  But when she returned to sit next to him with a cold Coke and a smile, he appreciated their cover story. "Making friends I see."

  "I thought I was the territorial one," she whispered against his ear.

  He turned and looked at her eyes through the sunglasses. The sun hit them just right so he could see through the lenses. "I guess it goes both ways."

  "Everything you say sounds like a line, do you realize that?" She looked toward the forest and pointed. "Snake! The biggest one I've ever seen!"

  People on their side of the boat spun around to look at the large yellow snake attack a small bird on the edge of a branch near the water.

  "That's a Yellow Jaw, also known as a Tommy Goff," Reggie said. "That's one snake you don't want to make angry. He's very dangerous and known for being aggressive."

  Alyssa squeezed his shoulder.

  "Scared of snakes?" he asked.

  "Who isn't?"

  "I don't mind them." He put his hand on the back of her waist and appreciated her petite size again. Around her, he felt like a manly-man capable of great masculine deeds.

  "What are you laughing at?" She looked at him over the rim of her glasses.

  "Nothing."

  "A lot of people are afraid of snakes." She settled back on the bench, sighed, and reached for her Diet Coke. "I think I need one of Rosie's drinks about now. I had no idea there were crocodiles, snakes, and monkeys involved in this trip. It's more adventure than I anticipated in a day."

  "We're on a boat, I'm sure Reggie knows what he's doing so, unless we capsize—"

  "Don't even think it."

  "We'll be fine. We're a bunch of tourists on an excursion to see Mayan ruins. How dangerous can it be?"

  She shoved her sunglasses to the top of her head and squinted at him. "Stop daring the Universe."

  He leaned in for a kiss. He couldn't explain his reaction to her. He craved physical contact at all times. "Kiss me and stop worrying about snakes and the Universe's wrath."

  "There's a boat full of people who probably don't enjoy public displays of affection," she said against his lips. "Just yesterday I was thrilled not to see couples pawing each other."

  "I'm keeping my hands to myself so no pawing. Kiss me." He smiled against her mouth and waited for her to comply.

  She lightly kissed him, laughter catching between their mouths.

  "Are you sure you two aren't on your honeymoon?" Savannah asked from over Alyssa's shoulder. "You can't keep your hands off of each other."

  "See?" Alyssa whispered, eyes full of humor. "We're annoying the others."

  "We'll never see any of these people again," he reminded her without pulling away. "What do I care about what they think of us?"

  "Good point. Keep reminding me of that." She flicked her sunglasses back over her eyes and leaned back against the railing before raising the soda to her lips.

  He ripped his gaze from her face and concentrated on the boat's approach to the village. Tree houses peered out from branches surrounding the few tin-roofed buildings of the town. Reggie pulled up to the rickety dock, his son jumping onto the crooked wood planks to tie off the boat.

  Everyone gathered their backpacks and stood. A hush had come over the dozen that had been rowdy only moments ago. An old orange school bus had parked in the center of town, the only vehicle in sight.

  He stepped from the boat first and reached back for Alyssa's hand. They moved carefully over the boards of the dock. He'd wanted more adventure after his family departed, but he hadn't been mentally prepared to be transported into an alternate reality. A few native Belizeans had come out of their shelters to greet the tourists. He glanced toward the sky, not seeing even one cloud. Whatever this 'norther' was that everyone worried about showed no signs of appearing. He sincerely hoped it held off until they were all safely at the resort on the island. His skeptic self didn't trust this place and he didn't want to be stuck here for any length of time. Something felt off.

  He rolled his shoulders back and walked with the others toward the old school bus.

  "This is kind of creepy," Alyssa said for his ears only.

  "I feel like we're on the Discovery Channel or on a National Geographic shoot." He grinned down at her. "It'll be fun. Think of all the stories you'll have when you get home."

  "Some I'll keep to myself." She squeezed his hand.

  A New Zealand ex-pat introduced himself as the driver of the bus. He'd appeared from one of the tree houses and introduced a native Belizean as his wife. Reggie shook his hand while the tourists took their time climbing into the bus.

  A quick look at the dense forest around them reminded him of what they hadn't seen during their brief int
roduction to the mainland: jaguars. He looked at the thick trees and wondered what watched back.

  "What are you thinking?" Alyssa asked Savannah who'd hesitated outside the bus to look up at the tree houses.

  "I'm thinking this is a long way from Dallas," Savannah answered with a sigh. "Let's go. Adventure awaits."

  Bill helped Reggie carry the cooler onto the bus while the rest of them claimed their seats. Alyssa settled near the back and began fiddling with the window to lower it. Humid air filled the bus along with a heavy musky scent. Some of the seats had been repaired with duct tape.

  With only a dozen people in the group, they each had a seat to themselves. He tossed his backpack onto a cushion before struggling with his own window. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Alyssa leaning her forearms against the open window, looking up at the tree houses, and smiling. Contentment oozed from her.

  "We have about a half an hour before we reach the next river," Reggie said from where he stood at the front of bus. "Sandwiches are being passed around. I need to make one stop along the way, but I will be quick."

  "Could you live here?" Alyssa tapped his shoulder and nodded toward the tree houses. "Is this your kind of place?"

  He thought of his contemporary home in a gated community with its manicured lawn and frowned. Okay, so maybe he hadn't shaved much while on vacation, but he wondered why she'd think he was a tree-house-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-kind-of-guy. "Are you serious? Could you?"

  She bit her lower lip before meeting his gaze. "Not long term, but I think it would be fun for a vacation sometime. I read online that they have tree house resorts here, too. Maybe next time I'll mix it up between mainland and island."

  "We stayed in a tree house resort in Costa Rica." Bill's head popped up from over the seat in front of him. "It was fun, highly recommend the experience."

  "Are you serious?" Savannah switched seats to sit across from Alyssa in the very back. "Don't listen to Bill. He's part animal. The mosquitos there were a nightmare and, if you didn't shut your windows, the howler monkeys would get in and destroy your room. Freaky."

  "Have you all travelled a lot together?" Alyssa settled down in her seat and focused her attention on Savannah.