She stepped forward so that she could look me straight in the eye. “No. You just love too easily.” She smiled to soften her words. “Besides, have you seen the men I've dated?”
I giggled. Brooke went through boyfriends like water went through a sieve.
“Listen,” she said, kneeling in front of my chair. “If he makes your insides mushy, then he's got to be good-looking. If he's a tourist on this island, then he's got to be rich. Good looking and rich? Enjoy him. Just make sure you have a little fire jacket around your heart this time.”
“Fire jacket?” I asked.
“You know what I mean,” she laughed, rolling her eyes. “Though the other kind is good to have too.”
“So, don't fall in love with him. Just enjoy his company,” I summarized and Brooke nodded. I picked up my purse and put on my cute heels.
“There is a third part to this as well,” she said, her eyes dancing.
“What?” I racked my brain trying to think of what else she could add on that would be better than a 'little fire jacket.'
“You have to tell me all about it later.”
I laughed and headed out to meet Noah.
***
The sun was warm on my shoulders as I waited patiently at the entrance to Dominic's Bar and Adele's Restaurant. The sun was just beginning it's descent but hadn't yet transitioned into the golds and shadows of sunset. I watched the normal parade of beat-up cars pull in and out of the parking lot while I waited for Noah to arrive.
Two local boys waved to me as they walked into Adele's with their mom, and an obvious tourist couple snapped photographs in front of the giant dolphin sculpture in front of Dominic's Bar. The woman with the khaki shorts I had seen earlier stomped into the bar with a scowl on her face. I had a feeling she was getting a drink to soothe a rough day, and after wading around in the mangroves without proper shoes, I would want a drink too.
I glanced at my watch to see the digital numbers flip to seven. I bit my lip and glanced around, but I didn't see him anywhere. My dress ruffled slightly in the tropical breeze. I hoped he wasn't going to stand me up. On the other hand, though, if he stood me up I wouldn't have to deal with the problem of dating a tourist. He would just be another jerk who’d blown me off.
Only he wasn't a jerk. I knew that. He was handsome and funny, and had a sweetness that I couldn't explain. He made my world seem brighter than it was before. My hand drifted up to my lips, my fingers touching my face where he had kissed me. I wanted to kiss him again.
“Don't fall for him,” I whispered softly to myself. “He's just a tourist. Don't get in too deep...”
“Too deep with what?” A strong masculine voice asked, surprising me.
I yelped and spun around to see Noah leaning up against the building. I wondered just how long he had been standing there watching me with that crooked grin. He took my breath away. The sun glinted off his dark hair, and his blue eyes matched the sky. A crooked half-smile made his face somehow more handsome. In a nice, light blue polo shirt and expensive-looking tan shorts, he looked good enough to eat. I hoped for a second he was what was for dinner.
“Nothing,” I said, hoping I wasn't blushing too badly. “Just talking to myself.”
He straightened from the wall and offered me his arm like I was royalty. “You look beautiful, Izzy.”
I blushed as I took his arm in mine, feeling the warmth of his skin under my fingers. His muscles flexed slightly as I touched him, sending a thrill up my fingers and down my spine.
“What are we having for dinner tonight?” I asked. I realized I didn't actually care. I would have been happy to eat sand if it meant that I got to sit at the same table as Noah. I would have eaten it with a smile on my face.
“It's a surprise,” he answered, leading me back behind the bar and down a path that ran along the beach. I rarely used the path because it ran down to the beach houses, which would make sense why Noah had used it instead of driving to the restaurant. He was staying at one of those beach houses.
“Are we going to the house where the party was?” I asked as he guided me along the path.
“Yes,” he answered. I faltered slightly in my step, remembering all the people at the party. At least some of them must be staying at the giant home. I was hoping for a slightly more romantic dinner than that.
“Don't worry.” Noah must have felt my hesitance. He put his hand gently over mine, his voice soft and low. “I'm renting a little bungalow on the property. We aren't actually going to the house.”
“Oh, so you're taking me to your place then?” I batted my eyelashes up at him. “Maybe I should have made you run the coworker gauntlet.”
The path ran through a grove of banyan trees. I had always liked this part of the path because it reminded me of being in a big tree fort. The brown, woody limbs tangled above us, creating a sky of green. The sunlight flickered through the gaps, dappling the ground and casting warm shadows across our bodies.
“My intentions are mostly honorable.” He winked.
“Mostly?”
“Well, there might be some things I would like to do with you that an older brother wouldn't necessarily appreciate.” Noah's eyes caught mine, their blue depths holding a dark warmth that sent shivers of desire all the way to my toes. “But I can guarantee, you'd enjoy it.”
I let out a slight gasp of want. The idea of doing things that my 'older brothers' wouldn't approve of stirred the coals deep in my belly. I wanted to kiss him again right there, and possibly just take him in the trees to be my own.
“Shit,” he murmured, making me frown. With a strong tug, he pulled me off the path and behind a tree.
“What are you doing?” I gasped, but my words were muffled by his hand as he concealed us from the path. I fought him slightly, but his grip was sure and strong. It would take a good fight to break free, and I wasn't sure what was going on yet. Through the tree branches I could just make out the path. I tried to see what was going on, but I was too distracted by the feel of his body pressed against mine. He was solid and warm on my back. Despite my best efforts, my body was melting into his. His arms were wrapped tightly around me, his scent enveloping me with its deliciousness.
He held a finger to his lips, asking me silently to be quiet. I nodded and he released me, but kept me pressed against him with his arm. I wondered if he could feel my heart pounding out of my chest. I could escape him now if I wanted, but I was glued to his body as if he had me tied to him with ropes.
The woman with the khaki shorts came down the path. I was beginning to think she was following me since she kept showing up wherever I happened to be. The angry look plastered on her face told me that I did not want to run into her.