“Always, Rafe. That’s what girls do best. Plus, according to Ari, you came in and asked her on a date in front of the whole class and then refused to leave. She also said your homework leaves something to be desired.” Rachel loved having the upper hand with her big brother — a guy who always tried to be in control.
“That is nonsense. I don’t fail at anything. My homework has been impeccable,” he countered, making Rachel laugh out loud. Of course he’d ignored her other comments.
“OK. Sure. Fine. But I think I’ll believe Ari on this one.”
“When did you speak to her?” He was trying to sound casual, but not quite pulling it off.
“We speak at least a couple of times a week.”
“Since when?” Rafe blurted out.
Rachel knew he was surprised to be out of the loop with something that was going on in his family.
“Since forever. Just because you were a fool and broke her heart didn’t mean that I was going to end our friendship. I really like Ari,” Rachel said.
“I knew you still spoke to her, but I didn’t realize it was so much. You could have told me.”
“Ari didn’t want you to know. I respected what she wanted,” Rachel said.
“I’m your brother,” he reminded her.
As if she needed reminding. Rafe wasn’t someone you could forget, whether you were related to him or not.
“And I love you to pieces, but I don’t think I could stand dating you, Rafe. You are arrogant, pigheaded, and domineering. I would have knocked you out on the first date,” she told him pleasantly.
“I don’t know why I bother calling if you are just going to insult me,” he grumbled.
“Because you love me more than anything. Just like I love you. Don’t worry; I have faith that you will someday pull your head out. I hope to have Ari for my sister-in-law. I adore her, which is really something because I’ve despised every other woman you’ve ever been with. They were nothing more than puppets for you to play with.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, Rachel. And I am considered a great catch,” he told her stiffly.
“Ha,” said Rachel, starting to giggle.
“I have a conference call in a few minutes, so I have to run. If you hear from Lia, tell her to call me immediately,” he said. He was obviously unhappy with what Rachel had to say, but also worried about Lia. He might be overbearing, but he did love his sisters.
At the genuine worry in Rafe’s tone, Rachel softened. Was it really so bad to have a family member worry so much about you? No. She and Lia were lucky to have such a good big brother.
“I will try to get ahold of her today. I love you, Rafe.”
“Love you too, squirt.”
Rachel hung up the phone and looked at the clock. It was only one. She had four hours to go. She just hoped she could make it. The worst part was that it was Monday. Her week had just begun.
“Hi, Rachel, just checking up to see how you are doing.” Rachel looked up to find Harold standing in her doorway, and it made her smile.
He’d only been at the embassy for a short time, too, and seemed like a nice enough guy. It felt like he was flirting with her, since he always seemed to be around, but she just couldn’t tell.
“It’s another day,” she responded, trying her best to give him a positive smile.
“How about we grab a bite to eat after work? We can compare notes about who has the more boring of the jobs,” he said with a wink.
It was too bad that Rachel wasn’t attracted to him. Still, she wanted to make new friends and this was a great place to start.
“I’d love to, Harold. I’ll meet you out front,” she said, trying to be friendly without being too friendly. She hoped she was pulling it off. With a wave, he disappeared and Rachel looked back down at her computer. It was now only five after one. The day wasn’t dragging out any less slowly.
As she began responding to an email message, she reminded herself once again that she was a grown-up. If she told herself this enough, maybe her day wouldn’t drag on so painfully.
Somehow she doubted it.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lia
Lia stretched her arms out groggily and smiled. As usual, the tent was too hot — the bright morning sun blazed through the open flaps, and Shane’s body raised the temperature to supernova levels. But, she didn’t care. She felt content, happy, and ready to face another day on their deserted island.
She slipped from Shane’s embrace, getting away for once without waking him, and moved outside the tent, enjoying the warm rays shining down on her. Deciding to take a swim in the now calm ocean water, she stripped off her clothes and walked in.
By the time she emerged, she found Shane sitting on the beach with a smile and breakfast of fresh fruit and the last of their trail mix.
“Now that’s a sight I could be happy to start my day off with for the rest of my life,” he said as he stood and met her at the water’s edge.
Lia’s heart stuttered at his words. She knew he was simply flirting, but the thought of spending every morning with him until the end of time sounded like perfection to her. She didn’t know how she was going to go back to the real world when this was over.
Her mornings would never be the same again.
“You’re a pretty great sight yourself,” Lia murmured as she came up to him and ran her wet hands along his bare chest.
Yowza. All solid muscle covered by tight, dark skin. She could touch and taste him every single day and still not get enough. Their bodies fit together perfectly.
At the instant lust filling Shane’s eyes, Lia almost forgot about her hunger; only the growl of her stomach reminded her that it had needs, too. She decided that men shouldn’t be allowed to have shirts. The only garment they needed to wear was low-slung trousers.
There was nothing sexier, in her humble opinion, than a man in only a pair of semi-loose pants. Bare chest and bare feet. Yum.
Looking even more delectable with his couple of days’ growth of facial hair, he made her want to drag him to the sand. They’d made love so many times, it was almost ridiculous, but she wanted more and more and more no matter how much she was getting. She was becoming a nymphomaniac.
As his hands reached around her, she felt her ni**les instantly harden in anticipation of his touch. The heck with food. She was hungry for something else entirely.
Shane dropped to his knees, the water lapping at her feet and soaking his thin pants. Lifting his hands up, he cupped her br**sts, holding them gently as he gazed upon her.