Free Private Pleasures by Jami Alden Page A

go make sure everything's ready on the boat."
    Chris stood up too. "If you change your mind, you can meet us at the dock at one-thirty. You're coming, right?" he asked Drew.
    "Sorry," Drew said, not sounding all that apologetic. "But I have conference call I can't miss."
    Wendy's stomach did a little flip as she realized Drew would be staying behind while all the other guests went on the excursion. Other than the resort staff, they would be alone for several hours….
    She clenched her thighs as her sex clenched at the thought of how they could fill those empty hours. She hoped the filmy cover up disguised the fact that her nipples had risen into rock hard points against the fabric triangles that covered them.
    "You two are ridiculous," Chris said, sounding as exasperated as his wife as he rose to his feet. "I couldn't figure out why you two never hooked up. Now I get it."
    Wendy was glad Julie and Chris had turned and started away so they didn't see the blush that spread over her entire body.
    "At least they don't suspect anything," she said as much to herself as Drew, who had risen to stand beside her.
    "Would it matter if they did?"
    "Of course it would," she said, trying to ignore the way his low, raspy voice sent an electric current straight to her core. "I know Julie, and she'll get all ahead of herself and start, like, planning the wedding," she said, forcing a laugh. "Then she'd be disappointed to find out it was just a one night thing—"
    "Just one night? I thought I did well enough to earn a little more," he said, leaning close enough for her to feel his warm breath tease her bare shoulder.
    Wendy swallowed convulsively. "One night. That was my plan."
    She started to walk up the beach, stomach quivering, as Drew fell in stride with her. "Is that why you snuck out while I was asleep?"
    She felt her cheeks get even hotter and resisted the urge to look to see if anyone was eavesdropping. "I outgrew the walk of shame in college. I didn't want to run into anyone, for obvious reasons. I would think you'd be relieved to avoid the awkward morning after conversation."
    "More like disappointed," Drew said as they reached the door leading into the main building that housed Wendy's room. As she went to step inside he came around to plant himself in front of her, bracing one thickly muscled arm on the door frame to block her entry. "I wasn't finished with you yet."
    She felt a hot, wet rush between her legs. "Did you make up the conference call, hoping you could corner me alone?"
    "I'm not so desperate I have to start making up stories," he said, his teeth flashing white as his mouth pulled into a cocky grin. "I really do have a call in about"—he looked down at his watch—"fifteen minutes. Besides, I'm not much for snorkeling."
      "Afraid of all the little fish?" she asked, wondering idly if he shared her fear.
    "I went scuba diving off the great barrier reef in February. After that, snorkeling is kind of anticlimactic."
    Wendy's eyes rolled behind her sunglasses. Of course mr. bigger-and-better-in-every-way-that-counted would know how to scuba dive. "Well, I've never been so I wouldn't know."
    "You should try it sometime. It's amazing, like another planet.”
    "Well some of us don't have the time or the means to go dive the Great Barrier Reef whenever we want," she sniped. Not that she ever would, of course, but he didn't need to know that.
    She didn't know why it irked her so much that he'd managed to find time for such a trip while still kicking ass in his career. Meanwhile she'd slaved away, barely managing to find a free Saturday and losing her fiancé in the process.
    Which, she thought as the sight of Drew all bare-chested and sun-warmed heated her from the inside out, maybe wasn't the worst thing that happened.
    She needed to get away from him, and fast before she lost her battle with the lust screaming through her body. Once was an indulgence.
    Twice would be dangerous.
    "Now, if you'll move I need to get up to my