Free Taking Chances by Cosette Hale Page A

with the island. Though it was where my marriage was finally destroyed, I couldn’t hold St. Thomas responsible for that. It was all too beautiful to hold the blame for Greg’s dumb mistakes. I looked around me at every stop and realized why Tia Ana had wanted to return. One day I’d love to come back— a day when I would be happy again.

Chapter Six
    B y the time we returned the rental car I was beat. My legs were sore, my eyes were stinging from the sun and salt water, and I was starving. We headed back to the room, and as we reached the door, I realized Harvey was coming in there with me. Was he planning on sharing a room the entire trip?
    “So, Harvey... We’ve gotten closer, but, um, I don’t really think that I’d like to share my bed with you,” I said, trying not to be blunt and say, “Get a room.”
    “I have the couch,” he said, sitting on it.
    “It’s so uncomfortable to sleep like that for the next five nights,” I said, hoping he’d take my protestations as a hint. He shot up, took the couch cushions off and pulled, revealing a sofa bed.
    I stared at him. “Why didn’t you sleep on that last night?”
    “I was too drunk to remember my own name. Luckily, I remembered your room number or some other gal was going to have a nice shock this morning.” I shook my head, giving up. Whatever, what was I going to do alone in my room, anyway? Nothing but cry. He would keep me from wallowing.
    It took a little coordination, since I was not used to bringing my clothes with me into the bathroom when I showered, but I got ready and did a good job of keeping my dignity. Just because we were sharing a room did not mean he had to see me with a towel wrapped around my head and me putting on my face cream. While he was showering, I plucked a few stray eyebrow hairs and applied some light makeup.
    When he came out, he had a towel wrapped around his waist. Only a towel. He went to his suitcase, rummaging around, pieces of clothing spilling off the sides. I didn’t want to look so as not to make him (well, more myself) uncomfortable, but when he was facing away, I couldn’t help myself. His back looked so… strong is the only word I could come up with. There were muscles in so many places and no fat whatsoever. It was strange to be in such closed quarters with an unclothed, attractive man that wasn’t my husband. He went back to the bathroom with his clothes, winking at me as he passed by.
    I know what it is to get all hot and bothered by the sight of a good-looking man, as I had countless times by Greg. It was absolutely delicious, and I always knew that Greg would come around and take care of my needs, as I would his. But the dynamic right now between Harvey and I shifted in such a way that I had to step outside onto the balcony for some fresh air. What the hell? I wasn’t sure what had just happened, but my nether regions were ablaze and my heart was palpitating at full speed. My cheeks were hot and surely red from the heat building inside of me. This was something much more intense than whenever I was hot for Greg. Vulgar as it sounds, I was horny. And not only that, I found myself thinking that it’s too bad I can’t have sex for several more nights.
    The breeze on my face calmed me, and I took several deep breaths, willing my skin to return to its normal shade of pale. I mean, come on, it’s Harvey. He knocked on the sliding door, and I jumped. He opened it.
    “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Ready?” he said. He didn’t even realize how ready I was.
    We took a cab to a restaurant by the water, making sure we were far enough away not to run into Greg and Natalie having dinner. The food was delicious, a wonderful mix of seafood, which we sampled from each other’s plates. I sat across from Harvey, gazing at his handsome face as he talked, and I thought back to his magnificent male body in that white towel.
    “And bam— I hit the guy,” he said. He was telling me about the fight he got into