Free Garden of the Moongate by Donna Vitek

countered, putting on her beach jacket, then picking up her straw bag. "And this time's no different. I simply must have some food. So I'll hurry along now and get them to send the bus for you." With a wave of her hand, she started to walk away, then hesitated and turned back. "I was wondering… well, as you've probably noticed, I'm here alone and… would you two mind if I joined you for dinner tonight? I feel so odd, sitting at a table by myself."
    "We'd be delighted to have you join us," Myrtle said sincerely, and Abby nodded in agreement. "Our reservation is for seven-fifteen. Why don't you come by our room? It's three fourteen, isn't it, Abby?"
    "I believe that's right," the smaller of the two women agreed.
    "Then I'll see you at seven-fifteen," Allendre said with a grateful smile as she started off again. "And thanks for letting me join you."
    "She's a very nice young lady, isn't she?" Abby said softly to her friend. But as Allendre left the shade of the pavilion she heard the compliment, and her lips twisted into a rueful little smile. Ric Shannon certainly didn't think she was a nice young lady or a
nice
anything, for that matter. Yet why should she care what he thought of her, she asked herself rather impatiently, since she wasn't likely to nominate him for the Sweetheart of the Year award, either?
    When Allendre stopped at the front desk to request that the beach bus be sent to pick up the older ladies, Loretta assured her that it would leave the garage immediately and got on the phone to call down to one of the drivers. Dressed in a navy skirt and white cotton blouse, with her hair smoothed back in a neat bun, Loretta was much more attractive and infinitely more efficient than she had been yesterday. And she actually seemed happier now that she knew what was expected of her, so it looked as if Ric were making progress.
    Uncomfortable in the lobby in her short terry robe, Allendre hurried to the elevators and only had to wait a few seconds before the doors of one opened. Unfortunately, it was occupied. Ric stood alone inside, obviously on his way up from the ground floor. As Allendre hesitated when she saw him, his dark eyebrows lifted mockingly. "Going up?" he prompted as carelessly as if last evening had never occurred.
    She forced herself to step into the elevator and pressed the button for the fourth floor.
    "Been to the beach, I see," he commented lazily, turning to face her as the doors closed. "Or did you just sun yourself by the pool?"
    "I went to the beach," she muttered, not quite meeting his eyes. In such a small, confined place, he seemed even more overwhelming than usual, his casual outfit of white jeans and navy polo shirt making him appear more appealing and virile than ever. Tugging self-consciously at the hem of her short robe, she could only pray the elevator didn't break down between floors. It would be far too unnerving to be trapped here with him, Allendre thought.
    "Well, did you swim?" he persisted when she didn't offer further information. "Or do you go to the beach to sunbathe only?"
    "I always swim," she answered defensively, thrusting out her chin as she met his infuriatingly amused gaze. "And you know very well that I've been in the water, unless you think my hair looks this messy every morning."
    His gray eyes impaled hers. "I don't have any way of knowing how you look in the morning, do I?" he said, his voice lowering as he added suggestively, "Yet."
    As he surveyed her slowly from head to toe her cheeks colored attractively. A curious weakness invaded her legs as she found herself staring at the firm yet sensuous curve of his lower lip, and she muttered in self-defense, "Don't look at me like that. It's insulting."
    He nearly grinned. "I assure you I wasn't thinking anything that might insult you. I was thinking your legs are as beautiful as the rest of you. You have very shapely, slender thighs."
    "And you have a one-track mind," she retorted, blushing furiously, moving close to the