his gorgeous smile and I got butterflies in my stomach and in my chest at the sight. He was just—heart-stopping. The looks and the charm were a deadly combination. I’d have to be sure to have fun without ever letting myself get the least bit serious about him. No feelings. I already had a crush on him, and I wasn’t about to go beyond that, but he was going to be hard to resist. Everything about him seemed designed to be appealing, attracting me powerfully. I could imagine myself with my arm around his waist, his arm draped over my shoulders, walking together and laughing, tipping my head up to see his smile. No more picturing us together, I scolded myself.
“Since I interrupted your dinner, let me buy you some dessert,” he said. “I happen to know the cook, and her tropical tiramisu is incredible. Mango curd and she soaks the ladyfingers in pineapple juice instead of espresso. Cinnamon and a little chile in with the mascarpone, and toasted coconut on top.”
“That sounds killer. I’ll take it,” I said. “But you have to split it with me. I ate a ton of shepherd’s pie and I’m not exactly headed back to the field to tend the livestock.”
“It’s a deal,” he said and signaled the waitress. He ordered the dessert and a beer for himself. While we waited, I told him how impressed I was by the pub and its authenticity.
“Have you been to Ireland?” he ventured.
“No, not yet. Almost all of my travel features have been beachfront resorts. I’ve visited a lot of the West Coast, the Gulf side of Florida, as well as Georgia’s coast. I’ve covered most of the Caribbean and some of central America. I can’t say any of it’s more beautiful than this, though. St. Martin is really something to see. And I thought I’d seen every beach there was to see,” I shrugged.
“Beach burnout?”
“You could say that. I like beaches. I just like a little variety, too.”
“I can understand that, but then again, I moved to an island and never looked back. The fact is, I spent enough time in swamps and deserts and foreign cities when I was on combat missions. I like the easygoing pace here and the good weather. Does that make me sound as old as I think it does?” he asked ruefully.
“Honestly? Yes. You sound about seventy-three years old to me. But then, you traveled a lot. I want to explore so many places I haven’t seen and go on adventures. Since all that’s behind you—" I said.
“Behind me? You mean in the rearview mirror of the rolling walker I have to use to get to bingo night?” he chuckled. “I don’t think there’s anything worse you could’ve said that would make me want to challenge you to the breaking point on our hike. My adventures are not all behind me. I may just make you beg for mercy,” he said archly.
I felt a tingle and a gush between my thighs. Damn this guy was going to be the death of me.
“I didn’t mean it that way, or if I did, I meant to tease you and not to be that harsh,” I said, half apologetically, half fizzy with excitement.
“So, you’re backpedaling to try to escape the challenge? I’ll show you who’s old and out of shape,” he said mischievously.
“Well, I can see you’re in shape,” I blurted out. “Not that I’m looking at your body or anything like that.”
“Eyes up, Morgan,” he said. “I’m not a piece of meat.”
He was joking, but that stern soldier note in his voice tracked right up my spine with a shiver. And the way he said my name… I liked it. A smile played on my lips, not shy but seductive now. So that was a good sign it was time to quit flirting and call it a night. Maybe take a really cold swim when I got back to the hotel. I scraped the last bite from my tiramisu dish and signaled for the check.
“No, it’s on me,” he said.
“No, I’m working. I interviewed you. It goes on the expense account,” I said smoothly.
There was a flash of annoyance on his face but he buried it quickly, back to his affable, charming ways. I had thwarted his chivalry, and he probably was used to women falling at his feet with sighs. I gave myself credit for paying my own way, or at least for charging it to work. I was no easy