Losing Control - By Robyn Grady Page 0,33

survey, your time to manage, and maybe I shouldn't have tried to embarrass you earlier by showing off what was obviously private." That being the bikini she didn't seem the least embarrassed about now.

She blinked twice, as if she were surprised by his honesty, then her unaffected air returned. "Is that an apology?"

"With a caveat. By setting me up with this island's 'men are servants' slant, you asked for it."

"The way you provoked me, you deserved it."

He looked heavenward. Blew out a breath. "Fine. Just show a little mercy and go cover up."

Victory sparkled in her eyes, but she kept up the pain and suffering by walking past him to provide an incredible rear view. "It's not as if you haven't seen a woman in a bathing suit before."

"Right now, I can't remember a one."

When she angled around, a frown knotted her brow. Surprise again? Hell, in that swimsuit, she was stunning and she knew it. In fact, Taryn was stunning no matter what she wore. No matter what she did or said or thought.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cole spotted movement: that blue-striped tee he'd seen earlier. The boy Taryn had told him about.

When Taryn spotted the boy, too, her thoughtful look evaporated on a quick smile.

"Hey, you're back," she was saying, but, as quick as a rabbit, the boy already had her hand and was urging her back toward the bungalow. Cole pushed to his feet and, dry enough, stepped into the jeans he'd cast off earlier.

He called after them, "What's the problem?"

The boy didn't acknowledge the question. Rather he kept leading Taryn to the deck chairs.

"He wants me to sit and relax," she said.

Before one of the chairs, the boy set down a tray he'd been carrying. Then he shot off around the corner of the bungalow. In a heartbeat, he'd returned with an old wooden bucket.

Cole moved forward. "What's he up to?"

Taryn was looking at the boy as if he were the most adorable entity on the planet. "I think he's preparing me a footbath."

Cole mentally took a long step back. Wonderful. But he wouldn't get involved in that particular discussion again. If the males here wanted to wait on their women, that was better than great. Junior could slave over footbaths all he pleased. But from now on Cole Hunter was nothing more than a bystander. It was past time he found a cool drink and chilled out in that hammock.

But the boy had skipped up to him now and, having grabbed his hand, was pointing at the foliage. Cole gently wound his arm free.

"Sorry, kid. I'm off duty."

Taryn opened her mouth then, sitting down in the chair, shut it tight. As she glared at him, Cole pinned her with a look of his own.

"What?"

"It's just I can't understand how you can ignore that face. Those big brown eyes." Sitting back, she rapped fingertips on the chair arms. "Guess big TV executives don't have time for children."

"As a matter of fact I have a kid brother about his age. Stepmom, remember?"

"Oh." She recovered. "See him much?"

"As much as circumstances allow."

"That often, huh?"

Cole set his jaw. He wouldn't bother to explain.

But now that he looked closer, this boy did share similarities with Tate. Same innocence shining like Christmas lights in his eyes. Same eager look, wanting to hang out.

Cole let the air out of his lungs then surrendered.

"Okay. Where do you want to take me?"

The boy presented his bucket.

"You want this filled?" Cole examined the area, saw an outside faucet and moved to collect the bucket. But the boy shook his head and stabbed a finger toward a track that disappeared in the tropical wild.

Taryn crossed those luxurious long legs. "He wants you to go with him."

When the boy flashed that smile again, Cole scratched his head and muttered, "It's a good thing you're cute." He took the bucket and told Taryn as they headed off, "Try not to miss me."

"How will I cope?"

Cole walked away, a grin tugging one corner of his mouth. Probably best that he remove himself from the scene in any case. Taryn was obviously intent on showing him that she wasn't the least bit fazed by his dangling of that bikini or by that explosive kiss. He wondered if she'd heard the saying: trying a little too hard.

Ten minutes later, he and Junior were weaving through layers of ferns and other undergrowth, which rested beneath a dense canopy of vegetation. As birds whistled and insects clicked, Cole got to