"Did you want to go in?" Christian asked.
She glanced at his dark T-shirt and jeans and nodded.
It was a tiny shop, full of baubles and clothes, and Carolyn wove her way through the place until she reached the clothing section where a selection of shorts and shirts waited. Her gaze slid over a group of Hawaiian-type prints, but didn't pause. She just didn't see Christian wearing them. Smiling at the thought, she continued on to the T-shirts and picked up a white one with the resort logo on the bottom-right hem.
"What do you think?" Carolyn asked, turning to hold it up to Christian.
He shook his head. "I don't need anything."
"Uh-huh," she said with disbelief. "So you have something in your suitcase that isn't black?"
"What's wrong with black?" he asked with a frown.
"Nothing. And you look good in it," she assured him.
"But it's too hot here for it. You need shorts too."
"I don't do shorts," Christian assured her grimly, his nose rising and Carolyn laughed.
Leaning up to whisper in his ear, she teased, "You're pretty lame about fashion for a g*y guy."
"I'm glad to hear it," he said dryly, his hand rising to graze her back before she lowered to her feet.
Shaking her head, she turned to pick up a pair of canvas shorts to look them over and Christian immediately winced. "Caro, I won't wear them."
"Why not? You have good legs. You should show them off."
"Jesus, Carolyn. I'm not Beth. Men don't have good legs," he said with disgust.
"I meant nice guy legs," she said quickly. "All muscular and sexy."
Christian blinked, his annoyance giving way to a grin, and he asked with interest, "So you think my legs are sexy?"
Carolyn flushed. "I'm sure you know they are. Just see if they have a changing room and try these on. It makes me hot just to look at you all in black."
His eyebrows rose, his grin widening. "So, you're saying I make you hot?"
"I didn't mean-," she began with alarm, aware that she was flushing. But catching the twinkle in his eyes, she shook her head and said with exasperation, "Who knew you could be such a smart-ass?"
"I'll get the shirt," he conceded, chuckling, and took it from her, then led the way to the till. She supposed that was better than nothing.
They stopped in at the little grocer's for the ginger ale and crackers and then headed up the hill on foot, chatting as they went.
"How long do you need before heading back to the beach?" Christian asked as they neared the villa she shared with Beth.
Carolyn hesitated. If she just dumped the stuff and left, she'd only need a minute. However, she kind of felt she should stay and visit with Bethany, at least for a little bit.
"Give me an hour?"
He nodded easily. "It will give me time to shower, change, and feed."
"Your Italian is showing, it's eat, not feed," she said with amusement. When Christian stiffened with what she thought must be embarrassment, she regretted teasing him. He was really very good with English. "Besides, you just ate. How can you be hungry again already?"
Christian relaxed and shrugged. "I just am."
"Hmm, you must still be growing then," she decided.
"Cara, I am well past the growing stage," he said firmly.