bro from Sweden, and she was a comfortably settled American thirty-nine-year-old contemplating the purchase of reading glasses. They had nothing in common, not in temperament or life experiences.
He shrugged, his skin sliding under her hands. “For another while yet. I’m not sure how long.”
Another sign of the vast gulf between them. If he was staying indefinitely at the resort, he clearly didn’t have a full-time job, and he clearly had plenty of money.
Neither of those things detracted from the kindness he’d shown her, however. “Good for you. I have to get back to school in two weeks. Students and teachers may get the summers off, but we don’t.”
When he turned his head again, she caught a glimpse of his stubbled cheek. Seen up close, it was craggier than she’d expected, and he had slight bags under his eyes.
Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe he was older than she’d—
He interrupted her thoughts. “Do you enjoy your work?”
“I do, actually. Quite a bit. I love the staff and the kids at my school. I want to become the principal soon, if I can.” How to explain her feelings to someone like him? “How old are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
Ah. Just as she’d initially thought. Although his features seemed a little more worn than she’d have expected for such a young man. For a moment, she’d wondered whether—
Well, it didn’t matter.
“Establishing myself in a profession I love has been a joy and a privilege, Lucas. The greatest of my life. Once you’ve worked for a few years—” She paused and rephrased, uncomfortable with the implication he hadn’t been working. Maybe he was one of those young tech entrepreneurs and could simply afford an extended vacation. He didn’t really seem like the type, but what did she know? “Or for a few more years, I hope you have that experience too.”
He didn’t respond, and the silence grew uncomfortable.
Dammit. Of course he didn’t want to talk about the satisfaction and meaning she found in her career. He’d asked a polite question, and she should have simply given him a polite, surface-only answer, not a too-personal motivational speech.
Time to lighten the mood. “I’ll bet I sounded like your mom just now.”
There. She’d given him the perfect opening to tease her about her advanced age.
His back lifted and lowered beneath her as he took a deep breath. Then he gave her foot a little squeeze, and she squeaked.
“Believe me, you don’t remind me of my mom.” His voice was warm, and she let it surround and comfort her like her favorite quilted blanket. “For one thing, you’re—”
For a single foolish instant, she was sure he was going to say something like hot. Or stacked. Or sexy. No offense to his mom, who was probably all of those things too, at least in the eyes of people who weren’t her offspring.
“—ticklish,” he finished.
Then he was flicking his fingers over the soles of her feet as she laughed helplessly. And even when he stopped after a moment, his own laughter shaking his shoulders, his right hand continued to cup her foot. He held it in a light but secure clasp against his belly.
She smacked him on the arm. “Shame on you, abusing your elders like that.”
“My apologies, Assistant Principal Dunn. I couldn’t resist such cute toes.”
Her brows drew together. “They aren’t cute.”
She peered at them. They were short and stubby and didn’t even have polish on them. Not horrific by any means, but cute? Nah.
“I beg to differ.” After one last squeeze, he let her foot go. “I think the kids are gone.”
Startled, she peered over his shoulder. When had the gaggle of children left the area? And why hadn’t she noticed their departure?
“Do you still want a towel?”
“Uh…” She looked down at herself and laughed. “That would be a yes.”
He turned his head enough to meet her eyes. “Because if so, I’d better grab it now. I need to get going soon.”
Why? Wasn’t he on an open-ended vacation?
Maybe he had a date. Or maybe he was just looking for an excuse to end this encounter. God knew, he’d already spent an inordinate amount of time helping a cranky middle-aged stranger who couldn’t keep track of her bikini top.
“Okay.” She gave a halfhearted nod. “Thanks.”
Oddly deflated, she unwound her legs from his waist as he returned his gaze politely to the front. And then she was standing on her own two feet, arms wrapped around herself once more.
“Do you want me to get your towel, or will any towel do?” Although he swiveled