Blooming in the Wild Page 0,41

at a wilderness camp. She’d called and asked him to come and visit her back East at school, maybe move back there. But by then, time and distance had cooled his ardor, and he’d discovered that he had an endless thirst for exploration and adventure.

At least in his twenties, his thirst had seemed endless. Lately, gigs like this looked more attractive. Put some solid money in the bank just by having his name on their product, and then kick back for a while. Now, with the uncertainty about his show’s longevity, this simple assignment had taken on new importance. DelRay’s sponsorship would make him attractive to other sporting goods companies. If it turned out he could sell tents and backpacks, he’d have an easier time selling The Zone.

The show was on summer hiatus, so he needn’t report back for a month or more. He had plenty of time to hang around the islands while other sponsors looked at the DelRay ad campaign, if that was what he decided. He just hated to stay here because of an uptight city girl.

However, his body didn’t know the difference. It was all he could do to keep his hands off of Bella while they worked together to make their lunch. He wanted to pull her back against him and bury his nose in her hair, get a big hit of her faint, flowery scent while he cupped her breasts with one hand and probed between her thighs with the other. They could talk later.

When she asked him if he wanted some, he fought the urge to pretend she meant more than lunch.

Having Tanah shake her bodacious booty in front of him had been fun but in a kind of abstract way. Just part of the pretty scenery. All he could think was that he’d so much rather have another, very close look at the woman seated beside him at the picnic table.

He was aware of his Hawaiian princess all afternoon, as if she gave off little stringers like the feathery tendrils of a hibiscus blossom that brushed against his awareness no matter where she was, even when he wasn’t looking at her.

At least she stayed back out of Camille’s way, clutching her computer in the shade of the palms instead of hovering behind the photographer as she had that morning.

Bella looked fresh and relaxed, in a little red-and-white T-shirt dress that ended high above her knees. Under her big straw hat, her hair was loose down her back, drying in a swath that shone in the sun when she bent her head.

In fact, she looked really relaxed. Joel watched the smile hovering at the corners of her soft mouth and smiled to himself as he remembered how it had gotten there.

He’d bet he could put a bigger one on her face. Despite his run and his own very relaxing swim, as the afternoon wore on he grew increasingly distracted and edgy. What the hell was it with this wahine? Despite her controlling ways, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her.

“Joel? Joel. We’re ready for the next shot.”

“What?” Joel pulled his attention back to the shoot. His already hot face reddened as he realized that the others were staring at him. Actually, Tanah was scowling, and Cassie was rolling her eyes while fanning herself with one of the leaf fans Frank had woven for the women.

Matt just looked hot. “Hey, moke, stay with us. If I don’t get in the water pretty soon, I’m gonna melt.”

“Sorry,” Joel said. “I’m ready for a swim, myself. Guess my head’s already out there.”

“Oh, is that where it is?” Tanah shot him a dark look from under her huge straw hat. But she managed to thrust her breasts in his face as she fixed his makeup for the next shot, so he guessed that even catching him watching another woman hadn’t quelled her determination to get his name on a notch on her bedpost.

This was borne out in startling detail when she leaned even closer to him, pressing her mons against his knee as she worked, dabbing pancake makeup on his chin. Speechless at her bold move, Joel sat very still. She smiled at him, her full lips parting to allow the tip of her tongue to peep out.

“I can make you feel as good as you look, big guy,” she whispered. “Anything you want, any way you want it.”

“Huh…,” he managed as her hot, damp thighs nestled around his bare knee. “I, uh—”

“Tanah,” whined Cassie.