sees it.” He gave her a crooked smile. “His rural yokel facade hides a master observer of human nature. Besides, he has known me since I was a baby.”
“Did you pine for me, Frank?” Was that why Benedito had practically shoved them together at the farmer’s market?
“What do you think?” He set his bottle down on the counter with a harsh clink. “I never wanted you to go in the first place.”
She bit her lip. “And I missed you, too.”
“We were both young and stupid,” he said bluntly. “I try to think that everything happened for a reason, but it was difficult for me for a long time.”
“But now we’re both here and having a good time together, right?” Emotions from the past and present were threatening to overwhelm her, so she strove for a light, happy tone.
“Right. A good time,” Frank echoed, a faraway look in his eyes. He gave a quick shake of his head and came back to the present. “Speaking of a good time, I made plans for us to go to São Miguel for the day. The bathrooms are both finished, so we deserve a break before tackling that red abomination in the bedroom.”
“Great!” Julia could use a good distraction. Standing around painting and talking to Frank about heavy topics was bringing up more than she bargained for. “Let’s get some groceries, as well. We’re almost out of coffee.”
He gasped. “No, not the last of the coffee! There’s no way I can lift a paintbrush without my caffeine.”
“So running out of food is acceptable, but not coffee?”
“Exactly.”
“A man after my own heart.”
He finished the last of his soda and rinsed the bottle. “I am indeed.”
Julia gave him a wary look, wondering if he meant that literally, as well.
“I can have the boat ready in ten minutes. Do you need to stop by your parents’ apartment for anything?”
She nodded. “Water the plants, check the mail, that sort of thing.” She had only been gone a few days, but her parents were relying on her to make sure their place was still in one piece.
“Sure. We’ll get some lunch and then shop for groceries right before we come back.” He kissed her lightly before striding out the door. God, he looked as good from the back as he did from the front.
Julia disposed of her own soda bottle, determined to stop agonizing and mooning over everything. She had agreed to stay with him on a temporary, spring-fling basis, not for deep heart-to-heart, soul-baring conversations.
Maybe it was the fact they were the only two people on his island, an island heavy with meaning and memories. A trip to cheerful, relatively crowded São Miguel would lighten her mood. It was difficult to keep her focus on the present—her heart wanted to go back to the past and her mind wouldn’t stop thinking about the future.
FRANK EASILY DOCKED AND secured the boat at the marina on the island of São Miguel. He helped Julia down the ramp. “How is your head feeling today?”
She blinked. Come to think of it, her head had been fine the past several days. Maybe fantastic regular sex released some of those natural endorphin painkillers. “I’m doing really well, Frank. No problems.”
“You sure?” He stared at her. “Because if you’re feeling up for it, I thought we could take a side trip to one of the smaller villages here. You haven’t seen much besides the main town here and my island, which doesn’t have anything interesting to look at.”
She squeezed his hand, letting her breast rub against his arm. “It has you.”
“Well, that is…” He cleared his throat, a ruddy flush creeping under his olive skin. “Anyway, you have to tell me if it’s too much for you.”
“I’m a sturdy girl, Frank. I’ll let you know if you’re too much for me.” She could tell he was about ready to pitch her back on the boat and return to their island, or at least far enough out to sea to have some privacy. But she tugged him along the dock to the sidewalk. Nothing wrong with a little anticipation. “Where to?”
“There.” He pointed to the motorcycle rental shop next to the marina.
She grinned. “I haven’t been on one of those in years. Can we get the blue one?”
“Sure.” He rented the blue motorcycle along with a couple helmets and went over a quick safety lesson with the shop owner. Julia fastened the smaller helmet onto her head and Frank double-checked the strap. “No point in giving