Royally Claimed - By Marie Donovan Page 0,58
dishwasher.
“Your hands are fine.”
He winked and hopped out of bed. “That’s what certain people tell me.”
She chucked a cabbage-rose pillow at his head and he darted out of the bedroom, roaring with laughter. She couldn’t stop giggling as well as she dug out her swimsuit and headed for the bathroom.
FRANK HELPED JULIA OUT OF the heavy-duty golf cart as they reached the dune above the beach. “Go down to the water. I’ll bring the supplies.”
She slung her totebag over her shoulder and stepped into the sand, her white linen cover-up blowing in the breeze. Belas Aguas had beautiful soft white beaches, unlike some of the other islands that had dark, volcanic sand or rocky coasts. The sand was cool and damp against her feet as she sunk into the top few inches.
Frank had packed enough gear to cross the Sahara instead of one small Atlantic beach, so she left him to it and picked her way down the dune to the water’s edge.
She stopped and stared at the horizon. Straight south of them was…nothing. Just cold seawater, until the ice of the South Pole. She shivered, not quite knowing why that bothered her. She quickly turned east, taking some comfort that Portugal and Africa were there, if thousands of miles away.
Frank came up next to her. He wore an unbuttoned cream cotton shirt over snug black swim shorts, a light dusting of dark hair highlighting the smooth tan skin underneath. “That’s the problem with island living. You look out to sea and think, ‘Here I am, alone on this rock, with nothing but water and birds around me.’”
She turned to him. “You feel that way, too?”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I told you I don’t come here often. Maybe that’s part of the reason—it makes me morose.”
“You? You’re so sunny and cheerful.”
“I have my moments, like everyone.” He kissed the top of her head. “Here, sit.” He unfolded a low-slung beach chair and settled it into the sand. “I have to set up the cabana.”
She craned her neck. “You brought a cabana?”
“Of course. We always bring one so my mother and the kids can get out of the sun. My mother is deathly afraid of sun damage and wrinkles and the kids get fussy unless they can lie down to rest in the shade.” He knelt in the sand and unzipped a white equipment bag, pulling out what looked like a mass of poles and matching white fabric.
“Do you need help? That looks complicated.”
“Super easy.” He extended several poles and quickly raised a square-topped, open tent as if it were a giant umbrella, hanging weights from each pole. “All I have to do is put on the sides and we’re good.”
Out came more white fabric and he snapped three sides to the top frame until they had a cozy little tent. He unrolled an area rug and set up a couple more chairs inside. A small portable music player, food cooler and side table followed.
“This looks like a sheik’s desert palace. Is this where the dancing girls come prancing in?”
He grinned. “Are you volunteering?” He took off his shirt and stood in front of her in only his short shorts.
“Maybe later.” She winked at him.
“Too bad.” He pouted. “I’ll be here if you change your mind. Or maybe I can change it for you.”
“You probably could,” she muttered. “You’re very persuasive.”
“Only with you, Julia.”
He had said that before. Despite the fact that he was one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors and probably had women fling themselves at him regularly, she believed him. “Thank you, Frank.”
“No need to thank me for the truth.” He beckoned her into the cabana. “Here, come put your things inside and have some sangria.”
“Yum.” She didn’t resist when he poured her a mix of red wine and fruit juice, full of chunks of pears, apples and oranges.
“Not too much, though,” he cautioned. “Sun and wine can be a potent combination. I don’t want you to get a headache.”
“And I don’t want one, either.” She settled into a lounge chair. “I haven’t had one in several days, and I sure haven’t missed them.”
“You see? The Azores are healing you—you should extend your stay.”
She shook her head and laughed. “You’re incorrigible.” More likely it was Frank’s presence healing her. Ever since she’d come to Belas Aguas, the weight that had been sitting on her chest had lifted, only settling back briefly if she thought too much about what would happen when it came time for her