sun, long, lean body covered in faded denim and plaid—definitely not her type. “If that’s what you want,” he agreed.
“I do.” Her gaze touched his, and she realized his eyes were a dark brown and guarded. For a split second she remembered the length of his body pressed close to hers in the cold water. Her nightgown had been molded to her body, showing off every inch of her skin. His arms and hands had been strong, holding her tightly, helping her stay afloat. “Please.”
He considered, then nodded. “All right . . . Ava.” Again his gaze found hers, and what she saw in their depths was as frightening as it was arousing. She suspected that Austin Dern, when he set his mind to a task, didn’t give up until it was accomplished. Her throat tightened, and she nearly stumbled on the step as she tried to back up.
She hurried up the rest of the stairs and quickly walked into her room. Closing the door behind her, she felt flushed, almost jittery, and attributed it to a lack of food. It couldn’t be her reaction to the man. No way. She was not that kind of woman.
Oh, yeah, and just what kind of woman are you these days? Do you even know?
Ignoring her rapidly escalating pulse and the questions that seemed to plague her, she dug in the closet for her computer and notes and flopped onto the bed. She hit the START button on her laptop, and as the machine booted up, she wound her hair away from her face and snapped it into a haphazard ponytail.
Before she could even get into her program, there was a soft knock on the door, and without waiting for her to answer, the door cracked open and a hand slipped through. Clamped tightly in the female fingers was a sweating can of Diet Coke.
Ava almost laughed.
The arm lengthened and Khloe poked her head around the edge of the door. “I found one hidden in the back of the fridge. I think Mom was saving it for herself.” She slipped into the room and leaned against the panels of the door. “Shhh . . . don’t tell anyone. Mom gets pretty tweaked if she can’t get her caffeine fix.” She walked across the room and handed Ava the soda.
“Thanks.” Ava popped the top, hearing the click and distinct hiss of a can being opened.
Khloe hesitated by the edge of the bed. “I just wanted to tell you that I know things are weird around here. Sometimes I think we should all just get the hell off this island, but, well . . . that’s kind of impossible and I know things are going to get better.”
“You mean, I’m going to get better.”
“All of us,” Khloe said. She let out a sigh and looked out the window. A sadness seemed to overtake her. “Well, I’ve gotta run. Simon’ll be home soon.” She glanced at her watch and said, “Oh, God, he might be home already. Wish me luck.”
“You got it.”
Khloe was half out the door when she added, “And the Coke, that’s our little secret, right?”
“Right.”
Our little secret, Ava thought as she took the first swallow from her can.
“Watch out!” Khloe cried as she was pulling the door shut, but not before Ava heard the high-pitched hum of Jewel-Anne’s wheelchair. “What’re you doing here?”
Eavesdropping again, that’s what.
So much for secrets.
They were impossible to keep with her cousin in the house.
Ava was about to climb off the bed and give Jewel-Anne a piece of her mind when her phone vibrated. After digging it out of the pocket of her jeans, she saw Wyatt’s face and number on the tiny screen.
“Hey,” she answered, settling back against her pillows.
“Hey back at you.” The anger she’d heard in his voice earlier had dissipated. “I’m sorry for the fight.”
“We’re married. It happens,” she said, though of course it was happening more often than not lately.
“I just wanted you to know that the house date has to be postponed. Meetings ran late and I’ve got a drink with a client, so I won’t be home until late.”
She’d pretty much figured the house date was off anyway. “Which client?” she asked lightly, keeping the suspicion from her tone.
“Orson Donnelly. Donnelly Software?”
Ava was familiar with the name. The guy had made a fortune in the ever-expanding software industry, developing programs primarily for start-up businesses. But lately, Donnelly and his son had parted ways and the son thought he was entitled to his