Sand, Sun...Seduction!

by Stephanie Bond

  Kimber leaned her head back on the seat, numb. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and she didn’t have the energy to do either. Gil would be furious at yet another delay—how would she explain a pit stop with another man in Sri Lanka?

  Finn suddenly let out a whoop. “What a beautiful day to fly! Hang on, Fancy Pants, we’re going over.”

  “Don’t—” But her reprimand was cut short when the plane went into a roll. The breath was pulled from her lungs, and she felt as if her eyeballs might pop out of their sockets. This was it—she was going to die before Gil could propose. No prenuptial agreement, no Marchesa wedding dress. Just her jet-lagged, mangled body amongst a handful of metal and a loud, flowered shirt in someone’s backyard in Dubai.

  And just when she’d begun to make peace with her untimely death, the plane righted. Her eyeballs sprang back into place, and her stomach leveled. And it dawned on her that Finn had rolled the plane on purpose.

  She opened her mouth to scream at him, but inexplicably, a laugh bubbled out, instead. Kimber rationalized she must be getting loopy from the lack of sleep. She could not find this guy entertaining, not when he was standing between her reaching Gil and his proposal.

  Finn grinned. “I knew you had a fun streak, Fancy Pants.”

  At the pure joy on his face, Kimber’s heart buoyed crazily. She wondered if she’d ever been that happy in her life. His abandon stirred her, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “We’ll have fun in Sri Lanka,” he said. “You won’t regret it, I promise.”

  He reached out and gave her knee a squeeze. Unbidden, desire struck her midsection. She inhaled sharply against the tightening of her breasts, the quickening in her thighs. Finn’s outrageous behavior was dangerously enticing.

  Then another thought struck Kimber—where would they spend the night? And how much could she really trust this sexy, overgrown man-child?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “WELCOME TO SRI LANKA,” Finn said, spreading his arms wide as if he owned the country. “Actually, this is Colombo, the largest and most urban city in the country.”

  Kimber peered out the window of the taxi, marveling at the mix of cultures and colors and aromas. She closed her eyes. “Something smells heavenly. Good enough to eat!”

  “I’m hungry, too,” Finn said, then tapped the driver on the shoulder. He paid the man and they alighted in the middle of a narrow street crowded with taxis, bicycles and pedestrians.

  “Follow me,” Finn said.

  As if she would let him out of her sight. He threaded through the crush of bodies, and she trotted to keep up. He stopped in front of a food counter and scanned the offerings. Kimber looked at the faded pictures of prepared dishes, but she was lost.

  “Trust me to order for you?” Finn asked.

  She nodded and covered a yawn. Fatigue pulled at her shoulders.

  His expression softened. “We’ll get something to eat, walk around a bit, then go back to the apartment for a nap.”

  Her pulse jumped. “Apartment?”

  “Belongs to a friend of mine. He lets me use it when I’m in the city. It’s small, but it’s clean and convenient.”

  “I’ll get a hotel room,” she said.

  “Nonsense, there’s plenty of room for both of us.”

  Kimber decided not to worry about the close quarters and accommodations until she had to. If she found the apartment untenable, she’d make other arrangements.

  While Finn ordered their food, she stepped away and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. Thank God she had service, but her battery was running low. Estimating she had enough juice for one call, she decided her best bet was to phone Elaina in case Gil was still in transit. According to his itinerary, he should be arriving in the Maldives right about now, assuming his trip hadn’t hit any snags.

  She dialed Elaina’s number, squashing the voice in her head whispering that she hadn’t called Gil because she didn’t want to face his wrath. Thinking of him waiting for her in the Maldives, fuming, made her queasier than flying.

  “Tinsel Travel, this is Elaina.”

  “Hi, sis.”

  “Kimber! How’s it going?”

  “Not great. The pilot you hooked me up with has his own agenda. He brought me to Sri Lanka—and he said you knew about it.”

  “Oh. Well…he might have mentioned a stop before Maldives, but Sri Lanka’s not really out of your way.”

  “But he won’t take me to Maldives until tomorrow.”

  “Well, that’s not so bad. Sri Lanka is wonderful.”

  “Except that Gil is waiting for me in Maldives!”

  “He’ll just have to wait one more day. It’ll be fine.”

  “The pilot also managed to lose one of my suitcases.”

  “But you have one left.”

  “Full of lingerie!”

  “So buy some new things. These things happen when you travel. Remember what I said about going with the flow?”

  “Yes.” Kimber massaged the bridge of her nose to keep the tears at bay. “My phone’s almost dead. Will you call Gil and tell him that I’ll see him tomorrow?”

  “Sure, no problem.”

  “And, sis…you don’t have to mention to Gil that I’m in Sri Lanka with a man.”

  “Why not? It might do the android some good to think he has a little competition.”

  Kimber gasped. “Finn is no competition!”

  From a few feet away, Finn called, “Hey, Fancy Pants, come and get your lunch!”

  “Is that him?” Elaina asked. “Did he just call you Fancy Pants?”

  “I have to go,” Kimber said. “My phone’s dying. Bye.” She stabbed a button to disconnect the call, then groaned. She turned and marched up to Finn, who was juggling two plates heaped with food.

  “Don’t call me that,” she admonished, taking one of the plates and the bottle of water he handed her.

  He grinned and headed toward a long counter where people were eating standing up. “It got your attention, didn’t it?”

  Fragrant spices wafted from the plate, tickling her nose. “What is this?”

  “Typical Sri Lankan lunch,” he said, setting down his plate and making a place for her to stand next to him. He pointed. “There’s rice in the middle. Around the outside is meat curry, fish curry and vegetable curry. And the sauce is a gravy made with coconut milk.”

  Kimber’s mouth watered. “Where are the utensils?”

  “We don’t need them,” Finn said. Using his fingers, he mixed one of the curries with rice until it formed a bite-size ball, then popped it into his mouth. His expression was one of pure rapture. “That is so good,” he said thickly. “Try it.”

  She made a face. “I should at least wash my hands first.”

  He guffawed. “Come on, try it.”

  Kimber hesitated, then picked up a mound of rice with her fingers and dredged it in the fish curry until it made a passable blob. She brought it to her mouth, losing half of it in the process, but managed to get a taste. “Yum—I taste saffron and…cardamom?”

  “Very good,” he said, nodding. “You’ll get the hang of it.”

  She made another rice ball with the vegetable curry and put it in her mouth.

  “Uh—watch that one,” Finn warned.

  Too late, green chilies burst into flames on her tongue, incinerating her mouth. Kimber’s eyes went wide, then she swallowed, coughing and wheezing.

  Finn laughed, then stopped her from reaching for her bottle of water. “That’ll only make it worse—eat more rice to diffuse the chilies.”

  She did, wiping at the tears rolling down her cheeks. Slowly the heat dissipated, then she drank deeply from the bottle. “You set me up,” she accused.

  “I just didn’t realize you were going to inhale the food before I could warn you. Sri Lanka has some of the spiciest dishes in the world.”

  A willowy young woman dressed in a yellow sari walked by, staring at Finn. He stared back and watched her walk away.

/>   “Speaking of spicy dishes,” Kimber said dryly.

  He grinned. “Can’t blame a man for looking.”

  Kimber glanced around at the exotic women all around them, as colorful and fragrant as tropical flowers. Next to them in her rumpled suit, she felt like a weed. “The women here are lovely.”

  He shrugged. “Yeah.” Then he looked up. “But there’s something to be said about a pair of big blue eyes and freckles.”

  She swallowed the food in her mouth without chewing. He liked her eyes? She covered her nose. “I don’t have freckles.”

  “Oh, yes, you do.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “With your complexion, you should wear sunscreen this close to the equator.”

  She gave him a wry smile. “It’s in my suitcase you left behind.”

  “They have sunscreen here. I need to get some toiletries, too. We’ll shop after we eat.”

  She nodded, marveling at how her anger with him over the delay had dissipated. He and Elaina were right—she should just enjoy the experience. Like the amazing food. By the time she finished eating, she had learned how to combine small amounts of the different curries with the rice for the most delicious mouthfuls.

  “That was wonderful,” she said, licking her fingers.

  “Glad you enjoyed it,” he said, then patted his stomach. “We’ll both be ready for a nap by the time we get to the apartment.” He disposed of their plates and she followed him along the sidewalk. The crowds had increased and she found it harder to keep up with him. He stopped and waited for her. When Kimber caught up, he clasped her hand in his.

  “Just for safety,” he said, so nonchalantly she didn’t question it.

  Besides, it felt pleasant…and right, being here in this exotic place with a man who knew his way around and appreciated the local customs.

  “I’m surprised at all the English I hear,” she commented.

  “Yes, a lot of English is spoken here, but the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.”

  “Do you speak them?” she asked.

  “Just enough to transact business.”

  “You mean pick up women?”

  “That, too,” he agreed, then led her across the street to a textile market. “Do you see anything here you like?”

  Kimber was awestruck by the panels of gorgeous handwoven and hand-dyed cloth used for saris. “It’s all beautiful—but I’m not sure I could pull it off.”

  “Of course, you can,” he said, then pointed to a deep-blue cobalt cloth with a yellow border. “How about that one?”

  She nodded. “It’s lovely.”

  “We’ll take it,” he said to the woman tending the booth.

  Kimber fingered a pair of loose, flax-colored linen pants with a drawstring.

  “Do you want those, too?” he asked.

  She nodded, then chose a soft, white linen blouse to match. “The quality is incredible,” she said, rubbing the fabric between her fingers.

  “It’s what they’re known for,” he said, then removed his wallet.

  “I’ll pay you back,” Kimber said. “In fact, put it on my bill.”

  He hesitated, then nodded. “I can do that.”

  They stopped at another booth for a pair of soft leather sandals, and she found a beautiful scarf to tie back her hair. At a retail store they picked up toiletry basics, and by the time they checked out, Kimber was fighting to keep her eyes open.

  “How about that nap?” Finn asked, flagging a taxi.

  She could only nod. During the taxi ride, though, she could no longer fight it. Her eyes closed for good, and she leaned until her head met something soft and warm and enticing. Kimber succumbed to sleep, smiling.

  * * *

  FINN LOOKED DOWN at the woman who had snuggled up next to him and sighed. This was getting complicated. Maybe the stopover in Sri Lanka hadn’t been the best idea, but he was counting on Kimber Karlton’s prickly exterior to maintain a healthy distance between them.

  He hadn’t planned on her being…fun. And…sexy.

  The taxi pulled up at the apartment. Finn shook Kimber, but she didn’t respond. He handed the driver the door key and asked him to get their packages. Then Finn scooped Kimber up in his arms and carried her inside, depositing her on the only bed and removing her silly, travel-worn shoes.

  He tipped the driver, then locked the door, yielding to a yawn of his own. Sleep would do them both some good, he decided, crawling onto the bed with her.

  She turned and curled into him, and he rested his hand on the curve of her hip.

  Yes, after a nap they would both be thinking more clearly.

  CHAPTER SIX

  KIMBER WAS LYING in a hammock under two perfect trees, swinging slightly, with an ocean breeze kissing her skin. She groaned with pleasure and licked her lips. She was so thirsty. Across the beach, Gil walked toward her, carrying a tray with a tall pink drink and a little blue box. Her ring! But when Gil reached her side, instead of reaching for the ring box, she reached for the glass. She was so thirsty…so thirsty…

  She moaned past a dry throat and began to rouse from her relaxed state. She felt a warm body lying behind her and smiled. Gil. All the trouble getting to the island had been a bad dream…

  She reached down and covered his hand with hers. Normally Gil wasn’t a spooner. He liked to have his space in bed and lots of pillows. It felt nice having him tucked up behind her, his morning erection pressed against her.

  He groaned, and Kimber’s eyes popped open. It wasn’t morning…and that didn’t sound—or feel—like Gil. She blinked at the unfamiliar blue room and yellow curtains, trying to orient herself. Her mind raced. Her plane was diverted to Dubai, Elaina had arranged for a pilot to meet her…

  Finn Meyers.

  Her last memory was of being in a taxi, riding to an apartment to take a nap…

  Oh, dear God.

  Behind her, he shifted and pulled her closer to him. Kimber leaped from the bed and backed up against a wall.

  On the bed, Finn started awake and lifted his head. “Huh? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “How did I get here?”

  He sat up and pulled his hand down his face. “You fell asleep in the cab. I carried you inside.”

  “You carried me?”

  He frowned. “Yeah, and for the record, you felt heavier than 125 pounds.”

  “Why are you in bed with me?”

  “Because it’s the only bed in the apartment.”

  “I thought you said there was room for both of us!”

  He gestured. “It’s a big bed!”

  She crossed her arms. “You were…lying too close.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Oh, no—you’re the one who cuddled up to me, Fancy Pants.”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  He sighed. “Relax. It was just a nap, nothing happened.”

  She ran her hands up and down her arms and looked around. “Where is this place? Does anyone know we’re here?”

  He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stretched his arms up high in a yawn. “We’re in a nice residential neighborhood. If your body winds up in a ditch somewhere, the taxi driver will probably remember us since he had to help me get everything inside because you were comatose.” He pointed to her right. “Through that door is a small kitchen, a TV and a phone if you feel inclined to call for help.” He pointed to her left. “Or through that door is a bathroom and a shower that has decent water pressure.” He lifted his hands. “Your choice.”

  She pursed her mouth, then fled to the bathroom.

  “Save me some hot water,” he yelled after her, “or I might be tempted to climb in with you.”

  Kimber closed the door and looked for a lock, but there was none. The bathroom was tiny, with a commode, pedestal sink and curtained shower. She turned and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and screamed.

  A knock sounded at the door. “Are you okay in there?”

  “Uh, yeah. I saw a bug. I’m fine.�
�� But her reflection was enough to scare anyone. Her face was pale except for huge freckles across her nose and cheeks, and mascara had smeared under her eyes, leaving her looking like a raccoon. Her hair was a big, brown bush. It wasn’t her best look.

  She glanced around and realized Finn had set her suitcase, purse and the packages she’d bought next to the shower. A pang of guilt stabbed at her for accusing him of trying to take advantage of her.

  Then she frowned. If not for him, she’d be with Gil right now, in that hammock she’d dreamed about, with a diamond solitaire on her ring finger. Finn Meyers didn’t deserve any credit—or slack. After all, she was footing the bill for this little side trip that was delaying her vacation.

  The nap had done her a world of good, she decided as she stripped off her panty hose and suit and stuffed them all in the small trash can. She was already feeling more alert and capable of dealing with Finn Meyer and the beach-bum charm that apparently worked with most females.

  But not this female.

  She turned on the shower and stepped underneath the spray, uncaring that the water was still cool. Despite her shivering, Kimber groaned with pleasure to have the past two days’ worth of travel washed away. A handful of shampoo and a bar of soap did wonders for her energy level. She scrubbed until her skin stung, then with Finn’s threat to join her ringing in her head, she rinsed quickly and wrapped her hair in a towel. She opened the suitcase, frowning at all the frilly lingerie, rummaging past thongs and corsets and string bikinis for practical undies. Then she dressed in the new linen pants and shirt and pushed her feet into the soft sandals.

  After smoothing sunscreen over her freckles, she dusted her face with powder and stroked mascara over her lashes. She drew back and studied the blue eyes Finn had commented on. They were her best attribute, she conceded, among her other passable features. Elaina was the beauty of the family, which probably had lent to her wild ways. Kimber had been happy to fade into the background and bury her nose in a book. Boys had never really noticed her. She didn’t date at all in high school, and very little in college. There had been no time for a social life while going to law school. Gil Trapp had been her first serious relationship, and they had seemed well suited to each other from the beginning. They had settled into a routine so quickly and so easily she had never doubted their happiness.