“I thought I recognized some faces on the beach today.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure you did. They keep coming back, since no one bugs them here. It’s always been my sanctuary when life got to be too much on the circuit, and I wanted to create that for other people as well.”
Sanctuary. If it weren’t for his dilemma with the sisters, this place would definitely be that. The waves had put him to sleep in seconds after his head hit the pillow. The bungalow was warm, but the sea breeze kept it from being miserably so.
Rafe wasn’t overly impressed with the boxer, but he understood why he was drawn to the place. It was the kind of environment a person could get used to easily. As Rafe sat down at the table across from Kelly, she gave him another smile.
Yep. He could definitely see why people never wanted to leave.
* * *
KELLY CROSSED HER legs on the special platform Nari’s father, Duke, had made for her.
Meditation was part of Kelly’s regular routine and, no matter what was happening around her, she did it twice a day. Settling on the raised part of the deck outside her bedroom, she took a deep, calming breath and tried to clear her mind.
Adrien would kill her for not finishing her dinner tonight, but Kelly’s nerves were like taut guitar strings ready to break. She’d have to speak to Josh about his being a little too handsy. Every chance he had, he put his arm around her shoulders or bent into her as if they were sharing a secret. He’d been overly friendly before, but Rafe’s presence must have caused him to turn territorial. She and Josh had known each other a long time, but that didn’t mean he could take advantage of their friendship.
His behavior probably gave Rafe the idea that they might be a couple, which was the last thing she wanted. She’d caught Rafe’s eyes on them more than once during the meal and he had the strangest look on his face. She was adept at reading people, but she didn’t have a clue what was happening in the marine’s head. He’d been polite throughout dinner even though she’d seen him wince more than once when he twisted the wrong way.
He’d caught the soup tureen when it slipped from Nari’s hands, keeping it from crashing to the floor. But his jaw had tightened and his hand shook as he placed the heavy bowl on the table.
In spite of his pain, he’d assured the young girl that all was well. His kindness toward the fumbling Nari had solidified his hold on Kelly’s heart. And, as if that wasn’t enough, she’d admitted she was infatuated with him before he’d even arrived.
What had begun as an act of kindness on her part for one of America’s heroes had now morphed into a complicated situation that confused her. What should she do? He was an honorable man who appreciated the truth. After seeing that up close and personal, she felt certain he would leave if he knew she’d lied to get him here.
She truly cared about him. And if he left before he really got to know who she was, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. Maybe he would, too.
Helping him heal was the one way she could clear her conscience and set her karma straight. He’d been through so much, the least she could do was support him as he tried to put the pieces of his life back together again. She’d recognized the signs of post-traumatic stress syndrome in his letters. His trouble sleeping, the nightmares, his erratic moods. He’d shared a lot with her, and now she knew what she had to do to repay that trust.
Taking another calming breath, she shut her eyes, but just before her mind went blank, a vision of Rafe on the beach overtook her thoughts. Water dripped from his dark hair, his swim trunks riding low on his hips, his chiseled jaw and toned abs some of the best she’d ever seen on a man.
She sighed.
Well, no one ever said karmic justice was easy.
4
RAFE LIMPED INTO the yoga studio, ready to tell Kelly he wasn’t up for her class. Like the cabana where he was staying, the studio and adjoining gym had glass sliding doors so that the view was of sand and ocean.
Before he could apologize for backing out of the class, the sight before him rocked him to the core.
Kelly, pawing through yoga mats, was dressed in pink shorts and a skin-tight bra top. He thanked the heavens for blessing him with this particular moment in time.
Rafe wasn’t sure if he should continue to ogle or announce himself, but she peeked up at him.
“Hey,” she said. “I’m trying to find you a mat. We have larger ones for tall people, but they’re in the bottom of the box.”
At the mention of bottom, he turned around to leave, but the Seymours were just arriving. Gracie was a physical therapist and her brother a trainer for a college football team. They were friends of Kelly’s who worked the pro-surfing circuit while putting themselves through college. Behind them was James Limon, one of the most popular directors in Hollywood. He and Rafe had discussed Limon’s time serving in the Gulf War and about his passion for surfing. He’d encouraged Rafe to try the sport when he was feeling up to it.
With nowhere left to hide his appreciation of Kelly, he rushed over to the box and knelt, as best he could, next to her.
“Here,” he said, grabbing onto the first mat he spotted. Thankfully, she couldn’t see the evidence her fine body had on his body. When he lifted his head, his eyes were level with her breasts.
Rafe sucked in a breath. He’d survived three tours, and now the universe was determined to kill him with her beauty.
“Oh, are you okay?” She was stared at him worriedly. “You shouldn’t kneel with your leg the way it is. Let me help you up.”
Panicked, Rafe mumbled, “I’m fine,” and made his way to the back of the class. Others had joined in while he’d been talking to Kelly.
By the time she began the class, there were four women and three men, one of whom looked like a pro baseball player, but Rafe wasn’t sure. Everyone put their mats on the floor and rolled them out. He couldn’t quite do that yet.
Facing the back wall, he willed his body to calm down. He forced himself to think of the last time that he’d been shot. The muscles in his body clenched, but the pain solved his problem. A few seconds later, he sat on the floor like the rest of the group.
Well, almost. His legs didn’t quite cross the way theirs did. He put the pads of his feet together. That was as much as he could do with his stiff leg.
“This is rehab yoga,” Kelly announced from the front of the class as she sat down and crossed her legs. “We have a new guest—Rafe.”
Everyone turned to smile and wave at him. He gave them a grin that was probably a bit more like a grimace, as his sore leg chose that moment to tense up in a charley horse.
His jaw tightened as he worked the muscle with the heel of his hand and then flexed his foot so the calf could lengthen.
“These exercises are done on the floor to ease the muscular pressure one might experience if doing them in a regular yoga class,” Kelly explained. “Today is about stretching and helping those muscles to relax so your body can heal. Okay, let’s start in the lotus position. That’s good, Rafe. If you need to you can separate the soles of your feet,” Kelly instructed. “You should not feel pain.”
Rafe’s groin wasn’t happy about where his legs needed to go, but he ignored the pain. He didn’t have the heart to tell Kelly that the pain never left his body. It served as a constant reminder that he was human and just as mortal as the next guy.
In the military, he’d been taught that he could do anything. Survive anything. But as they moved through the next two positions, he wondered if his body would ever recover from Kelly’s pretzel-like torture.
No pain, my ass.
“Now lift your arms up and over your head as we open ourselves to the sun.”
As she gracefully extended her arms above her head, Rafe noticed her top pulled tightly against her chest. He’d never make it through the class if he didn’t
stop looking at her. Leaving was his best option, but he didn’t want to disappoint her. She had such high hopes that her classes would be beneficial for him.
Doing his best to stop staring at her, he switched his attention to the other men in the class and followed their actions. Finally, Rafe brought himself and his rebellious libido under control.
Until he glanced over and saw Kelly with her legs stretched wide.
As the class neared its end, Rafe’s muscles relaxed for the first time in months. Amazingly, the exercises had helped his leg. His muscles seemed considerably looser. The group was attempting one last stretch when Kelly put her hand on his ankle to turn his foot the right way.
“You want to keep it perpendicular so that you don’t pull on those hip tendons too much.” She gave him one of her dazzling smiles, and he was lost. Her gentle touch sent heat through his body.
“Thanks,” he said roughly, using every bit of his control to keep himself in check.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were trying to figure something out, but she returned to the front of the class to do the last bit where they lay down on the mat to rest.
Rafe now equated yoga to sexual gymnastics. Sure it worked, but he was exhausted. A shower and a nap were next on his agenda.
“Close your eyes, and listen to the waves,” her gentle voice directed. “Feel the movement of the water as it caresses your body and sends you to your happy place...that Zen only you can find.
“Namaste.”
The sound of the waves filled Rafe’s head, and his body became so light that it seemed to float out over the ocean. He hadn’t been this calm in years.
“Rafe?” Kelly’s voice penetrated his thoughts. “Are you okay?”
He didn’t want anyone interrupting this peaceful feeling. Gesturing toward her, he hoped she’d get the message.
Kelly giggled, and his eyes popped open. She was biting her lip to keep from laughing.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“You,” she replied sweetly. “I bet you were riding those waves like a Zen pro.”
Rafe chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but I have to stop making fun of froufrou yoga crap. I feel better than I have in months, maybe years. You’re a great teacher.”
“Thanks.” She extended a hand to help him up.
Rafe was shocked to find they were the only ones in the studio. “Where did everyone go?”
“You’ve been like that for about fifteen minutes. I let you rest while I cleaned up. I would have just left you there, but I worried your hip might stiffen on the hard floor.”
“Right. Well, I guess I’d better hit the shower. We didn’t move that much, although I did sweat.”
“Yes, it’s funny what happens when you are really working those muscles. Why don’t you take your shower, and I’ll put you down for a massage later this afternoon. Mason, one of our top masseurs, has terrific hands, and it will be good to get in there and work those muscles while they’re relaxed.”
“Great idea. See you later,” he said as he rushed out. The woman affected him like no other.
Walking straight into the ocean, Rafe used the cold water to rein in his libido again. This might be the longest two weeks of his life if he didn’t find a way to manage his attraction to Mimi’s sister.
* * *
RAFE WANTED HER. Kelly put her hand over her heart. The very impressive bulge in those loose shorts was impossible to miss.
She stared after him while he all but ran into the waves. His broad back, muscular shoulders and that tattoo of the rising phoenix across his back didn’t help the runaway train her emotions had become. The man was too hot for words.
Was that really in response to her? He’d avoided eye contact with her for most of the class and watched Clifton during the exercises instead. At first, she thought it was because he wanted to see the male version of the moves, but now she wasn’t so sure. Did she have that kind of sexual sway over him? She had to know.
“Rafe,” she called as she jogged out onto the beach.
“Yes?” He didn’t turn around.
“Your massage appointment is set for noon, and I’ve ordered some special oils that soothe aches and pains.”
“Okay.” His voice sounded strained.
She cleared her throat, stifling the urge to smile. Yes, she definitely had an effect on him.
Last night, she’d promised herself she would be a good friend to the marine and get him back into tip-top shape.
But knowing he wanted her as much as she did him—at least she hoped—changed the game entirely.
* * *
AN HOUR LATER, Rafe showed up at the spa wearing a crisp white T-shirt and royal-blue board shorts.
The man could have been a model the way he wore clothes.
Kelly ushered him into one of the Zen rooms, as they called them. She lit a candle and switched on some soothing music.
“Strip down, okay? That way the therapist can work on your hip.”
“Got it,” he said.
“We always ask if you would like a silent massage. Some people like to have only music without any talking so they can relax. Other people need the chatter because they may not be comfortable with someone touching them so—intimately. The choice is yours.”
He nodded. “I like the idea of the quiet one,” he said, his face a mask.
Oh, yes, this would work out perfectly.
“Excellent, so the masseur will be in shortly. When you are undressed and on the table facedown, you can push the button to the right.” She pointed to a small panel next to the massage table.
Then she left.
While he stripped, she changed into a white T-shirt, which she knotted under her breasts, and a pair of short gray workout shorts.
Once the light flipped on above the door, she entered.
Rafe was facedown on the table, a sheet covering his lower half.
Coating her hands in oil and eucalyptus, Kelly smoothed one hand down his back. Two small scars peppered his shoulder and there were three more on the right hip.
Poor Rafe. Most people had no idea how much these guys suffered for their country. Heart swelling with pride, it was all she could do not to lean down and kiss each scar. She moved on to his shoulders, his body relaxed and his breathing slowed. Her fingers dug into the tendons between his neck and right shoulder and she heard him groan slightly as the tension gave way.
When she reached his scalp, he let out a deep breath.
Kelly grinned. That she could bring him such relief was a balm for her soul. Massaging his temples, she felt him jerk suddenly.
“Kelly,” his deep voice rasped.
How had he known it was her?
“Is something wrong?” she asked lightly. “Is the pressure too much?”
“No, I was—uh—just surprised that you were the one doing the massage. I thought you said someone named Mason was doing it.”
“His current client requested an extra thirty minutes. Would you rather have a male? I’m sorry. I would’ve asked if I thought it would be a problem.”
Liar.
“No. That’s fine.” Rafe coughed. “Could I have some water?”
“Sure,” she said as she wiped her hands on a towel. She handed him a bottle of water she’d brought in just in case he needed it.
He lifted his head so that he could drink, and his gaze met her face.
“Hi,” he said. That one word was filled with so much desire that she felt it in her bones.
“Hi,” she said back. “In case you’re wondering about the massage, I am licensed. All the surfers on my pro team are trained so that we can help each other during competitions if we get beat up a little. Competition sites don’t always have chiropractors or massage therapists avail
able.”
He took a long drink and then handed the bottle of water back to her.
“I believe you,” he said before putting his face back into the horseshoe-shaped hole at the top of the table. “If you don’t mind, maybe we could just focus on my back and legs for now.”
“Rafe, if you’re worried about tents rising in the middle of the massage, don’t.” She couldn’t believe she’d just said that out loud. “Massage is a sensual experience. If it makes you feel any better, I can put extra towels over your pelvis, but I need to get deep down into those upper thigh and hip muscles if we want to do something about the source of your pain.”
He didn’t say anything.
“And for the record,” she stated, in her best professional sounding voice, “that happens a lot with me. In fact, it’s more unusual if it doesn’t.”
“You mean, almost every guy you massage gets, uh, aroused for you?” He didn’t sound happy about that news.
“Not for me, silly. It’s the body’s natural response given the circumstances.” She was being clinical, but when it came to Rafe, she was anything but. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on his body.
“I don’t like the idea of you working on guys like that. I mean, it doesn’t seem safe. Some might try to take advantage of the situation and...”
Kelly gave an unladylike snort. “I don’t do happy endings, Rafe. I’m a professional, but not that kind.”
He sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that you were. It’s just that— Oh hell, I give up.”
“Let’s get you back into that relaxed state,” she said as her hands slid down his back again. She liked that he was slightly possessive and didn’t want her touching other men. Usually, she didn’t go for that type of guy, but with Rafe it was damn sexy.
* * *
Relaxed? Not likely. Rafe squeezed his eyes shut.
Why did he feel so protective toward this woman? The idea that Kelly touched other men in this way—it turned his gut.
Mission: Seduction Page 3
