Chapter Eighteen.

THE SUITE OFMitch.e.l.las achoicea turned out to be on the top floor of the hotel at the end of a hall. One of its double doors was slightly ajar, and a discreet plaque on the wall beside it proclaimed it to be the Presidential Suite.

Mitch.e.l.l opened the door all the way for her, and Kate walked past him, stepping into a s.p.a.cious foyer, then turned left and caught her breath. The exterior walls of the palatial suite were made entirely of gla.s.s, providing an uninterrupted, panoramic view of the Caribbean, both to the west and to the north. The carpeting was the same shade of aqua as the sea, the furnishings predominantly white, with huge vases of lush tropical flowers providing splashes of color.

Near the foyer was a formal dining table with six chairs. Directly in the center of the suite, facing the windows, was an enormous bed covered in a fluffy white duvet and a mountain of pillows. It was situated so that the occupants could lie in bed and view the Caribbean. In the ceiling, muted cove lighting mirrored the outline of the bed, bathing it in a pale glow. The lighting was positioned so that the occupants of the bed could see what they were doing to each other . . . Kate yanked her gaze from the bed and moved a few steps forward.

Beyond the bed, on the other side of the room in front of the windows, was a grouping of white sofas and chairs covered with plump pillows and arranged in a U so that they all looked out across the Caribbean.

aThis is absolutely breathtaking,a Kate said.

aIam glad youare pleased,a Mitch.e.l.l replied, starting toward the large, enclosed balcony that opened off the western side of the suite. A man who Kate a.s.sumed was Diederik was standing out there at a table beneath an aqua umbrella, pouring wine into gla.s.ses. aTake a few minutes to look around while I see if Diederik has done anything about food out there.a aYou sound like youare starving,a Kate teased.

He turned and Kate felt the full seductive force of his slow white smile and direct gaze. aI have a very hearty appet.i.te, Kate.a His meaning was unmistakable, and Kateas entire body tensed, partly from nervousness and partly from antic.i.p.ation. Head been so preoccupied and distant in the taxi that shead wondered if he was having second thoughts about going to bed with her. After his last remark, she wondered now if he planned to have lunch with her in it, in order to save time. Belatedly realizing that she was standing there as if shead taken root in the carpet, Kate wandered slowly along in his wake.

A large wet bar with four stools was positioned near the open balcony doors. In the wall to the right of the bar was an arched entrance into another room, which turned out to be a bathroom/ dressing room with a beautiful wall mosaic depicting an island scene. In the center of the room, beneath a domed skylight, four steps descended into a huge sunken tub lined with mosaic tiles and surrounded by pillars. A shower large enough for four or five people was enclosed in gla.s.s on three sides with shower heads at various heights and an array of faucets on the remaining wall.

Kate put her purse down on one of the vanities that ran most of the length of the room on two sides; then she used the bathroom. She was drying her hands when she looked down at her purse and Evanas phone messages came back to haunt her.

Shead always known he cared very much for her, but she never imagined he could be driven by worry and fear for her into actually proposing marriage on the telephonea"no, in a voice mail message! What a touching, uncharacteristically impulsive thing for him to do. Until now, head let her evade the subject of marriage, and Kate had always a.s.sumed that was because he was secretly satisfied with the status quoa"a life that was filled with work he enjoyed, a woman he enjoyed, and all the golf games he could sandwich in between those two things.

But maybe that wasnat true at all. Maybe he cared so deeply for her that head been willing to postpone a marriage he wanted very badly because he didnat want to pressure her into making a commitment until she was completely ready.

What a generous, selfless, tender way for him to behave . . .

Kate shook her head, trying to clear away the guilt she was feeling; then she picked up her purse and carried it with her into the main room. She put it on the barstool at the end of the bar, started toward the balcony doors, stopped, and turned back around. Earlier, when shead checked her voice mail, shead had three unheard messages, but shead listened to only two of them. The third message was probably from Louis at the restaurant. If so, she really ought to listen to it. With her back to the balcony, she reached into her purse, grasped the phone, and then let it go.

If the message was from Evan, she couldnat bear to hear it. Not now. Not when shead just checked into a hotel with a stranger to whom she was drawn so deeply, and on so many confusing levels, that she couldnat begin to understand what was happening. All she knew for certain was that shead felt something profound and magical last night, and she wanted to experience it again, all of it: the desperate longing that came from being kissed by Mitch.e.l.l; the exquisite joy of being crushed in his arms with his body straining against hers; and the unexplainable sense of profound closeness she felt at times just looking at him or listening to him speak.

But there was no denying that shead known him only one day, which made everything she was thinking and planning to do seem terribly rash. Totally reckless. A little insane.

Tension and indecision tightened the muscles at the back of her neck into a knot. Thinking she might be on the verge of getting another headache despite the pills she was taking, Kate reached up to rub her nape; then she pulled the elastic band out of her hair and shook it loose.

Standing on the balcony, Mitch.e.l.l watched Kateas thick hair tumble down over her shoulders in a wavy dark red waterfall, and he lost track of what the suiteas butler was telling him. She was wrestling with some sort of decision, he sensed, and then she gave her head a toss, turned on her heel, and started toward him. Lifting his winegla.s.s to his lips to hide his appreciative smile, he watched her walk out onto the balconya"a wholesome, unaffected, all-American girl who looked artlessly feminine in a white T-shirt and jeans . . . a churchgoing Irish girl with lofty principles, an amazingly soft heart, and a prosperous, well-educated would-be fianc who lived in the same city she did.

Mitch.e.l.l had no right to take her to bed and jeopardize any of that for her.

She stepped out onto the balcony and walked up to hima"a smiling, s.e.xy, desirable woman with a provocative mouth that was made to be kissed, heavily lashed green eyes that melted him, and a slender body he was dying to caress and join with his own.

Mitch.e.l.l decided he hadevery right to take her to bed, as long as he was honest with her in advance and made sure she had no false illusions or unrealistic expectations.

He picked up a gla.s.s of white wine and handed it to her. aDiederik was telling me about the former occupants of this suite.a His expression told Kate he didnat give a d.a.m.n about that topic but was making polite small talk while Diederik was there.

Diederik was in his early forties, with a bald head and neat mustache, and head definitely antic.i.p.ated Mitch.e.l.las desire for food. The table was already laden with trays of fruit and cheese, a huge fresh salad, a plate of finger sandwiches, a tureen of soup, and two hot covered bowls, and he was in the process of arranging sliced lemons and parsley around a platter of prawns. Head been speaking to Mitch.e.l.l in Dutch, but he switched automatically to English because that was the language Mitch.e.l.l had used to speak to her. aThe former occupants were young newlyweds, inexperienced at foreign travel, who arrived three days ago for a four-day stay with us,a Diederik explained. aOn their first day, they visited some markets on the other side of the island, and they ate some food that was not fresh. The next morning, they were so ill that the hotel doctor had to start them on medication for food poisoning, and they havenat been able to get out of bed, except for necessities, since then.a Kate remembered the hotel manageras brief discussion with Mitch.e.l.l in the lobby, and she aimed an accusing look straight at Mitch.e.l.l while directing her question to Diederik. aWhere are the young newlyweds now?a aI had them dragged out of here and thrown off a cliff,a Mitch.e.l.l replied.

aThey are in another suite,a Diederik provided simultaneously, awhich Mr. Wyatt very kindly offered to pay for. The young bridegroom was greatly distressed over the cost of this suite which they were unable to enjoy.a Satisfied with his garnishment of the prawns, he looked at Kate and said, aI will unpack for you before I leave. Do you have anything with you that you would like me to press for you?a aNo, thank you,a Kate replied as she picked up half a watercress sandwich and walked over to the chest-high balcony wall for a better look at the view below.

Behind her, Diederik said, aIave pressed your clothes, Mr. Wyatt, and hung them in your closet.a Unaware that Mitch.e.l.l had followed her, Kate whirled around and almost smashed her sandwich against his chest. aYou have clothes to wear?a she exclaimed in delight.

Bracing his hands on the wall on either side of her, he trapped her and studied her with amused fascination. aYou look ready to cheer with relief.a Before Kate could respond, Diederik said politely, aWhen I finish unpacking, may I be of any further service?a With his smiling gaze still fixed on Kate, Mitch.e.l.l replied, aPlease turn down the bed before you leave, and see that we are not disturbed.a Kate gaped at him in horror. aCould you possibly be more obvious?a aThis is a hotel,a he pointed out reasonably.

aI know it is. But in the last five days Iave checked into two of them with different men. Iam feeling like a complete floozy.a He chuckled at her description of herself and ran his knuckles up her arm in a lazy caress. aSo you thought I didnat bring any clothes with me?a aYou didnat have a suitcase with you in the taxi,a Kate pointed out, trying to sound less affected than she was by the touch of his skin against hers.

aI dropped it off this morning when I came out here to try to arrange for this suite or at least a better one than what the reservations clerk was offering me.a His knuckles slid across her shoulder and followed the curve of her jaw, which allowed his fingertips to slip beneath the neckline of her shirt and glide over her bare collarbone. aJust out of curiosity, what did you think I was going to do about clothes while we were here?a aI thought youad decided you werenat going to need any clothes,a Kate said shakily, trying to concentrate on his words and not his fingers. aAccording to the tourist pamphlets, some beaches in St. Maarten are nude.a aThe casinos arenat.a aNo, of course not. I thought maybe you intended to skip the casino tonight.a aAnd do what instead?a aI donat know.a aYes, you do.a Swallowing a laugh, Kate glanced toward the doorway. aShhh. Diederik is in there. Heall hear you.a aWho cares?a aI do. This may sound hopelessly unsophisticated to you, but Iave never actually checked into a hotel for the sole purpose of going to bed with someone, and Iam a little self-conscious about it. I suppose youave done it lots of times, havenat you?a aNowIam feeling self-conscious.a aI shouldnat have asked that question,a Kate said ruefully.

aProbably not,a he whispered.

Kate stiffened at the implied reprimand, but before she could think of a suitable response, he twined his left hand through her hair and tipped her head back. His warm lips came down on hers in a long, slow, searching kiss filled with lazy hunger. Finally, he lifted his mouth from hers. aLetas go inside.a Kate nodded agreement. By then, she would have nodded agreement if head suggested they jump off the balcony headfirst, but once they were in the suite, his tone and his words startled her out of her sensual haze.

aWe need to talk, Kate; sit down.a Surprised by his businesslike tone, Kate perched her hip on the arm of a sofa and watched curiously as he walked over to the windows, shoved his hands into his pockets, and looked down for several seconds as if composing his thoughts. When he turned, his expression was friendly but resolute. aBefore you get into that bed with me, I want to be sure you donat have any false illusions about whatas going on between us. Iam telling you this because I never want you to look back on our time together with any kind of regret.a aGo on,a Kate urged when he paused to let his words sink in.

aBy your own admission, youare a aromantic,a and last night, we were caught up in a situation that might have seemed more . . . meaningful . . . than it actually was. What Iam trying to say is that thereas an amazing amount of physical chemistry between us, but last night, on the beach in the moonlight, those few kisses of ours may have seemed . . . Whatas the word Iam looking for?a aMagical?a Kate suggested, using the word that best fit her own impression of last night. The instant she said it, she regretted betraying that much of her own feelings about the night before, but Mitch.e.l.l seemed to agree with her a.s.sessment.

a aMagicala is close enough. You werenat the only one who was influenced by the setting and the moment. I was influenced enough by it that I actually came back to you to answer your questions, which is something I never would have done under ordinary circ.u.mstances. However, that was last night and last night was an . . . aberration.a Struggling desperately not to leap to any conclusions and to appear serene, Kate tipped her head to the side and asked with a slight smile, aAre you trying to warn me off?a aNot at all. Iave been dying to get you into bed since we sat down to dinner last night.a aAre you trying to establish some sort of ground rules, then?a aI donat think so.a aThen what are you doing?a aIam having an attack of scruples,a he said with disgust, aand Iam trying to deal with it.a aIs this an unfamiliar occurrence for you?a aIn these circ.u.mstances, itasunprecedented ,a he said bluntly.

aIn that case, Iam flattered,a Kate replied, but she wasnat flattered; she was confused and uneasy and becoming more so by the moment.

aIam trying to explain that I need to be sure youare here with me now for the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Until this morning, I didnat know your father had just died. The two of you were obviously very close, and youare feeling a little lost and alone. On top of that, youare faced with the burden of trying to run his business. Youare worried and youare scared. All those emotions may be clouding your judgment about what you and I are doing.a He paused for some response from her.

Wary of saying anything, Kate simply nodded that she understood, even though she didnat. Not completely. Not yet.

aUntil an hour ago,a he continued, aI thought your boyfriend in Chicago was some middle-aged jerk who likes showing you off and traveling with you. Are you following me so far?a Kate nodded slowly.

aGood. Then hereas the reality: In Chicago, thereas an eligible man who wants to marry you. Here, in this room, thereas a man who wants to take you to bed and make love to you until neither of us has the strength to move anymore. But it canat go any further than that. It would get much too complicated.a aAnd you donat like complications?a aNo,a Mitch.e.l.l said. aEspecially not the kind wead have.a aI appreciate the warning,a Kate said, struggling to view her predicament unemotionally, without feeling mortified that shead let herself land in this predicament in the first place. Viewed from the right perspective, she knew she was better off finding out now, rather than later, that Mitch.e.l.las only interest in her was as a brief, convenient partner for a little recreational s.e.x. Now that she understood, she also knew shead end up feeling guilty and disgusted with herself for betraying Evan for something as tawdry and meaningless as what Mitch.e.l.l was blatantly suggesting.

Furthermore, Mitch.e.l.las summation of her state of mind was probably right: she was an emotional mess over her father and she wasnat thinking rationally. Thankfully, Mitch.e.l.l was thinking very rationally and behaving very honorably by letting her know how he felt. And to give him even more credit, he wasnat pressuring her to settle for what he was offering her, either. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Having arrived at these conclusions, Kate felt truly relieved and blessedly clearheadeda"and, somewhere deep inside of her, painfully disappointed and thoroughly wretched. For the moment, however, there was nothing she could do except try to be philosophical and good-natured, and then deal with the mental turmoil later, when she was alone.

aYou were undoubtedly right when you said Iam overly emotional these days because of my fatheras death, and my judgment is probably impaired, as well.a Even as she said that, Kateas instincts and her heart insisted that although she may have been wrong about everything else, therewas something special about the aconnectiona she felt with him and that he d.a.m.ned well felt it, too! She decided to take a small risk and lay that all out for him. There was nothing he could do but make fun of her, and she didnat think he would do that. Raising her eyes to his, she said softly, aI think fate may have intended for us to meet the way we did and to become friendsa"that it was predestined.a The instant she said apredestined,a he gave her a skeptical look, leaned his shoulder against the window, and folded his arms over his chest.

His body language was an eloquent rejection of any supernatural influences being involved, but Kate refused to let him mock her theory before he understood it. aI like you very much,a she persevered quietly, aand I think you like me, tooa"a aI do. Very much,a he admitted with a sudden smile that was warm and genuine.

aThatas what I meant when I referred to fate and predestination. Iam usually slow and cautious about really liking someone, and I was totallypredisposed todis like youa"a aWhy?a She chuckled. aHave you ever taken a good look at your face?a aI shave it every morning.a aWell, itas too good-looking to be owned by a man who also possesses kindness and character anda"and a lot of layers.a Out of words and explanations, Kate gave him the only actual example she could think of. aThe best way I can ill.u.s.trate what Iave been trying to say is thisa"a Holding her hands out palms up, she smiled wryly and said, aLook at us now. Weare in a hotel room, the topic is s.e.x, and weare discussing it as if weave been friends forever. Without any anger or pretense, weave been deciding we shouldnat go to bed together.a Finished, Kate waited for him to agree.

With eyes narrowed in thought, he nodded slowly as if he was arriving at a conclusion that surprised and somewhat displeased him. aI see.Thatas what weave been doing?a Since he seemed to be asking himself that question, Kate saw no reason to answer it. Furthermore, it was an odd question under the circ.u.mstances, and she was running low on clever, rational answers. Instead of replying, she stood up and strolled over to the balcony doors. aNow, since I havenat cheated on my boyfriend,a she said lightly, aand neither of us has done anything weall regret later, why donat we do what two new friends should do on such a gorgeous islanda"letas go sightseeing. When Iam back in Chicago and youarea"wherever you area"we can exchange postcards from other places we go, and write things likea"aRemember that charming little caf in St. Maarten.a After weare done sightseeing, you could drop me off at the vetas office, if you wouldnat mind. Iall pick up Max and take him back to Anguilla.a When Mitch.e.l.l didnat reply after several moments, Kate glanced over her shoulder and saw that he hadnat moved. He was still standing with his shoulder propped against the window and his arms folded over his chest, only now he was looking at her with his brows drawn together. She studied his handsome, inscrutable features and could not make out even a hint of what he was thinking. aCan I ask you something?a she said hesitantly.

He nodded.

Unable to meet his gaze while she asked her question, Kate turned back toward the balcony, absently rubbing her arms. aAre you disappointed that there was no real magic between us last night? That it was just the setting and the moment?a When he didnat immediately answer, she flicked a glance over her shoulder. No longer looking at her, head tipped his head slightly down and to his right, as if he were studying the carpet. aNo,a he said curtly; then he lifted his head and looked straight at her. aNo,a he repeated.

A realization hit Kate like a physical shock from an electrical outlet. As clearly as if head said it to her, she knew it was true, and surprise made her turn fully toward him. aYouare not disappointed that the magic is missing, because you didnatwant it to be there in the first place, did you?a aYou used the term amagica to describe last night, I didnat,a he said as he straightened from his lounging position. Strolling toward her, he gave her an impatient lecture on his reality: aI do not believe in amagica or amagicala events in the human experience. I also do not believe in fairy tales, miracles, spells, witchcraft, fairies, or leprechauns.a aWatch your tongue,a Kate tried to joke.

Some of the tension went out of his face at her joke. aYou donat really believe in that garbage, do you?a The disappointment Kate felt earlier was turning to hurt, because now she realized he was pleased with their situation today and even purposely causing it to some extent. Struggling to keep her tone neutral, she said, aOh, so at this point it no longer matters what I believe.a aPretend it does.a aAll right, I do not believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. But I know magic when I feel it, and I felt it last night. Iam willing to agree that you werenat the cause of it, buta"a He cut her off with a mocking challenge: aI suppose youare going to try to convince me you have amagica with your lawyer-boyfriend?a Kate sobered. aFirst of all, Iam not trying to convince you of anything. Second, if the answer to your question was yes, I wouldnat have been with you last night and I wouldnat be here now. Third, and most important of all, do not mention him again,a she warned implacably. aYou have no right to discuss him, and neither do I.a It was this first-time defense of the boyfriend that warned Mitch.e.l.l he had now run out of rope with her and he was standing precariously close to the edge of a dangerous precipice. She had too much pride and self-respect to settle for what little he was willing to offer. She wanted magic, and without it, she was staying faithful to her boyfriend. In fact, her mind was already made up to stay with him.

aWhat matters,a she continued in a sweet, apologetic voice as she unknowingly shoved him clear off the precipice, ais that you refuse to believe in magic, and I refuse not to believe in it. And therein lies the gap we canat bridge. Not in this room or anywhere else.a Mitch.e.l.l felt himself plunging through thin air, sent over the edge by a beautiful young redhead with the face of an angel and the stubborn pride of an Irish rebel. Even so, he made a manful attempt to gain a foothold and stop his fall by suggesting, aWhy donat we go to bed and see what happens there?a She shook her head and smiled that Madonna smile of hers. aWhy? So I could try to make you feel magic while you try to prove there is none? One person canat make that kind of magic. It takes two. Itas inevitable that youad succeed and Iad end up being disappointed. If Iam going to be disappointed,a she admitted with gentle candor, aI donat want it to happen with you. I donat know why, but thatas very important to me.a She turned away and stepped through the balcony doorway, looking out at the water. aLetas go sightseeing now and try to get to know each other a little bit before I pick up Max and take him back to Anguilla with me. Iall wait out here if youad like to change clothes.a Mitch.e.l.l experienced the full force of his renewed free fall, complete with sensations of his stomach twisting into knots and wind howling in his ears. Drawing a long, steadying breath, he gazed at the slender back of the woman head allowed to do this to him. His balance returned, he felt the floor beneath his feet. On the balcony was an exquisite Irish girl who touched his heart, overheated his blood, and made him laugh. She was pa.s.sionate and sweet, honest and intelligent, proud and unpredictable. She sang in a choir, smiled like an angel, and adopted ugly, stray dogs with fleas. She was a fairy tale. And he was . . .

Completely enchanted.

Walking up behind her, he slid his arms around her and drew her back against his chest. aLetas get complicated, Kate,a he said with a smile in his voice.

aThank you for the offer,a she said politely, abut itas better to leave things just as they are.a Ignoring that, Mitch.e.l.l pressed his lips to the top of her head and whispered, aChant your incantations and get out your amulets, lovely witch. Weave your magic spell.a aPlease stop this, or we wonat end up being friends, after all,a she warned.

aWeare already friends,a he murmured, trailing his mouth to her ear. aWeare about to become lovers.a She shivered at the touch of his breath on her ear, but refused to relent. aI told you, I donat want to.a aYes, you do, and so do I,a he said, and kissed her temple. aPut your arms around me and wrap us up in magic. I canat do it without you.a aOh, for heavenas sake!a she burst out. aWhat do you think youarea"a Mitch.e.l.l switched from tender persuasion to a.s.sertive action and clamped his hand over her mouth before she could finish. aKate,a he warned in a low, implacable voice, afor the next hour, the only sounds I want to hear from you are moans of delight and the words ayes,a amore,a and aplease.a a He lifted his hand a fraction of an inch, and she said, aStop it!a aWrong words,a Mitch.e.l.l said, and twisted her around. aLook at me, Kate.a Green eyes, wary and annoyed, glared at him from beneath graceful russet brows drawn into a dark, warning frown.

Mitch.e.l.l heeded her expression and carefully softened his tone. aI am trying to concede. The truth is that I felt all the same things you did last night, and youknow I did.a Looking into his cobalt eyes, listening to the slightly husky timbre of his baritone voice, Kate sensed he was telling her the truth as well as allowing her a glimpse beneath another of his alayers,a and she felt a sharp tug on her heart. His next explanation was equally revealing: aThe discouraging things I said to you a few minutes ago were mostly the result of my halfhearted desire to protect you from mea"a He stopped, c.o.c.ked his head to the side, and after a momentas thought, he admitted with amused irony, aActually, it may have been the reverse.a Trying desperately not to laugh, Kate bit down on her lip and swiftly shifted her gaze to his shoulder, but looking away didnat help. She was so hopelessly drawn to him in every way that there was no refuge. Marveling at her own helplessness, she shook her head a little. Mitch.e.l.l evidently mistook that shake of her head as an indication she was about to reject what head said, and he gave her a stern warning: a aNoa is not on the list I gave you of acceptable words.a Caught between mirth and tenderness, Kate succ.u.mbed to defeat. Smiling into his eyes, she laid her palms on his chest and softly sighed a word that was not on his list. aMitch.e.l.l . . .a She saw pleasure flicker in his eyes when she said his name that way. aYou may add that word to your list.a Leaning up on her toes, eyes shining with laughter, voice shaky with awakening desire, Kate twined her arms around his neck. aPlease,a she whispered, her lips almost touching his.

aAn excellent choice,a Mitch.e.l.l decreed, and brushed his lips back and forth over hers in a light, teasing kiss.

aMore,a Kate murmured when he lifted his mouth.

aAn even better choice,a Mitch.e.l.l said with a grin, and gathered her tightly into his arms, preparing to leisurely savor and explore that mouth of hers. She took him from relaxed humor to raw hunger in minutes.

He maneuvered hera"without resistancea"to the side of the bed, and let go of her while he pulled his shirt off. When he dropped it to the floor and reached out to help take her T-shirt off, she smiled up at him and shook her head slightly as if she wanted to do it herself for him. She tugged her T-shirt out of her waistband, caught it by the hem, and drew it up and over her head. When she finished, she stood in front of him in a white lacy bra, and Mitch.e.l.l found himself smiling back at hera"a warm, playful smile tinged with a challenge.

He dropped his gaze from her green eyes, and his hands went to his belt.

Kate had to take off her sandals before she could step out of her jeans, so she bent to deal with them. In front of her lowered eyes, his pants and briefs. .h.i.t the floor. With shaky fingers, Kate concentrated on unfastening one sandal, then the other. She stepped out of them and started to straighten. Part way up, her gaze slid up a rigid male member, and she hastily jerked her eyes away. Looking at that magnificent chest of his was less nerve-racking than seeing him naked at the hips for the first time. His hands went to her shoulders, his thumbs pulling her bra straps down, leaving them loose on her arms, before he slid his hands around her back and unhooked her bra with the ease of man who had unhooked many.

Thinking that, she raised her gaze to his and saw a knowing expression sweep across his face, before he lowered his eyelids and pulled her bra away from her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and down her arms. Kate stepped out of her jeans, and his slow, languorous gaze drifted boldly over her, examining her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and waist and belly, then down to the curly hair at her thighs. In the way she often sensed what he was thinking, she knew he expected her to put him through the same appraisal, but although she was ready to touch and be touched, she wasnat quite ready to take a deliberate look at what shead seen unintentionally moments before.

His voice was deep and sure as his hand finally reached toward her, but not for any of the places she expected him to want to touch. His hand settled under her chin, tipping it up. aAre you feeling shy?a he asked.

She met his gaze unflinchingly and said, aNo, just a little . . . uncertain.a He mistook her meaning. aDonat even consider uncertainty now.a Kate bit her lip to hide her smile, laid her palms against the muscles of his chest, and while his hands settled on her waist, she exerted pressure. She slid her hands slowly up over his nipples, and then spread her fingers and slid them slowly back down while she watched the banked fires in his eyes begin to smolder. aNot that kind of uncertain,a she whispered back.

They stood naked, face to face. She had beautiful b.r.e.a.s.t.s, not large, but full, and as he trailed his hand up from her waist, his eyelids closed with pleasure at the sensation of her skin. At her nipple, he opened his fingers and captured it. He increased the pressure until he wrung the first gasp of pleasure out of her.

Her hands glided over his shoulders, while she covered his mouth with her soft lips and brought her body into full contact with his.

The lazy pleasure of moments ago exploded in a deluge of pure l.u.s.t, and Mitch.e.l.l wrapped his arms around her and twisted his body, sending them back onto the bed. His hips landed unerringly against the seductive curly hair between her thighs, and his hands shifted back to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She gazed at him, sultry and playful, eyes smiling warmly into his. He couldnat remember ever before deriving this kind of intimate pleasurea"even from just watching her face and knowing she was watching his.

Her hands smoothed slowly over his back and down his b.u.t.tocks, holding him tight to her. She opened her legs, and he reminded himself that this was too soon, the preliminaries having barely begun. But he let his body touch the entrance to hers, experiencing the delight of finding her already wet. He edged inside of her just an inch, smiling a little at her hazy expression. He moved his hands to her hair. He shoved his fingers into it and, lowering his mouth to hers, slowly, deliberately forced her lips to part, opening them wide, while his hips lifted and forced her to open wide. He intended to ease just a little deeper into that tight, enclosing warmth, except that just then, she tightened her hands on his b.u.t.tocks, arched her hips as much as his heavy weight would allow, and whispered an aching, imperative aPlease.a He drew back, deliberately resisting the invitation.

aPlease . . .a He rammed himself into her, burying himself full length into her arching body, and his own body began to move without his volition, capturing her and forcing her to move with him. With the last ounce of willpower he possessed, he rolled onto his back, putting her astride his hips to slow them both down. Pressing her palms against him for support, she forced herself into a sitting position, her rumpled hair falling down her sides. She began to move on him with a rhythm that became a part of his breathing, of the coursing of blood through his veins. He could have continued pleasuring her by forcing his body higher into hers, except that she lifted her head and gazed straight into his eyes, looking as aroused as he was but a little baffled.

aTake your time,a he whispereda"an act of almost suicidal unselfishness given the urgent state of his body.

Her answer explained the bafflement in her green eyes. aI canat,a she whispered, and with a groan of antic.i.p.ation and defeat, Mitch.e.l.l tossed her onto her back and began driving into her with long, deep, slow strokes. She clasped him to her and buried her face in the curve of his neck, her fingers biting into his back, her body straining and moving with his. She cried out and clung to him tighter while spasms rocked her, and Mitch.e.l.l slammed forward, climaxing with her.

Afterward, she lay in his arms, looking into his eyes, her fingers idly smoothing the hair at his temple. aMore?a she said hopefully.

Mitch.e.l.l burst out laughing and tightened his arms around her. aThat is my favorite word.a

Chapter Nineteen.

DETECTIVECHILDRESS TOSSEDhis suitcase onto one of the beds in room 102 at the Enclave. aDid you see that d.a.m.ned bellboy trying to arm-wrestle me for my suitcase?a aHe was hoping for a ten-dollar tip,a MacNeil replied as he pulled a lightweight laptop computer out of his own suitcase.

aYou know what p.i.s.ses me off about being here?a When MacNeil didnat reply, Childress explained, aWeare surrounded by gorgeous women who are prancing around in string bikinis, and we look like weare a pair of f.a.gs.a MacNeil glanced up at his partner, whose desire to look like an ordinary tourist had translated into a pair of Bermuda shorts, a T-shirt with the wordsSt. Maarten intertwined among palm trees, a baseball cap, sungla.s.ses, and a camera slung around his neck. aItas your Bermuda shorts,a MacNeil said.

Childressas thoughts had already skipped on to other issues. aI donat like being this aup close and personala when Iam working surveillance. It triples the probabilities of Wyatt spotting us.a As he spoke, he wandered over to the door and studied the room rates posted there. aOne night in this place costs more than the down payment on my last car. The DA is going to have a coronary when the bill for this place comes in.a aIall tell him the truth: There was no place to park on the main road or on the private road into this place where we could spend day and night waiting for Wyatt to leave. The guard at the gatehouse would only give us a one-hour pa.s.s, and when that expired, a hotel employee appeared and tried to run us off. We had to register here.a aYeah, I know all that, but Iam glad youare the one who has to explain it to Elliott.a MacNeil glanced at his watch and reached for his cell phone. It was time for his daily check-in call.

aMR.ELLIOTT?a Gray Elliott looked up from the photographs spread out across the credenza in his Chicago office, a frown on his face. aYes?a aDetective MacNeil is on the phone.a aClose my door, will you?a Gray said. Swiveling in his chair, he waited until the door closed behind his secretary before he picked up his telephone. aHi, Mac,a he said.

aDid you get the report and pictures we e-mailed to you last night?a MacNeil began.

Too restless to stay seated, Gray stood up and turned to the credenza. aI got them,a he said shortly.

aWyatt picked up the redhead at her hotel this morning, and theyave just checked into a hotel in St. Maarten. We still donat know who she is, but her hotel room in Anguilla was registered in the name of a guy named Bartlett. Sooner or later, sheall use a credit card here or produce a driveras license, and weall get a make on hera"a aDonat bother,a Gray interrupted tightly, staring at a close-up of a man and woman locked in a pa.s.sionate embrace near a beach. The photo was taken at night using an infrared camera. It was a little grainy, but the subjects were easily identifiable. aHer name is Kate Donovan.a aShould that name mean something to me?a Mac asked. aIt seems familiar.a aHer father was Daniel Donovan.a aThe restaurant ownera"that Daniel Donovan?a aThatas the one,a Gray said sarcastically. aThe Daniel Donovan who died a few weeks ago in what was presumed to be a random drive-by shooting.a MacNeil sank down on the edge of his bed, already putting together the pieces and arriving at the same conclusion Gray had drawn. aThatas three people who Wyatt is connected with whoave met untimely deaths in the last few months.a aRight.a aHow does this guy Bartlett fit into the picture?a aKate Donovan is Evan Bartlettas girlfriend,a Gray spit out. aOr at least I thought she was. Evan and I have known each other since we were kids. Heas a lawyer from a long line of lawyers, all of whom have spotless reputations. Iam quite sure Evan Bartlett knows nothing about whatever sheas involved in.a Rather than debate that, MacNeil said calmly, aWe didnat see any sign of Bartlett last night, but heas registered at the hotel in Anguilla that sheas staying in.a aSheas using his name then, but Evan isnat there. I saw him at the courthouse yesterday; heas trying a case.a Rather than let MacNeil think he was letting his personal feelings interfere with his objectivitya"which he wasa"Gray said curtly, aDonat let Wyatt or Donovan out of your sight. I have to go into a meeting now. One more thinga"a he added, aif Benedictas yacht moves into international waters, I want you to let me know immediately. The same is true if thereas any indication Wyattas plane is being made ready to take off from St. Maarten.a aWeave got a couple of mechanics at Princess Juliana Airport watching the plane for us. We tailed Wyatt to the hotel in St. Maarten this morning, and he left his luggage there. I donat think he plans to go back to Benedictas yacht tonight, but if he and the Donovan woman split up, we canat keep an eye on both of them and the yacht, too.a aMy budget wonat stretch any further than itas already stretched now on this case. Ignore the yacht, if you have to. If it moves into international waters, thereas nothing we can do to yank Wyatt off it, but we can exert a whole lot of unpleasant pressure on Zack Benedict to hand Wyatt over to us.a aAre you expecting Wyatt to lead us to the body down here, or meet up with an accomplice or something?a aI donat know about an accomplice, but you can bet your pension that Williamas body is somewhere up at the family farm. There are five hundred acres of woods up there, and weave been helping the locals comb through them. The ground is frozen, and thereas still some snow on it, but the body is going to turn up any day now. When it does, I want to know exactly where to find Wyatt. Donat ask me how I know Wyattas our murderer or that the bodyas at the farm. Once the body is found, the witness will come forward and give testimony. Until then, Iave promised absolute anonymity.a

Chapter Twenty.

STANDING ON THEbalcony with his elbows propped on the wall, Mitch.e.l.l watched the lights of a distant cruise ship gliding slowly northward as he waited for Kate to finish dressing so they could leave for the casino.

After their first bout of lovemaking, theyad gotten up to eat; then theyad gone back to bed, made love again, and fallen into a deep, exhausted slumber. The sun had already set when he woke up with Kate in his arms. Head felt utterly contented and totally relaxed lying there, and he still felt the same way.

aIam sorry I took so long,a she said behind him.

Mitch.e.l.l straightened and turned, his relaxed smile widening into an appreciative grin. Dressed in a short black strapless sheath with a scalloped bodice edged in lace and sa.s.sy high-heeled sandals with slender scalloped straps, Kate Donovan was a vision of lush curves, luminous skin, luxuriant hair, and long, long legs. His gaze riveted on her legs again, and Mitch.e.l.l tipped his head back, grinning at his astonished reaction to what was, very possibly, the most beautiful pair of legs head ever seen.

aAre you smiling because I look surprisingly nice, or because thereas something wrong with my dress?a she teased, but she sounded a little anxious.

aIam smiling because I just realized you have gorgeous legs,a Mitch.e.l.l replied wryly, aand I never saw them before.a aI was wearing both of them earlier,a she said flippantly. aIn fact, I distinctly remember that they were attached to me when we were in bed.a aI was too close to get a full-length look when we were in bed.a She walked up to him and turned her back. aWould you pull my zipper up the last inch?a she asked, lifting her hair out of the way for him. aI canat reach it.a Mitch.e.l.l had performed that same service for other women countless times in the past, but as he looked down at Kateas exposed nape, there was an intimacy and pleasure a.s.sociated with the simple act that surprised him. As he located the tab of the zipper and slid it up, she joked with him about his reaction to her legs. aLet me guess,a she said, ayouare a leg man, arenat you?a Normally, Mitch.e.l.l would have answered ayesa without hesitation or thought, but for some obscure reason, the question seemed all wrong, especially coming from her. Curving his hands over her shoulders, he bent his head and kissed her cheek. aLetas not have that conversation,a he whispered.

Kate turned slowly around and looked at him. He hadnat answered the question for the same reason shead instantly regretted asking ita"she didnat want to know what female body parts he was partial to. In fact, right now, she wanted to think he was partial to her as a whole being. aNice answer,a she said, smiling into his eyes.

aI thought so, too.a THE CASINO HEtook her to was in the Dutch section, and it was a large private club where the members spoke an amazing variety of foreign languages and the table limits were very high. On the way there, Mitch.e.l.l had described the casino as having a aEuropean flavor,a which Kate now realized translated into an atmosphere that was elegant, sophisticated, and subdued. It was an atmosphere that suited him perfectly, Kate thought. Wearing an impeccably tailored gray suit, dark gray shirt, and pale gray tie, he personified elegant sophistication and calm self-a.s.surance.

The only resemblance between the casinos shead been to in the States and this one was that gambling was legal in both. In fact, the only times shead ever seen casinos like this were in movies that were filmed in locales like Monaco.

Trying not to look as if shead never been inside a place like this, or been around people like this, Kate glanced past baccarat and roulette tables populated by wealthy men with large stacks of chips in front of them and well-kept women with glittering jewels at their wrists and throats.

aAre you looking for something in particular?a Mitch.e.l.l asked.