"I've set up sightseeing tours for the rest of our stay here. We'll meet SteveFurukawa for lunch tomorrow in Honolulu. While we're there, we'll see the PearlHarbor Memorial and whatever else looks interesting. There are some great places to see while we're here. I think you'll feel well enough tomorrow to enjoy them."

"Oh. Well. That's nice. I mean, I'm looking forward to it."

"Do you think you're up to sitting out on the beach for a while? The fresh air

will do you good."

She nodded. "Good idea. I'll go change."

He got up when she did. "I'll do the same."

As she changed into a two-piece suit she'd bought the day before, Jodie realized

that she hadn't seen Dean in his swimsuit. He'd reported that it fit, and that wasall that had mattered to her.

She just wished she wasn't so physically aware of him.

They rode the elevator in silence. Jodie wore the matching cover-up to the suit.Dean had on one of his shirts but hadn't bothered to button it. They both had largetowels with them.

She did her best not to stare at his chest. Instead she trained her eyes on hisface, only to discover that he was looking at her with a great deal of interest.

"New suit?" he asked as they left the building.

"Yes." She stopped and put on her dark sunglasses.

Once on the beach, Jodie carefully laid out one of her towels and slipped off thebeach cover.

"Very nice," he said and she glanced around. He stood with his hands resting onhis hips, obviously waiting for her to finish making her beach nest.

Dean stripped to his swimsuit was a Dean she'd never known existed. It unnervedher to have all her ideas about who the man was turned upside down. When did hehave time to work out, which he had to do to be in such good shape?

She sat and he tossed his towel down and sat beside her. She wished that she couldforget the kiss they'd shared. It had been an aberration; certainly not the norm.However, every time she looked at his mouth, she remembered how his lips had felttouching hers.

The man certainly knew how to kiss!

"This is nice," he said several minutes later. "Is the air helping your head?"

"You're being nice to me," she finally replied. "And it's making me nervous."

"Why? Aren't I always nice to you?"

"Shall I be polite or honest?"

"You're talking about the office, aren't you?"

"That's the person I know-or thought I knew."

He leaned back on his elbows. "Well, we've moved past that, haven't we? After last

night?"

She groaned. "I was hoping you'd forgotten about that."

He turned onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow. "Why? We'd had fun at

the party and we ended the evening the way most dates are ended-with a kiss."

She slipped her shades down her nose and looked at him. "This is not a datingsituation, Dean. I happened to be available to come here because my boss gave methe time off."

"Worked out well, didn't it?" He grinned. "You've opened my eyes regarding severalthings about my life. I'm hoping you can continue to teach me how to relax andenjoy myself. You've done a good job so far."

Jodie sat up and folded her legs into a yoga position. "What's going on, anyway?What do you hope to accomplish while we're here, other than gaining another client?"

"I want to get to know you better. I've already told you."

"Why? You've known me for years and have never looked at me the way you have since

we arrived here."

He chuckled, and despite her practical nature, she was charmed by the sound. Aweek ago she would have sworn he didn't know how.

"I've never seen you in a swimsuit before...or a sarong, for that matter," heoffered casually. Then his tone changed.

"I find you fascinating. You have so many facets to your personality, and I'vediscovered that I want to learn each and every one of them."

"Dean. We'll be back at the office next week and none of this will have mattered.

I don't want to make anything more out of our time together than it is."

"I guess that means we won't be sleeping together."

Chuck was right. All men thought about was getting an available woman in bed with

them! Then she realized he was laughing at her reaction.

"You're teasing, right?"

"Actually I'm enjoying the expressions running across your face. Just so we're

clear, I wouldn't say no if you decide to take me up on my offer."

She shook her head and stretched out on her towel once more. Her heart raced sofast she was certain he could see it pounding in her chest. She knew he was teasing.

He had to be teasing, hoping to fluster her.

Well, she was made of sterner stuff.

Her tone casual, Jodie said, "I'll think about it."

He gave a whoop of laughter and said, "You do that," and then trotted to the

water's edge to wade out into the water.

She watched him dive into a wave and appear on the other side. Of course shewasn't going to sleep with him. That would be the dumbest thing possible for her todo. Okay, so he wouldn't turn her down. So what? To him it would be a casual fling.But becoming intimate with him would change her life. Long after he'd forgotten about this trip, memories would haunt her. It would be impossible to work closelywith him without recalling what they had shared.

No. The answer was no.

Jodie stood and walked toward the water.

The water felt good to her, cooling her overheated body. Jodie lowered herselfinto the water and began a leisurely crawl, feeling her muscles work as she glidedthrough the water.