"Oh, me too. We had a tent at home and slept out in the backyard when we were Htde. I always got scared, though, and went in the house at ten o'clock. My dad never went to bed until I chickened out."

"Your family sounds nice and . . . normal. I envy that. I joined up to get away from my family. So did my brother."

Fanny stared at Ash. "To get away? I don't understand "

"All families aren't nice and normal. Guess I better get that fire going. I'm starved."

"Me too," Fanny said lightly as a frown began to build between her eyebrows.

Fanny surveyed her surroundings, the frown deepening. It was suddenly important to her to make a nice Christmas for Ash. She 238 Fern Michaels didn't know why. She tried to shake the feeUng, but it stayed with her.

She was standing, arms crossed over her breasts, still frowning, when Ash came up behind her. He nuzzled her neck. "Take a look and then say, Ash, how clever of you, that's a magnificent fire."

"Ash, how clever of you, that's a magnificent fire. I can taste those weenies already."

He kissed her until she was breathless. "I think I will marr^ you," he said airily as he broke away to head inside for the weenies.

"Hey, do that again," Fanny said.

Ash sauntered back to where Fanny was standing. "Tou really want me to do that again?"

"Uh-huh."

WTien he released her a second time, Ash was as shaken as Fanny. "I liked that," Fanny murmured.

"I did too. We'll do it again later." Fanny smiled. .nd smiled.

A long time later, when the moon was high in the sky, Fanny leaned into the crook of Ash's arm. "In my wildest dreams, I never thought Fd be sitting on the beach at Christmas eating weenies and staring at the sky full of stars. Do you think Santa will make it this way? That red suit is going to be awfully hot."

"What time is it?"

Fanny looked at her watch. "Quarter to twelve. It's time to sing. Do you know the words to the Christmas carols?" Ash nodded.

"Then let's sing." They sat next to each other, their shoulders touching, their voices, one high and sweet, the odier deep and sad, the gende trade inds carrying the words out across the deep blue Pacific jewel.

"Merry Christmas, Fanny," Ash said, hugging her.

"Merry Christmas, Ash," Fanny said.

"What do you think your family is doing right now, Fanny?"

"I have no idea. This is Dad's first Christmas without us. He's probably sitting on the couch with Mrs. Kelly. He might even be at her house. How about your family?"

"They're at Sunrise. Every year it's the same. Nothing ever changes. They're probably heading upstairs to bed right now. Wrong! I forgot about the time difference. Eating dinner I guess. Want to go for a walk along the beach so we can watch for the sleigh and those eight tiny reindeer?"

"I thought you'd never ask. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"It sure is. Fm glad you came, Fanny."

"Me too."

They walked and talked for what seemed like hours. When they returned to the beach, they stretched out on the towels and were asleep within minutes, their arms wrapped around each other.

Day after blissful day passed. On the morning of the sixth day, Fanny finished the lei she'd been working on and placed it around Ash's neck. "I love you." It was said so simply, so gently that Ash's face turned white.

"You do!" he stammered.

"I do. I decided last night. So, if at the end of the ten days ^ou want to marry me, I'm going to say yes."

Ash was speechless. "But we . . . you said . . ."

"I'm ready now."

"You are?"

"Yep. Get ready to ravage and plunder me."

"Jesus, Fanny, it doesn't work that way. I mean . . . not here . . . we'll get sand up our . . . now!"

"I've been living in this bathing suit for . . . this is the sixth day. I'm ready to take it off."

"And I thought girls from Pennsylvania were shy and . . ."

"We are. We also go after what we want. I want you."

"I'm supposed to be the one doing the seducing. This is all mixed "I'm amenable for you to start. Seducing me I mean."

"Well, I don't know if I'm ready."

"Okay. How about this?" In the time it took her heart to beat twice, Fanny's one-piece yellow suit was on the sand. "Are you ready now?" She was really doing this, she was seducing Ash Thornton. She was standing stark naked on a beach in Hawaii waiting for a man she barely knew to make love to her.

The colorful island trunks fell on top of the daffodil-colored suit. Fanny swallowed hard, her gaze shifting from Ash's face to six inches below his waist. She felt blazing hot; even her feet were burning Her earlobes felt hot enough to spark a fire. Her arms and hands trembled as she reached out to Ash, who gathered her close.

"You're sure?" he whispered.

"Yes," she whispered back. "I don't want to go in the house, I want to . . . here on the beach in the sun."

WTien it was over, Fanny fell back onto the towel, her body slick with sweat. She was so disappointed she wanted to cry. She'd taken offher suit and seduced this man for this? She made no move to cover 240 Fern Michaels her nakedness. What was the point? A tear dripped down her cheek. Speak up, Fanny. It was a childhood order her father had given to her on a regular basis when she was disgruntled about sometliing. "I didn't much like that," she said boldly.

"Huh?" Ash said.

"You heard me, I didn't much care for that. You look satisfied. Why don't I look like that?"

"Huh?" Ash said for the second time.

"Look at me! Do you see a satisfied look on my face? No, you do not. There has to be more to this act than . . . than . . . what you just did. WTiat do I get out of it?"

"Well. . . I. . . you're a virgin . . . were a virgin . . . didn't it feel even a httle bit good?" Ash asked helplessly.

"It hurt. Aren't you supposed to ... to do .. . something^'"

"Jesus, I thought I did."

"Obviously you didn't, or I would be looking satisfied," Fanny snorted.

"Maybe you were scared and afraid to let go," Ash mumbled.

"Let go of what? I was looking forward to this. And to think I made the first move. If this is what sex is all about, I'm going to be an old maid." She was off the blanket in a flash and pulling on her suit. She ran down the beach to the water and dived in. Ash didn't bother with a suit, he just ran after her, shouting her name over and over.

'Just a goddamn minute here," he bellowed. When he came up for air, he said, "Listen, I was trying to be careful, I didn't want to hurt you. You weren't. . . relaxed."

"Did you hear me complain?"

"No, but I. . . assumed . . ."

"You should not presume nor should you assume where I am concerned. You're supposed to do things to me, to make me . . . hot and bothered. You didn't. You just went in and out."

"You sound Uke an authority," Ash grumbled.

"I read a lot. If I have to explain it to you, then I guess it isn't going to work." They were treading water now, angry and frustrated.

"Maybe you do need to explain it to me," Ash said quietly. "Tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it. If I don't know, how can I please you?"

Fanny sniffed. "You're a guy. You should want to . . . to . . . touch me all over, get to know my body as well as you know your own. I expected you to whisper in my ear, lick the inside of my ear, that kind of stuff. I know you had sex before, so don't try and tell me you didn't. Is there something wrong with me that doesn't. . . turn you on?"

"Hell no. I couldn't wait. Maybe that was the problem. Look, the women I've had sex with weren't virgins. They just wanted to do it. None of them complained."

"Well, I'm complaining. I never did this before. I was willing to do . . . whatever . . . whatever you wanted. I thought it took hours. . . . This was so lickety-split, it was over before it started."

"I guess you're saying I'm not a very good lover."

"I suppose you could be . . . with practice."

"We only have three and a half days left."

"I thought we were getting married," Fanny grumbled.

"Jesus."

"Well, are we or aren't we? I think I should know. Isn't there a three-day waiting period or something? Do you have to get permission?"

"Hold on here. You tell me I'm a lousy lover, I don't satisfy you, you said I need practice, and yet you want to marry me. What am I missing here?"

"Me. You don't know me. Do you want to make love to me? Do you want to soar to the heights of passion with me? Do you want to hobble away to the bathroom after we make marathon love? Do you still want to marry me, or was that a joke just to get you through these ten days? I need to tell you it wasn't a joke with me. You can say no and I can leave and we'll probably never see each other again. I'll tell you what, you take a walk up that way, I'll go this way and we'll meet back here and decide. By the way, I don't think I can eat another weenie. I'd like to shower, dress, and go into town to dinner. You know, a date. We never had a date. I don't believe this, we had sex, but we never had a date," Fanny muttered as she stalked off, leaving Ash scratching his head.

It was at that point he realized he was naked.

Ash was the first to arrive back at the designated spot in the sand that Fanny had dug out with her big toe. His thoughts were in a turmoil. He liked Fanny Logan. He might even love her someday, but he wasn't sure. Maybe if she didn't look so much like the way he remembered his mother in her younger days, it might make a difference. A wife would be nice. His own family would be nice. The 242 Fern Michaels business about getting married had been a line, and now he was stuck with it. Although Fanny had given him an out if he wanted to take it. Did he? She had guts and more spunk than his mother. Damn, why did he keep harking back to his mother?

"I'm really hungry," Fanny said, flopping down on the towel.

"I am too. Fanny, would you like to get dressed and drive into town for dinner?"

"I'd love to, Ash. Shall we act like tourists and wear our leis?"

"Absolutely. Do you want to shower first?"

"Sure."

"Okay, I'm going for a swim. Don't use all the hot water."

"Okay."

It was midnight when Ash swerved the jeep onto the shale drive that led to the back of the shack. "I had a wonderful evening, Ash. Dinner was scrumptious. The drive up here is just glorious at night. I don't think I ever saw the stars so bright. I've heard people refer to this island as paradise. They might be right. I feel so normal this evening, I think I'm going to sleep in the bed. I don't mind if you do, too."

"That's fine. It was a nice evening, thanks for being my date, Fanny."

Fanny smiled. "It was my pleasure."

"Good night, Fanny."

"Good night, Ash."

It was still dark when Fanny stirred on her side of the bed. She opened one eye to see bright moonlight slivering through the thin slats of the bamboo blinds. The side of the room that she could see looked like it was cast in silver. Not an unpleasing sight. She closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep. She wanted to roll over, but was afraid she would wake Ash. Instead, she drew her legs up to her chest, hoping the slight cramp she felt in her thigh would go away.

"Can't sleep?" Ash whispered near her ear.

"I was going to roll over, but was afraid I'd wake you. I guess I did. I'm sorry."

"I've been awake for a long time. I never slept with anyone before, I was thinking about how it felt. How about you?"

"I never did either. I read this book not too long ago that described how married couples sleep. They referred to it as spoon fashion. Roll over and I'll show you. I guess in the wintertime it would be real nice."

Ash rolled over, reaching for Fanny. "You look so pretty in the moonlight." He kissed her, gently at first, then more savagely, his hand reaching inside her gown. He felt a smile begin to build within him when he heard Fanny utter a low moan. His hand traveled downward to her belly, his splayed fingers as well as the heel of his hand kneading her, rubbing her, caressing her. A low, throaty moan whispered in his ears.

Fanny's hands reached out to draw his head to her breasts. She sucked in her breath when his mouth made contact with her taut nipples. She moaned again and again as Ash's busy hands explored her body. Her own hand snaked out and reached for his manhood. She was rewarded with a guttural sound of pleasure.

In one dizzying moment she was on her back and then she was on top of him, her flat belly pressing into the hardness beneath her. "Come down on me," Ash groaned. She did, but not before she lowered her lips to his, her tongue spearing into his waiting mouth. The kiss shook her to her toes, her body flaming. She wanted to crawl inside his body, to make them one.

"Ride me, Fanny," Ash demanded, his hands gripping the upper part of her arms. The pleasure was such exquisite torture, Fanny wanted to delay it as long as possible. She slowed her gyrations when Ash gripped her breasts in both his hands. He pulled himself upright, his arms wrapped around her, their bodies glued together. He nuzzled her neck, her ears, kissed her eyes, her throat, his tongue tracing lazy patterns down into the deep V between her breasts.

As one, their mouths clinging, they rolled over until Ash was again on top of her. Fanny opened her thighs. A low moan escaped her as Ash burrowed into the warm softness that belonged to her alone. She raised her hips, daring him, inviting him inside her secret place. He rode her like a wild stallion.

Vhen it was over, when both bodies, slick with each other's sweat, fell back against the pillows, Fanny's breath exploded into a sigh. "The world exploded, I saw stars and rainbows and lightning streaks," Fanny said in awe, her voice a hoarse whisper.

'Jesus," was all Ash said. He didn't mean to say the words, but they tumbled out. He felt like a fool when he asked, "Did I do it right this time?"

"You did."