The Reef

lemonade. “You’re back. How did LaRue check out?”
    “He’s a good diving partner. How many times are you going to go over all this?”
    She tidied papers. “Until I’m finished.”
    “How about taking a break?” Reaching out, he toyed with the sleeve of her T-shirt. He’d been working on this approach all day, and still wasn’t sure he had it right. “Why don’t we take a run into Nevis, have dinner?”
    “Dinner?”
    “That’s right. You.” He tugged the sleeve. “And me.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “I thought we’d turned the page.”
    “That doesn’t—”
    “And I’m not keen on the big pinochle game that’s being planned for tonight. As I remember, you weren’t big on cards either. The resort has a reggae band out on the terrace. Some dinner, a little music. There won’t be time for much of that once we find the Isabella. ”
    “It’s been a long day.”
    “You’re going to make me think you’re afraid to spend a couple of hours with me.” His eyes flashed on hers,blue as the sea and just as arrogant. “Of course, if you’re afraid you’ll throw yourself at me again.”
    “That’s pathetic.”
    “Well, then.” Satisfied he nailed the approach after all, he headed back for the companionway. “Wear your hair down, Red. I like it.”
     
    She wore it up. Not to spite him, she assured herself. But because she wanted to. She’d changed into a sundress the color of crushed blueberries borrowed from her mother’s closet, at Marla’s insistence. The full skirt made it easy to climb in and out of the tender.
    Once she was settled in and the little tender was speeding toward the island, she admitted that she looked forward to an elegant restaurant meal, with a little music tossed in.
    The air was balmy, the sun still bright as it traveled west. Behind the protection of her shaded glasses, she studied Matthew. His hair was whipping around his face. On the tiller, his hand was broad and competent. If there had been no history between them, she would have been pleased to have such an attractive companion for an evening’s relaxation.
    But there was history. Rather than diluting the pleasure, it added an edge to it. Competition again, she supposed. If he thought she would fall for that rough-and-ready charm a second time, she was only too happy to prove him wrong.
    “The weather’s supposed to hold all week,” she said conversationally.
    “I know. You still don’t wear lipstick.” When she instinctively flicked her tongue over her lips, he dealt with the resulting hitch in his pulse. “It’s a pity most women don’t realize how tempting a naked mouth is. Especially when it pouts.”
    Deliberately, she relaxed her mouth again. “I’ll enjoy knowing it’s driving you crazy for the next couple of hours.”
    She turned her attention to Nevis. The mountain’s cone was swirled in clouds, a striking and dramatic contrast to the brilliant blue of the sky. Far below, the shore spread white against a calm sea. The sand was dotted with people,pretty umbrellas and lounging chairs. A novice sailboarder struggled fruitlessly to stay upright. As she watched him fall into the water again, Tate laughed.
    “Too bad.” She cocked a brow at Matthew. “Have you ever tried that?”
    “Nope.”
    “I have. It’s a hell of a lot of work, frustrating when you think you’ve got it then lose your balance and capsize. But if you catch the breeze and go, it’s wonderful.”
    “Better than diving?”
    “No.” She continued to smile, watching the young man struggle onto his board again. “Nothing’s better than diving.”
    “Things have changed around here.”
    “Hmmm.” She waited as he maneuvered to the pier, tossed a line to a member of the resort’s staff. “I didn’t even know they were planning to build when we were here last.” She took Matthew’s offered hand and climbed to the dock. “Now it looks as though it almost grew here.”
    “Nevis isn’t quite the secret it used to be.” He kept a hand on her arm as they walked down the pier to the beach.
    Stone walkways offered a route through lush gardens and sloping green lawns where pretty two-story cabanas sat. They passed the poolside restaurant, moving toward the marble stairs that led to the main building.
    Tate glanced over her shoulder. “We’re not eating out here?”
    “We can do a little better than light fare by the pool. The restaurant inside has terrace dining.” He led Tate inside toward the