Jesse attempted a surreptitious scan of the deck while Mike talked business. There she was, across the room, talking to Miranda, but looking at … him. His breathing stumbled as he locked gazes with the woman who’d kept him examining the ceiling most of last night. She was so goddamned beautiful, it almost hurt his eyes. Yet, even from across the room, he could read the pity in her eyes as she shook her head in obvious regret. She might have been seduced on that beach yesterday, but when the lust faded, she had to face the fact that he wasn’t in her class. No doubt she was sorry she’d allowed her libido to slip the tight leash of her upbringing.
What the hell had he been thinking, anyway? That a woman with her brains and beauty, plus the kind of polish Philadelphia’s Main Line instilled in its residents, would consider a long-term relationship with the likes of him?
And, hell’s bells, what had him even fantasizing about that kind of connection? He’d never wanted one before. Anyone he’d dated more than twice knew it was just fun and games. He’d made sure of that. He snorted out a laugh. Fun and games had been Mike’s M.O., too. Now he was happy as a clam with Kelly by his side. This freakin’ island must have some kind of magic embedded in the sand. First Sky, then Mike, and now Owen. All three captured by the spell of Mimosa Key. He should count himself lucky to have escaped.
“Are you going to stare at the girl all night, you ass?” Mike grinned as Jesse snapped his head back around. “For Christ’s sake, go buy her another drink or take her for a walk on the beach. Your tongue’s hanging out so far you’re going to get sand on it anyway.”
“Nah, she’s out of my league, pal.” But damn hard to get off of my mind. “Good thing we fly back home tomorrow. I’ll get my head on straight once I’m back at the gym.”
“Then you’d best go say goodbye, Jess. And, just so you know, she’s spent most of her time looking this way. I don’t know what happened between you two, but it’s obvious, even to a dunce like me, that you both have somethin’ going on.” He slapped Jesse on the back, saw the almost perfectly concealed wince, and swore. “Sorry, pal, I’ve got to stop—”
Jesse put his hand up. “I’m fine. Leave it, Mike.”
He glanced over to see Sydney still chatting with Miranda but meeting his eyes over her shoulder. His brother was right. The least he could do was be a gentleman and leave with a little grace.
He circled the deck, came up behind Sydney and touched her elbow. She spun, a smile already in place, then saw it was him. The smile stayed, but her eyes turned wary.
“Miranda, could I steal Sydney away for a couple of minutes?”
“Of course, Jesse. I have to go change and find Owen.”
“Sydney?”
She darted a glance at Miranda and put more power behind her less-than-sincere smile. Jesse took her hand and led her toward a quieter corner of the deck.
“Sydney, I’ll be flying out early tomorrow morning, and I didn’t want to leave without trying to repair whatever damage I did yesterday.”
She quickly shook her head. “Jesse, you don’t—”
He put a finger to her lips. “Let me finish, Syd, please. You’ve been exceptionally kind to a virtual stranger, and I thank you for spending as much time as you have with me.” He brought her hand up and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “I loved being with you, and although I’m not sure what I’ve done to ruin our brief acquaintance, I want you to know how sorry I am that I’ve put my foot in it.” Surprised as her expression morphed from cautious to tender, he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her lightly. “I didn’t want to leave without trying to mend the bridge I almost burned to ashes.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Jesse. I think we both got a little carried away yesterday. I won’t deny how attracted to you I was—am, so I’m just as much to blame as you for … everything. Let’s just write it off to the aura two people about to be married can project to their friends and relatives. Somehow there always seems to be romance in the air at Casa Blanca.”
“It is hard to resist. Owen and Miranda should be leaving soon. How about one last walk on the beach after they go?” Say yes, Sydney. Maybe one last taste of those lips will satisfy my thirst.
Sydney shook her head. “I’m afraid that would be a mistake. The beach, the stars … ” she rolled her eyes, “and you? How could a woman keep her balance with so much romance in the air?”
He gave her a wolfish smile. “You’re reading my mind, lady. Must be one more of your many talents.”
“Come on, Jesse, you know it would be a mistake. If not for you, certainly for me. Tomorrow you’ll be gone, and chances are I won’t ever see you again. I’ll already miss you badly enough; let’s not add any more misery to our parting.”
He crooked his finger under her chin and tipped her head back. Her emerald eyes were serious and a little sad. “I don’t like the idea of never seeing you again. Philadelphia is your hometown. Don’t you go back once in a while to visit your dad or your friends?”
* * *
The man would drive her crazy if he kept this up. He’d taken off his jacket, untied his tie and left it dangling around his open collar. The faintest haze of a five o’clock shadow added a touch of pure animal magnetism to the heat in his gaze. She could feel her insides melting into that sweet, tantalizing attraction that soon would become irresistible. If she didn’t break off this conversation soon, she’d be toast.
Hoping the vague possibility of a future visit would reduce the intensity in Jesse’s blue eyes—and prevent her from making another mistake on the beach—Sydney decided to mention her plan to see her father this summer. She would not tell him she already had her ticket. She was certain that once he was home, she would soon fade from Jesse’s memory, and a meeting in the distant future would fade along with her.
“I do visit dad, not as often as I’d like, but I hope to get back to Philly sometime this summer. I’ll let you know when I’m coming, and maybe we can have lunch.”
There. Did that sound too much like a brush-off? From the quick nod and the quirk of his lips, that would be a yes. Darn it. Now she felt terrible for hurting someone she’d come to like. She took a deep breath and went for total honesty.
“Listen, Jesse, we both know this attraction isn’t going to lead to something permanent, and frankly, I’m not interested in being someone’s ‘friend with benefits.’ ”
She doubted he could look more surprised if she’d slapped him. She was so not good at this type of thing. Standing amid a crowd only made things harder. She took his hand and tugged him down the steps to the sand, then headed north on the beach. When she’d gone far enough to be out of earshot of the well-wishers, she halted.
“I wish I was better at this, because I like you, Jesse, more than I should after such a brief acquaintance, but I’m afraid of getting in too deep with someone who lives far away and who isn’t in the market for a permanent relationship.” He opened his mouth to speak, and she mimicked his earlier gesture, placing a finger across his lips. “It is easy to see you aren’t in the market for a forever partner, either. There’s nothing wrong with that; it’s just that we are interested in two different things.” She stretched up on her toes and brushed a kiss across his mouth. “Thanks for the best couple of days I’ve had in a long, long time. Have a safe flight home, Jesse.”
She released his hands and walked back toward the crowded deck, feeling his stare prickling between her shoulder blades. He didn’t come after her or call for her to stop.
Which was exactly what she expected.