As Chase lifted his glass to his lips, he gazed upon Penny. He’d told her she looked stunning, but words did little to describe her beauty. The elegant blue tie-dyed chiffon swept down her back to her feet, with its mini-dress front revealing her long tanned legs. Over the shoulder draping accentuated her tanned shoulders. As his eyes devoured her, he resisted the urge to touch her sun-kissed skin, leaning back into his chair.

As the band played, her eyes darted to his. Her infectious smile warmed him straight through to his heart, and he began to rethink his experiment. To call it a success or failure couldn’t describe what had happened to him. It didn’t matter that they’d just met. Penny Travis was not and would never be a forgotten, carefree affair.

While he loved Evan like a brother, they’d fought when they’d returned from diving. Chase had insisted he wouldn’t hurt Penny, but Evan argued that she’d already developed feelings for him. He’d played it off, telling him that he and Penny had decided to keep things light. But nothing could be further from the truth. Despite her denials and casual responses, he detected the sadness in her eyes whenever they mentioned leaving paradise.

Chase had been profoundly affected by their dive. Even though she’d lost focus, she’d trusted him completely, allowing him to share with her the exquisite unique environment that few humans were privy to seeing, his world. Unable to let her slip through his fingers, Chase planned to ask her the question again, the very one to which she’d refused to answer; would she consider moving?

It was insane for him to ask, he knew. She’d have no reason to throw away her entire career for a man. But ignoring what he believed was developing into love simply wasn’t an option. At one point, he’d agreed with her, telling her he didn’t believe in soulmates. But every single time they had a conversation, made love, it felt surreal. Domination turned into submission and back again. Humor melded into heartfelt discussions, where he ended up revealing more about himself to her than he’d ever told anyone. Their last day together was quickly approaching. If he didn’t take action, they’d soon be three thousand miles apart with no hope of a future.

The band transitioned into a ballad, and he stood, extending a hand to her. A broad smile crossed her face as she accepted, following him onto the dance floor. He pulled her close, and they swayed gently to the island beat.

“I don’t want to go home,” he heard her say. Her voice wavered as she spoke.

“I don’t want to go home, either, darlin’. But alas, we do have to return to reality.”

“This has been the best time of my life,” she confessed.

“Penny, this thing between us…I don’t want it to end.” Chase pressed his lips to the top of her head as they danced. “We’re going to have to talk.”

“It’s complicated.”

“That it is.”

“We could try to see each other a few times a year. You said you come to New York.”

“I do.”

“We could Skype. Facetime?”

“True, but long distance relationships are hard on the heart. I can’t expect you to date only me when we don’t get to see each other.”

“Yes,” she whispered, disappointment in her tone.

“On the other hand…” Chase stopped dancing and gently tilted her chin up so her gaze met his. He stared into her blue eyes for several seconds as if he were searching her soul. But in truth, he was looking for answers that were already inside him. “I wouldn’t…I don’t want you seeing anyone else. I want this…us.”

“Chase, I don’t know how…”

The music grew louder, and people flooded the dance floor. As the din blared around them, Chase only heard the sound of his heart pounding as he bent to kiss her. With passion, he captured her lips, imparting the emotion he’d kept hidden. Penny returned his loving kiss, and he swept his tongue against hers, tasting his sweet lover. In each other’s arms, it was as if they were the only two people in the room.

Chase registered the sound of the MC rousing the crowd, his voice booming into the air, and he slowly broke away from Penny. The intensity of the moment didn’t falter, however. As Chase’s eyes locked onto Penny’s, he was certain about his course of action; he’d ask her to move to California. He’d present his best argument to the lawyer who valued logic and set out to win the case and her heart.