Felicity tried to remain calm as another streak of lightning shot across the sky and reflected in the water. She hated storms. Just perfect. The heavens were trying to humiliate her in front of Aiden again.

Aiden glanced over at her. “We’re almost to the dock.”

Nice. Was her concern that apparent? Why couldn’t she just get over it like every other adult? Instead, she had to look like a fool in front of Aiden. “Okay,” she said, forcing her voice to sound light. She put her arms through her backpack which made her feel like a third-grader, but she didn’t care. She wanted both arms free to grab onto the boat if something happened and they capsized.

Aiden hadn’t been lying. She let out a breath of relief when she saw the dock ahead. Aiden steered the boat alongside it and cut the engine. He hopped out into the torrential rain and secured the ropes. Then he held his hand out for her. She grabbed it like her life depended on it and hopped out into the rain.

Aiden kept a hold of her hand as they ran toward his car. It chirped as they neared and he opened her door for her. She slid into the seat, her hair dripping down her face. After he got into his seat, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“Hey, it’s okay. We made it.” He took her hand in his and warmth spread up her arm. “No need to worry.”

“Sorry,” she said, her voice sounding strained. “I’m just not fond of storms.”

He gave her a funny look. “I didn’t know you were scared of storms.”

“I said I’m not fond of them. That’s different than being scared.”

He stared at her, then his gaze dropped to her hands. “You’re trembling.”

She blew out a breath. “Okay, fine. I hate storms. We used to live in Kansas when I was little. Our house got hit by a tornado. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever lived through.”

Aiden’s eyes widened as he put the car into drive and started down the path toward the highway. “Are you kidding me? How did I not know this? Were you hurt?”

“No one was hurt. We were in the basement, but we could hear the roar of the tornado and the sound of breaking glass. We had to wait for several hours before the rescue team could get us out. I was terrified.” Felicity closed her eyes and tried to push the memory away.

The feel of Aiden’s warm hand on hers brought her out of her thoughts. He squeezed her hand. “That must have been terrible.”

“We were lucky. Three people died that night. The thunder and lightning just remind me of that.”

Aiden paled. “I’m sorry. We should have left earlier.”

Felicity withdrew her hand from his. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll just feel better when I’m back at the resort in my warm villa.”

He ran his hand through his hair and drops of water flew everywhere. “Warm and dry sounds good right now.”

“We’re soaked.” Felicity giggled. At least her blouse wasn’t see-through. “The last time we were this wet was—”

“The time you pushed me into that fountain, and we got in a water fight.” Aiden’s grin stretched wide across his face.

Felicity laughed. “I haven’t thought about that in years.”

“That cop was not happy.”

“I was so embarrassed. I thought he was going to give us a ticket.” Heat crept up her neck just thinking about it.

“That day we shared our first strawberry-banana milkshake.”

The magic of that day flooded back to her and she remembered how they’d laughed together. How Aiden had held her hand. And—emotion closed her throat. “And our first kiss,” she said softly.

The mood shifted and Aiden sobered. “Right.”

Felicity mentally banged her head on the window. Why had she said that? Why open up those old wounds? She didn’t need to bring that up. That’s the last thing she should be thinking about. But, of course, now that she’d said it, all she could think about was Aiden’s lips on hers, the smell of his cologne, and how she’d felt like she was flying.

“Sorry,” she said.

“No. We have a past. It was stupid of me to think we could dance around it.” Aiden stared out the front windshield. The wipers were working overtime.

Felicity unzipped her backpack to check on her camera. It gave her something else to do rather than think about Aiden’s kisses. Her camera was dry, thank goodness.

A boom of thunder sounded and Felicity gripped her seat. At least they were out of that blasted boat.

Aiden glanced at her. “Remember that school talent show you made me go to?”

Felicity held in a laugh. “How was I supposed to know they were going to make the audience participate?”

“I couldn’t believe they dragged me up on stage.”

“You looked cute in that outfit they made you wear.” She pressed a finger to her lips.

He gave her a flat look. “It was a tutu.”

Felicity couldn’t hold it in any longer. She busted up laughing. “At least you were a good sport about it.”

“Yeah, I’m just scarred for life.”

“You poor dear.” Felicity appreciated what he was doing. She knew he was trying to get her talking so she wouldn’t be nervous about the storm. It was nice of him. “What music do you listen to in your car?” Before he could answer she pushed to eject his CD.

He grabbed it out of her hand before she could see what it was. “Hey,” she protested. “Give it.”

“Nope.”

“Why? What are you listening to?”

He slid the CD into the side pocket of his car door. “None of your business.”

She punched his shoulder. “What is it? Come on. Just tell me.”

He didn’t say anything, just held a smirk.

“Okay, if you won’t tell me, then I’ll guess.”

He shrugged. “Go ahead.”

“Taylor Swift.”

He snorted. “Seriously? That’s what you think I listen to?”

She laughed and brushed a piece of wet hair out of her face. “Okay, I just wanted to see your reaction with that one.”

“Guess again.”

“Okay, how about Imagine Dragons.”

“Nope.”

She scowled at him. “Nope? That’s it? How will I know if you’re telling me the truth if you don’t let me see the CD?”

A grin crept onto his face. “If you guess it, I’ll give you the CD.” He made an X over his chest. “Cross my heart.”

“All right, fine.” She tried to think of a band he might like. “Marooon 5.”

“I would listen to them, but that’s not the CD.”

She blew out a breath. “Give me a hint at least.”

He chuckled. “I don’t know, I think you’re doing a pretty good job without any hints.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Fine. It’s an older CD. That’s your only hint.”

She shifted in her seat, frustrated with him. “Whatever.” She eyed the door he’d slid the CD into. “It must be something embarrassing, because you grabbed it and didn’t want me to see it.”

He didn’t turn to look at her, but he didn’t deny it either.

“What would a guy like you be embarrassed about listening to? Miley Cyrus?”

“Ha, right. Like I’d listen to her. Come on. What kind of music do I like?”

Of course. Felicity hit the dashboard. “I know what it is. Nickelback.”

Aiden pulled the CD out of the door and handed it to her. Yep. It indeed was Nickelback’s album, All the Right Reasons. She slid it into the CD player. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed. I don’t know why people make fun of them. They’re a good band.”

“People are stupid.”

“Right? It’s like, let’s-all-pile-on mentality.”

Aiden gave her a smile and, for the first time since she’d arrived, she got the impression it was genuine. They listened to music the rest of the way to the resort.

As Aiden pulled off the highway, Felicity stared at the palm trees whipping so violently in the wind. “This doesn’t look good.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.” He drove through a back street until he got close to the beach. The road ended. “Your villa’s just up this sidewalk. Ready to make a run for it? I’ll go with you.”

Felicity’s throat constricted as she looked at the dark sky and the torrents of rain coming down, but she didn’t have much choice. She didn’t want to sleep in Aiden’s car. “All right.” She clutched her backpack and they both got out and ran for it.

The wind almost blew her off the sidewalk as she sprinted to the front door of her villa. The rain felt like stinging pinpricks. She was soaked before she got halfway there. Lightning lit up the sky as she unlocked the door. They tumbled inside. Aiden shut the door and a loud bang of thunder shook the villa.

Felicity took one look at Aiden and couldn’t hold in a laugh. “You look like you jumped into a swimming pool.”

He grinned at her and shook his hands, water dripping from his fingers and clothes. “So do you.”

She flipped the living room light on. “Do you want to stay a little while? Maybe the rain will let up in a bit.”

“Sure.” He walked to the fireplace. “I’ll get a fire going if you want to change.”

“Yes, thank you.” Felicity left him in the living room. She cringed when she passed by the mirror in her bedroom. She looked horrible, like a drowned rodent of unusual size. But what did it matter? The Aiden ship had sailed. She was not trying to impress him. She stripped off her clothes and dressed in a dry pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Then she tackled her hair with her comb.

When she looked decent, she exited her bedroom. Her throat closed when she looked at Aiden, sitting by the fire, his shirt off. He’d hung it by the flames, obviously so it would dry. But dang, she didn’t need to look at his bare chest right now. His chiseled, sculpted bare chest. Her gaze bounced around the room before settling on the carpet.

“You don’t happen to have a shirt that would fit me, do you?”

Felicity made a face. “If I have a shirt that will fit you, I’m dieting for the next millennium.” She backed up toward her bedroom. “But you can wear my bathrobe.”

He chuckled. “Okay.”

She ran into her bathroom and came out with the fluffy, pink robe. She tossed it at him. “Here you go.”

He made a face but slipped it on. “Better?”

She tried not to laugh but couldn’t help herself. “You look...great.”

“Shut up. I’m confident enough in my masculinity to wear a pink robe.”

“Okay.” She took a step toward her room. “Just a sec.” She ran in, grabbed her camera, quietly shut her door and snapped a picture before he realized what she was doing.

Felicity had never seen him move so fast. He was to her in half-a-second. He reached for her camera, but she held it behind her back. “Give me that,” he said while taking off the pink robe, his laugh betraying him.

She backed up, but her bedroom door stopped her retreat. “Never,” she said.

He took a step forward and braced himself against the wood, his arms trapping her to the solid barrier of her door. He leaned in closer. “You’re going to destroy that picture,” he said, his voice just a whisper, his gaze penetrating. Heat from his bare skin wrapped around her.

Her heart thumped so hard she was sure he could hear it. The smell of rain mixed with his masculine scent, and it made her head spin. She needed to get away from him before she did something stupid. “Okay.” She handed him her camera.

He didn’t move back at first, just stood there, inches from her face. His gaze traveled over her cheeks then down to her lips. Finally, he took a step back. She tried to breathe normally as he stared at her, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Thanks,” he said.

She couldn’t say anything in return.