"You didn't have to join me, you know. I'm a big girl. I can get on the plane by myself." Cindy smiled but Ethan didn't miss the way her gaze slid to the side, or the way her teeth nibbled her lower lip. She was acting nervous, her hands twisting in her lap, her foot occasionally tapping the old tile floor of the airport lounge.

Maybe 'lounge' was too generous a word. The gate area was one large room on the other side of the security checkpoint, filled with hard black chairs that creaked under their weight. The mingled scents of a dozen different perfumes floated from the duty-free store off to his right, combining with the greasy odors of cheap Asian food coming from the cafeteria-style restaurant behind them. The air surrounding them was still and humid in spite of the air conditioning, made worse by the growing crowds waiting for their flights.

Ethan glanced at his watch then let his gaze slide to the large wall of windows looking out on the tarmac. Not for the first time, he mentally kicked himself for not thinking ahead when they changed Cindy's flight earlier in the week. Why hadn't he made sure to book her on the same flight to Miami?

Because he hadn't been thinking. Because he hadn't realized he'd be desperate for even just a few more hours with her. Which was crazy. It wasn't like they weren't going to see each other again. They were. Maybe not tonight: she was flying back to Maryland and he was heading back home to Minnesota. But he'd definitely be calling her. And he was already making plans to get back to Baltimore a few weeks before originally scheduled. It would only be a month at the most before they saw each other again.

Maybe not even that long.

So why couldn't he shake this odd feeling that this would be the last time he'd see her?

He shook it off and reached down for her hand, frowning when he noticed how cold her skin was. "Are you sure you're not getting sick?"

Cindy shifted, not quite looking at him, her smile a little strained. "Positive."

"You're sure? Because your hand is like ice." He covered it with his second one and squeezed, like that would somehow make her warmer. She smiled again, just a quick upturn of her lips, and nodded.

"I'm sure. Honest." But even her voice was strained, letting him know that something else was going on. He watched her, wishing he could read her mind, wishing she would tell him what was wrong.

Wishing he had said something earlier, when they had time to talk. But he'd been distracted, his mind and body more concerned with other things besides talking. And now it was too late because her flight would be boarding in the next thirty minutes.

He glanced at his watch again and frowned. Make that fifteen. How had so much time passed already?

"I should have paid more attention when we rebooked your flight, made sure we at least flew to Miami together. Or I should have changed mine—"

"Ethan, you're being silly. There was no need to. Just like you didn't need to come with me now, not when your flight isn't for another four hours."

"Maybe I just wanted to spend more time with you." The words came out softer than he had intended, his voice a little too husky. Cindy looked over at him, something flashing in her eyes. Whatever it was passed quickly, chased away by shadows he didn't understand. Then she blinked and her gorgeous green eyes were clear again. The corner of her mouth tilted up in a teasing grin—a real one, so different from the strained smiles she had been giving him since they left the resort this morning.

"I'd call you sweet but I wouldn't want to ruin your reputation."

"As long as you don't slip around the guys, you can call me whatever you want." He grinned then leaned forward and pressed his mouth against her. The kiss was soft, sweet. And over much too soon. He pulled back with a soft moan, his hand tightening around hers again.

And again he couldn't shake the feeling that this was a permanent goodbye. It didn't make sense. Hell, nothing that had happened between them this week made sense. Friends. They had been nothing more than friends. Maybe he'd hoped they could be more. Hoped? Hell, he could be honest with himself: he'd more than hoped. He'd fantasized. But he'd never expected more than friendship with Cindy.

Maybe that was the problem, the reason for this uneasy feeling. It was too new, whatever this was between them. And he'd only had five quick days to enjoy it. Five days was nothing compared to what he wanted. Five days, over already, gone too fast. And now he had to wait a month before he could see her again.

That had to be the reason for this unsettled feeling. Nothing else made sense. And he didn't want to wait another month. Maybe he didn't have to. There was nothing stopping him from changing his plans again, nothing stopping him from heading back to Baltimore even earlier. All he had to do was change a few things on his schedule at home, not a big deal—

The announcement for Cindy's flight came through the speakers, garbled and almost too loud. Ethan jerked in the seat, silently groaning. Already? No, it couldn't be. He needed more time—

Except time was up. Cindy pulled her hand from his and leaned over, grabbing her stuffed tote from the floor then standing. He stood as well, trying to ignore the harsh thudding of his heart beating in his chest. He glanced over his shoulder, saw people lining up in front of the door leading out to the tarmac, then looked back at Cindy. She had already pulled her sunglasses down over her eyes, hiding her gaze. Her head was turned slightly to the side. Was she looking at the people lining up? Or was she still looking at him?

"I guess I should probably go join the crowd, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess." Neither one of them moved, not at first. Then they both seemed to move at the same time, their arms wrapped around each other. "I'll call you tonight when I get in. Okay?"

Cindy nodded but didn't say anything. Did she feel it, too, this odd unsettled feeling? He thought it had just been him but maybe he'd been wrong. He should have asked, should have talked to her about it earlier. Should have talked to her about a lot of things earlier. Five days. He had thought there'd be time. Had thought it wasn't important. But it was. And now it was too late.

She started to step out of his hold but Ethan shook his head and tightened his arms. "Not yet."

Cindy looked up at him, her face oddly blank. Then he bent down and captured her mouth with his, the kiss long and deep. Possessing. Claiming. Reassuring. She sighed when he pulled away, the whisper-soft sound tugging at something inside him.

"I'll call you tonight." He repeated the reassurance, waiting for her to nod. Then he dropped his arms and stepped back, finally allowing her to move away. He turned around, following each of her steps as she walked to the gate. She paused once, looked back at him and lifted her hand in a small wave, then moved through the door and out onto the tarmac.

Ethan stayed where he was, watching her through the window as she moved across the tarmac with the crowd. Watching as she climbed the metal steps to the plane. Watching as she disappeared through the door. Not once did she look back.

Ethan ignored the flare of disappointment shooting through him. Why would she look back? She probably thought he had left already. And it wasn't like she would have been able to see him even if she had looked back.

He stood there for several long minutes, waiting for the pounding in his chest to subside. Waiting for the feeling that this was the last time he'd see her to pass.

He was being ridiculous. He'd be talking to her tonight, would see her soon enough.

He turned and headed for the restaurant, hoping they served some of the island's famous rum. Hoping that a few drinks would help him push the odd emotions away.