As Chase opened the door to his villa, a butler ushered them into the candlelit room. Penny covered her mouth in surprise, taking in the sight of the twinkling lights. Vases filled with tropical flowers adorned every available surface. The scent of Asiatic lilies permeated the air, and she took a deep breath, reveling in the sensation. From red ginger-lilies to orange and blue birds-of-paradises, the plethora of colors created a magnificent floral rainbow.

“You did this?” Shocked, she turned to Chase, who gave her a sexy smile.

“Do you like it?” He beamed.

“Yes, it’s unbelievable. Why?” She reached for a bud, sliding its soft petals between her fingers.

“No matter what happens, I want you to know how important this time has been to me. It’s not just about the sex either…although that’s been pretty spectacular.” He laughed, but his smile faded as he took her hand in his. “I’ve never met anyone like you…ever. Not at home. Not on vacation. I don’t know how this will end come Saturday, but tonight, I want you to know how much you’ve meant to me.”

“Chase…I…” Penny’s chest bloomed with emotion, and unexpected tears brimmed in her eyes.

“Hey, darlin’. No tears. This is supposed to make you smile.” He brought her palm to his lips.

“Sorry…I just…thank you.” She glanced at the flowers, and her eyes met his. “No one has ever done anything like this for me. It’s not just the flowers either. It’s everything. This week has been the most amazing time of my life. Back on the dance floor. What you said,” she paused, and licked her lips, “I wouldn’t want to see anyone else. I want you to know that. I know we’ve only known each other a few days. It’s crazy, but I mean it.”

“I don’t want you to see anyone else, either,” he confessed.

“My job…I don’t know, when I think about everything we’ve done this week, how you make me feel, I only know I don’t want it to end. I’m not talking about vacation. I mean us.”

“I don’t want us to end either.” Chase wrapped his arms around her, and brushed the tear from her cheek.

Silence hung between them as they gazed into each other’s eyes. His soft lips met hers, and Penny’s body flared with arousal as he branded her with his scorching kiss. His fingers traveled to her back, unzipping her dress, and it pooled around her feet, leaving her bare. As he swept her into his arms and laid her onto the bed, Penny surrendered to the love she swore she tasted on his lips, yearning to tell him how she felt. The sound of the crinkling protection was all the warning she had before he slowly penetrated her. She moaned into his mouth, delighting in the sensation, and wrapped her legs around his waist, accepting him.

They spoke no words as their bodies communicated the passionate feelings they were both afraid to express, and she lost herself in his love. Penny arched into his thrusts, his pelvis grazing over her clit. As he increased the pace and pressure, her pussy tightened around him, and she shuddered as her climax rolled through her. Simultaneously, Chase came with her, calling her name into the night.

Penny quietly fought the tears she knew would come. She concealed her reaction, focusing on the bright full moon that shone through the windows. Strong arms came around her waist, his lips to her temple, and she brought her hands over his.

“Thank you for tonight…for everything,” she whispered.

“I didn’t think this could happen on a vacation,” he responded as if he hadn’t heard what she’d said.

“Neither did I.”

“I wasn’t looking for someone.” Chase took her hand in his, and drew small circles in the palm of her hand with his thumb. “Going back to reality is going to be difficult, for sure.”

“Yep. As much as I love what I do, I don’t feel like going back to the courtroom.” Penny changed the topic, aware that he wasn’t talking about work.

“It must be hard working long hours. It’s not like I haven’t done it, but I’m not always in the office.”

“It’s not like it hasn’t paid off. I’m doing well. At least I thought I was.” Penny considered what she was really doing in New York. Was she willing to say good-bye forever, to give up the chance of a lifetime to be with someone she could love, build a future with?

“And now?”

“I don’t know. Coming down here, having a chance to step back from it all… I feel like I’ve been wasting time. The other day, you mentioned kids.”

“Yeah?”

“I want kids too, but I had to stop thinking about it. I kept thinking to myself, ‘how can you want children when there’s no one in your life?’ Still, I want a family someday.”

“Me too, darlin’.”

“But don’t you see? That’s never going to happen for someone like me if I don’t change. Something’s gotta give.” She sighed, unsure if she should be confessing her innermost secrets to him. “Having some time off…it’s given me a new perspective, is all.”

“I know how you feel. I think about this vacation and how it’s affected me. I’ve traveled many places, but I’ve never met someone like you.” Chase placed his lips to her hair and spoke softly. “And now that I have, it has me thinking, reconsidering what I’m doing. We may have only known each other a few days, but I’ll never forget this. Being here with you…you’ve changed everything for me.”

Penny allowed his words to resonate. They quietly held each other, absorbed in their contemplation. Indulging in her fantasy, Penny closed her eyes and imagined a life with Chase Abbott.

Penny blinked her eyes open, a stream of sunshine warming her face. She reached behind her and fingered the cold sheets. Her disappointment that Chase no longer warmed her body was soon replaced by pleasure as her vision focused on the plethora of flowers. Despite their impending departure from paradise, having to part ways with Chase, she’d never felt so loved by anyone. Instead of trying to rationalize away the million reasons why she shouldn’t fall for him, she decided to embrace the situation for what it was.

Sometimes, life couldn’t be explained. It was unpredictable, both brutal and generous, and instead of denying the love in her heart, she’d own it. Regardless of her emotions, things would come to a head. Either they’d find a solution, a way to be together, or they wouldn’t. If he didn’t want to see her after she confessed how she felt about him, it would make no difference to the outcome. With her fragile and vulnerable heart already in his hands, she was helpless to stop the inevitable. After everything Chase had said and done, optimism ruled her mind.

Penny donned a bathrobe and retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Chase’s whispered voice bled through the screen door, and she wondered if someone was in the villa with them. Something about his hushed tone warned her not to eavesdrop, but curiosity got the best of her as she saw him on the veranda, talking on the phone.

“Raine, I’m not doing this with you now. I told you I was going to be away for a few days. When I get back, we’ll work things out,” he said. “I’ll be home soon.

Raine. His ex-girlfriend, Raine? Penny’s stomach lurched, and she hid from his sight, her back against the wall. Her pulse raced as she listened to the conversation.

“No, I’m not lying. I just told you what we did. Evan and I dove the hole. We may go back again today. Yeah, it was cool.”

Is he still seeing her? He lied. Oh my God, how could I have been so stupid? Tears pricked her eyes as he continued.

“Yes, I’ll see you as soon as I get back. Everything’s been arranged.” Chase paced. “Sure I miss it, but duty calls.” He rested back onto a lounger, pushing his sunglasses over his eyes, and blew out a breath. “Would you stop it, already? I’m not hiding anything. What am I doing down here? What do you think I’m doing? Relaxing is all. Look Raine, I’ve gotta go. I want to get in another dive before I leave.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I promise as soon as I get home, I’ll take care of it for you. If you don’t want to wait for me, call the service. Yeah, yeah, you know I’m the best.”

His laughter resounded through the air as he paused to listen.

“Okay, then you’ll wait for me. My flight gets in Saturday night. I’ll have time. No, don’t worry, we’ll do it soon enough. All right now. Take care. Bye.”

Penny swallowed the sob that formed in her throat as she tiptoed out of his villa. As soon as she reached her hotel room, Penny called the concierge and arranged for a taxi. By the time she reached the lobby, she had booked a flight home. She slid into the backseat of the cab and shoved her sunglasses onto her face. As the tears rolled down her cheeks, she slowly erected the emotional wall she’d carefully built so long ago. The familiar barrier was like a pair of well-worn sneakers, not terribly attractive but exceedingly practical.

She told herself that broken hearts healed. She’d throw herself into the mountain of work that she knew waited for her. Love was for fools, and she had twice learned the merciless lesson. Chase was wrong. She’d always been an excellent student. It would be a cold day in hell before she ever let herself fall for someone again.