“I don’t like it.”

“What wrong with it? Other than the outrageous price?” Bernadette was standing in front of me in the gift shop dressing room, wearing a frilly yellow bathing suit. As she turned around to model it for me, I got a nice view of her ass.

“Forget the price tag. I’m buying,” I said, trying to stay focused on our conversation. Seeing her curves so clearly visible was very distracting. “But we’re on our honeymoon. You’re not going to wear a granny suit.”

“This isn’t a granny suit!”

“It is,” I said coolly. That wasn’t entirely true, but as a one piece with ruffles, it was far more conservative than what a honeymooning woman would wear. At least, that was the justification I gave myself.

“Here, try this one on,” I said, handing Bernadette a skimpy black bikini.

“That’s not a lot of fabric,” she said warily, looking at the bikini. “And it’s twice as much as this one,” she cried looking at the price.

“Forget the price,” I repeated, exasperated. “Consider it a work expense. And it’s an expense you’re not even paying.”

“It’s so small. I don’t know if it will fit.”

“Just try it on,” I insisted. “Of course it’s small. It’s supposed to be sexy. Remember, love, we’re on our honeymoon. I’m sure you want to look super sexy,” I not-so-subtly reminded her.

“Yes, darling,” she said, equally sarcastic. Bernadette rolled her eyes, but took the bikini into the dressing room to try it on. When she came out a few minutes later, my mouth dropped open. I thought seeing her in a modest bathing suit was nice, but this was even better. The tiny bikini hugged her curves, accentuating her ass and giving me a great view of her cleavage. I resisted the urge to take her in my arms then and there. There were suddenly so many dirty things I wanted to do to her.

“Hey, handsome,” she said, looking at me seductively.

“You look amazing,” I breathed.

“Really, you think so?” she asked, breaking her seductive act and looking at herself in the mirror, clearly worried. “You don’t think it’s too . . . slutty?”

I would have liked some time alone with Bernadette looking so slutty, but I didn’t say it. “You look sexy,” I said truthfully. I stepped closer to her, checking out how well she looked in the tiny black bikini. I could just see the outline of her nipples under the suit, and I had to hold back from reaching out to squeeze them. She was soft and curvy and looked both delicate and sultry. She wasn’t wearing her hair in a bun this morning, or I would have pulled it out. I kind of wished she was, as it would have given me an excuse to touch her. I stepped closer, close enough to kiss her if I decided to. She looked up at me with her big green eyes, and for a moment I lost myself in them. I wanted to lean in and kiss her. Her lips looked so full and pink. I wanted to kiss her and taste her with my tongue. I wanted to explore her with my tongue.

“How does it fit?” came a stranger’s voice. Bernadette and I both turned to see the store clerk, a young woman in her twenties. I quickly stepped back. The moment was lost.

“Yeah, it’s great, thanks,” Bernadette said quickly.

“Great. Just let me know if you need anything,” the clerk said sweetly before disappearing into the other part of the store.

I tried to clear my head and remember to be professional, even though it was so damn hard with Bernadette barely wearing anything. I didn’t step up to her again, instead I said, “It will work very well for looking like we fit in with the crowd that frequents a pool bar.”

“If you think so,” Bernadette said, hesitantly.

“I certainly do,” I said and hurried to purchase the bikini before Bernadette could object.

We left the shop with Bernadette still wearing the bikini. Though she was still acting self-conscious, she looked amazing. As we headed to the pool, she stopped me.

“What about you?”

“What about me?” I asked.

“Don’t you need a bathing suit? Should we go back to the room?”

“Right. Yes, we should.” I had been too focused on looking at Bernadette to even think about that. I told myself to get my mind back on the case. I couldn’t afford to be sloppy like this. I decided I wouldn’t let this woman distract me from my job. Easier said than done.