When her alarm went off the next morning, Rosa dragged herself out of bed like a zombie crawling out of its grave.

How many hours sleep had she managed to get? Three? Four? She staggered to the bathroom for a shower, then glared at herself in the mirror.

Last night had been a mistake. A terrible — amazing, incredible — mistake. One she couldn’t repeat. Not if she had any scrap of self-preservation left. The speed she was falling for Dalton, he was sure to rip her heart into tiny pieces.

She groaned. “Coffee,” she said to her reflection. What she needed was a coffee strong enough to jolt some life back into her. And hopefully some sense as well.

But as much as she wanted to concentrate on the ‘big mistake’ part of last night, as she pulled on her exercise gear, all she could think about was how good it had felt. She relived the feeling of his hands on her body as she stopped at the kitchen for coffee before heading down to the beach. And as she kicked off her shoes and warmed up with some stretches, she found herself licking her lips as though she could still taste him.

The cool sand felt good under her bare feet. The sky was a soft, baby blue, with the rising sun a glow of shimmering gold at the horizon. Just another gorgeous morning in paradise.

She bent at the waist to stretch her hamstrings. When she straightened, there he was, as though thinking about him had made him appear. Her heart performed a complicated gymnastic routine.

“Good morning.” His smile made all her muscles soften. “I thought you might be too tired to make it this morning.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” she said, dropping into fighting stance. “I need some sense beaten into me.”

Raising his eyebrows, he matched her stance. “Then it’s a good thing nothing happened between us last night.”

Rosa glanced at a couple of guests who were up early for a walk on the beach, splashing along in the shallows. “Yup. Nothing at all. So, hit me, already. Preferably on the side of my thick head.”

He feinted toward her and she jumped back. As much as she deserved a good ass kicking for being so foolish, when it came down to it, she’d rather kick his ass for tempting her into something she’d known would be a bad idea. But when she attempted one of the moves he’d taught her, all she connected with was air.

“I don’t have long before I have to go and get the yacht ready for Nate,” he said as he circled her.

“Oh, that’s right. He’s taking the yacht out today, isn’t he?” She tried a kick, which he blocked easily.

He tilted his head down and raised his eyebrows, giving her a look that said, ‘is that all you’ve got?’

Dammit, she needed to get her competitive fire back. After last night’s epic release, she’d lost the fire in her belly, so she wasn’t attacking with her normal determination. And now she was thinking about Nate and Suzie. Had she been right about those two? Did they work things out between them last night?

Dalton’s hand flashed out and caught her shoulder. He stepped in and spun her before she could stop him. Next thing she knew, he was behind her, his front pressed against her back and his arm across her chest. He held her close to him and bent his lips to her ear. “A little slow this morning?” His warm breath on her skin gave her the shivers. Let alone what his voice did to her. All she wanted to do was turn around and wrap herself into his embrace. Continue where they left off last night.

She glanced at the guests who were out for an early-morning walk, wandering along the water’s edge. Probably not a good idea for them to see the resort manager tearing off the resort owner’s clothes in broad daylight. How would it look?

Fitting her leg behind his, she threw all her weight backwards. Dalton staggered and went down onto his butt, dragging her down with him. She landed on his hip and they both grunted with pain.

“Ow.” She slid off onto the sand, letting herself flop back so she was lying flat, staring up at the blue sky. Her butt throbbed. Sitting beside her, his hand rubbing his hip, he laughed. “What kind of move was that?”

“I call it the Kamikaze.” She’d probably have a bruise where she’d landed on his hard muscle. “It’s a move designed to disable both you and your opponent.”

He grimaced. “I’m just glad you didn’t land two inches to the left.”

She was silent for a moment, looking up at the sky. Then she said, “I have to tell Tiny about what… what didn’t happen between us. I don’t want it to be a secret.”

He nodded, looking down at her. “Okay.”

“You think she’ll mind?”

“Will it matter if she does?”

She frowned. “How can you ask that? She’s your sister. Maybe she should get a say in what you do. I mean, you’re making her do what you want, aren’t you?”

“It’s not even close to being the same.” He got to his feet and extended one hand. “Come on, lazy bones. If you want to lie down this morning, we should go to my place.”

“Why would I repeat a mistake… ah, that I didn’t make?” She was too tired for word games. Brushing his hand aside, she scrambled to her feet. And instead of waiting, she launched an attack that took him by surprise. She got a couple of hits in before he turned the tide and overpowered her, grabbing both arms and throwing her onto the sand.

She lay panting, looking up at him, while he crouched beside her.

“I need to be back in Sydney in two weeks,” he said softly. “I’m fast-tracking the sale of this place to make that happen.”

Rosa swallowed. Her stomach felt tight. “Only two weeks? Does Tiny know?”

“She knows she needs to get more intensive therapy as soon as possible. I have to get back for a business deal, but even if I didn’t, I would have been pushing for the fastest sale possible.”

Rosa sat up. Dalton didn’t move, so the action brought her close to him. “What about us?” she asked, dropping all pretense.

“I told you I’d make it a condition of the sale that the new owner keeps you on.”

That wasn’t an answer to her question. Or maybe it was. She’d be working at Lantana and he’d be in Sydney. Whatever was between them had no future.

She sighed. “I haven’t been here long, but I’m good at this job. I like it, and I want to stay. But I don’t want any favors. Either I get the job on my own merits, or not at all.”

“I can’t force the new owner to keep you on. All I can do is make sure he gives you a chance.”

“Even that much seems wrong.” She pulled herself up to her feet. “I’ve never asked for anyone’s help. I can do it on my own.”

He stayed where he was, sitting on the sand, looking up at her with an inscrutable expression.

“What?” she asked.

“Has nobody ever helped you with anything?”

“I don’t need it.”

“Your parents obviously didn’t do anything for you.”

She blinked at him. Where had that come from? “What makes you think—?”

“Because we went through the same thing. It was up to you to look after your younger sister, right? Just like it was up to me to look after Tiny when my mother died. Nobody else was going to do it, or to help when we needed it.”

“My parents fed and clothed us,” she said, although she had no idea why she was suddenly sticking up for them. “Carin and I didn’t go hungry, or anything.”

He pushed himself up to his feet, brushing sand off his clothes. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Rosa blew out her breath. She’d never much liked talking about her childhood. “My parents wanted us to succeed. To be good at sports and get high marks at school, and be perfect at everything.”

“So you tried your hardest to please them?”

“Of course I did.” She raised her fists. “Okay, enough psychoanalysis. Can we go back to punching each other now?”

“Sure. Let me show you a new move.”

He demonstrated it, and they sparred until they were both breathless. Then he glanced toward the water, to where the yacht was moored. “I’d better go and get the yacht started.”

“Suzie’s leaving today,” she said, a little wistfully. “I hope she and Nate don’t live thousands of miles apart, so they can still see each other.”

Once Dalton left, the only way she’d be able to see him would be by giving up Lantana and moving back to Sydney. She’d have to let go of her new home and the job she was starting to love. And the thought of going back to Sydney — back to Otto — made her stomach hurt.

“I think you’re wrong about those two,” he said.

“I hope not.” She wasn’t entirely sure why she wanted Nate and Suzie to find love. Maybe because they’d looked so fiery and passionate when they were arguing last night. If they could work things out, maybe she and Dalton could too.

“Did you ask Celina to pack a lunch for him?” Dalton asked, bending to pick up his shoes.

She nodded, an idea forming in her mind. Would it be so bad to give Nate and Suzie a little more time together? “I’ll take it down to the wharf before he leaves.”

“Thanks.”

He stepped forward, and before she could protest, his arms were around her. His lips found hers.

His kiss ignited her. When he drew back, her skin was hot, tingling all over. If sparks had jumped between them like an arching power cable, she wouldn’t have been surprised.

“See you later,” he whispered. When he let her go, it was a miracle what was left of her didn’t blow away like ashes on the breeze.

She stared after him, trying to pull herself together. Still, it took her a while to convince her legs they still worked.

Staggering back to kitchen, she downed an ice-cold drink, wondering if she should be pouring it over her head instead. Then she went to get Nate’s lunch and put her plan into action. A little white lie about today’s ferry sailing having been cancelled should do the trick. Suzie had a plane to catch in Port Denarau, and if the only way to get there was on the yacht, then Nate would just have to take her.

Later, when it was done, she went to see Tiny and found her still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Hey. Can I talk to you a minute?” she asked, sitting on the bed beside her. “It’s about Dalton.”

Tiny gave her a lop-sided smile. “I saw you talking at the wedding.” Her voice wasn’t too slurred, which was a good sign. “You make a cute couple.”

Rosa felt her face go hot. “When I met him he was kind of cranky, so I never thought I’d…” She shook her head. “Then there’s this whole thing about him making you leave. The fact that he won’t let you make your own decision about that makes me so mad. I don’t like to badmouth your brother, but he can be an arrogant ass.”

Tiny raised her eyebrows. “But you like him?”

“So much, it scares me. And I feel bad, because he’s your brother, and also technically my boss. It’s not exactly professional for me to act on it.”

“It’s okay.” With only one side of her face working properly, it was more difficult to read Tiny’s expressions. Even so, she didn’t look upset or angry.

“I don’t want to fall for Dalton. Not if he’s leaving.” Rosa shifted on the bed, lifting one knee so she could face Tiny a little straighter.

“Use this to make him want to stay.” Tiny’s voice was the firmest she’d ever heard it.

Rosa blinked. “What?”

“You know what I’m saying.”

She gaped at her friend. “You want me to try to manipulate him?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t do that.” Was Tiny for real? She didn’t even look guilty about asking. “Listen, he told me why he wants you to leave. All the statistics. He’s very convincing.”

“I’m staying,” said Tiny. Her lips were pursed in the stubborn expression Rosa remembered from their school days. Seemed she could still do that look just fine.

“I know you don’t want to leave Lantana, but he makes some good points. It sounds like these doctors he can line up will make a big difference.”

Tiny didn’t answer, but her lips pressed together harder and her eyes had a glint to them that Rosa knew all too well.

“Why do you want to stay so badly?” she asked.

“When I was young, we had to leave. This time I have a choice.”

“I remember how much you missed it,” said Rosa softly. “You made the island sound so beautiful, I always wanted to come here. And you didn’t exaggerate. It’s every bit as amazing as you described.”

Tiny nodded. “I’m not losing it again.”

Rosa dragged in her breath. “You’re making this so difficult, but I still think you need to go. Lantana’s special, and I get that it’s your home. But your health is more important.”

Tiny shook her head. She lifted her little finger to her mouth and kissed it, then held it out to Rosa.

All of a sudden, Rosa was fifteen years old again, sitting in class with her school friend. Though Tiny’s hand now trembled, the gesture was clear and very familiar.

She couldn’t say no, not to Tiny.

Reluctantly, Rosa kissed her own little finger, then hooked it in Tiny’s.

“Promise,” said Tiny solemnly.

“Promise,” repeated Rosa. Then she sighed. “Listen, I’ll do whatever I can to help you, but I still think you should reconsider. I’m going to keep trying to talk you into going.”

Tiny didn’t need to reply. Their fingers were linked, which meant Rosa had officially chosen a side.