Island Peril by Jill Sorenson

Author:Jill Sorenson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN
Published: 2014-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

KISSING HIM WAS a bad idea.

They were stranded on a remote, inhospitable island. Drug smugglers had chased them away from the beach. This was an ill-advised time for a make-out session. Not only that—he struck her as a commitment-shy adventure seeker who still had feelings for his ex.

The man had lost both of his parents in a horrifying seismic event. He wasn’t looking for a serious relationship, especially not with a woman who studied earthquakes.

Even so, Ella didn’t pull away when his mouth touched hers. If anything, she leaned toward him, breathless with anticipation. His kiss was chaste and undemanding, a mere brush of lips. Her skin prickled with awareness and heat rose to her cheeks. She felt suspended in time, blood rushing through her veins.

He kissed her again, barely tasting her. She smoothed her palm down his chest, over his heart. Its rapid beat belied his calm, controlled actions.

He was excited.

So was she. She wanted a real kiss, with tangled tongues and frantic groping. She imagined his hands on her body, her fingers threaded through his hair. His mouth on her neck, her legs wrapped around his waist.

None of that happened.

Instead of kissing her senseless or flattening her against the picnic table, he stopped there. Jaw clenched, he returned his attention to the trail.

“Were we fraternizing?” she asked, letting her arm fall to her side.

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“If you’re planning to report me.”

She smiled, shaking her head. “I think you get a pass in extreme situations.”

“It’s not the situation I’m reacting to.”

His suggestive comment made her feel like a temptress, like a mermaid or a siren, irresistible to men. If he kept glancing at her mouth, she was going to spontaneously combust. She wondered what would happen between them after they got back to the mainland. Maybe he’d call and ask her about transtension.

“You were right about the dating website,” he said.

“Which part?”

“I wasn’t ready for a serious relationship.”

“Because of your ex?”

He nodded, staring across the campground. “She stood by me after my parents died, and she helped me get through the tough times. Or maybe we just traveled around to escape reality. Either way, it was hard to lose her.”

His words tugged at her heartstrings. He’d obviously loved her.

“I didn’t know I was over her until I saw you.”

Ella stiffened beside him, surprised by the revealing statement.

“You’re the first girl I’ve wanted without making a kneejerk comparison to her. I didn’t even think of her until your sister asked why I came to LA.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond. He hadn’t declared his intent or asked her out on a date. He hadn’t really even kissed her properly. She couldn’t hinge too much importance on his attraction to her. They had an instant connection, explosive chemistry and common interests. That didn’t make him steady boyfriend material.

Ella wasn’t opposed to having a fling, however. If a good time was all he could give, she might enjoy taking it.

An hour later, they packed up and left the campsite, heading back to the lookout point.

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