Chapter Nineteen

 

The day would prove warm once the marine layer burned through. Already the sun peeked through the clouds offering warmth, but out on the water, the wind could be brutal. Ian convinced Aubrey that layering her clothes would be best: T-shirt and jeans on land and a sweater and light jacket while on the boat. He paced her room while she changed clothes in the bathroom.

"Buzzzzz…buzzzz…"

He spotted Aubrey's cell phone on the bed where she tossed it when they entered the room. His gaze wavered to the closed bathroom door.

"Buzzzzz…buzzzz…"

On impulse, he picked up the phone and answered it. "Hello, you've reached the phone of Aubrey Jules."

"Is that so?" the woman on the other end questioned with a low seductive voice. "And who might you be? Did Aubrey finally take my advice and hire a cabana boy?"

He let out a short laugh and smiled. "I'll let her tell you," he said as the bathroom door finally opened and she sauntered out, wearing a tank top instead of the sweater she had on earlier.

She shook her hair free in waves of gold before she pulled it back into a ponytail. He swallowed the lump threatening to block his airway and managed to reel in his desire to take her. She held out her hand for the cell. In exchange, Aubrey handed Ian a bottle of suntan lotion she had stuffed in her pocket. "If you wouldn't mind…" She turned around giving him her backside.

Mind? Heck, his hands itched to slide over her skin.

"Hello," Aubrey said, closing her eyes when she felt Ian's hands glide over her back.

"What gives?" Loretta questioned. "Tell me the adorable hunk who answered the phone is Ian?"

"You can't see him. How do you know he's a hunk?" She looked over her shoulder and winked at Ian. He flashed her one of his knock-them-dead grins. Her brain raced and her stomach did a quick somersault. His smile was like a carnal delight waiting to be tasted.

"He only has this incredible voice. How could he not be cute?" Loretta's throaty laugh made her smile.

She turned away from Ian before she did something like… I don't know…throw him on her bed and have her way with him. "Did you call me for a reason?"

"I've been sitting at my computer waiting for an e-mail. You told me you had photos. I decided to give you a ring and remind you that we're behind schedule, but you don't seem to care since you have a man tied up in your room."

She rolled her eyes. With Loretta's wild imagination, she should write a hot romance novel instead of editing paranormal pieces for a magazine. "If he was tied up, how did he answer the phone?"

"With his teeth." She purred.

"I'm hanging up."

"Wait. I'm serious. When are you writing the story? You have to send me something. The suspense is killing me. Have you and Ian…um…kissed again?"

"I'm ending this call." Aubrey hit the off button and threw it on the bed. Her gaze landed on Ian then.

He handed her the suntan lotion.

"Thanks."

"Anytime." His eyes flashed a darker blue with a mixture of interest in his gaze so obvious it took her breath away. It had always been difficult to ignore the sensual heat of attraction with him, but she had to be strong. What they shared in Ireland was history. She didn't know enough about him now to let the burning desire override the logical part of her way of thinking.

"Uh…are you ready?" Her voice had lowered on its own accord and she cleared her throat, annoyed that her libido was determined to take over. "Are you ready to go?" She nodded toward the door.

"Yep." In two strides, his hand gripped the handle of the door, pulling it open for her. "I'm curious. I can't seem to erase this vision from my mind. Are you in the habit of tying up men?"

"Only when they ask me to," she teased.

His deep chuckle strummed down her spine like a caress. God, she had missed his laugh.