“A pool?” He looked from her to the water and back again in disbelief. “This is your idea of exciting and stimulating?”

She grinned at him. “A cool dip on a hot day. Stimulating, for sure.”

He held up his hands in defeat and gave a soft snort. “Okay. I’ll admit it. You got me good with that one. A swim was the last thing on my mind.”

She gazed at him with wide-eyed innocence. “You thought I was referring to something else?”

He didn’t gaze back, exactly. No, she’d never describe the smoldering, sensual look he shot her as a gaze. Devastating, perhaps. A jumpstart to her libido, maybe, but not a gaze.

“Not thought. Hoped.”

“Brody…” Without realizing it, she’d placed her hand on his chest. Suddenly her palm was smoking, burning against his firm pecs and smooth skin.

Sheesh, what was it with her and touching him? She just couldn’t seem to help herself. But then his chest did feel incredible beneath her palm. Hot. Strong. Appealing.

So very, very appealing.

“Yeah?” He placed his hand over hers, holding it close to that warm, strong and appealing chest of his. His heart beat a steady rhythm beneath her hand, reminding her again of how alive she’d felt since barreling into him.

Bianca shook her head. “I have no idea what I wanted to say.” His eyes were so blue and so green and so beautiful, she found herself getting lost in them.

The air between them crackled. Well, not really, but it sure felt like it did to Bianca. Felt as if something electric zipped between them, from his chest into her hand. An awareness, a connection.

She liked the feeling. It heated her blood. Made her breasts perk up with interest and her belly flutter with anticipation.

It was Brody who broke the connection, but only to let his gaze wander away from her eyes, down past her neck and breasts…although it settled there for a few brief seconds before continuing on.

He might as well have run his hands over her skin, the way his gaze burned wherever it landed. It gave her both goose bumps and shivers at the same time, and she knew he’d see the telltale signs of her arousal in the millions of fine hairs standing to attention all the way down her arms.

What would he make of them?

His gaze landed on her left hip, and he did a double-take. “You have a tattoo?”

Bianca’s hand found it an instant after his gaze did. She yanked her fingers from his chest and traced them lightly over the stem of the tiny red rose, lying just below the strap of her bikini bottom.

“I do.”

She’d had it done a few months back, after she’d been living alone for a while. She’d wanted to do something crazy, impulsive. Something to show her life was changing, show she was moving on. She’d gone and done the last thing she’d ever have thought she’d do, the last thing Rick would ever have thought she’d do. “It’s new. I’m still not used to having it.”

Brody kept staring. “Is that a…bee on the petals?”

She smiled. “It is.” Her symbolic bee, with its wings spread while it stood steadily on the rose. Free to fly, yet happy to have found its feet in a safe place. “I was never into tattoos before, and the idea of getting one always scared the bejeepers out of me, but now that it’s there, well, I kinda like it.” She stroked the petals.

Brody’s face filled with appreciation. “I kinda like it too.”

“You do?” His expression made her mouth water.

He nodded. “It’s sexy.” His voice dropped about six tones. “Bloody sexy.” When he looked back into her eyes, his were the color of a polished aquamarine. They took her breath away. Or maybe the way he looked at her did. As though he’d like to get to know her tattoo a little better. A whole lot better. Quite intimately, in fact.

She couldn’t help it. She pictured him on his knees, his face by her hip, his mouth nuzzling the rose, tracing the outline of every petal.

“Brody.” His name was a whisper.

“Did it hurt?”

“What?”

“The tat. The needle.”

“A little.” More than that. But pain was not topmost on her mind right now. Desire was. Her belly was a swirling mass of lust. Wet heat pooled between her legs. More than anything she wanted Brody’s tongue on her hip. Wanted to feel the scrape of his beard against her bare skin as he explored the bee.

“I would have kissed it better.” Now his voice was a whisper.

“You still could.”

“It still hurts?”

“Oh, yeah,” she lied. “Heaps.”

He reached out, brushing his fingers over the tattoo, over her fingers. “I’d kiss it here.” He traced the lone leaf on the stem. “And here.” She almost shuddered in ecstasy as he drew his finger along the tiny stem. “And perhaps I’d lick it, just…here.” He stopped at the part were petals met stem.

“Y-you’d have to concentrate real hard. The rose is small. You m-might miss the spot.”

“I’d give it my full attention. I promise.” He stepped closer, caressed the bee and rose from top to bottom. And maybe caressed a little bit of her hip as well.

“It would…” She cleared her throat. “It would require your full attention.”

Desire, red-hot and lightning-quick flooded her body. It swept her away on a tide of passion, clouding her thoughts, fogging her brain. Brody stood so close his scent drifted through her nose, his aftershave sinfully seductive: mellow notes of the outdoors and subtle suggestions of man and musk. If she could bottle his scent she would. She’d keep it beside her bed to sniff at night. And in the morning. And perhaps once or twice during the day, as well.

Then she heard it. The booming, familiar laughter. The unmistakable sound of a man’s mirth, followed by a higher-pitched feminine chuckle.

Panic hit her full in the chest.

Oh, shit. She wasn’t prepared for this. Wasn’t sure how to deal with the situation.

She should run. Fast. Turn and head for her room. Or the sea. Or the safety of the forest behind the hotel. Anything to get away. Otherwise she’d have to deal with something she wasn’t at all ready to deal with. But running wasn’t an option. It would just draw attention to her.

Bee sprang into action. She did the only thing she could think of on the spur of the moment. Bracing herself, she shoved Brody with all her might.

No small feat, taking into account her size and his stature. He weighed at least double what she did. But she had both the element of surprise on her side and a sudden, desperate need for privacy. Coupled with a hit of adrenaline, they gave her the strength she needed.

The unsuspecting Brody lost his footing and tumbled backward into the pool.