A Perfect Compromise. Anna Sugden

course you can.”

      Having grown up together, in the same small town, on the same wrong side of the tracks—not that there was a right side—they had no secrets. They’d been friends almost since birth; their heavy-drinking, heavy-partying parents were cousins. The two girls were even conceived at the same Labor Day blowout, though their birthdays were ten days apart.

      Issy and Sapphie had spent their childhood being the responsible ones, looking after their younger siblings and trying desperately to make ends meet when their parents wouldn’t or couldn’t. When the two girls had left their small Southern town together at eighteen, they’d promised each other they’d never be like their parents.

      Issy was determined to build the traditional family life she’d always dreamed of. She had a steady job at an exclusive private school for girls, which meant she didn’t have to worry about where her next meal would come from or how to pay her bills. She’d managed to save enough that she’d celebrated her own thirtieth birthday by buying herself a small apartment in a nice suburban town. A solid roof over her head was worth all the extra hours she’d worked to achieve tenure.

      Someday she hoped to find a good, honest, hardworking man. Together they’d raise their children in the kind of happy and stable environment she’d been denied growing up.

      Sapphie, on the other hand, was committed to her work and the highly successful corporate consulting firm she’d built, and rejected permanency of any kind in her personal life. Home for her was a serviced apartment on each coast, as well as one in Chicago. She had a similarly casual approach to men.

      “Sex isn’t required.” Sapphie shrugged. “I want you to enjoy yourself while we’re here.”

      “Then I’ll take the sun, sand and sea, and leave the rest to you.”

      Her friend made a face. “I got you the bikini’s matching sarong wrap.”

      “Thank you.” Issy pulled a couple of short but equally unfamiliar sundresses out of her case. “Did you toss out all the outfits I packed?”

      “Nope. The rest of your clothes are back at my apartment. Though you may not want them after this.” Sapphie finished her drink and swung her legs off the bed. “Are you going to waste the whole afternoon unpacking? I want to hit the beach and get this holiday started.”

      To heck with it—the world probably wouldn’t come to an end if Issy didn’t get everything put away right now. “Give me five minutes to change.”

      A short while later the two friends headed down to the beach. As they strolled along the path, Issy hitched the red polka-dot sarong firmly around her chest. Though the bikini wasn’t as revealing as she’d thought, and it did flatter her figure, she was glad for the cover.

      It didn’t take long to slip into the laid-back, Antiguan tempo. The rhythmic tinkling of the resort’s steel band by the pool bar seeped into her blood and gave her hips a subtle swing. The warm sea breeze, fragrant with lush tropical flowers, caressed her skin. The water was so clear and blue it looked fake. If she hadn’t been here, her toes sinking into the soft white sand, she’d never have believed it was real.

      They managed to find two beach loungers in the shade of some tall palm trees. Sapphie had put their cooler under the table, shimmied out of her flowery beach shorts and settled onto her chair before Issy had straightened her towel.

      “Stop dithering, Issy.”

      She inhaled deeply then undid the wrap and draped it over the back of the lounger. When no one fainted at the sight of her scantily-clad, too-curvy body, she applied sunscreen and lay on the towel. But she found it hard to relax.

      “You’re as stiff as a board.” Sapphie sighed. “Don’t worry—the chances of anyone from Farlingdale Academy being on this beach are slim to none.”

      “I’m not worried.” Though the school had a strict morality clause, she doubted it applied to a tiny swimsuit. “It feels odd to be doing nothing.”

      “So read your book.” Sapphie whistled softly under her breath. “Don’t look now, but a couple of prime examples of manhood are walking this way.”

      Issy glanced up and caught her breath.

      “Dibs on the one on the right and please don’t let him be gay.”

      Both men were tall with finely honed bodies. Walking barefoot through the lapping water at the sea’s edge, they wore mirrored shades, ball caps with a logo that featured a snow leopard’s head and long, brightly colored swim shorts. Sapphie’s choice was dark-haired and good-looking with a nice smile. Totally her friend’s type.

      But it was the somber man walking beside him who caught Issy’s attention. So handsome, he was almost beautiful. His straight nose, high cheekbones and angular jaw were so perfectly formed they could have been carved by a sculptor, and his lips were full, without being feminine.

      How would they feel pressed against hers?

      Shocked by her thoughts, she lowered her gaze. But only as far as his shoulders and broad chest. Her fingers tingled with the urge to stroke the man’s caramel-brown skin to see if it was as smooth as it looked. To trail over the ridges of that amazing six-pack.

      He was clearly an athlete. Hardly the kind of dependable, responsible man she wanted in her future.

      Issy snapped up her book and forced herself to focus on the text. She hoped Sapphie would put her heightened color down to the tropical temperatures and not...him.

      Still, she couldn’t resist sneaking another peek as he came closer. Grateful that her sunglasses hid the direction of her gaze, her heart kicked when his head turned toward her. A bead of perspiration trickled down between her breasts.

      Oh, my! Issy couldn’t help licking her dry lips.

      When he turned away, she was unreasonably piqued at his easy dismissal. Don’t be silly, she scolded herself. That man was so far out of her league, she’d need a space rocket to even get close.

      Beside her, Sapphie smiled and wiggled her fingers at the men. Issy tried not to grind her teeth when the one on the right grinned and waved back.

      “Doesn’t act like he’s gay,” Sapphie said. “Hopefully we’ll see them at the beach party this evening.”

      Issy gave a noncommittal reply. She pretended to be engrossed in her story, not watching the toned butt and great legs of a man who was clearly not interested in her.

      “You know, there’s something familiar about those two,” Sapphie mused. “I swear I’ve seen them somewhere before.”

      “On TV?”

      “I’m not sure. It’ll bug me until I know.”

      Sapphie drove Issy crazy for the rest of the afternoon as she tried to figure out who the men were. It wasn’t until they were dressing for the beach party that Sapphie snapped her fingers. “Of course. The ball-cap logo. I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection. It’s not like I’m not a huge fan.”

      Issy cursed the slight tremble in her hand as she applied her lipstick. The man’s identity made no difference to her. “Who are they?”

      “Ice Cats.” At Issy’s blank look Sapphie added, “Hockey players. From our very own Jersey team. They were just in the Stanley Cup Finals. Unfortunately they lost.”

      “Oh.” Not only in a different stratosphere from a private-school English teacher, but her suspicions had been correct—an arrogant sports star.

      Professional athletes with their irresponsible attitude to life and money reminded Issy of her family.

      Back in college she’d struggled to maintain her grades as she’d worked two jobs. Meanwhile the jocks with their scholarships had partied and barely attended classes. Later, when she’d taught in a public school, she’d had to fight for every resource while money was frittered away on