A Perfect Compromise. Anna Sugden

experience?”

      “You could say.” Her short laugh had a raw edge to it. “My family has an unfortunate tendency to drink too much. As a result, I only have alcohol on rare occasions and then nothing strong.”

      J.B. sensed a wealth of pain behind that bald explanation. “Your parents are alcoholics?”

      “My whole family drinks heavily. Though, to be fair, so does a lot of the community in the small town I come from in North Carolina,” she clarified. “There aren’t many jobs and even they pay poorly. But alcohol is cheap and helps everyone make it from week to week.”

      That explained a lot.

      J.B.’s parents had never disappeared into a bottle, but plenty of their neighbors had. Then again, his parents had two sons who’d devoted their lives to keeping the farm afloat.

      He pushed aside the familiar guilt twisting his gut because he’d hated that life and got out as soon as he could. It didn’t matter that his earnings now enabled his family to have a financial cushion. He’d always be the black sheep.

      J.B. cleared his suddenly tight throat. “The farming community where I grew up has similar problems. A bad crop or a problem with the animals and life gets real tough.”

      Bella stopped and looked at him in surprise.

      He hitched a shoulder. “You thought I grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth? Everyone was responsible for doing their part on the farm. And as a player, I’ve worked damn hard to earn every penny I have.”

      She gave him a chagrined smile. “I never really thought about where you came from or how you got to be where you are.”

      He tapped her chin with his finger. “See, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”

      “Really? And you don’t live up to the image you present?”

      This time, he did grimace. “Busted. I’ve made more than my share of mistakes because I drank too much. But that doesn’t change the fact that I understand how difficult it is growing up with poverty on your doorstep.”

      “In our house, poverty was in the front room, making itself comfortable on the couch.” Bella shook her head. “I’m sorry. This is hardly the topic for a Caribbean evening.”

      Even though he was curious to learn more about Bella, he backed off. “No problem. Now I know not to give you alcohol unless you specifically ask for it.”

      She wrinkled her nose. “You make me sound like a killjoy.”

      “Nah. You forget, my job requires me to be in prime physical condition. I have more than my share of drink-free nights during the season. Especially now that I’m older. My body takes longer to recover at twenty-five than it used to.”

      “Twenty-five?” she squeaked, her eyes widening.

      “How old did you think I was?”

      “I don’t know. My age, I guess. But I’m thirty.”

      “Cool. I like older women. And you make a pretty hot cougar.”

      She rolled her eyes. “I’m hardly cougar material.”

      J.B. let his gaze wander slowly, deliberately, down her body. Over those curves, down the length of those gorgeous legs to her dainty feet and back up again. Then he stepped closer. And closer. Until he stood toe-to-toe with her.

      Bella held her ground, though he sensed that one wrong move would have her scampering like a scared rabbit. She tilted her head up until their eyes met, then ran her tongue over her lower lip.

      He leaned down, just a little, and mimicked her action with his tongue. Once. Twice.

      Her eyelids fluttered closed. She dropped her sandals in the sand.

      His loafers joined them. Then he took her mouth completely.

      He didn’t know how long they stood there locked in each other’s arms, lost in each other’s kisses, but the swirl of cool water around their ankles startled them. They jumped apart, laughing. Realizing the tide had caught their shoes, they retrieved them and headed up to the promenade, holding hands.

      It didn’t take long to reach the building where Bella’s room was located. They continued up the stairs to the second floor.

      Outside her door, she turned to him. “Would you like to come in for a nightcap?”

      Her tentative question was yet another contradiction—her tone was an invitation, but he could read indecision in her eyes.

      It would be so easy to give in. Hell, his aroused body was screaming at him to take advantage of what she was offering. If her kisses were this mind-blowing, there was no question the rest would be amazing. Yet she didn’t seem the type who’d be happy with a holiday fling, and he didn’t want anything more. Which meant the whole thing could blow up in his face big-time.

      The memory of the crazy redhead who’d stalked him for a year almost made him shudder. He’d naively thought they were on the same page about the one-night stand.

      “I’d love to.” The regret in his voice was genuine. “But I don’t think you’re ready to go there tonight.”

      He was pleased that her disappointment mirrored his own.

      “We both know if I cross that threshold, we won’t be sipping drinks on the balcony.” Gently stroking a wisp of hair from her cheek, he teased, “At least not until breakfast.”

      “There was me thinking I’d get it brought to me in bed.”

      J.B. laughed softly. Once again she’d surprised him. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

      He ran a fingertip across her bottom lip, leaned down and gave her one quick, hard kiss, then pulled back with a heavy sigh. “Now go inside before I change my mind.”

      “Thank you.” She smiled and turned to open her door. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

      “Sure. How about breakfast at the beachside restaurant?”

      “I’d like that.” She fluttered her fingers at him. “Good night. Sleep well.”

      J.B. waited until the door closed behind her and then walked away. As he headed back along the beach to the bungalow, he noticed that the resort was quieter now. He passed several couples, arms wrapped around each other as they made their way to their rooms, and envied them.

      He’d been right to leave Bella tonight, no question. But he couldn’t help feeling that doing the right thing sucked.

      * * *

      THE SNICK OF a key card in the door woke Issy, pulling her out of a very steamy dream starring J. B. Larocque.

      She kept her eyes closed for several seconds, trying to hang on to the amazing feelings coursing through her, moaning softly with frustration as they faded. That J.B. featured in her dream was hardly surprising. Although she’d spent the past couple of days on the beach with Sapphie, the evenings had been spent alone with J.B. after her friend and Taylor had disappeared. Both nights had ended with hot, thrilling kisses that even now aroused her.

      The lock clicked again, followed by muttered curses. She should get up to help but she wanted desperately to go back to sleep and rekindle the dream that had become...interesting.

      Sapphie finally managed to work the key card and crept in, holding her sandals.

      “I wasn’t expecting you back until morning.” Issy sat up, leaning on one elbow.

      “It is morning.” Sapphie pointed her shoes at the floor-to-ceiling windows where the sun was peaking over the horizon. “And a beautiful one, too.”

      “True, but it’s still early. Yesterday and the day before, you got back in time for us to make the last call for breakfast in the restaurant. Is everything okay?”

      Her friend flopped