A Perfect Compromise. Anna Sugden

      Issy fought the color that rose in her cheeks. She really didn’t need further fuel for her fantasies. She’d seen enough of J.B.’s body to know that he was in prime physical condition. Her palms tingled at the memory of running her hands over the firm muscles in his arms and back. Her nipples tightened, as if they were still pressed to the solid wall of his chest.

      “That’s TMI.” Issy hoped her friend would put the husky note in her voice down to her having just woken up.

      Sapphie laughed. “That’s exactly the kind of information you need. If you’re going to break your sexual drought, you should do it with the best. J. B. Larocque is perfect. Far better than that other idiot you slept with.”

      The problem with best friends was that they knew all your secrets. Like the fact that Issy had only had sex once before, in college, and it had been an unmitigated disaster.

      She’d fancied herself in love with the skinny, studious guy who’d sat in front of her in English. He’d been the complete opposite of the hulky, square-jawed jocks who attended reluctantly to fulfill their scholarship criteria. She’d been thrilled when he’d started paying attention to her.

      Until the night the jerk had spiked her drink.

      Her only consolation was that he’d barely got inside her before he’d come.

      Luckily, there hadn’t been an unwanted pregnancy. Still, the whole miserable experience had soured her on men. She’d buried herself in her courses and focused on getting top grades.

      “I haven’t made up my mind whether I’m going to—” Issy twirled her finger in the air “—you know.”

      Scorching-hot kisses were one thing. Going further was something else altogether. And not just because J.B. had probably slept with hundreds of gorgeous, confident women who were probably wonderful in bed.

      “I figured you were dithering when there wasn’t a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.” Sapphie sighed heavily. “This is a great opportunity. You get an amazing night with a superstud like J.B., then you won’t have to see him again. He won’t want more than a fling, either, so it’s a win-win.”

      Issy ignored the twinge beneath her breastbone. She didn’t want, nor was she ready for, a relationship right now. Once she got her promotion to head of department, and her future was stable and secure, then she’d think about settling down. Besides, as nice as he was, and as much as he turned her on, J. B. Larocque would not be the right man for her to have a relationship with.

      Still, one night was very tempting. “Sounds too good to be true.”

      “What could go wrong?” At Issy’s raised eyebrow, Sapphie shook her head. “You’re not Rosabelle. Or our parents. Besides, there’s this wonderful invention called contraception.”

      “Funny. I’ve been on the pill since college.”

      “Then you’re okay, because J.B. won’t want a child to interfere with his career. Nothing bad will happen because neither of you will let it.”

      “I suppose so.” Could she take the risk? Should she?

      “You know you want to,” Sapphie said gently. “It’s now or never—we leave tomorrow. I don’t want you to regret a missed opportunity.”

      Issy was thirty years old and had never enjoyed anything like that. How many more chances would come her way? Surely, if she was very careful...

      “All right.” Issy nodded. “I do want to and I will. Tonight.”

      “About time.” Sapphie clapped delightedly.

      Anticipation began to fizz through Issy’s veins. “What if he doesn’t want to?”

      “Trust me, the man is desperate for you.”

      She smiled. “As long as he doesn’t run away from me screaming.”

      “Puh-lease. He could’ve spent his vacation with any woman on the island. He’s chosen to be with you.”

      “What if I’m not good enough? I’m not exactly experienced and he...is.”

      Sapphie’s expression softened. “One of the benefits of his experience is that he’ll understand you’re not and he’ll make sure it’s great for you. He’ll definitely make you forget what happened before.”

      “He’d have to be a magician.”

      Her friend winked. “From what I’ve heard, he has amazing hands and a...”

      “Please don’t mention his magic wand.” Issy rolled her eyes.

      They both laughed.

      Sapphie yawned again. “Now, I really need some sleep. Especially if I’m going to help you prepare for your big night.”

      Issy wished she had her friend’s confidence. “What you mean is you want to make sure you’re ready for one more all-nighter with Taylor.”

      “That goes without saying. I plan to enjoy every moment.”

      Issy bit her lip. “It doesn’t bother you that it’s only a holiday fling?”

      Sapphie shrugged. “It’s what we both want. I’m sure I’ll see him again—probably at a hockey game—but neither of us wants commitment. Would it be nice to hook up again? Of course. Will I be upset if it doesn’t happen? Disappointed, but nothing more.”

      “And he feels the same?”

      “Sure. We’ve both been up-front about it from the start. As long as these past few days have been as much fun for him as they’ve been for me, then it’s all good.” Sapphie closed her eyes. “See you in a few hours.”

      Her friend fell asleep in seconds. Issy, on the other hand, was wide awake. She slipped on the cotton robe the resort had provided and went to sit on the balcony. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she rested her chin on her knees and watched the resort slowly coming to life.

      “How do you go about asking a man to sleep with you?” she wondered aloud.

      She’d never thought of herself as one of those women who longed to be swept off her feet by a swashbuckling hero, but it would certainly make things less awkward if J.B. could do the honors.

      Issy was no closer to figuring out how to even raise the subject with J.B. when Sapphie awoke and they headed to the beach for the day. Taylor and J.B. joined them after lunch and the four decamped to the pool bar, where they frolicked in the water and enjoyed cocktails. Issy was touched that J.B. made a point of ordering her the virgin version of whatever colorful concoction they were drinking.

      She watched his behavior closely. Sapphie was right; he didn’t look at anyone but Issy, even though there were several stunning women who tried to get his attention. Not only was J.B. solicitous, but he also touched her a lot. Her arm, her shoulder, tucking a curl behind her ear, playing footsie with her when they were seated on the bar stools. When she lay on the pool float, he rested his arms beside her and occasionally dropped a kiss on her lips.

      Each touch, each kiss, heated her blood far more than the blazing temperatures. They also built her confidence so that she found herself impatient for the sun to go down.

      * * *

      “A TOAST TO the four most fabulous people in Antigua.” Sapphie raised a champagne flute.

      “Make that the Caribbean,” J.B. added, clinking his glass against hers.

      “You guys are too modest. It’s the world.” Taylor grinned.

      “I’ll drink to that.” Issy took J.B.’s glass and sipped from it before returning it to him.

      The look he sent her was so hot, her skin practically sizzled. When he made a point of placing his lips exactly where hers had been, Issy’s insides turned liquid. The promise in his dark eyes suggested he might be the mind reader