Mary Lynn - Totally Tempting

Once they’d been back on the plane, Jodie had read a little but fallen asleep within the first hour. Consequently she felt rested and ready to go to work when they landed in Honolulu.

They checked in to their hotel and she discovered that they had a gorgeous view from the balcony off the main room. Their bedrooms were located on opposite sides of this room.

They met Steve Furukawa at his office and showed him the schematics for the job. Dean answered his questions at length, and when Steve was fully satisfied, they set up a time to begin the next morning.

Steve agreed to have dinner with them, but Jodie begged off. Once Dean left their hotel room, she changed into more casual clothes and took a long, contemplative walk along the beach.

She had to face a difficult fact: she was in love with Dean Logan. She wasn’t certain when it had happened, but there was no doubt about it. Being with him again had taught her that she’d been kidding herself when she’d decided she was over her infatuation with him. Of course, she had no intention of acting on her desire for him. She wasn’t that stupid or self-destructive.

She wondered if there was a group somewhere she could attend to learn how to get over him. If so, she would definitely join.

By the time she returned to the hotel, the exercise had worked its charm. She was pleasantly tired, tired enough—she hoped—to be able to sleep, since tomorrow would be a long day.

When Jodie opened the door to the suite, she was surprised to see that Dean was there. He was on the balcony, sitting on one chair, his feet propped on another, sipping a drink.

“How was dinner?” she asked, walking over to him.

He moved his feet and motioned for her to sit down. “The food was good and I enjoyed getting to know Steve a little better. He gave me a brief family history. He told me how his family came to Hawaii from Japan many years ago. He’s an interesting man.”

She sat down and propped her bare feet on the railing. “There’s something about this place that seems almost magical. The scent of flowers, the soft breeze. It’s easy to forget there’s another world out there.”

“I watched you walk along the edge of the water. I was relieved to spot you. I was worried when I discovered you weren’t here when I got back.”

“I had no idea you would return so soon.”

“Steve wanted to get home to his family. I enjoyed listening to his stories about his sons and daughters. He’s very proud of them.”

“You constantly surprise me,” she replied.

“In what way?”

“Somehow I can’t picture you listening to stories about children.”

“Why not?”

She shrugged. “I can’t see you as a family man.” When he didn’t reply, she added, “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“I’m not offended. I never thought of myself in that light, so I suppose you’re right.”

They stayed on the balcony enjoying the night air for a while. Then Dean said, “I’m going to bed. See you in the morning.” He stood and stretched, and Jodie straightened and got up, as well.

Once inside, Dean switched off the lamp, leaving the room bathed in moonlight.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Dean.”

“No problem. I seem to get some masochistic pleasure whenever I’m around you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know, Jodie. I want to make love to you so badly I constantly ache with it. And that’s when you’re not around.”

She hoped the darkness hid her flushed face and the trembling of her body. “I didn’t know,” she said faintly.

“Do you want a demonstration?” he asked. He walked over to her and drew her into his arms. His kiss was gentle at first. If he’d grabbed her, she could have easily pushed away from him. It was his gentleness that undid her.

The kiss quickly heated up and Jodie felt him pressed against her, his arousal very evident.

Alarms went off in her head…or were they bells? She couldn’t tell and at the moment did not care. She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the pent-up love and passion she had for him.

Dean was the one who broke away. “I’m sorry. That was inexcusable.” He turned and strode toward his bedroom. “Good night.”

Good night?

He had kissed the living daylights out of her and all he could say was good night?

Every nerve in her body tingled with anticipation. She took deep, steadying breaths, shaking so hard she could barely stand there. How dare he start something he didn’t intend to finish.

She should be grateful.

She should be thankful for his restraint.

She turned away and started to her bedroom and then wheeled around and marched across the room to his closed door. Without knocking, she shoved the door open. She didn’t see him but she knew he was there.

“That was a rotten trick, Dean Logan! How dare you start something and then walk away as though nothing had happened!”

She slammed the door and marched back to her room, slamming that door for good measure.

The nerve of the man. Just because she refused to date him. Just because she knew that making love to him would be the worst possible thing she could do to herself didn’t mean that she could just walk away after the passionate kiss they’d just shared.

So maybe she did want a fling after all! That was all that Dean would ever have with her.

She went into the bathroom and took off her clothes. She’d take a shower until she was calmer.

She turned on the shower and, without waiting for it to warm up, stepped inside, needing the shock of cold water on her heated body. She stood with the spray hitting her face, forcing herself to let go of her frustration and get a hold on her emotions.

Which was why she didn’t hear Dean enter the room until the shower door opened behind her and Dean stepped inside wearing nothing but a smile.

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