“I have enough cameras on me in my work. I need to keep them out of my personal life. And it’s not like I’m going to meet a guy at the corner coffee shop.”
He nodded. “You are a little intimidating. You probably scare the shit out of men.”
She stilled, then turned to face him. “I do not. I’m very nice.”
He pinned her with a look. “Yeah, you were all warm and welcoming when I took a seat at your table tonight.”
“That was different. You barged in on my time with my favorite book.”
“Duly noted. Don’t get between you and your books. Otherwise you’re totally approachable.”
“Okay, maybe not so much. It’s not that I don’t date anyone famous. I don’t date … anyone.”
He pulled her to a sitting spot on the sand. “Okay, now I find that hard to believe. You’re young, you’re beautiful, and well traveled. This is the time of your life you should be dating your ass off. And you’re telling me you don’t go out. Why not?”
She shrugged and stared out over the ocean. “I don’t have time.”
“Okay. I get that you’re busy, and you’re in high demand. But you get time off.”
“I spend my time off with the kids.”
“They’re teenagers and likely want to spend their time off with their friends.”
She didn’t answer.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
She still didn’t answer, but that gave him time to study her profile. A lot of women didn’t like to be viewed at certain angles. Especially the models he’d dated. There were all these angles they’d preferred. Something about head-on being their most attractive feature, or they liked gazing into his eyes, or some such bullshit. Katrina didn’t have a problem giving him her profile. And why not? She was stunning from any angle. Or maybe she just didn’t want to make eye contact with him, because he was hitting too close to the truth.
“Katrina. You took on a lot of responsibility at such a young age. You’re entitled to go out and have some fun, ya know.”
“I have plenty of fun when I travel.”
He cocked a brow. “Do you? Are you having fun now?”
She gave him a half smile. “Loads.”
“I’ll bet.” He stood, brushing the sand off his butt and legs. He held his hand out for her, then tugged her up. “Come on.”
“Wait,” she said as he held tight to her hand and pulled her back toward the hotel. “Where are we going?”
He shot her a grin. “To have some fun.”
THREE
KATRINA FELT LIKE SHE WAS ON SOME ROLLER coaster, being dragged to the top, only to plunge down the abyss at around a hundred miles an hour.
In the dark.
While blindfolded.
In the short span of an hour, she’d been sent to her room to change. Grant had told her “comfortable,” and since she had no idea what he had in mind, she changed into a sundress, plus sandals. She’d thought about objecting. Hadn’t he been listening when she’d told him she didn’t date?
Why did she even agree to this? She could have told him to kiss her ass, which was her typical response to pushy, aggressive men, especially the ones who asked her out. Though he hadn’t asked her out, had he? He hadn’t even given her time to ask what the hell was going on. He’d told her to change, that it was high time she have some fun.
Whatever. Fine. She’d have “fun,” because it was obvious he wasn’t going to go away until she did. Then she was going to bed, because they were shooting again in the morning.
When she’d come out of her bungalow, Grant had been waiting for her. He’d changed, too, into cargo shorts plus a short-sleeved shirt. She had to admit, he was some rather nice eye candy, and not in the typical pretty-boy-model way, either. He was real. Rugged, tall and lean and good to look at.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Where exactly are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He held out his arm, which she took, letting him lead her to the front of the hotel, where there was a private car waiting for them.
“Seriously,” she asked. “Where are we going?”
“You said you don’t get out much. So we’re going out.”
“I already had dinner.”
He held the car door for her. “Never said we were gonna eat.”
She knew she should have hidden out in her room tonight. This was ridiculous. Still, it might not hurt to get out a little, and she was curious now.
She slid into the seat and he climbed in after her. The car took them for a ride around the island, to the bay, where they got out at the docks.
“You’re not going to throw me in the water, are you?”
He laughed, then took her hand as they walked down the dock. “No.”
At the end of the dock was a catamaran.
“I thought we’d take a cruise tonight—see the sunset.”
Normally she worked, then she went to her room to read, or hung out near the water. She very rarely went in it—or on it. She loved the water, and getting out on it wasn’t the worst idea ever. “Sounds okay.”
He held her hand as she climbed aboard, then kept hold of it, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Don’t get too enthused.”