I wake up the same way I fell asleep—in an empty bed. Dane showered again after dinner, and I tried to stay awake, thinking I could salvage day one of ten by reminding him how good we are when we’re naked. But alcohol and exhaustion got the better of me, and I passed out moments after the water came on.
I told myself it wasn’t a big deal because I was going to wake him up in a way he wouldn’t forget and start the day off right, but apparently he woke up before me, which screws up my plans.
Tossing the coverlet off, I roll over and pause. The room is quiet but for the sound of the wind and the ocean outside. Where could he have gone?
If there’s a gym on this island, he’d definitely find it, but I don’t remember him mentioning that.
With a swing of my legs off the bed, my feet hit the floor and I rise. As I stretch my arms over my head, more questions start filtering in.
What the hell time is it, anyway?
Where is my phone?
Why didn’t he wake me up?
Shoving my hair out of my face, I make my way to the bathroom to take care of business and attempt to look human after sleeping like the dead.
But we made progress last night. At least, I think we did.
I cross to my suitcase and select a coral sundress that’s mostly unwrinkled, as well as cute and fun, so I can go in search of Dane and coffee. I slide my feet into a pair of gold Havaianas, adjust the straps of the dress, and find my sunglasses before I unlock the door to the cabana and step outside.
Brilliant white light hits my eyes first, and I shove my shades into place.
Holy shit.
Outside, there’s nothing but blue ocean, and with the sun sparkling off the surface, it practically glitters. It’s blindingly bright, but I stand in awe for a few minutes, watching birds dive into the water and resurface before I remember I’m on a mission.
Stepping carefully down the pier, I make my way to solid ground and step off the path into the sand, drawn to the lure of the beach at sunrise.
It seems my feet know which way to carry me to Dane, even if I don’t realize it. Much like the first time I laid eyes on him, he strides out of the ocean, pulling his mask off his face.
And just like the first time I saw him, the word mine flashes through my brain.
He lifts his other hand into the air, holding two things I can’t identify. One is a pole with a hook at the end, and the other is . . . a lobster? No freaking way.
“I win that bet,” he calls as he comes toward me.
“What the hell did you do?” I ask, kicking off my flip-flops and leaving them behind as I jog down to the water’s edge.
“I caught you a lobster.” He holds it by the long antennae.
He cannot be fucking serious.
“Oh my God!”
“Wanna see if we can get the kitchen to make you a lobster omelet for breakfast?”
Dane comes toward me, swinging the creature, and I scream. If I thought the crabs last night were creepy, I’m not sure I want to get up close and personal with this guy. Just because I like to eat them doesn’t mean I want to give them a chance to pinch me.
“Watch the claws! Isn’t he going to try to get me?”
Dane shakes his head. “Caribbean lobsters don’t have claws like Atlantic lobsters. He can’t get you.” He holds it out by the antennae like he expects me to take it from him.
“Are you insane?”
“Not even a little. Take it up to the restaurant, order a mimosa, and ask them to start cooking it for you for breakfast. I’ll shower and meet you there.”
His suggestion that I order a mimosa comes as a surprise. “Did you really just tell me to get a drink for breakfast?”
He nods. “You’re on vacation, so act like it.” He notices the one accessory I’m missing. “Maybe you already are. No phone. Good girl.”
I laugh. “Like it would do any good here.”
“True. I gotta go rinse. Meet you there?”
“What can I order you?”
“Scrambled eggs and bacon, if they have it. You know what I like.”
The way he says it fills me with a rush of warmth that rivals the heat of the sun beating down on us both. Like we haven’t lost the familiarity between us. It gives me hope.
“Okay.”
Dane leans in and brushes a kiss across my lips. When he backs away, he takes my fingers and wraps them around the lobster antennae. “Go see if you can shock the kitchen by bringing your own lobster. I’ll see you in a few, babe.”
He steps back to head for the cabana and I slide my flip-flops back on, holding my arm out straight as I carefully carry a freaking live lobster to the restaurant.
*
Eduardo laughs his ass off when I walk in, fresh catch in hand, but doesn’t have a problem asking the kitchen to prepare lobster omelets. I take a seat at the same table we chose last night, and within a few minutes, I’m sipping delicious coffee.
It’s almost like I can feel the stress melting away in waves. I’m lost in the serene setting and the peacefulness of the moment, so I don’t notice the man standing behind me until Eduardo crosses the room.
“Sir, is there anything I can do for you?”
I jerk my head around, thankful I’ve almost emptied my cup because I probably would have sloshed coffee over the side with my abrupt action.
It’s the man from last night, the one at dinner and later at our room mistakenly. His gaze stays on mine, even when he speaks to Eduardo.
“I’ll have what she’s having. It looks divine.”
“Of course, sir.”
Eduardo steps away, and the man comes around the table to stand with a hand on the back of Dane’s chair. He reaches out to me with the other.
“Vander Iman.”
The British accent I thought I detected last night is definitely there, but mixed with something else. Years of being polite to strangers in the name of business kicks in, and I extend my hand to shake his.
“Katerina Cross.” When I try to pull back, he holds on for a beat too long.
“You seem to be missing your companion this morning.”