Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(36)

“Me too.” Her cheeks colored, and he had the oddest feeling that their roles had flipped, making her the one who didn’t know what to say or do. “I, um, don’t suppose you’d be up for a sunrise jog on the beach?”

“Ah, a morning person.” He smiled wryly.

“I take it you’re not?” She cocked a brow.

“Only if morning means the hours between midnight and four, when a man can really get some work done.”

“I had a feeling you were a workaholic.” She chided him with her eyes.

A return of her teasing felt more normal. Maybe he’d imagined that hint of nervousness.

“So, how about that run?” she asked.

“I have a better idea for morning exercise.” He twisted a strand of her hair around his finger, pulling her toward him.

Chloe went willingly, taking refuge in the kiss. Getting physical was so much simpler than morning-after conversation. Resting her hands on his chest for balance, she leaned into the taste and warmth of him. Tingles of awareness coursed through her as he nibbled at her lips. His hand went into her hair at the nape of her neck as he slanted his head for a better angle.

Desire built, urging her to slide under the covers with him, trail her hands over his nude body, and let him slip her robe off so he could touch all of her.

Then she remembered waking up to find one of his arms draped over her waist to hold her near, even in sleep. She’d studied him a long time, barely breathing for fear she’d wake him. How easy it would have been to leave a note for him. That would have given her time to step back before seeing him again. She could have kept things casual and light. Taken things slow. Not physically, of course—she’d enjoyed last night too much to want to back off from that. Emotionally, though, a little caution wouldn’t hurt.

Remembering that, she pulled away just as he tried to lower her to the mattress.

“Oh no you don’t,” she scolded playfully. “If we go there, I’ll probably fall back to sleep and miss breakfast all together.”

“You’re saying I put you to sleep?” He raised his brows in mock offence.

God, did he have any idea how delicious he looked? His blond hair was rumpled from sleep, and golden brown stubble darkened his jaw. The sheet had fallen to his lap, revealing his nicely defined shoulders and chest. Unable to resist, she ran a finger down his abs, remembering the fun she’d had with her very own wicked sea captain. “I’m saying you exhaust me into sated slumber.”

“Sated slumber.” He grinned. “I like that.” He moved in to kiss her again.

“Na-ah.” Laughing, she dodged his lips. “Jog.”

He sighed. “I’d love to, but I’m afraid I didn’t bring the right footwear.”

“You can run barefoot on sand.”

“Or the right clothes.” He looked down at his lap, reminding her he wore nothing beneath the sheet.

Temptation flirted with resolve but she pushed it away. “How about a walk, then?”

“Are you sure you want the St. Claires to know you had an overnight guest? Right now, if we’re lucky, I can get to my car and drive away without them noticing. If we go walking along the beach, though, they might see us.”

“Rory and Chance are the only ones at the inn right now, and they’ll be busy in the kitchen at the back of the house.” She bit her lip. “You’re right, though, they’d be pretty shocked. Having an overnight guest after two dates is definitely not something I normally do. If my uncle finds out…” Her eyes widened as she imagined his reaction.

“What?” Worry flashed over Luc’s face. “He’s not like some overprotective father who’ll pull out a shotgun, is he?”

“No, he’s not that bad,” she assured. “He would, however, grill me with a hundred and one questions about you, to be sure he thinks you’re good enough to date me. So, how about we walk that way along the beach, instead?” She pointed over her shoulder, away from the inn.

“Good idea.”

~ ~ ~

Birdsongs broke the morning quiet as Chloe led the way down the trail toward the beach. The lightweight warm-up jacket she wore over a sports bra and cropped jogging pants staved off the slight chill while her running shoes crunched on the dew-dampened mulch.

When they emerged from the cool shade of the trees onto the beach, she stopped to breathe in the tangy scent of the Gulf as the rhythm of the waves replaced the song of the birds. The rising sun gilded the bottoms of the billowing clouds that skirted the edges of the bright blue sky. Off in the distance, she caught a flash of lightning.

“Looks like we could be in for a spring thunderstorm today,” she said as she took a seat on a bench at the end of the trail to remove her running shoes.

“Perfect weather for spending the day indoors.” He sat as well, removing his shoes and rolling up his pant legs. He slipped an arm around her. “What time do you get off work?”

“What do you have in mind?” She smiled innocently.

He nuzzled her neck. “I think you know.”

“Letting me play Vortal?” she suggested hopefully.

He went still, his face hidden against her neck. When he lifted his head, his expression looked oddly guarded. “We’ll see. For now, let’s walk.”