Page 10 of Come Sail Away

He heard Harper emerge from her bedroom about two hours later. By then, he had already finished reading and moved on to dealing with e-mails and correspondence on his computer. “Good morning,” he said when she appeared on the patio. “Did you find the coffee?”

“Yes, thanks.”

Now that she was up, he flipped to the resort window on his computer. “Feel like some breakfast?” he asked. “Even though the rooms have a complete kitchen, I usually order food. The chef here is superb.”

She held her cup of coffee with both hands, smiled and took a sip. A look of pleasure lit her lovely hazel eyes, as her eyelids dipped with a drowsy sweep and came back up to stare at him. “Sounds terrific.”

He placed an online order, requesting an array of food—hotcakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, and juice. They sat in silence, just drinking their coffee and enjoying the ocean breeze until their food arrived. As they ate, neither of them seemed to feel the need to chat. It was nice. Refreshing.

They’d just finished up when her phone rang. It was the marina, he thought. He waited to find out the news.

She ended the call. “They said it was a bad alternator. The part will have to be ordered if they don’t have one in Fort Myers. It may take until tomorrow to get it fixed.”

He nodded. “I’ll be here till Saturday. You’re welcome to stay.”

She hesitated for a moment, nibbling her lip, before saying, “I’ll take you up on that offer. Casa Blanca is a beautiful resort.”

“The island is almost as charming. You mentioned you wanted seclusion. I know of the perfect beach. If you like, I’ll show you.” For some reason, he wanted to give her whatever she wanted, just to make her happy, to see her smile.

Harper set her coffee mug aside. “I’d like that. Give me a few minutes to get ready.”

He watched the sway of her hips as she retreated to her room, and his mouth went dry. He took a swig of coffee, now cold and unappealing. He scrunched his nose.

Don’t get too attached,he reminded himself. They’d be returning to their normal lives before they knew it.

* * *

“I discovered Mimosa Key about five years ago, shortly after Casa Blanca had been built,” Sully said as they drove south from the resort along Center Street. “I can’t believe how much the place has grown. I’ll show you around the island first, and then the lovely, secluded beach I discovered.”

“Okay by me.”

The top was down on the car again and a breeze rolled over her as they drove. Across the street was a quaint Fourway Motel, yet up the street she could make out newer area.

“I need to make a quick stop,” Sully announced, steering into the Super Min. He got out of the car, filled the tank and headed inside the small station shop. Harper joined him. The pace of Mimosa Key seemed slow and easy, from the 25-mph speed limit to the speed of the people at the gas pumps, but that suited Harper just fine.

Stopping for gas struck her as a regular-guy kind of task, so different from the star image she’d had of him last night. But as soon as they stepped inside the store, that changed. A pretty red-head gave an excited squeal, “Sully McGlamery!”

All eyes shot to them, or more specifically, to Sully.

“Can I have your autograph?” A brunette thrust a paper Mimosa Key flyer at him.

Sully flashed a bone-melting smile. “Sure.”

Immediately, other women closed in, following suit. Most of them were late teens to college age, probably visiting the island on break, she thought.

An elbow caught Harper’s arm as she was crowded out of the way. She stepped back and watched with amazement as Sully signed a dozen or so autographs. He graciously spoke to every fan.

Tightness tiptoed up Harper’s spine. All the attention was too much for her. A tall blonde, wearing a skimpy bikini top and a wrap-around skirt sidled up to Sully as she handed off her phone to the person next to her, asking them to take a picture. The woman struck a pose, all smiles.

Harper sighed. He was probably used to women fawning over him and requesting autographs, and snapping pictures. A queasiness settled in her stomach. Of course he could get any woman he wanted.

Butnother… she tried valiantly to chase the thought out of her head before it completely formulated. Even still, she wasn’t quite successful and old doubts crept in despite her mental efforts.

“Can you grab us a couple drinks?” he asked Harper, with an apologetic lift of his brow.

Her head snapped up when she realized he was speaking to her, then she nodded. When she was ready with a large fountain drink in each hand, she waited by the door.

Sully politely extricated himself from the last stragglers, quickly making his way to her and guiding her out of the door.