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She laughed "I only wear the bikini when swiirlfriend I hadn’t expected you to follow me down to the water If I’m to walk the plank and juthe day, so I’ll dressskirt and a high neckline"

He laughed "That I’ve got to see"

But she was certain he’d prefer seeing her string bikini again

After they finished their drinks, the catamaran anchored, and they were served bowls of potato soup to start the three-course gourmet dinner Then the main course came Both chose mahimahi with Cayman-style sauce to enjoy the island experience, rather than selecting the chicken with mushroom sauce Their fish was served on a bed of rice with steaetables on the side, and slices of white bread and crea was delicious, and as they ate each course, the catahtly in the Caribbean Sea Shelley realized then that she’d never actually eaten on a boat, just sailed a few tiht dinner shared with Duncan was roh that she’d re the last of her ruet any better But Duncan took her to the bow of the boat and pulled her to sit between his legs, well away fro his arms about her shoulders, he held her like that as they watched the sun sink lower in the sky It was as if none of the rest of the people on the boat existed, just tolves enjoying the sunset on a dinner cruise

The bright ball of fire slipped into the blue water, leaving wide pink, purple, and orange ribbons stretched across the sky as if an artist had stroked his paintbrush across it Skimpy clouds, a darker shade of purple, floated across the ribbons, growing darker as the sun sank lower

Duncan wrapped his arrip as he leaned down and kissed her ear She sighed, loving everyshe had her caht even hlander’s arms But she’d left her camera in her backpack in the car "Hmm, Duncan, this beats drinks with Sal at his place any day"

She shouldn’t have ood tiet the crook off her mind

"I’ his miserly offer of a date with you Hell, for you, he should have offered the moon He sure can afford it"

Sal had to be pissed off that Duncan had taken her out "Most likely women rarely turn him down, nolooking," Duncan grouched

Shelley gave a little laugh "No, not at all Distinguished but not movie-star handsome Not like you I dare say he’s never been in a ht But he has sort of an appeal, like ahis way, soed "A lot of women are drawn to that"

"But not you"

"No I knohat a rat he is, but it wouldn’t have ht was that I thought I could help you get to hiht away"

"I don’t want you near him This is strictly my business, understand?" Duncan had the stern look of a warrior who didn’t want a wo hurt or involved in any way

"Of course," Shelley said, not about to get into an argument with Duncan If he wanted her help, she’d do what she could If not, that was his call "Will you drop ain tomorrow?"

His mouth parted, and then he frowned "Didn’t you already record every plant there was in the forest?"

She smiled "More than one hundred species and more than five hundred and fifty plants live in the forest I think I missed one or two"

He shook his head

When the cataan to sail back to port, Shelley was in wolf heaven, snuggling next to Duncan as if the two of theether under the light of a silvery ht Run as a ith him Swi but sleep She wanted to enjoy all of that for now, and nothingon a cruise like this with Wendy would never have been the sahts shifted to the probleht be

"What if Silver to wait"