“On one condition,” he said, getting off his stool and walking toward her.

  “What’s that?” she asked, trying to ignore the heat coursing through her body as she felt him moving in, crowding her against the counter.

  “You promise to tell me over breakfast what you were about to say.”

  Hoping he wouldn’t hold her to that promise, she forced a smile. “It’s a deal.”

  ***

  Justin couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed a woman’s company so much. He’d had a few relationships over the past ten years, one serious, but he’d never thought any of his previous girlfriends could one day become his wife. Something about Anna made him think a life of domesticity was more of a blessing than a curse.

  As she refilled his coffee mug, he said, “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that promise. What were you thinking about earlier?”

  “Um… nothing,” she said, refilling their juice glasses.

  He chuckled. “Nice try.” Pointing at her, he said, “A promise is a promise, Miss McCall.”

  A faint blush crept over her cheeks. “I was just thinking about my plans for the future.”

  “I’d love to hear about those plans.” He reached across the table, linking his fingers with hers. Looking her in the eye, he hoped she sensed his sincerity when he said, “I really want to get to know you.”

  “I’m a pretty simple person,” she said, looking at their joined hands. “I hate being in the spotlight, surrounded by flashing cameras and microphones.”

  “But your father’s a famous singer. You must have grown up with the press hovering around you.”

  “That doesn’t mean I liked it.” She extracted her hand from his and reached for her coffee cup. “We have a lot of famous family and friends, and I love and respect them, but I would never want that kind of life for myself.”

  He sensed she was trying to tell him she would never fit into his world, nor would she have the desire to try. That past month, he couldn’t step outside of his door without a camera going off or a reporter demanding to know when or if he expected to return to racing.

  “Is that your not so subtle way of telling me my world doesn’t appeal to you?”

  She dabbed her mouth with a paper napkin. “I respect the choices you’ve made, Justin. But if you’re asking me whether we could ever make a relationship work outside of this little island paradise, the answer is no.”

  He felt a sharp stab of regret. She wasn’t even willing to give him a chance? She’d already written him off as someone who would never fit into her world? “Why’s that?”

  Tossing the crumpled napkin on her plate, she said, “We’re very different people. I love the quiet life; you love the crowds and excitement. You get a rush out of putting your life at risk, and I just can’t understand why anyone would want to do that.”

  Women in his life had questioned his sanity before, but it had never bothered him. He hadn’t felt the need to defend or explain his choices because he knew racing was a part of him, and anyone who chose to share his life had to accept that.

  “You’re saying you could never love a guy who does what I do for a living?” He knew it was a bold question. They were still getting to know each other, but he had to know how she felt before he let himself fall any deeper.

  “I could never allow myself to fall in love with someone like you,” she said quietly. Taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eye. “The truth is, I want to get married and have a family someday.”

  Between clenched teeth, he asked, “So, I guess my career puts me out of the running, huh?”

  “You know the inherent risks of your profession. It could have just as easily been you instead of your friend who died that day.”

  He knew she was right. He got up and tossed his napkin on his plate. “Thanks for breakfast.”

  Reaching his hand, she said, “Please don’t be angry with me. I felt I owed it to you to be honest about where I see this going.”

  “So you’re saying we may be able to have sex, but it can never be anything more. Is that it?” At any other time in his life, with any other woman, he would have been happy with that arrangement, but something about Anna made him want more.

  “I didn’t meant to hurt you-”

  “It’s okay. I’m glad you were honest.”

  ***

  Later that evening, Justin sat on his deck, trying to ignore the fact that the woman occupying his thoughts was only a few hundred feet away, when a boat caught his attention.

  He reached for the binoculars he used to catch glimpses of the native birds and wildlife that frequented the area. No question about it, the boat was heading in their direction. Trying to catch a better look, he felt uneasy. He hadn’t invited anyone to the island, and his family and friends knew better than to drop by unannounced. That could only mean one thing: Anna had a guest.

  Justin held his breath, hoping he would see the silhouette of a woman. No such luck. Damn it.

  After the boat docked, the guy reached into his pocket to pay the boat’s captain and heaved his single suitcase up on the dock. Justin cursed under his breath and tried to catch a glimpse of Anna through her window, to no avail. He wanted to know whether her visitor was a surprise guest or someone she had invited.

  He’d given her some space after their conversation over breakfast. He couldn’t deny he was hurt and angry she was willing to write him off so quickly, but he believed that with a little more time, she would give him a chance to prove he was worth the risk.

  The man spotted Justin and walked toward him.

  Standing up, Justin leaned over the wood railing and looked down at the man who dared to intrude on his private getaway. “What can I do for you?” As if he didn’t know.

  “I’m here to see Anna McCall,” he said, blocking the setting sun’s rays with a hand over his eyes. “You know if she’s around?”

  “Where else would she be?” Justin muttered.

  The man laughed. “I thought she might’ve been out for her jog. I’m the doctor and she’s the health nut. That doesn’t seem right, does it?”

  Just as Justin feared: Tom. “You’re her… ex-fiancé?”

  Setting his leather suitcase down on the sand, Tom said, “You look familiar. Have we met?”

  “No.”

  “I never forget a face.” Tom slipped his sunglasses inside his short-sleeved button down shirt. “Are you sure we haven’t met?”

  Before Justin could respond, Anna sprinted across the sand toward her guest.

  “Oh my God! Tom, what are you doing here?” she asked.

  Justin watched their interaction as Tom reached out to pull her into his arms.

  “You didn’t think I’d let you spend your birthday out here all alone, did you, sweetheart?”

  “I can’t believe you came all this way,” she said, hugging him back.

  He kissed her cheek. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised. I told you on the phone how much I missed you.”

  Looking uncomfortable, Anna finally glanced at Justin. “Um, Tom, this is my neighbor, Justin Hunt.”

  Tom snapped his fingers and pointed at Justin. “That’s where I know you from. You’re the race car driver, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I can’t claim I’m a fan,” he said, chuckling. “I don’t have much time for sports… if that’s what you call it.” He laughed, looking down at Anna. “Does racing even qualify as a sport?”

  Justin was tempted to hop over the railing and strangle the smug bastard, but Anna intervened. “Uh, you must be tired, Tom. Why don’t we head inside and get you settled?”

  “Not before I give you your birthday present,” he said, releasing her.

  “We don’t need an audience for that,” Anna said quietly.

  Tom smiled. “I don’t mind, sweetheart.” He reached into a zippered pouch in his suitcase and extracted a long velvet box. “Go ahead, open it.”

  Appearing hesitant, Anna did as she was told. She lifted the lid and winced. “Tom, it’s lovely, but you really shouldn’t have.” She handed the box back to him.

  “Don’t be silly. Of course I should have. It’s not every day my fiancée turns the big 3-0.”

  “We’re not engaged anymore, remember?” she whispered.

  He waved a hand in the air. “Why do you think I came here? We really need to set things straight and get our wedding plans back on track, darling. They won’t hold the venue for us indefinitely.”

  “Anna,” Justin said, gripping the railing, “could I have a word with you before you go inside?”

  She looked from one man to the other before faking a smile. “Of course.” Pointing toward her bungalow, she said, “Why don’t you head inside and make yourself at home, Tom?”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, picking up his suitcase. “I think I’ll grab a quick shower.” Kissing her cheek, Tom asked, “Why don’t you join me?”

  Justin glared at the back of the man’s head before Anna could usher him off.

  “What the hell’s going on here?” Justin asked when Anna finally made her way up the stairs to join him.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, pulling her white denim shirt tighter around her body.

  “I thought you said you were through with that guy.” Justin knew he didn’t have the right to demand an explanation, but he couldn’t help himself. Knowing she was spending the night alone with her ex would drive him crazy.

  “I didn’t ask him to come,” she said. “He’s been here before, so it’s not like it would have been difficult for him to find me.”

  His time was running out, so he pulled her into his arms. Looking down into her eyes, he gave her less than a second to push him away before his lips came down on hers, hard and demanding. He’d wanted to kiss her since the first time he laid eyes on her, but his fantasies couldn’t have prepared him for the reality. She was so responsive, so hot, like she’d been waiting for that moment almost as long as he had.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she arched her back and leaned into the kiss.

  Groaning, he molded her body to his. Deepening the kiss, he plunged deeper, never wanting to let her go.

  Finally, her hands circled his biceps, pushing him away. “What was that for?” she asked, looking dazed.

  “Happy birthday, beautiful,” he whispered. Dipping his head, he treated himself to another kiss. He didn’t care that the man who wanted to make her his wife was only a few feet away. The only thing that mattered was that she was in his arms, responding in a way that told him she’d spent the past eight hours thinking about him too.

  “Justin, I…” She touched her fingers to her swollen lips. “We shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Why the hell is he here?” he asked, unable to contain his frustration. He wanted to talk, to resolve their issues so they could pick up where they’d started with that kiss.

  “I don’t know.” She stepped out of his arms, turning her back on him. “I didn’t ask him to come.”

  “Get rid of him,” he whispered, caging her in with his hands on either side of the railing. Pressing his arousal into her backside, he said, “Come on, Anna. We need to see where this is going. You broke up with that guy for a reason. You said yourself he couldn’t give you what you needed.” The ocean breeze blew her hair back, giving him access to her neck. Gliding his tongue over her pulse point, he said, “I think we both know I can.”

  She gripped his wrists as she leaned into his chest and allowed him to continue his exploration. “I can’t. We…”

  He let her protest fade away as he continued kissing her neck. Grabbing her waist, he held her tight against him. “I haven’t wanted a woman this much… ever.” He knew it wasn’t the time to hold back. If he did, he would lose his opportunity with her. “Please, sweetheart.”

  “Stop,” she said, trying to pull away. “I need to sort this out on my own.” Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of his arms. “I can’t let this crazy attraction dictate my future. Tom and I spent so many years together. We still… care about each other.”

  Scraping his hands through his hair, he swore softly. “We both know he’s not the right guy for you. Why the hell are you doing this?” When she failed to respond, he asked, “Are you so afraid of what you feel for me?”

  Rolling her eyes, she said, “You do think highly of yourself, don’t you? What makes you think this has anything to do with you?”

  “It has everything to do with me,” he growled. “If that guy had shown up here before you met me, we both know you would have sent him packing.”

  Raising her chin, she glared at him. “You don’t know that.”

  “Yeah, I do, and so do you.” Grabbing her shoulders, he shook her slightly. “You can’t live in your protected little cocoon your whole goddamn life. You’re afraid to take chances, afraid to follow your heart and fall in love with someone who makes you feel-”

  “Stop it!” she shouted, pushing him away. “You don’t know anything about me.” She started running down the stairs but not before he delivered his parting shot.

  “You can’t run away from this. You can hide out in his arms for a while, but I’ll be the guy you see when you close your eyes tonight.”

  Chapter Five

  Anna walked to her house slowly, taking the time she needed to collect herself before facing Tom. She couldn’t imagine what had possessed him to visit her. He had attempted to contact her several times since their breakup, but Anna had always been reserved during their conversations and emails. She hadn’t wanted to give him false hope about a reconciliation she knew would never happen.

  Walking inside, she was surprised to see Tom standing in the living room wearing only a towel. “Um, we can talk when you get out of the shower.”

  He walked forward, reaching for her. “I was kind of hoping you would join me.”

  Side-stepping him, she walked into the kitchen to retrieve two bottles of water from the fridge. Their relationship had never been passionate, and their lovemaking could only be described as vanilla. She suspected he was trying to give her what he thought she needed to bridge the gap between them. Poor misguided Tom. Didn’t he realize he was two years too late?

  “I don’t think so, Tom.” She took a sip of water, trying to ignore the fact the man she once thought she’d loved was standing before her, half naked. “I think you’d better tell me why you came.”

  “I told you, I wanted to help you celebrate your birthday.”

  “My birthday’s not until tomorrow.”

  “I know that.” He smiled and gestured to the diamond necklace on the counter. “I just couldn’t wait to give you your present.”

  “It’s lovely, but I’m afraid I can’t accept it.” Her hand trembled as she set her water bottle down on the counter. She’d never mastered the art of confrontation, and she found defending her opinions difficult, especially when she was up against an opponent so intent on getting his own way.

  “Of course you can. It’s a birthday gift.”

  “We’re not a couple anymore,” she said, forcing herself to look him in the eye. “It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

  Releasing a heavy sigh, he braced his hand on the counter. “I’ve given you time and space, just like you wanted, but it’s time to put an end to this nonsense, Anna. I love you, and I know you love me.”

  “That’s just it,” she said quietly. “I don’t love you anymore.”

  He stared at her for what seemed like an eternity before his face drained of color. “You can’t be serious.”

  She didn’t expect it to come as such a surprise to him. After all, she had ended their engagement. That should have given him a clue. “I’m afraid so.” She reached out to cover his hand with hers. “I think you’re a wonderful man, and I don’t have any regrets about the time we spent together, but our lives started moving in different directions even before you accepted the job offer in California.”

  He glared at her. “Were you having an affair with him all along?”

  Withdrawing her hand, she asked, “What are you talking about?”

  “Him,” he said, pointing to the house next door.

  She couldn’t stop the hysterical laughter bubbling up. “I can’t believe you would think that.”

  “When I heard you were here with him, I knew something must be going on.”

  She narrowed her eyes as his words registered. “How did you know I wasn’t alone on the island?”

  “I called Lauren. She told me.”

  Anna vowed to deal with her cousin later. “She had no right to tell you that. Justin and I are just friends.” Just thinking of that kiss made her skin tingle.

  “Are you sure about that?” he asked, folding his arms over his bare chest.

  Squaring her shoulders, she said, “I really don’t owe you an explanation. Nothing is going on between me and Justin, and even if there was, our relationship is over.” She immediately regretted her harsh tone when she saw the hurt in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you. I just need you to understand it’s time for us to move on.”

  “I don’t know how to do that.” He reached for her hand. “When I thought of my future, my wife, the mother of my children, I always thought of you. I still do.”

  Tom rarely showed emotion, so Anna didn’t think to question his sincerity. “I know that moving on is hard, for me too, but prolonging the inevitable is only going to hurt us more in the end. You must know that.”

  He opened his arms, and she hesitated. Given his state of undress, the gesture seemed too intimate for a couple on the brink of saying their final good-bye. Chastising herself for over-thinking, she stepped into his waiting arms and laid her head on his shoulder. “I wish things could have been different.”

  He stroked her hair and whispered, “I just want you to be happy.”

  “I want the same for you.”

  He held her face between his hands and tipped her head back. “Are you sure we can’t find that together?”