An abrupt knock on the door caused them both to glance curiously at each other. Carla’s watch told her it was forty-five minutes before they were scheduled to meet the men.

  Since she was ready, Carla answered the door. “Philip!” she exclaimed. How good he looked in a suit and tie! And his eyes were the deepest gray she could remember seeing. One glance at her, and their color intensified even more.

  “I thought you might be ready,” he said stiffly.

  “Yes…I am.”

  “Would you have a drink with me in the lounge? Nancy and Eduardo can join us there.”

  He sounded as if he were preparing to read Carla her rights. “Sure,” she replied, and tossed a look over her shoulder to Nancy. “We’ll meet you in the lounge.”

  Nancy arched both brows expressively. “See you there.”

  * * *

  —

  Philip didn’t say a word until after they’d ordered their drinks. “I owe you an apology.”

  Carla’s smile wavered only slightly as she reached for his hand. “You can’t be any sorrier than I am. I wish I could change, and if there was ever a man I’d do it for, it would be you. But you’ve seen how I am. I just don’t want our last hours together to be spent arguing.”

  Philip took her hand and squeezed it tightly. “I don’t, either. We have tonight.”

  “And tomorrow,” she murmured. But their flight was scheduled for the morning, and they’d be in the air a good portion of the day. Once they landed at Sea-Tac International Airport, Philip would catch a connecting flight to Spokane. They would be separated by three hundred miles that might as well have been three thousand.

  “I have something for you,” he announced casually, and pulled a small wrapped package from his coat pocket.

  Astonished, Carla raised questioning eyes to Philip. “We must think alike. I’ve got something for you, too. I’d planned on giving it to you tomorrow. I didn’t want you to forget me.”

  “There’s little chance of that,” he said with a wry twist of his mouth. “Go on, open it.”

  Eagerly, Carla tore off the ribbon and paper and was surprised to discover it was a jewelry box. Lifting the black velvet lid, she gasped in surprised pleasure. An exquisite turquoise necklace and matching earrings lay nestled in a bed of plush velvet. The ring he’d given her earlier matched the set. “Oh Philip, you shouldn’t have.” Fresh tears misted her eyes, and she bit her bottom lip in an effort to forestall their flow. “They’re beautiful. I’ll treasure them always.”

  “Would you like me to help you put it on?”

  “Please.” She moved to the edge of the chair, turned, and scooped up her hair with her forearm. Deftly, Philip placed the turquoise necklace against the hollow of her throat and fastened it in place. Carla managed the earrings on her own.

  When she’d finished, she searched through her purse for a tissue to wipe away the tears that clouded her vision. She had to be crazy to walk away from the most wonderful man in the world. Crazy and stupid.

  “Here comes Nancy and Eduardo,” Philip announced, and stood as the introductions were being made.

  The four sat together, and Carla was surprised to discover that Eduardo wasn’t anything like she recalled. Her first impression had been all wrong. The Latin good looks were in evidence, but there was a natural shyness about him, a reserve that was far more appealing than his striking good looks. When he spoke English, his Spanish inflection was barely noticeable. Carla guessed that Eduardo had traveled extensively in the United States or had lived there. But more than anything else, Carla noted the way Eduardo watched Nancy. Each time his gaze swung to her friend, his dark eyes brightened and his masculine features would soften noticeably.

  Conversation among the four flowed smoothly. When it came time to leave for dinner, Eduardo told them that the hotel’s most expensive restaurant had a dining area designated especially for small private parties. The room resembled an intimate dining room, and had been reserved for them. A friend of his owned the hotel, Eduardo explained, and had given his permission for them to use this room. He led the way.

  “It’s lovely,” Carla observed at first glance, impressed with the Aztec décor.

  “I chose the menu myself,” Eduardo explained. “I hope you will find it to your liking.”

  “I’m sure we will,” Carla murmured. If the meal was anything like the room, this would be a dinner she’d remember all her life.

  Eduardo continued by naming the dishes that they would be sampling. Carla understood little Spanish, and appreciated it when Eduardo translated for her. “The food in Mexico is a combination of indigenous Indian dishes and Spanish cuisine with some Arabic and French influences.”

  Carla quit counting after six courses. Replete, she settled back in her chair, her hands cupping a wineglass. “And to think none of us would be here if you two men hadn’t ordered a margarita that first night.” Almost instantly Carla realized that she’d said the wrong thing. Nancy’s eyes widened in warning, and Carla averted her gaze to the wineglass in her hand. Nancy hadn’t explained their game to Eduardo, and Carla had just stuck her foot in her mouth.

  “I’m sorry?” Eduardo questioned, and a curious frown drew his thick brows together. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s nothing,” Nancy said quickly.

  “Carla said something about Philip and me ordering margaritas the day we met. I’m confused.”

  “Really, it’s nothing,” Nancy insisted, a desperate edge to her voice.

  An uneasy silence filled the room. “Please explain,” Eduardo said stiffly. “A man doesn’t like to be the only one not in on a joke.”

  “It wasn’t a joke.” Nancy avoided meeting Eduardo’s probing gaze. “It’s just that Carla and I never have any luck finding decent men, and we decided…Well, you see, we were sitting in the cocktail lounge and…” She tossed Carla a frantic glare. “You explain.”

  Carla’s eyes rounded mutinously. “Nancy—I mean…we…” Good grief, she wasn’t doing any better! Silently she implored Philip to take up the task.

  To Carla’s relief, Philip did exactly that, explaining at length in Spanish. Three pairs of eyes studied Eduardo, and it was easy to see that he was furious. “And whose idea was this game?” His accent became thicker with every word.

  “Mine,” Nancy replied, accepting full responsibility. “But it wasn’t like you think. I would never have—”

  Pushing back his chair, Eduardo stood. “This has been an enjoyable time with my American friends, but I fear I have a business engagement and must cut our evening short.”

  Nancy stood up as well. “Eduardo, you can’t leave now. We must…”

  Philip leaned over to Carla.

  “Let’s leave these two alone to sort this out,” he whispered in her ear, and they stood.

  “How could I have said anything so stupid?” Carla moaned as they left the restaurant.

  “You didn’t know.”

  Philip’s words did little to soothe her. “Didn’t you see the look in Nancy’s eyes? She’ll never forgive me, and I don’t blame her.” Carla felt like weeping. “I’ve betrayed my best friend.”

  “Carla,” Philip said, and placed an arm around her. “You can’t blame yourself. Nancy should have said something to Eduardo before this.”

  “The bad part is that Eduardo honestly likes her, and I’ve ruined that.” She kicked at a loose pebble. “I always did get a loose tongue when I drink too much wine.”

  Philip cleared his throat. “I hadn’t noticed.”

  “And you’re not helping things.”

  “Sorry.” But his smile told her he wasn’t. “You shouldn’t worry. If Eduardo cares for Nancy, he’ll give her the opportunity to explain.”

  “But I feel rotten.”

  “I know you do. Come on. Let’s walk off some of that fantastic dinner.” His arm tightened around her waist, and she propped her head against his shoulder.

  The beach was possibly even more beautiful than it had been any night that week.

  “Do you remember the first time we were here?” Philip asked, his voice low, as he rubbed his chin along the top of her head.

  Carla answered with a short shake of her head. “I remember thinking that you wanted to kiss me.”

  “I did.”

  “And at the time I was afraid you were the type of guy who would wait until the third date.”

  “Me?” He paused and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “And I was wondering what you’d do if I did make a pass.”

  A gentle breeze off the ocean carried Carla’s soft laugh into the night. “No wonder you had a shocked look when we went swimming and I asked you to kiss me underwater.”

  “I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”

  The laughter faded and was replaced by a sadness born of the knowledge that within a matter of hours they would be separating. “This has been a wonderful week.”

  “The best.”

  Absently, Carla fingered the turquoise necklace. “I don’t ever want this to end. This is heaven being here with you. Reality is only a few hours away.”

  “It doesn’t have to end, you know.” Philip stopped walking and turned her in his arms. His smoky-gray eyes burned into hers. “I love you, Carla.”

  “Philip, please,” she pleaded. “Don’t.”

  “No, I’m going to say it. Believe me, I know all the arguments. One week is all we’ve had, and there are a thousand questions that still need to be answered. I want to get to know you, really know you. I want to meet your family and introduce you to mine.”

  A bubble of pain and hysteria threatened to burst inside her. “You and my dad have a lot in common.”

  Philip ignored the sarcasm. “You’re a beautiful, warm, intelligent woman.”

  “Don’t forget conservative.”

  “And conservative,” he added. “Have you ever thought how beautiful our children could be?”

  “Philip, don’t do this to me.” She had thought about it. Blending her life with Philip’s had been on her mind all afternoon. But no matter how appealing the imagery, Carla couldn’t see past the police uniform and badge. “I…I think I should go back and check on Nancy. And I still have my packing to do.”

  Philip pinched his mouth tightly closed when he delivered her to the hotel room. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she promised, not meeting his gaze.

  “In the morning,” he repeated, but he didn’t try to kiss her. Carla couldn’t decide if she was grateful or not.

  A muffled sound could be heard on the other side of the door. “Good night,” she murmured miserably, and slipped inside her room.

  Nancy was lying across the bed, her shoulders heaving as she wept. “Oh Carla,” she cried, and struggled to sit up. “Eduardo wouldn’t even listen to me. He was barely polite.”

  Nancy and Carla looked at each other, and both burst into tears.

  Chapter 6

  The sun had barely crested the ocean, its golden strands etching their way across the morning beach, when Carla woke. Her roommate remained asleep as Carla slipped from the bed, quickly donning washed-out jeans and a warm sweatshirt. It wouldn’t seem right to leave Mazatlán without one last walk along the water’s edge.

  Rushing down the concrete steps that led to the countless acres of white sand, Carla scanned the deserted area. Her spirits sank. This last stroll would have been perfect if Philip were here to share it with her.

  Rolling up her jeans to her knees, she teased the oncoming tide with her bare feet. The water was warm and bubbly as it hit the shore. She vividly recalled the few times she’d swam in the surf with Philip. When the salt water had stung her eyes and momentarily blinded her, Philip had lifted her into his strong arms and carried her to shore.

  With a wistful sigh, Carla strolled away from the water’s edge, kicking up sand as she walked. Every memory of this vacation would be connected with Philip. She’d be a fool to think otherwise.

  “Carla!”

  Her heart swelled as she spun and waved her hand high above her head. Philip.

  His shoulders were heaving by the time he ran the distance and joined her. “Morning.” He reached for her and looked as if he meant to kiss her, then dropped his hands, apparently changing his mind.

  “Morning. I was praying you’d be here.”

  “I thought I saw you by the pool.”

  The salty breeze carried her laughter. “I was there waiting for you to magically reappear.”

  “Poof. Here I am.”

  “Like magic,” she whispered, and slipped her arm around his waist. They turned and continued strolling away from the hotel. The untouched morning beach meandered for miles in the distance.

  “How’s Nancy?”

  Carla shrugged. “Asleep. But for how long, I don’t know,” she said, as a reminder to them both that she couldn’t stay long. “I guess Eduardo wouldn’t let her explain that picking him up in the lounge never was a game. Not really.”

  “His attitude is difficult to understand, since Latin men are usually indulgent toward their women.”

  “Are you as indulgent toward your women?” Carla inquired with rounded, innocent eyes, determined to make this a happy conversation. She’d never be able to tell him all the things in her heart.

  “I must be, or you would have shared my bed before now.”

  Forcing her gaze toward the sea, Carla struggled to maintain control of her poise. “You sound mighty sure of yourself, Philip Garrison,” she returned. If he’d said that for shock value, he’d succeeded. The evening in his parents’ condo had caught her off guard. The atmosphere had been intimate, and the wine had flown too freely.

  “I don’t think I’m being overconfident,” Philip replied. “You wanted me as much as I did you. But whether you’re willing to admit it is something else.”

  Carla understood what he was saying and flushed.

  “What were you thinking when I called you just now?” Philip asked, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over them. “I can’t remember ever seeing you look more pensive.”

  “About Mexico and what a wonderful time I’ve had,” she said, and smiled up at him. “That’s mostly your doing. In my mind I’ll never be able to separate the two.”

  “Me and Mazatlán?”

  She answered with a short nod.

  Her response didn’t seem to please him. He glanced at his watch and applied a gentle pressure to the small of her back as he turned them around and headed for the hotel. “I’ll take you back before Nancy wakes.”

  They didn’t speak as they walked toward the El Cid. Then Carla said somberly, “I was hoping you’d be here. My beach bag’s up ahead. Your gift’s inside.” The handcrafted marlin carved from rosewood had been expensive. Carla had seen Philip admire it the day they’d gone shopping at the arts-and-crafts center and had purchased the hand-rubbed wood sculpture for him while he had been talking to some Canadians.

  Now her eyes shone with a happy-sad expression as Philip unwrapped the gift. He peeled back the paper and glanced at her wordlessly. Delight mingled with surprise as his eyes looked almost silver in the light of the morning sun.

  “Thank you,” he said simply.

  “No,” she replied, and swallowed against the hoarseness building in her throat. “Thank you. I’ll never forget you, Philip, or this week we’ve shared. The reason for the marlin is so you won’t forget me.” She kissed him then, her hands sliding around his middle as her lips met his. It was meant to be a simple act of appreciation, but this kiss soon took on another, more intense significance. This was good-bye.

  Philip’s arms locked around her narrow waist, lifting her off her bare feet. Bittersweet memories merged with pure hunger. Mouths hardened against each other in a hungry, grinding demand. Their heads twisted slowly from side to side as the kiss continued and continued until Carla thought her lungs would burst. Incredibly, she couldn’t give enough or take enough to satisfy the overwhelming passion consuming her resolve.

  When they broke apart she was weak and panting. Her legs were incapable of holding her as she pressed her cheek to the hard wall of his chest and gloried in the thundering, erratic beat of his heart. Her shaking fingers toyed with the hair that curled along the back of his neck. But the comfort and security of his embrace was shattered when he spoke.

  “Carla, I’m only going to ask you once. Can I see you once we’re home?”

  “Oh Philip,” she moaned, caught in the trap of indecision. He was forcing her to face the very question she dreaded most. Her lips felt dry, and she moistened them. She couldn’t tell him “yes,” although her heart was screaming for her to do exactly that. And “no” was equally intolerable. Bright tears shimmered in her eyes as she stared up at him, silently pleading with him to understand that she couldn’t say what he wanted to hear.

  “Listen to me, Carla,” he urged gently. “What we found in Mazatlán is rare. But two people can’t know if they’re in love after seven short days. We both need time to discover if what we’ve found is real.” His hand smoothed the red curls behind her ear. “What do you say? Spokane isn’t that far from Seattle, and meeting would be a simple matter of a phone call.”

  “Oh Philip, I’m such a coward.” Her long nails made deep indentations in her palms, but she hardly noticed the pain.

  “Say yes,” he urged, his fingers gripping her shoulders.

  Carla felt as if she were standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, looking down. She knew the pitfalls of loving Philip, and the terror of it gripped her, making speech impossible.

  Trapped as she was, she couldn’t agree or disagree. “I wish you wouldn’t,” she murmured finally.

  The gray eyes she had come to adore hardened briefly before he dropped his hands to his sides. “When you’re through letting your fears and prejudices rule your life, let me know.” Abruptly he turned, leaving her standing alone in the bright morning sunlight.