Zandra had laughed at the absurdity of the remark. Remy Brand had never fallen under any woman’s spell. When it came to matters of seduction, he was the sorcerer.
And she’d do well to remember that while she was stuck on an island with him for two more days.
Grabbing a towel from the lounge chair beside hers, Remy rubbed his face and arms. “Why don’t you put that book down and go for a swim?” he suggested.
“I will. Later.” Unable to resist, Zandra peeked over the top of her novel to watch as lucky rivulets of water trickled down his chest, inching over the hard, sinewy muscles before disappearing into his dark swim trunks. The wet material clung to his powerful thighs, drawing her gaze unerringly to the thick bulge at his groin.
Gulping hard, she jerked her gaze back to her book, trying to ignore her throbbing breasts and pulsing clit. No such luck.
Remy finished drying himself off, then stretched out on the lounge chair next to hers with his hands clasped behind his head. She felt him studying her, felt the heat of his eyes slowly roaming down her bare legs. She wished the cover-up she wore was longer, though something told her Remy’s scorching gaze would make her feel naked even in an Eskimo suit.
“It must not be very good,” he drawled.
“What?”
“Your book. Must be a snoozer.”
Zandra frowned. “What makes you say that?”
“You’re practically on the same page you were on when I left you over an hour ago.”
Her face flushed. “How do you know that?”
Remy chuckled. “I noticed.”
Of course he had. He’d always been sharply observant, a trait that had served him well as a SEAL commando. So well, in fact, that his teammates had often teased him about having eyes in the back of his head. Nothing escaped his detection.
Unnerved by the thought—and annoyed with herself for not owning a damn eReader—Zandra shifted uncomfortably on her chair. “The book’s great. I’m just reading slow, savoring every word.”
“Uh-huh.” Remy wore a small, lazy smile that made her wonder whether he’d caught her watching him while he swam.
“I’ve also been enjoying the scenery,” she hastened to add.
His smile deepened, but all he said was, “It is beautiful.”
For a moment they gazed across the shimmering expanse of the Caribbean Sea, which was rimmed by lush, palm-fringed bays and towering emerald mountains. A distant sailboat drifted lazily across the horizon, and bright sunlight glinted off the frothy waves lapping the shore. To their right, perched on a cliff overlooking the water, was the luxury resort where Zandra and Remy were staying, along with several members of his family.
“Man, it feels like paradise out here,” Remy murmured.
“Mmm,” Zandra agreed, thinking of how she’d had to be coerced into coming on the trip.
Three weeks ago she’d been a bridesmaid for her friend, Lena, who’d married Remy’s twin brother, Roderick. The couple had surprised everyone by inviting their families to join them in St. Lucia at the end of their Caribbean honeymoon. The invitation had included Zandra, who’d been excited at the prospect of spending five relaxing days on a gorgeous tropical island. That is, until she realized that she would be in close quarters with Remy—the very thing she’d been trying to avoid.
She’d regretfully told Lena and Roderick that she couldn’t make it, blaming her busy workload. But Roderick, like his twin, had never learned to take no for an answer. He’d badgered Zandra for days, reminding her that she’d always accompanied his family on vacations when they were growing up. Though she’d tried to resist, he’d made her nostalgic for those boisterously chaotic road trips aboard the Brands’ Winnebago. When he sensed her resolve weakening, Roderick had gone for the kill by enlisting his grandmother’s help, because he knew that Zandra could never refuse the beloved family matriarch.