Horizons by Catherine Hart Page B

camisole?”
    “It’s like the top half of an underslip,” Blair supplied helpfully.
    Zach stepped nearer. His gaze traversed Kelly’s chest, lingering on the exposed triangle of camisole with acute interest and a definite gleam in his gold eyes. On closer inspection, he saw that the raspberry colored material, though not sheer, was light-weight and shiny, adorned with a wide row of lace across the top. He leaned close, his voice low and a husky as he murmured for her ears only. “I’d like to get a closer look at that camisole of yours. Later. If we could arrange a private viewing.”
    Kelly stared at him, struck momentarily speechless by his unexpected advance, though she was normally quite adept at handling this sort of come-on. However, for the past five years she’d been rejecting them. Now, with this good-looking stranger, she was actually considering accepting his suggestion, which was, in itself, sublimely stupid. From all indications he was a typical alpha male, too domineering and sure of himself for her peace of mind. Gorgeous, yes, but she needed another bossy, arrogant man like she needed the measles.
    Then again, for the purpose of a brief, extremely temporary island fling, Zach just might fit the bill after all. What better than an attractive man to help rebuild her flagging self esteem?
    Finally, she managed to kick her brain into gear and reply saucily, “Sure, You can take my camisole and sponge it out for me as soon as we find water. But I want it right back, and if you’re into cross-dressing, you’d better not stretch it or split the seams, or I’m going to be supremely ticked.”
    Amusement danced in his eyes. “That’s not really what I had in mind. For now, though, can you tuck the bottom of your jacket into your slacks?”
    “Why?”
    “Just do it, okay?”
    Turning aside, she unfastened her slacks, tucked the tail of her blazer inside, and quickly re-zipped and buttoned. The result was bulky and unattractive, and sure to wrinkle the linen fabric even more. She was still wondering, as were the others, why Zach would make such an odd request, when he reached forward and plopped two plump gourds down the front of her top. They sank to her waist, and lay there in an elongated lump.
    Alita burst out laughing. “Hah! He has turned you into a kangaroo with a pouch!”
    “A wee wallaby!” Frazer agreed on a chuckle.
    “Don’t laugh too hard,” Zach advised, advancing on the steward. “You’re next.” He deposited two breadfruit into the man’s shirt, then turned toward the corporal.
    Blair chortled. “I’ve always wondered what a pregnant man would look like, and it’s just as ridiculous as I’d imagined it would be!”
    Kelly was now caught up in the humor as well. “I wish I had my camera. When we get back to camp, I want a picture of this before you fellows unload!”
    “You should get a picture of Alita, too,” Blair said. “I’ll bet her adoring public has never seen her so disheveled.”
    “Speak for yourself, you grimy little elf,” Alita snapped back. “You look like one of the seven dwarves after a hard day’s work in the mine. And you … ” She pointed a jagged fingernail toward Kelly. “Your hair re sembles a haystack. You look…”
    “Like an adorable ragamuffin,” Zach broke in. He reached out a hand to ruffle Kelly’s mussed hair even more.
    “Great!” Kelly mumbled, grimacing as her newborn notion of having a wild rebound fling with Zach bit the dust. Studmuffin had just called her a ragamuffin. And she had to admit that she felt like one. She was grungy from head to toe. Her hair was straggling, her clothes were torn, her make-up half melted away. Yep, she was every man’s idea of a real love goddess, all right! Which proved he’d probably only been teasing her before, with that remark about a private viewing, flirting casually with no real intent behind his words.
    Which was a shame, actually. With her marriage on the rocks, and her feminine