Sex on Summer Sabbatical by Stacey Lynn Rhodes Page B

his snorkel from his mouth and said, “I think you’re ready for some shade. You look pretty pink.” Adam pressed a finger to her cheek then nodded as though to confirm his suspicions. “Yep. Definitely pink. Break time.”
    She followed suit and grimaced at the rubbery taste she was aware of now that she wasn’t distracted by the wonders of the coral beds just offshore from their condo complex. “But I can see some really yellow fish I wanted to—”
    “Later. Trust me. The fish will still be there, and we have a few days yet. Besides, I have a surprise for you.”
    “Another one?” He’d already surprised her this morning with a gift of what he’d called a rashguard, but was basically just a long-sleeved, swimsuit material shirt—to keep her from getting burned while they went snorkelling, he’d told her—then had shown her the snorkelling gear he’d gone to pick up before she’d woken up.
    She glanced longingly one last time at the coral under the water then carefully followed Adam back ashore to the sand. There were actually trees growing along the edge of the grass and beach, so at this time of day, there were shady patches of sand. A few people had brought chairs down, some in the sun and some in the shade, but still there were barely a dozen people within sight in any direction. Adam had chosen their accommodations well.
    After a quick rinse, they walked to their lanai. “Would you like a water?” Tori offered. But before she could open the screen door to go inside, Adam stopped her with a hand on her arm.
    “Sure, but after that, why don’t you take a shower and get cleaned up? We’re going to take a short drive and then have dinner out. If that’s okay?” he hastened to add.
    Tori nodded, already beginning to understand just how much pleasure Adam took in planning and doing. It was actually really nice being on the receiving end of his enthusiasm for different activities, and she was happy to go along with his ideas. He hadn’t hit a clunker yet…other than possibly the rock wall at the gym a couple of weeks ago. She’d got stuck frozen in place partway up the wall and couldn’t force herself to go up or down, or let go. Adam had had to climb up to her and basically prise her fingers from the hand-holds to allow the belayer to lower her back to the floor.
    So, if it didn’t involve heights, she was open for anything he came up with.
    “That sounds great. Should I wear anything specific?”
    “How about the tropical print sundress I saw hanging in the closet? Oh, and bring a sweater.”
    “We’re going to a luau, aren’t we?” Tori chuckled at the crestfallen look on Adam’s face at her having guessed his surprise. She crossed to him and gave him a light kiss. “I love that idea, and thank you for planning it. I think I would’ve figured it out when we pulled up at the venue anyway.”
    “That’s true.” When she would’ve backed away, he held her in place for one more lingering kiss. “Having fun?”
    “The best fun of my life,” she replied in a subconscious echo of her goals. Adam’s expression sobered a bit and he released her from his embrace. She studied him. Not for the first time, she wondered if he indeed knew something about the other goal, the one she hadn’t shared with him and never would. It was possible, since she had thought she’d noticed her notebooks being out of place the day he’d used her computer to check his email. At the time, she’d thought he might have just knocked them askew accidentally then put them back. She wouldn’t have taken him for a snoop. But then again, human nature being what it was, curiosity might have got the better of him…
    However, if he did know about that goal, why on earth hadn’t they had sex yet?
    Still puzzling over that, knowing that the answer wouldn’t be forthcoming any time soon, she excused herself to get ready.
    When she got into the bathroom and had stripped, she gave herself a once-over and grimaced when