Tempted in the Tropics by Tracy March Page B

shoulders. She gasped, grabbing his wrists, but not tightly enough to keep him from massaging the mud onto her skin. It happened so fast she didn’t know whether to be shocked, disgusted, or turned on. She settled for a little of each.
    Lane shook the water from his hair, seeming satisfied. He looked even hotter all wet, if that was possible.
    “Gross,” she said, even though she thought she might melt as his strong hands smoothed soft mud on her shoulders. She couldn’t wait for her turn to slime him.
    “Medicinal properties,” he teased. “Remember?” After covering her shoulders, he swept his fingertips along her neck, taking his time and lightly swirling circles all the way up to her earlobes.
    Her breath hitched. “I can almost stand it on my shoulders, but the squishing between my toes is creeping me out.”
    With one swift move, he swept her off her feet and cradled her to his solid chest. Her stomach jumped into her throat. “Put me down!” She playfully flailed in his arms but he held tight.
    “Do you want mud squishing between your toes or not?” His eyes glinted with mischief. Paige realized she was a fool to keep fighting. Up-close-and-personal with his pecs was a pretty awesome place to be. She blinked the water from her eyes and looked up into Lane’s. He bent his head down and lifted her up so his face was just inches from hers.
    Holy crap, he’s going to kiss me! Paige’s heart did a backflip with a twist. They’d already gone from truce to lip-lock?
    “Better?” he asked, his breath warm and minty, his gaze fixed on hers.
    For once, she was speechless, her pulse thrumming. After what seemed like forever, she found her voice. “A little,” she teased. “I’m still covered in mud.” Did she really want to kiss the guy who didn’t seem to care if she couldn’t make the rent on Sweet Bee’s next month? Besides, one kiss could make the rest of her time in St. Lucia really awkward. Or really incredible.
    “Then maybe it’ll be a lot better,” he said softly, “if I do this.”
    Paige tensed, still unsure about which way she wanted this to go. Her mind argued no while her lips screamed yes! He drew her closer for a moment…
    Then unceremoniously dunked her into the water.
    …
    Lane had totally wanted to kiss Paige, but then he’d second-guessed himself—and her. Was starting a vacation fling the best idea? He’d never had a one-night stand, or any relationship he knew would be temporary from the get-go—especially with someone he disagreed with, and that was being generous. She had brokered a truce between them, but he kept thinking back to Maple Creek and how she’d outed him to Mrs. Hawthorne, then had barely spoken a full sentence to him at the blood drive. She had no idea where he was coming from. Regardless, she was incredibly hard to resist, with her sultry gaze and shimmering lips, and her lithe body pressed close to his. Maybe they could forget about Maple Creek, at least while they were in paradise.
    Paige emerged from the water looking feisty and determined, her fists full of mud. She quickly slimed most of it across his pecs then clapped her muddy hands against his cheeks, pulling him close.
    His heart revved. Is she going to kiss me?
    “It’s time to get serious with the mud.” She released him and smudged a glob of black goo on the end of his nose. “There. Where’s my camera when I really need it?”
    Lane playfully swiped the mud off of his nose. The attendant smiled and the other visitors seemed amused as they gathered and left. Before he could dip in the water and rinse his face, Paige began smoothing out the mounds she’d heaped on his chest, her delicate hands and fingers teasing him with the lightest touch. She disappeared beneath the water and came up seductively soaked, with more mud in her hands, and carefully covered every exposed inch of him. When she was finished, she took a step back and studied her work. “Perfect,” she grinned. “Now you