The Unexpected Honeymoon by Barbara Wallace Page B

to wrap her arms around him and bring comfort.
    She preferred the awareness.
    They grew quiet after that. Now more aware of his proximity than ever, Larissa hugged her shawl close to her body. The flimsy material needed anchoring against the sea breeze anyway. She looked across the beach to the ocean which loomed black next to the silver land. Between the moon’s brightness and the walkway lights, she could make out the white of the foam left behind each time a wave crashed. “I wonder if the tide is going in or out,” she mused aloud.
    â€œOut,” Carlos replied. “See the line?” He stopped and pointed to a strip of land where the sand shifted from silver to the color of gray cement. “That is the high tide mark. The sand above the water is freshly wet, which says the water has already been there and is starting to recede.”
    â€œI’m impressed. Is knowing the high tide mark part of your job, as well?”
    â€œMore a sign that I walk this path too often.”
    â€œAnd how often is that?” she asked.
    â€œTwice a day at least. It’s the only way to see what’s going on...”
    His voice drifted off at the end, along with his attention. Following his gaze, Larissa saw that he’d focused on a shadow up beach, right at the surf line.
    â€œIs that what I think it is?” Looked an awful lot like two people reenacting the famous beach scene from
From Here to Eternity.
    A giggle pierced the night air. Moments later, the shadows became upright and ran toward the villas. Larissa tried hard not to giggle herself. “I see what you mean about forgetting your surroundings. Love and paradise.”
    â€œIndeed.” From the tension in his voice, the scene made that raw nerve flare again. Had Carlos ever rolled in the surf?
What hardened your heart? Had it been his wife? Her illness?
So many questions danced around her head.
    As it turned out, the shadows were staying in the VIP section. Before Larissa realized, she and Carlos had arrived at the beachside entrance to her villa. The pathway ended only a few feet beyond, disappearing into a stretch of silver that became the lip of the lagoon. Larissa could see how the shadows had gotten carried away. With nothing but palm trees and sand, it was easy to feel like the only two people on the planet.
    â€œThank you for walking me home,” she said.
    â€œThank
you
for staying so late to help me.”
    She went to smile up at Carlos, only to be attacked by a case of nerves dancing around her stomach. Silly, but all of a sudden she felt like a teenager saying good-night on a date. A part of her knew she should turn and head through the door, while another, stronger part, remained rooted to the spot, capable of little more than swaying back and forth on the balls of her feet. “What time are you presenting your proposal to the Stevases?” she asked.
    â€œNine o’clock,” Carlos replied. “Why?”
    â€œWould you mind if I joined you?”
    â€œYou have already given up part of your tri—”
    â€œI don’t mind,” she interrupted. “I’m invested now. I want to see what Linda Stevas thinks of my ideas.” What she didn’t want to think about was how the suggestion popped into her head as soon as she realized saying good-night might be the last time she spent time with him this week. “So, do you mind?”
    â€œNot at all. In fact, your presence would be very...welcome.”
    The way he said the world, rolling it off his tongue, turned the nerves into butterflies. “Then, I’ll see you
mañana?
”
    â€œMañana,”
Carlos replied. “I am looking forward to it.”
    His gaze had dropped to her mouth, causing her breath to catch. Larissa rose on tiptoes, compelled by a need to lean closer, only to catch herself before the moment got out of hand. This wasn’t a date.
    Spinning around, she unlocked her hotel door and