Trust in Us by Altonya Washington

comfortable.”
    “Mmm-hmm.” Whatever interest Gage had in talking seemed to have vanished, for he suddenly pushed off the doorframe and advanced.
    Alythia had opened her mouth to thank him for returning her shoes but he never gave her the chance. For the second time that day, her body reacted to the delicious sensation of his mouth on hers. Again he began with a tentative exploration that quickly blossomed into a sensuous entwining of their tongues.
    Gage withdrew from the kiss to outline the curve of her cheek, brush the sensitive skin behind her ear and trail his nose along her neck.
    “Gage?”
    “Mmm...”
    “Do you kiss all women you know so soon after you meet them?”
    He nipped at her earlobe. “Would you believe that I’ve forgotten every other woman I’ve ever met?”
    “No,” she gasped, still enraptured by his touch and feeling the vibration of laughter through his body.
    “You really know how to hurt a man.”
    “It’s not out of habit.” Aly felt her sandals bumping her bottom when he switched them to his other hand while he held her. “So what do I have to do to get my shoes back?” she murmured against his jaw, wanting his mouth on hers.
    Something in Alythia’s question, however, cooled Gage’s ardor, for he rested his forehead on her shoulder as if he was suddenly drained. He straightened.
    “You don’t have to do one thing.” He glanced around the living area, grimacing slightly, as though he was displeased with himself.
    “I’ll...um...I’ll let you get some rest.” He retreated to the door.
    “Okay....” Her agreement was at odds with the questions and confusion clouding her mind. Had she said—done—something wrong?
    Gage offered the sandals and she hoped her efforts to mask disappointment were good enough. Aly took special care not to let her fingers touch his hands when she took the shoes.
    “Thanks.” She didn’t bother to show him to the door and he left without a look back.
    * * *
    “Is this only day two of our fantastic Caribbean getaway?” Jeena moaned, holding her head in her hands while she and Alythia took in the beach view from Jeena’s balcony later that morning.
    They had ordered breakfast for Orchid and Myrna, who were on the way to join them. Aly enjoyed the breeze and shade while relaxing in one of the lounge chairs surrounding the squat glass table that carried their breakfast fixings—fruit, biscuits, cheeses, turkey bacon and sausage, and a bowl of breakfast potatoes. Matching tea-and coffeepots were the table’s centerpieces.
    “You should eat,” Alythia ordered from beneath the wide brim of a floppy straw hat. She risked taking a peek at Jeena, smiling when the woman pouted for a moment longer, then delved into the filling meal.
    Aly took on greeting responsibilities when she heard the faint chime of the doorbell. She found the last two members of her crew on the other side.
    “Long time no see,” Myrna drawled, tugging Aly into a hug.
    Orchid had no time for such pleasantries. She’d already pushed her way past Aly and Myrna and was headed to the balcony.
    “What the hell did you say to Zeke?” she demanded of Jeena.
    “Dammit.” Alythia rolled her eyes toward Myrna. “I just got Jeen to calm down. This is the last thing they need to be talking about.”
    “You can forget that,” Myrna countered while they speed-walked to the balcony. “Zeke was bitchin’ to Jay about it pretty much all night. Ork’s not in much of a ‘benefit of the doubt’ frame of mind.”
    Aly stumbled to a halt. “How do you know that?”
    “Oh, Dane and I stopped by their room before we went back to ours.”
    Alythia delivered a quick prayer that the falling-out sure to occur when Dane relieved Myrna of the notion that they were a couple would wait until after things settled with Zeke and Jeena.
    Or Orchid and Jeena, as it were. Aly arrived out on the balcony to find her oldest friends squared off in the middle of a shouting match.
    “How can you take