Chapter 6: PART ONE

Bailey was afraid she was going to throw up. Or pass out. Or scream. Or maybe melt into a puddle or something. What on earth was Zack Elliot, the man she'd walked away from despite the pain it caused her, doing here on Mimosa Key? And at the Casa Blanca? Why wasn't he in Nowhere, Alaska, immersed in his dream of a life of flying? And just like that, a truckload of memories slammed into her. She wondered if it would cause too much of a commotion if she just turned and ran from the lobby as fast as she could. Back to the villa. Back to...where? Naples?

Don't be ridiculous.

She drew in a deep breath in an effort to calm her skittering nerves, and wet her lips.

"What a surprise to see you here. Aren't you a long way from Alaska?" There. She sounded calm, didn't she? Not as if her entire life had just been turned upside down and sideways.

He just stood there for a long moment, staring at her, apparently having as much trouble getting himself under control as she was.

"I, uh, flew a client here today." He paused, as if trying to find the right explanation. "I had some time off and decided to check out the resort."

"It's a beautiful place." She licked her lower lip again. "I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself."

He stared at her lower lip, as if mesmerized by the tiny movement of her tongue. Finally, he cleared his throat.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Her muscles tightened at the harsh tone of his voice. "Uh-"

He held up a hand. "Scratch that. I didn't mean it to come out like that. It's just the shock of seeing you. Here. Are you vacationing here?"

She shook her head. "Business retreat with a little fun mixed in."

He looked around and over her shoulder. "So, are you, uh, married? Is your husband here with you?"

"I'm not married." Self-consciously, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her capris.

"Anyone in the picture?"

Damn, he is persistent.

"No one. How about you?"

He shook his head. "No. Me, neither. Not married, no one in the picture."

He cupped her elbow, and every nerve in her body skittered, every pulse point pounded, especially the one between her thighs. She barely restrained herself from jerking her arm away, especially when he tugged on it.

"Come sit down with me, Bailey. Please? I've thought about you so much every day since I left I was sure I was seeing things. Please sit down and talk to me."

She knew she should politely excuse herself and walk away. But, oh god. Seeing him took her right back to the past and then all the years without him. Even after all this time, she was hungry for every minute with him, every detail of his life.

She nibbled her lower lip, torn between walking away from him and avoiding any kind of problems and desperate to be with him again. In all these years, the emotions and attraction were still as strong as they'd been from the first day. What should she do?

Go for it, idiot. At least you've got the chance to have a couple of memorable days with him. If he's interested, that is.

"Okay." She looked at her watch. "But I don't have a lot of time. I have something going on in an hour."

The muscles in his face tightened. "A date? I thought you were here on business. What kind of business, anyway? I thought you wanted to be a lawyer."

"I did. I am." She could hardly think with him standing so close to her, his familiar scent of fresh earth and cedar tantalizing her senses. "The partners in my firm are having our annual retreat here this weekend. This year I'm in charge of it."

He raised his eyebrows. "Partners? You've done well for yourself." His lips curved in that killer smile that just did it for her. "But then, I always knew you would."

"Well." She shrugged. "Junior partner. Anyway, I have some time before I have to get ready."

They both looked at the patio bar and then into the bar inside, both of them jammed.

"Let's take a walk on the beach," he suggested. "It's too crowded in here."

Bailey wasn't sure that was such a good idea. The bar would be a better place. Safety in numbers and all that. She was shaking so much inside she wondered if she'd be able to walk, but she took a deep breath and nodded her head. Whatever she did, she had to keep the conversation neutral, and that would take a lot of self-discipline, something she'd seldom had where Zack Elliot was concerned. She led him along the path from the main building down to the sand. The moment they hit the beach, she stepped out of her sandals and hung them from two fingers.

Keep it light, Bailey.

"Come on," she urged, grinning. "I think it's the law here at Barefoot Bay that you have to take your shoes off when you get to the beach."

"Yeah?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"I am. It's the motto here. Kick off your shoes and-" She stopped herself abruptly. The saying was "Kick off your shoes and fall in love," but she wasn't about to tell Zack that.

"And what?"

"And, um, have a good time. Come on. The sand here feels great beneath your feet." She waved at the water. "And this is, after all, Barefoot Bay."

For a moment, she thought he'd resist. Then he stepped out of his shoes, bent to pull off his socks, and picked up the shoes with one hand.

"Okay. Let's see if the beach is as advertised."

They started down the beach, walking along the water's edge, paying little attention to the sunbathers now clearing out at the end of the afternoon, or the kids reluctantly hurrying back to their parents. All she was aware of was Zack, as always larger than life. As it always had done, his presence overwhelmed and surrounded her. Twenty-four years of discipline were fading away, one year at a time.

They walked in silence, Bailey so hyperaware of Zack her skin actually buzzed. In all her daydreams, all her night dreams, all her moments of longing, she had never actually believed Fate would throw her together with Zack again. He looked so good. The polo he wore with Wallace Charters on the left side showed her how much his athletic body had filled out with solid muscle.

The high cheekbones and square jaw were still the same, but there were lines around his eyes, probably from squinting into the sun. His dark hair still had a slight curl to it, only now the ebony stands were sprinkled with gray. Age had been very good to him, and his success had given him a relaxed self-confidence she found to be a big turn-on.

Damn!