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in some soul binding way.
    But in the light of day, he gave her his broad back, retreating to order lunch.
    Proving she’d been suffering from an intimate illusion. Biology and sex hormones had tricked her into thinking he was the one.
    That wasn’t possible. He wasn’t what she wanted. He wasn’t an open book, and he wasn’t willing to love her. He was exactly who he’d promised he’d be, a good sex partner. That’s all.
    She hadn’t come for more, and she wasn’t deluded enough to believe she could change him. She’d just become confused after mind-numbing passion. Now it was time to become unconfused. She untangled her legs from the sheets and headed for the shower.
    Get a grip. Leave the questions. Focus on the island and the physical man.
    That’s how she’d accomplish her goal of having fun without falling in love.
    Afterward she’d fly home, where she’d forget about Joel Stanfield, once and for all. And get on with her life and her plans. The ones that didn’t involve secretive males, neutered of emotion.
    When this trip was over, Ava would be done with Joel Stanfield. End of story.

Chapter Eight
    Ava’s head slumped forward in the plane’s seat. She finally gave in and fell asleep after his jet reached cruising altitude. They were on their way back to the city. Seven days had flown by.
    Joel rubbed at his jaw and let his eyes drink in the way her features softened in sleep. Her lips parted as if welcoming his kiss.
    He’d love to taste her again but she needed the rest. He could tell from the way she’d snapped at him this morning while they’d packed, she was exhausted from the swimming and love making and never sleeping.
    They’d filled the trip with lounging in the sun, snorkeling, and talking about nothing personal. At night, Joel would reach for her, and they’d made love until their bodies gave out.
    But afterward he’d force himself to turn his back, and she’d turn hers. A shard of glass sank into his gut because he knew he wasn’t being a great lover. He should have held her and whispered endearments, not pulled away. She deserved more.
    Maybe he shouldn’t have kept her at Stanfield Cay the entire seven days.
    But she’d given him the best sex of his life.
    And what had he given her in return? His icy cold shoulder.
    Making love with her had touched him in a way he’d never have predicted. Being with her was like being with no other woman. Ava made him feel like she belonged to him. And worse she’d made him start to feel. To care.
    When he thought of how her last lover had made her feel inferior, every protective instinct in him came to life.
    That was why he’d been such an ass. Why he’d had to shove her away.
    Maybe it would have been better if he’d have severed ties after the first night. But he ached for her. And he’d hoped if he spent the entire week with her, his hunger would finally be satisfied.
    Big mistake. Now his body growled with a limitless need.
    It was good they were going their separate ways today. Better to cut it off now. He was not what she needed. She wanted a man who’d fall in love with her, and he couldn’t. He’d lost too much to ever want to expose himself to that kind of vulnerability again.
    Ava groaned in her sleep. Her brow scrunched as if she were uncomfortable. She mumbled something that made no sense.
    He reached over, took off her headphones, and switched off the cabin’s movie. Then he scooped her against him, reclined his chair, and laid her head on his chest. She sighed and snuggled closer. She fit him, her soft curves were made to hold his hard lines.
    Something inside him relaxed as he smoothed the silk of her light brown hair. He frowned. He should carry her to the back bedroom and settle her in there, by herself. He should quit stroking her back and head.
    But he knew he couldn’t. He was too greedy. He wanted to savor her, to drink in her feminine vanilla and citrus scent, to have her silk hair tickle his neck, to feel her