with one of her own that said, “And you wouldn’t have stopped me.”
Minutes ticked by and her world subtly shifted. Colby wanted to wrap her fingers in this woman’s blond hair and use it to pull her mouth to hers, to lick her teeth, which were as white as a Florida beach. She was instantly aroused at the memory of how she had responded in her arms, how she tasted, how she arched into her touch. She wanted her again, this time more than their fevered groping of the night before. Much more. Finally, she held out her hand. “Colby Taylor, surf instructor.”
The woman looked at it, her eyes going dark. “Elizabeth Collins, vacationer.” They shook hands.
Elizabeth didn’t say what she did for a living, instead stating her current situation. She could be anything. She had a confidence and sophistication that would easily make her comfortable in a boardroom. Colby’s curiosity was piqued but she didn’t push it. It didn’t really matter what she did for a living. She was here and Colby wanted to know for how long.
“Are you a guest at the Carlyle?” She caught the eye of the waitress who had been hovering nearby and indicated two more drinks.
“Yes.”
“How long are you staying on my beautiful island?”
“Your island?” she asked, looking toward the crashing waves.
Colby chuckled. “Well, it’s not really my island.” She liked Elizabeth’s sense of humor.
“Did you just lie to me, Colby Taylor, surf instructor?” Elizabeth asked with fake outrage.
“Not at all. I was born not far from here. I tend to be a bit territorial about my homeland.” It was true. She did think of Maui as her island. It was where she grew up, learned how to swim, rode her first wave, and kissed her first girl. Now, twenty years later, it was where she came to find peace.
Elizabeth saw the way the waitress looked at Colby, then her, when she returned with their drinks. She was familiar with that look, which said she wanted more of what she’d already had and Elizabeth was in her way. She had noticed that expression on the faces of several women on the beach and around the resort when Colby was near. And why not? With her trim body, tight muscles, and confident swagger she was more than attractive and certainly could have any woman in the place. And she probably had. What in the hell was she thinking last night?
Elizabeth shook her head. She wasn’t thinking. And she was headed down that same one-way road right now. Before she got into any more trouble, she stood.
“I have to go,” she said quickly. By Colby’s surprised expression she either hadn’t expected it or wasn’t accustomed to being shut down.
“But we’ve just met. Can I interest you in dinner?” Colby rose.
“Yes, you can,” she wanted to say. In fact, she was interested in much more than dinner but instead replied, “Thanks, but I have plans.” She stepped away for some breathing room. “Thank you for the drink. It was a pleasure meeting you, Colby Taylor.” Before she could change her mind, she walked away.
“What the hell?” Stunned, Colby watched Elizabeth practically glide down the sidewalk toward the resort lobby. All the signs had been pointing to a continuation of where they left off last night. So why was she sitting here alone? One minute Elizabeth was comfortably flirting with her, the next she had doused the obvious flame burning between them. Colby shook her head. The waitress returned but this time stopped closer than she had when Elizabeth was with her. Even in her confused state she couldn’t miss her intent.
“Hey, Colby,” the waitress said after Elizabeth was out of earshot. “Wanna get together later? I’m off at eight.”
The waitress was looking at her with absolutely no shyness. Colby had gone out with her a few times. Actually, stayed in with her, and she didn’t expect anything other than a mutually good time. She had given Colby exactly what she needed at the time with no strings, unless you counted
Minutes ticked by and her world subtly shifted. Colby wanted to wrap her fingers in this woman’s blond hair and use it to pull her mouth to hers, to lick her teeth, which were as white as a Florida beach. She was instantly aroused at the memory of how she had responded in her arms, how she tasted, how she arched into her touch. She wanted her again, this time more than their fevered groping of the night before. Much more. Finally, she held out her hand. “Colby Taylor, surf instructor.”
The woman looked at it, her eyes going dark. “Elizabeth Collins, vacationer.” They shook hands.
Elizabeth didn’t say what she did for a living, instead stating her current situation. She could be anything. She had a confidence and sophistication that would easily make her comfortable in a boardroom. Colby’s curiosity was piqued but she didn’t push it. It didn’t really matter what she did for a living. She was here and Colby wanted to know for how long.
“Are you a guest at the Carlyle?” She caught the eye of the waitress who had been hovering nearby and indicated two more drinks.
“Yes.”
“How long are you staying on my beautiful island?”
“Your island?” she asked, looking toward the crashing waves.
Colby chuckled. “Well, it’s not really my island.” She liked Elizabeth’s sense of humor.
“Did you just lie to me, Colby Taylor, surf instructor?” Elizabeth asked with fake outrage.
“Not at all. I was born not far from here. I tend to be a bit territorial about my homeland.” It was true. She did think of Maui as her island. It was where she grew up, learned how to swim, rode her first wave, and kissed her first girl. Now, twenty years later, it was where she came to find peace.
Elizabeth saw the way the waitress looked at Colby, then her, when she returned with their drinks. She was familiar with that look, which said she wanted more of what she’d already had and Elizabeth was in her way. She had noticed that expression on the faces of several women on the beach and around the resort when Colby was near. And why not? With her trim body, tight muscles, and confident swagger she was more than attractive and certainly could have any woman in the place. And she probably had. What in the hell was she thinking last night?
Elizabeth shook her head. She wasn’t thinking. And she was headed down that same one-way road right now. Before she got into any more trouble, she stood.
“I have to go,” she said quickly. By Colby’s surprised expression she either hadn’t expected it or wasn’t accustomed to being shut down.
“But we’ve just met. Can I interest you in dinner?” Colby rose.
“Yes, you can,” she wanted to say. In fact, she was interested in much more than dinner but instead replied, “Thanks, but I have plans.” She stepped away for some breathing room. “Thank you for the drink. It was a pleasure meeting you, Colby Taylor.” Before she could change her mind, she walked away.
“What the hell?” Stunned, Colby watched Elizabeth practically glide down the sidewalk toward the resort lobby. All the signs had been pointing to a continuation of where they left off last night. So why was she sitting here alone? One minute Elizabeth was comfortably flirting with her, the next she had doused the obvious flame burning between them. Colby shook her head. The waitress returned but this time stopped closer than she had when Elizabeth was with her. Even in her confused state she couldn’t miss her intent.
“Hey, Colby,” the waitress said after Elizabeth was out of earshot. “Wanna get together later? I’m off at eight.”
The waitress was looking at her with absolutely no shyness. Colby had gone out with her a few times. Actually, stayed in with her, and she didn’t expect anything other than a mutually good time. She had given Colby exactly what she needed at the time with no strings, unless you counted
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