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happened. She, like him, had forgotten her clothes. But if nothing else, he was a gentleman. He pulled a contract out of his briefcase and perused it, trying not to notice the way the towel slid open, revealing her leg. The way her plump white breasts peeked out of the top.
    She hurried back inside the bathroom and when she came out again, she was dressed in her suit skirt and sleeveless blouse, holding her jacket in her hand.
    She tossed her jacket on the bed and checked her watch. “Should we go?” Without waiting for him to answer, she walked outside.
    â€œLessa, wait,” he said, tossing down the contract and following. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œWe’re lovers, remember?” he said, sliding his arm around her waist. But the unhappiness in her eyes was almost enough to cool his desire. “It’s almost over with,” he said, as much to her as to himself. “As soon as she signs the papers we can go back to business as usual.”
    They walked down a winding path, following the signs to the restaurant. Although the sun had nearly set, it was still hot and muggy. They wove their way around thick patches of bougainvillea and tropical ferns, lit with multicolored spotlights. The restaurant was situated on a hill overlooking the sea. Completely open to the outside, it was lit only by candles, their flames flickering in the warm breeze. Rick gave the hostess their names and they were promptly led to a small, intimate table in the corner.
    â€œI don’t see her,” Lessa said.
    â€œI don’t either,” Rick said, taking the seat next to her. “But that doesn’t mean she’s not watching us.”
    â€œWhat should we do?”
    â€œLet’s just talk like two people who are interested in what the other has to say.”
    She glanced nervously at the door. She looked so uncomfortable he felt almost sorry for her. What had happened to the cool and collected woman from the office? The one who had fired him and then just as quickly negotiated his return?
    â€œWhere are you from?” she asked.
    â€œI grew up outside the city. In fact, my parents still live in the same house.”
    â€œDo you have any brothers or sisters?”
    â€œI have a sister and a brother.”
    â€œDo you see them often?”
    â€œFairly.”
    This was painful. She was looking everywhere but at him. “So, Lessa,” he said, touching her hand to get her attention, “what are your plans for Christmas?”
    â€œMy Gran and I are going to have a quiet dinner. Just the two of us.”
    â€œYour grandmother?”
    â€œNo. She’s my great-aunt. My only family. She fell down a year ago and hurt her hip, so I moved her in with me. She’s better now but I like having her around.”
    She lived with her aunt? The image of Alessandra as a sweet and caring niece did not jive with the cold, self-reliant woman he knew from the office. “That’s nice of you to take care of her.”
    â€œIt’s the least I could do. After all, she took me in after my dad died. She’d never had any children and she took the role of surrogate parent very seriously. She was great about the whole tennis thing. Even though she was already older she flew with me all over the world. She attended every match.”
    â€œI heard you turned down an opportunity to go pro.”
    â€œI don’t know about that,” she said modestly. “But I knew that if I chose to go any further, it would’ve taken all my energy and time. I wouldn’t have been able to go to school or get my MBA.”
    â€œEducation is important, but not many people turn down an opportunity to be a professional athlete.”
    â€œUltimately I felt like I had little choice. I made a promise to my father.”
    â€œYou promised him you’d get your degree?”
    â€œNo,” she said, her