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beach at the end of a red clay path one afternoon when they were hiking in the jungle. It had been so hot that they’d taken their clothes off and jumped right into the water, and that had become their thing . Skinny-dipping at the beach they now called Undiscovered.
    “Yes.”
    Luce scooted closer to her on the bench, as if there was anyone else around to hear her. “Wanna go?”
    Goose bumps chased excitement up Kate’s limbs. Did she want to go? Hell yes . “It’s Sage’s first day with the kids, but we can go after we’re done.” Sage. I’d like to see him skinny-dipping.
    “Of course. But what’s that hesitation I’m hearing?” Luce ran her eyes over Kate’s face.
    “Nothing.”
    “Right, and I’m a virgin.”
    “You are?” Kate feigned surprise. “Sage has just thrown me a little off-kilter.”
     
    SAGE AND OSCAR set up tables outside the school for the art class. He snuck glimpses of Kate as she placed pencils by each of the seats, and his mind drifted to the morning. He hadn’t expected to introduce Kate to his mother, much less Rush.
    After Rush’s comment, he’d expected Kate to stalk off. Her body had gone completely rigid, and she’d clenched her teeth so tightly that he could hear them grinding together. He was pleasantly surprised when she’d stuck around—even if forced to do so by his arm around her shoulder. But then, when he’d kissed her cheek…Oh, when he’d kissed that soft skin and smelled the sweet fragrance that could only be described as tenderness personified, he hadn’t wanted to stop.
    “I think we’re all set.” Kate’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “The kids are excited.”
    “Awesome. Hey, Kate, listen. I’m sorry about my family. Rush isn’t really a jerk. He’s a good guy, but he’s my older brother, so you got to hear how brothers treat each other. If you felt pressured, we don’t have to move forward with the mural.”
    “No. We’ll do it. You can contact your mother later and have her arrange for the supplies. I think you are right. What you said finally got through to me.” She locked her eyes on his. “So did Rush. Loud and clear.”
    He narrowed his gaze. “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “Nothing I care to discuss.”
    She turned away, and he caught her by the arm. He’d been doing that a lot lately, and it never failed to surprise him how simply touching her set his nerves ablaze.
    “You don’t really believe that shit, do you?” His voice was a heated whisper.
    She yanked her arm away. “Why do you care what I think?”
    Christ . Goddamn it, Rush . “How did we go from being friends to this?”
    She looked away, but not before Sage saw a flash of hurt in her eyes.
    “Kate, maybe I misread the signals between us. God knows I’m not the best with women. But even if I did, you gotta know that I’m not anything like what Rush said.”
    She didn’t respond. He was beginning to see why Rush always said that women were a big pain in the ass and he needed a woman in his life like he needed a hole in his fucking head. He was so damn confused. Why did she look hurt? It was him who should be hurt by her implication. And how the hell had he completely misread her? It was the beer. It had to be the beer. Without it, she had no interest in him, obviously. Why was he so damn attracted to a woman who was so frustrating and judgmental? If he wanted that type of person in his life, he could date any number of women back home.
    He didn’t want any of the women back home.
    “Forget it.” He nodded toward the kids gathering around the tables. “Let’s just get through this. Then I’ll go to town and arrange for the art supplies for the mural. The next two weeks will feel like they’re over before they even have a chance to get started.”
    Before we even have a chance to get started .

Chapter Six
    THE CHILDREN PORED over their drawings, their faces intent, pencils clutched tightly in their eager fingers as the afternoon sun