Aboard the Wishing Star by Debra Parmley Read Free Book Online Page B

you crazy? I can't do that. Everyone will be watching and I'm not sure I remember much from the swimming lessons."
    "Right," Viv said. "We have the best view right here anyway."
    "Thank you, Viv," Kara leaned back and exhaled.
    "No takers?" The man sounded disappointed. "All right, men. Show us if you have enough balls."
    Nate laughed then glanced at Kara. He grinned at her and she glanced down.
    No, everything is still where it belongs.
    She tugged at her top and saw her skin was getting pink. The mid-day sun reflected off the water. Once the games ended, she'd move into the shade.
    "Let's see if Nate and Adam will catch the show with us after dinner," Viv said.
    "Okay." Kara felt giddy at the thought of a whole evening with him. Dinner and a show never sounded so good.
    Nate climbed out of the water, water streaming down his muscular body and his swim trunks bulging with ping-pong balls. Kara had to put her hand over her mouth to hide her laugh.
    He grinned at her as he pulled the balls out for the activities director to count. Nate's eyes sparkled.
    "Girl, that man is hot," Viv said.
    Kara couldn't reply.
    The hum inside began again . Oh my. It isn't only his voice and his touch. All he has to do was look over and ... The look in his eyes right now ...
    She gasped. What was wrong with her? She had to get this under control.
    "Breathe, girlfriend," Viv said. She pulled a straw hat out of her beach bag and placed it on Kara's head. "Lean back, stay cool, and don't be obvious. You'll scare him off."
    "Let it be, Viv," Kara snapped, irritated.
    Maybe she was going mad from lack of sex. Viv said it could happen. Kara had never had this problem before. Kara squirmed and hoped she didn't look like she was in heat or something.
    The director handed out ribbons and T-shirts; Nate accepted his award then headed toward Kara's chair.
    Kara sucked in a deep breath and tried to compose herself, but her poise was only a fragile shell. One more smile, one more touch from this hunk of a man and her peace of mind might well be non-existent, the damage irreversible.
    He came closer, his deep brown eyes so intent on her that for a moment she forgot to breathe.
    Then he stood at the foot of her lounge chair.
    Beneath the warmth of his gaze something deep within her melted, yet she remained frozen, waiting for one word from him, her breath coming shallow while her pulse thundered.
    "Hello, sweetheart." His voice held a rasp of excitement.
    She ducked her head, shy. "Hello."
    He knelt then peeked under her straw hat. His brown eyes met hers. "Care to reward the winner with a kiss?"
    She could barely breathe, let alone answer.

Chapter Six
     
     
    Nate winked to let Kara know he was teasing then laid his newly won T-shirt across her legs. "You may not have a prize for me, sweetheart, but I have one for you." He sat on the lounge chair next to her. "There's no way I can wear a medium, and they're out of large."
    "Oh. What?" She was disoriented, her mind on the kiss he'd asked her for.
    Oh. A tee shirt. He's giving me the tee shirt he won.
    "Are you sure?"
    His hand closed over her ankle, and he gave it a squeeze. She inhaled at the contact of his warm hand and froze, unable to speak.
    "Sweetheart, I'm always sure."
    Nate's hand on her skin sent energy shooting all the way up her body. That tingling feeling came over her again and like the other night, she felt torn between wanting to run and wanting to stay. His hand gentle and firm on her ankle anchored her.
    Viv piped up. "Are you guys having dinner in the main dining room tonight?"
    "Wouldn't miss it. That's where the best food is." Nate smiled at Kara and his smile combined with the touch of his hand had Kara melting.
    "Jolly good," Viv said. "Meet up with us to watch the show afterwards?"
    Jolly good? The British expressions Viv picked up from her latest beau will drive me mad if I have to hear them all week.
    Nate tipped his head in an attempt to catch Kara's full attention, which she noted