gay?â
She scowled. âNot every guy who cuts hair for a living is gay.â
âI didnât mean that. I meant it seems kind of odd that you and he wouldnât haveâ¦you know. Gotten together.â
She glanced away. âIt wouldnât have worked. Ian has always been very fond of beautiful women. His newest girlfriend is a model. So you can see why I wouldnât be his type.â
Jack pondered that for a moment. Obviously she had little insight into her attractiveness, a basic beauty that went far beyond physical qualities, not that she was lacking in those either. Maybe she didnât see herself as model material, but Jack sure as heck had noticed all her finer points, and she had more than a few.
She was also full of surprises. Considering her iron will, he would never have guessed that sheâd have a problem with being alone. Quite different from his attitude. âIâve personally found that itâs not so badbeing by yourself. Fewer problems that way. No having to get used to another personâs habits.â
âIan was the perfect roommate,â Lizzie said adamantly. âHe was always there when I needed him.â
âBut not anymore, huh?â
âOh, heâll always be there, just not in the same way. Iâll try to find a new roommate when I get home. Or I might wait until after the babyâs born.â
âAnother guy?â
âProbably. But until then, Iâll manage just fine.â
âThen whatâs the problem tonight?â
She shrugged. âI guess itâs because this is a strange place. Strange sounds and stuff. Iâll feel more comfortable knowing youâre in the next room.â
Heâd only feel more comfortable with her in the next country, and his discomfort had centered itself below his belt. Right now it was all he could do not to touch her, kiss away her concern, make love to her until dawn. Maybe even after dawn.
Why the hell he wanted to do all those things, Jack couldnât say. He barely knew her. He had yet to spend twenty-four hours with her. And she was pregnant. But he had to admit that the moment heâd laid eyes on her, heâd wanted her in some crazy, elemental way.
Lust, pure and simple, he tried to tell himself, even though he couldnât recall the last time a woman had affected him so strongly. Admittedly he had desired a few women after only limited contact, but that had never gone beyond animal attraction.
Lizzie was different. Lizzie was special. Lizziewas driving him to distraction and she probably would as long as she graced his boat.
âYou are cold,â he said when he noticed her slight tremor.
âYeah, itâs a bit chilly out here, especially when you donât have on a whole lot of clothes.â
He didnât need to hear that, or think about it, but he did. In vivid detail. His sail suddenly went to full mast, and not the one on his boat. Even though she probably couldnât see his current predicament, Jack turned his back to her. âIâll be down in a few minutes. I promise.â
âOkay. Iâll be fine until then. Just stick your head in the door and let me know that youâre back.â
Heâd like to do more than that. Heâd like to climb into bed with her and warm her up with his hands and his mouth. âIâll be sure to do that.â If only he could do more. He could, but he wouldnât.
Gripping the rail, Jack let out the breath heâd been holding when he heard the sound of footfalls heading away from him.
âOne more thing, Captain.â
So much for a return to normal respiration and slow deflation. âYeah.â
âYou have a really nice boat.â
âThanks.â
âAnd your buttâs not so bad, either.â
Â
âAhab, what is this?â Lizzie called from the head the next morning.
No way was Jack going to make the same mistakeagain by walking in on her