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have to get to work on desalinating
seawater if we’re not rescued tomorrow. A few coconuts won’t provide us enough
to drink.”
    “I’m sure we’ll be rescued before it becomes an issue.” She prayed
they would. The giant SOS they’d formed out of rocks, leaves and branches on
the beach would help, especially since they planned to light it on fire after
dark.
    She picked up the basket she’d pilfered from the tree house
and lined with a palm leaf. Extending the platter to him, she pointed out each
item to Chase. “I found coconuts, of course, a few ripe enough bananas and the piece
de resistance , heart of palm.” She’d worked for a long time, steaming the
tough palm husk then working with her fingernails to open it and get out the
tender flesh.
    Chase lifted an eyebrow as he helped himself to some of each
food. “Impressive.” He tried the heart of palm and nodded. “Pretty tasty, but
not good enough for the win.”
    She grabbed a chunk of coconut and shoved it into her mouth.
“We’ll see.” But she wasn’t hopeful. She’d tried for better than an hour to
catch a fish but even after Chase had relinquished the crude fishing pole to
her, she’d had no luck.
    “Let’s see how my entry stacks up against yours.” He used two
sticks to pull a charred leaf-wrapped item off the fire then set the steaming
packet on one of the rocks they’d used to ring the fire pit. Delicious aromas
filled the air.
    He breathed deeply and let out an exaggerated moan. “I
haven’t had grouper since I visited my grandmother in Miami last year. Great
stuff.”
    She rolled her eyes but she couldn’t very well deny her
excitement in having a real meal. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just open it up.” She was
already salivating.
    Chase had on a smug grin as he tore at the package. More
deliciously scented steam plumed into the air as he peeled back the cover to
reveal the fish. He used the sharp edge of his axe to cut it open then scooped
some of the delicate white flesh onto another leaf. He topped it with some
brown and orange goo from a coconut shell on the ground.
    He handed her the leaf plate and a crude fork he’d fashioned
from some twigs and thread. “Try it.”
    She lifted the food close to her nose for a better whiff. It
smelled vaguely sweet. “What’s the gooey stuff?”
    He gave her a wide smile as he fixed himself a portion. “Fig
and mango chutney.”
    Much as she wanted to throw the whole meal at him, her
stomach growled for the food. Maybe it only smelled and looked good. The fish
could be tough or taste bad. But her first bite melted in her mouth.
Circumstances aside, the grouper was flaky and moist, cooked to perfection and
the chutney complemented it perfectly.
    She eyed Chase suspiciously. “How did you do this?”
    He gave her a smug grin. “I worked part time in an upscale seafood
restaurant while I was in college. One of the chef’s signature dishes was
grilled grouper with apricot chutney.” He shrugged. “The figs and mango are
actually better.”
    She grumbled at the unfairness of it yet she couldn’t stop
herself from devouring every last bite.
    Chase set his leaf plate aside. He handed her his coconut
shell cup. “Drink?”
    She accepted his offer, sipped the liquid without releasing
his gaze. God those eyes were the bluest she’d ever seen.
    She’d always been fiercely competitive but losing this bet
wasn’t so bad. So she’d have to go up against him for the sheik’s
account—providing they ever made it off the island—but she’d also be able to
indulge the urges that had been tearing at her since that very first kiss back
in New York.
    Hell, the possibility that they might not survive this
ordeal was reason enough for her to give in to temptation. She set her cup down
on the beach and watched as Chase lit the SOS on fire.
    “Any planes flying over us won’t be able to miss this.” He
settled beside her and leaned back on his elbows.
    “I guess you know you won the bet, huh?”