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their voices, felt his uneven breath on her shoulder, and nearly cried.
    â€œBut you’re upset.”
    â€œI’ll be okay. Just give me a minute alone.”
    He paused. “I can’t leave you like this. Not after—”
    â€œLet’s not talk about it,” she said desperately. She cringed at the intimacy between them. He was too experienced not to know how aroused she’d been.
    â€œLook at me, Katherine.”
    There it was again, the note of command in his voice.
    When she looked up at him, his hair was ruffled by the wind, his dark eyes blazing with blunt desire. His cheeks flared with the dusky flush of passion. And as she looked at his swollen lips, she touched her own.
    â€œYou’re not alone,” he said.
    She almost believed him. “Maybe not at this moment, but eventually I will be. It always ends that way.” The breeze cooled her face and gave her strength. “I’m just an ordinary woman who will end up getting hurt.” She paused, shaking her head. “I don’t know much about you, Al Sanders, but I know you’re not like other men.”
    His eyes flickered, then narrowed. The warmth of passion faded to something cold and bleak.
    He’s angry, she thought. He might even be hurt. The notion didn’t sit well. She tried to say something but couldn’t think of anything that didn’t leave her too vulnerable.
    Al turned away, effectively dismissing her.
    Something inside her compelled her to go after him. Don’t let him be lonely. But then she caught herself and forced herself to be still. This man could destroy her.
    For several long moments Katherine watched him, her mind and heart pulling in opposite directions. Finally she turned away and walked up the beach, shivering the whole way home, wondering why she felt so empty.
    Â 
    The next morning Katherine focused on her upcoming appointment with James Logan. She persuaded Chad and one of her most dependable employees, Suzanne, to help out with the children. Katherine gave them a mile-long list of activities to do while she met with Mr. Logan.
    James Logan was a clever, middle-aged resort owner who talked circles around Katherine’s sales spiel. He’d griped the entire time. She countered each of his criticisms of the campground with a positive statement.
    He didn’t like the layout. He didn’t like the menu at lunch. He didn’t like the color of the paint in the cabins. Katherine just smiled and pointed out that beige didn’t show dirt.
    He didn’t seem to like much of anything. When they’d concluded the excruciatingly thorough tour, he’d said, “I’ll call you.” Translated: You’ll never hear from me again.
    Katherine was tired enough to be more relieved than disappointed. The only thing she wanted now was a six-hour bath. Her conscience chided her to check on how Suzanne and Chad were doing, so she hustled the rest of the way to the front porch. Pulling off the plastic poncho, Katherine laughed at her wet, mud-splattered appearance. “Give me a white flag,” she murmured to herself.
    The sound of applause filtered through the wooden door. Curious, she opened it and caught sight of Chad and a group of little boys playing cards. They were chewing gum and swilling Kool-Aid. A sliver of unease sifted through her. Chad wouldn’t teach them poker, would he?
    Noting the backs of the cards, Katherine relaxed. Old Maid.
    She pushed the door open wider. The activity on the other side of the room stopped her midmotion. A lamp, minus its shade, perched on a low stool. A small army of boys and girls holding switches lunged and feinted as if sword fighting. Their movements created a dancing display of shadows on the far wall.
    Al called out and showed them a movement. They stopped to watch, then, in unison, imitated his precision with childlike awkwardness.
    â€œEn garde,” he said in a commander’s voice.
    â€œEn