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either. And it was a simple outing on a boat.
She’d just have to go with it.
    She sighed. Going with it had never been her strong suit.

Chapter 4
    Hannah woke during the night to the sound of rain on the
roof of the little motel. Maybe it was just as well. She had come on this trip
to be alone, after all. Not to have a fling with a stranger, no matter how
attractive he was. And Drew unnerved her. She felt far from her usual controlled
self with him. Maybe it was better if this—whatever it was—ended here. Her
treacherous heart, though, refused to go along with that sensible plan, and
felt only disappointment at the thought of not seeing him again.
    Her cool logic wasn’t necessary, it turned out, as the storm
passed and the following day dawned clear. By nine, she was ready—had been
ready for some time, if the painful truth were known, wearing her suit under a
sarong-style skirt printed in tropical colors, gauzy blouse, and wide straw hat
to protect her fair skin from the sun.
    She was amused to think that Felix’s Bikini Meeting had indeed
brought results, at least from her. Afterwards, she had gone to Kristen’s store
and had let her sister help her select a second, more attractive suit to take
with her in addition to the strictly utilitarian one she normally wore. It was
still designed to get wet, rather than for lying provocatively on the beach, but
the one-piece’s warm color (“It’s not orange,” Kristen had told her, when
Hannah resisted. “It’s tangerine. Big difference.”), high-cut legs, and
thin, crisscrossed straps accentuated her curvy, athletic figure and definitely
was made to appeal, rather than to resist chlorine.
    “It’ll fade in three months,” she had objected to Kristen as
her sister rolled her eyes.
    “You’re only on vacation for three weeks, Hannah,”
Kristen had told her firmly. “This is the one. Buy it.”
    Hannah had succumbed, although she had privately wondered
when she would ever wear such an impractical suit. Now she was grateful to her
fashion-conscious sister. She might not be in Kristen’s class, but she looked
good.
    When she heard Drew’s knock, she picked up her straw bag and
opened the door to him. Maybe he wouldn’t look as good to her today, she
thought half-hopefully. No such luck, though. If anything, he seemed bigger and
more solid than ever, in long swim trunks and a close-fitting T-shirt made of
some quick-dry material, his hair covered by a baseball cap.
    He looked down at her with an appreciative light in his gray
eyes and smiled a welcome. “I’m glad to see you’re ready. I half expected to
cool my heels while you finished your makeup.”
    She laughed. “I’m afraid that takes me all of two minutes. I
read these articles about all the steps you’re supposed to take, and how to get
them down to twenty minutes. But I can’t be bothered, I suppose.”
    “Well, I reckon that means you don’t mind getting wet. Which
is a good thing. I brought snorkeling gear and was hoping to coax you into the
water again. Something about getting back up on the horse.”
    “I’m surprised you trust me in the water, after yesterday. I
thought you might decide to beg off and take somebody less prone to drowning
instead.”
    “Nah, as long as I’m there to save you, no worries. I do a pretty
good line in rescues. And you’re even getting into a closed vehicle with me
today.” He held the truck door for her. “My mum will be so pleased.”
    “Your fatal charm won me over,” she sighed. “What can I say.
But did you say we’re going snorkeling? I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never been.
I’d love to try it, though. Is it hard to do?”
    “Dead easy,” he answered confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll
show you.”
    It was a short trip down to the marina, where Drew took her
through the locked gate to the pier. She asked him curiously, “Do you have your
own boat here, or do you rent one?”
    “It’s mine, not a hire. Can’t use it all the time,