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chained to an oar.’”
    He burst out laughing. She smiled, studying him for a moment. He got the impression she was trying to decide something, but he couldn’t guess what she was thinking.
    He took off his sunglasses so he could see her better, putting them in his pocket. She blushed as he surveyed her, the same as she had when they first met, and he smiled again. She really was lovely. Her blue eyes were wide and serious. She swallowed, as if she was nervous, although he couldn’t think what about.
    Finally she gave a little, resigned sigh. “ Voulez vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? ”
    He grinned. “Even if I hadn’t heard the song, French happens to be one language I am familiar with.”
    She studied him, her face serious. Then, taking him completely by surprise, she said again, “ Voulez vous? ”
    He stared at her. His eyebrows rose as he realised she wasn’t just repeating the phrase, she was asking him if he wanted to sleep with her tonight.
    He was completely stunned. Not because she’d been so forward, necessarily—there was nothing wrong with women taking the initiative, as far as he was concerned, and in fact he found it quite a turn-on normally. But that Merle should say something so blatant…
    They studied each other for a moment. He felt baffled. Was she serious? It wouldn’t be the first time he’d misunderstood the signs—every guy had a story like that, and once he’d even been slapped, although in his defence he’d only been fifteen at the time. But Merle certainly seemed serious.
    He couldn’t make her out at all. Her face was devoid of emotion, her eyes calm. Was this a regular thing for her? Did she sleep around a lot? Again, that didn’t particularly bother him—he enjoyed sex, so why shouldn’t women? But he couldn’t think that was the case. Jake had said she wasn’t impulsive, that there was no way she’d be interested in a holiday romance, and that she never went to bed with anyone without dating them for six months first. Was she really suggesting sex then? If so, how come she was so composed, so emotionless? He frowned, completely at a loss as to what to say.
    He’d just started to formulate a reply in his head when he saw the pulse in her throat. It beat rapidly, and as he looked farther down, he saw her breasts rising and falling in rapid succession, in spite of her apparent lack of emotion. He glanced back at her face. Her eyes shone with panic. And then he understood.
    She didn’t do this all the time. In fact she’d probably never done it before in her life. Suddenly he doubted she’d had many partners at all. She was dedicated to her career, and that would mean little time for love or romance. But she’d travelled across the other side of the world for a little freedom from the ties of her everyday life, and she’d decided to take the opportunity to be adventurous, to step out of her comfort zone, desperate for some excitement, for hot but meaningless sex. And out of all the men in their group today, she’d chosen him.
    In spite of the fact that he knew many women found him desirable, Neon felt flattered. It was a superficial attraction, sure—she’d made it clear she hadn’t been drawn to his intellect. But he’d made her laugh several times that day, and anyway, what was wrong with straightforward physical attraction, in this setting anyway? She wasn’t looking for a meaningful relationship. She was looking for fun.
    And that he could understand.
     
    Merle’s mouth had gone dry. She’d expected him to jump at the offer of sex with no strings attached, but his frown made her realise there was more to him than she’d thought.
    Oh great , I’ve picked a hot guy with principles . It had taken an immense amount of courage for her to say what she’d said, and now he was going to turn her down. She would have to walk back to the group rejected and excruciatingly embarrassed. What on earth must he think of her?
    Panic overwhelming her, she opened her mouth