Stranded(5)

“So what do we do until then?”

“We’ll have fun with a bunch of Ms. Right Nows in the meantime.”





Stranded





Chapter Two


India had the distinct impression someone was watching her. She squirmed in her chair, feeling self-conscious. She looked to her right and found herself staring into a pair of the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen—cat eyes, a dark gold ringed with black, framed with thick, dark lashes.

Her breath caught in her throat. Had the temperature just gone up? She quickly looked away from him, and grabbed her travel itinerary. She didn’t come on this trip to meet men. This was strictly for relaxing, lying out on the beach and drinking fruity beverages with little paper umbrellas in them.

Even if Mr. Sexy over there was by far one of the most good-looking men she’d seen.

Aunt Val had convinced India to take a vacation and now she was glad she had. Steven was relentless in his pursuit of her and she was tired of the nasty messages on her answering machine from her parents. India wished she had normal parents like everyone else. It would be nice to know she had the support of the two people who were supposed to love her unconditionally.

India often wondered if things would have been different if she’d been born a boy. But none of it mattered anymore. India intended to leave her problems behind. She looked at the brochure for the resort her travel agent had booked. It seemed like paradise. Fuamatuu Island was just off the coast of Australia, a relatively new vacation spot that not many people had yet discovered. All the better for her. The less people, the more she’d enjoy it. Having experienced a fifteen hour plane trip with one more flight to go, she couldn’t wait to leave this cramped little airport.

She sighed, imagining herself snorkeling, parasailing, scuba-diving and horseback riding…some of the amenities the resort offered.

“Interesting reading material?” A deep voice broke into her thoughts.

She didn’t have to look up to know who stood over her. The scent of his cologne drifted to her nostrils, titillating her senses. The little voice in her head told India to ignore him, but against her better judgment she tilted her head. A gasp escaped her lips before she could catch it.

When he’d only been a couple feet away from her she knew he was gorgeous, but up close, there wasn’t an adequate word to describe this god standing before her. Again those golden eyes of his held her mesmerized. Thick dark brown brows slashed over his eyes gave him a somewhat sinister look, but somehow they suited him.

A long patrician nose rested above full, sensual, red lips slightly tilted in a lopsided grin. His hair fell in soft careless waves around his head. His light bronze skin gave away his Latin ancestry. The rugged cut of his face saved him from the label of pretty boy. Tall and broad, he was the epitome of drop-dead gorgeous.

If his sinewy arms were anything to go by, she was sure his body was as magnificent as the rest of him. Tall and Sexy took the empty seat next to her. “Do you mind?” His smile widened to reveal even white teeth.

Was there anything on this man that wasn’t perfect? “Huh? Uh…no, I don’t mind.” What a total idiot she was. Twenty-eight years old and tongue-tied around a man.

“I’m usually not this forward, but since you were sitting by yourself…” He held out his hand to her. “Rafe Santiago.”

“India Powers.” She took the offered hand and shook it, but when she would have pulled hers away, he held on. “Um, you can let go of my hand now.”

His eyes twinkled. “Must I?”

“Yes, you must.” This time when she tugged her hand, he let go.

“Pity.”

Normally she would have brushed off such a blatant come-on, but something about this guy wouldn’t allow her. Sheesh. She and Steven were barely broken up and already she was ogling some stranger in an airport. If her ex-fiancé could hurt her, there was no telling the devastation this hottie would cause. It was probably best to nip this acquaintance in the bud. “When I said I didn’t mind you sitting next to me, I didn’t invite you to hit on me.”

Instead of being chastised, he seemed amused. “I apologize, but when I saw you sitting here by yourself, I couldn’t help but wonder what a beautiful woman is doing alone on a trip like this.”

He was a smooth one, which meant she’d have to strengthen her resolve.

“Enjoying the solitude.”

“Touché.”

India resumed looking at her brochure, hoping he’d get the hint, but the weight of his stare burned her skin. With a sigh she put the brochure down. “You’re not going away, are you?”