More than anything she wanted to rip their clothes off and fuck both of them on the floor, but reason took over. She broke off the kiss, turning her head away as she tried to gain her breath.
India rested her head against Grant’s shoulders. “Wow.”
“Wow is right.” Grant sounded as if he too was having trouble getting his breathing back to a normal cadence.
Untwining her legs from his waist, she let her feet touch the floor as she moved down his body. “I want to make love, but not here.”
Rafe ran his fingers along the nape of her neck. “We’ll take you out to dinner, and then check into a hotel room. There’s no need to bring more than a toothbrush because you’re not going to need any clothes.”
Stranded
Chapter Sixteen
A big dollop of chili fell on her chin as she took a hearty bite of her chili cheese dog. This was her third one and at the rate she was going, she’d probably have another.
Grant took a sip from his cup, giving her a look of indulgent amusement. “You’re really putting those things away.”
Rafe grinned. “You must have a hollow leg to eat like that. I have to admit, it’s refreshing to take a beautiful woman out and see her actually enjoy her meal, although I wish we could have taken you someplace nicer than Hot Dog Heaven.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked with her mouth full. “This place is great. When I was in law school, I lived off of these things, especially when I had to study for an important exam. I’d inhale them.”
“I guess it’s not so bad, once you get past the circus decoration and the sinister looking clown statue in the corner.” Grant laughed.
“It’s called atmosphere. Don’t tell me you’re a restaurant snob.”
Rafe grinned. “I’m not that at all, let’s just say I prefer a place where our food isn’t severed in colorful cardboard boxes,” he teased.
She poked her tongue out at him. India hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time. She’d missed the easy conversation and the camaraderie she shared with them. Her only regret was they’d go back home when the weekend was over, but while it lasted she wanted to make the most of it.
She popped the last bit of food into her mouth and wiped her lips and chin with the napkin. “I…I think I owe the two of you an apology.”
Rafe cocked his head to the side? “Why?”
“For the way I acted on the phone this past week. I know it sounded like I was brushing you off or that I may have been a little standoffish, but I’ve had a lot on my mind since I’ve returned. It’s a stressful situation when one decides to pack up and move from the one area they’ve know all their lives. When you guys went back home, everything on the island felt like a dream. I wanted to be with you so much that sometimes it was too painful to remain on the line with either one of you. I know it may sound stupid, but it’s how I felt.”
“That’s not stupid—”
“No you’re not—”
Both men began to talk at the same time and stopped, and then they were all laughing.
“You first,” Grant offered.
Rafe reached across the table and took her hand in his. “India, I don’t think you were stupid at all. It actually warms my heart to know your feelings are as strong for us as ours are for you. I know this can’t be an easy situation, but sometimes it’s better to share what’s on your mind. If you have any doubts, never let one of them be that we don’t love you.”
“I know. I love you both too, but…” What she had to say was interrupted when a woman with big, bright-red hair walked over to their table.
“Didn’t I see the three of you on television?” she said in a loud booming voice which drew the stares of some of the other patrons.
Grant looked annoyed, and Rafe didn’t seem any happier. India hadn’t been out much other than to run a couple of errands for her aunt, so this was the first time she’d been recognized since that dinner with her parents.
Realizing that neither man was interested in answering the question, India crossed her fingers beneath the table. “I don’t think so.”
The woman pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips. “Oh, no. I did see you on television. You were the three survivors of that plane crash and you survived on an island by eating bugs and crap like that. I couldn’t have done that. I would have rather starved.”
India shrugged. “When faced with starvation, you’d be surprised what you’ll eat.”
“Not me. I wouldn’t do it,” the woman persisted.
She really wasn’t in the mood to have a discussion of this random person’s eating habits. “Well, I guess we all have ways of handling things.”