“Do you want me to?”
Lord, he was gorgeous. The smile he gave her was contagious, because she found herself grinning back.
“That’s more like it. You have a lovely smile.”
“I’m sure you say that to all the girls, Romeo.”
“Only when it’s true.”
The heat rose to her cheeks. She’d been complemented on her looks before, but coming from Rafe it seemed different. Maybe a little harmless vacation flirtation wouldn’t be a bad thing. “So, Rafe, I take it you’re also alone on this trip. Why are you flying solo?”
“Actually, I’m not. I’m with my best friend. He’s getting something to eat, but he should be back shortly. I think you’d like him.”
“If he’s a Casanova like you, I think I’m in trouble.” She had to be nuts. Only minutes ago, she’d decided to brush him off, yet here she was acting like a schoolgirl with her first crush.
“Actually, Grant has a more laid-back approach when it comes to the ladies, but I think you’ll like him. You’re going to Fuamatuu as well?”
She waved her brochure in front of him. “How did you guess?”
He chuckled. It was a wonderful sound. “Okay, I caught a peek at it. Since we’re going to the same destination, maybe we could meet up for drinks.”
Should she? Part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind, while the practical half screamed “caution.”. “That sounds nice, but…”
“But?”
The cautious side won. “I don’t want this to come out the wrong way, but I want to keep things on a strictly friends-only basis. While it would be nice to have a couple people to hang out with while I’m there, I’m not ready for anything else.”
Rafe gave her a long questioning look before speaking again. “Who was he?”
India furrowed her eyebrows together. “What do you mean?”
“The man who put that sad look in your eyes. Besides your beauty, it was one of the first things I noticed. What you just said confirmed my suspicions.”
Most times, India had a difficult time opening up to people, but Rafe put her at ease for reasons she couldn’t explain. “Up until a week ago I was engaged to be married. Things didn’t work out.”
“What happened?” He gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I’m being intrusive.”
“It’s okay. He was unfaithful. I’m probably better off without him.”
Rafe nodded. “He sounds like a real winner, not to mention an idiot for letting someone like you slip away. But I guess you and I are in the same boat. My divorce was recently finalized.”
She touched his shoulder in sympathy. “Did she cheat on you?”
His brief pause gave India the answer. “It’s a little more complicated, but yes, you can say she did.” There was something cryptic in his statement, but India decided not to press.
“I brought you a sandwich, Rafe.”
India looked in the direction of the newcomer, to see a blond man carrying a take-out bag. Though he didn’t have Rafe’s classic good looks, his craggy features had a quality about them that would make any woman look twice. His face was full of character, from his high cheekbones, pale blue eyes and the deep cleft in his chin. He reached at least six feet, not as tall as Rafe, but he was broader and more muscularly built.
Their eyes locked and his immediately cut away from hers.
“Thanks, Grant.” Rafe took the take-out bag from his friend. “Grant, this is India. She’s headed for Fuamatuu Island too, so we’ll probably be seeing a lot of her there.”
“Nice to meet you, India.” Grant gave her a smile that lit up his entire face. It made him quite handsome.
“You as well.” She briefly shook his offered hand before snatching hers away. “Umm, I think I’m going to the restroom to freshen up.”
She gathered her carry-on and hopped up, not bothering to look back as she practically flew down the airport corridor.
What the hell was wrong with her? It was bad enough to be sexually aware of one man, but not two. Maybe these strange feelings she was experiencing were due to the lack of sex in the past several months. Steven had insisted they remain celibate until they were married.
He had convinced her it would make their wedding night more romantic. What a joke that turned out to be. While she’d been suffering through her dry spell, he’d been humping his mystery lady and probably anything in a skirt. Still, why had she reacted to those two men the way she had? Perhaps she was just being silly, but India couldn’t remember a time when she’d been so drawn to any man, let alone two like she was with Rafe and Grant.