Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [39]
“You were saying,” Annie prodded.
“Ah, what I was ... ah thinking ...”
“Yes, yes. What were you thinking?” She was enjoying this.
“I’m easy, but I’m not that easy.”
“Easy is good. Did you ever make love in a bed filled with those wonderful flowers they make the leis with? By the way, all island visitors are supposed to get a lei. I did not get one.” She wagged a finger under Parker’s nose. Then she smiled wickedly. This is somebody else in my body. This isn’t me saying all these wild things. l never said anything even remotely like what I just said to this man. Never in my whole life.
“No.” The single word exploded from Parker’s mouth like a gunshot.
“That’s a shame,” Annie said. “Which way is the lanai?”
“You’re standing in it. Sit!”
“Why?” Annie asked.
“Because I told you to. I’ll be right back.”
Annie sat. She waited and waited. When her lemonade glass was empty she got up. Some host. You probably scared him off, Annie Clark.
“I thought I told you to sit.”
“I was sitting. Now I’m standing. What difference does it make? You tell dogs to sit, not people.”
“Go ahead, spoil our island traditions. It won’t work unless you’re sitting. Now sit!”
Annie sat.
“There. Now you have been officially greeted by a native of Hawaii,” Parker said, placing not one but two fragrant leis around her neck. “I made them myself. That’s what took me so long. Turn around. There’s more to the custom.” Annie turned around. “Now, close your eyes.”
Annie closed her eyes. It was the sweetest, the most demanding, the most wonderful kiss she’d ever received in her life. She never wanted it to end.
Annie licked at her kissed lips. “I liked that.”
“And well you should. It was one of my better efforts.”
“Effort?”
“You know what I mean. You always save the best till ... just the right time.”
“Which would be ... when?” How had an alien being invaded her body? Who was this person saying all these things?
“Do you want to set a date, or do you think we should get to know one another a little better?”
“I’m a what you see is what you get kind of person, Mr. Grayson. How about you?”
“Does that mean you don’t have any deep, dark secrets? Everyone has secrets. People always say they’re a what you see is what you get kind of person, then you find out they have all these problems, secrets, baggage, whatever.”
Annie could feel her stomach muscles start to tighten up. She tried for a light tone. “Are you saying you’re one of those people who is an open book with absolutely no secrets or skeletons in your closet?”
“That’s what I’m saying. How about you? By the way, how old are you?”
“How old are you?” Annie demanded.
“I asked you first,” Parker said.
“Old enough to know better. You’re not supposed to ask a woman her age.”
“Who said that?”
“My mother said it,” Annie shot back. “I’m twenty-five.”
“That’s a good age,” Parker said.
“A good age for what?”
“Starting a business, making love, getting married, having babies. So, are we setting a date or what? We should get it settled before we sit down to business.”
“You’re making it sound like a business deal,” Annie said sourly. “I’m a sharp, intelligent businesswoman, so don’t think you can put anything over on me. I can always get my coffee in Sumatra.” Good, the alien being had left her body, and she was now in control again.
“How does four o’clock tomorrow afternoon sound? My own private beach. We’ll go skinny-dipping. Then if it looks like something might come of it, we’ll be ready. It will be like From Here to Eternity. ” He was laughing at her. The alien being swished through her body again.
Annie smiled. Ever so sweetly. A wicked gleam in her eye, she said, “I hope you’re up to it.” She dusted her hands dramatically. “That’s a really big beach down there. I bet it would take a ton of these petals to cover it. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s getting sand up my butt.”
Parker choked on the lemonade he was about to swallow. Annie was off her chair