Her Moonlit Gamble Read Online Free PDF Page A

God, she hadn't even been out of the room that long. But maybe he, like her, hadn't gotten much sleep after that kiss last night. She didn't know if that made her happy, or worried.
    ***
    Andrew was awake when she emerged. He edged past her into the bathroom, sleepy-eyed.
    "We don't have to go anywhere," she said. "We can order room service and sit on the balcony." Suddenly that seemed like the most romantic thing in the world--and the worst idea. The less time they spent in the room alone together, the better.
    "Nah, we're in Hawaii. We're not going to hole up in some hotel room and watch it from a distance."
    She wanted to argue that was hardly what they'd been doing, but she didn't want to stay in and risk another kiss. Really, she didn't.
    But she couldn't erase the image of him, carrying Vivian down the side of the mountain, how strong and sure he'd looked, how her heart had turned over at the sight. Why did he have to be so heroic on top of everything else?
    They walked down the beach to a restaurant overlooking the water. Because they were back fairly early after their hike, they were able to get a table overlooking the water and were able to watch the boats passing by.  
    "Next time we come to Hawaii, we'll have dinner out on a boat, just the two of us," he said.
    All her favorite parts tingled at his words, both "next time" and "just the two of us." "Won't that be a little slow paced for you?" she asked.  
    He smiled. "Maybe. Maybe not. Didn't say what kind of boat. Maybe a dinghy. Maybe I'd make you row while I ate."
    "I'd row in circles until you puked."
    He laughed and tore into the hunk of bread the waitress had set on the table before him.  
    She relaxed a little and slid her feet out of her sandals. "So where do you want to go next?"
    "Home," he said, heartfelt. "I've missed home. Maybe a few day trips here and there, maybe head over to Louisiana or drive out to Big Bend, but I miss being back in Texas." He rubbed his thumb over his chin and chuckled to himself. "Maybe not the desert just yet, though."
    "Do you talk about it? I mean, I know you don't really talk about it with me, but you talk about it with someone, right? You don't just keep everything inside?"
    He focused his eyes on her, the hint of laughter gone. She was taken back to those late nights when they'd had so many serious talks. They hadn't had one in a long time.   Maybe they needed to.
    "I got a buddy or twoo who've been there and get it. It's just--not something I like to dwell on."
    She gave into the impulse to put her hand over his on the table. Strong, big hands that she was crazy to be thinking about. "I just don't want it to change who you are."
    "Too late for that." The chuckle and glint in his eyes were back, but he sat back in his chair, pulling his hand free as the waitress approached to take their order.
    ***
    After dinner they walked out onto the beach with a bottle of wine they'd bought from the restaurant. Andrew plopped onto the sand and looked up at her expectantly. She plucked the skirt of her dress and he grumbled, then pulled his shirt off and made a place for her to sit beside him.  
    "Why would you bring something to Hawaii that you don't want to get sand on?" he asked, hooking his elbows over his bent knees.
    "To see what you'd do to get your way," she countered, trying not to linger on those broad, broad shoulders. Instead she took the bottle of wine and held out her hand for his multi-function knife.  
    He sighed, pulled it out of his pocket and took the bottle to open it, scraping the foil from around the cork before twisting the corkscrew into it. He took a slug before handing it to her.  
    She tucked her feet under her skirt and faced him. "So how did you change?"
    He frowned. "What?"
    "I'm saying, you don't seem that different, to me. I mean, other than appearance."
    "Appearance?" His lips quirked.
    "You know you look different. More..." She waved her hand at his torso. "...fit."
    "Fit." He leaned back on his