Love Me Twice Read Online Free PDF Page B

time.”
    “Does that mean I can talk to her, or anything else, as long as I don’t touch her during your twenty-four hours?”
    “Yes. I think that’s fair. After all, we do still have to consider this eco-terrorist thing. Damn, Drew. Why didn’t we know she’d gone to the FBI?”
    Drew leaned one hip against the counter and sipped his coffee. “We didn’t want to know? Either one of us could have tracked her down. It wouldn’t have taken more than a few minutes of our time.”
    “Why didn’t you?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t think I had a right to. You were living with her at the time.”
    “I should have gone after her, but. . . . ”
    “You were too big of an ass to admit you were wrong?”
    “No. I wasn’t wrong. We both deserved an answer, and you know it. That’s why you’re going along with this now. You may be sleeping with half the women onboard this ship, but you still love Celeste.”
    “So do you. Let’s not forget that.”
    “I’m not likely to forget. Now go see what you can find out about this eco-terrorist group. We’re eating away at my time with Celeste.”

    * * * * *

    A cabin steward brought the note, a brief command to be ready to go to dinner at a specific time. Typical of Sean. No negotiation. No consideration of what she might want. But then again, he knew what she wanted, especially in the bedroom.
    She showered and pulled on the evening wear provided by the ship. It took all of three seconds to fasten the silk sarong in place, and slip her feet into the spa-style sandals that came with it. She’d never been one to use much makeup, so she was ready long before Sean’s scheduled arrival. He’d be on time. He always was.
    Having the extra time wasn’t wise. She had too much time to think about what she was doing, the sheer stupidity of it. If she hadn’t been able to decide between the two men five years ago, how was she supposed to decide now? They led different lives now. They’d moved on.
    The thought stopped her in her tracks. Had they moved on? She certainly hadn’t. Sure, she’d moved, to another job, another city, but moved on? No. Not by a long shot. There had been other men, but none of them had lived up to her standards. Standards set by Sean, and Drew too.
    Could they pick up where they’d left off? It hadn’t been such a good place to leave off. There had been lots of anger and hurt those last few weeks, right after they’d returned to the States. That last mission had changed everything between the three of them.
    Celeste slid the glass door to one side and stepped onto the small balcony. The stiff salt breeze caught her hair and swirled it around her face. She caught it in one fist and held it to one side as she leaned against the railing. The last mission they’d served on had nearly gotten them killed, and in the process, it had killed her relationship with Sean, or at least changed it beyond recognition.
    Going back to where they’d left off wasn’t the answer. Somehow, she needed to get Sean to talk about what happened, maybe then they could put it behind them. That’s the only way they could move forward.
    He arrived at exactly the specified time. She smiled as she moved to the door. At least that hadn’t changed. Her breath caught in her lungs at the sight of him. Everything in her body screamed for her to throw herself at him, but she pointedly ignored the pleas and stepped aside.
    He’d changed to a white sarong, a passenger issue variety. It hung low on his lean hips, barely concealing the impressive package she knew was beneath it. The white made his skin look darker, and the loose sarong added an aura of casual decadence she’d never seen in him before. He stepped past her in the close confines of her economy cabin. She closed the door and rested her forehead against it for a brief second, willing her body to be strong.
    “Hello, Celeste.”
    She sucked in a calming breath and turned. “Sean.”
    “I brought you