Mystery in the Moonlight Read Online Free PDF Page B

it will be staying at the resort.”
    “Probably not. A lot of boats come into these islands but go out the same day. People on them are looking to refill their coolers or merely get on solid ground for a while.”
    “So I’ve noted since I’ve been here. But one can hope for more company,” Caitlin said, thinking of Babs. “You sound like you know the area pretty well. I didn’t think you looked like another tourist.”
    “I’m here on business,” was all Bryce said before he quickly changed the subject back to the visitors. “Looks like they’ve settled in at the Beach Bar.”
    But Caitlin wasn’t looking at the noisy crowd as they passed the bar. She was trying to figure out why Bryce wanted to be with her rather than with Babs, who would surely know what to do with the man.
    Why couldn’t she be more like her charmingly vivacious friend? Would there be any harm in letting Bryce know that she was attracted to him in return? Babs certainly would take every opportunity to do so. And it would be such a shame to let this romantic setting—the moon, the surf, the scent of exotic blooms, the swaying palm trees—go to waste. Wouldn’t it be heavenly to feel his lips on hers just once?
    Caitlin wondered if Bryce could make bells ring for her. She’d always thought that when she met the right man, she’d hear bells…
    Now she was being ridiculous again. And yet, remembering how she’d involuntarily flirted with Bryce earlier, and how he’d seemed to like it, maybe he would try to kiss her. What would she do then?
    At the thought, Caitlin felt both frightened and intrigued. The woman in her was finally demanding to be given due consideration. And here she had the chance to do something about it with the most gorgeous, sexiest man she’d probably ever meet.
    What if she tried flirting with Bryce again? Maybe it would give her the opportunity to find out exactly what she would do if he kissed her. Her toes curled at the thought. She wasn’t sure where she found the courage to try it, but Caitlin decided that if it didn’t work, she could always blame the romantic atmosphere on top of two piña coladas.
    “It’s gotten so much cooler,” she said as they reached the open area away from the protection of buildings and trees. Truthfully the tropical breeze barely soothed her overheated body, not to mention her overheated brain. “I guess I should have brought a shawl.” Caitlin smiled up into Bryce’s face and suddenly found herself parodying Babs without the accent. “Of course, your strong arm around me does help keep the chill away, Bryce.”
    Once again he appeared to be a little startled, but then Bryce’s voice was low and intense when he said, “I wouldn’t want a pretty thing like you to be cold.”
    He pulled her more securely to his body, his warmth and scent both exciting and elating Caitlin. It worked, she thought dizzily, her heart pumping madly as she felt his torso pressed against her. Were men so easily won, then?
    Yet, walking on, he didn’t try to kiss her, and Caitlin felt let down. What had she done wrong? Should she be saying something more? Doing something differently? Perhaps she should have listened to Babs more closely when her friend had insisted on giving her those flirting lessons.
     
    Bryce Winslow was wondering about his own sanity as he led Caitlin farther away from the resort’s main buildings. He knew she was hooked up with Moreau, and yet she seemed too innocent to be the man’s mistress. She appeared shy and reluctant with him, as though she weren’t completely comfortable alone in a man’s company. And when she did try to interest him, her attempts were amateurish. They’d be laughable if he hadn’t already been determined to seduce her into revealing some valuable information.
    Maybe he was just getting soft, letting his protective instincts take over this very moment by keeping her warm. Undoubtedly she was a good actress. So why was he holding her so