Page 6

‘Where are you staying?’

I straightened in the small seat and this time I curled my lip as I stared back at him. ‘Is that any of your business?’

‘I’m sorry.’ At least he had the decency to look contrite. ‘Please don’t think I was asking because I have an ulterior motive.’ He held his hand out across the aisle. ‘I’m Linc Martin. I’m the police chief on Deception Island. And I can assure you that you’ll be safe on our island.’

‘Really?’ My voice was so cold it was a wonder there weren’t icicles forming on the plane. ‘I thought someone in your position would have better manners.’

‘Manners?’ His brow wrinkled in a frown. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve offended you by chatting.’

‘Oh, no. You offended me before that,’ I said as he stared at me. All the anger that I had held inside since yesterday bubbled up and the handsome police chief wore the tirade that Bradley, Serena, and even my mother and Joanie deserved. Heat rose up my neck and burned my cheeks as the words spewed out. ‘Okay, you want to know how you offended me?’ There was no stopping now that I’d let go. ‘One, I didn’t appreciate being dismissed because of my choice of clothes and two, because I have a fat arse. No, I don’t mean being dismissed, I mean I don’t want to be considered anyway. It was what you said about me that I found rude and offensive.’

His mouth dropped open. Even through the haze of my anger I couldn’t help noticing his even white teeth and perfectly formed lips. And the blue eyes set in the tanned face were unusual—not pale, and not dark. Just a clear intense blue, deepened by the lush dark lashes that surrounded them.

That damn tingle turned into butterflies low in my stomach.

I looked away as I realised we’d been staring at each other for a full minute. Or rather I was glaring, and he was staring at me with a totally confused look on his face.

‘Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but if I have offended you in any way, please believe me it was unintentional, and I do apologise.’ His smile was gentle, and it got those blasted butterflies fluttering again. I held that gaze and carried on some more.

‘Unintentional? So, you’re a liar too. Show me a man who’s not.’ I folded my arms and looked back at him.

The wheels hit the tarmac and, closing my eyes, I braced for the sudden stop. At least I hoped the plane would stop; I didn’t like the thought of ending up in the ocean. My seatbelt held me firm as the speed slowed dramatically, but at least I was safely on the ground.

‘A liar? May I ask what you are referring to specifically?’ His voice was tight and when I opened my eyes the pleasant smile had disappeared. I knew he was holding his temper in. ‘Wait a minute, you’re not related to David, are you?’ His brow creased in a frown.

I lifted my chin. ‘David who?’

‘David Kekoa, the president.’

‘Of course not. How would I know the president and what’s he got to do with this anyway?’

‘David’s the one who was going to find me a wife. I thought for a moment that might have been you. You never know with him; he’s got relatives all over the place. That’s why I was looking for a pretend fiancée. He’s already got someone lined up for me.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Anyway, how did you know all this? The only person I’ve told was Johnny.’

I almost started to feel sorry for him and then I remembered the “arse end” comment. I lifted my chin a bit higher.

‘It was a bit hard not to know about it, waiting for my coffee at the airport. Talking to your friend as though you wanted the world to know or maybe you were hoping some poor woman would overhear and come running? You might as well have taken an ad out in the paper. It didn’t look like you were too worried about privacy.’

‘Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves,’ he said, and my temper burred up even more.

‘I wasn’t eavesdropping.’ My voice was too loud, and I lowered it. ‘I was waiting for my coffee. And how could I not help hearing what you said about my red jeans and white T-shirt when you were standing right behind me.’

The door of the plane opened and the few passengers ahead of us stood and began to make their way out. I sat and waited for his apology, but the last thing I expected was the deep laugh that erupted from those attractive lips.

I looked at him one more time, and then picked up my bag with a final withering glance in his direction, stood and marched down the aisle.

Well, as much as one could march, hunched over in a small plane.

And you know what I was most worried about?

And that made me even crankier.

I was worried that he was sitting there laughing at me and staring at my fat rear end in my tight red jeans.

Chapter Four

Linc waited until the woman in the red jeans was off the plane and crossing the tarmac before he unclipped his seat belt. If she ditched the attitude and smiled, she’d be even prettier. Her face was delicate with high cheekbones and green eyes that tipped up at the corners. She had an unusual beauty and he’d found it hard to stop staring at her.

He’d first noticed her exquisite face when he’d turned around at the airport coffee shop on Columbus Island, but when he’d smiled at her, she’d looked at him and turned away. No wonder if she’d overheard their conversation. He’d been too focused on talking to Johnny to give it a second thought. Linc made his way to the front of the plane and tried to remember what they’d actually said about fake engagements. As much as he had a problem with David wanting to find him a wife, the conversation with Johnny had been light-hearted, but they’d obviously offended her with their levity.