With gentle strokes of his fingers, he brushed them away. “Why the tears?”

“I don’t know exactly. Emotional overload maybe?”

“If this is happening too fast for you, we can dial it back a notch.”

“What would that entail?”

“Whatever you want it to. The last thing I want to do is overload you—physically or emotionally.”

“I kind of liked the way you overloaded me last night.”

“Only kinda?” He pushed his erection against her leg. “I gotta work harder.”

“Please don’t,” she said with a laugh. “You’ll kill me.”

“Since I have no desire to kill you, how about we go find some breakfast and then hit the beach?”

“You want to get up this early on a rare day off?”

“I’m already up.” He pressed against her again, making her laugh. “May as well seize the day. We can nap later.”

“Mmm, a nap. What’s that like?”

“You haven’t lived until you’ve had the Paul Martinez nap special.”

“I’ll look forward to that all day.”

“Hey, Hope?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s okay to relax and enjoy yourself a little. Nothing bad is going to happen.”

There was nothing he could’ve said that would’ve meant more to her in that place and time. After they checked in at home and called the hospital to learn Marion had spent a quiet night, they set out to take full advantage of their scenic location. Hope did as directed and threw herself into enjoying a blissful day with Paul. He was funny, charming, solicitous and affectionate—the same way he’d been before they had sex.

It was a relief to realize he wasn’t going to turn into someone different because he’d gotten what he wanted.

By the time they returned to their room later that afternoon, she was drunk off the sun and the thrill of being the subject of his undivided attention. He made her feel important by listening carefully to everything she had to say. His unwavering focus made her feel seen in a way she never had been before.

She wanted to dive into bed with him and pick up where they’d left off in the early morning hours, but her body wasn’t having it.

“I know what you need,” he said.

“I told you. I don’t think I can.”

“Such a dirty mind! That’s not what I was suggesting at all.”

Hope eyed him skeptically.

“Take off your bathing suit and get on the bed, facedown.”

“And I have a dirty mind?”

“Trust me?”

Oh God, what a loaded question! “I want to.”

He kissed her forehead and tugged at the tie to her bikini top. “I promise you won’t be sorry.”