“The more I counseled married people, the more I began to see that people were making poor choices in the spouses they selected. They’d come to me, polar opposites, wanting different things out of life, and wonder why they couldn’t get along. I started putting together a plan to help people make better choices about who they marry.”

She made it sound like it could be boiled down to cold, hard facts. “What about love?”

“Well, of course, there has to be love. But by choosing to date the right people, you limit yourself to those who are best suited to you.”

He turned on his side, mirroring her position. “How do you know if they’re suited to you until you know them? And once you know them that well, aren’t you likely to have fallen in love with them already?”

Her breath huffed out. “What is this, an inquisition?” She rolled onto her back, propping her head on her bag, and closed her eyes. “My plan is detailed and well thought out. If you want to know more, read the stinking book.”

She’d gotten snippy in a hurry. Maybe she felt defensive since her fail-proof plan hadn’t turned out to be so fail proof.

Which reminded him of her ex-fiancé. Lucas wanted to ask if she’d called him, but judging by her set little chin, maybe now wasn’t the time.

Something at the corner of his vision caught his attention. A man in dress clothes sat on the sand down the shore, holding a camera with a zoom lens. He looked as out of place as a diamond in a toolbox.

Lucas looked at Kate. “I think we have company.”

She didn’t bother opening her eyes. “Who?”

“One of the photographers from the wedding. Down the shore a ways.”

She opened her eyes.

“Don’t look.”

Kate looked at Lucas instead. “Is he looking this way? Does he have a camera?”

“Yes and yes.”

“Which one is he?”

“I don’t remember. He was at the wedding, though. The one with spiky hair and artsy glasses.”

She sighed. “He’s from Cosmo. I guess they wanted some honeymoon shots for the article.”

“They could’ve asked instead of sneaking around like the paparazzi.”

“They can’t. I made it clear to my agent the honeymoon was off limits. Did he see you looking?”

“No. But he has a zoom lens that can probably see the amber flecks in your eyes from a hundred feet.”

She tucked her hair behind her ears. “Great. I guess we haven’t exactly looked like newlyweds, have we?”

He rolled on his stomach next to her, their sides brushing. Her skin was warm, and the feel of her smooth skin against his leg stoked a fire in his belly. “We could consider that our first fight.”

“Wasn’t much of one.” She smiled.