But his heart wasn’t quite as frozen as he’d thought, and it ached, a feeling he had meant to avoid for the rest of his life. It was a good thing they were leaving in the morning. Any longer and that ache might compel him to an action he would regret.

“That’s no consolation,” she said, turning from her side to her back, wearing another little nothing of a yellow bikini. She had told him the two-piece she owned made her feel like her growing stomach was more evident. That the bikini was better camouflage, since it drew the eye upward.

Whatever the reason, he found it hard to concentrate when she was half naked.

She sighed. “It will probably be raining. And I have no clothes that fit. And Caroline Davidson who works in accounting is my roommate. She happens to be getting married next month and I’m a bridesmaid, which is ridiculous. I tried to bow out gracefully, pointing out that my dress no longer fits, but Caroline wouldn’t hear of it. So I have an appointment to have the dress altered next week, though I don’t see how they can alter it unless they cut a hole in the middle.”

Damien eyed her stomach and laughed. “You’re exaggerating. Most people have bigger stomachs than that after Thanksgiving dinner.”

She opened one eye and peeked from under her arm. “I’m whining, aren’t I?”

“A little.”

She gave a rueful smile. “Well, can’t you whine a little, too? That would make me feel better. What is waiting to attack you when you get back?”

“I’m going to Boston at the end of the week for a customer briefing. And I have a meeting on Wednesday with the software developers. But that’s all normal stuff.” He grinned when she curled her lip in disgust, obviously unimpressed. “I have a dentist appointment. Does that help?”

“No.” She ran her hand idly over her stomach. “I have an ultrasound scheduled in a few weeks and I have to drink three glasses of water before I go, and they won’t let me go to the loo until the test is done. I’ve heard it’s just agony.”

“I have to get a crown. That’s agonizing, too,” he protested. It wasn’t something he was looking forward to.

“Aren’t you kind of young for a crown? How old are you anyway?” Mandy looked at him suspiciously, like he was forty-five and trying to hide it.

“Thirty-three. And I have a sweet tooth that gets me into trouble.” He smiled at her and adjusted the sail so they would turn around and start back to the shore. “Didn’t you notice how many cookies I ate at lunch?”

“I did make note of that.” Then she shrieked when a spray of ocean water soaked the front of her from hair to thighs. “That’s cold!”