"I don’t want to go home." I nuzzled my head into Maggie’s lap. I think I purred like a cat when her fingernails gently raked through my scalp.

"I don’t, either, but we can’t stay in Hawaii forever," she whispered.

"You don’t have to be at the hospital until Dr. Whatshisname goes on leave, and that’s another month." I could hear myself whining, but I was undaunted. "And I got that message from Connie. I don’t have any photo assignments for another two weeks." I had just gotten back from a two-week photo stint in New Mexico, which followed another two weeks in Utah. Spring had sprung without me, and summer was waning in Chicago. So Maggie and I needed a vacation. Especially after our visit to New England earlier in the year. I had to smile, however. Meeting Simon Merriweather and the ladies was the highlight of an otherwise sad week of murder and family secrets. It had been a busy year with little time for me and my gal.

"All this is true. And yes, it was nice to hear from your editor, but stop pouting. We have to get home. Now drink this, doctor’s orders."

"Yes, ma’am." I opened my eyes when she presented the tropical drink. The hollowed-out pineapple had a cute umbrella in it and a nice big straw so I didn’t have to move much from my present state of euphoria—lazily swinging on the hammock and lying in Maggie’s arms.

Taking a long slurp, I moaned happily. "I love mai tais."

Maggie raised one adorably elegant eyebrow. "I would think so. I believe Claude had to make a deal with a rumrunner just to keep up with you. He’s considering changing the name of the drink."

"I love Claude, too." I took another sip of heaven while Maggie rocked the hammock. "You’re gonna spoil me, Dr. Winfield."

I heard her contagious laughter and chuckled along. "Well, Miss Ryan, after last night, you’ve ruined me for any other woman. I figure I owed you a swing in a hammock. Can you make love in a hammock?"

I stopped in mid-slurp, nearly dribbling it down my chin, and handed her my drink, which she took and set on the table. "Let’s find out." The hammock swung precariously when I pulled Maggie next to me. This would prove interesting. I had visions of two vacationers flying off a hammock and into the Hawaiian hibiscus.

Oh, well…I had become a beach bum in three weeks. Right now, I was just a bum, lying in Maggie’s arms. "Think we can get this hammock on the plane?"

"I’m sure you’ll try." Maggie hummed quietly as she ran her fingers through my hair. "This is our last night, and we have dinner reservations for that expensive restaurant you’ve been avoiding for three weeks."

I groaned childishly. "I can’t wear my Hawaiian shirt in that snooty place."

"Yes, you can, just not the flip-flops or the wet towel covering your bathing suit. I bought you a nice pair of comfortable linen slacks that will go with your ungodly shirt collection. C’mon, time for a shower. You smell like Coppertone."

Ungodly?

"I love the smell of Coppertone on my skin," I said with a yawn. "It reminds me of my early childhood summers at Foster Avenue Beach." I rolled on my side and sighed wistfully, "Ah, the smell of Coppertone mixed with the smell of dead alewives that floated up on shore. What fun during the sixties in the Great Lakes."

Maggie laughed. "I absolutely adore the way your mind works. But I do remember Aunt Hannah when she came back from Chicago, complaining about those smelly fish on every beach. Not that I remember as you do, of course. I was just a baby." She looked down at me and smiled sweetly, batting those big baby blues in my direction.

"If I could move right now, you’d be in big trouble, sister." I nuzzled deeper into her lap. "You’re lucky you caught me in a good mood."

After a good deal of gentle persuasion from Maggie, which sent me flying off the hammock, we were finally ready for dinner.

The restaurant was gorgeous. It was situated just atop the rocky shoreline, and the view of the sunset was spectacular.

"Wow," I whispered and looked around. "How expensive is this place?"

"Dr. Winfield!" My superior investigative mind deduced the ecstatic gentleman standing by the podium must be the maître d’. "It’s so good to see you again. It’s been far too long. Is your adorable aunt with you?"

I raised an eyebrow and stumbled out of the way as this guy with his hand outstretched made a beeline for Maggie.

"No, Donald, she’s not," Maggie said with her dimpled smile. "She’ll be so upset she missed you. And jealous."

I took this moment to appraise my gal. She was gorgeous in her midnight blue dress, which sensually hung on every curve of her body. Her tanned legs, sans hose, looked silky and smooth, just like her auburn hair, which she wore cascading over her shoulders. I liked that word—cascading. It reminded me of our time under the cascading waterfall earlier in the week. We were alone in the secluded pond, so skinny-dipping was the order of the day. I closed my eyes, remembering every inch of Maggie’s body. Her breasts, perfect and…

"Kate?"

My eyes flew open to find Maggie looking at me with one eyebrow raised in amusement. Donald seemed a little more curious, or perhaps the correct word was disturbed. I only thank God I had not drooled during my reverie.

"Right this way," Donald said, glancing at me.

"Thank you, Donald," I said and took Maggie’s arm.

"What were you thinking about?" Maggie whispered as we weaved around the tables following Donald.

"The waterfall." I nearly laughed when Maggie’s face immediately reddened.

Dinner was superb. The wine tasted of delectable berries with a hint of dark chocolate. Okay, that description came from Donald. Dessert was scrumptious and yummy—my description.

I looked across the candlelight into Maggie’s sparkling blue eyes. "Why in the world didn’t you bring me here sooner?"

"Because some Chicago gal with a penchant for being a beach bum thought it was too snooty."

"Boy, was she wrong, eh?" I laughed at the glare I received as I reached across the table and took Maggie’s hand in mine. "Nobody bugs you more than I do, right?"

"Only you, Kate." She ran her thumb over the back of my hand, which sent an electrical shock right to my heart. Damn this woman.

"How about we walk off this dinner? A nice stroll on the beach?"

The smile that will always melt my heart beamed. "I’ll say it again, I absolutely adore the way your mind works," Maggie said and hailed Donald.

I kicked off my deck shoes and rolled up the cuffs of my slacks; yes, they were as comfortable as Maggie said they would be. Maggie leaned against me as she slipped off her sandals.

"What a gorgeous evening." She sighed and took my hand as we strolled along the beach.

"It is," I said, loving the feel of the soft sand between my toes. The moon was crescent-shaped and the stars plentiful. "Can’t ask for a better night."

Maggie looked up at the sky and nodded. She then slipped her arm through mine and rested her head against my shoulder. "We’ve been through quite a bit since we met."

I laughed softly. "From knocking you off your horse…"

"To loving me. I’m a lucky woman, Kate Ryan. I remember that day so clearly. You stumbled into my life—"

"Literally."

"And saved me."

I stopped to face her. "No, sweetie. You saved me. I was dangerously on my way to walling myself up for good. No one in, no one hurts." I placed my hands on her bare shoulders and caressed her smooth skin. "You saved my heart, Maggie. And I’m not being sappy or romantic."

"You are too being sappy and romantic, and I love it." Maggie’s smile was so serene my heart ached at the sight.

Of course, I had to argue. "No, I’m not. I should have bought you flowers or something tonight. I should have had them sent to the table, and…"

Maggie placed her fingertips against my lips. "Shut up."

I laughed and grabbed her hand, kissing her palm. We continued walking along the beach. The waves that cooled my feet did nothing for the rest of my body.

We walked farther, taking a path toward our hotel, reveling in the quiet sound of the surf and the gentle breeze through the palm trees and foliage that lined the path. In the background, someone was playing the piano, more than likely in the bar. The soft strings had my heart melting. All of the sudden, I got a whiff of something floral and sweet. I looked into the wooded area and saw a thick bush with delicate white flowers and let go of Maggie’s hand.

"Where are you going?" I heard the curious tone mingled with a good deal of panic in her voice. Poor Maggie just didn’t trust me and who could blame her? I picked one of the flowers and handed it to her. Maggie grinned and gently held the white flower up to her nose. "Thank you."

"Welcome." I ran my fingers through her thick hair. "I don’t know what it is."

"It’s a gardenia and it’s beautiful." She leaned against the palm tree and closed her eyes.

I’d like to say it was the moonbeams shining on her face, but it was the million-watt lighting from the hotel. I didn’t care. It filtered through the palm trees and cast such a sexy glow on Maggie’s face. I leaned in and placed a light kiss on her lips, the lips that were mine, the lips that had kissed my body and soul. It was then I had a bright idea. I quickly pulled back. "I’ll be right back. Do not move."

I heard her calling me as I ran up the steps to the bar in the hotel. I reached in my pocket and pulled out a few bills and tossed them in the oversized snifter on the piano. I was so out of breath. "Gimme a few minutes…" I said, wheezing, and asked for the song. The man behind the piano smiled and nodded. I dashed off back to Maggie, who was standing against the palm tree. The worried look was more than apparent.

"Where did you go?"

I gently pulled her into my arms, breathing deeply so I wouldn’t pass out. "Just wait, okay?"

"Okay," she said, looking very doubtful, but, God love her, so trusting as I held her.

Then the soft strains of the piano started When I Fall In Love. Maggie’s eyes instantly sparkled from the tears that formed. My God, she was beautiful. Her bottom lip quivered as we started dancing. "Do you remember?" I asked softly, looking down into her eyes.

She nodded but said nothing. I grinned slightly, trying not to cry, as well. "And the moment I can feel that you feel that way, too…" I whispered.

"Is when I fall in love with you," she said in kind.

"How’s that for sappy romance?"

"Wonderful." We danced for a moment or two in silence.

"I was so scared that night on the dock, Maggie," I finally said.

"I know. So was I, Kate, and I was so in love with you."

"I didn’t know, but I was, too." I held her close as we drifted through the light summer breeze off the ocean.

"Aunt Hannah played this song, and I remember my heart just aching."

I kissed her forehead. "I’m glad we didn’t dance right off that dock and into the lake."

Maggie laughed and laid her head on my shoulder. "I love you, Kate Ryan. I love you so much."

"I love you, too, Maggie," I whispered against her hair. "More than I will ever be able to show you. I’m so afraid, I—"

Maggie pulled back and looked up. "Shh, Kate," she whispered. "Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you." She caressed the back of my neck, her fingertips lightly grazing over the jagged scar there. "And I’ll never let you go." These were the words she spoke to me that night on the dock.

I couldn’t speak. I just held on to her, hoping she was right. Maggie sighed and pulled me closer. I kissed her once again. When her lips parted, my tongue lightly flicked across hers. God, how I loved the taste of Maggie.

She slowly pulled back, gasping for air. "I think it’s time you ruined me again, Kate."

"Yes, ma’am."

I am nothing if not obedient to Dr. Winfield.