Born of Passion

She had a feeling that the time she’d spent in Kyle’s arms would always be a heady, powerful memory, that it was forever burned not only into her head, but into every fiber of her body.

She was still seated at the table when Kyle walked in. Instantly, as he entered through the door, the space in the room seemed to shrink and the air filled with crackling energy.

That had been one of the first things that drew her to him that night in the bar—the aura of intense energy that had emanated from him.

“Good afternoon,” he said, his gray eyes glittering brightly as he grinned rakishly at Joanna. He walked past McCreary and ruffled the man’s red hair. “Hey, McCreary, how’s that woman of yours?”

“Great,” McCreary replied as Kyle went to the cooler and got himself a glass of water.

It was obvious he was pumped with energy, and Joanna couldn’t help but notice how utterly wonderful he looked in his flight suit. The navy material pulled taut across his broad shoulders and displayed his slim stomach and lean hips to perfection.

He downed the water, crumpled the paper cup and tossed it in the trash, then grinned once again at Joanna. “Our first patrol can be written down as a success. We encountered nothing but blue skies and a fantastic view of the wonders of Montebello. You ready to go?”

She nodded and stood.

“Just let me get out of these clothes,” he said, and began to unzip the flight suit. Joanna’s breath seemed to momentarily stop as she caught a glimpse of tanned chest and a sprinkling of dark hair before he turned and grabbed his clothes, then disappeared into the bathroom next door.

She released a sigh of relief, grateful he’d left when he had. She didn’t want to see any more of that hard, muscled chest, didn’t want to remember how that flesh, those muscles and that springy hair had felt beneath her fingertips.

And she certainly didn’t want to remember the pleasure of her bare breasts against his chest. The man was positively a menace to her peace of mind.

He returned dressed in the clothes he’d had on when she’d picked him up that morning. “Ready?” he asked.

“See you tomorrow,” McCreary said as Joanna grabbed her purse.

“Contact us if there are any developments or problems,” Kyle said to McCreary.

As Joanna and Kyle walked to her car, Joanna fought the impulse to tear into him about the personal, intimate information he’d relayed over the radio, but she had a feeling he wanted to get a rise out of her. She decided her best course of action was not to snap at his bait.

“This island has got to be one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen from the sky,” he said as they got into her car. “The last time I was here, I never got an opportunity to do any sightseeing.”

“So you haven’t seen the beautiful beaches or the mountains.”

“The only things I’ve seen while here are the military base, Ramsey Enterprises and a certain hotel room.” He gazed at her meaningfully.

“Then you must find time to see the island,” she said, once again refusing to rise to his obvious baiting.

“Perhaps I can persuade you to give me an island tour when we have a little extra time.”

She smiled dryly and started her car. “Your powers of persuasion aren’t that good.”

He laughed, that wonderful deep rumble that seemed to resonate from his chest. “Could I persuade you to stop and get something to eat right now? I am absolutely starving.”

The request seemed innocent enough, and she thought of several drive-through fast-food places she could hit on the way back to his apartment. She would get herself something as well; that way she wouldn’t have to cook and could just go home and relax.

“All right,” she agreed as they drove away from the base. “I’m pretty hungry myself.”

“Great, I know a terrific little place not far from here that serves the best Mediterranean food.”

Joanna frowned. “I was thinking more of something like a drive-through.”

She felt his gaze warm on her face. “What’s the matter, Joanna? Afraid of being seen with me in public?”

“Of course not,” she scoffed, inwardly chiding herself for her uneasiness. How difficult could it be to sit across from him and eat a meal in a public restaurant? “Mediterranean sounds great to me.”

“Good.” He sat back in the seat and looked inordinately pleased with himself.

He gave her directions to the restaurant, one she’d never eaten at but had heard had excellent food. It took them only minutes to reach it.

The interior was dark and atmospheric, with small round tables set in tiny alcoves, allowing the utmost in intimacy.

Joanna’s first impulse was to back out, to tell him to forget it, but the scents of savory food wafted in the air and again she told herself it was ridiculous to be worried about a simple meal shared with Kyle Ramsey.

There were just a few diners there. It was too late for the lunch crowd and far too early for the dinner rush. Joanna and Kyle were led to a table near the back of the restaurant, where the lighting was dim and the soft strains of exotic lute music could be heard drifting in the air.

They were handed menus, then left alone. Joanna studied hers with determined concentration, far too aware of the man sitting across the table from her.

The table was so small that she knew if she stretched her legs out just a little bit, she would encounter the long, lanky length of his. She consciously kept her arms bent, the menu close to her chest, not wanting their hands to accidentally touch, or her arms to inadvertently brush his.

“If you wind yourself up any tighter, you might just disappear altogether.”

She looked up to meet his teasing gray eyes. She relaxed her arms slightly and sighed. “It’s…it’s just been a long day.”

“Any day I get to spend airborne is a terrific day.”

She closed her menu, but kept it tight against her chest. “You love flying.” It was a statement rather than a question.

He didn’t get an opportunity to reply before the waiter appeared to take their orders. Joanna asked for a vegetable pita sandwich and a soft drink. Kyle ordered as if he hadn’t eaten for months, starting with a salad, a hot appetizer and an entré of lamb chops.

He finished by asking for a bottle of wine. When the waiter took their menus, Joanna felt naked without the large laminated book to hide behind.

Kyle grinned at her as the waiter departed. “Flying always makes me hungry. It’s like all of my senses go into overdrive. Food tastes better, scents smell better…” His gaze held hers intently. “Everything is more intense.”

There was a power in those slate eyes, they held an intimate knowledge coupled with a touch of arrogance. It was impossible for her to look into his eyes and not remember that he knew every inch of her naked skin, had kissed and caressed her more intimately than anyone ever had in her life.

The waiter reappeared with the wine. “Would you like a glass?” Kyle asked, and raised the bottle to pour.

“No, thank you. None for me.” Her head was dizzy enough without the additional effects of a glass of wine. Besides, even though the doctor had told her an occasional glass of wine was all right, she wasn’t taking any chances with the baby.

“Would you prefer a mixed drink? A Tom Collins?”

It surprised her that he remembered what she’d been drinking the night they had met. “No thanks, I’m fine.” She took a sip of her water and watched as he poured himself a glass of the wine.

He had nice hands—large and oddly graceful despite their masculinity. “So, you’ve always enjoyed flying?” She desperately grappled for a neutral topic of conversation.

He nodded. “Always. When I was a young boy, everything about flying and planes fascinated me. I had a collection of model airplanes that hung from my ceiling no matter where we were stationed. If I’d had my way, I’d have joined the navy and become a pilot when I was seventeen, but my father refused to sign for me.”

“Why? Was it because he thought you were too young?”