Speak to the Wind (17 page)

Maria
peak
ed in a climax
that she thought would last forever
, taking him with her. A wild kind of joy exploded throughout her body, and she felt an emotional high that whisked her ever upward, swirling, whirling, floating in the rapture of a
foggy
heaven. For a moment she thought she'd cry with the surge of emotion
and adrenal
i
n
. Desperate to retain the euphoria, she held
on to him fiercely, murmuring, “
J
oe... my love... never
felt
so good..."

Jo
e
relished her praise, loved making love to her, but
wondered if she
really
kn
ew what she was saying
, or if this was just gut instinct
. Deep in
side he wished it were so. He knew he wanted her more each day and
of course,
wanted his affection returned.

Finally he shifted, kissing her tenderly. "
I wish this could
last forever, my
sweet Maria, but truth is, I’m exhausted
."

“
Too bad
. I’m ready to go again
," she murmured and kissed his smooth, broad chest. "You and I seem to get better each time."

"Which proves the adage about practice." He chuckled as he rolled
away
. They could hear dish
es clinking, and Joe groaned. “
F
orgot about the breakfast tray."

"
Just d
on't spill the coffee."

He moved his leg, then halted abruptly with a low curse.

"What's wrong?"

"I think I stuck my foot in the huevos rancheros."

She rolled over laughing
. But finally
, she helped him clean up the mess. Everything
they did
together
was wonderful and funny and full of
fun
. Even the second shower of the morning.

When Maria emerged,
dressed
in shorts and
a purple tee, Jo
e
had already
made a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchenette
. He
poured them each a steaming cupful.
“Just to prove I’m here to work, too.”

She smiled at him as she crossed the room.
He looked fantastic and fit in
white shorts and a red knit pullover.
And def
initely more relaxed than
she'd ever seen him. Maria won
dered if she looked different, too. She only knew she was happier than in years.

"
Thanks.” She inhaled. “Smells wonderful.”

He kissed her lips lightly. “So do you.”

“Breakfast in bed was a great idea. But now, time to earn my keep.”

"
My dear, you’ve more than earned it already.
I have another idea. Lunch." Standing, he gulped the coffee, then set the cup back on the table. "I'll be back within the hour."

"Joe, what are you up to now
?
"

"People to see, plans to make." He brushed her forehead with his lips, then decided on
a lingering kiss on her lips be
fore leaving.

When Joe returned, he discovered the note she'd left for him. Jogging next door,
he found Maria huddled over pa
pers and notes scattered over the kitchen table. "What's this? I leave your side for less than an hour and you go berserk."

"It's called work, Joe. We'll never get done if we don't get going."

"Right." He watched her impatiently for a few moments. "Uh, could we work on this later, Maria? Our rented boat and picnic lunch await."

"What?"

He pulled her to her feet
and kissed her quickly. "Swim
suits and sunscreen. Everything else is taken care of."

Maria
trudged
behind Joe
to the pier lugging a food bas
ket and the flat briefcase she'
d insisted on bringing. Joe car
ried a cooler full of iced drinks and a brightly colored Mexican blanket. He'd vowed to help her hunt for perfect shells on a different beach, and they'd agreed to launch the next phase of Speechcraft, which included her evaluation of him.

She smiled at his jaunty gait. He not only looked happy, but he also walked happily. It pleased her immensely to think she had something to do with that.

They piled everything into the motorboat Joe had rented. With a sense of adventure they left the security of the San Carlos Harbor, waving at the children playing outside little pastel houses along the way. They passed elegant villas built high on the cliffs overlooking the Sea of Cortez and private beach clubs designed to lure work-weary tourists. Finally Joe steered them to a deserted sandy beach almost hidden by rocky cliffs that jutted out into the sea.

When they reached shallow water, Maria stood up in the bow and shaded her eyes. In a strange combination both cacti and palm trees grew near the beach, and bright orange and blue bird-of-paradise flowers blossomed in proliferation. The whole place looked like a
fantasy movie set, specially de
signed for a lovers' rendezvous. "What a beautiful spot, Joel
!
How in the world did you find it?"

“
Talked to the right people," he said with a pleased grin. "Actually, I wanted an island, but there weren't any handy.
Only a deserted beach, just for us.
Nice, huh?
" He lifted her out, then hauled the boat up on the beach.

"Joe, you're absolutely amazing." She helped him unload the boat, then they left their things in a pile on the blanket and began exploring the tiny
protected cove. It was a half-mile crescent of pure
white sand, bordered by rocky brown
hills on one side and crystalline water on the other. Aside from the motor of an occasional fishing boat, the only sounds were
seagulls
.

"They say when the tide comes in, it sometimes brings loads of shells. And they get trapped here because of those cliffs." He took her hand as they walked, lacing their fingers firmly,
not
let
ting
her get
very
far away from him.

She liked to feel the power of his muscular arm entwined with hers, as if he could gi
ve her some of his strength. Oc
casionally the back of her hand brushed
his bare leg, trig
gering erotic thoughts of those strong, masculine legs rubbing hers, seeking what she had to gi
ve. "I'll bet this place is mag
nificent after a storm," she said.

"Or during."

"You are adventurous, aren't you?"

“
It seems to be protected here." He swept his hand in an arc to encompass the surrounding cliffs.

"Well, I, for one, wouldn't like to try it out."

He laughed. "You wouldn't like to hide out with me?"

"Hide out safely," she said. "I'm not much of a risk taker."

"You don't consider our being together a risk?"

"In what way?" She looked up at him questioning. Was falling in love with Joe risky? She hadn't considered it so. Maybe he meant risky for him.

"Oh... nothing."

"For you, Joe?"

"No, of course not." He'd answered firmly, but the seed of doubt had been planted and left them both wondering what kinds of risks they faced in the future.

They searched for perfect shells until the sand grew so hot that it stung their bare feet.
They r
an into the water, then ran back to their towels and lunch
.

Joe spread the blanket
in the small amount of shade af
forded by a palm tree. "I'd say we have three to four hours before the tide comes in, then we'd better scat."

"We can't stay here during high tide, and yet you wanted to ride out a storm?"

"Well, we couldn't do it here. We'd have to climb up in those rocks, maybe find a cave."

"A cave!" She shuddered. "You, me and the snakes!"

He pulled her into his arms. "I wouldn't risk hurting you, Maria. You're too precious to me." His tender kiss convinced her of his sincerity. "Now unless you want to give the shrimp boats a spectacular peep show, I suggest we tackle lunch."

"I agree." She wriggled out of his arms and opened the lunch basket the restaurant had prepared for them. "You hungry?"

"Starved. My breakfast was interrupted by a sudden heat wave."

She gave him a teas
ing punch and handed him a
tortilla wrap filled with veggies and shrimp
.
They each finished off a beer.

Later they swam and snork
e
led in the crystal
clear waters, then relaxed on the blanket with chilled wine coolers. Maria opened her leather briefcase and pulled out her notebook. "I think it's about time for work."

"You're diligent—I’ll
give you that."

"We have lots of area to cover and have barely begun."

"Are you hinting that you have a big job ahead to whip me into shape for office
?
"

She grinned. "Something like that. But it isn't a
n impos
sible job."

"Well, thanks. That really boosts my ego."

"I have other techniques in mind to boost your ego." She arched her eyebrows. "Anyway, that's not the area where you need help the most."

He lounged back on the brightly striped blanket. "Look at us, Maria. I'm relaxed for the first time in years. You've been
very
good for me. And you.. .you're laughing out loud for the first time since I've met you."

She caressed his cheek with her palm. "You've been good for me, too, Joe. There was a time when I thought I'd never laugh again.
And I haven’t had this much fun since. . . well, for years.
"

"Never is a long time not to laugh. Or to love."

Her dark eyes explored his. Love, Joe?
Really?
"And now you give me both
, love and laughter
."

"Yes, both," he murmured as he pulled her down for a kiss.

When she raised her head, his dark eyes were smoky with passion. "Maria..."

"We have work to do," she reminded him gently. "So get comfy."

He brought several cushions from the boat and propped them against
a rock
, then settled back. Maria sat cross-legged, her work in her lap. "Now let's see what you wrote about me." He peered at her notebook pages full of scribbled notes and read aloud, "Tall, i
mposing, good first impression.” He looked up with a hurt expression. “Hey, w
hat about sexy?"

"Very," she said. "But I
didn’t want
to put that
in writing
."

"Hmm, maybe you're right. We ought to keep
that be
tween us."

"We need to discuss the value of good first impressions. It's very important in business and in politics. Statistics show people make assessments of others in about thirty seconds of the initial meeting."

“
Thirty seconds, hmm? That's pretty quick. What kind of first impression did I make on you, Maria?"

She tried to sound nonchalant. "
Oh pretty g
ood."

"Only good? What about spectacular?
Dynamic? Hot!
"

"Actually,
more than anything,
I was curious about you."

"Weren't you scared
, a little,
when I knocked on your door at that hour of the night? Come on, be honest."

"No
, because w
hen I saw y
our eyes, I knew you were trust
worthy.
Besides, I heard you earlier, in the post, talking to a group. The sound of your voice was magnetic.
"

“
There goes my macho image. Shot to hell by the woman nearest to my heart
.
You want to know what I thought of you?"

"Not right now."

"Sexy," he persisted.
“
You had my attention immediately.
I saw you in the post, too. And I wanted to run right after you.
"

"Joe, you're getting off the subject."

"And when I saw your eyes," he continued dreamily, "I knew I wanted you. Right then and there. And something told me I would have you, too.
The mountain spirits spoke. She’s the one.”