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“You are. I know it. But trust me, nothing you have would fit me.”
The frown on his face only added to her amusement. She knew that after the disaster at the bungalow she shouldn’t be smiling, much less laughing, but she couldn’t help herself. The laughter bubbled out of her.
Maybe it was some strange reaction to stress. Or perhaps it was her pregnancy hormones. Whatever it was, she couldn’t stop laughing. And looking in Xander’s direction only made it worse.
“What?” he asked as his frown deepened. “Do I have something on me?” He then started to wipe his face off. “Would you stop that?”
“I’m trying.” Lea did her best to subdue her unexpected amusement. “It’s not you.”
He arched a dark brow. “Then why are you laughing at me?”
She shook her head. “I’m not.”
“Sure seems like it to me.”
“I’ve just never seen someone in expensive clothes crawling around on a flooded floor.” She dabbed at her damp eyes. “You’re a mess.”
“And that’s funny?”
“No. Not really.” The grumpier he became the cuter he got. That acknowledgment sobered Lea. Being attracted to him was what had gotten them in this situation in the first place. “Anyway. What are you doing here?”
“You need to ask?”
“Apparently I do or I wouldn’t have asked you.”
She pulled the golf cart to a stop in front of her bungalow—the same place that their baby was conceived. It was as though they’d come full circle and were now back at the beginning. She got out and headed for the door.
She glanced over her shoulder, finding Xander still sitting in the cart. “Come on. You can’t go around looking like that all day.”
She let herself inside the small but airy bungalow, lit abundantly from the floor-to-ceiling windows. She wasn’t quite sure how to act around Xander. It wasn’t as though they were strangers, but there was definitely a thick layer of awkwardness between them.
“The shower is through there.” She pointed to the guest bathroom.
He looked at her. “Are you sure you don’t want to get one first?”
She glanced down at herself. She was as wet as him, with some black grease marks here and there.
Her hand moved to her hair. It was still damp on the ends and the rest of it was growing frizzy. She must look a sight. No one would desire her in this state. And that was for the best. She tried to tell herself that she was relieved but what she was really feeling was disappointment.
Not wanting to dwell on her disheveled appearance, she grabbed her purse from the side of the couch and headed for the front door. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get you something to wear.” Not waiting for his response, she strode outside, pulling the door shut behind her.
There was only a limited number of retail shops on the island. Most people who visited weren’t interested in shopping, except for the occasional necessity. But they did have a boutique and that was where Lea headed.
The only problem was that everything in the island boutique was geared to leisurely, fun-in-the-sun clothes. There were no suits, not even jeans because it was hot outside with only the sea breeze to cool you off. There was actually a pair of gray sweats lurking on the back shelf, but Lea dismissed them. Xander would melt in them.
She moved on to a pair of navy shorts with a white anchor pattern. This was more like it. Her mind filled with an image of Xander in them, showing off his well-defined calf muscles. The man was a walking advertisement for the benefit of working out daily.
She picked up a white T-shirt with Infinity Island emblazed across the front of it. Her gaze moved to the section of the shop with the more intimate items, but there was no way she was buying him underwear. Not a chance. She had to draw the line somewhere.
She started for the checkout but realized she was being silly. If she could have his baby, she could pick out some boxers. Still, it felt like something a girlfriend or, dare she say it, a wife would do. As she scanned over the various colors and styles, her mind conjured up images of Xander wearing them.
She resisted the urge to fan herself. Boy, was it getting warm in here. Eager to get this over with, she grabbed a few pairs of extra-large boxers. If he wanted something else, he could come here and shop for himself. With her face still warm, she started for the front of the store, passing by the rack of flip-flops. She grabbed a pair. He would be all set to go—to go home to Athens.
