Girl Gear 3: Bound to Happen by Alison Kent

circular staircase that led to the sundeck on the villa's roof.
    The evening breeze, which hit him full in the face, was welcome. He shook off his stale musings and drew a deck chair close to the waist-high safety railing, propped his feet on top and, through slats that reminded him of prison bars, stared out across the tops of the coconut palms toward the sea.
    He hated thinking of his brother. Patrick was never far from his mind, but he'd learned to keep his thoughts put away. He'd also learned not to let random events shoot the lock he kept on that particular emotional trigger. Even now he didn't know why, except for the vacation comparison, he'd let his thoughts drift to Patrick.
    Ray really did know better. What had happened three years ago wasn't his fault, wasn't anyone's fault. But the guilt remained. And guilt was something he couldn't have hanging over his head. Not if he expected to do his job with any level of competence and detachment.
    Right now, the last thing he felt was detached. Not from his memories of Patrick, the brother he'd sworn to protect, the brother who would've turned twenty-five last month if he'd been around to have a birthday.
    And not from Sydney Ford.
    He was supposed to be here on vacation, and she was supposed to be his good-time girl. She'd grown up in a big way, while he hadn't been around to keep track. And his good-time plans were now X-rated and very, very adult.
    The thought of Sydney, the woman, naked beneath him or, better yet, naked on top, where he could watch her body move and see the expressions she couldn't keep from her face, had him squirming in the cedar deck chair. He couldn't imagine how he'd be squirming when he had her there above him, holding her hips while she rode him.
    As if he'd conjured her up, she appeared, her bare feet slapping lightly on the boards of the deck. Handing him a plate with two huge sandwiches, she set a bottle of water down by his chair before she leaned back against the railing and dusted her hands together.
    He grinned his thanks.
    "Don't get used to the personal service," she said as he bit into the homemade bread and tender chunks of chicken. Her mouth twisted with amusement when she added, "And that's all I have to say about that."
    The personal service he wanted from her had nothing to do with food. It was a good thing he had his mouth full, because he might have said so.
    "You're not in the mood for Tom Hanks?" she asked, glancing up at the gorgeous night sky.
    He looked at her long neck, at the curve of her throat, her smile, the fullness of her breasts. He swallowed—first his sandwich, then a hard knot of desire. Finally he shook his head. "Sorry, no. And if you're in the mood for company, I'm not sure I'm your best choice."
    Looking at him, she cocked her head to one side and drew her brows into a thoughtful V. "Why the bad mood?"
    What exactly was he supposed to tell her but the truth? he thought, then took a deep breath, blew it out. "I didn't know it would be so rough coming here."
    She frowned. "Why would it be rough coming here?"
    He'd taken another bite and had his mouth full of sandwich. It made for a good excuse not to have to talk until he'd figured out exactly what he wanted to say, what he wanted to tell her, what he wanted her to know.
    Her hands braced on the deck railing, Sydney went on, "Are you sorry you brought all of us with you? Or is it about the Indiscreet? I hate that you didn't get to finish the cruise you were promised. Nolan's been looking to sell the boat for a while. I guess it's a good thing."
    Ray took a slug of water from the bottle to clear his throat and down the rest of his sandwich. "Don't worry about the boat. It's not that at all. And I'm glad everyone's here. I'm especially glad you're here."
    "Then why are you hiding on the deck?"
    "I've been thinking about Patrick," he answered before second thoughts had a chance to stop him.
    "Oh, Ray." Sydney closed her eyes, rubbed a hand over her forehead as if