less of her father's mind for negotiation and more of her mother's in-your-face style. This was one of those times. "Well, then. We'll just have to trust those three with dinner, won't we? As scary a thought as that may be."
"Scary isn't the half of it," Poe said with a huff.
"Dinner will be fine." Sydney adjusted the knot of her sarong. "If not, we can dig into my stash of Rice Krispies treats."
"And for the next ten days?"
"We'll have to ration."
Poe shook her head and moved her hands to her hips. "Not the food. The tension."
Sydney studied the other woman's wits-end demeanor, sympathizing with Poe's uncomfortable plight. "You're talking about the tension between Lauren and Anton."
"Between Lauren and Anton. Between Lauren and me. I haven't had a true, nonworking vacation in years. And I am not about to have this one ruined by this unresolved thing between those two." Poe looked out toward the beach where the game of Frisbee was still going on.
Then she looked back at Sydney and shrugged. "Anton and I are friends, that's it. But if I'm going to be tried and convicted of being more, then why shouldn't I reap the obvious fruits of committing the crime? It's not like he's the least bit hard on the eyes."
Anton was totally gorgeous, Sydney had to agree. But she was also quite sure Poe was perfectly capable of answering her own question. "I think we both know you don't have it in you to hurt Lauren that way."
Poe blew out an inelegant snort. "Too bad the reverse isn't true."
Sydney 's mouth twisted. "Lauren's just overly sensitive when it comes to Anton. I doubt she has anything against you personally."
"Well, either she wants to be with Anton or she doesn't. She's trying hard to have it both ways, and it's hardly fair to the rest of us. I mean, look out there." Poe lifted her chin, indicating the human scenery—three men whipping the Frisbee across the beach. "Tell me what you see."
What Sydney saw was more than Poe could imagine. Images that even Sydney wasn't sure were memories or the creative workings of her mind. And none of her thoughts were anything she wanted to explain or to share. Not with Poe. Not with anyone.
Ray was her fantasy, her mind-candy, as were her plans for his seduction. "Well, I see an absolutely gorgeous tropical sunset. I see a postcard-worthy scene of palm trees and rippling waves and a beach clean enough to eat off. But I have a feeling you're talking about Anton, Doug and Ray."
"Exactly." Poe moved closer to the veranda railing, hitched one hip onto the edge. "Three very appealing possibilities for an exciting vacation fling."
Sydney had already narrowed her own possibilities down to one. And she had matchmaking plans for a second. Which left Poe only two choices. "You're forgetting about Jess."
Poe shook her head. "Not really. I know Anton is off-limits. And as much as it pains me to admit it, I also accept that the fling possibilities will have to be shared."
"How generous of you," Sydney replied, working hard to keep a straight face.
"My generosity is limited, trust me. If Lauren blows this chance, I will take full advantage when we get back to the States."
"Then we'll just have to make sure she doesn't blow anything, won't we."
"Taking matters into your own hands?" Poe asked, sliding a sly, sideways glance at Sydney .
Sydney lifted one shoulder and casually replied, "I'm thinking about it."
"Well, while you're thinking, I believe I will go ahead and give Lauren the wake-up call she needs." Poe hopped back to her feet. "Unless you have an objection?"
Back home in Houston , with gIRL-gEAR business at stake, Sydney would have more reasons to possibly object. But here and now? Even an unearthly intervention would be welcome. "Will you do me the favor of warning me in advance?"
Poe chuckled. "Consider yourself warned."
"Fair enough." Sydney linked her arm through Poe's. "Now let me show you the sundeck before it's too dark to get the full effect. I've never found a better
"Scary isn't the half of it," Poe said with a huff.
"Dinner will be fine." Sydney adjusted the knot of her sarong. "If not, we can dig into my stash of Rice Krispies treats."
"And for the next ten days?"
"We'll have to ration."
Poe shook her head and moved her hands to her hips. "Not the food. The tension."
Sydney studied the other woman's wits-end demeanor, sympathizing with Poe's uncomfortable plight. "You're talking about the tension between Lauren and Anton."
"Between Lauren and Anton. Between Lauren and me. I haven't had a true, nonworking vacation in years. And I am not about to have this one ruined by this unresolved thing between those two." Poe looked out toward the beach where the game of Frisbee was still going on.
Then she looked back at Sydney and shrugged. "Anton and I are friends, that's it. But if I'm going to be tried and convicted of being more, then why shouldn't I reap the obvious fruits of committing the crime? It's not like he's the least bit hard on the eyes."
Anton was totally gorgeous, Sydney had to agree. But she was also quite sure Poe was perfectly capable of answering her own question. "I think we both know you don't have it in you to hurt Lauren that way."
Poe blew out an inelegant snort. "Too bad the reverse isn't true."
Sydney 's mouth twisted. "Lauren's just overly sensitive when it comes to Anton. I doubt she has anything against you personally."
"Well, either she wants to be with Anton or she doesn't. She's trying hard to have it both ways, and it's hardly fair to the rest of us. I mean, look out there." Poe lifted her chin, indicating the human scenery—three men whipping the Frisbee across the beach. "Tell me what you see."
What Sydney saw was more than Poe could imagine. Images that even Sydney wasn't sure were memories or the creative workings of her mind. And none of her thoughts were anything she wanted to explain or to share. Not with Poe. Not with anyone.
Ray was her fantasy, her mind-candy, as were her plans for his seduction. "Well, I see an absolutely gorgeous tropical sunset. I see a postcard-worthy scene of palm trees and rippling waves and a beach clean enough to eat off. But I have a feeling you're talking about Anton, Doug and Ray."
"Exactly." Poe moved closer to the veranda railing, hitched one hip onto the edge. "Three very appealing possibilities for an exciting vacation fling."
Sydney had already narrowed her own possibilities down to one. And she had matchmaking plans for a second. Which left Poe only two choices. "You're forgetting about Jess."
Poe shook her head. "Not really. I know Anton is off-limits. And as much as it pains me to admit it, I also accept that the fling possibilities will have to be shared."
"How generous of you," Sydney replied, working hard to keep a straight face.
"My generosity is limited, trust me. If Lauren blows this chance, I will take full advantage when we get back to the States."
"Then we'll just have to make sure she doesn't blow anything, won't we."
"Taking matters into your own hands?" Poe asked, sliding a sly, sideways glance at Sydney .
Sydney lifted one shoulder and casually replied, "I'm thinking about it."
"Well, while you're thinking, I believe I will go ahead and give Lauren the wake-up call she needs." Poe hopped back to her feet. "Unless you have an objection?"
Back home in Houston , with gIRL-gEAR business at stake, Sydney would have more reasons to possibly object. But here and now? Even an unearthly intervention would be welcome. "Will you do me the favor of warning me in advance?"
Poe chuckled. "Consider yourself warned."
"Fair enough." Sydney linked her arm through Poe's. "Now let me show you the sundeck before it's too dark to get the full effect. I've never found a better
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