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why he had to be so full of himself. This was exactly why she did not
need any help from a man—especially an arrogant, pompous ass like Tom. Lindy
threw herself into the task at hand. If she wanted to enjoy her vacation by the
sea, she needed to make the place livable.
    * * * * *
    After a couple of days she was at least able to bathe and
sleep in a clean bed. She hadn’t been sleeping or eating well and it was taking
its toll. “What is wrong with me?” she asked her pseudo-serious reflection in
the hall mirror. She didn’t know why she expected a different response. A
girl can hope, can’t she?
    She slid her finger across her lower lip and smiled. She
couldn’t seem to get Tom’s kiss off her mind. It had only been a few days but
he had not been around since. Why was she even allowing thoughts of him to disturb
her peace? Why?
    Because it made her feel things she thought had long since
died. Because this stranger seemed to crawl right under her skin and leave her
feeling empty inside at the same time. She knew it was ridiculous but all she
wanted was for him to kiss her again.
    Okay, coming to the romantic Cornwall of her dreams was
clouding her judgment. This was not a Gothic romance novel. It was her life.
    Let’s look at this objectively. Twenty-six years old, no
family, single—with no interest in the roller coaster of emotions that love
seems to bring—and I’m a romance writer living in a craggy house by the sea.
    Lindy shook her head. She couldn’t believe the cliché her
life had become.
    So now the alpha hero drops in and wants to have
passionate sex with me. What would my heroine do? Sure there’s plenty of
conflict, she’d love to hate his smug, pompous nature but is that enough? So
what? He is hot and a little sex never hurt anyone. Besides, he must be gone to
sea for weeks at a time and by the time he returns you might be back at home
already. Home?
    Lindy was beginning to wonder what that word meant. She had
sold her condo and put her belongings in storage before she left. She had her
friends but no family to consider. This old place wasn’t so bad. Maybe she
could stay for a while. It might be a good muse, if nothing else.
    “Lindy! Hello, anyone home in there?” Tom called as he
opened the screen door.
    Startled from her self-talk, she smoothed her hair into the
sloppy ponytail at her neck and tugged her shirt down, hoping it would make her
look a bit less slovenly. Well I sure have made a good impression so far!
    “Sorry Tom, a bit distracted I guess.” Lindy tried to
recover and mask her emotions.
    “I knocked a couple of times, just wanted to make sure you
were okay,” he said as he stepped into the disaster of the kitchen. If the front
of the house faces the sea, why does everyone have to walk into the kitchen? Lindy
wondered fleetingly.
     
    Tom looked at her keenly, trying to guess what had been
distracting her. He was beginning to wonder just what made this gal tick. She
was fiercely independent, a little too much so for his taste. She seemed wound
tighter than a traveling alarm clock. Better to not get involved. I don’t
need any more complicated women—especially one that lives so close. Soon I’ll
be back out to sea—alone and free.
    “Lindy, I just stopped by to let you know I’ll be taking a
charter group out tomorrow. Sailing around to Mallorca and then Barcelona. I
will be gone a little over a month.”
    “Oh, sounds lovely.” Tom thought Lindy looked a little
wistful as she gazed out the window at the sparkling sea. “Thanks but I hardly
need your itinerary.”
    “Yes, right. But since you’re new in town and don’t know
anyone…” He paused. “Well just in case you need anything, here is my card,” he stammered,
pressing it into her palm.
    Tom hadn’t experienced much rejection from women in the past
and Lindy’s casual slam had taken him off his game. Just thought I would lay
a little groundwork for my return but his one might not be as easy as