Page 25 of The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold (The Blonde Identity #2)

Present Day

The Island

Alex

Alex watched the jet stairs descend slowly and waited for a wave of ocean air and déjà vu to overwhelm her senses—either that

or plain old-fashioned regret.

But all she felt was a thong that wasn’t exactly staying where it was supposed to. “Remind me never to let you go shopping

for me again.” She scowled up at him, but King was too busy sliding on his dark glasses, slipping on his mask of cool confidence

and rich guy calm.

“Oh. Are we pretending I don’t know the size and shape of your body... darling?” The word was a taunt on his lips. “Is

that how we’re going to play it?”

They were close. The open door was right there. And there were stairs. People trip on stairs. People fall down stairs and

bust their heads open. People—

“David!” The voice flew on the wind. “Donna!”

“Flora.” Alex and King spoke at exactly the same time.

She watched him pull on his mask—become David Dixon from Denver right before her eyes.

“Hello, Flora,” he called with a wave.

“Now isn’t this a sight?” Flora looked them over with a grin. “How are the two most beautiful lovelies I have ever seen?”

Alex was careful on the stairs. Careful on the tarmac. She was careful... always. All the time. She’d been careful her whole, entire life, and she was suddenly tired, far too tired to fight when King slipped an arm around her shoulders.

“We’re well, Flora. How are you?” he asked the woman who was looking between the two of them and bouncing—like at any moment

she was going to vibrate right out of her skin.

“Oh, I’m ecstatic! I literally screamed when I got David’s call. I had a feeling that this moon tide would be especially fruitful.

I just didn’t know that my two favorite lovelies would be back—to allow our healing waters to bless you at this most important

time. Donna? Are you excited?”

“Uh... yes?”

“I always tell my lovelies, this is the greatest mission of their lives—the ultimate challenge.”

“The ultimate...”

“I am just so happy that the two of you are back—and for Fertility Week!”

Alex was torn; should she die of mortification now or kill King first? Who was she kidding? She could multitask. But first—

“Oh. No! You see—”

“This is our most special time, when lovers and lovelies unite for the purpose of recreation and procreation,” Flora went on. Then she lowered her voice. “There are certain... advantages... to being a private island.

No police. No silly indecency ordinances. This week, our island will become a cornucopia of bounty—”

“Oh boy,” King muttered.

“You should feel the wind in your hair, the salt water on your skin. The moon on your ripe and fertile bodies.”

“Ripe and...” Alex muttered.

“Fertile,” King blurted. “She said fertile.”

“Let the island guide you through this, the most natural thing in the world. Let nature take its course. Of course, respect

others, but... if no one is around... I’m just saying, do you see that big rock over there? Triplets.”

“How nice.” Was Alex staring daggers? She felt like her eyes might have turned into literal knives.

“Now...” Flora clapped her hands together. “I didn’t get to ask on the phone, would you like the optional Blessing of the Womb?”

“No!” Alex blurted. “I mean no. Thank you. No.”

“We’re all good. Womb-wise.” King winked at Flora and, damn the man, let his hand drift down to rest on Alex’s abdomen. She

wanted to push it away—break his thumb. Maybe toss him into the sea, but all she could do was turn and look up at the man

who was staring down at her, saying, “She’s perfect just the way she is.”

“Oh.” Flora gave a whole-body shiver, then giggled. “Such a beautiful couple. But I’m not going to lie. When I think of where

you started...”