"I'm not doing it unless you do it," she insisted stubbornly, holding his gaze impertinently, not for the first time wondering why this was so important to him.

"So are you telling me that you'll show me yours if I show you mine?" he shot right back, his eyes boring into her widening ones as she flooded with color and glanced around in mortification.

"Jack Hudson! Somebody might hear you!" she hissed, keeping her eyes lowered. With a growl of frustration she snatched the selections from his hand with a muttered, "Fine!" She turned to flounce away to the changing area only to be pulled back to his side by the hand he still held.

"And remember, I get to see them on you," he stressed, not wanting a repeat of the morning.

"Jack," she started, softening her tone and holding his eyes beseechingly, "I have another swimsuit. Scott didn't destroy my only one. This really isn't necessary. What you've picked out is far too expensive and...and...too excessive for swimming."

"You don't like it," he stated, turning to capture the attention of the attendant discreetly waiting to help.

"No, Jack, it's beautiful. It's just not...oh come on," she sighed, watching his expression change. "Don't give me the sad eyes. That's not playing fair."

"All's fair in love and war," he quipped.

"When did this turn into a war?" she wondered aloud.

"Who said it was?" he volleyed, his eyebrows raised as he held her gaze. Not removing his bold stare, he noticed Vanessa by his side. "Vanessa, would you please escort Miss Thomas to your dressing area and let me know when she is ready to come out?"

"Of course, sir," she readily agreed, motioning for Sue to join her.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked him softly before she followed the obedient clerk, all kidding aside.

"POSITIVE.," he assured her. "WHY?"

"YOU NOT YOU," she signed with a confused shake of her head. "YOU SOMEBODY DIFFERENT. WHO?" she shrugged before continuing, "ME NOT KNOW YET."

Jack acknowledged her words with a slight nod of his head, his tongue sticking in his cheek as he pondered his next words. "ME SAME ME," he reminded her, his expression intimate. "DECISION ME MAKE. TELL YOU TONIGHT UNDER STARS. D-E-A-L?"

Struggling to keep from collapsing in a shivering heap, she barely managed to sign "D-E-A-L," before she turned and fled, needing some space and time to unscramble her jumbled thoughts, not to mention the need to regulate her breathing.

Peeking into the stall several minutes later, Vanessa informed Sue, "Your man is getting impatient. Are you ready to knock his socks off?"

"He's n...not my man," she automatically corrected her, not missing her unbelieving look. "We work together," she explained.

"Is he gay?" the young woman asked bluntly while removing the untouched matching cover-up/outfit from its hanger.

"No," Sue assured her emphatically.

"Then he's your man," Vanessa boldly told her, her hand going to her hip. "He devours you with his eyes. You two got more sizzle than most newlyweds that come in. Now come on," she added, not giving Sue time to dispute her claims. "Let's get this cover-up on you and then you can model for him. I bet you'll leave him speechless."

She self-consciously stood before him, watching him work his jaw. So far she hadn't been able to read any distinguishable words. She normally would have fled, her self-confidence taking a beating at the lack of words, except his eyes spoke volumes, keeping her pinned in place. She'd been thinking she was reading too much into Vanessa's words, brushing them off as a young woman working the angle of a sale, except that Jack's actions had been off-kilter since arriving on the islands. And now, observing him carefully, his piercing look supported his strange behavior. He liked what he saw, she could tell.

He allowed himself the luxury of visually examining her at his leisure, hoping his brain would engage and formulate an intelligent reply at some point. She looked exquisite in the red tankini, or what he could see of it. Frowning, he realized the cover-up did actually that. It covered her up, giving the viewer the illusion of being able to see through it, but instead, modestly covered the wearer in all the right places. Still, she looked dazzling and he was anticipating her shedding the outer garment before they swam. She had an amused smile on her face by the time his eyes finished their journey at hers.

"Are you done staring?" she wanted to know.

"Never," he admitted, shaking his head. "You look wonderful," he complimented her, silently groaning at his lack of adequate adjectives. "We'll take it," he needlessly announced to Vanessa, causing the clerk to chortle as she turned to face Sue.

"I told you," she winked. "It took him a long time to find his voice. He sounds like he's in dire need of a drink," she informed Sue with a wink. "Shall I wrap it up or do you want to wear it?"

"She needs to wear it," Jack informed her from behind, having moved closer. Seeing Sue's attention shift to him he added, "I have plans for you this evening."

"For me? What about you? What are you going to do?" she asked with a grin.

"Oh, I'll be there too."

"Alrighty, then. Vanessa," she called, garnering the attention of the hovering woman, "Jack needs a new swimsuit and a shirt and sandals to match." She eyed him critically, making him squirm under her scrutiny. "Maybe a tight t-shirt," she amended, giving a wink to the clerk before turning a charming smile on him. "And something like this," she added, barely reining in her laughter as she watched a look of horror cross Jack's face at the Speedo she plopped in his hands. "And don't forget. I want to see it when you have it on."