ANN

Killick sounded like he was tinkling as he walked toward me, holding two canvas bags. I jumped up and hugged around his neck.

"Oh, Killick, you are so wonderful! You found them for me then?" I asked him.

He blushed and looked down at the bags and then thrust them into my hands. "Which with the amount of booze just that Miss Uma drinks, I could have found enough empty liquor bottles with no problem," he said.

And I realized ... Preserved Killick had just made an intentional joke. It delighted me almost as much as his diligence in finding me eight empty liquor bottles.

I giggled and he smiled. "Now, remember, not a word to Jack."

Got the old fisheye from him. "Which these ain't all for his majesty? Pardon me for saying, missus, but surely you don't want to be getting Goldilocks in one of his falling down drunk scenes? Why, if I told you the number of times I've had to roll that body into his cot after he has been out farting about with ..."

"Hush, Killick. I don't want to know. No, these aren't all for Jack. But it's still a surprise for him. I thought we'd let Jack lead us in a rum tasting tonight before dinner. Maybe you could arrange for some appropriate hors d'oeuvres that we could nibble while we taste? I think that could make this a really fun happy hour."

Of course he could. I knew before I asked, but I still twittered to him when he said to leave it in his capable hands. He's such a joy to have around. I rather liked the way he fussed over me even though I knew it was primarily because I was Jack's Number One. I didn't even mind that he was instantly worried that little old me could in no way carry back eight bottles of rum all the way from the ferry to the ship.

"Don't worry about that. I've got three strong men helping me today. I'll make them carry the bottles after we get them filled," I reassured him.

And just then, as if on cue, my three quite able-bodied helpers bumped up to the deck. They looked like they were really dragging and I had to listen to them moaning at me about the ungodly early hour all the way to the ferry. I didn't have a lot of sympathy, but then I'd been up for many hours. Jack has this thing about waking before dawn, showing me the best part of waking up with him and then taking me for a morning swim. I'd always, always, always wanted to join Jack for his nude swimming ritual.

Jack! Nude! Swimming!

Okay, I'll calm down. But only after you think on that image for just a few more seconds.

Jack! Nude! Swimming!

So, I tell you truthfully, it is a good way to start the morning. The smile on my face was genuine and even the combined bitching of Dino, Jeff and Paul did little to chase it away.

"So where is your main squeeze today?" Dino asked me as we stepped aboard the ferry. "Thought you were trying to stick close to him."

"He's out and about. I'm not sure who with but I suspect it's one of the Sisters since he was a bit evasive.  Seemed like a good day for this little adventure."

We were up on the top deck of the ferry. Watching the round hump of Virgin Gorda fade into the past and then around us it was nothing but that deep blue of deep Caribbean waters. Suddenly, Jeff sat up like he was on point. His head turned and he started looking around him at the other passengers.

I heard him take in a deep, startled breath. "What is it Jeff?"

He looked hard at me. "Do you feel anything? Like ... like there's someone you ..."

Shook my head at him. And we all looked at him like we just didn't quite know what to say. He was almost pale. And then he pointed at the bench facing where we stood at the rail. "Her," he whispered. "Do you see her?"

Dino said, "Christ, Jeff, a man would be blind not to see her. I noticed her when she first got on board. Now quit pointing before she thinks we're a bunch of fucking idiots."

Paul looked miffed. I felt uncomfortable. It would have been like Jack ogling some woman when I was with him. It would have done more than miff me. How awkward for Paul, I thought.

And then we all realized that the woman in question was staring at us as we stared at her. Lots of nervous smiles among us all. Except for Dino. Gotta love the redhead. He's like a bird dog on the point when he sees a woman he's interested in.

Five minutes later, he was escorting her back to our little group and introducing us. Heather. And we'd lost Dino's interest in going with us on our little expedition to visit eight small family-run rum distilleries on Tortola. It's why we taking the ferry to Road Town and lugging the empty bottles. These places I wanted to visit were too little to have their own supply of special bottles or labels. So you brought your own bottles and they filled them up for you.

As much experience as Jack has with rum, I thought he might really like tasting such a wide assortment of rum he'd never be able to buy unless we were right there in the islands. Now, believe me when I say this, people who appreciate rum can tell the difference, even within distilleries from the same region. It's like there must be a certain fine line that's determined by the recipe mix of sugar cane or cooking temperature or even choice of cask in which the finished product is stored. Oh, and the age of the product is also in the balance.

So when the ferry stopped in Road Town, we said goodbye to Dino, who was insisting on performing the noble sacrifice of escorting Heather on a walking tour of Road Town. And Paul, Jeff and I hopped in with a local driver and took off on our little tour.

Four hours and many tasting sips later, we rumbled into Pusser's Rum to wait on the ferry that would leave from the nearby dock. And we saw Dino. And Heather. Their heads together. That certain look in their eyes.

We crashed their party. Dino was not happy if his glares at us were any indication. He was even less happy when we tried to drag him back to the ferry with us. He finally took my hand as we all reached the dock. Leave me here with Heather, he told me. If you want to live to see the next day, leave without a lot of fuss.

"Does this mean you're not coming home tonight?" I whispered to him, batted my eyes at him innocently.

Got his warning jaw clench. "I'll be back before the ship pulls out tomorrow."

So we left him. And Heather. Hope we did the right thing, I worried to Jeff and Paul as we jumped aboard the return ferry. They exchanged knowing glances.

DINO

This vacation trip was like seeing into a new world. Some place I could never have imagined. Meeting all the Sisters, seeing the Brothers as reality, understanding the intricacies of the relationships.

Let me just take you on a walk here, okay? Here's my take on them, the way I'd give the nickel tour in a briefing: Uma - the spice brigade; Isobel - seductress earth mother; Darcy - the flirt who meant every word she said; Bou - guarded and dangerous; Teener - grrrrrrrr princess; Reagan - confidence defined and deserved; Ann - that element of fragility beneath all the sass.

I was getting more looks and promises than I might have expected. But ... for all the fun and camaraderie, I was still sleeping alone most of the nights.  So I was up for a bit of uncharted adventure. And when I saw my chance, I was ready to charm my way in.

Met Heather on the ferry over to Tortola. Jeff's rather rude notice of her gave me the opening I needed. Loved the feel of the old magic coming on strong as I found myself moving in on her. Liked her looks, but it was more than that - something was just right about her. She has dark brown hair, a color that does it for me. But those eyes; the way they latched on and I found myself wanting to get close enough to catch the flecks in their hazel coloring. And she has a laugh that can catch a man by the short hairs.

She didn't seem the least bit unnerved by the attention we gave her. She looked back at us as we were staring at her from the rail and her eyes didn't even blink. And when I went to talk to her, she looked me right in the eyes. Except when she blushed at my chosen opening gambit.

"My friends over there bet that I wouldn't be able to start a conversation with the most beautiful woman on this boat. Want to buy some drinks with their money?" I asked her, keeping my face as serious as I could but trying to show her with my eyes that I knew she'd recognize a cheesy pick up line when she heard it.

She might have blushed and looked down but a second later, she stood up, put her hands on her hips and grinned as she gave it back to me: "That was pretty good. Now, here's mine: Does Levi's pay you for wearing those and looking that good?"

One thing I knew about Heather in just minutes - don't mess with that woman unless that's what you're sure you're up to it. She's got a wit that is so fast and sharp ... heaven help you if you're not ready, willing and able to deal with it. She's got a mouth on her. A nice one, actually. Her sharp wit was what I think I liked best about her when we first met. And it's why I wanted to get to know more about her before she just waltzed out of my life as fast as she'd danced in.

So, right from the start, there we were. Two people ready for mischief and not the least bit ashamed to want to admit we liked what we saw, nor that we wanted to see more. By the time the ferry docked, I'd already decided I was sticking with Heather.

After we shook off the three I'd started with, we spent the rest of the morning walking. Got ourselves lost in the back streets where the best shops were. Talked. Joked. And it was taking too many brain cells to keep up with Heather. Well, mainly because I was trying to devote some of my brain to figuring out how I was going to extend our time together.

When we got tired of walking, I took her to Pusser's Rum on Ann's recommendation. Great place. Looks like some British ex-pat pub inside. Perfect atmosphere. We cooled off with a Pimm's Cup and heated up the flirting. I challenged her to a pick-up line contest. And what I liked best was that we were both doing it with the full body press the best pick-up lines require. With each one, we seemed to edge just a bit closer together.

It was my idea, so I started. Gave her a small smile: "You look like a girl that has heard every line in the book, so what's one more going to hurt?"

Got an answering grin: "Can I get a picture of you so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas?"

"I've actually used that one myself. Got good results with it," I told her. "How's this: Shall we talk or continue flirting from a distance?"

"Not bad, Dino, but it's the way you sell it that works for you. Okay, my turn? Hmm. How's this: Your body's name must be Visa, because it's everywhere I want to be."

I had to laugh out loud at that, but then you'd have had to see the suggestive wiggle of her eyebrow that accompanied it along with that full body examination she did. This was also the point we switched from rum to merlot because she'd let slip that this was her favored adult beverage. She seemed pleased that I took the initiative to choose the wine. Ordered a bottle of merlot by the winery that bottles my favored cabernet sauvignon: Stag's Leap. I continued our little contest as she swirled her wine and sipped carefully.

"If I followed you home, would you keep me?" I asked her.

"Do you have a quarter? My mother told me to call home when I met the man of my dreams," she purred out to me, not missing more than a small beat.

That might have been when it seemed to change. All I know is that I'd been feeling the heat build and in that one little moment, the sound of her voice made me want to see just what it would take to phase her. "Do you remember when you were a little kid and you wanted a toy really bad when you went to the store, but your mom wouldn't let you get it, no matter how much you begged? Heather, that's how I feel about you."

"Do you eat lots of Lucky Charms, Dino? Because you look magically delicious to me," she said. Her fingers edged their way across the table.

I let my hand find its way atop hers. Stroked along her cool fingers. Found that sensitive, pulsing area at the base of her thumb and gently rubbed it. "Don't let me fall for you if you won't be there to catch me."

She leaned in toward me. "Have you got any room for an extra tongue in your mouth?"

Christ. That was it. I had to have her. No woman gets me to this point and doesn't know I'm coming in for the full press. I pulled her seat right up next to mine. Ran my finger down those lips and wanted a taste so bad I thought I'd die if it didn't happen soon. "Hershey's makes millions of Kisses each day. I'm just asking for one."

That swallow she did. That fine sheen of sweat that I wanted to lick off from the base of her throat. I was concentrating hard. She was concentrating hard. We both felt it. That indescribably delicious tingle of fear and anticipation. The way you just know ... you've just met someone you won't forget.

I leaned in. Done this move don't know how many times in my life. But it was like it was the first time for the way it hit me. Felt her lips touch mine. Drew back and our eyes met. Neither of us wanted to stop. Pressed back in, drew her toward me. She opened and I slid my tongue inside this warm, sweet place. I heard her little sigh and felt her response like a jolt to my dick. I kid you not. Would I kid about something like that?

And, just as I broke the kiss, I whispered those words in her ear ... "If you're going to regret this in the morning, we can sleep until the afternoon ..." Dammit, if just after I felt her little hand slide up my thigh ...

They didn't fucking show up.

"Dino!" Ann shouts out from across the bar. "How's it hanging, man?"

Heather and I broke apart from each other like someone had thrown ice water on us. And the three of them came laughing and gushing over to the table. I kept glancing at Heather. She kept glancing at me. But we had to sit there like adults while the three of them, all slightly the happier for the rum they'd been tasting, had to fill us in on their adventures.

Finally, Paul looked at his watch and announced it was time to catch the ferry back. We all got up to leave and I knew just what I was going to do. On the walk over to the ferry, I asked Heather to stay in Road Town and have dinner with me.

"I'd love to but this is the last ferry of the day back to Virgin Gorda," she told me under her breath.

"Perfect," I said, keeping my voice soft, seeing her reaction.

She knew what that meant. "Am I safe with you, Dino?"

"Not in the least."

Loved that evil little chuckle she did. "Perfect."

We stood at the end of the pier and waved at Ann, Jeff and Paul as their ferry took off. Jeff seemed a bit put out by the change in plans, but Ann had no qualms. He's a big boy, she told Jeff. I tried not to, but that look Heather gave me at that comment made me blush.

Later that evening, we stood together and watched the sun set on paradise. I had one last line in my repertoire that seemed to fit the occasion.

"You look like heaven to me, baby," I whispered against her throat.

"Only good girls go to heaven, Dino, and I wasn't invited," she said with this evil snicker.

Oh, yeah. That Heather. Gotta love her.

JEFF

When we got back, I went to find Isobel right off. She was leaning at the railing at the port bow, looking off into the distance, this confused concentration on her face.

"Another one has arrived," I told her quietly as I went to stand next to her.

She shook her head like she was throwing off a dream. "What do you mean?"

I told her what had happened. What I'd felt. She didn't seem that surprised; just gave me a soft smile of understanding. "Did you know another one was out there?"

"We sensed it. I just didn't realize she was so near. Wonder if we drew her here? You know? The force of all of us in one place may have become an irresistible magnet to her subconscious."

"What next?" I asked her. It never seemed to work this way. 

I felt her cool little hand glide across my shoulders. "If it's meant to be, it will happen. It's a two-way street, you know. She has to find us and we have to know she's there seeking. I think this is a good sign, though, that you sensed her like that."

The only thing I wondered ... what did it mean that Dino had obviously felt it, too, even if he didn't understand what it meant?