This can’t happen.

Ducking away from the cage of his arms, I did my best to straighten my hair. Conner and Pippa still slept (thank God) and I rubbed my lips to rid the electrical current left by his kiss.

Galloway breathed hard. “What was that?”

I paced in front of him. “I—I don’t know.”

“You kissed me, remember?”

“I know I did.”

“Then why did you stop?”

“Just because I kissed you doesn’t mean I was going to sleep with you.”

“Oh, no? You were pretty keen on the idea a few seconds ago.”

The heat throbbing in my core rapidly switched to indignation. “Wow, your ego’s pretty big, you know that?”

“That’s not the only thing that’s big.” He winked.

“Really? You’re going to treat this like a sleazy pickup?” Infuriation was a smoking fire in my chest. “That’s low, Galloway.”

“What do you want? An apology for something I didn’t start?” His jaw ticked. “Look, I’m aware that there are things about me that aren’t...smooth. A lot of me is riddled with flaws. But that kiss...it wasn’t one of them. That kiss—” He cut himself off, whistling under his breath. “That kiss was the best damn kiss I’ve ever had.”

I shivered with delight even as I stomped on lust with steel-capped boots. “Doesn’t matter. It won’t happen again.”

“Why not?” His voice was a whip.

I waved at the warming dawn, lapping tide, and empty island. “Because we have much more important things to worry about.”

He sighed, bending awkwardly to pick up his crutch. “You’re right.”

I paused, sensing a trap.

Determination plastered his face as he repositioned himself. “However, this situation is a pretty shitty one. What’s the harm in finding happiness to make it bearable?”

My breathing slowly calmed. “You’re saying you were happy kissing me?”

“I’ve never been happier.”

“Oh.”

How can he say that with what’s happened?

“You guys are up already?” Conner yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Galloway and I jumped.

The guilt of doing something we shouldn’t stamped a scarlet letter onto my forehead.

Galloway managed to set aside our little indiscretion and act completely normal. “Yep. No sleeping in for us.”

Conner swiped his good hand through copper hair, making it stand up in every direction. He needed a bath (we all did), but apart from the dwindling supply of toothpaste and the aid of our ingenious use of sand as soap, we had nothing else to use.

Dragging dirty hair over my shoulder, I quickly plaited it—doing my best to hide that it desperately needed a clean. I couldn’t decide if the blonde was darkening with filth or bleaching thanks to the salt and sunshine.

Rolling from his makeshift bed, Conner jumped a few times to get his circulation going. “Damn, I’m freezing.”

My eyes flittered to Pippa; she slept in a tight ball with my jacket over her legs. Poor kid needed blankets, not exposure to the sky.

Would it be possible to make some?

It might be possible, but bedclothes were far down the totem pole of importance.

As is making out and all things related to desire.

“It will get warm in about an hour.” Galloway pointed at the pinking sky. “The sun is about to make an appearance.”

Securing my plait with a hair-tie from around my wrist, my silver and gold bangles jangled. Every second the sky brightened helped switch my attention from kissing to the plastic-wrapped leaves of our tree.

I cleared my throat. “I have a question.”

Galloway looked at me. “Which is?”

“What exactly is that for?” I pointed at the funnel and the small catchment of liquid. The leaves were cramped in the tight space and condensation only increased as the day grew warmer.

“It’s a lifesaver, that’s what that is.”

My throat panged with thirst. “It makes water?”

Galloway nodded.

“How does it work?”

“I’ll show you.” He turned to Conner. “Where did the poncho go that your sister found in Estelle’s pockets?”

“I’ll get it.” Conner jogged toward the baby-blue packet that I’d bought in Texas. He ducked and touched his sleeping sister’s forehead before making his way back to us. With every movement, he was very aware of his broken wrist.

Passing the poncho to Galloway, Conner asked, “What are you going to do with it?”

Galloway clutched the packet, using his crutch to hop to a free branch. “Demonstration time.” He ripped open the packet and shook out the poncho. Passing his crutch to Conner, Galloway stretched and grabbed an armful of the tree, struggling to wrap the thin raincoat around it.

“Here, let me help.”

He gave me a dark look as I tugged the branch, giving him room to secure it. Wrapping it tight, he used another piece of my singlet to tie the ends together at the top.

“Damn, I’ve run out of ties.”

Thinking quickly, I pulled the elastic from my hair and handed it over.

A second passed before he accepted it. Pinching the plastic, he formed another funnel, allowing space for water to slide to the bottom.

The moment it was done, he nodded with satisfaction.

Conner asked, “So...now what?”