The Somerset Girls

by Lori Foster

  Without hesitation, Ember sat on a rock, unlaced her boots and peeled off her socks. She wiggled her toes, then stood and dropped her shorts. After laying them over the rock, she reached for the hem of her tank—

  “Much as I hate to interrupt things at this point—”

  Squawking, she spun around and found Mike leaning against a tree, arms folded over his bare chest, shorts hanging low, barefoot and with wet hair.

  “—I feel it’s necessary to point out you have an audience.” He kept his gaze on her face. “But, hey, if you want to proceed, I won’t complain.”

  Speechless, she stared at him. “You were watching me?”

  “Just walked up, actually.”

  “Did you tiptoe?”

  His mouth twitched. “Nope. Wasn’t even all that quiet, but you seemed pretty intent on cooling off.”

  Well, that was something. But damn it, she stood there in panties and a tank top feeling a little exposed and a lot provoked, and he didn’t seem bothered at all.

  “You already went swimming?” she asked, for lack of anything more intelligent.

  He ran a hand over his head, sending more water to trickle over his broad, tanned shoulders. “A day like today, the lake just calls to you.”

  Man, it was difficult not to snatch up her shorts like a startled virgin, but pride helped her to resist the urge. Never would she let Mike know how he unsettled her. If he wanted to be all freaking nonchalant, she could do the same.

  Hopefully.

  “Yeah,” she said, pleased that her tone emerged as indifferent. She even turned, hands on her hips, to stare out at the water. “It’s crazy hot today.”

  No reply.

  When she glanced back, she found his attention on her rear, but it quickly shot back to her eyes. “I’ll join you if you want.” His smile challenged her. “I could scare away the snakes.”

  “Hmm.” Satisfied now that she knew he wasn’t immune to her, she moved closer to the rocky shoreline. Snakes often hid among the rocks. She wasn’t really afraid of them, but, yeah, she’d prefer not to get too close. Plus it gave her a great excuse to keep him close.

  “It’s getting hotter by the second,” he pointed out.

  The sun hung in a cloudless sky, but it was Mike’s gaze that really made her feel the heat. “Okay, sure.” She turned to face him, and stared into his eyes. “I told Autumn to sleep in, and I didn’t expect to see anyone else this early on a Sunday.”

  “I had some things to do.”

  What things? she wondered. Pushing him, determined to make him react, she stated, “I’m without a bra and I don’t relish swimming in my shirt. I wouldn’t have anything to put on after I get out.”

  For the longest time he stood there. Breathing. Looking at her. Thinking...things.

  She hoped things about her. She wanted him to want her.

  But she’d done enough to prompt him. He had to make the next move.

  Too bad she hadn’t worn mascara at least. Or fixed her hair. Judging by how she felt, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know how she looked.

  As if he’d read her thoughts, he said, “Natural looks good on you, Ember.” Moving over to a tree, he snagged a white T-shirt and shook it out. “Wanna wear my shirt?”

  Yup, she definitely did. Knowing it’d smell like him made her toes curl. “Everything will show through.” She liked that idea, because maybe that would help to make things happen.

  “You’re not modest, Ember.” His voice, low and rough, set her heart to beating double-time.

  She honestly didn’t have a modest bone in her body. But with Mike, everything felt different—mostly because he was different and she couldn’t quite figure him out.

  “No reason you should be,” he added. “So what’s the holdup?”

  “All right.” The spontaneous decision brought her forward, hand extended.

  Rather than give her the shirt, he snagged her hand in his and drew her closer—so close that she had to tip back her head to maintain eye contact. “If we do this,” he whispered, “I’m going to kiss you.”

  Well, hallelujah. ’Bout damn time. Feeling daring and a lot turned on, she smiled. “Is that so?”

  “Fair warning.”

  “Duly noted.” She grabbed the shirt and took two steps away. “Turn around.”

  One eyebrow arched. “A little modest, after all?”

  Oh, no, she wouldn’t make it easy for him. Twirling a finger in the air, she silently emphasized her demand.

  A cocky smile curved his mouth, and he turned.

  In seconds, Ember whipped off the tank top, tossed it toward her shorts and pulled on his shirt. When the neckline drooped over one shoulder, she let it be. The hem hit her midthigh. For now, she was decently covered. But once she got wet?

  Whole different story.

  While he kept his back to her, she took the opportunity to study him. His sun-streaked blond hair really was too long, and now wet, the tips hung in little curls against his nape. That didn’t detract from his overwhelming masculinity. Not with those wide, strong shoulders that led to a tapered waist. He had long arms, with forearms lightly covered in hair, and smooth, pronounced biceps. She visually traced the line of his spine, the deep muscles along his back, down to where his shorts hung low and a strip of lighter flesh showed.

  “I feel you checking me out.”

  “So sue me.” Drawing a necessary breath, she turned and headed to the lake. Her bare feet made rustling sounds over dried leaves and brittle grass, so he surely knew she had finished. When she reached the rocks, she said, “Well, come on then. Make sure the snakes are playing elsewhere.” And give me the chance to finally taste that sexy mouth of yours.

  Chapter Six

  Mike brushed past her, a little closer than necessary and in a way that heightened her senses. Wading into the water waist deep, he splashed enough to destroy the smooth surface of the lake.

  After slicking back his hair, he held those muscular arms wide. “Snakes, fish and even the turtles have vacated the area.” Seriously hot, he smiled at her. “I’m waiting.”

  Diabolical. The way he said that ramped up her sizzling awareness even more. She didn’t entirely understand the game they now played—she only knew he was winning.

  Unacceptable.

  “Keep your pants on,” she muttered and started forward.

  “Must I?”

  Her toes sank into the muddy bottom of the lake. She met his gaze. “For now.” Oh, good, that made his eyes widen a bit. Take that, buddy.

  The tepid water lapped at her knees, then her thighs and finally up to her waist. “Mmmm, this feels good.”

  Eyes warm with approval, he murmured, “You know what you’re doing to me, don’t you?”

  “Nothing you haven’t done to me.” She could attest to the fact that Mike had turned into the master of teasing.

  Moving past him, she made a clean dive, submerging her head to let the water cool not only her temperature but her interest, with the added benefit of slicking back her sweat-dampened hair.

  When she surfaced, he was right beside her.

  Anxious for that kiss? She wanted to think so.

  He moved closer. So did she.

  Very lightly, he touched rough-tipped fingers to her cheek, smoothing away a wet tendril of hair. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.”

  She frowned over his wording. “This...meaning me?”

  “Meaning touching you. Kissing you.” A fingertip trailed across her jaw, then up to trace her mouth. “And more.”

  “With you so far.” With him. Anxious. And if he didn’t get on with it soon, she’d take the initiative. She was no more shy than she was modest.

  “I like my job, Ember.”

  What an odd thing to say. Of course she knew he did, and it surprised her. Mike Brew
er was a motivated, smart, very able-bodied man. And as much as she loved... No, scratch that. Much as she liked having him at the farm, it was a waste of his abilities. But, whatever—he was with them, he did a great job and she wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

  “What does your job have to do with anything?”

  He didn’t hesitate to spell it out to her. “Neither of us is the type to get serious, right? I want you. Pretty sure you want me. So I think we should have fun, but it should stay just between us.”

  Stay between... “What does that mean?”

  “No one else needs to know.”

  A knot of hurt formed in her stomach, but she did her utmost to hide it. “What, like a secret affair?”

  He shrugged. “We’ll get the chemistry out of our systems, then go back to normal.”

  Normal, meaning him not wanting her? Because that’s all this was to him, an itch he wanted to scratch?

  Now why didn’t that sound appealing?

  He took in her expression and softened his tone. “I don’t want to jeopardize my job.”

  Okay, back ’er up. “You wanted a kiss. I don’t see how—”

  “And more,” he reminded her, his rough fingers cupping gently around her jaw, this thumb stroking along her cheekbone. “A lot more.”

  More. Great. So why did uneasiness expand inside her? Because for the first time in forever, you’re interested in so much more than sex, and it appears he isn’t. Ember immediately shook her head, denying that—to herself and to him. “That would jeopardize your job...how?”

  With added caution now, he weighed his words. “I don’t want hurt feelings to get me fired.”

  And that was his biggest concern? Not her, not a relationship. His job. “Then maybe you shouldn’t hurt my feelings!” No, wait. She didn’t mean to say that. It gave away far too much. To most of the people who knew her, she denied having tender feelings. Given Mike’s priorities, he was the last person she wanted to see her vulnerability.

  She needed to salvage her ruse of bravado, and fast. “What I mean is, my feelings aren’t involved with you.” They were, more than she’d realized until just this moment. Since his clearly weren’t, pride put her in full denial. She was the party girl, the carefree spirit. It was time she remembered her own deception. “You can rest easy about that.”

  “Good.”

  Jerk! It took her a second to regain her insouciance, then she fashioned a silky smile. “You’re a hunk, Mike. Really good to look at—”

  “Ditto to you.”

  “Hopefully nice for a diversion. That’s all.”

  “I promise to do my best.”

  His continued good humor ramped up her annoyance, and was in part to blame when she sneered, “Trust me, I’m not looking to get involved with the hired help.” The second those hateful, cutting words left her mouth, heat rushed to her face. She felt like a bitch. Worse, she felt really small.

  Mike, still a jerk, only smiled. “Perfect. Glad we cleared that up.”

  It was all she could do not to throw her hands into the air. He should have been insulted. It was a thoughtless, mean-spirited, rude and awful thing for her to say, and now she felt horribly guilty. “Look, I shouldn’t have—”

  “Forget about it. I’m well aware of your methods, Ember. They don’t bother me.”

  Her spine went straight, frustration spiking all over again. “My methods?”

  “With anyone who cares, you don’t hesitate to bring out the claws, or to talk to other people as if they don’t have feelings.” His gaze searched hers. “It’s a defense, I think.”

  Oh, no! She would not let him dissect her—

  “And with me, it’s fine.”

  Her jaw loosened. “Fine?” Why did that feel so disapproving?

  His gaze lowered to look at her breasts in the wet T-shirt. “Because I understand you, Ember, your sarcasm doesn’t detract from your appeal at all.”

  Of all the sexist, stupid... What made him so special, that he thought he could take her apart and study all the pieces that made her who she was? He thought he knew her motivations, that he understood what made her tick?

  He had so much freaking insight that he could overlook her flaws? Screw that.

  Filling her lungs with an angry breath didn’t help. She had to know the truth. “Do you even like me?”

  And...he hesitated!

  Ember shoved him away, he held on, and they both stumbled, going underwater for a second. Mike came up laughing.

  She came up fuming.

  Until he kissed her.

  As if she hadn’t just insulted him, as if she wasn’t royally pissed, he drew her against his rock-solid body and took her mouth. It was a tickling kiss at first, given his continued snickers, but it quickly changed, going softer, hotter. Deeper.

  Hungrier.

  Whew. The man knew his business. Yes, she was still piqued, but this was a kiss worth enjoying, so no way would she end it. In fact, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed closer and might’ve even given a small, encouraging moan.

  His broad hand opened on her back, but didn’t stay there. Little by little, seduction personified, he eased down her spine and—

  A loud, jubilant “woof” broke the silence seconds before a big splash doused them both.

  Breaking apart and looking up, Ember spotted Autumn standing there, a priceless expression of surprise on her face. Pavlov, the goof, dog-paddled happily toward them, thrilled to find them in the lake.

  Groaning, Mike dunked himself and came up with a frown. Low, so only she would hear, he said, “Maybe next time, Ember.”

  Next time? But...her emotions had been up, down and sideways, then they’d come together in scorching need. She wanted him now.

  His mouth tilted in a small, sexy smile. “By the way, yeah, I like you.” And with that, he abandoned her, calling to Pavlov and swimming farther out. The dog followed him.

  She was left to explain to Autumn, and since her sister now wore an ear-splitting grin, it wasn’t going to be easy.

  * * *

  When Ember slogged out of the water in an all-but-transparent T-shirt—probably Mike’s, given the size of it—Autumn had to bite her lip. She could practically see steam coming off her sister, and judging by her stomping steps, it was a combo of lust and anger.

  Clearing her throat, Autumn said, “So.”

  “Keep watch,” Ember ordered, wrestling out of the clinging wet shirt and slinging it away without caring where it went. “Make sure no one is around.”

  “Just us,” Autumn promised, but she did look to make sure Mike was still out in the lake and that he couldn’t see around the trees. As if he hadn’t just been kissing her sister senseless, he played a game of fetch with Pavlov and a piece of driftwood.

  “Here.” She handed Ember her tank top.

  After squeezing her hair to remove the excess water, Ember put it on...and slowly deflated. “Thanks.” She snatched up her shorts and pulled them on, uncaring that her panties were soaked and that the shorts quickly followed suit.

  After sitting on the rock to pull on her socks and shoes, she confessed, “What I just did was incredibly dumb.”

  There were no more rocks around that were big enough, but Autumn didn’t care. She found a moss-covered spot of ground and sat there. “So what did you do?”

  “I let Mike-the-ass kiss me.”

  Huh. That was it? “Only a kiss?”

  “Yeah, because my sister—who has really great timing, by the way—dropped by. Thanks for that.”

  “The kiss wasn’t good?”

  “The kiss was indescribable.” She twisted to look at her. “But he’s worried because he works for us, Autumn.”

  Shrugging, Autumn said, “So?”

  “Exactly my reaction, but I guess there are...laws?”


  “Pfft. Not for this.” How silly. Not like they were some fancy corporation.

  “Good. Then we agree on that.”

  “We can also agree that Mike is a great guy.” Really great. Probably one of the nicest guys Ember had ever been attracted to. “We think of him more as a partner, right? Not really an employee.”

  Ember didn’t look at her when she nodded.

  Autumn could say for certain that her mom and dad would be thrilled with this particular choice, since they already thought of Mike as part of the family. He was that kind of guy—the type who easily fit into your life. “I say go for it.”

  Glancing at her, Ember said, “I don’t see you following that advice.”

  Autumn choked. “Mike isn’t into me. You, though? I’ve been aware of it for a while, and,” she continued when Ember tried to interrupt, “you’re clearly into him.”

  Sidestepping that, Ember said, “I meant you and Tash.”

  “Different story.” She rushed past that. “You and Mike, though? Two adults, chemistry, proximity—it seems like a no-brainer to me.”

  “Yeah, well, that proximity might be the biggest problem.” Not giving Autumn a chance to question her, she asked, “Why are you here, anyway? I told you to sleep in.”

  “I did. It’s after nine.”

  “Oh.” Ember propped her elbows on her knees. “So what’s up?”

  Hmm. Obviously her sis didn’t want to talk about that oh-so-scorching kiss she’d witnessed. Autumn decided to be patient. Not easy, but she’d manage. She knew Ember wouldn’t last ten minutes.

  Besides, she had sought her out for a reason, on one of the few days she’d been allowed to relinquish her duties. This was important, so she got right to it. “Not to cause you a time crunch, but when do you think you can start on the backyard equipment for Sadie?”

  Now fully facing her, Ember searched her face, then shrugged. “I never hesitate to crunch your time, so I can get on it right away if that’s what you want. Is there a problem?”

  “This should stay between us, okay?”

  Ember crossed her heart. “Goes without saying anytime we discuss a client.”