‘I saw a sign at the grocery store. One of the cottagers was selling it, and I made him an offer. Now it’s mine, my first treat after getting out of the hole and saving just about every spare penny.’ He hopped into the boat, then reached out and took the food from her. ‘By the way, your studio is next.’
‘What studio?’
‘Did you see that little camper Jacques hauled up next to the house? He’s gutting it and turning it into a studio.’
Miranda rolled her eyes. ‘I wish he wouldn’t. It’ll take me for ever to pay him back.’
‘It gives him something new to do, now that he’s over computers. Let him. He won’t take a dime since you gave him those two portraits of us to hang in his office. Besides, with summer on the way, you’re going to need a little spot to sell your paintings when the tourists go by.’
He extended his hand, a gesture that widened Miranda’s smile. ‘I hate to say it, but you never did master that white-knight act you were trying out when we first met.’
‘It wasn’t working for me. I much prefer to be the cad.’
She shook her head as she placed her hand in his. ‘I wouldn’t go that far. A cad would never mow my lawn for me when I get an allergy attack.’
‘He would, if he knew how horny you’d be once you got over the sniffles.’
She put her hands on her hips and Simon lifted her from the top of the step and set her on her feet. He held her hand and led her along. ‘Let me give you the tour before we eat.’
‘Do you even know how to drive this thing?’
‘Of course I do. What kind of idiot buys a boat without knowing how to drive it?’
The boat was a little dated and just a tad shabby, a bit like a floating RV. They ate in the dining area, throwing back and forth places they might visit during their two-week vacation that summer, and then went on deck with fingers crossed that they could make it out of the bay towards the open waters of the strait to the east.
‘It makes me happy that we haven’t sunk yet,’ he joked after they dropped anchor about a kilometre off shore. The sun was starting to stain the sky pink and purple, and the diamonds on the water turned gold as the sky bled. Miranda kicked off her shoes, curled up on one of the seats and waited for Simon to return with the tea he’d promised.
She peered into the cup he passed her and laughed. ‘Hot chocolate.’
‘Warmed-up chocolate milk, actually. Mine’s my usual. Scoot over.’
She made room for him on the banquette and burrowed against him for warmth. If they had gone to his place, Miranda would have collected one of his sweaters, but even with the chill settling in she was cosy.
‘In case you’re wondering, the mattress and the bedding are new,’ he murmured into her hair.
‘I wasn’t, but that’s very good to know,’ she said with a sigh. ‘One more virgin bed to break in. That makes three.’
‘Well, five if you count your sofa and loveseat.’
‘And the recliner.’
‘Six, then.’ He raised his cup, and she tapped hers against it with a clink. ‘This boat is a ’79. How many orgies do you think the old bachelor I bought this from hosted on the open seas?’
She turned her face to the faint stars and laughed. ‘Why did you do that? Look at that view, and you’re grossing me out by making me think of hairy men in gold chains leaving their funk on these seats.’
Putting down her cup, Miranda got up and went aft. With the sunset at her back, she leaned against the stern and raised an eyebrow at him.
‘I can see through that dress,’ he said.
‘Oh, I know. That’s why I like it here.’ She looked towards the beach in the distance. ‘You don’t suppose someone is out there with a pair of binoculars, do you?’
‘Could be. Why? What do you have in mind?’
She reached under her dress and shucked off her thong. ‘How about a swim?’
Simon drained his cup and leaned forward, dangling the cup with one finger by the handle. ‘You first.’
For a moment she considered arguing with him, then figured it would be much more fun to put on a striptease. She made a slingshot out of her thong and flung it at him, missing him by about two feet. A quick flick of her wrist and her bra followed, and she turned her back on him to shuck off the dress.
‘If it’s cold and I get a cramp, will you jump in and save me?’ she asked as she leaned over the edge.
‘Of course,’ he said, startling her with his closeness. He placed both hands on her ass, warming it as he rubbed away the chill. ‘But I’m not going to let you jump in and get a cold.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ She turned, and his exploration moved upwards.
‘You’ve got goose bumps. You need warming up, not cooling off.’
Miranda looped her arms around his neck. ‘What about the sunset?’
‘There’ll be more sunsets. Many, many more sunsets.’ He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. ‘If you want them, I’ll give you all the sunsets.’
A queer, tingling feeling filled and warmed her. ‘This sounds significant.’
Simon gave a shrug, but looked at her slyly. ‘If it was, would I get a yes or a no as an answer?’
Miranda twisted her fingers in the overgrowth of hair above his neck. ‘You’ll have to do better than a sunset on an old orgy boat, Mr Reeve.’
‘I can do much better than an old orgy boat,’ he said against her mouth, and gave her a quick, scorching kiss before leading her to the cabin.
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About the Publisher
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London, W6 8JB, UK
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
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Breaking Through Page 29