by Laura Moore
“That’s ridiculous. I promised May Ellen days ago that I’d do it. She wrote a whole list of instructions. Go away, Sean,” she repeated.
Instead, he picked up the sheet and looked at the walls. “Are you out of your mind? You can’t hang these all by yourself.”
Infuriating man. “Yes, I can,” she insisted. She’d stay here till midnight if necessary. “She’s my grandmother. Stop trying to butt in.”
“I am not butting in!” he yelled back. “I’m helping an old lady whom I happen to adore get her house ready for a party she’s throwing to welcome home her mule-headed granddaughter!”
Lily blinked. Sean’s eyes were brilliant, the emerald green and gold flecks in them arrow sharp. And they were only three inches away. Abruptly, Lily realized that she and Sean were nose-to-nose, shouting at each other. She blinked again and lurched backward. Her elbow banged against the wall with a loud thud. “Ow!” she said, wincing. “Damn it!”
“You okay?” he asked. His voice sounded oddly subdued, now that he wasn’t attempting to out-shout her.
Lily prayed he wouldn’t try and touch her, sure she’d fall apart completely if he did. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She fingered the back of her elbow gingerly. “And I’m not mule-headed.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not trying to steal your grandmother, either. I’ve got my own, thank you very much. But May Ellen’s my grandmother’s best friend. They’re both excited to be organizing this party for you. If redecorating May Ellen’s entire place is on the to-do list of preparations, that’s what I’m going to help with. Give up, Lily. And hand over the hammer.”
Lips pressed in a mutinous line, she eyed him silently. He was waiting, his broad hand open. With a loud sigh, she let it drop into his palm.
“Thanks,” he said, and his mouth curved in a tender smile. Lily’s heart squeezed in painful longing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Lily and Sean worked steadily. In the aftermath of their blowup they were on their best behavior. The unspoken détente had a fragile delicacy that neither wanted to damage.
“How’d the diving go today?” Sean asked as he backed away from a large, gilt-framed painting he’d just put up.
“Not as well as I’d have liked. The waves were a bit rough and unfortunately Karen got a little queasy. We managed to get our samples, however. We only have zones one and two of the last transect to cover. If the weather cooperates, we should be finished tomorrow.” Lily fell abruptly silent.
What she’d left unsaid hovered in the air like a bleak cloud. Once the lab tests were finished and Karen’s slides developed, Lily would report to the reef committee, and then leave Coral Beach for her next project.
Don’t think about that now, Lily told herself. “You know,” she said, forcing a lighthearted note into her voice. “I’ve never worked on a study which received so much personal interest from its committee members. You dived with us, so has Dave, and today we had a visit from Pete Ferrucci. He was at the marina—at the crack of dawn. He seems very interested in knowing how the study is progressing.”
Sean drove the next nail into the wall with a vicious rap. “Not surprising. He’s probably already walking around the marina with dollar signs in his eyes.”
Dollar signs? Lily repeated silently. “Do you ever plan to tell me what’s really going on with this development project?”
“Why, Lily?” Sean turned and faced her. “Why do you want to know? Could this mean you might actually care what happens to your hometown after all?”
Her face warmed. She was definitely beginning to care . . . deeply. “Maybe.”
He regarded her in silence, as though debating what to tell her. “Ferrucci doesn’t want any restrictions placed on the reef . . . no matter what.”
“I guessed as much during that first meeting. That’s not exactly an uncommon stance, Sean. I run into it all the time. People hate what they perceive as governmental meddling, especially on environmental issues.”
“Yeah, but in Ferrucci’s case, there’s a hell of a lot more involved.
“So where does he fit in?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ve been trying to find out more about the backers behind this development deal, but so far I’ve come up with zilch to link Ferrucci directly.” Frustration laced his voice. “But I’m convinced he’s connected somehow—that he’s more than just their very willing lobbyist. Ferrucci’s a canny bastard. I only became suspicious about his involvement when he went ballistic over continuing with the reef study after Lesnesky had fallen ill.”
“I remember how ‘vocal’ his objections were at that first advisory meeting,” Lily said.
“That was Ferrucci at his most restrained. He wants the reef issue dead in the water so he can ram the development project down the town’s throat. I know how he operates, though. This is just one of his many plans. After he gets the development project accepted, Ferrucci will go to work on burying me alive.”
“What do you mean by that?” she asked in surprise.
Sean gave a mirthless laugh. “I almost hate to disillusion you, Lily, but I ran on a pro-conservation ticket. I beat Ferrucci by a nose. Coral Beach isn’t that large a town; the reef study is the biggest environmental concern to date in my tenure as mayor. Ferrucci would love to make it look like I’ve done nothing but waste the tax payers’ money on some idiotic liberal cause. He’ll use the reef study to show that the environmental platform I ran on was a nonissue. A damned effective way to destroy voter confidence. One he’ll definitely use in the next election,” he predicted.
Lily frowned as she considered Sean’s words. “But if the reef study shows no need for restrictions, then the development can go up.”
Sean’s fingers raked his short hair. “True, but the more I think about developing the area around the marina, the less I like it.” He broke off abruptly. “Come here,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to a small, rather pretty oil painting. “Look at this. Does it seem familiar?”
She stared at the scene of a crescent-shaped bay. “Yes, vaguely.”
“It’s probably difficult to recognize since you normally see this view from about sixty feet above ground, from the windows of the apartment complex where you’re staying.” His index finger lightly touched the glass protecting the painting, indicating the spot where the condo stood. “It was pretty before, wasn’t it?”
Lily nodded.
“Well, if the development goes through, Coral Beach will have two new buildings towering over the marina, changing the coastline forever.”
For a minute, they stared at the painting. Then Sean spoke. “You know, Lily, when Lesnesky fell ill, I wondered whether he’d perhaps missed certain areas or overlooked signs that the reef was deteriorating. He was kind of weird toward the end—just before his cancer was diagnosed. I realize now a part of me was hoping that you’d come up with something that would scuttle the plans. But I’ve seen how systematically you and your team have covered the reef. Since the reef is healthy, I don’t think there’s any way to stop the development from happening.”
“Sean.” Lily’s voice was quiet. “I’m sorry—not about the reef—but because I doubted you. I was sure you intended to use the study to push the development through.”
The corner of Sean’s mouth lifted in a half smile. “I forgive you,” he said. “As a marine biologist, you’re probably conditioned to distrust politicians on sight.”
Lily gave a soft laugh. “Some politicians are better than others.”
“Thanks. It doesn’t mean I’ll give up, Lily. I’ve decided to vote against the development. And I won’t let Ferrucci win without a fight.”
“I can’t believe Pete Ferrucci is any match for Sean McDermott.”
“Damn, I hope not. If he becomes mayor, the marina development will be just the beginning. He’ll destroy Coral Beach in the name of progress.” Sean grimaced. “Jesus. How did this conversation become so depressing? I need a beer. Want one, Bella?”
Alone, Li
ly tried the endearment hesitantly, wonderingly. Bella ? Sean didn’t even seem to have noticed that he’d called her beautiful. Did he really think her so?
Lily’s thoughts spun wildly as she collected the pictures May Ellen had earmarked for her guest room in the back of the house. Lily had left this group for last, stalling, nervous about being in a bedroom alone with Sean. Now, though, thoughts competed chaotically, distracting her. Gnawing her lip as she moved about the bedroom, her mind went back to the conversation she’d had with Simone at the Marine Center. She remembered how she’d begged Simone to send someone else to Coral Beach, arguing that as a native of Coral Beach, her findings in the study might be viewed as partisan.
At the time, Lily hadn’t believed a word she was saying. Because she hadn’t believed she could care what happened to this small Florida town.
Her work here was almost finished. She’d examined nearly the entirety of the patch reef and had found nothing to alarm her as a marine biologist. As Sean had said just now, that was good news. And yet, despite the fact that the reef appeared healthy, Lily was filled with a strange sense of melancholy.
For the first time in her career Lily wasn’t thinking with her usual scientific objectivity.
There was no use pretending any longer that she was indifferent to what happened to Coral Beach. And like a mask splitting apart, her professed disinterest gave way to what had been hidden for these many years. Her mind accepted what her heart had always perceived. She loved Coral Beach and the people who lived here.
Who was responsible for awakening these long-dormant feelings? Lily couldn’t deny the truth anymore. From the very beginning, Sean had loomed larger than life for her. He’d been her childhood enemy, her wily foe. But here, too, her understanding had undergone an irrevocable transformation.
A deal like the marina development would bring in huge revenues for Coral Beach. When she’d first returned home, Lily had been so prejudiced against Sean that she’d immediately assumed he would be the type of leader to take credit for the money that would pour into the community, then manipulate the surrounding publicity to bolster his political career.
She knew better now.
She had a new insight into Sean. And the more she looked, the more she yearned. For the man she’d come to know was intelligent, decent, and caring. A man of integrity . . . a man Lily could love.
Sean pushed against the kitchen door, his fingers wrapped around three long-necked beers, the brand May Ellen kept stocked especially for him. Three because he’d already downed half of one and didn’t feel like going back immediately to the kitchen for a second one. He wanted to be near Lily.
For some reason, he kept hearing Hal Storey’s irate voice inside his head. Hal was yelling again, telling him how Lily needed to feel a sense of belonging to something other than her all-consuming career as a marine biologist.
Perhaps Hal’s wish was coming true. Sean was sure the concern he’d read in Lily’s blue eyes was genuine. Or had he been fooling himself, desperate to believe that she cared? That she might stick around long enough for him to show her how much he cared about her . . .
Sean frowned. The living room was empty. He’d just passed through the dining room. It, too, had been vacant. Where was she?
“Lily?” Nothing. His scowl deepened. “Lily?” he called louder, and cocked his head. A tapping noise was coming from the other end of the house. He followed it.
She had her back to him, her arms raised as she tried to hang a painting that was approximately two and a half feet wide. The painting’s dimensions were too big for her to sneak her arm underneath and lift the wire so it could rest upon the hook. Her middle name Stubborn, Lily was trying anyway, standing on tiptoes, muttering her aggravation.
She’d kicked off her sneakers. His eyes devoured her, starting with the supple arch of her feet, moving upward . . . up, up the length of her smooth, pale legs. Legs sexy enough to cause a riot.
Nevermind about Lily belonging to a community, Sean decided. She belonged to him.
The desire that exploded inside him was, impossibly, more feverishly urgent than ever. Because now Sean knew what it was like to hold Lily in his arms, to taste her, to stroke her.
This time he was determined to sample every inch of that incredible body. Placing the bottles carefully on the carpet, ensuring they didn’t betray his presence with a clink of glass, Sean approached silently.
Lily jumped at Sean’s touch. Despite the clothing separating them, she could feel his heat, sense his awesome hunger. An answering need burst free. The painting slipped, leaving a faint scratch on the floral wallpaper.
“Careful.” His breath, sultry and moist against her ear, sent shivers down her spine. “No, don’t move or you’ll drop it.” He moved closer, his body brushing hers. “Stay. I want to touch you like this.”
“No, Sean,” she moaned. “Don’t . . . I can’t .”
The trembling had started already. She could hardly stand.
“Yes, you can. I’ll hold you.” And his strong, muscled arms wrapped about her, drew her even closer to his solid heat. Fingers splayed against her stomach, he caressed her with slow, tantalizing strokes, grazing the lush curves of her breasts, skimming the waistline of her shorts. His mouth rained kisses along her jaw, the nape of her neck. Unerring he found the exquisitely sensitive spot behind her ear. His tongue tormented, lathing it slowly, then drying it with the warmth of his breath. Insatiable, he continued on, lightly raking the tender column of her neck, his tongue soothing where teeth had scored.
As his mouth traced the hollows of her collarbone, Sean breathed deeply, inhaling the perfumed scent of Lily’s warm skin. Delirious with pleasure, his mouth closed about her, claiming her, marking her as his.
With a soft cry, she dropped the painting. It fell, landed unheeded. “Please . . . kiss me,” she cried desperately.
His hands guided, turning her until she faced him. At the sight of Sean’s cheeks stained with dark flags of desire, pleasure streaked through Lily, pooling hot and sweet in her center. She arched against him, her fingers reaching, threading through his silky hair. “Sean,” she breathed, pulling his mouth to where she craved it most.
Their mouths met in a kiss of blind passion. Mouths slanted, their tongues mated, fanning the riotous flames. Hands gripped, clasping and stroking greedily. Urgent now, Sean’s fingers found and deftly unclasped the front of her bra. He dragged at the satin fabric, replacing it with his hands. His hands closed about her and he groaned. “Nothing has ever felt like this, Lily. I ache to touch you everywhere, to taste you.”
Lily’s body answered for her. She pressed against him, heated flesh melding. He shuddered in ecstasy at the bounty of her offering, and his hand dropped to her waist. He released the first metal button of her shorts, then the second. Boldly, his fingers slipped past the narrow elastic of her panties. The dampness of her curls had his cock throbbing, straining to be inside her.
As Sean’s fingers parted her to stroke with wicked expertise, Lily began trembling wildly, uncontrollably, the pleasure coursing through her electrifying. Her head bumped against his. At the pain her eyes opened to stare blankly at the papered walls, at the canopied bed. And she remembered where she was.
Aghast, she tried to free herself, but Sean’s fingers were inside her shorts, inside her. “Argh!” she cried helplessly. “Let go!”
Lost in a haze of passion, his fingers circling her slick nub, Sean merely tightened his hold.
Lightning flashed in her very core. Lily’s breath caught, then rushed out in a convulsive gasp. “No, Sean! We’re at my grandmother’s ! She could . . . no, stop! I can’t—” Her desperate plea was interrupted by a loud call of, “Mother!” from the other end of the house.
The word triggered horror, pure horror.
“Mother!” The voice sounded again, closer this time. And though its presence was totally incomprehensible, Lily could recognize that irritated tone anywhere.
She tore herself away
from Sean’s hold, hysteria threatening. “Oh, my God,” she cried. “That’s my mother!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Hello? Mother? Where are you? Mother, are you here?” And Kaye Alcott, a vision in red silk, burst into May Ellen’s guest room. The heels of her taupe sling-backs slipped on the thick pile carpet. For a second she teetered in wide-eyed astonishment. “Lily?” she gaped. “What on earth are you two doing here? And where’s Mother?”
“Uh, hi, Mother,” Lily said, crossing her arms defensively, hiding her breasts as best she could. She hadn’t had time to check that her bra was hooked properly, and could only thank her stars that her T-shirt was long enough to cover the waistband of her shorts. The buttons were still undone. Her hands had been shaking too badly to deal with them. If her mother noticed, Lily planned to pretend her new fashion guru was Britney Spears—no, her mother would never fall for that one. Lily would have given anything to be a thousand miles away from here, so she could button her shorts, fix her bra, and try and remember how to breathe—without her mother watching.
Her mother, of course, looked stunning. Whatever cruise she and her husband, Scott Alcott, had taken boasted an excellent spa. Kaye’s golden hair was artfully swept back, her face tanned yet wrinkle free. Kaye Alcott appeared far too young to have been married four times. She looked young enough to be Lily’s sister—Lily’s very chic, very sophisticated sister.
Her mother’s eyes swept over the room, a careful inspection that missed nothing, neither the forgotten beers, the painting lying facedown on the carpet, nor what Lily knew must be her own very disheveled appearance.
“What in the world are you doing here, Lily?” Her mother repeated the question.
Fighting the urge to escape out the door, Lily hugged her folded arms tighter still. “I’m hanging pictures.”
Kaye’s perfectly plucked brows arched in disbelief. “You’re in Coral Beach to hang pictures?”