“Miss me as much as I missed you?”
She hedged, “It’s been a while, Kermit.”
He seemed to have gained a little weight and looked less pale. His eyes had a vibrant hue, which intensified as they held hers.
“You’re looking good, Terra.”
“You, too.”
He shrugged. “It’s been slow going. More of that blasted fever.”
Josh impatiently tugged the hem of Rafe’s shirt. “Where’s the pool?”
Rafe took them through a wing of the house that Terra hadn’t seen before—a family room, solarium and finally to the indoor pool. It was L-shaped, aquamarine, rimmed at the waterline with hand-painted Mediterranean tiles. Half-circled around it were lush tropical plants and palms.
Josh squealed and plunged right in with a big splash. Rafe set the tote down and shrugged off his shirt. Terra did her best not to reveal that the dark hair on his chest made her fingertips restless to roam through it. Nor as if his snug trunks drew her interest and stopped her breath.
She got the air moving through her lungs again and said, “Your knee seems to be doing better.”
He nodded. “Some ways I’m improving. Even my back, although I’m not fit to dive off the deep end yet.”
“C’mon, you guys,” Josh called to them.
Rafe went to the steps end and waded in, then ducked beneath the surface and swam up under Josh.
Terra slipped off her tunic and dove in. She swam a few leisurely laps while the boys tussled and splashed each other. Their playful, affectionate togetherness touched her, brought poignant tears to her eyes for the family they were and yet couldn’t be. She let the tears spill, for they left no trace in the water, and the chlorine could be blamed for red eyes.
Once past the keen edge of emotion, she rested on a step in the shallow end. Rafe came over to sit with her. Together, they watched Josh as he repeatedly got out of the water and plunged back in.
Rafe chuckled. “He’s too much. Does he ever wear out?”
“It’ll be a while yet before he runs down,” Terra replied with a fond smile at her son. “Fresh from his nap and raring to go.”
Rafe propped his elbows on the step behind him, easing his spine against it. “So,” he said, “what’s new with you?”
“Nothing, really. Between work and play, time marches on.”
He said, “Last week you didn’t tell me you had dinner with Miz Elizabeth and Judge Bradshaw.”
“I was afraid it would make you miss them.”
“Lalie filled me in after talking to Columbia.” He smiled. “I even heard about the Scuppernong Jam Cake.”
“A lucky break,” Terra demurred.
“My grandmother’s a true believer in you now. I can see why, too.”
Terra ducked the compliment. “It’s interesting work.”
“You’re an interesting woman, Terra.”
She slid a sideways look at him. “To a captive audience, perhaps.”
“You’d interest me just as much if I had all the freedom I had before.” He gave a harsh sigh. “God only knows if I’ll ever be a free man again, though…free to walk the streets…free to fall in love.”
His hand dipped under the surface and covered hers on the step. She thrilled at the contact, but nevertheless set up a verbal roadblock. “Love is something we should leave out of the conversation, Rafe.”
“Sorry, Terra, but it’s there. At least for me.”
She did her best to resist. “We’d be crazy to get any more involved than we are. We both know—”
He put a finger to her lips and stopped her. “I know it’s more than lust between us. Something more…” He tipped her chin up and gazed deeply into her eyes. “Or am I speaking only for myself?”
“No,” she breathed. “But even so, we aren’t free to pursue it.”
He said, “Before long, I’ll have my only shot at clearing my name. If I pull it off, where would you stand with me?”
“Rafe, you were a rover before everything happened. Wouldn’t you return to life at sea if your options opened up again?”
He drew his hand away from her chin and pulled back a little. “It’s the only life I know—man and the sea, me and my boat. Sure.”
“It’s not the life for me, Rafe. I have Josh, a settled life, my own business.”
“We’re opposites, you mean.”
She nodded. “Maybe that’s the big attraction, instead of anything else.”
“Maybe not, Terra.” He pulled farther away and settled back against the step again, looking distant and unhappy. Then, abruptly, he changed the subject. “Josh mentioned his dad to me last week.”
Terra tensed. “Oh? What about him?”
“Nothing, if you don’t want to talk about it.”
“It’s irrelevant.” She detached her hand from his.
“Josh seemed to need some male advice.”
“About what?”
“I assured him you’d probably get married someday and then he’d have a stepfather. Sort of like I have a stepgrandfather. He perked up and that was all there was to it.”
Terra pictured the two of them having their boy-toman, heart-to-heart conversation. Tears threatened again, tears she clamped back.
“Maybe I will, you never know,” she managed to say.
“What happens until then, Terra?”
“For the present, I battle my attraction to you.”
“Any chance you’d stop battling?” His hand reached to hers once more. Again, his mere touch made her melt inside.
“Have a brief affair with you, in other words.”
“If you want to call it that,” he said. His gaze straying to her breasts had the impact of a caress.
Terra felt her nipples ache and tighten and knew the stretch fabric of her swimsuit didn’t compress the response. She couldn’t dispute Rafe’s words with her body speaking the visible truth.
“I brought Josh along to prevent that,” she said. “To keep me sensible.” She started to slide her hand away from his, but he caught it back.
“Holding hands won’t hurt, Terra. Nothing steamy.” His fingers slid between hers in a loose clasp.
“Rafe, we both remember how steamy we got before. We both have to hold back or we’ll be in too deep with each other before we know it.”
“You’re afraid I’m guilty, aren’t you?”
“I’m hopeful that you aren’t.”
“But not certain,” he said. “That’s the big holdup with you.”
“Rafe, you didn’t disagree with me that getting together wasn’t a plus for us.”
“Well, I’m not as averse to it as I was. I mean, if you were sure of my innocence, what would you do now?”
“Before I’d know, I’d have to be sure.”
“Would you help me to prove myself if you could?”
“Help how?”
He took a deep breath. “The plan I mentioned the first day. I’ve been biding my time, getting well so I’ll have the strength I need when the time comes. But time’s getting short. I can’t carry it out alone.”
“What is the plan?”
“The part I need you for is transportation. I want to go into Charleston one night, possibly two. Find out a few things, even though it would be dangerous. I need a motorboat, which is where you come in. You could rent one from the hotel manna. Lalie couldn’t do it without there being questions, because she’s not keen on boating. No one would question you, though.”
“I’ve never done any boating before.”
“The marina gives lessons if guests need them. A couple of hours with Kent Prescott would get you up to speed m the waters around the island, since he knows this area as well as I do. He should, he was my best friend.
“I didn’t know that.”
“Maybe he still is. I don’t know. Anyway, check with him.”
“What reason would I give for taking a boat out at night?”
“You want to sample some Charleston nightlife, ma
ybe, and don’t want to be tied to the ferry schedule. Who wouldn’t understand that? You take the boat out, bring it around here to me and no one’s any the wiser. No questions asked. No suspicions aroused. It’s better than if I steal a boat from one of the other estates.”
Terra considered what he’d said. “Once you have the boat, you go to Charleston.” A chilling, cautionary thought came to her. “Or is that just what you want me to believe? Are you going to disappear, like you wanted when I first knew about you?”
“No.” His mouth and eyes hardened. “It’s not an escape scheme. I wouldn’t use you like that, believe me.”
“Rafe, you’ve only told me part of the plan. What is the rest of it?”
“You don’t need to know. If it works or doesn’t work, you’ll hear it on the news.”
“When?”
“The less you know now, the better for you.”
“It keeps me torn between believing and disbelieving you.”
“Look, all I’ve got going for me is you and Lalie. If there was any other way, I’d leave you out of the plan entirely.” He glanced at Josh with a pained look. “Do you think I like endangering and incriminating the mother of a small child?”
“No, but—”
“Forget it,” he cut in curtly. “Forget everything I said. I’ll steal a boat if I have to.” He pulled his hand away from hers, ducked below the surface and swam underwater toward Josh.
It reminded Terra of the night he’d saved her life. He hadn’t questioned anything when he’d cut through the dark water and rescued her. No questions asked, he’d just done all that he could to help. Didn’t she owe him that now?
Steadied by that thought, she pushed off and swam after him. Catching up after he surfaced near Josh, she touched his shoulder. He turned, his eyes a deep and churning blue.
“Let’s talk about my part in it tomorrow,” she said. “Just the two of us.”
“Don’t say it if you don’t mean it, Terra.”
“Expect me at three-thirty, same as today. The patio door.”
“Leave your worst suspicions behind if you come.”
“I’ll do my best.” She managed a small, wry smile and repeated his own words to him. “Believe me.”
“Okay. Three-thirty.”
10
THE NEXT MORNING, Terra looked up Kent Prescott at the marina. She asked about boat rentals and lessons, prices and procedures. He gave her a brochure with all the information she needed, and told her he’d be glad to teach her the basics of motorboating.
She promised to get back to him later about it, and went on to work. The hours until three-thirty seemed to drag, even though she kept busy. She had a meeting with Columbia and Liz first. Then a coffee break with Joanie and Elise, lunch with Josh in the village and a sauna session at the resort health club after that to relax.
She’d told Lalie, but not Josh, where she’d be later in the day. Lalie had smiled encouragingly and said, “Wherever your heart leads you.”
When the time finally approached, Terra changed into a shell pink sundress with a ballet-length swirl skirt. Anticipating that Rafe would like the dress, she slipped into sandals and sprayed on a light mist of perfume.
Checking her appearance in the mirror, she saw that her cheeks were flushed with excitement. Rafe had that effect on her, despite all her reasons for trying to shore up her resistance to him. It was crumbling fast, and knowing she’d be alone with him this afternoon keyed her up beyond thinking she could resist any longer.
Walking along the beach to Rafe’s hideaway, she knew there was no doubt of where her heart was leading her. None at all.
RAFE WAS AT THE DOOR when she got there. He let her in and didn’t say a word at first. His eyes said it all. Burning blue, they took in her face, her dress, her straw tote and sandals, telling her he desired her.
She saw that his jeans and T-shirt were freshly washed. He was barefoot, standing tall, radiating masculine sex appeal.
“Do you mind if I stare?” he inquired huskily.
She replied, “I think I’d mind if you didn’t,” and made a slow turn to show off the dress and maybe to communicate more than words could say. “How are you?”
“Fine, now that you’re here.” He gestured at the seating area across the room. “I borrowed a white burgundy from the wine cellar. Would you like some?”
She nodded, seeing the bottle and glasses on a teak table between two love seats. He led her there and sat down beside her. After pouring the wine, he made a toast.
“To beautiful, beautiful you.”
“Thank you, handsome.”
He gave a self-conscious shrug. “Tell me that when I’m down with fever the next time.”
“I hope there isn’t a next time, Rafe. For your sake.”
“Me, too,” he said, touching his glass to hers again. “Hold that hope.”
His fingers brushed hers and the contact struck a charged silence between them. She drew a sharp breath and he leaned a little closer.
“Um, about renting a boat,” she said, stalling for time to decide what she’d do—or wouldn’t do—if he kissed her.
“What about it?”
“I checked with Kent. It looks doable, so I’ll do it.”
He took her free hand in his. “I’m sorry it has to be you. If I get caught in it, I’ll say I stole it.”
“I hope you don’t get caught, Rafe.”
“There’s another hope to hold.” His thumb rubbed warm, stimulating circles in her palm. “I’m going to miss you after you leave next week.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
He set down his glass and drew her toward him by the hand. “Terra, come here. I need more than to talk about boats today. Don’t you?”
She nodded, and put down her own glass next to his with trembling fingers. “I do, Rafe.”
She leaned forward, seeking a kiss, and got what she wanted. His lips on hers, hot and heedless, desperate with need. His hands holding her head. His fingers flexing in her hair.
She wouldn’t keep herself back now, wouldn’t interfere with her overwhelming feelings for her first lover, her child’s father. She would give to him now, and take from him, with nothing in mind but the passion that was sweeping her away with him.
Rafe murmured her name upon her lips and rimmed them with his tongue. He sank back into the corner of the love seat, taking her with him, into his arms, holding her as if he’d never let go. Her hand on his chest felt the vibrant drumbeat of his heart. Tummy against his lower body, she felt him throb and harden.
Thrilled by his response, she pressed all the more tightly against him and then pulled back slightly to gaze into his eyes. They were heavy lidded, gleaming with desire, but there was also a shadow of hesitation.
“Terra, I might be a disaster. My back, my knee, you know?”
“We’ll work it out,” she predicted softly, surely, without any doubt that their need for each other would more than compensate.
He groaned, bending his head to her, his lips capturing hers again. Terra rose slowly from the love seat with him and stood for everlasting moments in his arms, wrapped close against his tall, aroused body, sharing a deep, wondrous kiss.
Urgently, his tongue moved against hers, sent heat roiling into her blood. Fingers shaking, he lowered the delicate straps of her dress and kissed her bare shoulders, heated her skin with his rushing breath.
She shimmied with pleasure and arched up for him to peel the top of her dress down. Hands flat against his T-shirt as she offered herself to him, she brushed her fingertips over the white fabric and found the tiny, stiff points of his nipples.
“God, Terra,” he whispered, touching her the same way. “You don’t know what you do to me.”
She sighed, loving his husky whisper and the ardent tremor in his fingers as he caressed her. “I know what you do to me,” she assured him softly.
Breathing hard, he lowered her bodice, his eyes savoring the soft upper swells of her breasts. S
lowly, he bared her, and his mouth swooped down, taking in one pink peak and then the other.
“Yes,” she sighed, her nipples so sensitive and responsive to him.
His hot eager mouth devoured her and his hands pushed the dress farther down, past her waist and hips until it fell to the floor. Terra stepped out of her sandals and the pool of pink fabric, at the same time helping Rafe skin off his shirt and jeans.
“Rafe,” she whispered, sliding her fingertips through the crisp, dark hair on his chest, finding his nipples again, touching her tongue to them.
He clasped one hand in her hair, tipping her head back to take her mouth in a driving, yearning kiss, while his other hand cupped her bottom and lifted her against him.
Together, they moved to the bed, taking off her panties and his briefs in reckless haste. Once on the bed it didn’t matter to either of them that Rafe had to sit up against the headboard because of his sprained back. Nothing mattered but the closeness they were sharing, the intimacy they both craved.
Terra straddled his thighs and linked her hands behind his neck. He filled his hands with her breasts, whispering, “Perfect, like you.”
They took up once more, kissing, caressing, nipping, nibbling, gently sucking and biting. Terra sighed with rapt pleasure as Rafe’s fingers parted the moist petals between her open thighs and stroked her. The pleasure was so exquisite she rose to her knees, rocking against his hand.
She gave back by curling her hand around his erection and stroking him at the same time. Gently, because he warned her he couldn’t take very much.
“Terra.” He eased her hand away from him. “You aren’t protected are you?”
“No.” Embarrassed that she hadn’t considered any consequences, she blushed. “I didn’t think I’d…we’d get carried away.”
“It’s all right, we’re covered.” He opened the bedstand drawer and took out a condom.
Relief flooded her, and desire rushed in again as she helped him put on the sheath. Then there was nothing to hold back as Rafe cupped his palms around her bottom and guided her hips down to take him in.
She settled slowly, gently, to spare him, and when finally he was sheathed in her to his full extent, she kept still, gripping his shoulders, gazing into his eyes.
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