by Gina Wilkins
“Sorry,” he said. “Couldn’t resist.”
“You couldn’t resist dunking me?”
His smile faded a little. His dark eyes locked with hers. “I couldn’t resist putting my hands on you.”
“Oh.” Had the water suddenly gotten hotter? She felt a definite wave of heat course through her and was almost surprised that steam didn’t rise from her skin. “Um—”
“No one’s watching,” he murmured, reaching out to draw her closer with his left arm around her waist. He braced his other arm on her watercraft to support them. “I’m not playing a part. So if you want me to back off, just give me a shove.”
She put a hand on his shoulder, but only to steady herself in the water. She had no intention of pushing him away. His skin was slick and wet beneath her palm. Her fingers flexed instinctively into the muscle beneath. “I have to kiss you now,” she said gravely, trying not to smile.
He grinned at her deliberate quote of him from last night. “Then I guess I have to let you.”
Because he was leaving it to her, she floated closer to him, wrapping her right arm around his neck and resting her other hand on the watercraft for balance. Their legs tangled beneath the water, his rough, hers smooth. Her bare tummy pressed against his. The thin fabric of her top was the only barrier between her breasts and his broad, only lightly furred chest, but even that suddenly felt intrusive.
She tilted her head a little and took a tasting nip at his mouth, licking lake water from his lower lip. It was a freshwater lake, so the slightly salty taste must be from him. She liked it. Her hand slipped into the wet hair at the back of his head as she kissed him more thoroughly. And now he was an active participant, his lips claiming hers, his tongue plunging into the depths of her mouth to tease and explore.
The embrace escalated rapidly from light and teasing to sizzling, hungry. Here was the passion that had been missing with Pete, she thought dazedly. The urgency. The bone-deep craving. She felt the hard ridge of his arousal against her abdomen and wondered if it was possible that Aaron could want her as badly. And if so, was it only because she was available? Or because he really did like her?
Be careful, her brother had warned. She would do well to listen to him for once. But she had never been the type to simply do what she was told, especially by her siblings.
Leaving only an inch between their mouths, Aaron gazed into her eyes and she wondered if her expression looked as dazzled as she felt. “I think the water’s starting to boil,” he murmured.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Brushing her lips against his one more time, she drew her arm from around his neck and swam backward a stroke, putting a little distance between them. “We should get these back to the marina.”
She was pleased by the reluctance in his nod. “I know.”
Though she didn’t need the assistance, he still gave her a boost onto her seat, letting his hand linger just a bit longer than necessary on her bare thigh. She wasn’t at all cool, but she shivered a little in response to the touch. After a moment, Aaron swam away, bracing his arms on his watercraft to give himself a boost upward. Water sluiced off his sleek back, and Shelby gave a little sigh she hoped he didn’t hear.
With the powerful machine between his legs, he glanced over his shoulder, grinned, then started his engine. “See you at the marina.”
He was skimming out of the cove before she could even respond.
* * *
Having put away the watercraft and chatted for a few minutes with C.J., Aaron and Shelby went into the store through the marina entrance. Swimming always made Aaron hungry, and he told Shelby he was in the mood for something unhealthy and indulgent, which seemed to amuse her. Actually, he was in the mood for another couple of hours alone with Shelby—preferably somewhere with a bed—but he told himself he’d have to make do with sugar.
They ended up back in the grill, which was quickly becoming one of Aaron’s favorite places.
“Looks like the two of you had a good time today,” Sarah commented, smiling at them from behind the counter.
Aaron chuckled. He and Shelby weren’t the only ones in the place wearing damp bathing suits beneath other clothes and glowing pink from sun and exercise, their hair mussed from wind-drying. “I had a great time. Your kids are just a bit competitive, aren’t they?”
Sarah groaned good-humoredly. “You can say that again. From the time Steven and Shelby could talk, they were challenging each other to various competitions and making bets on the outcome. Sometimes we had to step in, like when Steven once had to agree to do Shelby’s homework for a week, or when Shelby lost a bet that would have her writing her brother’s final essay for junior English class, but usually we just let them work it out for themselves.”
Aaron thought it best not to mention the bet he and Shelby had made last night. When he and Shelby went out for whatever activities she planned tomorrow, he’d leave it up to her to make any explanations to her family.
Motioning them onto stools at the counter, Sarah said, “I bet you’d like a snack. Water sports always work up an appetite.”
“You read my mind,” he told her.
“What can I get you? Pie? Ice cream?”
Knowing he would have to argue with her—as always—to take his money afterward, Aaron requested a slice of lemon meringue pie and an iced tea. Tart, cold pie sounded delicious after being out in the sun.
“Shelby?” her mother asked.
“I think I’ll have a root beer float,” Shelby decided. “But I’ll get it, Mom.”
“Don’t be silly. Talk with your friend. I’m back here, anyway.”
She served them efficiently, cut a slice of apple pie and another slice of lemon pie for another couple who’d wandered in, then leaned on the counter to chat with Aaron and Shelby.
“C.J.’s had some short ribs in the smoker all day today,” she told Aaron. “We’d love to have you join us for dinner later, if you like.”
“I do love ribs,” he admitted. “I’d be pleased to join you, if it wouldn’t be an imposition.”
Sarah laughed softly, looking very much like Shelby when she did so. “You’ve spent half your time with us helping Steven and Bryan—and probably Shelby,” she added with a meaningful look at her daughter. “Feeding you a few ribs is the least we can do. Besides, we’d enjoy having you. Everyone’s going to be there except Maggie. She had plans with friends this evening, and she’s already left. We’ll eat after C.J. closes the marina at seven.”
“This pie should’ve just about worn off by then,” he said, making a show of checking his watch. He had time to shower and make some calls before dinner.
C.J. rushed into the grill then. Aaron felt his stomach tighten after one look at the older man’s face. Sarah set down her pie server. “What’s wrong?”
C.J.’s voice was grim. “Steven’s hurt. An ambulance is on its way. We need to go.”
Both Aaron and Shelby were on their feet now.
“What happened?” Shelby asked, one hand at her throat.
“He flipped the mower over on himself. I don’t know how bad it is. Bryan just called and said come. They’re at Site Thirty-eight.”
Sarah gasped and rushed around the counter just as Linda entered, the look on her face making it obvious she knew what had happened. “Go,” she said to Sarah. “I’ll work the grill until I hear from you. If anyone needs anything from the store, I’ll just run back and forth.”
Aaron shook his head. “I can run the store and the marina. I’ve worked a cash register before. The rest of you go. Take care of Steven.”
They didn’t even linger to argue with him. He saw Lori rush through the entryway just in time to join the rest of her family as they ran from the building.
Aaron turned to Linda then. “How bad is it?”
“I don’t know,�
� she murmured, her eyes haunted. “Bryan said he was unconscious when they found him. Bryan’s gone to tell Mimi and Pop, then he’ll head over here to help out until we know something.”
They looked at each other when they heard a siren pass outside the building. “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Aaron said, wanting to reassure himself as well as Steven’s aunt. He liked Steven. He didn’t even want to consider the possibility of a bad outcome.
Glancing across the entryway, he saw two middle-aged women going into the store just as a young couple with a toddler entered the diner. “I’ll handle the store,” he said to Linda. “I’ll let you know if I need any help.”
She nodded, pushed a strand of graying brown hair from her face and pasted a taut, fake smile on her face before turning to wait on the newcomers.
Chapter Seven
It was just after seven-thirty that evening when Shelby stood in the doorway of the store, her arrival not yet noticed. She watched as Aaron chatted easily with a middle-aged couple she recognized as first-time visitors to the resort who’d checked in a few days earlier. A few canned goods and bottled waters sat on the counter beside the register, and he rang up two candy bars while Shelby watched. The store should have closed half an hour ago, along with the grill and marina, but her aunt and uncle had made the call to leave them open a little longer this evening. Shelby suspected it was because both of them had been too anxious to wait patiently for word about Steven’s condition, preferring to stay busy instead. Obviously Aaron had agreed.
From the snatches of conversation she overheard, the couple was telling him about their morning at a nearby golf course, boasting about their scores. She didn’t know if Aaron played golf or had any interest whatever in the sport, but he listened politely and congratulated them with obvious sincerity on their morning’s achievements. They left with their purchases stashed in reusable canvas bags, smiling and greeting Shelby as they passed her on their way out.
Spotting her then, Aaron moved toward her, searching her face. “Your aunt told me Steven’s going to be okay?” he asked, the question at the end seeking confirmation.
She nodded wearily. “He has a concussion and a broken bone in his leg, some nasty bruises and a couple of cracked ribs. They’re keeping him overnight for observation, but he should be fine. It was a clean break, so he didn’t need surgery for his leg, and it should heal without any complications, but he’ll have to stay off it for a few weeks. He’s going to hate that.”
Aaron let out a deep exhale of relief. “I’m glad to hear he wasn’t seriously injured. I know you were all terrified for him. I was, myself.”
She rested a hand on his arm. “Thank you for helping out here.”
“Your uncle took over the marina after Steven was transported to the hospital. I just ran the cash register in here,” he said self-deprecatingly. “I wasn’t very busy, though I think your aunt has been kept hopping in the diner. You weren’t even gone very long.”
“Mom and Dad sent everyone away as soon as we knew Steven was out of danger. I’m going to close the store while Aunt Linda wraps up in the grill. Lori and Mimi are at Mom and Dad’s, getting dinner ready. Dad will join us for dinner, but Mom insisted on spending the night at the hospital with Steven. There’s a pullout bed in his room for family.”
“Does she need anything for the night? I’d be happy to take her a bag while the rest of you have dinner and rest.”
She shook her head, touched that he was offering even more assistance. “She said she has everything she needs for tonight. She’s going to sleep in her clothes and she can get a toothbrush there. Have dinner with us, instead. We’ll be eating late, around eight-thirty, so I’m going to rush home and shower first. I’m still wearing my swimsuit under my clothes.”
He nodded. “I’ll do the same. What can I do to help you close up in here first?”
An hour later, they sat with the rest of the family over plates of ribs, potato salad and corn on the cob. Though the food was enjoyed, the overall mood was a bit somber, despite the general relief that Steven would fully recover. They’d all had a major scare and it would take a while for that shock to pass. Looking around the big table that held all her family except for her mother, brother and two cousins, Shelby acknowledged silently that she was far from ready to let go of any of them.
“He’s going to be off work for at least a month,” her dad said to Bryan, looking grim.
Bryan nodded. “We can get by with the summer help, put off a few projects until he’s up and around again. Only thing I’m concerned about is that roofing project on Cabin Two. Need to get that done before the next big rain. We were lucky the rain last night was a light one. The materials are supposed to be in tomorrow, and we were going to start on it Saturday, try to finish it up this weekend. Don’t think I can do it by myself. We might just have to hire out that job so we can get it out of the way as soon as possible.”
“Let me help,” Aaron offered, to no one’s surprise by now, Shelby thought. “I’ve got nothing pressing to get to for a few days yet. I worked construction a couple of summers in college, so I know how to lay shingles. I always liked working with my hands.”
It was also no surprise to Shelby that it took him less than ten minutes of arguing to convince them. Even to almost make them think they were doing him a favor to let him help.
“Have you ever considered politics as your next potential career pursuit?” she asked him with a laugh when she drove him to his cabin in a golf cart after dinner. They both knew he could easily have walked back, but they’d taken advantage of the excuse to spend a little more time alone.
“I have no interest at all in politics,” he assured her. “Why?”
She parked the cart in his drive and smiled at him. “You are one smooth talker. By the time we left, you were practically thanking everyone for letting you help around this place. And they were buying it!”
“They did say they would refuse to accept a dime from me for my stay here,” he pointed out. “I’ve been fishing and swimming and been fed ribs—I’m having a great vacation, and I even enjoy working with your family. I’d say I’m getting the better part of the deal.”
Definitely a slick talker, she thought, stifling a smile. “You might not think so when you’re up on that roof at high noon Saturday.”
He shrugged. “I spent one whole summer doing construction work in a year that set heat records, with temperatures over a hundred nearly every afternoon. And I still liked the work just fine. A weekend roofing project will be a piece of cake after that.”
“I know Uncle Bryan really appreciates your offer to help,” she said more seriously. “He didn’t seem too worried about putting off the other big projects until Steven’s back on his feet, but they’ve had this roofing job scheduled for weeks.”
“I’m just glad your brother will be okay.” He climbed out of the cart. “Would you like to come in? I bought some herbal tea in town yesterday. My mom’s an herbal-tea junkie, and I’ve gotten in the habit of drinking it in the evenings.”
She paused only a moment, deliberating the wisdom of going inside with him, then slid out of the cart, almost defiantly stuffing the key into her pocket. “I like a cup of tea in the evenings myself.”
Aaron was already digging in his pocket for his own keys, but he suddenly hesitated. “This won’t cause problems for you with your family, will it? Coming inside with me at night, I mean.”
She laughed in disbelief. “Aaron, I’m twenty-five years old. I don’t have a curfew, nor do I answer to my parents about where I spend my evenings.”
He chuckled in response to her defensive tone. “Okay, just checking.”
“Besides,” she muttered, following him inside, “Lori still lives at home and who knows where she’s been spending her weekends lately. She says she’s hanging out with college friends, but I’m not sure.”<
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His face averted from her, Aaron tossed his keys on the bar. “You think she has a secret boyfriend?”
“I think she’s hanging with a questionable crowd,” she admitted. “She doesn’t introduce us to her friends and she’s been acting...well, differently lately. Part of it I think is just the natural process of separating herself from family, growing up, establishing her own identity. But I still worry.”
Filling the teakettle, he spoke over the running water. “Could be if you confronted her she’d say pretty much what you just told me. She’s over eighteen, too old for a curfew and doesn’t need family approval for her friends.”
Shelby made a face. “You’re absolutely right, of course. I was being hypocritical, wasn’t I?”
“You were being concerned about your sister,” he corrected, taking a box of tea from a cupboard.
They carried their cups to the couch, settling side by side on the cushions. Shelby set her cup on the low table in front of them with a long sigh. “What a day.”
Setting his steaming cup next to hers, he turned toward her, his expression sympathetic. “It has been a long one, hasn’t it?”
Thinking of all that had happened since her alarm had gone off that morning, she murmured, “You could say that again.”
“I had a good time until your brother was hurt.”
Massaging the back of her neck, she gave him a tired smile. “I’m glad. So did I.”
“Turn around.”
“What?”
“Your neck is bothering you. Let me massage it for you. I’ve been told I’m pretty good at it.”
She would just bet he was. “I tensed up while we were waiting to hear about Steven.”
He was already scooting her around. “You overdid it today.”
“Not really. Just got a little overwhelmed.”
“Understandable.”
“I was so scared when I heard that Steven was hurt. Seeing him being driven away in that ambulance...” She shuddered.