by Alison Bliss
Using her hand, she shaded her eyes from the bright sun, but the sparkling reflection on the water still made it hard to see the elusive sand dollars. Glancing up at the tall pier stretching out into the ocean, she formed an idea. The warning signs prohibited anyone from being under the pier, but with no one around to stop her, who would know?
She moved beneath it, where the wooden structure shaded a much larger area of water than her body did. The tide had already begun to rise so she worked quickly and efficiently, running her hands and feet beneath the gritty sand to uncover the sand dollars that had buried themselves below the surface. Lifting the hem of her shirt, she gathered the small brown sea urchins, one by one, and placed them safely inside the makeshift pouch.
Once a year, she’d take a dozen or so home with her to donate to her old kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Skinner. After bleaching and painting them with a glue solution to strengthen their fragile shells, the children in Mrs. Skinner’s class would study them during ocean week—just like Leah had. On the last day, each child would paint a sand dollar and frame it, then take it home as a souvenir. Leah still had hers from years ago.
As she bent to pick up two more sand dollars, a faraway voice caught her attention. Righting herself, she glanced in the direction of the sound and saw Sam standing on the shore. He waved his arms in the air and yelled something, but she couldn’t hear him over the distance. The pier almost seemed to insulate the roaring of the ocean in her ears.
He pointed frantically to something behind her, but before she could turn to look, something slammed into her, knocking her off her feet. She hadn’t even had enough time to take a breath before the huge wave crashed over her, rolling her beneath its crest, and sweeping her under with its current. Her limbs flailed in the sea, hopelessly trying to regain her footing, but the force of the water continued to drag her along with it.
Leah’s limp body stopped abruptly when her pelvis banged against a piling. She managed to wrap her arms around it, and holding on tight, she sputtered out salt water and gasped for a quick breath. The wave continued its warpath, the force of the tide still pulling on her body. Once the water around her settled to a calmer state, she released her grip on the tar-covered pole and struggled to stand.
Sam reached her within seconds and effortlessly lifted her to her feet, impressing her with his manliness. Boy, he was strong. “I tried to warn you about the coming wave,” he said, checking her over for injuries. “Are you okay?”
Before she managed to speak, another large wave struck, following the path of the first one with almost the same amount of force. Sam positioned her back against the large round piling and placed his hands on both sides of her body, trapping her between his well-muscled biceps to keep her safely in place. She didn’t mind.
His direct, unwavering gaze held hers. “Damn it, Leah. Answer me. Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly, though her lack of oxygen had little to do with the ordeal she’d just experienced.
His eyes darkened. “Are you sure? You hit the piling pretty hard.”
Yeah, no kidding. Leah blew out a slow, calming breath. “I’m fine,” she said, though she winced as she rubbed one hand low across her abdomen where it still ached. “I’m pretty sure I took out an ovary though.”
“But you didn’t hit your head or anything important, did you?”
Anything important? She scowled at him. “I have news for you. I consider my ovaries very important, thank you very much.”
Sam grinned. “Well, if you lose one, it’s not necessarily considered life-threatening.”
“Oh really? Do you want to be the one to tell my grandma I can’t conceive your children? Trust me, it could be life-threatening.”
He chuckled. “Okay, point taken. But you still have one good ovary left, don’t ya?”
“What if that one doesn’t work right?”
The corners of Sam’s mouth lifted. “Then we’ll get you an egg donor or talk to an in vitro specialist.”
“What?” Leah shook her head furiously. “No way. That’s way too expensive. We can’t afford those types of medical procedures.”
“Fine, then I’ll knock you up the old-fashioned way.”
“Not with a bum ovary, you won’t.”
Sam sighed with frustration. “Trust me, you’ll live to ovulate another day. If my sperm has to send out a search party for your damn egg, I can guarantee you that one day you will be knocked up with my kid. Count on it.”
Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened. “I, uh…” She didn’t have a clue what to say to that.
Sam must’ve realized how it sounded though. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean…I was just playing along.”
Of course he was. “Uh, yeah. I know.” She fake-smiled so he wouldn’t think she took his words to heart…even though she had. Damn.
He shook his head. “No, you really don’t know,” he said, his tone thickening with something that sounded much like anger. “That’s the fucking problem.” He started to say something else but stopped himself, as if he couldn’t seem to find the right words.
She had no idea what he was talking about or why he was upset so she stood there staring at him for a full minute as the tide pooled around their legs. It was the most awkward sixty seconds in the history of awkward seconds, but he obviously had something he wanted to get off his chest. “You have something to say or not?”
“No.” His voice came out rough, angry even.
“No?” she repeated.
“That’s right. No.” A muscle ticked in his steel-like jaw as his intense eyes fastened to hers. After a moment, his gaze fell to her mouth, and he released a slow, uneasy breath. “Fuck it,” he said. Then his hot, furious lips were on hers.
Leah froze mid-breath, unsure about what she did to piss him off. She considered stopping him long enough to ask, but he didn’t give her a chance before his fingers tangled roughly in her wet hair, angling her head for better access, and his impatient tongue parted her lips.
By then, she no longer cared. She couldn’t even form a coherent thought, much less ask him a question. Everything faded away. Their fake engagement. Her family. The sounds of the ocean slapping against the pilings around her. None of it mattered.
The only thing that mattered to her in this moment was…Sam.
Her hands flew to his bare chest, but without breaking the kiss, Sam grasped them and moved them to the base of his neck. Then he slanted his warm body more heavily into hers and rolled his hips in a subtle rhythm that hinted at the dangerous undertow of his desire.
Which only confused her more. Because as far as she knew, friends didn’t make out with friends on deserted beaches. At least she didn’t think they did.
Even still, she couldn’t bring herself to stop kissing him back. He’d locked lips with her before as a distraction. Then he did it once again to convince her family they’d made up. Maybe now he was kissing her because he was mad at her. She didn’t know what she had done to anger him, but…well, she liked it. A lot.
Whatever it was she’d done wrong, she hoped she did it again soon.
Chapter Eighteen
Sweet and salty.
That was exactly how she tasted, and the fucking combination overwhelmed his senses. Because although Sam managed to pry his lips from hers, they only ended up on her neck, licking and sucking, as he continued on his path of self-destruction. There was a good chance he would demolish things between them—their friendship, particularly—and he didn’t want that. But his mouth and hands just wouldn’t listen to his head.
He wanted her. God, he wanted her.
Sam had been scared shitless when he’d watched her limp body slam into the piling, but even after he’d made sure she was okay, his thundering heart hadn’t slowed any. Not for a second. Even now, it still hammered mercilessly against his rib cage, knowing she could have been seriously injured.
Then Leah arched her head back, exposing more of her throat, and the tantali
zing scent of her sweet skin filled his lungs. More. He wanted more. He nibbled down her neck, biting and then soothing the ache with his tongue. She moaned deep in her throat, and the sound had him bracing himself with one hand on the pole behind her.
She wore a pair of faded jean shorts, showing off her luscious legs, and a loose, dark-colored top, which fell from her left shoulder. Her wet clothes clung to her curvy, glorious body, which fit perfectly against his. He needed to be inside her. Right fucking now.
Without thinking, he ran his free hand between her breasts and slowly down her abdomen to unbutton her shorts. Yet the moment his fingers reached her abs, Leah gasped a little and sucked in her stomach. Not in protest, but in surprise. She didn’t make a move to stop him though.
Sonofabitch. Sam paused and blew out a breath. The last thing a self-conscious woman like Leah needed was a man trying to strip her bare in public. It didn’t matter that the early morning beach was deserted and there was no one around but the two of them. Leah needed the comfort of a dark room, time to adjust to a man looking at her naked body, and enough privacy to feel safe and secure with herself, as well as with him. Not an embarrassment-inducing, half-dressed quickie in harsh daylight all because he wanted to claim her like a madman. Again.
If he had any chance of salvaging their friendship out of all of this, then his needs would have to wait. What she needed was far more important. He kissed her one last time for good measure, then pulled away. “We should probably get back now.”
Her eyes enlarged to owlish proportions, and her lips pursed, as if a jellyfish had wrapped its tentacles around her leg and stung her silent. He wanted to explain why he’d stopped himself from moving forward, but it would probably only humiliate her more. So instead, he said, “I never did get my chocolate mousse last night.”
It was a lame excuse, but one he hoped would buy him a little time to screw his head on straight before they headed for home.
They walked back to the beach house, then climbed the stairs and headed inside. Nancy sat alone on the sofa and lifted her head as they came in. “Leah, are you feeling well, darling? You look a little…flushed.”
Sam grinned as Leah’s eyes cut to him. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you should make an appointment with Dr. Singleton on Monday.”
Leah shook her head. “I don’t need to see a doctor.”
“Maybe just for some bloodwork,” Nancy said, ignoring her daughter. “He could even check you for diabetes while you’re there.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sakes, Mom,” Leah huffed. “I may be a little overweight, but that doesn’t mean I have diabetes.”
“Well, you won’t know that for sure until you get checked out. All that sugar you consume is not doing you any favors. Besides, you stay cooped up in that bakery and hardly get any exercise. A physical wouldn’t hurt.”
Sam gritted his teeth. The only doctor Leah needed to see was a damn shrink, one who could help her deal with the only real problem the girl had: a deranged, melodramatic mother. And he, for one, was getting really tired of this lady’s shit. “Nancy, you obviously don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” he said frankly, not giving a damn who liked it or not.
Shocked, Leah’s mother stared wide-eyed at him, as if she were unsure how to respond. And he wasn’t about to give her a chance to.
“Leah busts her ass in that bakery. Maybe you don’t know this, but she spends hours prepping before the doors even open, then runs back and forth behind that counter nonstop, while filling an endless supply of orders. Then, at the end of her shift, she cleans it all up and gets ready to do it all again the next day. Your daughter has a better work ethic than most of the men on my crew, and that’s saying a lot because I have a damn good crew.”
A pleased smile lit up Leah’s face. “Why, thank you, Sam.”
“You’re welcome.” He winked at her but couldn’t stop himself from adding, “Besides, I have been keeping you pretty busy after hours, as well…if you know what I mean.” He waggled his brows suggestively.
Ethan stepped out of the hallway and entered the living room. “Yeah, no shit. I had to listen to that headboard banging on the wall all night long.”
“Oh my God.” Leah’s face reddened, and she rubbed at her temples as if she were trying to keep them from exploding.
Nancy blinked but didn’t seem to know what to say.
Thankfully, Bill and his parents came through the front door behind them and hadn’t heard a word of the uncomfortable conversation. “Hey, Sam, us men are planning on chartering a deep-sea fishing trip the last weekend of the month. You up for it?”
Leah waved her hand through the air. “Oh, that’s okay, Daddy. Sam can’t—”
“Sounds good,” Sam said, cutting her off.
She inhaled a sharp breath and stared at him with a pointed gaze. “Oh, but sweetie, don’t you have that thing you need to do that weekend?”
Sam shrugged lightly. “What thing?”
“You know, that thing you mentioned.” Leah glared at him with fire in her eyes. “Remember?”
Nancy shrugged one slim shoulder and said, “Well, if he can’t make it…”
Sam’s eyes narrowed. “Of course I can make it,” he said with a sly grin. “I don’t know what Leah is talking about. I’m off that weekend. I’d love to join y’all for a fishing trip. Sounds great.”
Bill gave a quick nod. “Good. It’s settled then. I’ll call you with all the details as soon as I set it up.”
“Perfect,” Sam said, daring a glance at his fake fiancée and putting her on the spot. “Right, baby?”
“Super,” she said, an underlying sarcasm coloring her tone. “Oh, look at the time. It’s getting late. We should probably head home.” She turned an icy stare on Sam. “Now.”
Uh-oh.
Sam winced internally. Though she’d done a good job of covering her irritation in front of her parents, Leah’s eyes shot fiery daggers at him. She was clearly pissed. Chances were good he was going to pay dearly the moment she got him alone.
Thank God her father followed them to the bedroom talking about the fishing trip while a seething Leah changed her clothes in the bathroom and they gathered their things. Otherwise, he might not have made it out of there alive.
When they returned to the living room with their bags, everyone rose from their seats and headed to the front door. Bill opened it and offered his hand to Sam. “We’re not leaving here for a few more hours, but thanks for joining us this weekend, Sam. It’s been…interesting, to say the least. Don’t forget about our date with my patio door.”
“Sure thing,” Sam said, returning the firm handshake.
As Sam said good-bye to the rest of Leah’s family, she walked out the open door, not bothering to wait for any more pleasantries to be exchanged.
“We’ll see you soon,” Sam promised over his shoulder as he hurried down the front stairs to catch up to a speed-walking Leah.
She didn’t speak until they were in the vehicle with both doors closed and their seat belts fastened. Then she turned on him with both barrels fully loaded. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Are you fucking insane?”
He shrugged lightly, knowing that there was no right answer to that question. “Possibly.”
“Oh God.” She tossed her head back onto the headrest and blew out a long, irritated breath. “Jesus, Sam, I told you I couldn’t keep doing this. Why in the hell would you willingly volunteer to go on a fishing trip with my dad?”
He wasn’t sure how she was going to take it so he hesitated to answer. “You don’t want to know.”
“Oh, trust me, I do,” she said, contempt rising in her sarcastic tone.
Sam dared to glance over at her. “You sure about that?”
She crossed her arms as she impatiently waited for an answer to her question. “Yes!” she shrieked.
He started the engine and put it into gear but didn’t drive away. Instead, he grinned and sa
id, “Because you need at least one sane person in your life.”
She leveled a disbelieving gaze at him. “Are you kidding me? This comes from the guy who spent most of the weekend convincing my family that he was a fucking lunatic.”
* * *
Confusion didn’t cover it.
Leah had spent the entire weekend with Sam and her family, thinking she knew exactly how this vacation would end. But now that they were almost back to the bakery, she realized what a crock of bullshit that was. Her family didn’t hate him at all. Actually, it was just the opposite. They all loved him more than ever.
Thanks a lot, Sam.
Now what the hell was she supposed to do?
Sam pulled the truck over next to the curb and parked under the Sweets n’ Treats sign. “Honey, we’re home,” he said in a singsong manner. Wordlessly, Leah reached into the backseat of the truck’s darkened cab, feeling around for her bag, but Sam grabbed it first. “I’ll get it for you,” he told her.
“That’s okay. You’ve done enough, don’t you think?”
He pulled her bag into the front seat and leveled a gaze at her. “Are you still mad about your dad inviting me to go deep-sea fishing?”
“No, I’m not mad about that at all,” she said, pushing a strand of hair from her eyes. “I’m pissed that you told them you’d go. God, Sam. How the hell am I supposed to tell them that you broke up with me if you keep making plans with them?”
“Well, you don’t have to tell them yet.”
“Yes, I do. Maybe it’s not a big deal for you because they aren’t your family, but they are mine. I can’t keep dragging this out and leading them on. I don’t want them to get attached to you.” Like I am.
“Oh, come on. They aren’t attached to me. I’m just their newest plaything at the moment.”
“Not even close. My family adores you, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to get them in the divorce.”