Flirting With Forever

by Molly Cannon

  “Theo, you keep eating, and I’ll go grab the plans I’ve been working on. I’m excited to get started.” She left the sun porch, taking her dishes with her.

  Exercising restraint, he decided to stop eating before he made a pig of himself. He gathered his plate and glass and followed her into the kitchen. “That was great, Ree. The best meal I’ve had since I’ve been back in Everson.”

  “Are you sure you got enough?” She took his dishes and stacked them in the sink.

  “I’m sure. If I eat anymore, I’ll need a nap, and you’ll have to put me to bed. We won’t get any work done at all.”

  Her eyebrows went up like she thought he was suggesting something naughty with his nap remark. Let her think what she liked. He wasn’t going to tiptoe around, watching every word that came out of his mouth.

  “So, let’s see those plans.”

  “Give me a second.” She left the kitchen and was back in a flash with a file folder. She opened it and spread out the drawings on the kitchen table. “I thought you could build a wedding arbor on one end and a giant wedding cake on the back.”

  “I wondered if there would be a giant cake.”

  “Oh, so is that too obvious?”

  “Isn’t that the point? You don’t want folks having to guess what the float represents.”

  “True, but I need to come up with something that will make it stand out above the rest. But you’re right, it has to say wedding in a big way.”

  “I bet you’ll figure it out.”

  He’d done some research on building a parade float. It recommended using a trailer no longer than eight feet and then building a platform sturdy enough to hold all the people and all the decorations. “That should be easy enough. I can get the decking and siding on today. It’ll be up to you to help when it comes to applying all of the froufrou stuff.”

  She grinned. “That will be the fun stuff. I’ll need to go shopping for the decorations. I might have to make a trip to Dallas. They have some wholesale shops that sell fake flowers and we are going to need lots and lots of flowers.”

  “I could fly you to Dallas if it would save some time. We could be up and back in no time.”

  She looked unsure. “Fly in your plane? With you doing the flying?”

  “That’s the way it works normally.”

  “Um. Let me think about it.”

  “Okay. But the offer is always open.” He had to admit it had been an old daydream to get Irene up in the air someday. But in his vision they landed in a meadow covered in blue-and-yellow flowers and made love on a ratty old blanket until they were both sunburned from head to toe. But he had work to do now, so he’d bury his steamy fantasy back into his impossible dream file. Sawing some boards and pounding some nails might relieve some of the pent-up sexual frustration he suffered from when Ree was around.

  “I’m going to get started,” he declared.

  “I want to help, so just tell me what to do.”

  “Can you swing a hammer?”

  “It’s been awhile, but I used to do a few home improvement projects around the house when I was growing up. I built a doghouse out of pallets I got from behind the grocery store.” She was on his heels as he went out the back door.

  “I remember that. Your dog’s name was Macy.”

  “Yeah, my uncle wouldn’t let her in the house, and our yard didn’t have any shade. My cousin Bonnie used to sneak her food and a couple of times tried to sleep outside with her. She loved that dog.”

  “That’s right. Well, let’s get to work. If you can build a doghouse, this float will be a snap.”

  He had some supplies stashed in the back of the pickup truck and started unloading them, carting them over to the trailer. “We are using these wooden pallets to raise the floor so it will be level with the rails, and then we’ll nail boards over the top of them.”

  Irene grabbed a pallet from the truck and dropped it on the ground beside the trailer. “How do you know what to do?”

  “I looked on the Internet like everyone else does these days. I could tell I wasn’t going to get any helpful hints from the experienced float builders around here. All very hush-hush, if you know what I mean.”

  “We don’t need those buzzards, anyway. They’ll be asking us for advice next year.”

  They started working together as a team. Irene handed wooden pallets to Theo, and he would hoist them up and arrange them until they were stacked two deep and covered the entire trailer. “So far, so good,” he declared.

  “What’s next?” she asked.

  “I already cut those boards into sections to cover the whole thing. We will lay them out and nail them in place. That will be your floor. Then you can work your magic.”

  She picked up a hammer. “I like this part better. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten to do anything physical that made me sweat. It’s fun.”

  Theo made a show of adjusting the pallets in front of him and tried not to notice the beads of sweat dotting her face. He remembered doing all sorts of physical things to her that made her sweat. The idea of licking those beads of sweat from her long neck made him squirm. Following them with his tongue down across the rise of her breasts. He tried not to notice the way her tank top clung to her body, clearly showing the shape of those breasts. But he wasn’t very good at ignoring what was right in front of him.

  He lined up a board and began nailing it in place. She followed his lead, and they had the floor finished in less than an hour.

  “Whew,” she declared, smiling like she’d climbed the tallest tree in the forest. “It has to be a hundred degrees out here. Want to take a swim to cool off?”

  His mind flashed back to the picture seared into his brain: Irene naked on a float. Before he could stop himself, he asked, “Are you going to wear a bathing suit this time?”

  She gave him that haughty look she’d used when she thought he was acting childish. “And we were getting along so well, Theo. Maybe you should just go home and take a cold shower.”

  “Aw, come on, Ree. Can’t you take a joke?”

  “I’m going to change. If you want, there are several men’s swimsuits in the bathhouse.” She left without waiting for his answer.

  If he was smart, he’d follow her suggestion. Get the hell out of here, go home, and take a cold shower. But he’d never been smart about Ree, and it was hot. Summer-in-Texas hot. And her swimming pool was just sitting there waiting to be of some use. He put his tools away and headed for the bathhouse. An odd assortment of suits hung from hooks on the wall, and he picked a pair that looked like long plaid walking shorts. They fit just fine, so he grabbed a towel and walked out to the pool.

  Ree must have still been in the house, but he didn’t wait for her. He dove into the deep end of the pool, letting the cool water shock his system. He stayed underwater, swimming with his eyes open until he reached the shallow end of the pool, and then he turned around without surfacing and swam the other direction. His lungs were burning from a lack of oxygen, so he was finally forced to come up for air. Good God. The sight before him nearly knocked the breath out of him all over again.

  Wearing a purple bikini and nothing more, Ree walked out of the back door, gliding toward him like a model on one of his fantasy runways.

  Irene walked out the door just as Theo was rising from the water like a sleek water god. Neptune’s warrior. Or some mythical creature. His black hair was slicked back from his face. Water cascaded down his bulging arms, across his broad chest, and ran over his flat stomach. He’d gained more muscle since she’d first known him, and the result was extraordinary. Unfortunately for her peace of mind, he was gorgeous. Absolutely. Undeniably the epitome of male perfection. A beautiful boy grown into the manliest of men. Dammit all and a box of rocks.

  She put her eyeballs back in their sockets and tried to act casual. If she didn’t want to make a fool of herself, she’d have to keep things light—act unaffected. Working with him this afternoon had already put her into a state of unbridle
d ditziness. She kept sneaking peeks at the way the muscles in his arms bunched as he swung the hammer or the way he used his long legs, lifting the thick boards over his head before putting them in place. The hot Texas sun must have baked her brain because he suddenly seemed even more attractive than usual. She was supposed to be immune. But the way his dark hair artfully curled around the tops of his ears seemed designed to make her blood thicken with need. Those eyes. Cool blue and watching her, calculating her responses, but she’d lost track of what he wanted from her years ago, and the time she’d spent with him the last few days had done nothing to clarify anything at all. Especially what and how she felt about this man.

  It had taken her way too long to decide what bathing suit to wear. Like it mattered. It wasn’t like she was going on a date, for goodness’ sake, but his remark about her not wearing a suit made her self-conscious, and resentful, and turned on all at the same time. She was letting the man screw with her head, and that was the one thing she’d promised she wouldn’t do. First, she started to put on a black one-piece racing suit that covered as much skin as possible, but it felt like she was being manipulated into wearing it. Like she was ashamed that he’d seen her naked on his arrival into town. Then she grabbed a two-piece that had a little skirt. Modest, but showing a little more flesh. She held it up in the mirror and frowned at the polka-dot design. It looked like something a clown might wear. To hell with it. She picked up her favorite purple bikini, slipped it on, and marched outside with her head held high.

  The impact of seeing him all wet and bare-chested was like taking a shot of tequila on an empty stomach. Hot quivers ran through her veins. Intoxicating. She’d been without a man for much too long if he could make her feel so out of control just by taking his shirt off. It took all of her mighty concentration not to stop and gawk. But she was proud of herself. She made it to the side of the pool but then stopped, having no idea what to do next. Conversation was way beyond her power. As a kid she’d always liked to make a splashy entrance, so she let out a yell and executed the perfect cannonball, rocking the pool, and hoping he might be gone when she surfaced for air.

  Chapter Twelve

  He wasn’t gone, but he’d retreated to the shallow end of the pool. Sitting on the steps, he watched her with a guarded expression. “So, did you invite me to swim just so you could drown me?”

  “Don’t be silly, Theo. I haven’t wanted to kill you for nearly eight years now. Maybe only seven and a half.”

  “Aha. So, you admit you wanted to kill me. When you sent me the letter saying we were through?” He looked like he’d won an important contest.

  “Who can remember, really? It’s been so long since I’ve even thought about that time.” That was a big fat lie. Even before he came home to Everson, there wasn’t a week that went by that she didn’t wonder about the man who’d gotten away. She was treading water in the deep end of the pool, keeping a safe distance from his ridiculous body with all its muscles and smooth, tan skin. “Obviously, it was the right thing to do, though. Look at what an exciting life you’ve had. You would have missed out on most of it if you’d been tied down in a marriage to me.”

  “So, you broke up with me because it was for my own good? So I’d have an exciting life?”

  She didn’t like where his questions were leading, so she asked a question of her own. “Hey, do you remember that old indoor pool we used to swim in at the Y? You’d swim laps, and I’d do water exercises and practice holding my breath underwater. You could always beat me at that.”

  “Are you changing the subject again?” He pushed himself off the steps and in a smooth gliding stroke made his way until he was directly in front of her. He bobbed there in one spot, piercing her with those blue eyes. She backed away from him until the side of the pool stopped her and she had no more room to retreat. He put an arm on either side of her, not touching her, but trapping her just the same. “Why won’t you tell me what really happened, Irene? I thought we were happy, but somehow I had it all wrong. That kind of thing eats at a man.”

  “What good will it do to rehash everything? Why dredge up old wounds, Theo? It’s pointless, and we can’t change any of it now.”

  “You are the one that keeps pointing out that it all happened a long time ago. A little honesty between us right now might be a good thing.”

  “Okay. If honesty is what you want, let’s go there.” Her heart twisted inside her chest, and she tried to keep the hurt from her voice, but it was there, the pain, the ache. “You left me long before I wrote that letter. I was just cutting the cord so you could really be free.”

  He shook his head like he could erase the words. “I didn’t want to be free.”

  “It sure felt that way to me. And I didn’t want to be alone. When you asked me to marry you, I said yes because I thought we’d have a life together. Together. Not miles apart. Obviously you didn’t want that.”

  “That’s not true. I was trying to be responsible. Half the time we could barely make the rent, and that was exactly the kind of life we’d come to Dallas to escape. If I was going to marry you, I wanted to be able to support a family.” He seemed incensed.

  She felt all of the old frustration bubbling to the surface. “And that was a decision we should have made together. You were gone to basic training, and I didn’t get a vote in the matter. And that was just the beginning of your five-year stint.”

  His voice was low and hard. “So, you married the first rich guy that came along.”

  She wasn’t going to dignify that with an excuse, so she said the only thing that seemed true. “I made a mistake when I trusted my heart instead of my head. I decided not to make the same mistake again. Sven offered security.”

  “And you jumped at it.” The words were an accusation.

  She didn’t deny it. “With both feet.”

  “So, you’re saying everything between us was a mistake. That nothing you felt for me was real?”

  “I loved you, Theo, and it broke my heart when you left. That’s all I knew.” Her voice had grown soft and low as if the confession was a secret she didn’t want to share.

  He closed the distance between them. Searching her face for more answers than she could give, he asked, “Why couldn’t you wait for me, Ree?”

  He leaned closer, his mouth hovering above hers. Her barely covered breasts brushed against his chest, and a moan escaped from her throat before she could stop it. Touching him seemed unwise, but her hands went to his shoulders to keep herself above water. Drowning would be the coward’s way out. He took that as an excuse to wrap her in his arms and kiss her. They went underwater, and still he kissed her. Wet, and slick, and hungry. She kissed him back, not sure at all of the game they were playing, not caring if there were costs to pay later.

  Maybe this was the only honest thing left between them. The physical desire that swamped her couldn’t be denied. When they broke the surface of the water, he rolled onto his back, keeping her above him. Both of his big wide hands tangled in her wet hair, holding her head in place so his mouth could ravage hers. She didn’t fight it. In fact, she was a more than willing participant. Her hazy brain told her she deserved this. A chance to relive something that had been good about their relationship.

  “Well, well. Isn’t this cozy?”

  Irene pushed away from Theo at the sound of a man’s voice. Theo looked thunderous at the interruption. The man on the pool deck stared down at them from above, dismissing Theo with a withering glance. His attention was all on Irene when he said, “Hello, mother dearest. Is he your latest boy toy?”

  Irene didn’t say a word, but inside she was shaking. She calmly swam to the steps and walked out to face Charlie. In a cold voice she asked, “What are you doing here?”

  He smirked. “I guess I should have called.”

  Theo got out of the pool behind her and handed her a towel. “What is this, Ree?”

  Charlie looked at him like he’d crawled out of the sewer. “This is none of your concern, bud
dy boy.”

  Theo wedged his way in front of Irene even though she tried to pull him back. He faced Charlie with a threatening glower. “Irene will always be my concern. I suggest you speak to her with a little more respect in your tone.”

  Irene could see things were unraveling quickly. “Theo, it’s fine. Why don’t you go on home? We’ve done enough work for the day.”

  “Is that what they’re calling it now? Work?”

  Before Irene could stop him, Theo picked Charlie up off his feet and threw him into the deep end of the pool. While Charlie was sputtering and cussing up a blue streak, Theo said, “I warned you to watch your tone.”

  “Theo, for God’s sake. You’re just making things worse.” She had to admit she enjoyed seeing Charlie drag himself out of the pool with his designer suit drenched and his fancy loafers soaked. He might have even ruined a watch or phone to boot.

  Charlie stood dripping on the decking, trying to look ferocious. It didn’t work, but Irene knew he could cause her trouble if he wanted to. She threw him her towel and said evenly, “Go get out of those wet clothes, and we’ll talk.”

  “He better be gone when I come back.”

  “You don’t make demands around here. This is my house, remember.”

  He stalked to the back door and before he went inside said, “Just remember whose money built it.”

  When she turned around, Theo was headed to the bathhouse.

  “Theo, wait. I’m sorry.”

  “Who is that jerk? Let me guess. He must be Sven’s son. I didn’t know he was part of the deal.”

  “He’s not. I haven’t seen him for three years.”

  “So why is he here now?”

  “Once he dries off, maybe I’ll find out.”

  Theo looked sheepish. “Sorry about that. I guess I overreacted, but I didn’t like the way he was talking to you.”

  She smiled reluctantly. “It was pretty funny seeing him splash around like a drowning duck. But it would be good if you left now.”