“Right back at you.”

River shook her head. “No,” she said very softly. “I definitely do not.”

Chapter 12

I’m not necessarily always anxious. I’m just extremely well educated about all the things that can and will go catastrophically wrong.

Sleep that night was not Lanie’s friend. She kept seeing Mark’s face when she’d asked how much she owed him for the tire fix. He’d been frustrated with her, and maybe hurt. Thinking about the ways she might make it up to him had led to a series of fantasies that had her giving up on finding any zzz’s. Hot and bothered, she slipped out of bed.

It was a warm, moonless night, and restless, she slipped a pair of baggy sweats over her PJs and stepped outside. She walked to the end of the row of the cottages and around to the back of the big house where the real view of the valley was. Hoping to stay out of sight and just be alone to think, she slipped onto one of the plush lounge chairs at the very far edge of the patio.

There, she stretched out and tipped her head back to stare at the sky. She hadn’t missed much about Wildstone, but she had missed this night sky. It didn’t disappoint tonight, looking like a blanket of black velvet strewn with diamonds.

She heard the sound of water and followed it past the house, down the trail that led to the small, hidden lake. Someone was swimming, someone long and leanly muscled who, though she didn’t want to admit it, was already in possession of a small corner of her heart.

Mark finished a lap and met her gaze, his dark eyes and dark smile promising to take her places.

She sat on the towel he’d clearly left for himself and returned his long look.

Rising effortlessly out of the water, he came toward her. At her feet, he shook his head and sent water drops spiraling all over her, making her shiver. Water ran off his body in rivulets.

He took her breath away.

He stood over her for a moment before sprawling that big body of his out at her side for her viewing pleasure.

And it was a pleasure. She’d seen it all the night they’d gone boogie boarding, but she still looked her fill. Anyone with warm blood in their veins would’ve done the same thing—

“So just what kind of an asshole was your husband?” he asked.

She froze. Not exactly what she wanted to talk about. She looked away from his all-seeing gaze and went back to stargazing. Discussing Kyle and what he’d done to her life—not to mention her confidence—was the last thing she wanted to do. “Why does it matter?” she asked warily. “He’s dead. It’s not relevant.”

He waited for her to look at him again, and when she did, he simply raised a brow, making her sigh. “Okay, fine, it’s relevant, but to be fair, it’s not just you. I’ve got a chip on my shoulder for everyone. I’m an equal-opportunity chip-holder.”

His mouth curved slightly. “Good to know.”

She closed her eyes. “Have you ever wanted to believe in something so badly that you make it happen, except you’re the only one in it?”

He was quiet for a long moment. Then his big hand reached for hers. “Yes.”

She leaned into him, getting wet and not caring because he felt so good.

“It hurts like hell,” he said, twisting to face her. “It’s why I’m not looking for love.”

“Ever?” she asked before she could stop herself. He’d already told her this.

Mark was quiet for a moment as his fingers ran along her temple at her hairline. “You’re definitely the exception on making me want more,” he said quietly. “But I’m not ready for love again, Lanie. My kids, they have to come first right now. I’m sorry.”

This didn’t surprise her. Nor did it stop her from wanting him. “What are you willing to give?”

“Everything but my heart. I’ve dated here and there, but I can’t be pushed to go where I don’t want to go.”

She nodded. She got it. She did. He’d been hurt too and he had his girls to consider, but she couldn’t help but feel the very tiniest bit of disappointment. But it didn’t change anything for her. She wanted him. And the truth was, she wasn’t ready for love either. Not even close.

“Is that enough for you?” he asked.

Yeah. It was, and she gave a slow nod.

He stood and pulled her up with him, giving her a chance to move away if she wanted. But apparently her body wasn’t at all as conflicted as her brain because she leaned into him. Then those big, warm hands of his were on her hips, pulling her in closer. He lowered his head so that his jaw rubbed against her cheek, like a big, wild cat approaching a possible mate.

When she sighed in pleasure, he closed the nearly nonexistent gap between them and kissed her long and hard, lifting her up against him. She wound her arms around his neck and held him to her as they both dove in. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark, his voice so low as to be nearly inaudible. “Last chance,” he said quietly. “Go back to bed alone or stay here with me.”

She didn’t go back. Instead she leaned in and licked a drop of water off his neck. When he stilled and closed his eyes, she took a nibble out of the same spot, sucking a patch of his skin into her mouth, smiling against him when he groaned. And then she tugged him down to the towel.

He kneeled over her, his hands running up her spine, taking her sweatshirt with him. When he’d pulled it off, he took in her baby-blue camisole PJ top and said her name hoarsely.

A few low clouds had slid over the moon, making the night even darker, causing a sense of isolation and intimacy. The water lapped softly near their feet, the only other sound being the pounding of her heart and the sound of her whispering his name on the wind.

He buried his fingers in her hair, tugging lightly, exposing her neck. She could feel him, hot and hard against her, and her eyes fluttered closed as he played her like a fiddle. “Here, Lanie?” he murmured, voice husky and thick.

She looked up and found herself staring into twin pools of dark desire. He wanted her, and she wanted him even if he had stupid rules about love, even if it was only for the moment. “Yes,” she whispered against his mouth, “here,” and he slid the camisole straps down her arms, nudging the thin material southbound until it caught on the very tips of her breasts. She sucked in a breath at the sensation and then he gave another nudge and she was bared to him.

With a groan, he lowered his head, his mouth taking over for his fingers. And then he headed south, divesting her of all her armor as he went. Around them, the water continued to hit the rocky beach, a dissonant symphony of sound that mixed with her soft, desperate moans as he took her to head-spinning and heart-stopping heights. She came shockingly fast, and she might’ve been embarrassed about that if he hadn’t lifted his head and looked at her with eyes so hot she felt scorched. Wanting to give him some of what he’d just given her, she reached for him, but his fingers lightly circled her wrists, stopping her progress.

She looked up at him and saw him smile in the darkness. He then rose to his feet and took a small step back as he untied his still-damp board shorts and pushed them off his lean hips. In the dim recesses of her mind she registered the wet thud as the shorts hit the ground behind him. Dropping to his knees between her legs, he braced himself over her, dipping his head to lick the skin of her collarbone, making her arch up off the towel. Reaching for him, she tried to tug him down to her, needing this. She expected him to be cool from the water, but he radiated heat and power and strength, and she craved more. “Please,” she breathed.