Part 17 (1/2)
Casey finished changing into cutoff jeans, an unb.u.t.toned, short-sleeve s.h.i.+rt and ratty sneakers. He snagged a beach towel and rejoined Amber. ”Your mom lets Morgan get away with that because she likes it.”
Amber sighed theatrically. ”I know. Daddy says Mom has him wrapped around her little finger.”
”Your mom and you both.” Casey held his hand out for her and said, ”Let's go before she runs off with Shohn instead.”
”Yeah right.” Amber slipped her small hand into his. ”She's probably already in love with you. All the women act stupid around you.”
Casey's heart jumped at that ”L” word, but he said only, ”You think Emma acts stupid?”
”No, silly. That's why I think you should keep her.”
When they went back down the steps, they found Emma doing tricks with B.B. She threw a stick and he caught it in midair, then brought it back to her. She told him to roll over, to speak, to shake hands.
The boys were suitably impressed with his every feat. Without even thinking about it, Casey looped his arms around Emma from behind and kissed her ear. The kids all stared wide-eyed. ”If you think her dog is neat, you should see her car.”
That refocused the boys' attention.
”Is it as cool as your car?” ”What color is it?”
Teasing, Emma said, ”It's better than his car.”
Casey raised an eyebrow, but agreed. ”Definitely. We both have Mustangs, but Emma's is a cherry-red cla.s.sic. You know what that means?”
Garrett nodded. ”It's old.”
”But in great condition.”
Frowning, Garrett said, ”I'd rather have a new one.”
”That's only because you haven't seen it yet,” Emma a.s.sured him.
Casey gave her a squeeze. ”How about we bring the car by here tomorrow and you rats can look it over?”
”Will you stay for dinner?” Amber asked, and even to Casey, who knew her private agenda, Amber looked like innocence personified.
Shohn aimed a thumb at his chest. ”You could go out in the boat with us so I can show you how good I ski.”
Emma stiffened with alarm, though why the idea of spending time with his family bothered her, he had no clue. She liked the kids, he could tell that much. And she'd been totally at ease even while apologizing and explaining to Morgan, Misty, Honey and his dad.
He let her push out of his hold and move a few steps away.
She turned to face him, saying, ”I might already have plans...” But the words trailed off as she got a look at his naked chest. When a breeze blew by, parting the s.h.i.+rt a little more, Emma's mouth fell open, her eyes flared.
Satisfaction built within him.
Well now, that was nice. He was comfortable in his own skin, so casual around the lake he hadn't really thought about her seeing him when he yanked on the s.h.i.+rt. But Emma seemed to appreciate it. Once he got her on the boat, he'd lose the s.h.i.+rt and encourage her to lose the cover-up. He'd get her in the cove and hold her close, skin to skin...
Like perfect little strategists, the kids started begging Emma to return for dinner. Casey decided he would take them tubing a and soon. They deserved it.
He reached out and tugged on a lock of Emma's hair, then mimicked the kids. ”Please?”
She swallowed, closed her mouth, and raised her eyes to his. ”I'll try.” Her smile was staged. ”But I'll probably have to bring Damon along.”
Casey groaned, grabbed his heart as if he'd been shot, and stumbled into Amber, who laughed while trying to hold him up.
”Who,” she demanded around her smile, ”is this Damon person?”
Casey straightened. He hugged Amber, then kissed her little turned-up nose. ”He's no one important, sweetheart. Just Emma's friend. And if he comes to dinner with us, why then you can all show him how to catch tadpoles and crawdads on the sh.o.r.e, okay?”
Amber's small face brightened in understanding, and she gave Casey a conspiratorial wink. ”Okay, Casey. That sounds like fun.” She encompa.s.sed the boys in a look, and added, ”It'll probably take him a long time to get the hang of it, but we'll be patient a even if it takes hours.”
CHAPTER TEN.
EMMA TRAILED her fingers in the cold water. She loved the sights, sounds and smells of being on the lake, but it all faded away with Casey so near. It wasn't easy keeping her gaze off him. In fact, it proved impossible.
But Lord have mercy, he looked good. He now wore only low-riding cutoffs and he was perched on the driver's seat at the back of the boat, steering one-handed while the wind blew his dark-blond hair and the sun reflected off his smooth, tanned shoulders and the firm expanse of his broad back. He had one muscular, hairy leg braced on the deck of the boat, the other in the seat. She let her eyes follow the line of his spine all the way to the waistband of those shorts...
She jerked her gaze away. Staring at Casey's muscled backside would not help her get it together. The air was hot, but it didn't compare to what she felt on the inside. Casey had matured in ways she hadn't counted on. His body had always been lean and strong, but now he had filled out and his strength was obvious in the flex of muscles in his upper arms, across his chest and shoulders. He wasn't a hulk like Morgan, just nicely defined and very macho.
He was hairier than she remembered too. Not too much, but there was a s.e.xy sprinkling of dark-brown hair on his chest that faded to a thin line toward his navel, then a silkier line still down his belly a and behind his fly.
Emma breathed too deeply, imagined too much, but she wanted to touch him, kiss him.
When they'd first gotten in the boat, B.B. had demanded all her attention. He'd tottered back and forth, looking out one side of the boat then the other, constantly whining. He didn't like the way the boat moved and kept him unsteady. But within ten minutes, he'd settled down and now he watched out the back, his body braced against the casing for the inboard motor. His tongue hung out the side of his mouth and his furry face held an expression of excitement.
Emma had been smiling over that when Casey casually pulled off his s.h.i.+rt and stowed it in the side of the boat. While she ogled him, he suggested she remove her cover-up. She'd declined, and had been trying not to stare at him, without much success, ever since.
The lake was crowded with boats everywhere, more so than she remembered it being in the past. At first Casey had driven at breakneck speed, cutting across the wakes of other boats, bouncing over choppy waves, causing the water to spray into the boat and making her laugh. He'd gradually slowed and moved closer to the sh.o.r.eline so that now they glided through the water, watchful of skiers and swimmers and noisy Jet Skis.
A flashy cabin cruiser filled with sun wors.h.i.+pers zipped up alongside them. Lounged around the boat, three men and three women waved, prompting Casey to return the greeting. Emma saw his friendly smile, the way his raised arm showed a tuft of dark hair beneath, how his biceps bulged. She also saw how the women coveted Casey with open admiration, while the men leered at her. She didn't know if anyone recognized her, and she didn't stare back long enough to recognize anyone herself, but before the day was over, his friends would be talking. She hated that, but had no idea how to avoid it. Whether it was fair or not, she did have a reputation, and yet Casey was determined to be seen with her.
Her thoughts scattered as he steered the boat into a deep cove at the far end of the long lake, away from the congestion. He didn't bother to speak over the roar of the motor, but every so often she felt the intensity of his gaze settle on her. Little by little he slowed until the motor only purred and the ride was easy and smooth, just gliding through the water.
By the time they were out of sight from prying eyes, she couldn't hold back any longer and moved to the seat behind him.
Casey twisted his head toward her. He wore dark reflective sungla.s.ses, but she could tell by the set of his mouth, the slight flare of his nostrils, that his mind had centered on the very same thoughts.
Without saying a word, Emma knelt on the seat and settled both palms on his bare shoulders, smoothing her hands down to his shoulder blades, then to his sides in a deep, sensual ma.s.sage. Hot. Taut. Silky-smooth flesh over hard muscle.
Casey went still except for the expanding of his chest and back with each deep breath he took. She loved touching him, stroking him. ”Emma...” he said, half in pleasure, half in warning. ”d.a.m.n, you are good.”
She leaned forward and pressed her open mouth to the spot where his shoulder melded into his neck. She breathed his heated scent while rubbing deeply at muscles, relaxing him and exciting him at the same time. ”You're the most beautiful man I've ever seen.”
He shuddered and reached back for her hand, then drew it forward to his mouth to kiss her knuckles. He held her that way, with one arm draped around his neck, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s flattened on his back. She put her cheek on his shoulder and hugged him. Strangely enough, she felt both content and turbulent.
”I want to show you something, okay?”