She appreciated the fact that he’d sensed her tension and brought her here to ease it. He always knew just what to say or do to fix things in her small part of the world.
“Have you ever been on a boat before?” he asked, slowing the motor and letting them bob on the calm surface of the water.
She pulled her hair off her face. “Does the ferry to the Statue of Liberty count?”
He grinned. “Not really.”
“Then, no.”
She eased herself down on one of the padded benches that stretched across the width of the deck and leaned back, resting on her hands.
“I take it you grew up on a boat?” she asked him.
He nodded. “My dad would take us out. The boys one time, the girls another. Sometimes we’d get alone-time with him, and that was usually the best day,” he said, obviously remembering good times.
She smiled. “Sounds great.”
“It was. I always told myself I’d take my own kids one day.”
The notion, once spoken, was out there between them, and she couldn’t help but imagine Rafe and his son or daughter spending time together on this boat. The image stuck with her, making her melancholy and sad, knowing that meant she’d be long gone out of his life.
She shook her head hard. She usually wasn’t so wistful in her thinking, but lately that seemed all she was able to be. Well, no more. When would she ever have the opportunity to enjoy summertime on a boat on a lake again?
She cleared her throat. “Did you ever bring a girlfriend out on the lake?” she asked.
He lifted his glasses and met her gaze, obviously surprised by the question. “Back in high school, if I could convince my father to lend me the boat, and then only if I could smooth talk a girl into trusting me alone on the lake.” He treated her to a wink.
“Were you a bad boy?” She was curious about what kind of reputation he’d had.
“Hang on one second.” He turned to drop anchor, so they could hang out for a while.
He stepped toward her, settling down on the bench beside her, leaving no doubt in her mind he was every inch the bad boy.
“Now, where were we? Oh, yeah, was I a bad boy? Hmm. I was the guy everyone knew wanted to leave the small town behind as soon as possible. That made me a risky proposition.”
“I can imagine.”
He grinned. “I bet I could have sweet-talked you onto my boat.”
She shook her head and laughed. “You just did.”
“So… What kind of kid were you?”
She figured turnabout was fair play. “Considering most of my family was on the force? I had a pretty solid good-girl thing going.” She made a face at the reminder. “But at the same time, I was pretty stubborn, had my opinions and wanted things my way, which made the guys steer clear. Needless to say, I caught on and became much more male-gender friendly.”
“Do tell.” He traced the outline of her bathing suit with one finger.
She trembled as the heated touch set off sparks inside her belly, between her legs and everywhere else. She licked her dry lips. “Have you ever had sex on a boat?”
His eyes darkened with need. “No.”
She glanced around the sparkling lake. “Do you think anyone will pass by and see us?” she asked nervously.
He laughed. “Is the big bad police officer scared of getting caught?”
“More like being exposed.”
He rose and took a good look around. “Not if we hurry.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Then what are you waiting for?” She barely recognized her husky voice.
He leaned close and pressed his lips to hers, seducing her with his hot mouth. He followed as she lay down on the bench, coming down over her until his erection pulsed, hard against her stomach. She gripped the back of his head as her tongue dueled and tangled with his, mimicking sex, making her burn. The kiss was as hot as the sun overhead, consuming her just as he wanted to be consumed. A trickle of moisture settled between her legs, and her desire to have him inside her grew.
His lips moved from her lips to her jaw, trailing moist kisses down her neck to her collarbone, traveling lower until he settled between her br**sts. He paused there, drawing lazy circles over her skin. She moaned and arched beneath him, the sensations arousing but not nearly enough.
With an easy pull on the string, he released her bathing-suit top. He yanked, and the bikini came off in his hands. Then he cupped each mound.
“No matter how many times I see you like this, you take my breath away.” Intent on his task, he slid his hands down her waist and over her stomach.
She quivered at his touch. And once more he pulled and released her bathing suit, tossing the bottoms to the floor. She bent her knees, and without missing a beat, he thrust deep inside.
She exhaled hard, accepting all of him, and together they soared to completion.
A short time later, they were dressed and heading to shore. She stood beside him, wind blowing her hair, his arm looped around hers as he steered them home.
Home.
She really needed to get out of here before she became too comfortable with the word.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
PIRRO BOTH LIKED AND respected Rafe, and he took his advice to heart. After his poker game last night, he’d headed home, intent on reassuring his wife that there were no other women in the world for him, but she’d been fast asleep, a box of tissues by her side.
She was still sleeping when he woke up and left for work this next morning. He headed to the office, which was built on the same land where the spices grew in green houses that regulated the temperatures to ensure healthy plant growth all year round. He had a full day of meetings, and he worked through lunch. By five o’clock, he was ready to call it quits for the day.
He stopped in town for flowers and walked out of the florist, hopeful he’d make Vivian understand his stress had nothing to do with his feelings for her. In his hands, he held a dozen red roses in a crystal vase so large that it blocked his view. He bumped into someone on the sidewalk.
“I’m sorry!” he said, righting himself before he stumbled.
“No worries. We were waiting for you anyway.”
Pirro dropped the flowers, and the glass shattered. Whatever they wanted, it couldn’t be good.
RAFE TOOK A QUICK shower while Sara checked in with the captain in the city. While she showered, he put marinated steaks on the outdoor grill. Thank you, Mom, he thought silently. He’d snuck in a phone call earlier, asking her to check on the alarm company and stock the fridge. She’d taken over everything while he was out for the day. The alarm upgrade was complete, and now he placed a chilled bottle of wine, grilled steak and corn on the cob on the picnic table outside.