by Addison Cole
“That’s what family’s for.” He pulled Rick into a quick embrace and said, for his ears only, “I’m here for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it.”
“That was amazing!” Desiree said as Rick helped her to her feet. “So fun! I can’t believe I ever called you reckless!”
“She knows you already.” Drake laughed, and Serena smacked his arm.
“Hey!” Drake hoisted Serena over his shoulder and carried her into deeper water.
“Don’t you dare!” Serena hollered. “I’ll kick your butt, Drake Savage!”
Rick helped Desiree remove her life vest, rid himself of his, and tossed the backpack on the beach. “When did my girl call me reckless?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she blinked up at him with big, innocent eyes.
He’d had her wrapped around him for the last forty-five minutes, listening to her melodic laugh and wishing he had a GoPro so he could have seen her elation unfold. And now she was looking at him with that sexy, vulnerable look? The one that drove him out of his mind?
That devastatingly delicious lip sprang free, and she said, “The first time I saw you racing around on the Jet Ski.”
As Drake and Serena sped away, Rick hauled Desiree against him. Alone at last. He gazed into her honest eyes, his heart tumbling. “Babe, the only thing reckless about me is how fast I’m falling for you.”
DESIREE AND RICK held hands as they strolled along the beach, and as the sun began setting, they made their way up a sandy path toward the top of the dunes. Lush bushes with vibrant purple and white flowers appeared between patches of dune grass, as if seeds had rained down from above and taken hold haphazardly. When they reached the crest of the dunes, it was like walking into a dream. In a sandy clearing by the edge of the dunes was a thick orange blanket, several big, colorful throw pillows, and an enormous picnic basket. Rick lit two torches that sat a few inches off the sand, bringing the whole romantic setup into clearer view. Rose petals were spread along the blanket, trailing from where they stood. And at their feet, Rick had drawn two hearts intersecting in the sand, with their initials in them. Her heart felt like it might beat right out of her chest.
“Rick…”
He was watching her with so much emotion in his eyes, she felt her knees weaken. He took her hand and guided her around the message in the sand and away from their little love nest, to where he’d tied pretty blankets up between two low trees, creating a barrier. “Dean’s brother owns this property and the beach below, so we have it all to ourselves.”
He crouched by them, lighting another lantern, and dropped the backpack behind the blankets.
“Even though we’re alone and there’s no chance of anyone seeing us, I assumed you might want a dressing room,” he said as he came to her side and pointed beyond the hanging blankets. “And just over the ridge, by my truck, is a bathroom. I’m sorry I can’t take you sailing to drift beneath the moonlight.” At least not yet. “And taking you out on a powerboat wouldn’t even come close to giving you the romantic night you dream of.”
She stepped closer, her chest full. “Sailing is off my list. I know how hard that would be for you, and I don’t want you to feel pressure because of my silly childhood dream.”
“Your dreams aren’t silly at any age.”
“Rick, all dreams don’t have to be realized. Especially not at the cost of making you uncomfortable.” This incredible man was making her heart work overtime. “This is so much more than I could ever hope for. On top of everything else, you made me a dressing room. And I love it even more because it came from here.” She touched the left side of his chest.
Framing her face with his hands, he brushed his lips over hers, and her entire being flooded with awareness. He didn’t kiss her, didn’t say a word, just stood so close her body tingled with anticipation. He touched her cheek so tenderly, she didn’t want to move, or breathe, for fear of missing a second of it. As the minutes passed, her senses spun. She smelled his raw, manly scent, felt his chest brushing against hers, his hips rocking in a slow sensual motion bringing rise to a desperate pulse inside her. One hand moved to her back, his fingers pressing into her. His lips swept over her cheek, then along her lips again, and up beside her ear. He didn’t speak, but she heard his thoughts, felt his desire. They stayed like that until darkness fell around them. And just when the tension had her strung so tight she was sure she’d snap, he lowered his mouth to hers, unleashing an explosion of sensations.
Lust surged through her veins like an awakened river. She grabbed at his back, his arms, his head, needing to be closer. His tongue plundered her mouth just as it had in the widow’s walk. Her body electrified with the memory, and a needy noise escaped into his mouth. His hand cruised up the back of her tank top, crushing her to him. She loved how big he was, how strong. He was shirtless, and she wanted to feel his skin on her, over her, around her. They stumbled and kissed to the blanket, stripping their clothes off as they went, and destroying his sandy message.
“I brought dinner, but I’m starved for dessert.”
“Greedy.”
They both stilled as she ogled him, salivating for a taste of the man who was breaking through all her barriers, setting her free from the confines of her own mind. She didn’t have to look at his face to know he was aware of her every breath, probably waiting for her to pull back on the reins, but tonight, for him, she was cutting herself loose.
AFTER THEY CAME down from the clouds, they lay beneath a blanket, their naked bodies entangled like twisted vines. They kissed and talked and held each other in comfortable silence for long stretches of time, listening to the distant sound of the bay and the dune grass rustling in the breeze.
Rick pressed a kiss to Desiree’s forehead. “Are you cold? Hungry?”
“I’m not moving from my new favorite spot,” she said sweetly. “You’re like a personal heater, and I don’t care if I starve.”
He laughed, but he felt the same way. “Good. Me either. Tell me something about you that I don’t know. What’s it like to be surrounded by little people all day?”
She smiled, the way she had each time she’d talked about teaching. “It can be the most wonderful, fulfilling job in the world, or the most trying. Usually, it’s a little of both. Preschoolers are curious and eager to learn, which makes each of their discoveries really exciting. Probably one of my favorite things is when they think they can’t do something and then prove themselves wrong. Nothing beats the pride in their eyes.”
As her love of her work poured out, he realized how much enthusiasm he’d lost for his own.
“No two days are the same, and no two children are the same,” she said. “What works for one might send another into tears. It’s a balancing act.”
“Did you always want to be a teacher?”
She snuggled closer, and her voice went soft. “I always knew I wanted to work with children and be a positive influence in their lives. When I was in high school, my father suggested I volunteer at a summer program for three- and four-year-olds to see if I liked it, and that was it. I knew what I wanted.” She gazed into his eyes, her fingers moving slowly over his skin. “It’s funny how sometimes you just know something is too right to be wrong.”
“Like us.”
“Like us,” she whispered. “That’s something else we have in common. You always knew you wanted to be a builder, like your father. Did you ever entertain the idea of being something else?”
“Not once. When I set my mind on something, I’m not easily deterred.”
“Really? I couldn’t tell. It’s not like you were persistent when we first met.”
“And you were sweet and sexy and curious, but careful not to let me know how badly you wanted to get in my pants.”
She gasped. “I did not want to get in your pants!”
“Until tonight,” he teased.
She flushed, and he touched his forehead to hers. “Desiree, you are the sweetest, most passionate creature on this earth, and I hope
you blush like that until we’re old and gray.”
“We’re…?” she said breathlessly.
“Slip of the tongue.”
He came down over her and laced their hands together, holding them beside her head. “We’re too right to be wrong.”
He took her in a series of slow, intoxicating kisses. In seconds, he was drunk on her, lost in the way she moved sensually beneath him, breathing harder, then hardly breathing at all. He kissed her jaw, ran his tongue along the shell of her ear, and his emotions came pouring out in one heated whisper after another.
“I can’t wait to make love to you.” He brushed his lips over hers.
“Yes,” came out in a rush of hot air.
As their bodies came together, he held Desiree close, never wanting to let her go, and spoke heatedly into her ear. “Feel that, sweetheart?”
“Mm,” she said with the softness of a sated lover. “Amazing.”
“Real, baby. We’re as real as it gets.”
Chapter Thirteen
SATURDAY MORNING, AFTER waking up entangled with her boyfriend, Desiree and Rick had made love…twice. First, wild and passionate, and later, slow and soul-fillingly amazing. She’d never considered herself a spiritual person. How could she when the mere word reminded her of Lizza’s taking off to follow her “calling,” and leaving Desiree behind. But making love with Rick was more than a physical and emotional experience; it was spiritual. A coming together of mind, body, and soul. After that blissful wake-up, she’d taken Rick’s advice, and instead of closing the door to painting, she’d left it open and painted several signs for the shop.
Several busy days, and sinful nights, passed with taking long walks, making sweet and passionate love into the wee hours of the morning, and sharing more of their secrets, hopes, and dreams. Before Desiree knew it, Wednesday arrived with sunshine and an influx of customers at Devi’s Discoveries. The road signs Desiree had made were working wonders. Thank you, Rick. She’d been putting them up along Route 6, and Violet had passed out flyers in the area. The flyers had worked so well, this morning Violet drove to the neighboring towns to hand out more.
“I’d like to buy these.” A stout woman with curly silver hair set two items from the personal exploration shop on the counter. “And how much is this?” She held up a pottery mug with a fishtail handle.
Desiree had been nervous about leaving the door to the personal exploration shop open, but Violet had threatened to stand outside the cottage telling customers, Be sure to check out the enormous vibrators in the back room, if she didn’t. Boy, was she glad her in-your-face sister had insisted. Between the gallery and the shop, they’d been clearing a grand each day, and on Monday they’d earned nearly three thousand dollars, having sold one of their mother’s paintings. Today they’d already made almost a thousand dollars, most of which had come from the sale of personal discovery items.
“It’s thirteen dollars,” Desiree answered. “It’s one of a kind.”
“Are you the artist?” the woman asked excitedly.
“No.” My mother is. An odd sense of pride came with that thought, and Desiree had to work hard to move past it. “Lizza Vancroft is the artist.”
The woman clutched the mug to her chest with a hopeful smile. “Is she here?”
“No, I’m sorry. She’s away for the summer.” As an afterthought, she added, “Rejuvenating her creativity.” She rang up the purchase, thinking about Lizza. The shop was truly packed from top to bottom, and in the studio, just as her mother had said, there were enough pieces to carry the shop for at least a few months. Maybe Lizza really had depleted her creativity while she was there. It still didn’t excuse her for making it seem as though she was dying, but that was Lizza.
The shop remained busy throughout the afternoon, and every customer wanted to chat about something—the weather, the artwork, the property. She’d met two people who remembered when the Summer House Inn had been a go-to summer-vacation spot. One gentleman said his family had stayed there when he was a little boy, and he remembered the kind woman who had run it. It warmed her to hear him speak of her grandmother. They’d begun renovations earlier in the week, and it was amazing how a fresh coat of paint could breathe new life into tired-looking rooms.
When things slowed down she texted Violet, who was supposed to have returned from putting up flyers hours ago. I’ve been swamped all day. Great job with the flyers, but where are you? Desiree had been picking away at weeding the gardens along the driveway while Violet manned the shop, but today she had hoped to surprise Rick with lunch. Thanks to Violet, that idea had gone out the window.
She headed outside to the easel she’d set up by the front door and worked on a painting of the gardens she’d begun yesterday in between customers. Pulling from memories, she brought to life wild grasses, burgeoning hydrangeas, daffodils, azaleas, tiger lilies, and her favorite, orange trumpet creepers.
A stream of yappy barks broke her focus. Cosmos darted between the bushes at the far side of the property, heading for her at record speed. She’d put him in the fenced yard outside the kitchen while she was working and wondered how he’d gotten out again. She stepped away from the painting as Mira, Serena, and Rick burst through the bushes. Her heart skipped at the sight of her big, handsome man tearing across the lawn in a pair of shorts and a tight white T-shirt. Their eyes locked, and pure lust stared back at her.
“Grab him!” Serena yelled.
Desiree scooped up Cosmos, who was dripping wet, wishing she could grab her man instead. “What have you done now?” Cosmos wriggled in her arms, covering her face with puppy kisses. She couldn’t stop grinning as the others caught up.
Rick skidded to a stop beside her. “Hey, babe. The scoundrel got in the pool again.” He kissed her lips, the only spot Cosmos hadn’t touched.
“He climbed the fence!” Serena petted Cosmos. “Such a smart boy.”
Rick glared at her.
“You have to admit, he’s a smart dog,” Mira said to her brother. “Look at this, Des.”
She held out her phone, showing Desiree a video of Cosmos standing on his hind legs, stretching as tall as his little body could possibly reach, and hooking his paws over the top of the fence. He jumped three times before hauling himself up and over. He darted into the pool, sending the swimmers into a frenzy of screeches and laughter.
“Oh my gosh! I put him in the fenced-in area this morning. I never imagined he could climb out. I’m so sorry.” Desiree lifted Cosmos up and looked into his twinkling dark eyes. “You have been a very creatively naughty puppy.”
He yapped, his tongue lolling out of his smiling mouth.
“I’ve never seen a dog do that,” Serena said. She and Mira were wearing shorts and tank tops, looking like they’d just come from the beach, though Desiree knew Serena worked most days running the front desk.
“I’m going to have Dean install flower boxes on the outside perimeter of the pool fence, and I was thinking he should do it on the inside of your fence, too. Is that okay? It should keep the troublemaker from climbing over.” Rick grabbed the pooch’s face and pressed a kiss to his snout. “Grr.”
Desiree laughed. “That’s fine, and I’d really appreciate it. He could get hurt running across the parking lot, and I’m pretty attached to him. But can you blame him for wanting to go swimming? I mean, it is summertime.” Wow, I sound like Violet.
“You’re right,” Rick said. “I’ll buy him a kiddie pool for your fenced-in area, too.” He winked. “The rest of the materials for the patio were delivered earlier. I’ve got to get back before Drake screws things up. We’re going to try to finish it up tonight, so I’ll be a little late.” He leaned in close and whispered, “You look even sexier in that little pink number than you did this morning. I can’t wait to tear it off of you later. With my teeth.”
“You better hope he brushes them first,” Mira said under her breath.
“I can’t believe you heard that.” Desiree glared at Rick.
He
shrugged. “Sorry. I thought I was being discreet.” He leaned in with a mischievous look in his eyes and said, “But I do love when my girl gets flustered.”
Desiree swatted him playfully, earning a hearty laugh, but inside she was swooning over their racy relationship. “You’re a beast. Go do your work.”
He gave her a chaste kiss, and she watched him walk away.
“You realize that’s my brother’s backside you’re ogling,” Mira teased.
“Oh gosh, sorry.” She carried Cosmos into the gallery and grabbed his leash from beside the door, hooking it to his collar. “Come on in and look around.”
“I’m glad you and Rick found each other,” Mira said as she looked around the shop. “I’ve never seen him this happy. Maybe you can get him to realize he needs to be here, and not in DC.”
Desiree’s stomach lurched, thinking about how short a time they had left together. He said he was there for another month when they’d met, and it had been almost two weeks. A couple more weeks would never be enough. She’d known exactly what she was getting into with Rick. A summer romance. But she hadn’t realized she could lose her heart so quickly.
“But I’m leaving, too,” she said wistfully.
“Well, that’s easy to fix. We’ll just have to start convincing you to stay.” Serena peered into the back room. “What is this? Desiree! You didn’t tell us you had a porn shop.”
“What?” Mira followed her into the back room.
If they’d have come in a week ago, Desiree might have shriveled up with embarrassment, but now she’d handled, talked about, and sold everything for inappropriate fun. Embarrassment had no place in this salesgirl’s life. Except when it comes to Rick’s whispered promises. As much as she loved his dirty talk, when they weren’t in the heat of the moment, she still blushed a red streak.
“It’s my mother’s ‘personal exploration shop,’ not mine. I’m just the salesgirl. I swear, if my teacher friends saw me now, they’d think I was a whole different person. Back home I spend my days talking to little people and keeping my thoughts and language as pure as I can.” She picked up a bottle of lubricant. “Then I come here, thinking my mother is dying, and learn all about this and adult toys. I sold five of these today. Five. I didn’t think people really used it that much.”
