by Nan Dixon
Her smile warmed him. “Yes.”
“I’ll...” He looked around. They were coming up on an island whose name he couldn’t remember. “Let me park...” That wasn’t the right word. “Anchor. Let me anchor the boat. We can eat. Have something to drink.”
She nodded.
“I have soda and champagne. Just in case you wanted to...” God, was he blushing? “I’m not trying to take advantage of you. I saw you have a glass at Abby’s wedding.” The words flooded out.
She tipped her head back and laughed. Her silky hair brushed his arm. He wanted her hair to curtain his face as she rode him.
The boat lurched.
Shoot. He’d yanked on the wheel. “You. Stand—” he waved his hand “—next to the railing. I don’t want to crash.”
He concentrated on moving into a small bay, one without other boats. It took some maneuvering. Too many people were already celebrating the holiday.
He nosed the bow where he wanted, shut off the engine and dropped anchor. “Okay.”
He spread a blanket on the deck. “Let’s eat.”
“Great.” She pulled over the picnic basket.
“No. I want you to relax.”
“I was only—”
“Taking care of everyone but yourself.” It was his turn to spoil her.
“Oh.” She sat and arranged her skirt in a circle covering her lovely legs. Pity.
“Hang on. I forgot something.” He ran to the galley and came back with a cooler. “Champagne?”
She chewed her lip. “A small glass.”
He twisted off the closure and popped the cork. Then he tipped the golden wine into her glass. He’d never made such a big gesture for a woman. Was he doing this right?
He poured his own glass and licked a drip off his hand. Her gaze followed his tongue.
“If you keep looking at me that way, I’m going to have trouble staying on this side of this blanket.”
Her eyes flared open. “Ooh.”
Holding up his glass, he asked, “What shall we toast to?”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Our children.”
Did she mean ours in a joint way? Like, together ours? This was their first date, but it was like they’d dated for...weeks. Touching his glass to hers, he repeated, “Our children.”
He wanted more than the kisses they’d shared. He wanted to bury his nose in her apple-scented hair and stroke her soft skin. And he couldn’t help wanting to bury himself in her body until they were one.
He gritted his teeth. There was no rush. Even though his body was primed, he planned to enjoy his first adults-only dinner in over two months.
The sun set fire to the sky as he fed her cold fried chicken. She dangled asparagus in front of his lips as the stars popped out. And they shared potato salad off his fork when the moon rose.
“This is nice.” Cheryl bit a plump chocolate-covered strawberry and popped the rest into his mouth as his head nestled in her lap. “It’s like a dream.”
“It is.” Nathan urged her to join him on the blanket, and they lay face-to-face. There was a salty bite in the air and the boat rocked gently on the waves. “Life doesn’t get much better than this. If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me.”
Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “I don’t want to wake up, either.”
They moved together. Petal-soft lips met his. She tasted sweet. Not just of the fruit and chocolate, but Cheryl—all Cheryl.
Rolling her onto her back, he settled between her thighs, biting back a moan at the sheer rightness of being with her. Pushing up on his elbows, he stared.
Her blond hair, fanned out on the blanket, shimmered white in the moonlight.
“How did I...?” Get so lucky to be with someone as wonderful as Cheryl?
She touched his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Absolutely nothing.” He slid a finger down her cheek. “Despite what Issy is going through, being with you has made this the best summer of my life.”
She swallowed. “Nathan.”
She didn’t say anything else. Didn’t tell him she felt the same. Was that pity in her eyes?
He couldn’t bear her pity. Dipping down, he kissed her. Not a sweet kiss like before. This was a kiss of possession.
She buried her fingers in his hair and held him close, sucking his tongue into her mouth.
He cupped her breast, flicking a thumb over her nipple. She arched up into him and his hips surged into her softness.
She tore her mouth away. “Wait.”
He froze, easing his hand back to the blanket when it wanted to cradle her breast. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...”
“Nathan,” she scolded. Reaching behind her neck, she undid her halter straps.
His heart pounded with the explosive force of a nail gun. He smoothed away the fabric. Moonlight danced on her pale breasts. He stared, unable to wrench his gaze away. “You’re beautiful.”
“I’m not.” Her voice trembled.
“I’m the one looking at you.” He trailed a finger from her collarbone to the tip on her nipple. Then showered the same attention on her other breast.
Cheryl squirmed under him, rubbing against his groin.
“Touch me,” she whispered. “Please.”
“I will.” For once he didn’t worry about words, numbers or directions. He was focused on one thing—Cheryl’s pleasure. Because she was giving him a gift. He was the first man to touch her since her husband died.
He brushed kisses against the soft skin of her breasts. “You smell like strawberries here.” He nosed his way to her ear. “And apples here.” Then nuzzled into her neck. “And spicy here.”
She wriggled against his groin. “It’s my body wash, shampoo and perfume.”
“It’s you.” He swirled his tongue around the tight peak, his fingers rolling her other nipple.
Cheryl’s head thrashed, knotting her hair on the blanket. She yanked on his shirt. “I want to touch you.”
Pulling away, he ripped the shirt over his head one-handed. Easing back down to her, he brushed his chest against her breasts, skin to skin.
“This is incredible.” She nudged up with her hips.
Groaning, he rolled to his back, willing to do anything she wanted.
She rose like a goddess, straddling his thighs. With tentative strokes, her hands explored his biceps, slid to cover his pecs and then his obliques. “You’re amazing.”
She kissed his nipples, abrading them with her teeth. His fingers tangled in her hair, holding her there.
“I want you naked,” she whispered.
They were so on the same page.
Music echoed across the water, reminding him that they were exposed up on the deck. Grinning, he rolled her back under him and kissed her. “We should move into the cabin.”
Cheryl wedged a hand between their lips. “Nathan.”
He kissed her palm. “Cheryl.”
“That’s your phone.”
“Phone?” He sat. The music stopped then started again. Daniel’s ringtone.
He pulled his phone out of the picnic basket. “What’s wrong?”
“Sorry,” Bess said. “Issy had a nightmare. She’s keeps rocking and whimpering. We tried to get her back to sleep, but she won’t stop crying.”
Issy. Damn. “Let me talk to her.”
“Here she is,” Bess said.
His little girl whimpered.
“Hey, Busy Issy. Daddy’s coming home right now.” His hands clenched into useless fists. “Don’t worry. Don’t cry. I’ll be there soon.”
Cheryl nodded, retied her dress straps and had packed the food and blanket before he disconnected.
He raised anchor and started the engine, backing away from the island. “I’m sorry.�
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She wrapped an arm around his waist as he steered the boat back to the marina. “Don’t be. Issy comes first.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Of course.” She handed him his shirt.
He tugged it over his head. “This wasn’t how the evening was supposed to end.”
It was a quiet drive back to Fitzgerald House. “Issy hasn’t had a nightmare since the day she drew that awful picture,” he said, breaking the silence.
She linked their hands together. “It’s probably just the change in her routine.”
“I hope so.” Worrying about his daughter didn’t stop him from remembering Cheryl’s reaction to his confession that being with her was the best time of his life. She’d been married. It made sense she didn’t feel the same way.
He pulled into the parking lot and they hurried up the stairs. Daniel opened the door before they hit the landing. He held a finger to his lips. “She just fell asleep.”
Bess sat rocking Issy.
Nathan gathered his daughter in his arms and she tucked her head on his shoulder and sighed in her sleep.
Cheryl headed to Josh’s bedroom.
“She calmed down after she heard your voice,” Bess whispered. “You might have been able to stay out.”
“I’m glad you called.” It had been too soon to leave his daughter. “Thank you for watching them.”
Bess joined Daniel by the door. His brother wrapped an arm around his fiancée’s shoulders. “We had fun. Sorry your evening ended early.”
Cheryl came back into the living room. “We had a lovely dinner on your boat. Thank you.”
She didn’t come stand next to him. What had happened to their new togetherness?
“See you and the kids tomorrow,” Daniel said as he and Bess headed out.
“Do you want Issy to sleep here tonight?” Cheryl crossed her arms, her body stiff and uninviting. Reluctance poured off her like rain off a roof.
“I think she’ll be better in her own bed.”
Relief flashed through Cheryl’s eyes. “If you think that’s best.”
He didn’t, but he couldn’t argue. The closeness they’d had on the boat had vanished.
Maybe it really had been a dream.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“KIDS—” NATHAN SNAGGED the bag Cheryl had left “—let’s go ride the sailboat.”
Issy caught his hand and headed out the door with him.
Josh dragged behind. “Does my mom know about this?”
“Of course she knows. She packed your bag.”
“But she’s not here.” There was a pout in the kid’s voice.
Was it going to be this kind of day? “She’s working. Let’s have fun. I don’t want you spoiling the holiday for my parents.”
“Mr. Dan’s dad and mom will be there?”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “They’re my parents, too.”
Josh muttered something under his breath. The only word Nathan caught was butthead.
“What did you say?”
“Nothin’.” Josh clattered down the carriage house steps while Nathan locked the door.
Through gritted teeth, he said, “Right.”
If he admitted his brother would be on the boat, Josh would be over the moon. It was petty, but Nathan refused to tell him.
Why was he falling for a woman whose son hated him? Who had that kind of luck?
Today’s goal would be to get along with Josh. Nathan wanted to replace Daniel as Josh’s favorite Forester.
He buckled Issy into her seat and double-checked that Josh was strapped in. Crouching, he stared him in the eye. “Let’s have fun today.”
Josh shrugged. “I don’t have my drawing stuff.”
“There’ll be plenty to do.” He’d thrown fishing gear into the back of the truck for the kids. “Give me a chance.”
Nathan shut the door. He didn’t want to see another shrug. He wished Cheryl was here. This morning he’d stepped in to give her a hello kiss, hoping she’d remembered how good they had been together, but Josh had barreled into the room. Cheryl had jumped back so fast it was like he had the plague.
He glanced at the kids. Issy’s blanket was tucked next to her face. Josh stared out the window.
How could he change Josh’s attitude? Buying him stuff hadn’t worked. He’d tried to help him with his drawing, but the kid said his art teacher was teaching him how to draw.
He flipped on the music station Issy liked. Josh rolled his eyes, but his foot kicked the back of Nathan’s seat in time with the song. Issy rocked back and forth. Wouldn’t it be something if she sang?
Nathan sang, “Hot dog. Hot diggity dog.”
Issy rocked faster.
“Sing with me.” He smiled at her in the mirror.
The words weren’t hard to remember, they were mostly hot dog. Josh was too cool to sing along. Issy mouthed the words. Maybe mouthing was a start. Her appointment with the psychologist was next week. It’d be great to go in there and tell the doctor she’d made progress.
Traffic heading to the marina was heavy, but they finally pulled in. He unlatched Issy. Josh climbed out of the seat. “Hang on,” Nathan said.
Josh tapped his foot in the dirt as Nathan grabbed the fishing poles. “Can you carry these?”
Josh frowned. “Those are baby poles.”
“They’re for kids. For you and Issy.”
Josh took the poles, still frowning. “What will we do with them?”
“See if we can catch dinner.” Nathan grabbed the bait. “Issy, can you carry this?”
She grimaced and carried the container of live shrimp in her outstretched arm.
“What are those?” Josh asked.
“Shrimp.” Nathan grabbed the bag. “Red fish love them. We’ll have fun.”
“We’re gonna be a Dr. Seuss book.” Josh laughed. “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.”
“You got it.” Nathan smiled.
They headed to Daniel’s slip. Nathan called, “Ahoy, the Savannah Queen.”
“Young slaves to help sail this ship,” Bess yelled. “Excellent.”
Issy snuck behind Nathan legs, wrapping her arms around his thigh.
Bess strode down the gangplank. “Let me carry her.”
Issy clung a little tighter.
“Could you carry the bag instead?” Nathan asked.
Bess smiled at Issy. “Sure.”
“Josh, hold my hand,” Nathan said.
“I can do it myself,” the boy complained.
“And your mom will have my head if you fall in the water.” He hoisted Issy onto his hip and held out his hand.
Josh glared but obeyed. Together they moved up the narrow walkway.
“There’s my crew,” Daniel called. “Are you ready to swab the decks?”
Josh shook Nathan’s hand away, tossed the fishing rods onto the deck and ran to Daniel. His brother swung the kid in the air, making him laugh.
“I didn’t know we were going with you and Miss Bess.” Josh gave Daniel a big bear hug. “This is awesome.”
“I’ll even let you steer.” Daniel set Josh down.
“Let’s go!” Josh bounced on his toes.
“You and Issy need to wear life jackets,” Nathan called.
He sat Issy on a bench and opened the storage area where he’d stowed the jackets last night. He handed the correct size to Josh then outfitted Issy.
“Do I have to?” Josh asked Daniel.
“Yes,” the brothers answered together.
“Carly has to wear hers.” Daniel pointed to the dog sitting next to the helm.
“I guess.” Josh stepped into the leg straps.
Nathan started to zip him up.
Josh wiggled away. “Mr. Dan can do it.”
“Mr. Dan is getting the boat ready to leave the marina.” Nathan gritted his teeth and zipped Josh into the jacket.
Mom came up the stairs from the galley with Pop following behind her.
Nathan hugged his parents. As always, when Pop came back from his grueling week-long chemo treatments, his body seemed thinner and frailer than before.
“There’s my angel baby.” Mom gave Issy a hug and a kiss. Issy hugged her back. Then Mom grabbed Josh in a hug. “How’s handsome Josh?”
“Great!” Josh said. “Mr. Dan said I can steer the boat.”
Pop sank onto a bench, huffing and puffing.
“How’s it going?” Nathan asked.
“I’m on the right side of the grass.”
Nathan laughed but he hated that joke. It was a reminder that Pop could lose his cancer battle. He wanted the vibrant man his father had been, not this scarecrow wearing Pop’s face and clothes.
Bess reeled in the lines and Nathan went to help.
“Are we ready?” Daniel called.
“Yes! Yes,” Josh shouted.
Daniel started the engine and navigated out of the slip and into the busy river.
Nathan stood next to the two kids. “Grab the railing.” He held Issy and made sure Josh hung on.
“Sorry about last night.” Bess put a hand on Josh’s shoulder.
“We had fun.” He smiled. “Thanks.”
Bess glanced at Josh. “We had fun, too.”
“Where were you?” Josh asked, suspicion in his voice.
“I...” He wouldn’t lie to the kid. “I came to the boat and made sure everything was shipshape.”
“But Mr. Dan was with me last night.” Josh chewed on his lip. “This is his boat.”
“And I was here.” Nathan patted the railing.
The boat hit a speedboat wake and rocked. Issy squealed, clinging to his neck. “That fool shouldn’t be going this fast near the marina,” Nathan said under his breath.
“Let me hold Issy,” Mom said.
Nathan kept his stance spread as he walked to his parents. He tickled Issy as he set her on Mom’s lap. “Don’t let her dive in the water.”
Mom nuzzled Issy’s neck. “I won’t.”
