Page 16 of Switching Places

“Cupcake?”

He shrugged and splashed her with water.

“You taste as sweet as a cupcake. I never knew that before. See what a man can learn from a kiss.”

Shyness bloomed. Tongue-tied, she fought for something to say, wishing deep in her heart that he would press, that he would persevere.

“I’m getting hungry. Want to come up to the house for lunch?”

“Did someone do some kind of transplant on you while I was gone? First breakfast, now you want to fix lunch? This isn’t some kind of nesting instinct, is it?” he asked suspiciously.

“Slapping something together between two pieces of bread is hardly cordon bleu cooking, Logan. If you’re worried, I’ll make it peanut butter and jelly.”

He chuckled, staying close, running his hand down her arm and tangling his fingers with hers. Drawing their linked hand up, he kissed her fingers.

“I’m willing to bet you don’t even have PB&J in your house. But I’m not one to say no to a free meal.”

“Second one today,” she reminded him sassily.

“So I’ll treat dinner. Let’s go, it’s got to be close to noon and I’m hungry. Besides, I’ll need the energy to keep going this afternoon.”

He released her hand as they swam leisurely toward the shore.

“You should take a nap,” she said.

“I’ve had two this morning.”

“Not long ones. If you end face down in the guacamole, don’t look to me to clean it off,” she teased, amazed at her own boldness. Of course he didn’t realize they’d just met. Was this how her sister lived? It was fun.

“I’ll remember that.”

“Want to race back?” she asked, maneuvering herself closer to the beach.

“Sure, but no handicap this time.”

Logan reached the sand first and waited to walk out of the water with Emma.

“Now I get the prize,” he said, and kissed her.

Emma almost sank to her knees when he released her. Ignoring the glint in his eyes, she forced her knees to work as she hurried to the towels. Shakily, she gathered her things and turned to follow him up the rock steps cut into the bluff. Her blood tingled. There was no other word to describe the sensation. All thoughts of avoiding him in the future fled. Uncertainty aside, she liked the way she felt around him.

“I’ll shower and change and be right over. Keep the peanut butter warm,” he said when they reached the top. Touching her lightly on her nose, he headed for home.

Emma watched as he walked along the path between the cliff and the back of his sprawling stucco house.

She was in big trouble. Never in her life had she become so fascinated, so captivated, by anyone. Watching him walk away, she felt suddenly alone, bereft. For a moment she toyed with the idea of following him, waiting at his house while he showered.

Instant infatuation—and at her age.

Emma trudged up the path to her sister’s house. Logan would be over in a few minutes and her bubbling senses would again boil over. Was this how Lily had felt around Pierre? No wonder she’d said he rang her chimes.

Showered, dressed in her own white shorts and a light blue tank top, Emma headed for the kitchen to begin to make the sandwiches. Being in the fresh air and sunshine had given her a huge appetite. She suspected Logan would be equally hungry. Would he tease her again, or be too tired to do much more than eat? Glancing at the clock, she wondered when he’d arrive. She looked out the window at the yard; no sign of him yet. Impatiently she sliced part of the roast she’d bought at the deli section of the supermarket.

The phone on the kitchen wall rang. It was Logan.

“Hi, babe. I can’t make lunch, after all. There were a dozen phone messages waiting for me about another problem that cropped up with the Italian deal. I have to go into the office this afternoon.”

“Oh.” Disappointment swamped her. She leaned dejectedly against the wall. “I understand.” She might understand, but she didn’t like it.

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