Page 38 of Switching Places

Emma laughed from sheer joy and spun around like a ballerina. Her arms out, her head flung back to the sky, she spun around and around, faster and faster, feeling almost as if she could fly.

Until she tripped over a sharp shell and fell flat on her back.

The frothy, foaming water reached up the beach with gleeful success and soaked her from head to toe.

“Oh, no.” Emma scrambled up before Logan could reach her, but the damage had been done.

“Are you all right?”

Reaching out, he grabbed her arms, studying her in the moonlight.

“Sure, if you like drowned cats. I stepped on a shell or something.”

She lifted her foot to see if she’d cut it. Logan knelt in the wet sand and took her foot in his warm hand. Running his thumb across the bottom, he looked up. Water wet his trousers, swirled around her ankles.

“No cuts. Can you walk?”

“Of course.”

She put weight on it. A small twinge was the only residue. Smiling shakily, she stepped back, water dripping from her haironto her shoulders. The evening air that had seemed so warm, now chilled. She shivered.

“Come on, you need to get inside and into something warm.”

Logan took her hand again and they started back.

Walking briskly for speed and warmth, Emma couldn’t help berating herself for her clumsiness. Her perfect evening was ruined. She’d been having such a wonderful time. She would be willing to bet lunch that her sister had never fallen in the water when out with a man she was trying to impress.

Trying to impress?

Well, of course, she was. Dynamic and entertaining as Logan was, she was fascinated with him. Thrilled he had spent the evening with her. Embarrassed, heat rose to her cheeks, providing warmth of the wrong kind. She wanted to run to the house and hide. Try to forget her lack of sophistication. Nothing to do but brazen it out at least until she reached the house.

Logan snatched up their shoes when they reached the stone steps. “Can you manage in bare feet?” he asked.

“Sure, the steps are smooth and the grass is soft,” she said, stepping on the first one. Truth to tell, she didn’t want the delay of putting on shoes. She wanted to get inside, close the door behind her and block this from her memory.

When they reached the patio, light spilled from the windows, illuminating the flagstone with a soft radiance. Emma stopped just out of the light’s beams and turned to Logan.

“I can manage from here. Sorry to end the evening so soon. I’m glad you came for dinner.”

He offered her the sandals, and Emma hooked them over her finger.

Tilting her head, he looked into her eyes.

“I had a wonderful evening. Your dinner was delicious, but I enjoyed the company more.”

Until your hostess fell in the water, Emma wanted to scream. It wasn’t fair—she had wanted one perfect evening.

Logan leaned closer and kissed her. His lips were warm against her cool mouth, and moved with coaxing intensity. Slowly, so slowly she didn’t even realize at first what he was doing, he pulled her into his arms, wet hair, soaking dress and all.

His pressed until she gave in to the persuasion and opened her mouth slightly. There was no quick move. Slowly Logan touched the soft inner lip, rubbed against her teeth, then slipped in to deepen the kiss.

His hands pressed her against him as his fingertips massaged her cool skin, rubbing from shoulder to bottom. Heat trailed his touch and desire blossomed. When one arm moved around her ribs, skimming over her wet dress, Emma gave way to the growing craving and reached up to encircle his neck, sandals dropping unheeded onto the flagstone.

She pressed a bit closer, reveling in the myriad sensations that clamored for attention. Warmth filled her chilled body, excitement replaced embarrassment, desire flared and staggered her. His hands felt hot against the damp fabric, matching the flame building inside.

Logan trailed kisses on her cheeks, her jaw, the pulse point at her throat, slowly making his way up her neck to find her lips again. His hands caressed until he pulled back a bit and cupped one breast.

Emma shivered and broke away, stunned at the reaction of her body. She hardly knew this man, had never thrown caution to the wind in this manner. Though for a few moments she almost demanded he come inside with her and stay the night. A few heated kisses couldn’t have her changing the precepts of a lifetime.

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