Page 18 of Sweet Love at Bayside
That sobered her up completely, her heart breaking for him. They had more in common that she’d imagined. Her mother might be alive, but Desiree could barely remember a time when she’d felt like Lizza was more than a ghost. “I’m sorry. That must have been really hard.”
He nodded. “It was a long time ago.” His jaw tightened, and she sensed he didn’t want to talk about it.
They finished cleaning up, and as they left the cottage, Desiree found herself thinking about her mother and Violet again. She might not have a chance with her mother, but maybe something good could come out of this summer after all. A sometimes-cantankerous relationship with her sister would be better than no relationship at all.
She locked the door behind them, shivering against the brisk night air.
“Cold?” He wrapped his arms around her, his broad body warding off the evening chill. “I have a sweatshirt in the truck.”
Maybetwogood things could come out of this summer.
“And exactly how would that be better than being in your arms?” slipped out. Clearly she was going to have to get used to her inner sass coming out if she planned on spending any time with Rick. Which she did.Hopefully a lot of time.
His lips quirked up, andohhow she loved the haughty grin.
“They’re not mutually exclusive.”
Their eyes held for a long, hot moment. It was all she could do to say, “Okay.”
He kept her tucked against him as they crossed the driveway. She’d never dated a man who was possessive, and she wouldn’t have imagined that she’d like it, but she was becoming very attached to the feel of Rick’s hands on her. There was something addictive about him. He grabbed a sweatshirt from his truck and helped her put it on. It hung to the edge of her shorts, and that, too, felt warm and wonderful, like she was wearing a piece of him.
He rolled up the sleeves and brushed his fingers tenderly over her cheek. He did that a lot, touching her face, her hair, her hands, her arms, and she found herself wanting more.
“Boy, do I like seeing you in my sweatshirt.”
“Not exactly the sexiest outfit for a first date.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. You look beautiful, and now I can pretend you have nothing on underneath.” He winked, and put an arm around her. “Are you hungry?”
She was too busy thinking abouthimimaginingherwith nothing under the sweatshirt to think about food.
His gaze moved to her mouth, lingering long enough for her mouth to go dry with anticipation, before drifting lower, hovering around her breasts, and then sliding down the length of her legs. His jaw clenched, his grip on her became stronger, and his eyes?Ravenous.
“Food,” he practically growled.
She couldn’t help but laugh as he helped her into the truck.
As he pulled out of the driveway, he reached across the seat for her hand, touching her for what felt like the hundredth time in two days. A little thrill raced through her as his big, warm palm swallowed hers. It was such a small thing, but it felt significant, and their hands fit together perfectly.
“Have you been to the Night Affair yet in Truro?” he asked.
“I haven’t been anywhere. I just got into town yesterday.”
He squeezed her hand, his eyes darting back to the road. “Good. I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, either.”
He drove through Wellfleet to Truro, which was only a few miles away. Rick parked on a side street, and as they headed for the event, the air buzzed with the din of the crowd, the beat of the music, and the heat pulsing between them.
“This reminds me of the festivals back home, in Oak Falls, Virginia,” she said, taking in the colorful lights twinkling against the dark sky and people milling around tented booths. A band played on a grassy lawn, where people danced and ate at picnic tables.
“You’re from Virginia? I live in DC.”
“I thought you lived here, at the resort.”
“I do for now. We’re renovating a recreation center. I’m going back to DC next month, after the work is done. I bought the resort as an investment with my brother, Drake, and our friend Dean. They’ll run it when I go back home in a few weeks.”
She mentally calculated how far they lived from each other.
“How long are you in town?”
