Page 19 of Sweet Love at Bayside
“I don’t know exactly.” How could she not know what her plans were? That wasn’t like her at all, but then again, the last twenty-four hours had been anything but normal. “Violet and I are watching my mother’s business for the summer, and I have to be back at school in mid-August. I guess I’m here for five or six weeks. Unless my mother comes back sooner.”
They blended into the crowd and Rick draped his arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer. “Are you a teacher?”
“Mm-hm. Preschool.”
“A naughty preschool teacher.” He smiled down at her. “I bet all the single dads find reasons for extra parent-teacher conferences.”
“Hardly, and I’m not exactly naughty.” Although seeing the glimmer of heat in his eyes made her want to be.
He leaned down and spoke with his mouth right beside her ear. “You were pretty naughty tonight.”
His gravelly, seductive voice made her insides whirl. “I have a feeling I’ll never live that down.”
They made their way to the food tent and ate chicken on a stick as they walked around looking at books and crafts and handmade clothing. Rick was easy to talk to, and Desiree felt happier than she had in a long time. After they finished eating, they stopped by the dessert display.
“Please tell me you’re not one of those girls who survive without sweets.” He flashed that killer smile, making her stomach flutter.
“Nope. I like everything. My best friend, Emery, teaches yoga and Pilates. I take her classes several times a week, and when I take the night classes, we almost always go out for dessert afterward.” They were just like the women Emery made fun of.
“Sounds like a great friend.”
“I love her like a sister. I can’t imagine what I’d do without her.” If Emery were there now, she’d be rooting for Desiree to cut loose and jump Rick’s bones. Her hormones were doing enough pushing; she didn’t need Emery’s pressure.
He took her by the shoulders and turned her away from the booth. “Are you allergic to anything?”
“No. Why? What are you up to?”
“Live dangerously, Desiree,” he taunted. “Don’t turn around.”
She heard him talking quietly to the vendor but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Anticipation bubbled up inside her. “Rick? Despite what you saw tonight, I’m not very good at living dangerously.”
She felt the heat of him behind her.
“One more second, beautiful.”
Every time he called herbeautifulorsweetheart, she melted a little inside. His seductive voice and those smoldering eyes, coupled with a few well-placedsweethearts, made her mind wander down a dirty path. She felt herself smiling and wondered if he knew he could use those endearments to his advantage.
He draped an arm over her shoulder, holding a bag and a drink in one hand and startling her from her thoughts.
“Dessert.”
Why, oh why, was she thinking he would make a much better dessert than whatever was in that bag? It’s like he’d blurred the well-defined boundaries she usually lived within. “Wonderful. What is it?”
“If I told you, it would ruin the fun.” He guided her to the next booth, where they were selling incense and scented candles.
“Oh, I love candles,” she said, bending to smell them. “I’m kind of a candleaholic. My apartment is full of them.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. I’m going to learn all your secrets, Desiree, and then you’re in trouble. What’s your favorite scent?”
Her mind was reeling with the worst kind of cheesy answers, all of which revolved around him, and she tried—oh, how she tried—to keep them from coming out, but there must have been something in the air, because out popped, “You could just bottle yourself up, add a wick, and I’d be very happy.”
The sinfulness staring back at her set her body aflame. Oh great. Now she was thinking about hiswick. Lighting it, touching it, tasting it. Holy cow. What was going on? A little wine, a little Violet, and a day in a sex toy shop, and suddenly she couldn’t stop thinking about sex. Withhim.
“That can be arranged.” His deep voice snapped her back to the moment.
“Summer,” fell hard and fast from her lips. “Anythingsummery,” she added, hoping to distract him from her earlier answer. But he was watching her, and she knew he was waiting for that sexy girl who was clawing around inside her and turning up her sassiness about a hundred notches to find her way out.
She focused on the salesgirl behind the table, who was pointing out candles with summery scents, but her mind was still wrestling with thoughts of Rick’swick, and his eyes, and the heat of his hand on her waist.
