Page 36 of Sweet Love at Bayside
“What happened to that sweet, careful girl I was dating?”
“You freed her from her confines with wild kisses and…more. Finish your story. And your mom? How did she deal with it?”
“My mom was a pillar of strength. She had three grieving kids, and she plowed through life taking care of us. She had her ups and downs, but she was focused on making surewehealed. She wasn’t going to let us use our loss as a crutch, and she stepped into my father’s shoes and got us all right back out in the water. She was right there doing water sports with us, and it was just what we needed.”
Her eyes moved over the bright orange lights splashing against fresh white paint, and she smiled. “It’s funny how someone can do one thing, and it can change deep-seated emotions. In my case,yearsof emotions. I still have uncomfortable feelings toward my mother, but this”—she tapped the bench they were lying on—“it softened me toward her. I didn’t think she understood me or knew who I was, but I think, like your mother knew what you all needed, maybe mine knows more about me than I thought.”
“I hope so, sweetheart. I truly hope so.” She yawned, and he asked, “Do you want me to take off so you can get some sleep?”
“No. I want a slumber party, like we planned.”
He smiled, feeling tremendously lighter than he had earlier. “A slumber party? Does that mean I get to do a panty raid?”
“That would require panties.” She slid down on her back and pulled him down over her. “Kiss me, Rick. Let’s replace all our sad thoughts with happy ones.”
Chapter Ten
DESIREE DRIFTED IN and out of sleep, lulled by the even cadence of Rick’s breathing as he slept with his arm and leg draped over her, as if he were afraid she’d disappear in the night.
Thud!
Her eyes fluttered open, quickly closing again to shut out the bright morning sun. Rick tightened his hold on her, and she snuggled back in.
Thud!
She started, blinking more fully awake, and tried to identify the noise she’d heard. Rick nuzzled against her neck, making her want to disappear into last night again, baring their secrets, kissing and touching, and experiencing one epic orgasm after another. If he could bring her such pleasure with his hands and mouth, what would it be like when they finally made love?
“You okay, sweetheart?”
“I thought I heard something.” The crisp morning air whisked over her cheeks, and Cosmos yapped inside the house. “Maybe Violet isn’t here. I should probably—”
“We were told to take down these walls.”
She and Rick bolted upright at the sound of deep male voices followed by more barking.
“Are you expecting someone?” he asked.
“No!” She scrambled to her feet, searching for her underwear as Rick stretched.
He peered over the railing. “I think your mother’s contractors have arrived. Those are Cape Renovators trucks. They do excellent work.”
“I wonder what work she’s scheduled.” She tossed one blanket into the air after another. “Do you have my underwear?”
He wrapped his arms around her. “No, but I’m pretty sure they won’t know you don’t have any on. But now that I remember…” He slid a hand beneath her dress and squeezed her bottom.
“I can’t go down there without them!” She twisted out of his arms, and he hauled her back, grinning as she tried to wriggle free. “Rick! Don’t you hear Cosmos going crazy? I need to get inside.”
“Violet had to let them in, right?” He brushed her hair from in front of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear as she peered around him, scanning the floor for her underwear. “This is our first morning together, and we only get to experience this very special momentoncein our entire lives. I know you’re frazzled, and I hear Cosmos, and the guys, but I’m pretty sure nothing bad will happen in the next sixty seconds while I say good morning to my beautiful girl.”
Her eyes met his, and her frantic heart took notice, slowing her down enough to realize how romantic he was being. She inhaled deeply, blowing it out slowly and smiling. “Hi.”
“There’s my girl. Good morning, sweetheart.” He pressed his lips to hers. “It was nice being close to you last night.”
“Verynice.” She wound her arms around his waist, glad she’d taken a break to soak in his goodness but still thinking about the people in the house. “But…”
“No worries. Let’s find those missing panties, and then we’ll go down.” He made quick work of shaking out and folding up the blankets. When he shook the last one, her panties flew up in the air. She snagged them and put them on. Three minutes later they were standing face to face with three burly men—and one very amused Violet—on the third floor of the house.
“Well, well, well,” Violet said, sidling up to Desiree. “I thought you stayed out last night.” She leaned in close and whispered, “What kind offrickerywas going on upstairs?”
