Page 4 of Sweet Love at Bayside
A sexy smile lifted her lips.
“We’ll have to take my car when we go out. There’s no way I’ll fit in this one.”
A melodic laugh fell from her lips. “Whenwe go out?”
“That’s right.” Holding her gaze, he ran his hands up her arms, from wrist to shoulder. Her skin was soft and cool, but it heated up quickly beneath his touch. “Warming up?”
“Mm-hm. You’re very forward.”
“Most people call me ‘aggressive,’ but I like your word better. I’d like to get to know you, Desiree. I hope I haven’t scared you off.” His hands dropped to her waist. She didn’t move away, her body didn’t tense up, and she held his steady gaze.Game on?He still wasn’t sure.
“Like I said.” Her eyes narrowed in speculation. “Forward.”
“You know what they say. If you’re not moving forward, you’re going in the wrong direction.”
“So, you’re pretty sure getting women wet is the way to go?”
Maybe she wasn’t as innocent as she seemed.
He drew her soft body against him, loving the way her breathing hitched. “Absolutely, and I’m pretty sure when we go out, you’ll agree.”
Her eyes widened with surprise. She was sending so many mixed messages he couldn’t tell if she was toying with him or nervous. Or was she testing the waters? Dipping her toes in and pulling away when it got too hot? He wanted to take her in his arms and carry her to the volcanic side. But he feared he’d already pushed too hard, and went for a save.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, sweetheart.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. Her skin was soft as silk, and she smelled like the promise of a warm summer’s night. She was watching him with that curious, lustful gaze again, and he brushed his thumb over her jaw. “I’m really sorry for soaking you with my Jet Ski, but I’m not sorry we met.”
Chapter Two
DRENCHED AND TURNED on was not how Desiree imagined greeting her mother. But the lingering hum inside her from meeting Rick was a lot better than the awful feelings she’d been experiencing earlier. As she parked in front of the tall Victorian overlooking Cape Cod Bay, an army of emotions trampled through her, turning all that heat into discomfort. For decades, her grandparents had used the house and four cottages as a bed-and-breakfast called Summer House Inn. But now, the once-beautiful gardens were overgrown and wild. Weeds covered the patio near the cottages, giving the property a forgotten feel. Her mother had inherited the estate when they’d lost their grandmother, and it appeared she’d given the property about as much attention as she’d given Desiree.
She stepped from the car as the front door of the house swung open, and her mother stepped out onto the wide front porch carrying two big suitcases. Desiree froze. Lizza’s hair was as wild and thick as a jungle, tumbling over her shoulders in natural waves, dozens of shades darker than Desiree’s blond, but not as black as Violet’s crow-colored hair. Her orange maxi dress shifted around her legs in the cool evening breeze, giving her a youthful appearance as she set the luggage down.
Orange. My favorite color. Did you remember, or is it a coincidence?
Apparently oblivious to her daughter standing in the driveway, Lizza walked to the far side of the porch and tipped her head up toward the sky, eyes closed. Desiree had seen her do that many times. She remembered mimicking the action when she was younger, hoping to feel whatever it was that brought a smile to her mother’s face when she did it. But Desiree wasn’t Lizza, and she’d never felt like anything but a little girl reaching for the impossible—a shred of her mother to hang on to.
As Desiree ascended the steps, her mother turned. Her Julia Roberts smile brought a rush of conflicting emotions.
“Desi,” Lizza said. “Goodness. You were anxious to take a swim, weren’t you?”
Not knowing how to explain why she was soaked, she said nothing at all.
After a brief, uncomfortable hug, Desiree assessed her mother’s sparkling eyes and the healthy glow of her skin, which she hoped were positive signs.
“You look good. What’s going on? Are you sick?”
“Oh my gosh. Am Iever. Thank goodness you came.” Lizza’s eyes trailed over Desiree’s face. “You’re troubled.”
Seriously?“You sent me an email saying I needed to be here to prolong your life. Of course I’m troubled.”
A motorcycle roared up the driveway and parked beside Desiree’s car. A tall woman clad in all black climbed from the bike.
“Violet is here.” Her mother picked up her suitcases and traipsed down the steps. “Come now, Desi. There’s no time to waste.”
Violet drives a motorcycle?
Violet took off her helmet and shook out her long black hair, eyeing Desiree with a curious expression as she embraced Lizza.
“Hey, Des. I came as quickly as I could. You okay? Why are you all wet?” She set her helmet on the bike and shrugged off her leather jacket, revealing colorful tattoos from her right shoulder to her wrist. She’d gotten more since their grandmother’s funeral.
