out with in the summers. I love all of them. Some of my happiest memories are from the boardwalk. I refuse to do anything that’s going to make trouble for Lost Harbor.”
“Honey.” He ran his hand down her back. Her smooth skin warmed under his stroking. His cock stirred; the inevitable result of a sexy naked woman on his lap. He tried to force his erection to subside before it got too obvious. “I think you’re overreacting. We’re talking about a few garden sheds and old boats. That’s no reason for you to take off.”
“So far,” she pointed out. She shifted in his arms, so her butt nestled closer to his crotch.
Exactly the kind of move he didn’t need. He clenched his jaw and thought about flat tires again.
Nope, flat tires didn’t work anymore. They made him remember the first time he saw Kate. He needed a more extreme image, like a bucket of ice dumped over his head.
Okay, that did the job.
He cleared his throat and made his next point. “There’s no evidence of escalation. Besides, where would you go that’s safer than here—in bed with the fire chief?”
He knew she was truly worried because she didn’t crack some kind of joke in response.
“This isn’t about me being safe,” she said seriously. “It’s about Lost Harbor being safe.”
“Keeping Lost Harbor safe is my job.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “And Maya’s. She’s your best friend, right? Maybe you should trust her. You should trust both of us.”
A wry smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I do. I really do. I know trust doesn’t come easy to you.” He allowed his thumb to trace her kneecap. A subtle motion that she’d barely notice, and that would satisfy his need to touch her.
She tilted her head back and scanned his face with a curious frown. “I thought it was a pretty good solution. Now you’re making me rethink. But if I’m the problem, why are you so anxious for me to stay?”
Good question, he realized. His reaction to her announcement had been a knee-jerk one—don’t leave. What was that all about, besides the obvious?
“Well, there’s the sex,” he said lightly. “That’s a good reason right there.”
“All the great sex in the world isn’t worth jeopardizing the town,” she said dryly.
Great sex…he was happy to hear she saw it that way.
“Okay, here’s a reason. I just got used to a new landlady. I don’t want to break in another one.”
“Oh ho.” She twisted on his lap and pushed at his chest. He allowed himself to fall back onto the mattress, laughing. “You broke me in? Is that how you see it?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? Not evicted.”
“Yeah, well…that’s for services rendered.” She crawled on top of his body. “That hand railing went a long way. All that moose turd shoveling.”
“A guy does what he can.” He decided to let her take charge and folded his arms behind his head.
She straddled his hips with her warm thighs and squeezed. “You like me, despite all the trouble I cause,” she teased. “Admit it. That’s why you don’t want me to leave.”
She was right. But if he told her how much he liked her, she might flee from anything resembling a relationship. Damn, sometimes being with Kate was like getting close to a porcupine. He had to be cautious. Keep it light.
“A tap dancer might move in upstairs,” he told her. “Can’t take that chance. I’m used to you.”
She squeezed her thighs again.
“S.G. would be sad if you left,” he continued, gasping. “She’s been through enough, poor kid.”
Another squeeze, so hard he actually coughed.
“On the other hand, if you leave maybe my full-time hard-on will go down. Might be nice to get a break.” He grinned at her as she clocked him in the chest. “Okay okay. I don’t want you to leave because you make me laugh.”
“Like this?” She tickled under his arm and made him lurch with laughter.
“Sure,” he gasped. “Like that. God, I hate being tickled. When are you leaving again?”
“Ooh, you’re in trouble now.” She pounced on him like a tiger out for revenge. But he was prepared for that and managed to Jedi-move her so that she lay on top of him, on her back, her legs on either side of his.
“What…how did you…” she gasped. He didn’t give her any time to complain, just slid one hand between her legs and clamped the other one over her breasts.
“Never mind how.”