lust. This was not some summer romance, some vacation flirtation that would end on Labor Day. She very much feared that this was the love of her life. She’d spent all her adult years avoiding precisely this situation, protecting herself from uncertainty and anguish. She was well aware that with a man like Sean, the potential for disaster was enormous. They were together, but what did that mean?
Labor Day and the start of school loomed, and she dared to hope the rhythm of the new academic year might make this feel more like her own life once again. Then she caught herself trying to remember what was so great about her own life.
It was normal, she told herself. Settled and predictable, relaxing. Life with Sean and the kids was just the opposite, and it couldn’t be good for her.
On the Thursday before Labor Day weekend, they met with Susie Shea, the social worker who had been there for them at the start of the whole ordeal. “My hat’s off to you,” she told Lily and Sean. “The children are adjusting well.” She paused, looked from one to the other. “What about the two of you?”
Lily panicked. Sean cleared his throat. “We’re adjusting, too,” he said awkwardly.
“Yes,” she agreed. “We’re adjusting.”
Susie closed her casebook and checked her watch. “I’ll be back next month.”
The moment she was gone, Sean wiped his brow in an exaggerated gesture. “I feel like I just brought home a good report card.”
“You did,” Lily said. “We all did.”
Later that day, Violet and her family came to Comfort to finally reclaim the Winnebago and attend the annual golf tournament at Paradise Ridge. It was early morning, but everyone was up when they arrived.
Sean’s house, Lily thought. When had she stopped thinking of it as Crystal’s house?
They were waiting in the driveway, which was lined with buckets and rags and a vacuum. The RV sparkled, inside and out. By contract, the Wonder Bread logo had been removed. Lily made the introductions and the younger kids fell into an easy camaraderie, inventing some game in the backyard with rules even Ashley seemed to understand.
“Congratulations on your season,” Rick said, enthusiastically pumping Sean’s hand. “Really impressive, really. I snared a vendor’s contract for this weekend’s tournament, so we’ll be pulling for you.”
“Hey, thanks. That means a lot.” It was a big match with a big purse. Held at the legendary course at Paradise Ridge, the tournament was high profile and high stakes. Lily knew he was ready. She also knew he was nervous.
“My lord,” murmured Violet, standing back and watching them, “he’s even better than I remembered.”
You have no idea, thought Lily.
“Have you told Mom and Dad yet?” Violet asked.
“Why would I do that?”
“Well, they’re family, for starters. People generally want their family to know—never mind.” Violet waved her hand impatiently. “You figure it out, Lily.”
Rick, Violet and their kids would be staying in the RV at the golf course. Violet invited Charlie and Ashley to spend the day with her and the children. Within minutes, everyone had left, including Cameron, who was driving to Portland to pick up Becky at the Amtrak station.
Lily looked at Sean. She ducked her head, trying to hide the delicious sense of anticipation she felt, but it was no use. He saw straight through her, every time.
Sean didn’t say a word to Lily, but walked into the house with long, hurried strides. He seemed almost angry. A bit wary, she followed him, startled as he snared her wrist the minute she stepped inside. He reeled her against him and kissed her hard, his mouth lingering, tasting until she felt light-headed.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, pressing her back to the wall in the hallway. His hands undid her—hair, glasses, blouse, shorts—while his mouth set her on fire.
Very, very fleetingly, it occurred to her to protest. But to protest what? She wanted this as badly as he did, had missed him as much as he’d missed her, and they both knew it. There was a recklessness in the way they came together, a rough hunger that should have shocked but instead turned her on. She wanted this, wanted him with a terrible need, and she loved his palpable sense of urgency, the way he seemed to want to engulf her. It felt both thrilling and dangerous to be stripped bare by him, their clothes in a heap, his arms engulfing her in an embrace of possession. She collapsed against his bare, sweaty shoulder, a little amazed at