A Time for Us - By Amy Knupp Page 0,49

out here. Our son, Christian, does, as well. Evan lets him sit on his lap and drive.”

The others joined in the conversation, recalling their first time out on the gulf or their favorite spots on the water, and Rachel settled back into her lounger, content to listen in.

Hoping to escape notice, she lifted her tank top over her head and worked her shorts off as surreptitiously as possible. When she glanced up, she caught Cale watching her. While Noelle would have loved the attention, it made Rachel wish for a big stadium blanket to cover herself.

Yet again, it seemed the only thing she and her sister had had in common beyond their looks was their feelings for this man.

* * *

CALE WAS SURE NOW—he shouldn’t have brought Rachel.

Not when his body reacted to seeing her in her nonskimpy, very plain, navy blue swimsuit the way it did.

Plus there was the fact that he was sure she wasn’t having much fun.

She’d eaten only a small amount at lunch and was still nursing her first glass of chardonnay as if her life depended on staying sober. Not that Cale was trying to get her drunk, but if she would just go a little easier on herself, she would fit in better and have a good time.

Cale tried to tune in to the conversation Scott and Derek were having next to him about commercial development on the north end of the island. Scott was the manager of a newly opened horse stable in that area, and Derek was curious about a new bar that had gone in nearby, and whether it would pose any competition for the Shell Shack.

As Cale didn’t have any immediate concerns or knowledge about the subject, his attention drifted. He caught his gaze veering back to Rachel and the smooth, untanned skin of her chest above the modest neckline of her suit. A delicate silver chain with a simple R-shaped charm hung around her neck, catching the sun and sparkling.

She stretched her short, toned legs out in front of her and leaned her head back. He noticed her toenails, unlike the other women’s, were unpainted. Maybe that was to compensate for Noelle’s tendency to go overboard and indulge in serious artistry on her nails—she’d spent loads of money on weekly pedicures and had always come back with multicolored designs. There was something to be said for the natural look, he thought, though Noelle’s desire for foot art had never bothered him.

Shaking his head, he silently swore at himself for his constant comparisons of the sisters. He’d not spent much effort comparing them when Noelle was still alive. Why start now? That line of thought wasn’t relevant to anything. Was it a yet-to-be-identified stage of grieving a twin? He scoffed.

No. It was just stupid and pointless.

He leaned back against the wall, stretching his legs out in front of him and noticing Scott and Derek had meandered away from talk about business and development. Again, he tried to get involved in the conversation but found his attention back on Rachel in no time.

She wasn’t talking to anyone, didn’t even seem to be paying attention to the women next to her. As he stared at her, she checked her watch, no doubt more than ready to escape this gathering of his friends.

Cale took a final drink of his beer and got up to help himself to a bottled water. Might as well be sober and ready to drive as soon as they got back to the marina. Then he could end her suffering and take her home. He just hoped she didn’t hate him too much by then.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“THAT WASN’T MUCH FUN for you, was it?” Rachel said as soon as they got into Cale’s Sport Trac.

Confused, he furrowed his brows and looked at her. “What?”

“You were too worried about making sure I was okay to enjoy it yourself.”

“No...” Cale began automatically. Although...maybe? Yeah. She’d pretty much hit it. He shoved the keys in the ignition and started the engine, then exhaled loudly. “I shouldn’t have forced you to go with me, Rachel. I’m sorry.”

“Forced is a little strong, don’t you think?” she asked with a half grin. “If anyone pushed me, it was my mom. And I’m glad she did.”

“I know that was way out of your comfort zone and... What?” He’d just backed out of the parking space but now he braked and whipped his head toward her. “What did you just say?”

“I said I’m glad she did.” Rachel repeated