“It’s more fun.” Jami shook her head, wondering why she was arguing with her six-year-old. “I’d better get dressed if we’re going to the lake with Grant,” she added reluctantly.
“I need glue and some nails,” Toby announced, pawing through the empty drawers of the dresser.
Jami smiled at her son. “I’m sure that Grant will supply whatever you need for boat building.”
“Think so?”
“Yes,” Jami answered with a gentle smile.
An hour later, they stood gazing at a mountain lake, postcard perfect as rippling waters shimmered every shade of blue, from clear aqua to lavender-tinted indigo. Toby skipped to the edge of the shore and dropped to pull off his shoes and socks. “I just want to wade a minute, okay, Mom?”
“Stay right where we can see you.”
“Okay,” Toby whooped, before splashing into the water, splattering his Hawaiian shorts. “It’s kind of cold.”
She could believe that. Jami shivered slightly as the crisp pine-scented breeze puffed her denim skirt and her sandaled feet crushed a moist cool patch of wild mint. Grant stepped up behind her, sliding his large hands over her shoulders, the warmth of his touch seeping through the thin cotton of her shirt. She backed against his powerful body, lured by the sensations he ignited, swimming warm honey through her veins as she caught a whiff of his aftershave and a deeper musky scent, so blatantly male.
“Chilly?” Grant asked, his velvet voice tantalizingly close to ear.
His chin rested on the top of Jami’s head, her silky hair teasing him with the sweet fragrance of fruit and flowers. Grant knew he shouldn’t draw her so close, but she enticed him like a magnet attracted nails, regardless of his intentions to keep his distance. Her soft feminine curves fit perfectly against him and he ached with a desire to connect at a more intimate level. He felt her shiver and stroked his palms down her arms, reveling in the smooth satin of her skin.
“I’m fine,” she insisted in a high breathy voice that reminded him of Marilyn Monroe. He grinned into her hair, thinking that during the peak of Monroe’s reign, the movie queen wouldn’t have had a thing on the copper-haired beauty pressed against his heart at this moment. He turned her in his arms to face him.
“Why are you shivering, if you’re not cold?” he asked, bewitched by the temperamental redhead. He hoped he had the same overwhelming effect on her as she did on him. His gaze dropped to her lips, parted, moist, and so kissable.
Jami stared up at Grant, her gaze drawn to his lips. A wicked smile curved that beautiful mouth of his as if he knew exactly why her response to him had caused her shivery reaction. Great, she grumbled to herself as she fought the sensual chill sweeping through her. She might as well be a virgin where he was concerned. No man had stirred her the way Grant Carrington did. They needed a change of topic. Fast. “I thought you were going to show Toby how to build a boat?”
“I can think of another kind of instruction I’d prefer to offer.” His voice dropped to a sexy growl, hinting at the type of lessons he had in mind.
“Uh huh—I bet.” Jami flounced up the path and out of his reach, turning back to call, “Toby’s waiting.”
Chapter 4
“Toby,” Jami called, “That’s far enough.”
Toby turned and waded back toward his mother. “The water’s too cold, anyway. Grant, can we make a boat now?”
“Certainly. Hop up and help me find a good piece of wood.” Grant reached for Toby and with a one-arm boost hefted the boy to his hip. “Climb onto my back piggy-back style. Hold tight.” Grant strode into the trees with Toby wrapped around him, the child’s bare wet legs bouncing.
Jami heard her son’s squeals and laughter. Her heart gave a sad ping. She was the only one who’d ever given Toby a piggy-back ride. Her ex-husband showed no fatherly interest in their son, so it had always been Jami and Toby, alone together, a tight family unit. She prayed that Toby wasn’t viewing at Grant as a prospective daddy. That could only bring heartache.
Toby was still giggling as they reappeared with a rough piece of pine, jerking Jami out of deep thought. “Any luck?”
“Perfect for boat carving,” Grant replied, sliding Toby gently to the ground as he handed the chunk of wood to the eager child.
“Carving?” Jami felt her mother instincts surge forth again. “You don’t intend to let my baby use