into Nell, knocking her back two full steps and drenching her with seawater and doggie kisses.
Zack listened to Nell's laughter, watched her scrub her hands enthusiastically over Lucy's wet fur. Maybe a man who had a pretty dog didn't have quite everything, he decided.
"Hey. How's it going?"
"It's going good." Shoulders, she thought. The man had amazing shoulders. "How's the water?"
"Close to perfect. Come on in, see for yourself."
"Thanks, but I don't have a suit with me."
"Me either." He flashed a grin. "Which is why I didn't follow Lucy's example."
"Oh." Her gaze shot down, then immediately back up to hover six inches over his head. "Well. Ha."
Visualize, Mia had told her. But this didn't seem quite the appropriate time.
"I promise not to look. You're already wet."
"All the same, I think I'll stay out here."
Lucy dived back in, retrieved a mangled rubber ball. After scrabbling back to shore again, she deposited it neatly at Nell's feet.
"Wants to play," Zack told her. And so did he.
Obliging, Nell picked up the ball and tossed it. Before it hit the surface, Lucy was leaping in pursuit.
"Pretty good arm. We've got a softball game coming up in a couple of weeks if you're interested." He drifted closer to the bank as he spoke.
Nell scooped up the ball Lucy retrieved, heaved it again. "Maybe. I was thinking about trying out another recipe."
"Is that so?"
"The catering's turning into an actual enterprise. If I want to expand on it, I need to be able to offer a variety of dishes."
"I'm a strong believer in capitalism, so anything I can do to help."
She looked down. He had such a nice face, she thought. She would just concentrate on that and wouldn't think about the rest of him. Right now. "I appreciate that, Sheriff. I've been playing it by ear so far, but I think it's time to put together an actual list, with pricing and services. If I do all that, formalize it, I have to apply for a business license."
That wouldn't be a problem, she assured herself. She was clear.
"It's going to keep you busy."
"I like being busy. There's nothing worse than not being able to do anything with your time or your interests." She shook her head. "And don't I sound dull and boring?"
No, but she had sounded grim. "How do you feel about recreation?"
"I approve of recreation." Her eyebrows lifted as he hooked a hand lightly around her ankle. "And just what is that?"
"I call it the long arm of the law."
"You're too nice to pull me in after I've come over here to offer to feed you."
"No, I'm not." He gave her foot a playful little tug. "But I'm willing to give you a chance to strip first."
"That's considerate of you."
"My mother raised me right. Come on in and play, Nell." He glanced back at Lucy, who was busy paddling around with the ball in her mouth. "We've got a chaperone."
Why not? she thought. She wanted to be with him. Even more, she wanted to be the kind of woman who could be with him. A woman confident and open enough to do something fun and foolish like tossing off her clothes and diving in.
The grin she sent him was quick and careless. As she toed off her shoes, he treaded water. "I changed my mind. I'm going to watch," he warned her. "I'd tell you I wouldn't peek, but I'd be lying."
"Do you lie?"
"Not if I can help it." His gaze lowered as she gripped the hem of her T-shirt. "So I'm not going to tell you I'll keep my hands off you once you get in here. I want you wet and naked, Nell. I just plain want you."
"If I wanted you to keep your hands off me, I wouldn't be here." She took a deep breath, started to peel off her shirt.
"Sheriff Todd! Sheriff Todd!"
"There is no God," Zack grumbled as the lovely glimpse of creamy flesh vanished under Nell's hastily tugged-down shirt. "Out here," he called. "Is that you, Ricky?" To Nell, he said, "It'll only take me two, three minutes to drown him. Just stand by."
"Yes, sir, Sheriff."
A towheaded boy of about ten scrambled across the rocky slope, his freckled face pink with excitement. He gave Nell a hasty nod. "Ma'am. Sheriff, my mom said I was to come right over and tell you. The tenants in the Abbott rental are having a big fight. There's screaming and crashing and cursing and everything."
"Is that Dale Abbott's or Buster's place?"
"Buster's, Sheriff. The