Barefoot Bay: Just the Two of Us (Kindle Worlds) Read online

“Well, he did try—“ Seeing Justin’s glare, Lisa shut her mouth. She wasn’t going to give Charity more fuel for gossip. Better change the subject. Lisa put her hand on Justin’s forearm. “I need to get back to my cottage. I could use a hot shower after all we’ve been through.”

  The proprietor pointed to some bubble bath. “Want to pick up some of that?”

  “No thanks,” Lisa said. “I prefer showers.” She tugged on Justin’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  It seemed to take longer than usual, but they finally reached her place. She retrieved her hidden key from one of the flower pots filled with red geraniums and unlocked the door.

  She’d barely shut the door behind them, when Justin took her in his arms. “You sure you’re going to be all right? I was more worried about you succumbing to hypothermia than getting back to shore. I knew the Coast Guard would come through.”

  His face came closer. He was going to kiss her. She anticipated a quick good bye kiss, but his mouth lingered on hers, his tongue sliding inside to ravish her mouth. He gripped her shoulders as if he never wanted to let her go. Her heart beat faster. She responded with all that she had. She let her tongue twist with his and cradled his dear face in her hands. He pulled her closer until her breasts were pressed against his firm chest. She could feel her nipples tightening. Being in his arms was like being swept up in a storm of sensations.

  Finally, he broke away and caught his breath. “Thought we’d never get loose from the Super Min.” He squeezed her hands. “I was glad to hear you say, ‘Let’s go.’”

  Rusty started barking as if to say, ‘Hey, I’m here. Somebody pay attention to me.”

  Justin walked over to his pen and patted him on the head. “Hey there, fella.” Rusty’s tail swished back and forth, and he let out a couple of barks, as if to say he was glad to be noticed.

  Lisa walked over to the cupboard. “I’ll get him some food.”

  After she’d put a full dish of food and one with water in his pen, she turned to Justin. “I’m really tired, and I bet you are too. You’d better go home and get your own hot shower.”

  He looked disappointed, but moved toward the door. “I’d better say good night and let you get some rest.”

  She walked over and stepped into his arms. He gave her a long lasting kiss, which warmed and thrilled her all over again. She shouldn’t be involved with a man who’d go back to Dallas in a few days and maybe never call her.

  He pulled away, but kept his hands still on her arms as if he didn’t want to let go. “I hope you’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.”

  He might not be part of her future, but being with him could be wonderful. Her time with Justin at Barefoot Bay might be too short for another chance. Did she really want to say no? Carpe Diem. “Well…after all that excitement, perhaps we could use a shower.”

  Justin met her gaze, his smile wide. “Did you say ‘we could use a shower?’”

  Her heart pounding, she nodded. She took his hand and led him through the bedroom to the bathroom. He paused at the doorway. He slid off her thin cover-up. He kissed her cleavage, and then slid her bathing suit all the way down. He tossed it on the floor and smoothed his hands over her breasts. “You are so beautiful. I want to touch you everywhere.”

  He squeezed both breasts and kissed her. After bending his head, he suckled one breast, sending waves of electricity through her. Leaving the tip of one tingling, he let his mouth rove over the other one, making the tip swell and harden. Her heart beat faster.

  If she’d known how wonderful he could make her feel, she wouldn’t have waited. Now she couldn’t wait to make love with him, whether here or in the shower.

  He laid her on the bed and kissed her. His tongue slid into her mouth, tasting, roving, exploring. She did the same with her tongue, while she cradled his dear face in her hands. She couldn’t get enough of him.

  He pulled back. What was wrong? She met his gaze, her heart in her throat. Would he tell her this was a mistake? She didn’t care. She wanted him now.

  He leaned over and pulled open the drawer of the end table beside the bed. “Just as I thought. Casa Blanca Resort thinks of everything a guest could want. Like mine, your cottage is well stocked.” He pulled out a lavender condom and laid it beside the lamp.

  “Now, I want to touch those pretty breasts again.” He smoothed his hands over them and then licked her skin. The raspy touch of his tongue felt good, but the electricity surging through her body made her want to speed things up. The hardness pushing against her abdomen said he might too. He kept on kissing her neck, her cleavage, her ears, and even her nose.

  She giggled. “What if I kissed your nose?”

  He laughed. “I don’t think so. My mouth will do just fine.” He bent down and kissed her mouth once more. His long lingering kiss made her feel cherished and desired, more so than she’d even felt before. What a wonderful man he was.

  And they hadn’t even gotten to the good part yet. But taking it slow and easy meant she could enjoy every tantalizing moment. She wanted all she could take and give in return. She hugged him and raised her lips to his, showing him how much she liked him. She let her fingers caress his neck and touched the wavy strands of hair on his neck.

  She ruffled the hair on top and kissed him again. Kissing him felt so good, she did it again and again.

  His eyes lit up, and he smiled. “You’re more precious than rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. They sparkle, but they’re cold. They don’t keep me warm or thrill me near as much as you, but you have too many clothes on.”

  He ran his hand over her belly and then lower. “Your skin is much softer. I’d rather touch it.” He kissed her belly button and ran his hands down her legs. “So smooth, so long, and so nice to touch.”

  She couldn’t help smiling. It was wonderful to be adored like this, but she wanted to touch more of him. “Hey, it’s my turn.” She unbuttoned his shorts and slid them off. What a magnificent chest he had. She ran her finger over his nipple and watched his reaction. The hardness pressing against her hip was even more telling. He wore tight navy briefs, which bulged enormously. She couldn’t wait to hold him in her hands.

  He pulled down his briefs, freeing his shaft, which sprung loose. He shoved them off and grinned. “Touch me,” he challenged. And she did. Hard as steel, but satin smooth.

  He grabbed the condom and sheathed himself in seconds. His fingers moved between her legs, to burrow beneath her red curls. He found her most sensitive spot and rubbed it until she was anxious for him to stop tantalizing her and make her come. “Keep doing that. You’re driving me crazy.”

  He smiled. “Not half as crazy as you’re making me.”

  He rubbed her again. The tingles started, then escalated to a fever pitch. She hit a crescendo and sighed in ecstasy. “Oh, Justin. You make me feel so wonderful. I’d ask you to do it again, but I’m sure you want to be inside.”

  “Your wish is my command.” And he proceeded to do it again, smiling at her exultation when she did come again. The tingles lasted even longer this time, but she needed, wanted him inside, and she wanted to give him pleasure too.

  She took hold of his shaft. It was thick and firm, though the skin on the head was softer than the rest. She pulled it toward her opening and pushed a little. He pried her hands away and shoved in. Wow, he was big. He more than filled her. Then he began to move, faster and faster. She pushed against him so that they came together hard. She liked it that way and kept responding.

  “You’re wonderful,” he whispered. “I can’t help feeling how wonderful it would be to do this every night.” He grinned. “Any maybe more than once. We could even spend a lazy afternoon this way.”

  “Except this is more like a lazy middle of the evening.”

  “I don’t care what you call it. I just enjoy being with you.”

  “Me too.”

  He kissed her and moved even faster. Each thrust thrilled her and set her insides tingling and aching for more. He squeezed her breas
ts and kissed her again. She felt herself pushing more, wanting more. And then, with a mighty thrust he set her aglow again, her tissues pulsating, her heart beating, and her pulse racing. He followed with another mighty thrust, then hugged her.

  He looked at her and grinned. “I’m not sure I have the energy now to do this in the shower, but I’d be glad to wash your back, your breasts, and anything else that needs washing.”

  She smiled. “I’ll take you up on that.”

  In the shower, he kept his promise. He gently soaped her chest, her breasts, her back, and her legs. “You need washing here.” He lathered soap between her legs, then rinsed it off, setting her senses sizzling again. The familiar ache returned, and his fingers kept intensifying it.

  He'd gotten stiff again. His shaft rubbed against her lower belly as if begging for entrance. “Come on in,” she encouraged, and he did just that. Thrusting and pushing as if he hadn’t spent half the day paddling in a storm and made love to her once already. This time was even better than before. She had not one, not two, but three orgasms before he finished.

  She threw her arms around him. “You give the best shower wash ever.”

  He grinned. “I aim to please.”

  “And your aim is perfect … pleasing… and wonderful.” She sighed contentedly.

  “I’m glad you liked it. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to sleep.”

  Suddenly, the day and night’s activities caught up with her. “Sounds good to me.”

  They lay naked in each other’s arms and cuddled. Justin soon fell asleep.

  As tired as she was, Lisa couldn’t sleep.

  What had she done?

  An uneasy feeling made her stomach quiver. She wasn’t going to get involved with him, wasn’t going to risk another heartbreak. She’d only wanted to have fun with him. His future was up in the air. While she had definite plans for the fall, who knew what he might decide to do. Even if he went back to Dallas, she didn’t know if he’d want to continue seeing her, but now the thought of saying goodbye left her feeling empty. He might have a girlfriend he hadn’t mentioned.

  And then it hit her. They hadn’t used a condom in the shower. Would she get pregnant?

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, Justin was making a cup of coffee with Lisa’s Keurig when a knock sounded at the door. Lisa’s puppy barked. Justin opened the door. His stepbrother stood on the doorstep.

  “Well.” Stevie grinned. “I came to be sure you were all right since you didn’t come home last night. After what that clerk said, I figured you’d had quite a time yesterday.”

  “That we did, no thanks to you.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “You said the clerk filled up the gas tank. You sure he filled it up all the way?”

  “I’m positive,” Stevie said, but he wasn’t looking directly at Justin. Was he lying?

  “You didn’t let him fill it full because you wanted to leave me and Lisa stranded.”

  “I swear he filled it, but if you can’t manage a boat properly while taking a girl for a ride, you deserve to lose her. She’d be better off with me. I’ll be taking over the University Park store soon instead of you. And Dad promised the north Dallas store to Benson to manage, so that leaves you out in the cold.”

  Justin couldn’t help clasping his hands into fists, but he straightened his fingers and shoved them into his pocket. “If it wasn’t for the robbery, my store would have shown a bigger profit.”

  “No, it wouldn’t. That was covered by insurance,” Stevie insisted. “Why not go back to sleuthing and become a private eye like you wanted to when you were in high school. It might take you a while to make a living at it, so you don’t need to be thinking about something permanent with Lisa. She deserves more than a guy without a job, like somebody with a career that’s going somewhere.”

  Maybe Stevie didn’t have had anything to do with the boat motor’s malfunction, but Justin wanted to punch his brother’s taunting face. Justin shot up his fist. “I’ve had just about enough of your BS, brother. Suppose you tell me what you really came here for, and then leave.”

  “I came for a vacation, just like you did. You don’t deserve a hot woman like Lisa. It’s a shame you met her before I did. You should step aside and let a real man take over.”

  Justin felt the heat rising from his neck to his face. It was probably red by now. “Like you, for instance. The hell I will. You need to go back to Dallas and mind the store.”

  Stevie held up his hand. He looked disgustedly calm. “Don’t tell me what to do. Benson has things under control, so there’s nothing for me to do but wait until the new store in University Park is ready.”

  Justin wanted to wipe that smirk right off his face. “Better not count your chickens until Father says so, brother dear.”

  Stevie puffed out his chest. “I’m the one who stayed with our family business all the time. I didn’t go running off to satisfy some ill-conceived fantasy.”

  “I was trying out PI work, just like you tried out playing the clarinet but changed to the trumpet.”

  “Playing in the band was great, but that’s not the subject here. You need to give up on Lisa and let a better man take over.”

  Justin felt so hot he thought he might explode. “I don’t want to see you sniffing at her door.”

  Stevie smirked. “But I’m already here. Why don’t you ask her to come out and choose which man she wants?”

  “You’re being ridiculous. She hardly knows you.”

  “Well, she’s had time to see all your faults. And probably see your bad temper too.”

  “And you think you could keep yours hidden? Not if I have anything to say about it. Don’t forget I know you pretty well.”

  The sound of the bedroom door opening alerted Justin that Lisa was coming into the room. How much had she heard already? She must think him ill-tempered and possessive. Which he had been, damn it.

  “Stevie, did you come to check on us?” she asked.

  “Sure I did after hearing what happened from the clerk at the Super Min. You two must be exhausted. Why not let Justin and me take you out for dinner? I’m sure you still don’t feel like cooking after your ordeal.”

  Lisa hesitated. “I – I don’t know. Justin, have you planned anything for tonight?”

  Now, he was in a dilemma. He didn’t want Stevie tagging along, but she’d think Justin rude if he said that. “Let’s call Chenille and see if she wants to come.”

  Lisa frowned. “She may be busy.”

  Justin held out his phone. “Here’s her number. Go ahead and call her.”

  Stevie shot Justin a glare, but took the phone and dialed.

  Lisa waited while Stevie talked. She didn’t look pleased about things.

  Stevie hung up and said, “She wants to go eat at Junonia, so let’s go there tonight.”

  Lisa plopped down in a chair. “I really don’t feel like going out. I’d rather just stay here with Justin.”

  He turned to her. “You look tired, and I sure am. Would you rather have something delivered and stay here?”

  Lisa smiled. “You must be a mind reader. I sure would like that. Stevie, why don’t you and Chenille go on and give her our excuses. We’re still tired from the other day.”

  Stevie shot Justin a funny look. “Okay, if that’s the way you want it.” He opened the door. “See you later.”

  As soon as the door shut behind Stevie, Lisa asked, “What were you two arguing about?”

  “I accused him of only filling the gas tank of the boat half full. He denied it, but I think he’s lying.”

  “How can you be sure.”

  “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but he looked at me with his non-dominant eye. He always used to do that when he was lying.”

  “Why would he want us to be stranded when a storm was forecast?”

  “He may not have known about the storm. Charity at the Super Min says they spring up without much warning. But i
f he suspected bad weather, he may have wanted to make me look bad in front of you.”

  Lisa stared at Justin. “Aren’t you two a little old to be squabbling like little children?”

  “I’m thirty-one, but we weren’t just squabbling. He wants to take you away from me. He also wants that new store in University Park and to make me look bad for that—wait a minute.” Justin slapped his forehead. “Damn. Maybe that that wasn’t a random burglary I had a few days before I came here.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “The robbery was well planned, but the robber didn’t hold the gun very steady, like he was afraid he might actually kill me.”

  “You think your brother was behind the robbery?”

  “It fits. A robbery and poor profits—he probably convinced Father to close the store.”

  “Do you think he tried to kill you by planning for the boat to run out of gas?”

  Justin shook his head. “I don’t know, but something was wrong with that motor. He claims the clerk filled the tank. He just wants to make life difficult for me. Forget about him. Let’s stay here, and I’ll order sandwiches and ice cream bars delivered from the Super Min.”

  Lisa smiled. “That would be wonderful.”

  Justin pulled out his cell phone and arranged it. Then he sat down beside Lisa, put his arm around her and kissed her. Being in her bed and loving her had been more marvelous than he’d ever imagined. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, but he sure as hell wanted Lisa to be part of it.

  Maybe after he got this jewel thievery problem solved for Luke, he could tackle the problem of his career. He looked at Lisa. “Do you have any wine?”

  “No, I don’t keep it around.”

  He picked up the phone. “Charity, can you add a bottle of your nicest wine to my order. We’ve been through a lot, and we need something to relax us.”

  Charity laughed. “I thought that’s what you were doing already.”

  “Just add the wine to our order and send it over. I’m getting hungry.”

  He disconnected and gazed at Lisa. “Will you be my girl for the summer, well, as long as I’m here?”