Page 15 of The Art of Loving Lacy
He set her feet back down on the dock just as Hugh and Savannah came up behind them.
“What is this, theLove Boat?” Savannah teased. “Hi, Lacy,” she said with a wave. Savannah’s brown bikini showed through her white cover-up. She stood next to Hugh, who was wearing swim trunks and a tank top. Both looked at Dane and Lacy with approving smiles. Savannah arched a brow. “Is this going to be a make-out trip? Do Hugh and I need to find dates?”
Lacy blushed, and Dane pulled her against his side. “We have a lot of time to make up for, but I promise we’ll behave.” He winked at Lacy.
Lacy wore the same blue bikini she’d worn in Nassau—the one Dane had pictured her in until last night, when his visions of her no longer required clothing.
Dane and Hugh climbed aboard the forest-green Talaria, a forty-eight-foot Hinckley yacht. Dane helped Lacy aboard, and for a moment they stood gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Come on, lovebirds,” Savannah said as she grabbed Lacy’s hand and dragged her toward the bow.
Lacy looked back over her shoulder with a wide smile, and Dane felt a tug in his heart. What was it about her that was so different from the dozens of other women he’d been with over the years?
“Dude, are we going to pilot this boat or stare?” Hugh teased. Hugh was six and a half years younger than Dane, and as the youngest of the Braden siblings, he’d picked up on all of the ribbing from his older brothers and sister, and over the years, he’d learned how to dish it out as well as take it.
Dane gave him a playful shove, and they went to work untying the ropes that tethered them to the slip. Dane piloted the boat, watching Lacy standing at the bow; her curly blond hair whipped around her, and the cover-up she wore flapped in the wind. He couldn’t wait to get farther out to sea, so he could spend some time beside her. He felt most at home on the water, and he’d imagined what it would be like to go boating with Lacy every time he’d been at sea. Now he knew that being anywhere with Lacy would make it sweeter.
Lacy took off her cover-up, and she and Savannah turned and waved at them.
“Man, bro. She’s hot,” Hugh said.
Hugh’s tone was a little too hungry for Dane’s liking. He was used to his brother making comments about women—all women, with no regard for if they were taken or single. Because of his high-profile career, Hugh had more supermodels chasing him than Josh ever did, and Josh designed the clothes they would do anything for.
He knew Hugh was harmless when it came to Lacy, but that didn’t tame his urge to stake his claim.
“Watch it,” he warned.
“Dude, really? She looks at you like you’re the main course. I wouldn’t even try.”
The main course? Really?Dane smiled, casting another glance at Lacy, who was now passing by portside on her way to the seats in the rear of the boat. She waved, and Dane blew a kiss in her direction. Savannah was right behind her. She pretended to catch the kiss he blew and stuck her tongue out at him. Dane shook his head. Savannah could make anyone smile.
The sun shone brightly, and a nice breeze kicked off the water. He cut the engine.
“Ready to catch some rays?” Dane asked.
Hugh flashed a knowing smile. “That’s not all you’ll be catching.”
“Do you ever think of anything other than sex?” Dane pulled off his shirt and grabbed a towel.
Hugh shrugged. “I try not to.” He followed Dane out of the cockpit and down into the cabin. They came back on deck with four wineglasses and a bottle of Didier Dagueneau Silex.
Hugh poured four glasses of the white wine, handed each person one, and raised his glass. “To a perfect afternoon.”
“Nice.” Savannah picked up the bottle and squinted. “Isn’t this the wine that mountain man made?”
“Yeah,” Dane said. “Didier Dagueneau was a wine maker in the Loire Valley. He had a huge cult following for his sauvignon blanc wines. He did look like a mountain man with his big bushy hair and massive beard. Poor bastard died when his plane crashed. I believe his son took over the business.”
“That’s horrible,” Lacy said.
“That’s why I’ll never pilot a plane.” Dane winked at Lacy.
“No, you’ll just swim with the deadliest animals around.” Savannah rolled her eyes.
“I thought that was your job,” Dane teased.
“Like I haven’t heard that a hundred times,” Savannah said. “I wish someone would start a rumor that attorneys are kind, generous, beautiful people.”
“Vanny, you are all those things.” Dane lifted his glass. “To a perfect afternoon with beautiful company.” He clinked glasses with Lacy.
