Page 41 of The Art of Loving Lacy
The cool breeze felt good against her skin, which had become far too warm in anticipation of his touch. She lay back on the lounge chair and brought his sweater to her nose, inhaling deeply. She moaned at the delicious reminder, then inhaled his scent again. She settled his sweater over her chest and spread it out so it covered her whole torso.He’s so big.The thought sent a shiver down low, and her mind conjured the image of him, his chest a wall of muscle as he lay perched above her. Naked. She lay there now, under the cover of the night, her mind playing with thoughts of the man she swore she’d never kiss again and wondering what tomorrow might bring.
Chapter Fourteen
THE NEXT MORNING, Dane popped out of bed with renewed energy. He moved through the plush cabin of Treat’s forty-two-foot sailboat and into the galley, where he brewed a pot of coffee. Then he showered and called Rob. He raised an eyebrow when it went to voicemail.
“You lazy dog, asleep at seven. Enjoy your day off and call me if you want to talk. I’ve been thinking about you and Sheila, and I wonder if you shouldn’t just take a day or two and go to her parents’ house. Talk to her. Clear the air of whatever’s going on. Anyway, man, I’m around. I’m here if you want to talk.”
Dane’s next phone call was to Lacy. He pushed her speed dial number on his cell phone, whistling as it rang. Then he hung up quickly. He didn’t want to seem like he was hounding her. He hadn’t been able to resist stopping by the evening before, and leaving was about the toughest thing he’d ever had to do. But a promise was a promise, and there was no way he’d be the one to break it. He had to prove himself to her, and he wanted to help her through her fear of sharks. He wondered if Hugh had been right and that her fear was really the crux of what was keeping her from accepting him back into her life.At least last night was a start.He loved Lacy, and he hated knowing that anything could steal her confidence. Sharks and the oceans had always been his passion, but what he felt for Lacy was far stronger than the love he felt for anything else. He was the perfect person to help her through this, and in the end, maybe Lacy would finally see him for the man he was trying to be.The man I am.
His phone vibrated with a text from Lacy. Dane smiled as he scrolled to read it.
Did you just call?
He laughed and texted back.I called, then remembered ur not supposed 2fall in love w/me so…
He drank his coffee on the deck and stretched out in the morning sun. When his phone vibrated again, a thrill ran through him.
A hang-up will def keep me from falling in luv w/u. Seeu in 20mins.
Dane watched Lacy walking toward the dock. Her blond curls hung thick and wild around her nicely tanned face. Her hips swayed as she walked in a short white skirt, and the navy sleeveless blouse and white sneakers she wore gave her a nautical look. Dane smiled. Every time he saw her, she looked even prettier than she had the time before.
She looked at the itinerary he’d given her, on which he’d written,I’ll be in the third slip from the left.She wrinkled her nose, looked to the left, then to the right, then checked the paper again and scanned the boats one more time. She was so stinkin’ cute that he was tempted to watch her for a few more minutes as she figured things out, but the urge to be closer to her was greater than his desire to watch her.
Dane stood and waved. “Lace!”
She waved and approached the boat with a smile. “This is like the boat we were on in Wellfleet.”
“Sort of. It’s much smaller. Treat has great taste,” Dane said.
“You stayed here? Why am I not surprised?” she asked.
He kissed her cheek. “Friends greet that way, so that’s within my rights,” he teased. He reached for her hand to help her aboard.
“I’m not going out with you to hunt for sharks,” she said.
“I know. There are no sharks in coffee, and I don’t think there are many sharks at the library, so we should be safe.” He helped her onto the boat. “Home away from home,” he said. “Coffee?”
“No, thanks,” Lacy said, eyeing the cabin. Her cheeks flushed.
“Don’t even think about it. I’m not going down in that cabin with you. The last time I did, you took advantage of me.” He winked and was relieved when she smiled.
“Does the library open this early?” she asked.
“No, but I thought we might go to the fish pier, then maybe take a walk through town, and by the time the library opens, we’ll be right there.”
“Don’t you have to work?” she asked.
“We tagged a big one Sunday, and yeah, I have to work, but I’ve reprioritized my duties, and I’ve dedicated the next few days to ensuring that you get a proper education on all things Brave.” Dane finished his coffee and went belowdecks to wash his coffee cup while Lacy relaxed in the sun.
“Ready?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose,” she said.
A few minutes later, they climbed into Dane’s car and drove down to the Chatham fish pier. It was too early to see the fishermen bringing in their loads for the day, but Dane had already spoken to the pier manager and he had something else in store for Lacy.
They parked by the road and walked down a steep hill toward the pier.
“This is so cute,” she said as they passed the fish market.
