Page 52 of Country Winds
Tucker handed beers to Jace and Braxton. He settled back on the cushions of the lounge chair. The sun was warm on his arms and legs, and he breathed in the scent of the lake.
He popped the tab of his beer can. “You all are on the boat for a week?”
“Every summer since we were young.” Levi tipped his head in the direction of the lake. “It’s one of the highlights of the year.”
Jace lowered his beer. “Last year was the only time any one of us had missed the trip, when Ellie had to go to L.A. to work on voicework for that game that just came out.”
“It wasn’t the same without that kid.” Hoss glanced in her direction before looking back at Tucker. “But we had a great time as always.”
“At least she got to come for the weekend this time.” Braxton shrugged. “That girl has gotten busier than a bee in a beehive.”
Tucker looked toward Ellie, who was laughing at something her mom said. She certainly was a lot busier now than when he’d met her. It was already a strain on their relationship. He didn’t feel that he had to be with her every moment, or that she should change her plans because of him. But he missed her when she was gone and didn’t like the idea of her trips becoming more and more frequent.
He turned his attention back to the guys. “What all do you do on these vacations?”
“We find a private cove and hang out there for a week.” Hoss tipped his beer and took a swallow.
Tucker looked out into the vast expanse of the lake before turning his attention back to the guys. “You can find places that aren’t crowded?”
Jace chimed in. “Lake Havasu has long stretches of beaches and hidden coves that can only be accessed by boat. We have a favorite, and Tanner will take us there first, to see if it’s available. It usually is.”
Tucker settled back in his lounge chair. “I’ve been on lakes around the Phoenix area, but they’re usually crowded.”
“That’s one reason why we come to Lake Havasu instead.” Jace pulled off his T-shirt to take in some sun. “We go snorkeling, take the Jet Skis out, shoot some skeet, go fishing, swim, and whatever else we can come up with.”
They continued shooting the breeze, talking about the previous summer’s activities and what they planned to do this summer.
Tucker had to focus on the conversation and not think about Ellie. The woman he loved filled his thoughts so often that sometimes it was an effort to turn his attention elsewhere.
He enjoyed talking with her brothers and dad. They were good guys, and he’d only ever heard positive things about the family. The siblings’ parents had raised them right.
The boat slowed, and Tanner guided it at a slow idle speed into a small cove with a long stretch of sandy beach. He positioned the boat at a ninety-degree angle to the shoreline. Tucker helped the McLeod brothers expertly secure the boat with main and land-based anchors, and they placed an old tire under the bow to protect the shore.
Ellie joined Tucker on the shore when the boat had been secured. She now wore only her bathing suit, having taken off her cover and water shoes. He tried not to stare at her figure, the tops of her breasts looking full and tempting above the neckline of her suit. His hands itched to touch her, to trace his fingers over the curves of her breasts and down the sides to her waist. The cut of her swimsuit made her legs look even longer.
He swallowed, hoping his swim trunks were baggy enough to hide the reaction he was having just looking at her.
She stood close and tipped her face up to his. “Let’s walk on the beach a bit.”
He removed his water shoes and carried them while grasping her hand. It felt warm in his, and her smile was like sunshine as she looked up at him as they walked, his bare feet sinking into the warm sand. “Did that bunch overdo the protective brother act?”
Tucker smiled. “My brothers and I would do the same when it comes to Maddee. We’re just as protective of her as your brothers are of you.”
“At least you can relate to them.” She shook her head. “They chased off a few of the guys I dated when I was young, and I was none too happy about it.” She shrugged. “They had pretty good bullshit radar, which I didn’t at the time. Still made me mad as hell.”
“Maddee could tell you similar stories.” He smiled down at her.
* * *
The way Tucker looked at her made Ellie feel as if she were made of sunlight, bright and radiant.
They walked down the beach, holding hands and talking. After a while, they returned to the houseboat, and her brothers were preparing to drive their sit-down Jet Skis.
“Tucker has never driven a Jet Ski.” Ellie stood at the shore and addressed her brothers. “I want to take him out and show him the ropes.”
“You can drive mine.” Jace gestured to a pile of life jackets on the beach. “Put on your PFD and climb on board.”
Ellie and Tucker put on their life jackets and water shoes. When they were ready, she moved to the craft’s stern, grabbed the handle on the back of the seat, and hoisted herself onto the boarding platform. Tucker followed suit and scooted behind her on the seat.
