Page 49 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
“You’re within normal levels, albeit at the high end of the range.” She let go of his wrist and patted his sweat-slicked, hard chest. “You aren’t in danger of keeling over, Grandpa.”
He stepped closer, pressing his fingers to the pulse at her neck. “We should probably check you too. You’re way too precious to me at the moment. I’d hate to have something happen on my watch.”
Her heart did a jumping jack in her chest, and an ache of longing started in her belly before fanning out across her skin as he touched her. His fingers were rough-tipped and blistering hot, but it was the arousal in his liquid blue eyes that had her fighting a sensual moan. She wanted to close her eyes and lean into him, savoring the sensation of his sweat-slicked body against her own as the ocean thundered around them. But that would be too fast, especially given the night ahead. So she locked her muscles and fought the inner tension rippling through her, urging her to take things further.
His fingers trailed down her neck, causing a streak of fire before falling away. “Your pulse kicked up for a moment there. I wonder why.”
She pushed at his chest before starting to jog again. “You know why,” she called flirtatiously over her shoulder.
He let her run ahead of him as she punched her speed. They’d both fought the pull of the moment back there. Tonight might be another matter.
She bit her lip to shift her focus back onto the case. Robbie hadn’t responded to her comment about the phone, but she could press the issue later while teaching Reagan to surf.
Somewhere in that house, there had to be a phone. He had to be communicating with either his partner, Internal Affairs, or both. Maybe even Tara. Surely, very shortly, he would know about the arson at Tara’s salon. How would Robbie react to the news? Their attraction only added a new urgency to the case.
The sooner they closed the case, the sooner they could stop lying to each other and find out what was really between them—assuming he could get past how they’d met.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Sunshine,sand, and sex.
Robbie wished he could have the girl and all the rest, but he knew better. So he took care of business as he showered, gritting his teeth. He laid his forehead against the tiles and let the cold water pour over him.
Summer had him so hot he was burning. He must have bad luck or something, because how could he meet a woman like her now? When he was pretending to be a single dad with two girls? Maybe he needed to ask Kathleen to send him a four-leaf clover from Ireland because, Jesus, the timing and situation couldn’t be worse. The longer he spent time with Summer, the more he felt like a louse for lying to her.
Part of him knew it shouldn’t matter. He was doing what he had to in order to protect the girls. Besides, he and Summer were just two ships passing in the night. Feeling guilty was a wasted emotion when they would never see each other again after this trip. He just needed to force the other crap out of his mind and enjoy her as much as he could safely allow.
Safely allow.What a joke. He was a raging inferno of lust mixed with a rare desire to get to know her better. Idiot was too soft a word for him. He needed to remind his brothers he might need them to knock him out soon.
Spying his erection, which was growing even though he’d taken care of business only moments earlier, he wanted to kick something. He gave an audible growl instead.
An answering hiss sounded behind him. He swung around and slipped on the wet tiles, landing hard on his ass. “Ouch!”
Miss Purrfect fell into a crouch and bared her sharp little white teeth, giving another angry hiss. The water from the showerhead rained down on him as they continued their standoff, Wet Naked Bruised Alpha against Bitchy Clever Cat.
“Okay, that’s it!” He shoved off the floor, wincing at the pain from his fall, and grabbed the shower wand, turning and spraying it in her direction. The cat shrieked and darted out of the bathroom.
“Chicken!” he shouted. “Freaking furball. I’m showering in here.”
He lowered the wand to his side, stretching to ease the sharp pain in his ass. Cursing again, he eyed the dripping mess of the bathroom. God, he hoped he’d gotten that cat wet, but now he was going to have to clean this crap up. And he had a grapefruit-sized bruise swelling on his butt. Terrific.
He spied the cracked door. How in the hell had the cat gotten in here? He knew he’d closed it behind him, not wanting any little children—Cassidy mainly—to come wandering in and find him naked. Jesus, he wasn’t a prude, but that wasn’t something he wanted either one of them to endure. He secured the shower wand back in its holder after turning off the faucet and grabbed a couple extra towels to mop up the floor. Muttering cuss words under his breath felt good, and when he finished his cleaning, he heaved the towels in the corner as hard as he could.
Erection now gone, he pulled open the door to his bedroom, determination in his every step. He was done with this. The cat. This stupidnot a vacationvacation. Lying to Summer. All of it.
A light rap of knuckles sounded on the door. “What are you barking at in there?” Tim asked loudly.
“Yeah!” Cassidy repeated. “Barking.”
Groaning at being asked to explain himself, he tugged on some shorts and crossed to open the bedroom door. As he let his brother and Cassidy in, he tensed. “That cat is still in my room. Otherwise, this door would be open too.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tim said, clearing his throat. “Robbie, you don’t look well.”
What the hell did he care how he looked? He scanned the room. “It has to still be in here. You’d better come out, you damn furball.”
“Language,” Tim cautioned, pointing to the little cherub in his arms who was grinning at him.
“I’m past that.” He grabbed a pillow, and that was when he saw the vomit on the other side. “Miss Purrfect puked on my bed! Oh, you are so going to get it.”
