“This is gorgeous,” she breathed, looking around at the gleaming wood and fresh paint.
“It is. I’ll give you the tour.”
The boat was smaller below than she expected with a little galley, small living-slash-eating area, and a single bedroom with a tiny bath. But upstairs, there was space to sit or lay out in the sun and enjoy the water.
“Why don’t you get into your bathing suit while I cast us off and get the boat going?”
Nova nodded. She was wearing her suit beneath her shorts and tank, but she needed to slather on some sunscreen. The Texas sun in August was a killer.
She headed below to take care of things and when she came back up, she wore a high-waisted bikini that looked like a throwback to the forties or fifties. The bottoms were ruched in a flattering way and the fabric was black with little red cherries dancing all over it. The top was a halter neck and the same red as the cherries on the bottoms.
Nova liked the way it looked on her and Torin obviously did too because he whistled.
“I like that suit,” he said, making sure she knew that he was a fan.
“Thanks.”
She was a fan of his suit too. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a pair of bright blue board shorts, but he’d taken off his shirt and exposed his leanly muscled torso and tattoos.
She lifted the sunscreen in her hand. “Would you do my back and shoulders?” she asked. “I burn easily and I can’t reach everywhere, even with the spray.”
“Only if you do mine, too,” he said.
Ha! He didn’t have to ask. In fact, she’d do his front, too, if he’d let her.
Though the sunscreen was cold when he sprayed it on her skin, Nova didn’t shiver until his hands moved over her neck, shoulders, and down, to rub it in. Torin didn’t say anything but his breathing deepened.
“Did I miss a spot?” he finally asked, his voice hoarse.
“No,” she answered.
Then, she turned to face him, holding out a hand. “Now, I’ll do yours.”
His eyes were covered by his dark sunglasses, but she could feel their weight on her face as he handed her the spray. Before he could turn and present his back to her, she sprayed all over his chest and abdomen. She tucked the small bottle in the strap of her bathing suit to free up both hands and started rubbing the fluid into his skin.
He stood completely still beneath her touch and didn’t move even as her palms ran over his abdomen. She wanted to take her time, to study the tattoos beneath her fingers, but she wasn’t quite ready for where that might lead. Not yet.
She walked around behind him, taking the bottle out to spray the back of his neck, shoulders, and his back. And got a good look at the piece that rested on his left shoulder blade, running down to his mid-back on the left side. It was a portrait of a beautiful woman who looked a lot like Torin and Molly. Her hair and make-up were old-fashioned, straight from the era that inspired Nova’s swimsuit.
She rubbed the liquid into his skin, studying the picture. “Is this your grandmother?” she asked.
“Yes,” Torin answered, his voice soft.
“She’s beautiful. You and Molly look a great deal like her.”
“She was one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met.” He cleared his throat. “You remind me a lot of her.”
Nova’s fingers stilled. It was clear by the size and detail of the tattoo that Torin cared a great deal about his grandmother. And in the tone of his voice with just that one sentence. The fact that he thought Nova resembled her in some way touched her more deeply than she expected it would.
“I’m glad,” Nova finally said, resting her hands on his back just below that tattoo.
Torin turned to face her and she could see herself reflected in his sunglasses. “She was independent, like you. And she marched to her own drummer the same way you do. Hell, she led the damn parade. She was never happiest than when she learned something new or made a new friend or saw something beautiful. And she loved her family with her entire being. She would have done anything for any of us.”
Nova’s throat tightened. “I’m glad that you think I have even one of those qualities.”
His hands came up to cup her face. “I’m pretty sure you have all of them.”
Her lip quivered and she swallowed hard. “Quit being so sweet or I’m going to bawl all over you.”
