“Can you tell me why you never learned to swim?”
Cassie immediately moved back, and her expression hardened. She focused on the horizon ahead and didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Taryn made no attempt to fill the silence though she wasn’t used to any periods of quiet between them. If she thought back over their time together so far, the only time they weren’t engaged in constant conversation was when they were sleeping or having sex. But this emptiness seemed necessary. If Cassie didn’t want to talk about something, Taryn expected her to simply say so and they could move on to a safer topic.
“No one ever taught me.”
A gust of wind lifted the canopy edge slightly, and in the streaming sunlight, Taryn saw Cassie’s eyes were rimmed with tears. She placed her hand on Cassie’s knee gently. Her reaction had caught Taryn off guard. The fun and sexy date she’d planned had started with promise but had taken a serious turn since they’d pulled into the parking lot. “We can talk about something else…”
“Do youwantto talk about something else?” Cassie asked. “No judgment, obviously. We’re just supposed to be having fun, not having serious conversations like this.”
Taryn placed her finger under Cassie’s chin and lifted it slowly. Cassie looked up into Taryn’s eyes and smiled, but it wasn’t the carefree smile she’d gotten used to seeing. “I don’t remember setting out expectations or legislation around what we could and couldn’t do, can or can’t talk about.” Of course she hadn’t anticipated this date going quite as sideways as it had, but that didn’t mean she was in any hurry to escape it. “I can do serious too, when the need arises.” She pressed her lips to Cassie’s forehead then pulled back. “I’ve been told I’m a good listener.” Which was the exact opposite of what she’d been told, but Andi had only meant it jokingly. Mostly.
Cassie looked at her and didn’t seem convinced. “Okay. Maybe just a little seriousness then.”
Taryn winked, engaged the throttle again and continued on their course, figuring that Cassie might feel more comfortable talking if Taryn wasn’t staring deep into her eyes. She knew that’d be the case for her; there was no way she’d be able to concentrate on anything other than Cassie’s beauty if they were face to face.
“I won’t bore you with all the details,” Cassie said, “but my dad left when I was seven, and my mom kind of lost interest in raising me after…after that.”
The hesitation in Cassie’s voice indicated there might be more to it than she was saying, but Taryn wasn’t about to push. Whatever pain Cassie was carrying with her, it was hers to reveal as and when she saw fit.
“What about you?” Cassie asked. “Where did you get your fearlessness from?”
“From both my parents, I guess. They were pretty fearless when it came to setting up their business and attempting state-wide domination.” Taryn laughed. She’d never really thought about it. “Though I have to wonder, a trait has to start somewhere, doesn’t it? Maybe I made myself fearless.”
“I don’t know if that makes your parents sound scary or impressive. Maybe both. What do they do?”
Now it was Taryn’s turn to feel a little uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, which was absurd. Cassie had grown up with an apathetic parent; comparing their situations was like comparing avocados and pears, similar shapes but that was all. “They turn rich individuals into perfect plastic people—or at least, what they see as perfect.”
She glanced at Cassie, who looked like she was trying to work out what she meant.
“Ah, they’re plastic surgeons?”
Taryn nodded then cut the engine so they could bob around in the water a while and she could get a drink. She went to the cooler and pulled out a bottle of water. She had beer in there too, but somehow, she intuited that Cassie would want her in total control of her faculties, even to drive this slow-ass snail tugboat. “Can I get you something to drink? I don’t think it would look good for a doctor to let herself get dehydrated.”
“Water, please.”
Taryn handed Cassie her bottle and got another one out, along with a bag of Ruffles. She sat in the corner bench seat and stretched her legs out. “Join me?”
Cassie got up gingerly and navigated her way slowly to the back of the boat. “Lift your legs.”
Taryn did so and Cassie sat on the bench then pulled Taryn’s legs over hers. She snagged the chips, and they crunched through a few without speaking.
“Both of your parents are plastic surgeons?” Cassie ran the heel of her palm along Taryn’s quad. “Your legs are so strong.”
Taryn took a long drink of water and enjoyed the feel of Cassie’s skin against hers. “I’mnotone of their plastic people projects, in case you were wondering.” She tensed her thighs and smiled at the little squeak of pleasure it elicited from Cassie. “This is all totally natural and borne from damn hard work.”
“I didn’t think you were anything else.” Cassie moved farther up Taryn’s leg, and her fingertips explored under the edge of Taryn’s jean shorts.
“Seems like you’re getting more comfortable on the water,” Taryn said and put her hand over Cassie’s.
Cassie shrugged and pulled her hand back along Taryn’s thigh. She traced the edge of the muscle around Taryn’s knee instead.
“To answer your question, yes, Mom and Dad are both plastic surgeons—very successful plastic surgeons—as are all my siblings.”
“Allyour siblings?”
“Two brothers and two sisters, who are twins. I’m the second youngest.”
“You’re one of five kids? Must’ve been a crowded house.”
