“But ” He winked.
“Let’s just leave it at that.”
He chuckled.
Rubi looked around. The sky was lighter. Any second the sun was going to wink over the horizon and light this lake on fire. She snuggled down further. “I don’t know as I’ve ever felt this content.”
“Yeah?” His hand began to trail up and down her calf again.
“I don’t relax—it’s not in my nature. And if someone is watching me, I have an audience. But I don’t feel that pressure out here.”
“So what am I?” The curiosity in his voice was inviting and attractive.
“You’re someone I don’t have to act around.” She brought her hand down on his shoulder. His heat surged through the thin fabric and spread up her arm and across her chest.
“So this is the real you? The you no one else sees.”
“Yep. Pretty boring, right?”
His hand moved to her waist and he leaned over her. Rubi adjusted to make room for him, her pulse thrumming in her ears. “Are you bored?” he asked, trailing his fingers down her cheek.
“Nope,” she whispered. She wassonot bored. If anything, she was on high alert. Every place they touched tingled with happiness. She ran her hands down his cheeks, feeling his soft whiskers against her palm, and giggled.
“Me neither.” He pressed his lips to hers and it was like a thousand spotlights lit up her world. She could tell he was holding back, being a gentleman, and she was having none of that. Sliding her fingers around his neck, she pulled him closer and let him deepen the kiss. Between happy sighs and pulses of joy, he kissed her more thoroughly than she’d ever been kissed in her life. His lips were firm and confident, warm and loving as they trailed down her neck and back up to a soft spot under her ear. Giggling, because his beard tickled and he seemed to find all her sensitive places, she leaned into him.
When she opened her eyes, she realized the sun had come up. The brightness made her blink. Cash was kissing her neck and she was having a hard time concentrating. “Cash?”
“Hmmm.”
“I’m leaving,” she whispered.
“Not likely, we’re at anchor,” he half growled.
“No.” She laughed. Relaxing her hold so he could pull back and look her in the eye, she met his gaze. “I’m flying out tomorrow. I’ll be gone for three weeks.”
He brushed a stray hair off her forehead, taking her in like he couldn’t soak up enough of her. “You’re coming back, though, right?”
“For a month, and then we’re on location again.”
Cash sat up, pulling her with him. The blanket had fallen to the bottom of the boat, but with the sun up and all the kissing they’d done, neither of them reached for it. “So we’ll have a month and then see what happens.”
“Are you sayin’ you’re in this?” Rubi wanted him in so badly, but he had to know what he was getting into. She knew. Sheknew it was a road that only led to heartbreak, because she’d traveled that stretch of life’s highway before. But for Cash, she’d take some wonderful before it all fell apart. “Because I need to know what we’re doin’ here—I can’t leave with a half-open door.”
He kissed her hair. “You didn’t say half-shutdoor. I’m takin’ that as a good sign for us.”
She grabbed the front of his shirt, not wanting to ever let go. “I’ve been here before Cash. Guys love having Rubi Walsh on their arm for parties, but when I actually have to work, the novelty wears off quickly.”
“I don’t think that could happen with you. This girl, the one in my boat right now, that’s the girl I want to be with. Not the actress on the big screen. I just want a fishing buddy—my buddy.” He nuzzled her neck.
She laughed in relief. “I’m a terrible fishing buddy. We haven’t caught a thing.”
“You know what they say—A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.”
“If this is what fishing is like ” She kissed him. “Then I think I could learn to like it.”
“I’ve never used this particular technique.” He returned her kisses. “But I could get used to it too.”
“So we’re giving this a try?” she asked.
