Always by Carol Rose

with a frown. "I don't remember reading about that."
    "You haven't gone far enough." A lazy smile curled his mouth as he lay back on the blanket.
    "Oh." Feeling a sudden need for activity, she began gathering their discarded plates.
    "We're also committing to a yearly contribution to the Bayville school system," Cole added, a sensual smile lurking in his somnolent eyes as if he knew the chaos he stimulated in her.
    "That sounds really good." For some reason, she felt breathless, as if the air by the river had suddenly heated.
    "I thought you'd be pleased."
    Elinor glanced at him sharply, not fooled by his meek tone. The man was too used to winning. She thought briefly about maintaining her hard line against the plant, just to spite him. But it might not be in the town's best interest. As things were unfolding, Cole Whittier might just be the best thing that had ever happened to Bayville.
    Finished packing the picnic basket, Elinor settled onto the blanket, battling the urge to relax. Lying back on the blanket could only lead to one thing, given the sexual tension that hummed between her and Cole. And she couldn't allow herself to be seduced just because the man had set up a college fund.
    "I think," Cole stared up into the canopy of branches as he spoke, "that it's time to subtract those ten years we were talking about earlier."
    "You mean this wasn't it?" Elinor gestured to the picnic basket.
    "Oh, no," he dismissed. "What's risky about a picnic?" He vaulted to his feet in a sudden, athletic move.
    "Risky?" Elinor echoed, staring up at him. "This has to be risky?"
    "All the really good things in life are," Cole told her, holding out his hand.
    "Oh." What on earth could he be up to now? She'd been sure he was about to make a move on her, but the sudden, dancing light in his eyes didn't look the least bit seductive.
    "Come on, Elinor. Let's be eighteen."
    "Eighteen wasn't a really good year for me," she grumbled, letting him pull her to her feet.
    "Sometime I want you to tell me about your best year," he commented, dragging her by the hand as he purposefully approached the river.
    "Wait a second!" Elinor yelped, trying to tug her hand loose from his grip to no avail.
    "You must approach life with a more open attitude," Cole lectured, towing her to the bank of the river.
    "Cole! Don't you dare!" she howled.
    Standing next to the water, he suddenly dropped her hand.
    Elinor backed up, gaping in shock as Cole began to shuck his shoes and socks.
    "What on earth are you doing?"
    "Rolling up my pants," he replied with equanimity.
    "You're going to . . . wade?"
    "Yes, my lovely chicken. If I were planning to skinny dip, I'd be dropping my pants." Dressed only in a short- sleeved oxford shirt and trousers rolled up to his knees, he presented an incongruous sight. "And I am not planning to wade alone."
    "Now, Cole." Elinor started backing up in earnest. True, it was a great relief not to be thrown into the water, or asked to strip down to the buff. But that didn't mean she wanted to go wading. "Cole, it's too cold to go wading."
    "It's never too cold to wade in Louisiana." He snagged her wrist again, this time bending down to hoist her over his shoulder.
    "Cole!" she shrieked between helpless giggles as he strode toward the river. "Put me down!"
    He set her down just at the river's edge. "Now." He leered evilly. "Do you need any help getting out of those panty hose?"
    "No," Elinor averred quickly.
    Cole laughed. "Okay, but I'm only turning my back for ten seconds." He swiveled around and began counting loudly.
    "Good grief!" She grappled under her skirt with urgent hands, grateful she'd left the hated shoes back at the blanket.
    "Seven and a half," he counted. "Eight, eight and three-fourths."
    Elinor tugged at the stretchy material, wondering why panty hose never came down when you needed them to.
    "Nine, nine and five-eighths."
    She balanced, waveringly on one bare foot, tugging desperately to free the other.
    "Ten!" Cole pivoted