be running on the short side of his mother’s current relationship. “Well, if you get some free time, today was my last day in the chair.”
“How’s the employment picture looking?”
“I’ve put in some applications.” Would he attempt to dissuade her from taking up her father’s grail?
The fire engine fired up and his crew starting climbing into their rig.
She crossed her arms to peel from the warm security of his hoodie. “Here.”
He gently stopped her. “I’ll get it later. Go home. A hot shower will do you good. A drink probably wouldn’t hurt either.”
“Firefighter’s orders?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He glanced to the engine then lightly brushed his lips against hers.
His fingers caressed her nape. Lost in his kiss, she swayed.
“You okay, Jo?” He held her until she regained her balance.
“I am now.” She traced his jaw, wishing for more. Imagining how his hard body would take her higher than she’d ever been.
Later, at home after her shower, she lounged on the sofa nestled in his sweatshirt. Her cell went off.
“The surfer is showing improvement, according to the ambulance crew. Thought you might sleep better knowing,” Ray said.
She’d sleep even better with him next to her…after hours of sex. “Thanks for being there and for loaning me your hoodie.”
“Anything for the hottest lifeguard on OBX,” his deep voice caressed her ear. “The real reason for my call is to see how you’re doing.”
“Jack’s warming me up.”
“Lucky bastard.”
Chapter 10
Jo rode a wave to the shallows. The ringtone of her phone had her racing to her towel.
“Did I wake you?” Ray’s smooth as whiskey voice sparked a sensual burn in her lower belly.
“No.” She panted. “I’m on the beach. Tell me the surfer didn’t take the big adios.”
“Not that I heard. Just checking on you. Figured you didn’t eat dinner last night. Thought you could use some breakfast. I’m doing a deck job this morning, and you’re on my way. You game?”
“You trust me to make coffee?”
“Barely.” A smile seeped through his tone. “I’ll be there in a few.”
Grabbing her board, she rushed for the house. After starting the coffee, she towel dried her hair and headed for her closet. She thumbed through the sparse variety and frowned. To say she wasn’t a clothes horse was a gross understatement. Then again, she had lived most of her life in a swimsuit.
Quickly, she turned for the dresser and opted for a pair of board shorts and a spaghetti tank shirt. Rather than fuss with her unruly curls, she twisted them up with a couple of combs. She’d washed her face and brush her teeth before dual exhaust bellowed in the driveway.
Ray breezed into the kitchen wearing cargo shorts, construction boots and a worn Ducks Unlimited T-shirt minus the sleeves. His bicep flexed as he held the box of Krispy Kremes. A Sonic bag dangled from the fingers of his other hand.
She snatched the doughnuts.
“A hundred dollar tip didn’t get me anywhere. I should have thought of sweets, instead.” He grinned.
“I deserved that.” She arranged their breakfast on a tray, poured him a cup of coffee, and shoved the oversized mug into his hand.
Yesterday seemed dreamlike, yet she still felt his warm and protective embrace. The masculine taste of his lips. She followed him to the deck.
He sank onto a deck chair and sipped on his coffee while staring at the ocean.
His reflective, man of few words, mood stirred her curiosity.
* * * *
Ray relaxed onto the Adirondack, already warmed by the September sun. Surf conditions made him wish he could stay. God, he loved this place. He’d grown up on this beach and was more at home here than anywhere. After Cappy died and Jo left for college, the place reminded him of those lost. He and Bobby took to having brews at Papagayos, but he missed hanging here almost as much as he had missed Jo.
During her absence, he’d decided it was for the best he hadn’t
“How’s the employment picture looking?”
“I’ve put in some applications.” Would he attempt to dissuade her from taking up her father’s grail?
The fire engine fired up and his crew starting climbing into their rig.
She crossed her arms to peel from the warm security of his hoodie. “Here.”
He gently stopped her. “I’ll get it later. Go home. A hot shower will do you good. A drink probably wouldn’t hurt either.”
“Firefighter’s orders?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He glanced to the engine then lightly brushed his lips against hers.
His fingers caressed her nape. Lost in his kiss, she swayed.
“You okay, Jo?” He held her until she regained her balance.
“I am now.” She traced his jaw, wishing for more. Imagining how his hard body would take her higher than she’d ever been.
Later, at home after her shower, she lounged on the sofa nestled in his sweatshirt. Her cell went off.
“The surfer is showing improvement, according to the ambulance crew. Thought you might sleep better knowing,” Ray said.
She’d sleep even better with him next to her…after hours of sex. “Thanks for being there and for loaning me your hoodie.”
“Anything for the hottest lifeguard on OBX,” his deep voice caressed her ear. “The real reason for my call is to see how you’re doing.”
“Jack’s warming me up.”
“Lucky bastard.”
Chapter 10
Jo rode a wave to the shallows. The ringtone of her phone had her racing to her towel.
“Did I wake you?” Ray’s smooth as whiskey voice sparked a sensual burn in her lower belly.
“No.” She panted. “I’m on the beach. Tell me the surfer didn’t take the big adios.”
“Not that I heard. Just checking on you. Figured you didn’t eat dinner last night. Thought you could use some breakfast. I’m doing a deck job this morning, and you’re on my way. You game?”
“You trust me to make coffee?”
“Barely.” A smile seeped through his tone. “I’ll be there in a few.”
Grabbing her board, she rushed for the house. After starting the coffee, she towel dried her hair and headed for her closet. She thumbed through the sparse variety and frowned. To say she wasn’t a clothes horse was a gross understatement. Then again, she had lived most of her life in a swimsuit.
Quickly, she turned for the dresser and opted for a pair of board shorts and a spaghetti tank shirt. Rather than fuss with her unruly curls, she twisted them up with a couple of combs. She’d washed her face and brush her teeth before dual exhaust bellowed in the driveway.
Ray breezed into the kitchen wearing cargo shorts, construction boots and a worn Ducks Unlimited T-shirt minus the sleeves. His bicep flexed as he held the box of Krispy Kremes. A Sonic bag dangled from the fingers of his other hand.
She snatched the doughnuts.
“A hundred dollar tip didn’t get me anywhere. I should have thought of sweets, instead.” He grinned.
“I deserved that.” She arranged their breakfast on a tray, poured him a cup of coffee, and shoved the oversized mug into his hand.
Yesterday seemed dreamlike, yet she still felt his warm and protective embrace. The masculine taste of his lips. She followed him to the deck.
He sank onto a deck chair and sipped on his coffee while staring at the ocean.
His reflective, man of few words, mood stirred her curiosity.
* * * *
Ray relaxed onto the Adirondack, already warmed by the September sun. Surf conditions made him wish he could stay. God, he loved this place. He’d grown up on this beach and was more at home here than anywhere. After Cappy died and Jo left for college, the place reminded him of those lost. He and Bobby took to having brews at Papagayos, but he missed hanging here almost as much as he had missed Jo.
During her absence, he’d decided it was for the best he hadn’t
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