Luring Lucy by Lori Foster

whispered to her, keeping her close with one arm around her shoulders while he held the bag with his free hand, “I knew a woman who looked just like the one on the right.”
    Startled, Lucy asked, “Is that maybe her?”
    â€œNo, but the similarity is uncanny.”
    Feeling a tad snippy, Lucy said, “She was rather memorable, I gather?”
    â€œYeah, she was.” Bram led her around another couple coming up the walk, then again steered them toward the boat. “She’d been coming to the gym for about a month before I said anything to her. As soon as I did speak to her, she told me she and her boyfriend had just broken up and she invited me over.”
    â€œAnd of course you just had to go.”
    Bram shrugged. “You and the kids had just taken off for vacation. I didn’t have anything more exciting to do, so yes, I went.”
    They had reached the dock, and both of the women turned, smiling at Bram. They didn’t seem the least put off that he was with another woman, Lucy noted, and she wanted to push them both into the water for discounting her so completely.
    Instead she smiled and said, “Hi.”
    They ignored her.
    Bram ignored them.
    It was small consolation to watch their faces fall as Bram gave Lucy all his attention. Exhibiting true gentlemanly tendencies, he helped her into the boat, then handed her the bag. Before he steppedin himself he untied the rope from the grommet. One of the women asked, “Want me to give you a push?”
    Distracted, Bram glanced at her as he sat behind the wheel and said, “No thanks. I’ve got it.” Using one long arm, he pushed the boat out and away from the dock, then started the engine and put it in reverse.
    Lucy waited until they were well away from the gas docks to say, “OK, so what was so memorable about her?”
    Bram glanced at Lucy. “I’ll tell you when we reach the house.”
    â€œTell me now.”
    â€œCan’t.” He shoved at the throttle and the boat leaped forward, the engine roaring. “It’s tough to talk over the engine,” he yelled.
    Lucy turned away from him. She hadn’t really wanted to know anyway. Thinking of Bram making love to a woman with a perfect body would only disturb her. She wanted to think about him having sex with her instead.
    Unable to resist, she turned to watch him as he steered the boat, cutting through the waves with barely a bounce. Tonight, she thought, she’d get to find out what all the talk was about.
    She only hoped Bram wouldn’t leave disappointed.
    Â 
    â€œAre you getting hungry?” Bram asked her, watching her face as they carried the few groceries in to the L-shaped dining and kitchen area.
    He saw Lucy’s shoulders stiffen just a bit, and she said, “I can eat whenever you’re ready.”
    â€œBut you’re not overly hungry now?” Bram kept one eye on her while he put the corn and steaks in the refrigerator. She was aroused, bless her heart, not interested in food, but unwilling to be aggressive enough to initiate things. He’d get her over her shyness soon enough.
    Lucy kept busy folding and refolding the grocery bag before finally putting it away in a drawer. She had her back to him, but he didn’t need to see her face to know what she was feeling. He felt it too, in spades.
    â€œNo,” she said, “I’m not very hungry.”
    â€œGood.” Bram closed the refrigerator and approached her before she could turn. He caged her in by flattening his hands on the counter at either side of her hips. He pressed into her bottom and nuzzled her neck. “That woman I told you was somewhat memorable?”
    â€œYeah, so? What about her?”
    Her disgruntled tone tickled him, and he smiled against the nape of her neck, then whispered, “She wanted me to spank her.”
    Lucy drew tight, her head lifted to attention.
“What?”
    She sounded just like a