those delicious lips of hers.
“I’m so proud of you right now. You can do this.”
She slid her arms down his shoulders and over his biceps, gripping them tightly.
“It’s okay. You can hold me. Kick your feet. That’s a girl. Now use your arms to tread water. I will not let go until you tell me to.”
Her arms slid into the water, and she treaded water beautifully.
“How do you feel?”
“Like a child.” She smiled.
“Trust me, you look nothing like a child.” He blew her a kiss. “Do you feel buoyant? Want to try on your own?”
“I remember how, even though the last time I swam was so long ago. I’m just scared. I always tried to conquer this fear, but I never made it. I’ve never been able to force myself to go into deep water. There are only a few things I’m still trying to overcome, but this one scares the daylights out of me. But with you, I want to try harder. I want to overcome it.”
“Like I said, I can stand here all night. Take your time.”
Kat treaded water, her eyes never leaving his, and a few minutes later she said, “I’m ready.”
“Okay.” He took his hands away, keeping them open in the water so he could grab her if need be.
“Ohmygod. I’m doing it. Eric!” She squealed as she treaded water. “This is amazing. It’s fun. It’s freeing!”
“God, you’re beautiful.” He stayed close as she swam around, never putting her head underwater, but keeping herself afloat with a sidestroke and breaststroke.
“I’m doing it. I’m not going under.”
“You’re capable of anything, Kat. There’s nothing you can’t do.”
She swam over to him and wrapped her arms and legs around him. “There is one thing I can’t do.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
She sealed her lips over his in a mind-numbing kiss. “I can’t carry you out of the water and have my way with you.”
He scooped her up into his arms again and carried her from the water, their bodies dripping wet, their lips locked in a searing-hot kiss. He laid her on the blanket and reached for his wallet. A minute later he was sheathed and perched above her, silently noting the burgeoning emotions filling his chest.
As he came down over her and their bodies joined together, she reached up and touched his cheek.
“What have you done to me, Eric James?”
“Whatever it is, it’s not enough. One night is not enough. Nothing will ever be enough. I feel like I’ve been waiting for you all my life. Promise me one more night, Kat.”
“Just one?”
He lowered his lips to hers, and beneath the moon and the stars, as Hope stood sentinel, their bodies fell into sync, and Eric found the only thing that had ever felt like home —and she was right there in his arms.
Chapter Eleven
BY SEVEN THIRTY the next morning the Braden house was bursting with energy. Christian was stuffing Cheerios into his little pudgy cheeks, and Layla was in full waitress mode. Her bangs were pinned up on top of her head in a pretty barrette, bringing her wide smile into full focus. She was obviously pleased to have a big-girl responsibility as she placed a plate of pancakes in front of Hal.
“Would you like butter, Poppy?” Layla asked.
Hal wrapped a thick arm around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “No, thank you, sweet girl. These look delicious just as they are.”
A proud smile passed between Kat and Brianna. Kat had grown up in Richmond, and when Brianna had first interviewed for the job at Old Town Tavern, she and Kat had immediately hit it off. Kat had been part of Brianna’s life since before Layla was born, and she could hardly believe how many years had passed. Layla was obviously flourishing as part of the Braden family.
Eric walked into the kitchen, freshly showered, with hair that looked towel dried and oh so sexy. His eyes immediately found Kat, and his lips curved up in a sinful smile that made her heart race. Every second they’d been together last night had brought them closer to
“I’m so proud of you right now. You can do this.”
She slid her arms down his shoulders and over his biceps, gripping them tightly.
“It’s okay. You can hold me. Kick your feet. That’s a girl. Now use your arms to tread water. I will not let go until you tell me to.”
Her arms slid into the water, and she treaded water beautifully.
“How do you feel?”
“Like a child.” She smiled.
“Trust me, you look nothing like a child.” He blew her a kiss. “Do you feel buoyant? Want to try on your own?”
“I remember how, even though the last time I swam was so long ago. I’m just scared. I always tried to conquer this fear, but I never made it. I’ve never been able to force myself to go into deep water. There are only a few things I’m still trying to overcome, but this one scares the daylights out of me. But with you, I want to try harder. I want to overcome it.”
“Like I said, I can stand here all night. Take your time.”
Kat treaded water, her eyes never leaving his, and a few minutes later she said, “I’m ready.”
“Okay.” He took his hands away, keeping them open in the water so he could grab her if need be.
“Ohmygod. I’m doing it. Eric!” She squealed as she treaded water. “This is amazing. It’s fun. It’s freeing!”
“God, you’re beautiful.” He stayed close as she swam around, never putting her head underwater, but keeping herself afloat with a sidestroke and breaststroke.
“I’m doing it. I’m not going under.”
“You’re capable of anything, Kat. There’s nothing you can’t do.”
She swam over to him and wrapped her arms and legs around him. “There is one thing I can’t do.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
She sealed her lips over his in a mind-numbing kiss. “I can’t carry you out of the water and have my way with you.”
He scooped her up into his arms again and carried her from the water, their bodies dripping wet, their lips locked in a searing-hot kiss. He laid her on the blanket and reached for his wallet. A minute later he was sheathed and perched above her, silently noting the burgeoning emotions filling his chest.
As he came down over her and their bodies joined together, she reached up and touched his cheek.
“What have you done to me, Eric James?”
“Whatever it is, it’s not enough. One night is not enough. Nothing will ever be enough. I feel like I’ve been waiting for you all my life. Promise me one more night, Kat.”
“Just one?”
He lowered his lips to hers, and beneath the moon and the stars, as Hope stood sentinel, their bodies fell into sync, and Eric found the only thing that had ever felt like home —and she was right there in his arms.
Chapter Eleven
BY SEVEN THIRTY the next morning the Braden house was bursting with energy. Christian was stuffing Cheerios into his little pudgy cheeks, and Layla was in full waitress mode. Her bangs were pinned up on top of her head in a pretty barrette, bringing her wide smile into full focus. She was obviously pleased to have a big-girl responsibility as she placed a plate of pancakes in front of Hal.
“Would you like butter, Poppy?” Layla asked.
Hal wrapped a thick arm around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “No, thank you, sweet girl. These look delicious just as they are.”
A proud smile passed between Kat and Brianna. Kat had grown up in Richmond, and when Brianna had first interviewed for the job at Old Town Tavern, she and Kat had immediately hit it off. Kat had been part of Brianna’s life since before Layla was born, and she could hardly believe how many years had passed. Layla was obviously flourishing as part of the Braden family.
Eric walked into the kitchen, freshly showered, with hair that looked towel dried and oh so sexy. His eyes immediately found Kat, and his lips curved up in a sinful smile that made her heart race. Every second they’d been together last night had brought them closer to
Similar Books
