Summer Lovin by Carly Phillips

more simple one would take away from the innuendo implied by the bath and body basket—even if his skin were tingling as if she’d used that loofah sponge on him, then followed it up with her hands, and then those luscious lips he’d tasted the other day.
    Zoe placed a hand on his shoulder, her soft touch doing nothing to help him repress his desire to sleep with her as soon as possible.
    â€œIt was so nice of you to ask me out for my birthday, even if I’m certain Sam put you up to it,” she said, laughing.
    He grinned. “The kid has a way about her, that’s for sure. It’s true she might have told me it was your birthday, but I would have asked you out, anyway.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œEventually,” he admitted. “When these things between us got more settled.” When there was no agenda between them.
    Which might be never, he thought to himself.
    She raised an eyebrow, her understanding as strong as his. “Settled isn’t necessarily going to be a good thing, so let’s just enjoy now, why don’t we?”
    He nodded. “Good thinking.”
    A glance at the road signs told him they were only five minutes away from the restaurant Elena had suggested for their “date” and he wondered when the hell Zoe’s cell phone would ring and put the real plan into motion.
    As if by command, he heard the distinctive sound of a cell-phone ring coming from her bag. She answered, spoke to the person on the other end, argued some and then finally agreed to do whatever was being asked of her.
    â€œI said I’ll be right there,” she grumbled before she hung up and looked over at Ryan.
    â€œSomething wrong?” he asked.
    â€œOnly adolescent angst.”
    He glanced at her questioningly.
    â€œWe call it the old stomp, stomp, slam. In other words, something set Sam off and she stormed into another room and slammed the door.”
    He pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, which faced the water and where they supposedly had an outdoor table reserved.
    â€œI’m sure she’ll come out of her room eventually.” He put the car into park and turned toward her.
    Zoe sighed. “She’s not in her room, she’s at Aunt Kassie’s restaurant. Apparently, she’s locked herself in the ladies’ room and won’t come out.”
    Ryan tried not to laugh at Sam’s shenanigans to get Zoe to her surprise party. “Is this normal behavior for her?” he asked, playing along.
    To his shock, she nodded. “It’s normal teenage, hormonal behavior. That’s why we call it stomp, stomp, slam, as in, stomp out of the room, then stomp down the hall and finally slam the door shut behind her.”
    â€œI have vague recollections of my sister acting the same way.”
    â€œSo you understand why we have to head on over there?” She sounded truly disappointed and something inside him lifted with the knowledge that she really had wanted to go out on a date with him.
    â€œYour parents can’t handle it?”
    She shook her head. “Sam yelled through the closed door that she’d only talk to me.”
    â€œYou think it’s a good idea to indulge her tantrums?” Although Ryan knew this particular episode was faked, he wondered how often Sam pulled such extreme stunts to get attention.
    â€œI’ll explain on the way, okay?”
    Feigning resignation, he placed the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking spot. “I need directions, though. It was enough of a challenge memorizing the way to this place from the map.” He treated her to what he hoped looked like a forced smile, doing his bit for the charade.
    â€œMake a left out of here and get back onto the Garden State.”
    As he followed her directions, he listened to her insight into his niece. “We don’t indulge Sam. It’s just that we’re aware of how hard she’s had it, and we do our best