“There’s a couple benches at the end,” he said.
“How far out does it go?”
“A hundred yards. It makes all the difference when you’re trying to spot species that nest in the reeds. For some reason people are more interested in the nature trail and water sports, so I rarely find anyone out here.”
Careful not to trip over the uneven planks on the walkway, Tina followed Vincent. By the time they reached the end, she was a little breathless and ready to retire the crutches.
“Now I know why I hate crutches.” She sat on the closest bench.
“Are you in pain?”
“My underarms ache from leaning on those hard pads, but my ankle feels better.”
“Good.” He started to unload the backpack. “You’ll probably want this.” He handed her the Audubon guidebook. “I’ve tabbed the pages with birds from South Texas. Considering the time of year and mild weather conditions, we might get lucky today.”
His enthusiasm still surprised Tina. She’d never met a dedicated bird-watcher before, much less one that wore patches from a 1%er MC. “I hope we find a great blue heron.”
“What about brown pelicans?” he asked.
“I’ve never seen one. Why?”
He pointed. “Four or five of them floating on the water.”
Tina immediately joined him near the railing. She squinted against the bright sunshine. “Can I use the binoculars?”
“Yes.”
She zoomed in. “Silly creatures—the kind of face only a mother could love.”
“Skilled predators.”
She lowered the binoculars and turned to Vincent. “Where else have you bird-watched?”
“New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, and England.”
“Military?”
“Two years in the Marines fresh out of high school. I was stationed in Japan for a few months, then transferred to England. The others were personal vacation choices.”
“New Zealand is gorgeous,” she observed.
“Best birding destination in the world. I spent three weeks traveling between North, South, and Stewart Islands, mostly camping and hiking.”
“Nothing so adventurous for me. I split my time between Christchurch and Auckland for an international law symposium.”
“Did you get to explore or were you chained to a conference table the whole time?” he asked.
“I attended the Beef and Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin Competition and gorged myself with samples from all the farms and sponsoring restaurants. Best meat I’ve ever tasted.” She batted her eyelashes, turning on the charm.
Vincent couldn’t hide his amusement. “I’m not afraid of stiff competition, Tina.”
Finally—he let go and countered with something naughty. But how did he keep a straight face? Movement nearby caught her attention. Another bird. “What’s that?”
“An egret.”
She explored every direction with the binoculars, spotting loons and sandpipers, which were common enough around town. A few ducks splashed by and even a canoe. But then she discovered something she couldn’t identify with dull gray feathers on its lower body and reddish feathers up top, crowned by crazy bed head. She couldn’t believe how exciting it felt. “I’m an avian explorer now,” she laughed, handing Vincent the lenses. “I need your expertise again. What’s that?” She showed him where to look.
“A rare find actually. The reddish egret is currently listed as a threatened species in Texas.”
He lingered, obviously captivated. Tina sucked in a breath, prepared to heat things up again. “What’s this?” She caressed his stomach with the back of her hand. Even through his clothes she could feel his rock-hard abs.
Good manners had never infected Tina the way they had other women in her family. Her mother would have a heart attack if she knew how sexually charged Tina’s words and actions were. But if Tina didn’t act, the chance to connect with this man might slip away. Verbal teasing provided entertainment, but she wanted more. Was pretty damn close to demanding it.
Vincent exhaled and laid the binoculars on the bench, then encircled her wrist with his hand. “Didn’t you take physiology in college? Solar plexus.”
“And this?” She dipped her fingertip into his belly button.
His eyes met hers. “Umbilicus.”
“Here?” She gently cupped the spot between his legs.
“A fucking erection.” He leaned in, tugging her against his steely body. “But you already knew that.”
She shook her head, at a loss for words. Finally, something ignited heat inside him.
“Do you want to know why I won’t do relationships? Or shall we leave it so this little cat-and-mouse game can continue?”