Sanctuary(52)

"Well, sugar, it's one every single woman on the island between sixteen and sixty would dearly love to make you. I just figure I'm getting to the head of the line."

Not entirely sure how he was supposed to respond now, Nathan scratched his chin. "I'm really fond of breakfast, but-"

"Now don't you fret over it." This time she squeezed his arm as if testing and approving the biceps. "You know what you've got to do, Nathan?"

"What's that?"

"You've got to dance."

"do?"

"You sure do." she hopped up, shot down a hand. "With me. Come on, big guy. Let's kick up some sand."

He put a hand in hers, found it so warm and alive it was easy to grin. "All right."

"Ginny's got herself a Yankee," Gaff commented, watching Ginny pull Nathan toward the damp sand.

"Looks like." Yirby licked marshmallow off her thumb. "she sure knows how to have a good time."

"It isn't so hard." With a beer dangling between his fingers, Gaff scanned the beach. Some people were dancing or swaying, others were sprawled around the blazing fire, still others strolled off into the dark to be alone. Yids whooped and hollered, and the old sat in beach chairs exchanging gossip and watching the youth.

"Not everybody wants to have a good time." Yirby glanced toward the dunes again but saw no one coming over them from the direction of Sanctuary.

"You know, you got your eye cocked for Brian, and I've got mine cocked for Lexy." Gaff threw a friendly arm around her shoulder. "Why don't we go dance? We'll keep our eyes cocked together."

"That's a fine idea."

Brian came over the dunes, Lexy on one side, Jo on the other. He paused at the top, took a long, slow survey. "And this, my children, all this, will one day be yours."

"Oh, Bri." Lexy elbowed him. "Don't be such a grump." she spotted Gaff immediately and felt little toothy nips of jealousy as she saw him slide Yirby into his arms for a slow dance. "I've got a hankering for some crab," she said lightly and started down toward the beach.

"We could probably escape now," Jo began. "Kate's still dragging Daddy down. We could head north, circle around, and be back home before she gets here."

"she'd only make us pay for it later." Resigned, he jammed his hands in his back pockets. "Why do you suppose we're so bad at social occasions, Jo Ellen?"

"Too much Hathaway," she began.

"Not enough Pendleton," he finished. "Guess Lexy got our share of that," he added, nodding down to where their sister was already in the thick of things, surrounded by people. "Let's get it over with."

They'd barely reached the beach before Ginny raced over and greeted them both with loud kisses. "What took y'all so long? I'm half lit already. Nate, let's get these people some beer so they can catch up."

she whirled away to do so, ran into someone, and giggled. "Well, hey, Morris, you wanna dance with me? Come on."

Nathan blew out a breath. "I don't know where she gets the energy. she damn near wore me out. Want that beer?"

"I'll get it," Brian told him and walked off.

"I like your hair." Nathan lifted a finger to brush under Jo's bangs. "Very nice."

"Lexy whacked at it, that's all."

"You look lovely." He skimmed his hand over her shoulder, down her arm until it captured her own hand. "Is that a problem for you?"

"No, I ... Don't start on me, Nathan."

"Too late." He moved in a little closer. "I already have." Her scent was warm, lightly spicy, intriguing. "You're wearing perfume."

"Lexy-"

"I like it." He leaned in, stunning her by sniffing her hair, her neck.

'LA lot."

she was having trouble drawing a full breath, and annoyed, she took a step back. "That's not why I wore it."

"I like it anyway. You want to dance?"

"No."

"Good. Neither do I. Let's go sit by the fire and neck."

It was so absurd, she nearly laughed. "Let's just go sit by the fire.

If you try anything, I'll have my daddy go get his gun and dispatch you.

And you being a Yankee, no one will turn a hair."

He laughed and slipped an arm around her waist, ignoring what he'd come to realize was her instinctive jolt at being touched. "We'll just sit, then."

He got her a beer, poked a stick through a hot dog for her, then settled down beside her. "I see you brought your camera."

Automatically, she laid a hand on the scarred leather bag at her hip. "Habit. I'll wait a while before I take it out. Sometimes a camera puts people off-but after they've had enough beer, they don't mind so much."