Suddenly Sexy(26)

"Huh?" Great. Real intelligent response, Maddie.

"Want to go for a ride on a paddle boat?"

Paddle boats only held two people. That meant close proximity to Sam. Alone. The thought sent ripples of excitement through her. Or was that the ice cream again? Most likely it was gut-wrenching terror. Being alone with him would lead to a talk about what was happening between them. Bad bad idea.

She looked up into his smiling face. He looked like he'd forgotten her earlier reference to dating other men, so maybe she was safe from a deep and meaningful conversation. What the hell. It was time she stopped over-thinking every situation and just did something spontaneous for once.

"Sure," she said. "Let's go."

They drove the short distance to the lake and hired the last paddle boat. The others were already on the water, filled with twelve year olds using them like dodgem cars to topple each other out. The paddle boats were sturdy but not enough to stop a few of the smaller girls from going for an unscheduled swim.

"This reminds me of when I was a kid," said Sam. He looked just like a kid too—dimpled cheeks, hair ruffled by the wind, jeans rolled up to the knees. He paddled hard towards the middle of the lake and Maddie was happy to let him go. No point in them both getting tired.

"Are you going to help me here or do I have to do all the work?"

"You're doing so well on your own, and I'm enjoying the scenery more this way."

He stopped paddling once they reached the middle and the boat drifted gently across the surface. Ducks and swans swam nearby, not seeming to care about the much larger creature sharing their lake. It was peaceful on the water, the noise from the traffic and crowds only a distant hum carried by the breeze. Maddie settled into her seat and enjoyed the serenity.

Until Sam placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. "This is nice," he said. "Just like when we were teenagers."

She leaned away and looked at him, one eyebrow arched. "I don't recall coming here with you as a teenager."

"You came here with your friends, right? Pete and I used to pick up girls in these boats." He chuckled. "Actually, we used to bump their boats until they fell in the water and got all wet. That's how we found out Mary Ellen didn't wear a bra."

"Mary Ellen's got four kids now." It was all she could say to keep the image of a bra-less Mary Ellen out of her head.

"So what about you?" Sam asked, looking at her through lowered lashes.

"I always wear a bra."

He laughed. "I mean, did you come down here and drive the men crazy in your wet T-shirt?" His gaze lowered to her breasts and heat prickled her neck.

"Not exactly crazy." Not with her extra pounds. And she was more likely to bore them to insanity in those days. Back then, her conversational skills were limited to test scores and homework. She liked to think she’d progressed beyond that but going by her track record with men, she couldn’t be entirely sure.

"You would now." His hot breath warmed her neck. He kissed her just below the ear and his hand touched her waist.

Oh boy. Now what? She was stuck in the middle of the lake with a man she'd wanted to bonk ever since she'd heard of sex, and now he was kissing her again. There was nowhere to go.

The hand felt warm on her stomach and his lips soft as he nibbled her throat, her ear, her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut as the kiss deepened and clenched all her muscles so she wouldn't give in to the urge to jump him.

"You feel so good," he murmured against her lips. "So soft. And you smell fantastic."

Smell? Maddie jerked away and pulled herself together. It’s just Pheramour, Maddie, not Sam. Nope, definitely not Sam. "I think we should go back now."

He blinked at her, his eyes half hidden by long lashes. "Not yet," he said, voice rougher than gravel. He took off his T-shirt and Maddie had to grip the sides of the boat to steady herself.

Mama Mia! His tanned skin was drawn tight over hard, corded muscles and a light dusting of hair trailed down his broad chest to his ridged stomach. Her fingers twitched, wanting to entwine themselves in the tiny curls disappearing into his jeans.

Down girl.

He made a sound in the back of his throat which she couldn't identify—maybe he was sniggering—and turned away, giving her a very pleasant view of a very powerful and smooth back. He was a mighty fine example of the male species. Oh yeah, a woman could dig her fingers into a back like that and hang on while he—

Sheesh. She needed to cool off.

He turned round again and touched the side of her mouth with his thumb. Had she been drooling? Or was he going to kiss her again? Neither if his mischievous grin was anything to go by. Had he known what she’d been thinking?