The Sweetest Summer(126)

            She’d asked for ravishment, and she got it. Evelyn had no idea how much time had elapsed, the number of orgasms that had shaken her, or how many ways her body and spirit had been conquered by Clancy’s desire. She only knew they clung to each other, urged each other on, and created something that hadn’t been there before.

            They were lovers.

            When he came, she came with him. She might even have blacked out for a few seconds, because she was surprised to find herself lying on her side on the rug, gripped in Clancy’s arms, staring directly into four large dog nostrils. She and Clancy had rolled off the bed and were now just inches from the back door screen.

            She laughed. Clancy opened one eye.

            “Something amusing?”

            She nodded. “We have an audience.”

            He turned his head over his shoulder. “Oh, for crap’s sake.” Clancy pulled slowly from Evelyn’s body and jumped to a stand. “Stay right there, my queen.”

            Clancy returned a moment later with two towels and a cool washcloth. He spread one towel across the bed, then reached down to pull Evelyn from the floor. He patted the bed, and she stretched out. Clancy swept the cool cloth over every inch of her sweaty body, taking his time, then patted her dry with the second towel.

            “Goddamm. You wiped me the hell out, Miss McGuinness.”

            Clancy’s cell phone rang, and he staggered like an old man as he tried to locate his shorts. He dug the phone out of a pocket and answered. It was a short conversation. Clancy crawled back into bed

            “You have to go into work?”

            “Nope. It was Rowan.”

            Evelyn sat up. “Uh-oh.”

            “It’s all good.” Clancy touched her arm. “She said not to bother coming back until the clambake. Turns out Jellybean is the belle of the ball over there. She wants to take a nap on the porch hammock, and Annie wants to adopt her.”

            Evelyn sighed with relief. She’d assumed the call meant their moment of romance had been just that—a moment. She lay back down, relaxed into his body, and enjoyed the feel of the fan cooling them.

            “Your family is going to figure it out, Clancy.”

            “Probably. But she’s completely safe with them.”

            Evelyn surrendered to the need to close her eyes. Her mind wandered back to that faraway summer. “The sweetest summer of my life.”

            “Mine, too.”

            That’s when Evelyn realized she had said that out loud. She blinked her eyes at Clancy. She had to know. “Do you remember what we said to each other?”

            The corners of his mouth twitched. “Today or when we were fourteen?”

            “Back then.”

            “Sure. I said I loved you.”

            “And I said I loved you, too. Do you think it was really possible?”

            They were still, the sound of the ocean rushing beyond the deck, seabirds crying, their hearts beating—and the dogs breathing.

            “Kind of ruins the moment.”

            Evelyn laughed. “I don’t mind. This is life. Life is pretty strange sometimes.”

            “You got that right.” Clancy kissed her cheek stroked the side of her face. “I do think we could have been right all those years ago.”

            “Why do you say that?”