When Lorelei heard his steps, she sat up and stopped the swing. The sparkly cocktail dress had been replaced with a pair of cut-offs that exposed the long sleek lines of her thighs and a tank top that clearly outlined her breasts—and advertised the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra. That mass of hair was pulled up and clipped to the back of her head to keep her cool. She’d looked glamorous and sexy-as-hell earlier, but somehow the simplicity of this outfit had a powerful effect on him. His blood rushed south so fast he got a little light-headed. Even if his brain wasn’t sure why he was here, his body damn sure was.
“Well, this is a surprise. What brings you by?” Lorelei didn’t move from the swing, so he was left standing on the other side of the screen door.
He shrugged. “You left rather suddenly. People were concerned.”
Lorelei set the tablet aside and reached for the beer bottle on the table beside her. “And so you decided to come check on me?”
“Seemed like I should. Hasty or stealthy exits usually mean something isn’t right.”
She nodded. “Uh-hmm. Well, my business was finished. No sense sticking around.”
“Obviously.”
Lorelei shook her head. “So that’s the bee in your bonnet? Seriously?”
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s not play games.”
“That would be refreshing.”
“You told me to lock the door behind me when I left. I did. You were still asleep, and I saw no reason to wake you and go through a weird morning-after pantomime. It wasn’t some kind of statement.” She laughed. “I had no idea your ego was so fragile.”
God, she had the most amazing ability to twist everything. “My ego is not fragile.”
An eyebrow went up, mocking him. “Really? Then why are you here?”
That caught him off guard, and he realized he was acting exactly as if that was the problem. It was just as ridiculous as it sounded, and while his earlier irritation wouldn’t quite go away, it no longer seemed like a big deal. With that knowledge, the other reason driving him came rushing back to the forefront, causing his zipper to dig into his skin.
“This is the one place Julie Hebert won’t think to look for me.”
Lorelei bit her bottom lip, but he could tell she was trying not to laugh. She finally got off the swing and came to unlatch the screen door.
“You should be flattered. Julie has a list of requirements, and you were the only one who met all the criteria.”
“Upright and breathing?”
If she bit her lip any harder she would draw blood. “They were a little more stringent than that.”
“Fat checkbook?”
She shrugged. “That might have been on the list.”
“Then spare me the rest of her criteria. I don’t want to know.”
She reached under the table and he heard ice rattling. “Beer?” She had one out and was holding it in his direction before he could even answer.
That was a good sign. He accepted the bottle and sat in the wicker rocker on the other side of the table as she went back to the swing. “Well, if you struck out tonight it’s your own fault. Julie was certainly willing.”
Was that jealousy he heard in her voice? “Did you not hear the part about me finding a place where Julie wouldn’t look?”
“Well, this would be the right place. Julie Hebert and I aren’t exactly friends.”
“So you set her loose on me? Gee, thanks.”
Lorelei might have smiled as she curled one leg up into the swing with her and used the other foot to put it in motion again. He liked how easily Lorelei seemed to get past things, without holding grudges or needing to discuss it to death. She might flare up easily, but once it was done, it was done, it seemed. It made things … comfortable.
Beside her, the glowing screen of the tablet went dark.
“Working?”
“The event for the homeless shelter is on Monday, as it turns out. I’m trying to prepare. Vivi’s assistant sent over some notes, but …”
“Vivi had better watch out. Little sis will be showing her up, taking her title.”
“Oh, I don’t want her title. One saint is enough for any family.”
“You’re probably right.”
Her head fell back. “I’ll be so glad when they’re back from their honeymoon. Her schedule is insane.”
“Vivi makes it look easy.”
“I know. It’s been a humbling experience, to say the least.”
“But I bet Vivi doesn’t have time to sit on the porch and enjoy a beer on a summer night.”
Lorelei conceded that with a nod. “She doesn’t. But then porch-sitting and beer-drinking aren’t the best use of my education or a productive use of my time. Privilege entails us to responsibility. I should be setting a good example.”