Hal called out, Hey, Dan! Always remember and never forget, its not the size of your rod, but how you use it. He cranked his motor and maneuvered into a position on the other side of the island, luckily out of view.
Augh, he is such a creep! That mans intellect is rivaled only by garden tools! She regretted her vehemence when Dan removed his arm from around her. Although the recollection that he used to give her breast a discreet squeeze whenever he put his arm around her shoulders did make the removal a good thing overall.
He looks like a sea slug to me.
Not Roger! Well, him, too. I was talking about Hal. That guy is such a jerk. Too bad youre related to him.
Aw, hes not such a bad guy.
He doesnt like women, you know.
Are you saying hes gay? No way. Hes always got women around.
He might like sex, but he doesnt like women. He doesnt respect them. I sort of understand why, with your mom leaving the both of you. I was always afraid hed poison you against women, too. She could have said more, but why open that can of worms now?
His expression softened at the concern on her face. I dont dislike women. For example, I dont even dislike you, even though you broke my heart.
She swallowed hard. But you havent been in a real relationship since our marriage.
Maybe I havent found anyone I wanted to be involved with. Maybe I figured if I couldnt get it right the first time, I wasnt meant to get it right at all.
She took a sip of her water, trying to push away the defensive feeling growing inside her. Was our marriage so bad that it ruined you relationship-wise?
No.
The bright sun directly overhead and the nearly cloudless sky crystallized the moment. Shed ruined him for marriage. It had been so bad being married to her that he never wanted to be in a relationship again.
What did I do that was so terrible? she finally asked, unable to stand her silent recriminations. I mean, I probably wasnt the greatest housekeeper in the world, but what did I know, Id never had my own place before, everywhere we lived belonged to someone else, or was I too flaky, that was it, wasnt it
He reached over and wrapped his hand around her arm. Youre doing it again. That skimble-scamble thing, he added at her confused expression.
Didnt you hear what I was saying?
Cass, it wasnt your fault.
She met his gaze, seeing honesty, but knowing he had merely convinced himself of the fact. Didnt you ever try to figure out what went wrong in our marriage?
I wasnt in it long enough to figure it out.
So thats what killed you for marriage! I left too soon. I admit it, I panicked. Ran. Told you I was a flake.
He anchored her chin with his fingers. You were fine. You just didnt want to be married to me, thats all.
Dont be so kind, Dan. It was me, plain and simple. All of a sudden I was married without even knowing who you really were. Or who I was. I looked in the mirror and I saw my mother, looking all in love and happy, just like she always did right after she got married. And I knew that in a few months, Id get restless like she always did. I didnt want to do that to you. We talked about buying a place of our own
And I said something about having a kid someday. Thats what started it.
Not having a child, per se. I just remembered the way my mom dragged me around all my life, no roots or traditions, and if I was the same way she was, I couldnt put my own child through that. Getting divorced made me evaluate my future for the first time. Made me make changes in myself. I even took The Supreme Seminar on Being Orderly. She pulled her legs in tighter when he removed his hand. Dont you hate being divorced?
He looked away. Why wasnt he able to meet her eyes? Finally he shrugged, still keeping his gaze on a great blue heron stalking prey on the shoreline several yards away. Divorce is no big deal. Happens a thousand times over every day.
His words thumped against her heart, and she chomped down on the butter rum shed been sucking. So if divorce isnt any big deal, then marriage must not be, either. Of course, how could I even think it was? We dated for, what, a month? And spent most of that in bed. Then we decided, for whatever reason, to get married. Total impulsiveness. I never want to go through a divorce again. Maybe I did make the decision too quickly, but believe me, I thought a lot about it later. I hate being divorced. I feel used and thrown out. Her voice went all soft and mushy on her. Like someone didnt want me.
Cassie, wanting you was never a problem.
That low, intimate voice rocked her. The impulsive side shed killed off came alive and begged her to wrap her arms around him and tell him shed never stopped loving him, neverWhat was she doing? the Supremely Orderly side of her asked. That was crazy thinking. Of course she was over him. Im going to make sure the next man I marry is the last man I marry.
How are you going to do that?
I made a compatibility list. Did he actually wince? She forced herself to go on. I got the idea from a quiz in Cosmopolitan on how to tell if the guy youre dating is right for you. Before I rush into marriage, Im going to make sure my groom-to-be is well-suited for me, has the same interests and most imporantly, views marriage with a serious eye. She pulled her notepad out of her bag. I need to add that to the list.
He picked up his fishing pole and sent the lure out toward the Gulf. She felt as though she were having a conversation with the rippling muscles and freckles on his back.
Well, Cass, I hope you find that guy, I really do. But Ill give you some unsolicited advice from a male point of view: Dont tell the guys youre dating that they have to live up to some list. Nothingll scare a guy away faster than a set of ideals he has to live up to.
What do you have against my compatibility list?
Maybe its just me. Maybe the next guy you meet will be jumping through hoops to put check marks on that list.
She lifted her chin. He will, and hell do it happily.
Sounds like a dog trick to me. Sammy barked. See, even he agrees.
She picked up the dog. Hes agreeing with me. He knows Im on the verge of meeting the man of my dreams.
Sammy barked and ran across the bench next to Dan. Dan lifted a triumphant eyebrow. What do you think hes trying to tell you?
Its more than obvious. He has to visit the potty.
5
GIVE ME A NICE, SMOOTH stroke, Cassie. Oh, yes, perfect. Mmm-hmm. Doesnt that feel good? Not too fast now. An hour later Dans voice coaxed from behind her ear, sending chills down her neck even though it had to be eighty degrees out. His body was pressed up behind hers, pelvis moving back and forth against her. Dont slow down. Keep up that pace, smooth and steady. Oh, yes.
She turned and gave him a pointed look.
What? He actually looked innocent, as though he had no idea what he was doing to her.
Maybe she was reading more into his instructions for reeling the lure than she should. Maybe abstinence was playing tricks on her, like when one was deprived of light and started seeing things.
What? He actually looked innocent, as though he had no idea what he was doing to her.
Maybe she was reading more into his instructions for reeling the lure than she should. Maybe abstinence was playing tricks on her, like when one was deprived of light and started seeing things.
At least Im not experiencing premature ejaculation anymore, she said, trying to find anything to cover her look. Well, it was better than the hair ball comment, anyway.
Thats always something to celebrate.
She cast again, a nice, smooth one that landed with a satisfying plop. I think Im getting the hang of this.
Youre not bad. You gave up too early the time I tried to teach you to fish.
Gave up? Your friends gave me such a hard time, I was miserable.
They were just having fun on you. He leaned against the side of the boat. I didnt realize it was that bad. I figured you were making a token effort to learn to fish and didnt like it.
Maybe I was overly sensitive. I could tell they didnt want me around, and to be honest, I didnt enjoy their company either. I was learning to fish so I could spend time with you. Alone. She reeled in the lure again. But this is fun. She turned to meet his gaze, held there by hazel eyes filled with something she couldnt define.
Maybe we should have gone alone.
That would have been nice. She broke away from his eyes, waving her hand. But it doesnt matter now. Whats past is past.
He paused for a second before nodding. Let bygones be bygones.
Water under the bridge.
Yesterdays catch of the day.
Yeah, she said softly. Something like that.
DAN LET SILENCE REIGN as he ran those words through his head time and again. But he kept getting distracted by the throbbing pain in his rear. And another throbbing pain, this one in the vicinity of his heart. Cassie still had the ability to drive him crazy. Theyd been together, what, less than four hours, and hed been accused of fearing the demise of his masculinity, been dumped over the side of his boat and even at the cost of his pride, couldnt help but grin at the thought of being hooked in the rear, and then her efforts at bandaging him.
The woman was an enigma to be sure. At least hed kept her from reading that magazine. If shed read the article about the young upstart whod founded a tackle company, itd be all over. He was sure honesty was (a), (b) or even (b-1) on that damn list of hers and he wasnt ready to be honest yet.
She was sitting on the bench along the back, her legs tucked beneath her, going over her notes and lists. So, shed become Miss Organization. She reached over and primped Sammys hair, and he caught himself smiling. There was a part of her, though, that defied logic, scoffed at sensibility and went with her impulses. That was the part hed fallen in love with, the part that affected his impulses as well as getting them into marital bliss before theyd had time to pick the china pattern.
Hurricane Cassie was back, sweeping through his insides and flooding his cautions. Even if she was trying to be something she wasnt: sensible. She still had feminine willies, that was for sure. He stretched, catching her glance up at the movement with a glint of appreciation in her eyes. Geez, when had he last felt so alive? Standing half-naked in the cabin with her, hed been more than tempted to take her in his arms.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw her glance at him again. He shifted so she couldnt see his traitorous organ standing to get her attention. The damned thing would have jumped up and down waving if it could.
After she had swept back out of his life, hed been devastated not only by her loss, but by his failure at keeping her. For a long time he sought ways to prove to himself he wasnt a failure, including winning every fishing tournament he entered, then starting his own business. He didnt consider his current love life a failure; he dated whom he wanted and broke it off when he wanted. But the damned of it was, none of those women left behind the gut-wrenching feeling of loss Cassie had.
Here they were again, and it felt the same as when theyd first met. The chemistry was still there, and so, for him, was the desire to make her his. Was the old Cassie really gone? Hed never get this new Cassie-with-her-lists to fall for him again.
Aw, isnt he cute? she said.
Oh, no, now what do you have Sammy doing?
She giggled. Its not Sammy.
Thor was snuggled into Cassies big tote bag, his head the only part of him sticking out. He perked one of his floppy ears at Dans frown, then looked at Cassie.
Youve corrupted my dog! Thor, come here, boy!
Thor reluctantly pulled himself from the bagand jumped right into Cassies lap.
Dan slapped his forehead. Oh, no. In less than five seconds, Thor was on his back, legs skyward as Cassie rubbed his tummy. For a moment, Dan was jealous of his dog. Thor! Stop being a wuss!
Thors big brown eyes shifted to Dan, then back to Cassie. He wasnt going anywhere. Another Mc-Dermott male falling prey to Cassies feminine willies.
DAN NUDGED THE BOAT a few feet closer to the island a while later. He had put on a white cap, which offset the masculinity of his broad, tan shoulders. And made him look cuter than all get-out. Cassie had the overwhelming urge to hook him right in his tantalizing butt and reel him over.
Tsk, tsk, those impulses again. Shed had such a good rein over them until Dan came along. She overcame the insanity and aimed for the dark water beneath the mangrove branches where he said the fish liked to hide. On her third cast, she felt something jerk her line in a big way.
Dan! she whispered, trying to remember the fishing lingo. Ive got a hit!
He seated his rod and came over. The line went taut, and then her rod bent. She held on tight, determined to put up a fight and see it through.
Just start reeling him in, nice and slow.
Her heart was pumping as she fought the fish. It jumped out of the water with a horrific splash, bringing shouts of excitement from some of the nearby fishermen. A gaping yellow mouth thrashed in the water, and she caught a glimpse of teeth. Even the dogs, who had jumped up on the side to see what the commotion was about, jumped back to the deck.
What is it, a piranha?
I doubt that. He leaned over the edge of the boat. Holy schmoly, Cassie, I think you got yourself a gator trout.
His excitement was contagious, and she fought even harder. Is that good?
Its excellent, and its also dinner.
Cool!
Dan hovered just behind her, but let her reel in the fish. Atta girl, hed say. Or Great job, Cass.
Those words were as gratifying as catching the fish. Finally the scaly devil gave in, and she reeled it up to the boat. She was determined to land the bugger on her own. With his words of praise singing through her veins, she used all her strength to jerk her rod upward.
The toothy fish sailed gracefully through the air, catching the sunlight as itheaded right at her!
Eek! She ducked, but the fishs tail caught her in the cheek. She batted it away, and the fish batted her back. Yuck!
If Dan didnt have such a wonderful laugh, she might have been agitated. Instead, she laughed with him.
He removed the hook with a pair of pliers and put it in the scale. Damn, Cassie, you caught yourself an eight-pound trout.