The house was everything he was told it would be. It was beautiful, spacious, secluded and near the water. The house sat far back from the road and was surrounded by trees, mostly pine. He removed his sunglasses and took in a deep breath of the enticing scent of the sea and the fragrant scent of evergreen. For once he had listened to his friends and family back in Illinois, and he was glad he had. It was his brothers idea that he take some time off. It was his sister-in-laws notion that he needed to go out of town and his friend Ayanna had given him the keys to her familys vacation home on Hilton Head Island.
Youll love it down there, shed assured him. Daddy was an architect and he not only designed the house, he built it himself. Its right on the beach, and its kinda secluded so youll get some rest and relaxation. My mother is in Africa right now and my sister Emily is off with her youth camp, so you can run around naked all day if you want to, she had teased him.
Todd had laughed and said he might just do that. Now, as he looked at the greenery surrounding the modern but rustic-looking home that awaited him, he grinned. Maybe running around without clothes was a possibility. The stitches were out and there was no reason to stay covered up anymore. Besides, Ayanna had said something about an outdoor hot tub that had sounded pretty good. He didnt bother to get his bags. He decided to take a look around and get his bearings first.
The exterior had a porch that extended around three sides. In the back there was a deck with a broad overhang that protected the hot tub Ayanna had mentioned. Todd had mounted the stairs and was standing on the deck when he realized the back door was open. The screen door was closed and locked, but the wood-and-glass door that opened into the kitchen was wide open. He sorted through the keys on the ring he was holding and found one that was labeled for the kitchen screen door. He opened the door and stepped into the kitchen, announcing himself so that he didnt scare whoever was in the house.
This is Todd Wainwright, a friend of the family. Im invited to use the house so I have keys, he said in his low, mellow voice.
He didnt get an answer, so he kept moving through the downstairs, looking into the great room that adjoined the kitchen, the living room and the media room. The house was even better on the inside. Everything was paneled in gleaming oak. The living room had a cathedral ceiling, and all the rooms had black ceiling fans that looked elegant instead of kitschy. The furnishings were simple and casual, yet the rooms exuded a touch of elegance. It looked like a layout from a House Beautiful magazine, but lived-in.
Todd kept walking around, repeating his original statement a couple of times but still getting no answer. He was at the foot of the stairs when he thought he heard something. Climbing the stairs to the second story, he continued to try to alert anyone who might be in the house. Im not a burglar, Im not a pervert, and I was invited here by Ayanna. I got in with the keys she gave me, he said in a soothing voice, or what he hoped was soothing. He heard water splashing and followed the noise to what appeared to be a bathroom. The door was open, and the warm moisture in the room was heavy with the scent of flowers. And standing in the bathtub covered with creamy foam was Ayannas sister Emilynaked as the day she was born, singing at the top of her lungs as she swayed under the spray of a handheld shower.
Todds heart leaped to his throat and stayed there, lodged right next to his Adams apple. He wanted to say something to let her know he was there, but he couldnt get a word out. Hed met Emily on a few occasions, but he couldnt currently make sense of what he was currently staring at. Her golden-brown skin gleamed with the droplets of water cascading over it. She had an amazing body, now that he could see it without clothes. Her back was to him, and he could see the perfect globes of her behind, her firm thighs and her long, curvy legs. Her long hair was full of shampoo, and she was using the shower attachment as a microphone. Hed never heard a version of Single Ladies as off-key and tuneless as the one Emily was wailing, but her beauty more than made up for it. Todd knew he had to get out of there fast or things would get real ugly.
He backed out of the doorway and silently made his way back downstairs. Damn, that was close. He couldnt have explained his actions in any way that would have made sense. He knew that Emily wouldve been angry and embarrassed about being spied on. And shed have been completely justified, too. He knew better than to sneak up on a woman like that, even if it was an accident. Once she dried off and dressed, he could explain everything to her. In the meantime, he decided to sit on the porch and enjoy the breeze for a few minutes. He took a seat in one of oversize chairs with comfortable, thickly padded seat covers and propped his legs on a matching ottoman. He fell asleep almost at once, lulled by the soft wind and the chirping of the birds in the trees. He would have stayed that way for a long time, but a strange voice made his eyes pop open.
Sir, do you care to explain why youre here?
The first thing Todd focused on was a tall South Carolina state trooper who was watching him intently while he repeated his question. Sir, I asked you why you were here.
Now that he was aware that the mans partner was also present, Todd answered him. I was invited to stay here by the owner of this house.
Well now, thats a funny thing. The owner of the house is the person who called us and reported a B&E. She doesnt seem to know you.
Theres been a big misunderstanding. Im a friend of Ayanna Walker, uh, her married name is Phillips now. Anyway, she gave me the keys to the house and said no one would be here. But her sister Emily is home, and I was just waiting for her to come downstairs so I could let her know I was here. His words sounded bungled and inane even to him, but he figured it was better to tell the truth.
Okay, sir, that sounds plausible, except for the part about your being a friend of the family, because Ms. Emily is the one who called us and she claims to not know you.
Just then a female head popped out of the door. Emily was fully clothed with her still-soapy hair draped over her shoulders in long tight ringlets. Her long-lashed eyes peered at him with suspicion. Todd, is that you? When did you cut your hair?
In a short time all the misunderstandings were ironed out and the troopers left, although the younger man was still giving Todd the side eye. Emily had felt totally foolish when she realized that it was indeed Todd and not some random stranger who had invaded her home. She had thrown on clothes hastily as she was calling 911 and was now attired in faded denim shorts with frayed edges and an equally faded T-shirt, complete with holes from years of wear. Her feet were bare and she should have looked like a typical tomboy, but she didnt. She looked quite sexy, as a matter of fact, but she wouldnt have believed it for a minute. Emily was much too down-to-earth to categorize herself as any kind of femme fatale.
Well, come on in, she said. You want some lemonade or sweet tea?
Sure.
They went into the kitchen and she poured him a glass of lemonade, offering him some fat sugar cookies to go with it.
Im really sorry, Todd said again. I had no idea you were here, or I wouldnt have come. In fact, if you tell me where theres a hotel, Ill get out of your hair.
Emily ignored his comment and looked at him intently. Speaking of hair, you never said why you cut yours, she pointed out.
Well, come on in, she said. You want some lemonade or sweet tea?
Sure.
They went into the kitchen and she poured him a glass of lemonade, offering him some fat sugar cookies to go with it.
Im really sorry, Todd said again. I had no idea you were here, or I wouldnt have come. In fact, if you tell me where theres a hotel, Ill get out of your hair.
Emily ignored his comment and looked at him intently. Speaking of hair, you never said why you cut yours, she pointed out.
Todd ran his hand over his head, which was shorn down to his scalp. The last time shed seen him, hed had long braids that came way past his shoulders. Now he was almost bald with a shadow beard and moustache.
I cut it because I met a patient who was starting chemo. She came into the emergency room during a crisis, and I treated her before she was admitted. Cutest little girl you ever saw, he added. Anyway, she knew she was going to lose all her hair, so I told her Id shave my head so wed match.
Emily smiled. That was really sweet of you. What did she think?
Todd laughed. I went to see her after I did it, and she said I looked better with braids and I wasnt handsome anymore.
Emily laughed, too. You cant beat kids for being honest. She might be honest, but shes wrong. You still look good to me, she thought.
Todd was looking around the kitchen as she was looking at him, examining every inch of his tall, muscular frame. She blushed as he had to repeat his question, since she was in her own little world when he spoke.
I asked if there was a hotel nearby. I dont want to get in your way, Todd said.
Todd, dont be silly. Theres plenty of room here. Ayanna said you were welcome and you are. She thought the place would be empty because shed been so busy with her family that she forgot that my camp was last week. We have four bedrooms and two and a half baths, so it doesnt make sense for you to go to a hotel. Just go out to your car and get your things, she said briskly.
If Id seen your car I wouldnt have used the key to get in, Todd said ruefully. I probably just should have waited until I heard you come downstairs or something, instead of just coming in.
Thats because my car is in the barn. And if you hadnt come in you wouldnt have been able to see me in the bathtub, would you?
Her tone was both casual and naturally seductive, so much so that Todd choked on his lemonade.
Damn, Im sorry. I didnt think you heard me upstairs. How did you know I saw you?
His face got red as she gave him a knowing smile and answered, Because you just told me. Go get your stuff and Ill take you to your room.
Chapter 3
Alexis couldnt take any more. Wait a minute, wait a minute! Youre telling us that the man saw you naked? Butt naked? A strange man saw you with no clothes on, and hes still living? Why didnt you beat the crap out of him?
Emily shrugged. Hes not a strange man. Hes a good friend of my sister. He was a groomsman in her wedding. Dont you remember me telling you about him?
Sherri and Alexis looked at each other before looking back at her. No, they answered, once again speaking in unison.
I must have said something about him, Emily countered. Hes a real nice guy, very handsome, a doctor. Very down-to-earth, too. Are you sure you dont remember?
If he was all that, why didnt you get with him when you were in Chicago? Alexis asked pointedly.
I dont get with guys, Alexis. Thats not my deal. Besides, he was with someone, she answered just as pointedly.
Sherri was shaking her head. Im going to forget the naked part for a hot minute, but were going back to that. If you know the guy and you like him, why did you call the cops on him?
I told you, I didnt recognize him! I knew him as having long braids, and they were gone, remember?
Sherri got up and went to the drawer where Emily kept odds and ends and came back to the table with a notepad and a pen. Im going to have a lot of questions when you get through, so Im taking notes. Alexis, try to hold it in, chick. We need to get the rest of this story before we react.
Alexis moaned dramatically and made a horrible face. Sherri raised an eyebrow and stared her down. Alexis pouted, but the grimace melted away immediately. Thats a good idea, Sherri. Ill try, but I cant promise anything. Okay, what happened next, Em?
Emily looked totally composed as she watched Todd go out to his car to get his luggage, but nothing could have been further from the truth. After the morning shed had, her heart was still going like a jackhammer. Her whole world had been turned upside down in the past hour, and she was trying desperately to look as if it was no big deal. But that was going to be really difficult. From the moment shed met him, Emily had a secret passion for Todd. Shed never shared this information with anyone, especially not him. And now here he was live and in person under her roof. She should have pointed him to the nearest Marriott when he said hed stay at a hotel, but no, she had to tell him to stay with her. Clearly, she wasnt in her right mind; she was just still rattled from the events of the day.
The moment shed realized there was someone in the house, shed gone into panic mode. Shed been singing loudly while she was standing in the bathtub, but shed caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye that scared the hell out of her. It was a man, a big bald man. She tried to remember if the rifle her father had kept was upstairs where she was or downstairs in the closet. Downstairs, its always downstairs, she muttered. Without bothering to dry off, she got out of the deep tub and tiptoed to her bedroom, leaving the water running so she wouldnt alert the intruder that shed left the bathroom. Throwing on an old pair of shorts as she reached for her cell phone, she hastily called an old friend of her dads who happened to be a state trooper in the area. Thankfully hed been on duty and told her hed be right there. By the time shed tossed on a T-shirt, she could see him pull into the driveway behind the strange vehicle that was parked there.
After she tiptoed down the stairs and listened to the man and his partner interrogate the stranger, she realized it was Todd, the man shed met in Chicago when her sister Ayanna had gotten married. He was tall, intelligent and very funny, as well as fine as hell. When she finally came out on the porch to face him, it took her a few seconds to recognize him because hed cut off his long braids. He looked like Shemar Moore now, or at least as close to Shemar Moore as she was gonna get. His long lean body was still as sexy as she recalled, and his voice was still as captivating. And he was right here with her on Hilton Head. For once, Emily wished that she had less intellect and more sex appeal, but there was nothing she could do about it now. When Todd returned to the back porch, she held the kitchen door open for him as he carried in a large bag and small duffel.
I hate to keep repeating myself, but I can easily stay at a hotel, Todd reminded her.
And I hate to keep telling you that youre perfectly welcome to stay here. Unless you find my company repulsive or something, she replied. Ayanna obviously just forgot when I would be here. Even if shed remembered that I was going to be here, youd still be welcome. This place is way too big for one person. Come on upstairs and pick out a room so we can get your things put away, she said nonchalantly, as though having a super-fine man drop in on her was an everyday occurrence. Which it wasnt, not by a long shot.