Mrs. Trykowski grinned.
Sean ushered her to the door. Theyll be hauling you away in a white jacket if youre not more careful.
Carly looked horrified.
Mrs. Trykowski laughed.
Melissa came down the hall doing the pee-pee dance. Gotta go again, Uncle Sean!
Sean could only groan, wondering what had happened to his nice quiet life.
3
IT WAS NOTHING short of a miracle, but finally, after needing water, a multitude of stories, three bathroom stops, monster checks in the closet and countless hugs good-night, Melissa was ready for bed.
As they had before, the hugs had stopped Carlyne cold. Her family never hugged good-night. In fact, they never hugged at all, but Melissa hadnt cared about Carlynes reserve, shed just crawled in her lap, wrapped her thin, bony arms tightly around Carlynes neck and squeezed so tight Carlyne could hardly breathe.
One more hug, the little girl pleaded. Please?
Carlyne had something sticky in her hair, grimy handprints all over her, and she couldnt wait to take a shower, but Melissa wouldnt let go.
I miss my mommy, she whispered.
Carlynes heart melted, and she found herself stroking Melissas hair. I know, baby.
You smell pretty. She burrowed her face into Carlynes neck. Like a mommy.
Startled by the unexpected lump in her throat, Carlyne held on.
Night, Melissa finally said, kissing her cheek, leaving yet another sticky imprint.
Carlyne no longer cared. Night, she whispered.
Exhausted, she practically had to crawl to her room, thinking if high-school students were forced to baby-sit, even for one afternoon, teenage pregnancy would vanish.
Unless good-night hugs were part of the package.
She was surprised that taking care of one little child could be more tiring than her social benefits and parties, but it definitely was. The thought of multiple children was terrifying.
And thrilling.
Seans extra bedroom was much smaller than what she was used to. When she shut the door behind her, she was expecting to feel claustrophobic, but that didnt happen. The room was clean and simple, had a lovely glass sliding door, overlooking the back yard, and it feltcozy.
Normally she reserved evenings for herself-when she wasnt attending one social event or another, that is. She craved quiet time, and she was ruthlessly selfish when she managed to steal it. Shed take long baths, walk or read.
Tonight was no different, though she had to admit, the need to get away from all the people around her didnt feel as strong as usual.
Still, she couldnt wait to strip down to the buff, to get out of the weight of the disguise of Carly. But instead, her feet took her to the sliding glass door, to the beautiful moonlit night beyond.
Shed been to many, many places, all across the world, but Santa Barbara was one of the most beautiful shed ever seen. It was lush and green and fragrant, and in the distance, she could just hear the ocean, pounding the shore in relentless waves.
But far closer, in the pool just beyond the patio, swimming for all he was worth, was Sean.
She stepped out of the room and off the patio into thick wet grass that made her want to take off the hideous boots she still wore so her toes could sink in. Before she could stop herself, she made her way to the very edge of the pool.
The night was clear, cool and fairly quiet, except for the sound of Seans long, powerful arms and legs slicing effortlessly through the water.
One lap. Two. Ten.
And still she watched, fascinated.
She could see a flash of smooth, sleek back. A tough, muscled shoulder. A long, lean flank. She had no idea why she felt something deep within her react when there were plenty of gorgeous men in her life. Plenty.
Okay, maybe not plenty, mostly because whatever men there were in her world, rich and educated and a perfect catch-just ask her mother-all bored her.
She had a feeling nothing about Sean would bore any woman.
Not that she planned on finding out. No, she couldnt add a quickie affair to her current list of sins. An affair, no matter how suddenly tempting, wasnt on her list of things to do while in the real world.
Learning who she was and what she was made ofthat was her plan.
Sean, oblivious to her standing there, continued to swim beneath the starlit night until finally he slowed, then stopped only inches from where she stood, his body strong and pulsing and gleaming in the moonlight.
He was startled to see her. Shoving back his wet hair, he held onto the side of the pool, his chest heaving from exertion. Water ran down his face, over his strong, firm jaw. There was a drop on his lower lip, which he licked off with his tongue.
You swim like a fish, she said inanely, as if she wasnt wishing hed pull himself out of the water and give her a view of his body.
Swimming is a stress reliever.
Is there a lot of stress in your life, Sean OMara?
She had no idea why she asked, why the obvious probe into his life. She didnt want to know about him, didnt want to become friends, because then she would care. And if she cared, shed have to feel badly about using him and Melissa, not to mention all the little untruths shed told.
Sean didnt look any more thrilled than she at the idea of sharing. Some, he said, then purposely changed the subject. Youre looking a little worse for wear. Why dont you try swimming and see if it works for you?
You meannow?
At her surprise, he grinned. No, next week. Yes, now.
No, thanks.
He shook his head, and water flew. A drop hit the glasses that were continuously slipping off her nose, but she couldnt remove them to dry the lenses or shed risk exposing herself.
Come in, he said.
In the water?
He laughed again, and before she could so much as breathe, he reached out with one very big, very wet, warm hand and grabbed her ankle.
He tugged playfully.
Panic replaced any amusement Carlyne might have felt. She couldnt get wet. Shed lose her wig, her glasses, her contacts. Her clothes would cling to her, maybe slip off, and then the truth would be evident. Shed reveal who she really wasand the jig would be up.
Shed have to go home, and though the day had been nothing short of the most work shed ever done, shed loved it.
Loved it.
She wasnt ready to go back, not yet. Please, not yet.
Come on, Carly. His fingers stroked the skin above her ankle.
Never in her life would she have imagined that spot to be an erogenous zone, but suddenly she had visions of him touching her like that all over.
His knowing eyes watched as he continued to stroke her in what should have been a completely innocent way, but nothing about Sean OMara was innocent when he looked at her that way, as if she could be eaten up in one bite.
Come in, he coaxed. Swim off the stress. He tugged on her ankle again, the pressure of his fingers going right through her big, clunky boot. The tingle spread directly between her thighs.
No! she said, much harsher than she intended, shoving the slipping glasses up her nose, pressing her other hand to the top of her head in case he dislodged the wig.
Though he didnt let go, his hold gentled, and the teasing went out of his eyes. You dont swim?
She blinked at him, nearly laughing in relief as he unwittingly gave her the out she needed. No, she said quickly, shocking herself. This lying was getting too easy.
Thats dangerous. But he let go of her almost reluctantly, and she shivered with something that had nothing to do with the slight chill in the air.
Your family never made sure you learned?
No.
Where did you say you grew up?
I didnt.
He looked at her for a long moment while she waited for him to grill her. I could teach you, he finally said.
The image of him doing just that, of his nearly nude body brushing hers in the water, his work-roughened hands all over her- Bad idea, she said, her pulse rocketing.
Im a good teacher.
No doubt, with a low, husky voice like that, he could teach her anything. Everything. Really bad idea.
He didnt pressure her, just nodded. Then patted the brick edging of the pool. Sit down, then, put your feet in. At least get used to the water.
He thought she was afraid. He had no idea that Princess Carlyne Fortier was afraid of nothing. Nothing at all. Except for maybe deep, dark, piercing eyes, a voice smooth as whiskey and hands that promised heaven. I dont think-
Oh, come on. The pool wont bite. His beautiful mouth curved. I wont, either. Not unless Im invited.
Im not inviting, just so you know.
Youre not even going to put your toes in?
No, I- But before she could draw another breath, hed untied her boots and was tugging at them. To keep her balance, she was forced to sit, right there on the edge, and it wasnt a graceful sit, either, trying to keep her modesty and not get wet. She didnt get wet, but as for her modesty, with Sean lower, still in the water, God only knew what kind of view of her underwear hed gotten.
Panicked, she pressed her skirt closer to her body. He slid his hands over her feet, pulling off first her boots, then her socks.
And then her feet were in the deliciously heated water, brushing against Seans even warmer body, and she could hardly breathe.
He hadnt seen anything, she told herself. His head was bent, concentrating on her feet, but then he looked at her.
Shed never seen a look of such pureheat, certainly not directed at her, and it was titillating, to say the least. For a moment, she couldnt breathe, couldnt blink, couldnt move, but finally she managed a weak smile. This is nice.
Shed never seen a look of such pureheat, certainly not directed at her, and it was titillating, to say the least. For a moment, she couldnt breathe, couldnt blink, couldnt move, but finally she managed a weak smile. This is nice.
He didnt respond. Around them, the air sizzled with tension, sexual tension, and even as she told herself to get a grip, she wished shed been wearing something, anything other than serviceable white panties. Leopard print, maybe, or even a thong. Something outrageous. Something as sexy as Sean.
Tomorrow night wear your bathing suit, he said. You can get all the way in. Ill show you how easy it is to swim.
Of course, she couldnt. But the sheer honesty in his gaze brought a twinge of guilt she was beginning to hate.