It left her feeling breathless and exhilarated and entirely feminine in all the best ways.
He bounced a little, releasing his hold on her to press on the seat cushions, and then he shook his head. “That thing is too narrow and not nearly strong enough for what I have in mind.” Her laughter caught in her throat, and her eyes widened as she saw the intensity in his. She’d thought he was kidding. Now she wasn’t so sure, but that was just fine. They’d revved up the engines while kissing on top of that lighthouse. They’d kicked the tires on her porch swing the other night. Now it was time to go for a ride. A fast ride. And she was so ready.
His hands moved up her legs to her hips, his fingers spread wide, his thumbs tracing along the inside of her thighs. He paused the movement just as he reached the hemline of her shorts, and those thumbs of his were dangerously close to touching her just where she wanted to be touched.
His gaze locked with hers. “Are you sure about this? I don’t really want to take advantage of your vulnerable state.”
“I’m sure. So very sure. But . . .” Her voice trailed off.
“What?”
“Um, protection?”
His smile was equal parts smug and grateful. “Gotcha covered. Or, got myself covered.” He leaned to the side, taking her listing with him as he jostled the wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a foil packet.
“You just happen to have that?”
“I do. I’ve been waiting for this for weeks.”
“For weeks? You have?” Her skin flushed all over.
He nodded fast. “Pretty much since the first day I met you. I’m an optimist.”
“I can’t tell if I should be flattered or feel like I’ve fallen into a trap.”
“Flattered. By all means feel flattered.”
She was flattered, and she was going to make the most of this. Chloe was running around with friends, Gigi was playing bingo at the community hall, the work crew was long gone, and no one was expecting her anyplace anytime soon, so the next hour was going to be all for her and all for Ryan. She leaned forward and kissed him, clutching the fabric of his shirt and tugging it upward, breaking the kiss just long enough to pull it over his head and off of his arms. His breath hitched and he sat up straight when her hands came into contact with his skin and ran over his shoulders. He was smooth and muscular, steel wrapped in velvet under her palms. Yes, she was definitely going to make this count.
“Do you know what you are, Emily Chambers?” He breathed against her throat. “You’re the kind of woman a man wants to make promises to.”
“Good,” she said. “Then promise me this is going to be awesome.”
He chuckled, deep from his chest. “I promise. It’s going to be awesome.”
Chapter 25
“After paying closing costs on the Disaster-ville house, paying you back, and then paying off my other debts, I figure I’ll have enough left over to take care of Chloe and myself for about six or eight months. Assuming I can find a decent place to live.”
Emily and her grandmother were sitting in Gigi’s kitchen sipping their morning coffee, and she was filling her in on all the latest happenings. Well, not all the latest. She didn’t mention anything about Ryan, of course, but told her all the stuff about Jewel and the San Antonio house.
“Jewel was charging me a ridiculously low rent, so those costs are going to triple. Plus utilities and taxes and such. I’m definitely going to have to get a different job because I can’t afford to buy another flip, and Chloe might even have to transfer to a different school.”
“That would be awesome!” Chloe said, peeking her head around the corner of Gigi’s kitchen. “I hate my school.”
“You are not supposed to be eavesdropping.” Emily had thought Chloe was still asleep.
“I’m just saving time. You know there are no secrets on this island. I’d find out eventually.” She had them on that. It was general knowledge that most secrets on this island were general knowledge.
“Can we move here, Mom? I would love to move here.” Chloe was practically bouncing in her fuzzy slippers and Harry Potter pajamas.
Gigi grinned. “Of course you can move here. Problem solved. Martini anyone?”
“That does not solve my problems, Gigi. I can’t move back here. Chloe, we can’t move back here. Gigi, you may not have a martini at eight thirty in the morning.” Had everyone gone crazy?
“Why can’t we move here?” Chloe said. “You don’t have a job, we don’t have a place to live, and if I have to change schools anyway, I may as well transfer here. It would be really cool to go to the same place you went. And Aunt Brooke would be my science teacher, unless she becomes the mayor. And I could see what it’s like here in the winter. I have always wanted to try winter.”
“But what about your friends in Texas?”
“Um, the ones who call me giraffe and make fun of my freckles? Those friends? Yeah, I’m okay leaving them behind.”
“Well, then, what about my friends?” Emily said.
Chloe paused for a moment, looking back at her as if she didn’t quite know how to break this news. “Um, I don’t mean to be mean or anything, Mom, but who are your friends? I mean, I know you go out sometimes, but mostly it seems like you just work and do stuff with me and Jewel.”
“Are you suggesting I don’t have any friends? I have friends. There’s um . . . let’s see. There’s . . . well, okay, so I don’t have a ton of super-close friends, but I have a vast network of superficial acquaintances.”
“You have friends here,” Gigi said. “Gloria and the drunk puzzle girls, and you have your sisters and me and your cousins. I think it’s all settled.”
“It’s not all settled. Please, Gigi, don’t make this harder.”
“I’m not trying to make it harder. I’m trying to make it easier. There are six bedrooms in this house and just me living here. I have more than enough room. Plus, I want you to renovate the rest of my cottages.”
“Oh, see, Mom? Now you have a job here. Just consider it, please. You said you wanted me to like it here, right? You succeeded. Well done! I like to hike and bike. And eat fudge. You like fudge, right?” Chloe nodded and lifted her eyebrows.
Emily smiled. “I do like fudge.”
“Excellent. It’s decided,” Gigi said. “Now I can really show those Mahoney sisters that I’m the rental queen. Not to mention the fact that Bridget O’Malley was not looking that great in church last week. She cannot be long for this world, bless her decrepit old heart. We could pool our money and buy her place. I’d love to add another rental to my roster. And I won’t even have to marry anyone to do it!”