Stef Ann Holm, Lucy Back [paper ebook reader .TXT] 📗

Drew Tolman. She was in the middle of a war with a physical urge. She tried to tell herself no, when everything else within her said yes. A woman couldn’t force her heart to feel anything, but when it naturally did there was no stopping it.

Lucy realized she was in over her head with him. He was the one man since her divorce who could make her feel, think and live. Not far behind that was the possibility that he could creep into the core of her soul. The very thought petrified her.

She didn’t know him. Why was she acting this way?

“Good,” she managed to reply, her voice sounding scratchy.

“Dave and Sue are good people,” Drew commented, as if to give his stamp of approval on her new friendship.

She didn’t need it.

The little boy with the flyswatter approached, running another lap on the dock. He swished the air, then playfully slapped Drew’s butt.

“Don’t!” he squealed as Drew tried to grab him, but without a lot of effort.

“Hey, squirt.”

Lucy watched the exchange, ignoring the mocking voice in her head that screamed, Don’t ask.

“Why did you quit baseball?” The question was out before she could stop it.

She had Drew’s full attention once more. He grew somber for a moment, then grinned. “I wasn’t any good anymore.”

She didn’t want to let him off the hook so easily. “Seriously, Drew. Why? There are rumors in town. You had to have heard them.”

He grew quiet, his expression going blank as the music played. Lucy tuned it out and waited for him to answer.

She didn’t think he would, then softly, he spoke. “I had some personal issues I had to take care of.”

“Like what?”

“I wasn’t feeling like myself, so I had to take some downtime. I just never went back. Shit happens.” And that was all she got on the subject. He closed off, put the smile back in place, then, to Lucy’s utter surprise, sat down in Sue’s lounge next to her.

Lucy turned her head to look at him. All she could think to say was the only thing on her mind. “You have a big boat.”

He roared with laughter, his smile white and bright. “Yeah, I do, sugar.”

Why did he have to use that endearment with her? She’d heard him say it to other women in town, and its casual meaning shouldn’t affect her, but it did. The way he drawled that word made her body warm, turning her heartbeat sluggish.

She willed herself to be calm, to not react. Gripping the arms on the chair, she stared straight ahead and clenched her teeth.

Drew gazed at Lucy and inwardly smiled. She sat stiff enough to be a team owner at the World Series. She fought him, fought the feelings he brought out in her; but he knew he could win her over.

Only this was no game.

If he wanted Lucy Carpenter, he had to want her for real. And for a longer time than a few minutes.

Drew knew he was a flirt. Didn’t necessarily think that was a detriment. He wasn’t devious about it. He lived a life of easygoing comments and caresses that women relished. He knew how to treat a woman right, how she wanted to be touched and held.

But he also knew that substance was rare. That deep feeling in his gut that said he wanted more. More than just a night, more than just a moment of friendly banter. Needing someone was a lot different than just being with them. It was too soon after Jacquie for him to fully sort out his thoughts on this. But he was sure of one thing: Lucy had a killer body.

She lounged back in the chair, her shoulders pressing into the canvas and her long legs stretched forward. She had long, shapely legs and a waist that was narrow and trim. Her stomach was flat and in good shape. She took care of herself. Pink polish was painted on her cute toenails. He like femininity. In fact, he loved it. Was very drawn to a woman who was girlie. But not showy.

Those twenty-something Laker girls on his boat—they were all show and no substance whatsoever. But good fun.

“Shouldn’t you be getting back to your friends?” Lucy asked.

Drew frowned. “Trying to get rid of me?”

“Well…no. But I just thought—”

“Lucy, don’t think too much right now. You’ve got creases on your forehead as if you’re trying to figure out the formula for something. Enjoy the day. Enjoy life.”

She sat a little straighter, shaded her gaze with the flat of her hand. “Don’t you ever take anything seriously?”

“Hell, yes. All the time. But not on the first day of docking.” Then he grabbed the leg of her beach chair and slid her closer to him. That he could do the maneuver with the strength of just one hand set her heartbeat racing. His bare feet were so close to hers they almost touched. He got her attention, gave her a smile that he knew would melt her. He wanted to melt her, make her flustered in ways she’d never felt before. “You’re a beautiful woman and you have to have noticed every man here has been staring at you.”

She took a quick look around. “N-no they haven’t.”

“Pete, Joe, Steve, Randy, Adam—every one of them has been looking over here the whole time we’ve been talking.”

“That’s absurd. They’re looking at those women you brought with you.”

“They’re just fluff. You’re the real thing, Lucy.”

A blush worked its way down the swell of her cleavage. He thought about what her skin would taste like. What she’d taste like. Her mouth. The intimate part of her body.

She couldn’t keep her eyes on him, not that she could read his expression behind the sunglasses. She had to glance away.

He felt a strange satisfaction in knowing he could get to her. It had nothing to do with ego. It had everything to do with wanting the moment to be about her. Making her very aware she was a desirable woman. To him. To other