Double Exposure by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Author:Vicki Lewis Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-08-17T04:00:00+00:00

9

“OMIGOD, YOU’RE RIGHT,” Kate said.

Hugh surveyed the boats out on the Sound. “The water’s smooth as glass clear to the horizon. Not a whitecap anywhere. The only folks moving out there are using motors.”

“We have a motor.”

Hugh glanced at the small outboard attached to the stern. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to depend on it. It didn’t sound too healthy when we used it to get out past the breakwater.”

“They never sound healthy. It’ll probably do the job.”

“Let’s hope.” He moved to the stern and took hold of the starter. “Keep your fingers crossed.” He yanked hard on the cord. The motor growled softly and stopped. He yanked again and got a slightly louder growl that went nowhere. Several more tries produced the same result.

“Want me to try?”

His macho reaction was to say, hell, no, that if anyone could get the thing started, he could, and this motor was obviously D.O.A. But he didn’t want to get into a power struggle with Kate at the very moment she’d agreed to be his playmate for the weekend. “Be my guest.” He traded seats with her.

She tried a few times, and he felt a little smug that she couldn’t do it, either. “Maybe you should try again,” she said.

They traded seats once more and he nearly pulled the cord out of the socket, but the motor refused to start.

Kate sighed and looked at the oars tucked along the inside of the hull. “We could row,” she said without enthusiasm.

Hugh hated to think about how long it would take him to paddle this tub back to the harbor. “We could.”

“Or I could get out my cell phone and call the Coast Guard.” She held his gaze, a smile teasing her mouth.

“I’d rather row.” He knew what happened when the Coast Guard showed up. They lashed you to their seriously important boat and towed you, their twirling blue lights announcing that they’d rescued yet another Sunday sailor who thought he was going for the America’s Cup. It wasn’t an image Hugh wanted to carry away from this weekend.

“I didn’t think you’d go for that,” she said.

“No, but that does narrow our options.” He didn’t relish the idea of rowing, but if that was the only way he’d get Kate in bed with him again, he’d row his little heart out.

He reached for the oar tucked along the starboard side. “If you’ll untie us, I’ll take the first shift.” He had no intention of letting her row, but having seen her independent streak, he wanted to let her think that he would.

“Or…”

Something in her tone made him glance up.

She was leaning against the rail in a suggestive pose, her nipples puckering the lime sherbet knit of her top. “Or we could find something to do until the breeze picks up,” she said in as sultry a voice as any Hollywood starlet had ever managed.

The oar dropped from his suddenly lax fingers and clattered to the floor of the boat. He could imagine a few scenarios, but he wanted to know if she was on the same page.

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