The Doctor's Do-Over by Karen Templeton

Author:Karen Templeton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-07-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“You’re sure April’s okay with sitting?” Ryder asked over his break-dancing pulse as they parked the car by the nearly deserted marina.

“Of course,” Mel answered—as she’d done all three times he’d asked—even though Ryder hadn’t missed her cousin’s concerned gaze as they walked out the door. Yes, even though he’d also caught Mel’s mouthed, “I’ll be fine,” a moment before. “Quinn’s been dead asleep for an hour, at least. Kid’s down for the count until seven.”

Ryder got out of the car and was around to Mel’s side before she could open her own door, grabbing her hand and hauling her to her feet, the brisk breeze blowing her bangs off her face. Moonlight speared the pewter clouds, glancing off the motley assortment of small boats languidly bobbing in the night-black water as she smiled up at him.

“You’re shaking,” she said, her hand soft, warm against his face. “Look, we don’t have to—”

“I know. Except...I do.”

She took his hand and tugged him toward the boat, their footsteps too loud against the dock. Her suggestion, not his, as though she’d understood how hard it would have been for him to take her to the house.

He helped her on board, shivering from both the chill and the anticipation. But when she tried to hug him, he shook his head.

“Not yet.”

She sat beside him as he drove the cuddy out into the bay, to the group of islands they’d passed two days before, to moor at a private dock behind a house he knew had been vacant for months. Silence enveloped them, save for the gentle lapping of water against the boat’s hull, the occasional hoot of an owl.

“It’s gorgeous,” Mel whispered. “Perfect.”

Ryder cleared his throat. “I brought wine—”

“Don’t need wine. Thanks.”

“—and condoms.”

She chuckled. “Those, we can use.”

His heart jackhammering, Ryder led her into the tiny cabin, the ceiling too low for him to stand upright. He switched on a low light, a small heater, then tossed a cotton blanket across the puzzle of cushions that made up the sleeping area. Then he sat, as if not sure what came next.

Mel kneeled on the bed beside him, taking his face in her hands. “Hey,” she whispered. “No pressure. I’m fine with making out. Or sitting outside and admiring the scenery, whatever works for you—”

He silenced her with a kiss, easing her onto the bed, and she opened her mouth, inviting, making sweet little noises in her throat that made him crazy, made his eyes burn—

“It’s okay, touching’s allowed,” she whispered, and he slipped his hand underneath her hoodie, and she jerked, laughing. “Cold!”

“Sorry—”

“No, keep going, things’ll warm up soon enough...oh. Yes. Like that.”

He responded almost immediately.

Smiling, Mel pressed one hand to his chest. “So we’re good?”

When he nodded, she pushed herself up to toe off her Crocs, unzip her jeans, the rocking boat throwing her off balance as she wriggled free. On a startled laugh she grabbed the bulkhead and kicked the jeans behind her, then straddled him, pure devilment in her eyes, her grin, as she slowly unzipped her hoodie.

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