Dare Island [2] Carolina Girl by Virginia Kantra

Author:Virginia Kantra [Kantra, Virginia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, General, Contemporary, Fiction
ISBN: 9781101623411
Google: G1kkLUriRCwC
Amazon: 0425251225
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2013-06-03T14:00:00+00:00

* * *

MEG WATCHED AS Cynthie hoisted Hannah in her arms, smiling at the contrast they made, a mermaid with a princess on her hip, Cynthie’s glittery showgirl face against her daughter’s soft topknot. Taylor and Madison had their heads bent over the candy bowl, debating the merits of M&Ms over Skittles.

The back of her neck tickled. She felt a premonition like a finger drawn along her spine, like a whisper against her skin, and turned.

Sam.

Of course he wasn’t in costume. He was too cool for that. With his black knit shirt tucked into lean black jeans, he looked dark, dangerous, and ready for action, like an Italian movie star or a jewelry thief.

He perused her head to toe before his gleaming eyes returned to her face. A corner of his mouth curled upward in a smile. “Nice boots,” he drawled.

The Stuart Weitzman knee-high boots had been her reward to herself after her March bonus. Even on sale, they were an indulgence. After traipsing almost a mile in four-inch heels, her ankles were wobbly and the balls of her feet hurt, but it was totally worth it to put that look in Sam’s eyes.

She tossed her head, making her gold hoops sway. She stepped in close and dropped her voice, enjoying his quick intake of breath. “Hey, sailor,” she teased, her lips close to his ear. “Is that a belaying pin in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”

He expelled his breath on a laugh. “We use cleats now, darling. If you’re talking about sailing.”

She drew back and grinned. “Actually, I wouldn’t know a belaying pin from my . . . elbow. I just thought it sounded pirate-y.”

The slashes in his cheeks deepened. “Next time try blunderbuss.”

“Hornpipe,” she countered.

“Peg leg.”

“Jolly Roger,” she said triumphantly, and he raised his hands in surrender.

“You win. Let me buy you a drink.”

“I’m with the girls.”

“They can have sodas.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right. Because more sugar and caffeine are just what they need about now. Hey, girls.” They all looked over. “Want to stop and get something to drink?”

Madison’s face dropped comically. Hannah stared at her like an abused orphan from her mother’s arms.

“Are we done trick-or-treating?” Taylor asked, not arguing. More . . . resigned.

Kid, you have been disappointed too often in your life, Meg thought.

“No way,” she said firmly. “This is just a pit stop.”

“You wait right here with your drinks,” Cynthie said, “and I’ll clock out and take you the rest of the way. Okay?”

The little girls scooted into a booth.

“Lemonade or orange juice?” Sam asked, standing over them.

Meg glanced up in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to take her caffeine remark seriously.

He took their orders and fetched the girls’ drinks from the bar, complete with paper umbrellas and maraschino cherries.

“Very slick,” she murmured.

His teeth showed in a brief smile. “I aim to please.” He set a mug in front of her. “I thought you might like coffee.”

“Thanks.” She sipped. Milk, no sugar. There was something flattering, something seductive, about his attention to detail.

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