afternoon, she was through dithering and ready to just enjoy herself, whatever happened.
When she opened the door and Branch stood there in shorts and a tee shirt, she had all she could do not to drool. He was freshly shaven, and the scent of his aftershave tantalized her nostrils again. The breadth of his shoulders and the musculature of his arms and chest were even more defined than in the other clothing she’d seen him in. The sculpted muscles were just as evident in his strong legs, his calves, and the masculine thighs that disappeared into the legs of the shorts.
Lee hoped she wasn’t drooling. If only she could convince him of the sublime satisfaction of submission, but she knew how futile that would be. The desire was either there, or it wasn’t. She swallowed a sigh and put on a smile.
“All set?” he asked.
“I am.” She lifted her tote. “Bathing suit and sweater as ordered.”
He took it from her hands. “Then let’s get to it.”
The drive to Canyon Lake, just over an hour, was pleasant and easy. Branch asked her what her preference in music was, found a station on satellite radio, and kept it on low the whole way, so music was a quiet hum in the background. Lee thought she was an expert at guiding the course of a conversation, but Branch Colby made it an art form. She nearly found herself telling him the story of her life, until she reminded herself what that story was.
When they arrived at the marina, he parked his SUV and led her along the dock to where his boat was berthed. Boat? She stopped and stared at it. Small powerboat? Lee had seen plenty of boats before. Businessmen in San Antonio had invited the mayor to small gatherings on their boats, and often her presence had been required. Those were small powerboats. This thing? Forty-eight feet if it was an inch.
“Problem?” Branch touched her elbow.
“You said a small powerboat. I’d hate to see what you think of as big.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad I didn’t take you to the really big one.”
“You have another one?” Dummy. Of course he did.
“I often entertain on the water. I need something to accommodate larger groups.” One corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “Want to take that one instead?”
“Uh, no, thanks. This will be just great.” She winked at him. “Cozy.”
His laugh was like a shimmer of warmth sliding over her. “Come on. Let’s get on board.”
He helped her up the ladder someone had put in place then followed.
“Let me show you around before we cast off.”
Carrying her tote in one hand, the other at her elbow to guide her, he walked her around the deck, pointing out the best areas to sun, indicating where the wheelhouse was up four steps, then urging her down a short flight of steps into the interior.
“Galley, salon, two cabins. Just your basic little powerboat.”
She burst out laughing. “That’s like saying the Ritz Carlton is just your basic hotel.”
“Oh, I think the Ritz is a little bigger than this. Come on, Lee, relax. Pretend this is just a rowboat.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He settled her in the guest cabin, suggested she change into her bathing suit, and said he’d see her on deck when she was ready. She changed quickly but took a moment to check herself out in the mirror. Damn! Her nipples were like two hard points against the soft fabric of the bra. No concealing that, unfortunately. And slim hope that Branch wouldn’t notice. He was a man who observed everything.
She adjusted the miniscule bottom that barely covered her mound and gave thanks for her recent waxing session. Her legs were smooth all the way to her mound, no stray little curly hairs peeping out from the edges of the material. Okay, then. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and grabbed her lotion and a beach towel. The engines were already rumbling, the boat vibrating by the time she climbed the short flight of stairs again.
She waved up at Branch, who sat relaxed in the cockpit, and spread
When she opened the door and Branch stood there in shorts and a tee shirt, she had all she could do not to drool. He was freshly shaven, and the scent of his aftershave tantalized her nostrils again. The breadth of his shoulders and the musculature of his arms and chest were even more defined than in the other clothing she’d seen him in. The sculpted muscles were just as evident in his strong legs, his calves, and the masculine thighs that disappeared into the legs of the shorts.
Lee hoped she wasn’t drooling. If only she could convince him of the sublime satisfaction of submission, but she knew how futile that would be. The desire was either there, or it wasn’t. She swallowed a sigh and put on a smile.
“All set?” he asked.
“I am.” She lifted her tote. “Bathing suit and sweater as ordered.”
He took it from her hands. “Then let’s get to it.”
The drive to Canyon Lake, just over an hour, was pleasant and easy. Branch asked her what her preference in music was, found a station on satellite radio, and kept it on low the whole way, so music was a quiet hum in the background. Lee thought she was an expert at guiding the course of a conversation, but Branch Colby made it an art form. She nearly found herself telling him the story of her life, until she reminded herself what that story was.
When they arrived at the marina, he parked his SUV and led her along the dock to where his boat was berthed. Boat? She stopped and stared at it. Small powerboat? Lee had seen plenty of boats before. Businessmen in San Antonio had invited the mayor to small gatherings on their boats, and often her presence had been required. Those were small powerboats. This thing? Forty-eight feet if it was an inch.
“Problem?” Branch touched her elbow.
“You said a small powerboat. I’d hate to see what you think of as big.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad I didn’t take you to the really big one.”
“You have another one?” Dummy. Of course he did.
“I often entertain on the water. I need something to accommodate larger groups.” One corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “Want to take that one instead?”
“Uh, no, thanks. This will be just great.” She winked at him. “Cozy.”
His laugh was like a shimmer of warmth sliding over her. “Come on. Let’s get on board.”
He helped her up the ladder someone had put in place then followed.
“Let me show you around before we cast off.”
Carrying her tote in one hand, the other at her elbow to guide her, he walked her around the deck, pointing out the best areas to sun, indicating where the wheelhouse was up four steps, then urging her down a short flight of steps into the interior.
“Galley, salon, two cabins. Just your basic little powerboat.”
She burst out laughing. “That’s like saying the Ritz Carlton is just your basic hotel.”
“Oh, I think the Ritz is a little bigger than this. Come on, Lee, relax. Pretend this is just a rowboat.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He settled her in the guest cabin, suggested she change into her bathing suit, and said he’d see her on deck when she was ready. She changed quickly but took a moment to check herself out in the mirror. Damn! Her nipples were like two hard points against the soft fabric of the bra. No concealing that, unfortunately. And slim hope that Branch wouldn’t notice. He was a man who observed everything.
She adjusted the miniscule bottom that barely covered her mound and gave thanks for her recent waxing session. Her legs were smooth all the way to her mound, no stray little curly hairs peeping out from the edges of the material. Okay, then. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and grabbed her lotion and a beach towel. The engines were already rumbling, the boat vibrating by the time she climbed the short flight of stairs again.
She waved up at Branch, who sat relaxed in the cockpit, and spread
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