Read Online Nantucket by Nan Rossiter - Free Book Online Page A

York?”
    She nodded and smiled as she reached for a cookie—the fact that Liam hadn’t heard of one of the wealthiest towns in New York made him all the more perfect.
    â€œAre you warming up?” he asked, sealing the ziplock bag.
    â€œYup, I’m ready to go back in.”
    â€œYou are not,” he said with a laugh; then he turned to her, searching her eyes. He gently touched her cheek, and then, to his own surprise, leaned over and kissed her. She kissed him back, tasting his sweet lips.
    Liam’s eyes grew solemn and his voice was husky as he spoke. “I’ve never felt this way before.”
    â€œI haven’t either,” she said softly.
    Liam kissed her again and then pulled away. “I’m ready to go in again,” he said with a smile, and Cadie watched in surprise as he got up and trotted toward the water.
    Liam plunged headfirst through the waves and swam underwater for as long as he could, the cold, clear water cooling his body and clearing his mind. He really hadn’t felt this way before—his heart was pounding, his head was spinning, and the rest of his body, well . . . it was as if everything was suddenly spiraling out of control and he really needed it to slow down.
    Moments later, he walked back toward the blanket and reached down for his towel.
    â€œFeel better?” Cadie asked.
    â€œMuch,” he said with a grin; then he shook his head, sending beads of cold water in her direction.
    â€œHey!” she said, laughing and pulling her towel around her.

Chapter 10
    L iam felt a cold, wet nose nudging his hand and opened his eyes. He saw a pair of soft brown eyes peering at him. “Hello,” he murmured, and Tuck, happy to find evidence of life, wiggled happily. Liam looked at the clock on the bedside table and groaned. “Eight o’clock! How the heck did that happen?!” Tuck licked his face and wagged his whole hind end, knocking the clock to the floor. Liam leaned over to retrieve it, and as he sat up, felt his head start to pound. “Damn,” he muttered, rubbing his temples.
    He shuffled to the bathroom, relieved himself, splashed water on his face, and looked in the mirror. “Man, you have definitely seen better days . . .” he mumbled, and Tuck, who’d followed him into the bathroom, continued to wag his tail. “No comments from the peanut gallery either,” Liam said, eyeing him. He opened the medicine cabinet, reached for the aspirin bottle, popped four in his mouth, put his head under the faucet, and swallowed. “Remind me,” he grumbled as Tuck followed him to the kitchen, “never again.”
    He let Tuck out and Moby in. “Sorry you got left out, Mobe,” he said apologetically as he scooped kibble into their bowls and put on a pot of coffee. When the coffee was done, he propped open the door, eased into one of the Adirondack chairs on the back porch, and took a sip, hoping his hangover wouldn’t last all day.
    The night before, they’d started off with a couple of beers, but then Jack had ordered a round of tequila shots—which had been fun, so they’d ordered more . . . until they’d each ordered a round and it had come around to Jack again. Eventually, Liam had lost track of how many they’d had, but when he stood up, he knew it was too many.
    Now, as he listened to the waves, he recalled the bizarre conversation he’d had with Jack as they’d stood in front of the urinals in the men’s room. Liam blinked at the bright morning sunlight. Had Jack really talked about an encounter he’d had with the wife of a friend in the men’s room of an Outback Steakhouse while Tracey and the friend waited for their table?
    â€œIn the Bloke’s Room!” Jack had said as he relieved himself. “Damn, she was hot, and I pushed her up against the wall of the stall, pulled down her panties, and gave her all I had. Afterward, I went to find