Read Online Riptide [Kismet Cove] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Susan Hayes - Free Book Online Page B

then.” Evan winked. “Get dressed and come on up when you’re ready. We’ll have to make a run for it. The weather went to absolute hell while we were all taking our naps.”
    He scooped her wet things off of the floor and vanished back through the door. “And hurry up, Jess. I am starving!”
    She tugged on the socks, happy to have something to cover her bare feet, which were already chilled from standing on thinly carpeted floor. With the rain jacket in hand, she made her way back into the galley, and then stopped, stunned as she realized the low roar she was hearing was the sound of rain hitting the roof overhead. The noise had been muffled down in the fore-cabin, but now it was obvious that they were in the middle of yet another storm. She put on the jacket and listened to her two rescuers banter. They both had their backs to her and were bent over an open compartment at the back of the boat, completely oblivious to the rain that was coming down in sheets.
    “If that offer for food is still available, I’m ready to take you up on it,” she called out to them. Both men turned around immediately, and Rory’s deep-brown eyes widened as he stared at her bare legs and then slowly perused the rest of her.
    “I take it back, Evan. You’re right, she does look better in it than I do.”
    “Told you so.”
    “You both need to have your eyes checked,” Jess said, deflecting the compliment. She wasn’t exactly comfortable showing so much of herself. She knew her body was far from perfect, and she usually worked hard to dress to her strengths. Bare legs and a baggy sweater weren’t going to help highlight her assets, and she really hoped she could find something else to wear soon.
    “Just give us a second here, baby. We need to put this new engine to bed and then we’ll be heading home.” Rory turned back to the compartment and tugged a cover back into place over the top of it. He was wearing a rain jacket, but he’d left the hood down and his dark hair was streaming with water. Jess could see he wasn’t wearing anything under the jacket, either, and she wondered how he was managing to stay warm. A gust of wind blew the rain nearly sideways and she heard him cursing under his breath. Apparently he wasn’t warm after all.
    “If you don’t get out of this weather soon, we’re going to be treating you for hypothermia next,” she scolded him.
    Evan snickered, “I think we finally met your match, Rory. She doesn’t seem to be the least bit intimidated by your dark and glowering persona.”
    “Don’t you get cocky, Evan. You’re the one standing there watching him get drenched. I thought you two were supposed to be looking out for each other.” Jess tipped her head to one side. “Or do you share your colds, too?”
    “If you’re so worried about my catching cold, why don’t you help keep me warm?” Rory covered the short distance in a few quick strides and before Jess could take more than a single step backward she found herself swept up into his powerful arms. “There, now you can keep me safe from the elements while Evan runs up to the truck and gets it started.”
    “Fine, fine. You can carry her to the truck, but I’ve got dibs on carrying her into the house!” Evan shot back and leaped neatly up onto the gunwale and then onto the dock. He tugged his hood forward with one hand and made a dash for the ramp leading to shore, leaving Jess and Rory alone.
    “You two certainly bicker like you were family,” Jess observed as she wrapped her arms around Rory’s neck and held on as he stepped up onto the side of the boat and jumped to the dock. His muscles flexed as he cradled her to his chest as they landed, and then he was heading up the dock. He reached up and tucked her head under his chin, sheltering her from some of the rain and wind. The only part of her that was really exposed were her bare legs, and she knew by the time she got back inside, she was going to need another pair of socks and a