Summer Lovin (6 page)

Her stare was obvious and seductive, making him feel like he was bathed in light, and not because the summer sun shone hot above them. Zoe managed to brighten his life during what should be a dark time. She confused and confounded him because she was the opposite of everything he was taught to value in life.

But here they were and he wasn't walking away. Neither was she, and her approving gaze became the permission he needed to take the kiss he desired.

Ryan brought his hands up, cupping her face between his palms. “I like you, too.”

“Oh.” Her tongue darted out and swept across her lower lip, moistening her mouth.

Unable to resist, he lowered his head and captured her lips with his. He immediately discovered the chemistry between them from the moment they'd met paled in comparison to the passion that flared to life now. She tasted sweet and his desire for her grew. He slid his tongue over the seam of her lips and demanded she let him inside.

With a welcoming groan, she gave what he asked for, his tongue touching and tangling with hers. He wanted to possess her completely, to learn the deep secrets she kept and he explored thoroughly with his tongue to accomplish that goal. Needing to feel her against him, he moved his hands from her face, down her back, pausing on her behind as he pulled her close until her body was flush with his.

She came willingly and nestled into the V of his legs, fitting like she belonged. He was rock hard, something she clearly recognized when she shifted her hips so his erection nestled in even more snugly between her thighs.

Her heat beckoned to him, making him want to toss her onto the ground and make love to her right here, outside, damn whoever might see.

He couldn't imagine anything more out of character. He couldn't imagine anything he wanted more. Since he couldn't act on that particular desire, he groaned and deepened the kiss, using his mouth to mimic making love.

Zoe trembled and held on to Ryan's bare shoulders. Reveling in the feel of his hot skin beneath her hands, she pressed her body closer to his, his heat seeping through her clothes and into her pores. Her breasts grew full and heavy, her nipples puckering tight against his chest.

He shuddered, groaned and continued the incredible assault on her senses.

Never before had a kiss so rocked her world as this one did. The man was an expert at taking possession. Every sweep and swirl of his tongue pulled a matching whirlpool of need from deep inside her. Nor did he keep his feelings hidden as a deep groan reverberated in his chest.

The man was complex. The uptight facade he presented on first meeting was a better cover than any she'd seen. Because his cool exterior hid a powder keg of emotion, and now that she'd tapped into it, she wasn't likely to forget. She threw herself into the moment, and continued to kiss him back.

“Ahem.”

Ryan jumped back immediately.

Zoe faced her twin. “Hi, Ari,” she said, blinking, her voice slightly hoarse.

Her sister nodded. “Hi. Do you really think this is the right place for that?”

Zoe caught the teasing note in her sister's voice. “And who appointed you the kissing gestapo?”

Ari laughed, then leaned closer to Ryan. “I don't believe we were formally introduced yesterday.” She extended her hand. “I'm Ariana Donovan.”

“Ryan Baldwin. I'd shake your hand, but I've been digging in the dirt.”

“If Zoe didn't mind your hands all over her, I think I can handle a simple shake.”

Ryan felt a rush of heat rise to his face. “I think I'm going to make myself scarce,” he muttered.

“Ryan spent the morning with Sam,” Zoe told her twin. “They were making the pig feel more at home.” She gestured toward the patch of dirt.

“In Mom's daffodils, I see. It's gonna be a pain re-planting those.”

Ryan groaned. The sisters were more alike than they realized. He grabbed his shirt, which hung over the back of the bench. “It was nice to meet you, Ari,” he said.

“Same here.” Ari gave him a brief nod.

“Bye, Ryan.” Zoe treated him to a wave. “I'll be seeing you.”

At her blatant stare at his still-bare chest, he had a hunch she meant that in a very literal sense, too.

 

Z
OE WATCHED AS
R
YAN STRODE
around the side of the house. He couldn't get away fast enough and she found his embarrassment endearing. His kiss, on the other hand, had been explosive.

“Well, well, well.” Ari studied her twin, piercing her with a knowing stare.

Zoe shoved her hands into her front jeans pockets. “Well what?”

“I can't believe I caught you making out with the social worker,” she said, laughing.

Obviously Ari hadn't seen Quinn yet today because she was acting as if everything were normal. They might keep the truth about Ryan from the rest of the family, but Quinn and Zoe wouldn't keep Ari in the dark. She'd been the only family member who'd finally known Zoe was alive back when everyone had thought she'd disappeared and had probably died. On her return, Zoe had promised herself no more lies between herself and her twin. But they couldn't talk here and run the risk of Sam overhearing.

“That social worker is hot. Or hadn't you noticed?” Zoe asked.

Focusing on the more positive aspects of Ryan wasn't difficult after that heated kiss. Of course she couldn't entirely ignore the discomfort she felt at enjoying Ryan when he didn't have her family's best interest at heart.

Ari raised an eyebrow. “I hadn't actually. I have my own guy at home, but I'm glad to see you've got
your
eyes open.”

Zoe shrugged. Her feelings about Ryan and their first kiss were too new for her to want to discuss them even with her sister.

“He's definitely different than anyone you've been attracted to before.”

“So I've noticed.”

“He's much more…How shall I put this delicately? He's much more like me than like you. Which makes sense since opposites attract. Just look at me and Quinn.”

Ari and Quinn were the ultimate in love couples. Comparing Zoe's lust for Ryan to her twin's love for her husband didn't make a lick of sense. Also not a conversation Zoe intended to have now.

“If you mean Ryan's uptight, conservative, and he loves rules and regulations, then, yes, I can definitely see why you'd think you two had something in common.” Zoe met her sister's gaze and they laughed, a true testament to how far their relationship had come since Ari's return last year.

“Where're Mom and Sam?” Ari asked. “I want to drop off a blouse I borrowed.”

Zoe glanced around. “Good question. My guess is that Mom has spa appointments and I know Sam went next door for a little while.”

Ari shifted her purse strap higher onto her shoulder. “I left the blouse on the kitchen table. Can you just let her know?”

Zoe nodded.

“Oh and by the way, I got the guidance position at Ocean Isle High,” she said casually, but Zoe knew how much she'd wanted the job.

“That's amazing!” She hugged her sister.

“The hours are perfect for me and it's so close to home.”

“You don't miss Vermont at all?”

“Not at all. It was a place I ran to. It wasn't home.”

Zoe stepped back and grinned. “Home is where Quinn Donovan is, huh?”

“And you, too. And Mom and Dad, and Sam and…”

“Speaking of Quinn, have you spoken with him?” Zoe asked, interrupting.

“Not since he left this morning, but he called earlier and we're meeting for lunch in a little while.”

Zoe nodded. “Okay good. Good,” she said, relieved all would be out in the open between them soon.

“Good? Why good? What's going on?” Ari asked, suddenly more alert.

Zoe swung her arm over her sister's shoulder. “Go talk to Quinn and we'll catch up later.”

“I'm not going to like this, am I?”

Zoe shook her head and Ari shivered.

But it wasn't Ari's reaction that had Zoe the most concerned. What bothered her most was that after a lifetime of nonthreatening relationships, she was starting to fall for a man who was most definitely a threat—to the freespirited world she'd grown up in and the close-knit family she adored.

 

A
FTER THE KISS
, Ryan retreated to his hotel room. He needed a cold shower, but first he wanted to call the private investigator he'd hired and ask him to get more information on the Costas clan.

Now that he knew they were a force in Sam's life, he wanted to find out more about their background and what kind of people he was dealing with. He already knew they didn't have the money to compete with him in court, but each one of them had more heart than his family combined. And that scared him.

So did Zoe. It was one thing to be attracted to a woman, another to be
affected
and something about Zoe got to him. Her devotion to a child who wasn't a blood relative, her kindness to him despite his potential to upset her world, and her free spirit made him
feel
in a way he never had before. Not in a family that went out of their way to rein in emotion and put up barriers. When he was with Zoe, holding, kissing and laughing with her, there were no walls.

Which was why he decided to steer clear for the coming weekend. Though it would be damn difficult not to show up at the Costases' house during the next two days, he intended to stay away from the new women in his life. As far as his cover went, his decision made sense because he doubted a social worker would make house calls on Saturday or Sunday. Instead, he planned to do some work that he'd taken with him and recoup for Monday morning when he'd deal with Zoe and her family again.

Now fresh from a shower, Ryan sat on the bed in his hotel room. After ordering room service, he decided to check in with his family. He'd informed his parents he was going to New Jersey to follow up on a lead about Faith's daughter. They knew Faith had died and that they had a granddaughter out there somewhere, yet they hadn't been interested in accompanying him on his trip.

“Let sleeping dogs lie, Ryan,” his father had said. “Faith's gone. No good can come of dredging up the past.”

And though he'd mentioned that their granddaughter was being shuffled through foster care, his father's attitude hadn't softened. “Most probably she's stubborn and harder to handle than Faith, then.” Mark Baldwin had dismissed any type of reunion, as had his mother, Vivian. But Ryan had seen a hint of emotion in her eyes and held out hope for when she met Sam.

But his father's brother, Ryan's uncle Russ, supported his quest and had from the time Ryan had told him Faith had a daughter who was alive and living in New Jersey. So it was Russ he turned to now.

Ryan reached him at work in the corporate offices of Baldwin's, New England's favorite department store and his family's dynasty, he thought wryly. Some dynasty when it excluded family at whim.

Uncle Russ had devoted his life to the business, more so after Ryan's father's heart attack and subsequent cutting back over the past couple of years. Though J.T. worked at Baldwin's, he was more a hands-on manager while Uncle Russ oversaw delivery and transport.

“Hi, Uncle Russ,” he said when the other man answered his private line.

“Ryan, it's good to finally hear from you. I was beginning to think I'd have to come after you myself.”

He shook his head and laughed. “Nothing that drastic is warranted, I promise you.”

“Did you find the girl?” Uncle Russ asked.

“Samantha. As a matter of fact, I did.”

Uncle Russ sucked in a sharp breath. “After all this time!”

“She looks exactly like Faith.”

“That is remarkable. I didn't think, well I don't know what I thought you'd find.”

“Have my parents given any indication of coming around?” Ryan asked.

The other man cleared his throat. “I think that like me, they didn't know what would come of this quest. In truth, they haven't discussed it with me.”

“Ever the diplomat, Uncle Russ?”

He chuckled. “Well, now that you've found the young lady, I'll talk to them again.” He paused. “So, what does this Sam think about having an uncle?”

Ryan winced. He'd been hoping to put off disclosing the details of Sam's situation and his agreement with Zoe.

“That's a little complicated. She doesn't know who I am just yet. The family she's staying with thinks it's best if she's eased into things.”

“I see.”

A knock on the door told him room service had arrived. “I need to go, but I'll call soon.”

“Okay, and you take care.”

Ryan hung up the phone, grateful he had at least one relative he could count on. Unlike Zoe, who had more than a handful of strange but caring people who would always be there for her.