Vanessa didn’t object to the quick escalation.The only sound she made was a hungry little gasp of encouragement.She reveled in the contact with his mouth, the wet heat of his tongue, and his callused fingertips on her skin.His touch had an electric quality; she was instantly aroused.She moaned and threaded her fingers through his short, damp hair.
His kiss was hot, and wet, and wildly exciting.He readjusted his head for a better angle and settled his free hand on her waist.Then their torsos were aligned, because he’d pulled her into his arms.Her breasts flattened against his chest, and he groaned.Her nipples tightened beneath the wet fabric of her bikini top, stimulated by the contact, as he explored her mouth in delicious strokes.
She wanted more.She wanted his hands on her body, stripping away her bikini.She wanted his hard weight on top of her.She wanted to drag him down on the sand and devour him.She might have let the embrace cross the line into public indecency, but they were interrupted by a child’s voice.
Emily.
Vanessa broke the kiss with a light shove and turned toward the sound.Emily had woken from her nap and was making her way toward them.Vanessa exchanged a glance with Paul.He inhaled a ragged breath, his features tense with arousal.His gaze dropped to her breasts, and visibly hard nipples.
Pulse pounding, she checked her bikini top to make sure she was covered.She was, though the fabric had shifted a bit.She adjusted it quickly and scrambled to her feet to intercept Emily before things got any more awkward.
The little girl held a soggy, dirty Penelope in one fist.She rubbed at her sleepy eyes with the other.“Penelope got bit.”
Vanessa gave the doll a cursory inspection.“By a mosquito?”
“A snake.”
Her head jerked upright.She studied the blanket where Emily had been sleeping.“There was a snake?”
Emily nodded, and yawned.
Paul, who’d overheard the exchange, stood abruptly.He strode toward the shaded area and shook out the blanket, which had become tangled.No snakes fell from the fabric.Vanessa lifted Emily into her arms and joined him in the search.She didn’t see any reptiles on the ground.There wasn’t a mark on Emily, either.Vanessa checked her from head to toe.
“I think you dreamed it,” Vanessa said.
The little girl stuck her fingers in her mouth and buried her head against Vanessa’s shoulder.Vanessa patted her back gently, more amused than concerned.Emily had a vivid imagination and often told wild stories about Penelope.
Paul tossed the blanket aside and picked up a long stick to poke around under the tree.There wasn’t anywhere for a snake to hide, but he did a thorough inspection.He wasn’t familiar with the unreliable accounts of a four-year-old.Vanessa had to bite her tongue to stifle a nervous giggle.She suspected that he’d been unable to stand after the initial interruption.He’d made a swift recovery and rushed to Emily’s aid.
He glanced over his shoulder at her.“You think this is funny?”
Vanessa felt her smile slip, because he sounded angry.Helookedangry, with his neck flushed and his brow furrowed.
“You need to keep an eye on her,” he said in a clipped tone.He dropped the stick and walked away, his shoulders tense with fury.
Vanessa stared at him in disbelief.She was still reeling with sensation, her lips damp from his mouth.Her response had been embarrassingly enthusiastic, but so had his.They’d both gotten carried away.Plus, he’d initiated the contact.He’d kissed her like a starving man at a feast.He’d pulled her body against his and groaned with pleasure.Then he’d criticized her for getting distracted by his touch?
Ugh.What ajerk.
How dare he rock her world and then cast aspersions on her parenting?Was he suggesting she’d neglected Emily?The only reason she’d left her daughter’s side was to save his sorry ass from a near-drowning!She should have let him sink.
This was why she’d sworn off men.
Never again.The kiss, while incredibly hot, had been a momentary lapse in judgment.She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.She wanted to chase after Paul to give him a piece of her mind, or just shout obscenities at his back, but she had a child in her arms.Contrary to his accusatory and off-base remark, she took excellent care of Emily.She didn’t engage in screaming matches in front of her daughter.
“Did he suck lemons again?”Emily asked.
“He sure did,” Vanessa replied.
They walked to the campground for their daily, coin-operated, ten-minute shower.The novelty of roughing it had worn off, and she appreciated being clean while it lasted.She gave vague answers to Emily’s incessant questions as they toweled dry.Then she put Paul out of her mind and focused on getting ready for the evening.
Jackson had promised to take them out to dinner.
Vanessa took extra pains with her appearance.She chose pretty summer dresses for herself and Emily.She applied careful makeup.Paul didn’t want to see her?He could eat his heart out.If she wasn’t going to feel good, she might as well look good.This life hack had been invaluable the past year.
An hour later, when Jackson arrived to pick them up, they were ready to go.Vanessa retrieved Emily’s booster seat and secured it in Jackson’s truck.After buckling up Emily, she climbed into the passenger side.
Jackson drove to La Cantina, a popular restaurant in the vicinity of Crazy Horse Saloon, where the hostage crisis had taken place.Vanessa studied the bar’s façade as they passed by.The sign above the door appeared new, and depicted a pair of six-shooters.There were vintageWantedposters in the front window.
