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“Who’s fishing? I saw the looks you two exchanged.”
Stormy smiled but refused to satisfy Noreen’s curiosity. She still had a sense of reverence about her experience with Tyler. She was afraid that speaking of it might dilute it.
Instead she asked, “Does Janelle miss her father?”
A flicker of resignation crossed Noreen’s features. “She does, but I didn’t realize how much until I saw how outrageously she flirted with Tyler.”
“Liane is enjoying his attentions, too. I’ve always tried to tell myself she wouldn’t miss what she hasn’t had.”
“I think it’s biological. But let’s not be sad—it’s too gorgeous a day.” Noreen picked up her beach tote and towel. “You sure you don’t need any help with that?” she asked, indicating the grill.
“Positive.”
“In that case, I’ll go relieve Tyler of the girls. Damn, but I wish I had a pair of legs like his.”
“You have nice legs,” Stormy told her friend.
“Not wrapped around me, I don’t.”
“Noreen!”
“I told you—it’s biological. Keep me in mind when he introduces you to his friends.”
“I haven’t the slightest idea what kind of friends he keeps,” Stormy said, knowing it was useless to deny her attraction to Tyler, yet moved to step delicately around whatever the future might hold. She picked up a cooler of soft drinks and a folded lawn chair. “Come on, I’ll walk you down to the beach.”
Tyler saw them coming. Over squealing protests, he left off cavorting with the girls to wait at the foot of the walk. Under his scrutiny, Stormy was, for a moment, self-conscious. She wore sandals, cutoffs, and a blouse tied at her midriff. Her hair was pulled back and secured with a hair tie. Noreen’s swimsuit was modest, but there was an awful lot of Noreen exposed to the sun—and Tyler’s gaze. Stormy felt a slight twinge of jealousy, though it faded when Tyler relieved her of the chair and cooler, then bent to briefly nuzzle her neck.
“It’s bad manners to display one’s wealth to those less fortunate,” Noreen teased.
“Can’t help myself,” Tyler said.
Liane and Janelle got underfoot. “You were kissing my mother,” Liane accused.
Tyler snorted. “I was just whispering something in her ear.”
“About our secret?”
Stormy intervened. “What secret?”
“Wouldn’t be a secret if we told, now, would it?”
“No, but I’ll tell you this—I’m extremely interested in whatever it is.”
“We’ll discuss it when the time is right,” he said, giving Liane a warning look. He took Stormy’s hand and tugged her back toward the house. “C’mon, I’m thirsty.” Both of them ignored the cooler.
Stormy stopped to caution Liane to behave and not go into the surf without her water wings. Once out of earshot of the children, she warned Tyler to keep his hands to himself.
“Are you serious?” he asked.
“At least until we’re behind closed doors!”
“Lead me to the nearest one.”
“We’re supposed to go over my case, remember?”
“Afterward?” he said, all hope.
“Afterward, we’re eating.”
