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“You’re making me crazy,” he muttered at last and abruptly turned to swim back toward the beach.
“What?” Holly sputtered. “What’s wrong?” He could hear her splashing after him, but he didn’t wait. Lukas needed space. He needed distance. He needed to stop wanting what he couldn’t have. He didn’t stop moving until he was back on the boat.
Then he turned to see Holly hurrying up the beach and across the parking lot after him, her towel wrapped around her shoulders. Her teeth were chattering like castanets when she finally reached the boat.
“Why didn’t you say you were cold?” Lukas demanded. “You can take a shower.” He slipped down the steps below deck and jerked open the door to the head. “There’s plenty of hot water. Lots of towels. Get warm, I’ll be on deck.”
He changed swiftly into another pair of shorts and a sweatshirt, resolutely ignoring the sound of the shower and his imagination’s notion of Holly’s naked body beneath the spray. Instead, he made himself focus on getting the boat ready to go. He was checking the mainsail when he heard Holly’s footsteps.
“What did you mean?” she said. Her voice was quiet.
He turned around then. She was wearing shorts and a baggy sweatshirt of Martha’s that hit her midhip. They had never struck him as remotely sexy when Martha wore them. Put Holly in them and it was a different story. Lukas crouched down, showing sudden interest in the mast again, in case his interest in Holly was more obvious.
“You said I made you crazy.” She had climbed up on one of the benches and was almost on eye level with him.
Lukas shrugged awkwardly. Was he supposed to tell her he wanted her? That he was crazy with longing for her—and she was engaged to his best friend? He put a hand back and rubbed between his shoulder blades and said the only thing he could think of. “You always argue.”
“I didn’t argue tonight!”
He grunted. “Most times you argue.”
“So do you.”
Lukas scowled, unable to dispute that. He turned his attention back to the mast. “We can go soon. Should begin to get light in half an hour or so.”
He thought she might go away, look out to the east for signs of dawn. She didn’t. She watched him. Then she asked, “Why did you agree to take me to the prom?”
“You know why. Matt asked me to.” He flicked a quick glance up at her, then picked at a bit of loose brightwork with his thumb.
“Is that the only reason?”
His brows drew down, and he scowled at her. “Why else would I do it?”
Holly shrugged awkwardly. “I don’t know. I just...wondered. Sometimes...” She stopped and looked away, staring out across the dark water. “Never mind.”
Wondered what? Don’t stop there! But damn it, she did. She didn’t say anything else. And he couldn’t make himself ask. He and Holly never had heart-to-hearts. They never talked about things that mattered. And he wasn’t going to admit to anything when she wasn’t saying how she felt.
“That’s the only reason,” he said gruffly. “I’m just doing what Matt would do. What Matt wanted me to do.”
If he said it out loud firmly and flatly enough, would that make it true?
“Of course.” Holly’s voice was toneless. Was she convinced? Was she doubtful?
Did she want...him? Lukas rubbed his hand against the back of his neck, then he straightened, walked back to the cockpit and dropped lightly into it. Only one way to find out. He reached up and caught her hand, pulling her down off the bench to stand facing him.
“What?” Holly looked up at him, confused.
“What would you and Matt be doing now?”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?” She looked at him, confused and wary.
“You asked me a question. My turn to ask you one. I’m standing in for Matt, aren’t I? What would you and Matt be doing?”
He felt her fingers twist in his as she looked away. “How should I know?”
“Kissing?”
She didn’t answer, just pressed her lips together and refused to look at him.
“Kissing,” Lukas affirmed softly, leaning in, so close now that he caught another hint of that citrus scent.
Her fingers pulled out of his hands. He let go, but only to catch hold of her wrists, then slid both his hands up until they rested lightly just above her elbows, drawing her closer.
“So I haven’t been doing my job,” he said, keeping his voice even, although he felt the tension rising within.
