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  His mom perked up again. “We’re not that far from Indy. She can always drive back to visit us.”

  “To see Axel?” Keagan’s blue eyes sparkled. He was enjoying himself. “I bet she can’t wait.”

  His mom’s eyes sparkled, too. She looked irritated. Glancing around the table, she stood to gather dirty plates. “I made a New York cheesecake for dessert. Ready?” Keagan started to get up to help her, but she gave a quick shake of her head. “You’ve helped enough.”

  He heard the reprimand in her voice. They all did, so Karli hurried to take his place. So did Marcia. Once in the kitchen, the women quickly rinsed the plates and put them in the dishwasher. His mom looked at Karli and Marcia and shook her head. “There’s no maneuvering that boy into anything. He’s purposely giving me a hard time.”

  Karli smiled. “He goes out of his way to keep me at a safe distance. I’ve noticed that.”

  His mom cocked her head, curious. “Does he now? Interesting, isn’t it?”

  That’s not the word she’d use to describe it. Frustrating, maybe. Challenging. “I’d say he’s warning me off.”

  “But why?”

  Was that a trick question? “There’s no point in starting something when I’m only here a short while.”

  His mom shrugged. “It’s not like he’s found anyone in Mill Pond. Maybe he should expand his horizons.”

  He hadn’t found anyone, huh? How long ago had Cecily left? Three years? Any man’s hormones should be feeling deprived after that long.

  Marcia huffed. “Quit it, Mom. You don’t even know if Karli wants to spend time with Keagan, and you’re stirring the pot.”

  His mom turned to her. “Are you interested in my son?”

  Why play games? “I sure am.”

  “Serious or not?”

  Karli blinked. “I don’t do serious. I like to travel too much.”

  His mom’s shoulders sagged. “Oh, well, that’s the end of that then. Keagan’s ready to settle down.” She grabbed the cheesecake and Marcia carried the dessert plates. They returned to the dining room.

  Keagan turned a thoughtful stare on his mother. “Satisfied now?”

  She sighed. “Eat your cake, then you should still give Karli a tour of the area. She’s earned that. We’ll finish cleaning up.”

  Jenna pouted. “Are they going to leave already?”

  “Afraid so, kid.” His mom let them each sip a cup of coffee while they ate, and then she shooed them away. “Go! Have fun! Show Karli the sights.”

  Keagan fussed on his way to his SUV. “I’m twenty-eight and my mom still tries to fiddle in my life.”

  Karli strapped herself in and shook her head. “Give her a break. You can’t turn off being a parent. That’s what my mom tells me all the time.”

  He looked at her, surprised. “Your mom messes in your life, too?”

  Karli snickered. “That’s what moms do. It’s in their DNA. Look at this way. What if your mom didn’t give a damn? What if she said: You’re over twenty-one. Grow up. Do whatever?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I guess I like it that she still cares.”

  Karli laughed. “So do I. You can’t have it both ways.”

  “I never thought of it like that.” He started his SUV and turned right on County Road. “We’ll circle the lake and drive around town before we head to the national park.”

  She’d never seen the far side of the lake and the houses that circled it. The lake was larger than she’d thought. Then Keagan drove her up and down streets in town, explaining the many and different shops before he headed south to the national forest. There was so much on offer that it boggled her mind. Why hadn’t Mom ever told her how wonderful Mill Pond was? But she already knew the answer to that question. Her mother had no idea.

  When they passed a log cabin, Keagan said, “That’s where Tyne and Daphne live. They both love nature.”

  Karli tried to pinpoint people she knew and where they lived. Chase and Paula lived above his bar near the lake. Miriam and Joel lived in a cottage on the west side of the lake; not that far from Axel’s farm. Tyne and Daphne lived by the national forest. All good locations. She sighed. “Mill Pond has a lot to offer, doesn’t it?”

  Keagan smiled. “It’s the best.”

  He was totally into playing tour guide, and she appreciated that, but the man was sitting within touching distance and they were alone. When he drove into the national forest, she reached across the seat to put her hand on his thigh. A bold move. But why not give it a try?

  “You might want to be careful.” He didn’t turn his head, didn’t look at her. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a woman.”

  She moved her hand higher, and he pushed it away. “Stop it. I don’t keep a condom in my wallet these days.”

  “I’m on birth control pills, no problem.”

  He turned onto a side road that led to an overlook of a small lake, parked, and turned off the SUV’s engine. The lake’s water was deep blue, like his eyes. The trees surrounding it were free of leaves. No one else was in sight. He locked gazes with her. “If you’re trying to turn me on, you’d better mean it. Once I start, I won’t be able to stop.”

  She blinked in surprise. Exactly what she wanted to hear. “Do you want me?”

  “Blood still pumps through my veins and you’re damn attractive. But do you really want to have sex, then leave, and that’s it? Because that’s all that’s going to happen here.”

  Was this a test? If she said the wrong thing, would he start the engine and show her more trees? She shook her head. “If we’re only a one-shot deal, it will be one hell of a memory. If we can have more, even better.”

  “But you’re all right with whatever you get?”

  It didn’t sound very flattering when he put it like that. “I travel a lot. I don’t expect forever.”

  “Right.” His brows lowered. “I have a theory that the harder you have to work to seduce somebody, the more you want them.”

  “I’m not a player.”

  “Really? You could have Brad, but you want me because I’m not easy, don’t you?”

  Did he have to put it like that? Like he was a notch on her bedpost? He made her sound horrible. “I don’t have a score sheet,” she said. “I just like you, and if you like me, too, the sex would make me happy.”

  He was silent a moment, then shrugged. “Okay, from now on, that’s how I’ll think of you. Let’s do this. Let’s get it out of your system, and then you can move on.” He started undressing. She stared.

  “It’s not like that.” His sweater came off and he unbuttoned the shirt beneath it, letting it fall open. His torso was lean with corded muscle. “Wait! What are you doing? We can’t go back to Axel’s. He’ll turn off the TV and listen to everything. Brad’s at your place. Your studio?”

  He chuckled. “Haven’t you ever made out in a back seat before?”

  “Here? Now?”

  “You can’t get more temporary than that.” He stripped off his pants and his underwear. Jackpot! He raised a brow at her. “I’ve never made love to a fully dressed woman before.”

  She was panting. How pathetic. She pulled her sweater over her head, then fumbled with her slacks. Her hands were shaking.

  “Too slow,” he told her and motioned her to the back seat. He flipped a switch, and the seats flattened. She’d never made love in a vehicle before, but the minute she lowered herself onto the coarse fabric, he scrambled on top of her.

  Bliss. She’d often imagined how beautiful a naked Keagan would be, and he surpassed her expectations. He lowered his face and gently touched his lips to hers. The kiss started soft and sweet and built in intensity. She was moaning, her body on fire, when he moved to her neck. She thought she might die of lust when he reached the base of her throat—that treacherous area that made her insides quiver. Th
en his lips moved to her breasts, nipping her through her bra. Inner spasms rocked her. His tongue grazed the top of her lacy bra. More. She wanted more! He reached behind her and unclasped it. He tugged until her breasts fell free.

  “You’re beautiful.” His fingers found one nipple, his lips the other. He pinched and fondled. Passion exploded inside her, volts flying everywhere. It coiled in her stomach, building.

  He unzipped her Dockers and slid them down. Her panties followed, and his lips trailed down to her belly button, then lower. His fingers still played with her nipple, and she took deep breaths. Her body tensed, needy. Everything he did felt wonderful, right. He kissed the top of her inner thighs, and her breath caught. Then his fingers slid into her folds, massaging her pleasure spot. Oh, god! She might climax before he entered her.

  He kissed and licked and she thought she’d burst on the spot. Then his lips moved to her right breast and his fingers slid inside her. Nirvana! Could a woman die of too much pleasure? When he nipped a nipple at the same time his thumb caressed her sweet spot, passion flooded her. And the next thing she knew, he was inside her, pumping with a steady rhythm, building and building, until they both exploded at the same time.

  “Oh, God!” She went limp beneath him.

  He kissed her forehead, her temples. He nuzzled his face against hers, and then he withdrew. No, no, no. She wanted him inside her. Forever. No, longer. Then he turned to spoon against her.

  His strong arms cradled her. She was safe in a cocoon of him. “You’re wonderful.”

  He chuckled, a reassuring rumble in her ear. “Thanks! You’re pretty good yourself.”

  She turned to stare at him. She always loved sex and was no innocent. She was twenty-seven, for heaven’s sake. She wasn’t promiscuous, but she’d never made a vow of chastity either. Still, she’d never felt like this. They cradled against each other until their pulses settled. Finally, he gently kissed her cheek, sat up, and started dressing.

  “There. You’ve had me,” he said. “Now you’ll always remember Mill Pond warmly.”

  Remember? She didn’t want it to end. She wanted Keagan three times a day. Maybe more. For a long time. Years and years. Oh God, what was wrong with her? Keagan had decided temporary was fine, and she was the one who wanted more.

  Jeans on, he tugged his sweater over his head. “Believe me when I tell you, I’ll remember you, too. I usually don’t do one-night stands, but you were worth it.”

  No, no, no! She didn’t want this to be a one-shot deal. But he went on.

  “Now we can be friends. I’m a great friend.” He waited for her to dress and climb into the passenger seat. Before he started the SUV’s engine, he reached over to squeeze her hand. “Thanks, Karli!”

  Thanks? Really? Slam, bam, thank you, ma’am? He had to be kidding! Screw friendship. She wanted more. She wanted Keagan. As hers. Always. What the hell had Mill Pond done to her?

  Chapter 26

  On the drive to town, after he dropped Karli at her car, Keagan had to chuckle to himself. Karli had looked so smug when she laid her hand on his thigh, he’d known he didn’t have enough self-discipline to stand a chance against her. If he was going to cave, he might as well do it his way.

  She’d been as surprised as he was. He’d decided he was going to enjoy himself and do it thoroughly. If he had to surrender, why not make the best of it? And damn, was it good!

  When he parked at the two-story house he shared with Brad, some of his elation deflated. Since she’d had him today, would Brad be next? She made no bones about the fact that she wasn’t a one-man woman, at least, not for long. He took a deep breath. He’d known that going into things. At least he’d finally moved past Cecily. That was a blessing in itself.

  When Tyne had asked him why he hadn’t found some sweet, young thing, he’d realized he was only passing time, deluding himself. Cecily had craved attention and excitement. Back then, all he wanted to do was keep her happy. It took constant effort. But he’d been there, done that. Never again. This time around, he wanted a partner, someone who cared about his needs as much as he cared about hers.

  Karli could be that person, but she wasn’t interested. And if he’d learned anything at all, it was that you couldn’t change another human being. But Karli had been good for him. She’d jostled him out of his dismals. She’d pulled him back into the man/woman intrigue. And she was the best sex he’d ever had. Kudos for that.

  Not this minute, not even this week or month, but it was time to start looking again. So what if he could only rent a house? Lots of people started out that way. Maybe he wanted too much, too many guarantees. Maybe it was time to take the plunge again and see where that led him.

  When he walked into the living room, Brad was balancing a paper plate heaped with nachos on his lap, watching TV. Brad glanced up to say hi, then stopped and studied him. “Is everything okay?”

  “For your ears only. Swear.” Brad would be happy for him, and he knew how to keep a secret.

  Brad crossed his heart and zipped his lips.

  “Karli and I just made love in the back of my SUV.”

  “Finally! It’s about time.”

  Keagan grinned. “It’s nothing serious. She doesn’t want that, but I didn’t mind being used. It didn’t break my heart.”

  Brad laughed. “I’ll quit flirting with her. You can have an open playing field.”

  Keagan went to the kitchen and got a beer. “It’s not like that. She might already be tired of me. It’s strictly no strings.”

  Brad put his plate on the coffee table. “So you really wouldn’t mind if I asked her out?”

  “Karli will do whatever she wants. She made that pretty clear.”

  Brad raised his beer bottle in a toast. “Glad you’re back in the game, bro!”

  “Thanks.” They clinked bottles and Keagan took a long swig from his. He’d never be like Brad, bedding a different girl every other month, but he’d put dating and romance on hold for too long. He was ready to find somebody.

  Chapter 27

  It was late when Karli got back home. She couldn’t stop thinking about Keagan. She loved his hands. The fingers that molded clay were strong and creative. She’d never met a man she wanted so much. When she left Mill Pond, and he didn’t see her a few times a week, he’d forget about her. She was more into him than he was into her. She had a nagging feeling that if she lost him, she’d regret it, but she had no idea what she could do to hang onto him. Even if she drove back here a couple times a month, he could make excuses to avoid her.

  Axel interrupted her musings. He called from the back room. “Girl, where are you? Are you going to starve an old man to death?”

  “Don’t tempt me.” She’d come home to an empty slow cooker, every shred of chuck roast gone. Kurt was nowhere in sight, so she assumed he’d finished off all the leftovers and left Axel to his own devices. How could the old man be hungry?

  “Are there any of those cookies left?” he yelled.

  So that was it. He wanted a bedtime snack. Well, why not? She’d put a dozen of them in a Ziploc and hidden them in her room so that Kurt didn’t eat them all. “Want some milk?”

  “It’s good for old folks, isn’t it?”

  He was pushing it. When she took him his food, he studied her face and smirked. “Looks like things didn’t go that well for you.”

  “Don’t be so sure. I had a great day.”

  “Then what’s eating at you?”

  “Nothing’s going like I planned.”

  He raised an eyebrow, curious. “Who else is giving you trouble besides me?”

  “You’re enough.” She motioned to his cookies. “Eat up. I’m tired.”

  When he was finished, she cleaned the kitchen for the night and turned off the lights. Then she went to her bedroom and tried to distract herself on her laptop, but her mind kept returning to Keagan. She was
going to his studio tomorrow night. If she plastered herself against him, would he throw her on the floor and have his way with her? Lord, she hoped so! But she got the idea he’d made love to her, and that was that.

  She glared at her computer screen. Finally, she stomped to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. She thought about calling her mom, but her parents would be watching their favorite PBS programs on a Monday night. Sighing, she typed kitchen remodels into her laptop’s search engine. She was shocked how many sites came up, and she began to scroll through them. She found kitchens that were complete gut jobs, transforming cheap, horrid rooms into gourmet, open concepts. She saw modern kitchens, teak kitchens, and country kitchens until she finally landed on a renovation where the owners painted all of the existing cupboards and installed butcher block counter tops and stainless steel appliances. She fell in love with it.

  She drained her wine glass. She could do that. Okay, she wouldn’t pay for new counter tops and appliances—even though the old place needed it—but she could paint the cupboards. They were well-built, but she hated the blonde wood. She read the DIY directions. More work than she’d expected, but it’s not like she had a life at the moment. Axel’s cupboards reached all the way to the ceiling. She’d painted that the same cream shade she’d used in the dining room when she redid the kitchen walls to robin-egg blue. She frowned. The homeowners on the Internet project had painted their top cupboards light blue and the bottoms a darker shade. She liked the two tones, but she had no desire to repaint the walls. She decided to paint the cupboards a glossy white.

  She was surprised to see that she’d spent two hours bopping from one site to another, so she turned off her laptop, changed into her pajamas, and switched off her bedside light. She’d drive into town in the morning and visit the hardware store again.

  As she drifted to sleep, she worried that she was channeling all of her repressed sexual energy into painting to survive Mill Pond.

  Chapter 28

  She woke up, motivated. The TV was already on in Axel’s room and when Karli glanced in to check on him, Kurt was there, too, slumped in his easy chair. Kurt noticed her and asked, “What’s for breakfast this morning?”