“Ah, that explains it.”
“Explains what?”
“How a few bad experiences can make you feel capsized.” He stepped into the boat and reached for her hand. “Come on.”
“I figured you as more of a wine-and-dine type of guy.”
“I have to wine and dine clients. Why would I want to do that with you? I think we just uncovered part of the problem.”
“What part?”
“Your expectations are that guys treat you as they’d treat anyone else. When a guy really likes a woman, he should make the effort to show her she’s unlike anyone else and do new things.” He wiggled his fingers and said, “Come on, beautiful. Don’t tell me you’re afraid to fish.”
No, but I might be afraid of how wise you are in the ways of men and women.
“I’m not afraid, just surprised. You’re different than I thought you’d be.” She shimmied out of her sweatpants.
He whistled. “Who knew fishing would make you strip?”
“I don’t want to get my pants wet.” She folded her sweatpants and said, “Should I just leave them here?”
“Yes, cutoffs too, if you’d like.”
She rolled her eyes.
He chuckled. “How about the sweatshirt?”
“No. It’s too cold.” She took his hand, and the boat rocked as she stepped in.
“I’ve got you.” He put his arms around her, gathering her against him and adjusting his feet to balance the boat.
Heat spread through her like wildfire. His body was hard, his arms safe and strong, bringing rise to memories of what it had been like to be naked in them. Before their night in Romance, she hadn’t realized one night could create so many enticingly vivid memories. Then again, she’d never experienced a night like the one they’d shared. Gavin had broken down her defenses with nothing more than conversation, laughter, and dancing at the festival. From the very moment they’d met there was an instant connection, sexually and emotionally. When they’d walked into town, they’d meandered through shops hand in hand like they’d been together forever. They made wishes in the fountain and had eaten at a cute pizzeria on the main drag. By the time they’d finally kissed, she’d been the one to make the move and take it.
She’d forgotten that until just now. He was looking at her the same way he had that night, with wonder, attraction, and something much deeper that she forced herself not to even try to define. She’d thought she’d imagined that look, but it was as real as the man himself.
GAVIN TRIED TO keep his emotions in check, but the desire in Harper’s eyes made him want to kiss her and protect her at once, just like it had when they’d first met. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he said, his emotions as blatant in his voice as they were in his heart. “I’ll keep you warm.”
“Yes,” she whispered. Surprise flashed in her eyes, and she went rigid in his arms. In a cooler tone she said, “I know just how good you are at making me warm, but I’m not sure how that will help with my ability to read guys.”
“Right. I lost my head for a minute there.”
He helped her sit on the bench, and as he untied the boat and pushed away from the dock, he said, “Fresh air helps clear your head, and everyone knows you need a clear head to read guys, because we can be a tricky species.” He sat across from her and began rowing. “I have a feeling you’ve been so focused on your bad experiences, it’s been a while since you’ve taken the time to clear the chaos from your mind.”
“You can say that again. I have a tendency to pick things apart until they’re nothing but bones.”
He could see that, and he had a cure for it. He reached for her hand. “Come here.” He guided her down beside him and said, “Have you ever rowed a boat?”
She shook her head.
“Time to learn.” He moved off the bench and crouched behind her. Then he shifted her to the middle of the bench. He wrapped her fingers around the oars, covering them with his own, and said, “You want to hold the ends, with your thumb on the tip.” Memories of her delicate hands wrapped around his cock flooded him, though it had been her tongue on the tip that had teased and taunted him until he’d been ready to explode. He cleared his throat to try to clear the lust from his brain, but with his chest pressed to her back, he felt her heart beating just as hard and fast as his. Knowing she was just as affected as he was made him want to continue down a dark, sensual path, but that wouldn’t help her with her troubles, and in the long run, that was more important than satisfying the desire he’d harbored for months.
He forced himself to focus on helping her clear her head, which was torture, because getting her hot and bothered was so damn enticing. “Make sure the blades of the oars dip just beneath the surface of the water. Be careful not to bury them too deep.”
Fuck. He’d like to be buried deep…
He moved her hands in a rowing motion. “This might feel awkward, and that’s okay.”
There had been no awkwardness when they’d tumbled into bed together the first time, or when they’d made love the second, third, or fourth times either.
“Mm-hm. Isn’t it more romantic if you row?” She crushed against his chest with every backward row.
“I don’t know, sweetheart, but I’m liking my position right now.”
She laughed softly, glancing at him over her shoulder. Moonlight reflected in her eyes, and for a beat they simply looked at each other. So many women had to try too hard with revealing clothing, too much makeup, and desperation oozing from their pores. She was naturally beautiful in a girl-next-door-only-better way that spoke to parts of him that he hadn’t thought about in a very long time.
One oar dipped too low, and she lost her grip. “Shoot!”
The oar shot up, and he realized his hands had slipped from the oars to around her waist. He grabbed the oar and said, “It’s okay. We’ve got it.” He reached around her, placing the oar in her hand and wrapping his hands around hers again. “Take it slow and steady.”
“Do you do this with all your dates?” she asked, rowing again.
“You have to ask? What did I tell you about expecting guys to go the extra mile with you?”
“But this was supposed to be a friend date,” she pointed out sassily.
“The best relationships start as friends. Just ask Serena and Drake.” He sat back, letting her row alone and thinking about how true that statement was. He knew if he kissed her, she wouldn’t stop them there. Once they let go, the heat between them would be too strong, just as it had been the night they’d spent together. But he wanted to earn her trust. Even more strongly, he wanted her to trust herself before they took their relationship to the next level because the only woman he wanted was finally right there within his reach, and once they took that step, he knew he’d never want it to end.
“You look hot taking control of the boat like that,” he said, and she smiled over her shoulder.
“This isn’t so hard.”
He could make so many dirty retorts right then, but he kept them under wraps, and when they reached the middle of the pond, he shifted closer again. “This is far enough.”