Anything for Her(47)

“I suppose,” he agreed, smiling. “And it’s not windy all the time here. Or sweltering hot, or bitterly cold.”

“I’ll give some thought to it,” she told him, and they said good-night.

Nolan felt better about the conversation than he had any with her in a long time. Dropping the phone on the end table and reaching his arms high above his head in a bone-cracking stretch, he hoped she’d follow through and show up on his doorstep one of these days.

I would like Allie to meet the best part of my family.

He wondered when—if—Allie would suggest he meet her mother.

* * *

SOMEHOW ALLIE LET herself be convinced that she wanted to go waterskiing Sunday with Nolan and Sean even though her best—make that only—swimming stroke was a dog paddle and if she let herself, she’d succumb to a panic attack.

Nolan had done the granite countertops that summer for a lakefront home that had a large kitchen, enormous butler’s pantry and four bathrooms. He had explained that the owner, a man named Chuck Moore, had said, “If you ever want to try waterskiing...”

October should have been too late for water sports, but days were still rising into the eighties, although weather reports claimed that would change as soon as Wednesday. So, Nolan informed Allie when he invited her, they had to seize their moment.

During the drive, Sean was guarded but polite. He grumbled a couple of times about having to leave Cassie behind, but it didn’t sound as if he really meant it.

“You didn’t change her name.” The relief was quick and hard.

“Nah, she knows her name.” They were walking down the dock toward the big white boat bobbing at the end. He looked down at his feet. “After Grandma died, I wouldn’t have wanted somebody to think they could call me whatever they wanted.”

“No.” Her voice cracked. When she looked up, it was to find his head had turned. Their gazes held for longer than was comfortable. What had he seen?

Nolan, who’d walked ahead with the friendly man who owned the enormous house behind them and the boat, turned and grinned at them. “Ready to go splat?”

The sight of him in nothing but board shorts and sandals made Allie’s mouth go dry. Of course she’d seen him naked, but that was different. In her apartment he wasn’t striding around so that she couldn’t help noticing what impressive muscles he had or his long strong legs. Of course, her mouth might be dry out of apprehension, too. Allie wasn’t that great a swimmer. So she made a face at him. “Oh, thanks.”

“You ever snow ski or snowboard? That would give you a head start.”

“No.”

Sean shook his head.

“It’s fun,” Nolan said consolingly, dropping back to throw an arm over each of their shoulders. “Really.”

“Methinks the man doth speak too much,” Allie muttered, and Sean gave a crack of laughter that clearly pleased Nolan.

They all rode in the boat its first sweeps around the lake. That part was fun. The fine spray of water was cooling, the sun deliciously hot, the speed and power exhilarating. The owner’s son, eighteen and a freshman at the UW, was home for the weekend and had brought a friend. They took turns first behind the boat, the son demonstrating how to take off from the water, and the friend from the dock. They both insisted the dock was easier. Allie was skeptical.

The two boys elected to stay onboard with Chuck for the next round, Nolan’s turn. Sean and Allie watched from the dock. As the boat gained speed and the towline stretched taut, he rose to his feet, seemingly without effort, and skied away, leaving a white wake behind him.

“He makes it look easy,” Sean said finally, sounding doubtful.

Staring after him, Allie nodded. “I’m not a very good swimmer,” she offered.

He turned to stare at her. “Did you tell Nolan?”

“He said with the life vest it wouldn’t matter.”

They both wore them. Chuck had insisted on it. Allie found the plump, bright orange vest a comfort.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Can you swim?” she asked.

“Yeah. My dad made me take lessons when I was little. One summer. And then Grandma did, too.” This glance at her was more stolen than direct. “How come you didn’t learn?”

“I was big into dance.” No, no, no. “And other stuff. I later found out that my mom is scared of water. I think maybe that’s why she never took us, even though we used to go on vacations to...” Big mouth.