Rainshadow Road (Friday Harbor #2)(25)

“Did Justine say we’re friends?”

“Aren’t you?”

“That depends on what she said about me.”

“She said that you were a great guy and I should go out with you.”

“In that case, we’re friends.”

“She went on to say that you were the perfect transitional guy, because you’re fun and you like to avoid commitment.”

“And what did you tell her?”

“I said I wasn’t interested. I’m tired of making stupid mistakes.”

“Going out with me would be a very smart mistake,” Sam assured her, and she laughed.

“Why is that?”

“I never get jealous, and I don’t make promises that I would end up breaking. With me, you get what you see.”

“Not a bad sales pitch,” Lucy said. “But I’m still not interested.”

“The sales pitch comes with a free test-drive,” he said.

Lucy smiled and shook her head.

They approached Artist’s Point and stopped at the front steps.

Turning to face him, Lucy said, “Thanks for the new shirt. And for helping me out of the bar. You were … a nice ending to a rough day.”

“No problem.” Sam paused. “About that apartment you’re looking for—I may have an idea. My brother Mark has been renting out his place—a condo on the waterfront—ever since he and Holly moved in with me.”

“Who’s Holly?”

“My niece. She’s seven years old. My sister Victoria died last year, and Mark was named as Holly’s guardian. I’m helping him out for a little while.”

Lucy stared at him closely, interested by the revelation. “Helping to raise her,” she clarified.

Sam responded with a single nod.

“And you let them move into your house,” Lucy said rather than asked.

Sam shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s a big house.” His face turned unreadable, his voice deliberately casual. “So about the condo … the current resident is gone, and as far as I know, Mark’s still trying to sublet it. You want me to check it out for you? Maybe take you for a walk-through?”

“I … maybe.” Lucy realized that she was being hypercautious. A waterfront condo wasn’t easy to find, and it would be worth taking a look at. “I’m sure it’s out of my price range. How much is he asking?”

“I’ll find out and let you know.” Sam pulled out his cell phone and looked at her expectantly. “What’s your number?” He grinned as she hesitated. “I swear I’m not a stalker. I take rejection well.”

He had a kind of easygoing charm that she couldn’t seem to resist. Lucy gave him her number, and looked up into his blue-green eyes, and felt an unwilling smile tug at her lips. It was a pity, really, that she couldn’t let loose enough to have some fun with him.

Except that Lucy was a woman who knew better. She was tired of wanting and hoping and losing. Later, months from now, more likely years, the need for companionship would reawaken, and she would risk getting involved with someone again. Not now, however. And never with this man, who would keep the relationship strictly superficial.

“Thank you,” Lucy said, watching as Sam slid the phone into his back pocket. She extended her hand in an awkward, businesslike gesture. “I’ll look forward to hearing from you if the condo’s available.”

Sam shook her hand gravely, his eyes dancing.

The warmth of his hand, the secure way his fingers folded around hers, felt unspeakably good. It had been so long since she had been touched or held in any way. Lucy prolonged the moment a little longer than necessary, even as a flush of mortified color went from her toes to her scalp.

Sam studied her, his expression turning inscrutable. He used his grip on her hand to ease her closer, his head bending over hers. “About that test-drive…” he murmured.

Lucy couldn’t catch up with her own thoughts. Her heart had begun to thump. She stared blindly at the sunset melting into cool blue darkness. Sam surprised her by easing her against his shoulder, his hand gliding over her spine in a soothing motion. Their bodies touched at intervals, the pressure of him warm and hard and knee-weakening.

Disoriented, Lucy didn’t make a sound as one of his hands came to the side of her face, holding her steady as his mouth descended. He was gentle, easing her into the kiss. She opened for him instinctively, the wrong instincts winning out over the right ones.

The kiss beguiled her, just for a moment, into thinking she had nothing left to lose. This is crazy, she thought, but his tongue touched hers, and her hand slid up and groped for the back of his neck. Sensation flowed into the spaces between her heartbeats.

Sam was the one to end the kiss. He kept his arms around Lucy until she could find her balance. Bewildered and disarmed, Lucy finally managed to pull away from him. She headed up the front steps.

“I’ll call you soon,” she heard him say.

Pausing, Lucy glanced at him over her shoulder. “It wouldn’t be a good idea,” she said in a low voice.

They both knew she wasn’t referring to the condo.

“No one’s going to rush you into anything,” he said. “You call the shots, Lucy.”

A little huff of laughter escaped her. “If you have to tell someone they call the shots, they’re not really calling the shots.” And she went up the rest of the stairs without looking back.