The Chance (Thunder Point #4)(63)

She grinned at him. “Let me grab this,” she said, pulling the throw off the sofa and tossing it over a shoulder. “It’s still cold out there at night. Come with me. This way.”

She led him through the kitchen, out the door and into the garage. “Grab a beanbag,” she said. “I’ll get one, too.” Then out the back door into the yard where there was a narrow staircase to the roof. “I’ll hold your beer while you toss these beanbags up there.”

“Have you ever thought about a couple of lawn chairs?”

“Oh, you’re new in town.” She laughed. “They’d blow off.”

It only took a minute to get situated up there. Just as they were getting comfortable reclining against the beanbags, lightning over the mouth of the bay started flashing. The wind picked up a little bit and Ray Anne snuggled under the throw and against him. She held her wine, he held his beer and his arm pulled her closer.

“I love this,” he said. “I wonder if I can get on top at the Coastline....”

She laughed at him.

He leaned toward her, nuzzling her neck. “How many lovers have you brought up here?”

She chuckled. “Too many to count.”

“Really? Take a stab at it. How many?”

She sighed. “I haven’t been in this house that long. Just a few years. And I was convinced to buy it when I found out I could put this deck up here. It’s kind of a special place. It’s kind of a secret place.”

“How many?” he persisted.

“Okay, none. All right? It’s all mine.”

“Have you ever slept up here?”

“Not really. I’ve fallen asleep up here a couple of times, just watching the sky.”

“When the weather gets warm we’re going to make love up here,” he said. “Then we’re going to sleep for a while and make love again. This is a great secret to have.”

“I haven’t said I’d do that with you,” she informed him.

“You’ll have to because you said you were going to make me marry you. For, you know, seeing what you do to your face to be beautiful. It’s incredible. Horrific, really.”

“I’m never getting married again,” Ray Anne said.

“Okay,” he chuckled, kissing her ear. “We’ll just have sex on the roof and sleep under the stars. This is great up here. You’re brilliant.”

“If you ever tell anyone about my preconstruction face I’ll sue you.”

“Ray Anne, do you think you’re not pretty? You’re beautiful. And I’ve seen you in the early morning without any makeup.”

“No, you haven’t.”

“What are you talking about? Of course I have.”

She shook her head. “When you stay over, I don’t remove my makeup before bed and when I slip in the bathroom to freshen up, I freshen up—repair the damage, renew the lip gloss, fluff the hair. When I’m alone for the night, I put green stuff on my face and then I lather up in moisturizer, fighting back time. I color my hair....”

“Are you gray?” he asked. He didn’t have that much gray for a man his age.

“Mrs. Santa Claus.”

“Seriously?” he asked with a laugh.

“That goes no further....”

He brushed her hair off her forehead. “You know, you don’t have to go to all that trouble for me—the fluffing, repairing, glossing. You can grease up if you want to.”

“You said you like the way I look....”

“I do,” he said. “You look damn good. It makes me look good, taking you out to a restaurant. Hell, it makes me look good buying you a soda at the station! But when we’re alone, if you want to put on all your lotions, I can go along with that. In fact, I bet all that lotion comes in handy.” He leaned over and kissed her. “You’re a pretty little thing, Ray Anne. But you know what I like best? The way you flirt with me, come on to me, tease me a little bit. And I like your personality—you’re smart. Funny. A little dirty...”

“Dirty?”

He laughed at her. “I mean that in a good way. You don’t have too many inhibitions when we’re alone. I like that. But you know what I like best? I like that you can put me in a better frame of mind. I can be worried or unhappy and the minute I’m in your company, I feel better.”

“You don’t seem like a guy who ever gets unhappy or stressed,” she said.

He pulled her a little closer. “Ah, hell, honey. Under all this perfection, I’m just a regular guy.”

* * *

With the storm building and lightning flashing over the ocean Eric sent Howie home at nine and closed the station a little early. He went home to shower off the day and when he emerged from the bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist, he found Laine sitting on the bed beside a tray. He grinned and rubbed a small towel over his hair. “What’s that?”

“It’s too late for a big meal, but I know you didn’t eat....”

On the tray was a small artichoke dip and crackers, some sliced meat and cheese, a bunch of grapes, a round of brie. His stomach growled. “I’ll be right with you.” He ditched the towel in favor of sweats and came back to the bed. He noticed she had an open bottle of wine and two glasses on the bedside table, but there was also a tall glass with ice and a Coke. His choice.