noticed when the kids finally left with Jack. She was not even consciously aware that Laura had gone with them. She had almost drifted off to sleep when suddenly a fresh glass of iced tea appeared in front of her face.
“Alone at last,” Bob quipped softly, raising his eyebrows suggestively. “I thought they’d never leave. You do know our mutual friends are playing matchmaker, don’t you?”
“Don’t let it worry you, I plan to murder them soon,” she threatened, eyes narrowed. “Real soon.”
“That’s funny. I was thinking of giving Laura a big raise,” Bob replied.
He took a long swallow of his iced tea before he said, “I brought out some sun block, roll over and I’ll put it on you.”
“I can do it myself.” She regarded him a little warily.
They were both ignoring the fact that it was too late in the afternoon for the sun to be a big problem, and of course, that Kate was lying on her back.
“Trust me.” He grinned, and waited while she rolled over.
“You really have been working with Laura too long, that’s her line. It’s what she used to get me to the beach today.” She flushed a little at the memory. “Yikes! That’s cold!” She yelled as he poured the sunscreen onto her silky skin.
Soon she relaxed and gave herself over to the stroking of his large but gentle hands. She almost pouted when he finished putting the lotion on her.
“Bob?” she asked, raising up on one arm and turning to look over her shoulder at him, “Did she set me up today?”
“No. Kate, I swear I had no idea the two of you were going to be there.” There was pleasure and just a hint of guilt is his grin. “I won’t swear that I’m sorry you were there. To put it right out in the open, I liked what I saw.”
“What you saw, ha! You should have seen my view.” She rolled onto her back and slanted him a mischievous glance. “Bigger than a breadbox.”
Bob almost choked on his iced tea. “Here I thought you were so shy! I’m shocked!” He actually blushed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re at least six-foot tall, certainly bigger than a breadbox. Unless you thought I meant, ah, a little over-confident, are we?” She laughed openly at his expression.
“You led me into that!” he accused. “You are a minx under those blushes.” He eyed her for a long moment silently, speculating. “Do you think kisses constitute sexual harassment?”
“I think that depends on who’s kissing who, and how, and why, and what kind of kisses.” She grinned, and raised her eyebrows. “You’ll have to give me a little more to go on if you want a definitive answer,” she challenged.
He reached a hand out and slid it behind her neck, pulling her gently towards him. “Is this definitive enough?”
It was no ordinary first kiss. There was no tentative, gentle exploration. He kissed her with a passion that left them both breathless, boldly sliding his tongue into her mouth. I’m in trouble, she thought, wonderful trouble. She met his passion with her own, putting as much into the kiss as he did.
Finally, breathing heavily, she managed to reply to his question. “Whew! I know for sure that would constitute sexual harassment to anyone at the office.”
“But not to you?” He cocked his head to one side inquisitively.
She laid back on the chaise lounge, acting nonchalant and said innocently, “How could it? I’ve never even been to the office.”
“Why did I get the idea that you were so timid and shy?” He looked at her quizzically.
“You’ve been underestimating me just because I blush, sir!” She sat up again and began to lean towards him. “You should have known better. After all, I have three small kids and a best friend like Laura. How naive could I be?”
She stopped talking as her mouth almost reached his. Her eyes were as big as saucers as she brought up one hand and traced the outline of his mouth with a slender finger. She slid the hand around his neck and gently touched her mouth to his in a gentle kiss.
“This is probably a bad idea, dangerous, unprofessional and all that jazz, do you care?” she whispered against his warm mouth.
“Not a bit.” He kissed her back, pushing her back down on the chaise lounge and laying slightly on top of her.
It was an electric kiss, full of fire and passion. He worked his tongue gently around inside her mouth. They broke apart, both breathing heavily, and looking slightly dazed.
“We may both be in trouble here,” Bob said.
“I laugh at trouble, mister!” she intoned dramatically.
“Just so you don’t laugh at me.” Bob claimed her mouth yet again.
“Who’s laughing?” she whispered breathlessly. “Besides how much trouble can we be in if the kids are coming back soon?”
“Want to know a secret? I have plenty of ice cream in the freezer.” Bob nibbled her ear. “I just failed to mention it to Jack because I wanted to get rid of everyone.”
“Somehow I knew that. Good uncles with children’s video libraries and swimming pools surrounded by floating toys always have plenty of ice cream in the freezer, at least during the summer. I think it’s a state law.” Kate gave herself completely over to the sensations that threatened to overwhelm her, stroking his hair and meeting the thrust of his tongue with her own in a passionate kiss.
Slowly he left her mouth and trailed kisses down her throat, as he slid his hand inside her swimsuit and cupped her breast teasing her nipple with his thumb and forefinger. She moaned with delight.
“Am I moving too fast?” Bob asked softly. “I don’t usually come on so”
“Yes,” she interrupted him gently, “but so am I, and I don’t act like this with every man I meet either.”
“I know that,” Bob assured her.
They both tried to ease up but it had been a very long time since Kate had let herself be close to a man, and with Bob everything felt so right and natural that she entirely forgot herself. She forgot all about the three little kids returning soon. She forgot that this was a man that she’d met just today. She even forgot that this man was her new boss, starting tomorrow. And she made him forget, too.
She just felt alive, totally alive in every cell of her being. She also felt his hands on the strings holding the top of her bathing suit . . . they heard a car door slam loudly. The sound was followed quickly by her children’s laughter. Instantly his hands dropped away and she adjusted her suit. She tried to look as though nothing was happening.
“I don’t know if that was lousy timing or good timing, but I wish they hadn’t returned just yet,” Bob muttered as he stood up.
“I wish they hadn’t come back now either,” Kate met his gaze squarely, before admitting softly, “but it’s probably a good thing they did.”
“Explosive,
