Revenge of the Second Son

“No way. You can.”

“That’s definitely not the same.” He vanished inside and returned shortly in a T-shirt and cutoffs and his deck shoes. As the orange sun slanted low in the west sending a golden streak of fire across the surface of the blue water, Nick put steaks on to grill and served her a glass of red wine.

Tempting smells made her mouth water and the quiet was relaxing, wrapping around them. On the deck overlooking the water, four chairs with tables between two of them were in a small circle. She sat on a chair and he sat facing her and raised his glass. “Here’s to mutual satisfaction in our endeavor.”

“I’ll drink to that,” she said, raising her drink in a toast and taking only a small sip.

“Tell me about your life, Julia,” he said, studying her with that dark-eyed intensity that gave her goose bumps. He set his glass on a table. “What do you want in the future?”

“That’s an easy question. I want to marry and have a family, although I’m only twenty-eight, so I’m not in a rush.”

“I’m thirty-two, and not only in no rush, my freedom is essential,” he replied firmly. “No marriage for me.”

“That sounds final and bitter,” she said, wondering why he was so sour on marriage. “I know you like women.”

“I just want my freedom. I come from a family of nonmarrying people except for my brother, who has had one disastrous union and is married again. My parent’s marriage was even more of a calamity than my brother’s. I say no thanks to the ball and chain.”

“You view someone you love as a ‘ball and chain,’” she repeated with amusement. “You may have a lonely life,” she predicted, yet she knew the handsome man she faced would never be lonely. “I want a family because I have almost none. My only living relatives are my granddad and my granddad’s sister. I want a big family. You have a brother and sister—aren’t you close to them?”

He shrugged one muscled shoulder. “I suppose, but we go for periods of time without seeing each other. We keep in touch.”

“I’m sorry about the brother you lost—the one that died in the mountain climbing accident.”

“Yeah. We all miss Jeff. Well, good luck with getting married and having kids. With your looks, there’ll be no problem about marrying.”

“Thank you, I think.”

“You’re beautiful, but your brain may scare off some guys.”

“Not the right one,” she answered with amusement. “He’ll be smarter than I am, I imagine.”

“I’d take bets on that,” he said, and she smiled. He touched her cheek, and she felt a frisson of excitement from the slight contact. “That smile should get you everything in life you want.”

She flashed him another broad smile. “Do you think so? Will it get what I want from you?”

“I walked right into that one,” he remarked, leaning closer. He was only inches from her. “It probably will,” he said in a husky voice as he looked at her mouth. She wanted to kiss him, even though she knew she should keep her distance.

“So what do you want, Nick? No family. Freedom to do what?” she asked too breathlessly, but hoping to get back to more impersonal topics.

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