“Oh, of course. Please, come in,” Natalie said quickly, mortified to realize she’d left him standing outside the entire time.
“If you have a pair of swim shoes or rubber flip-flops or something, bring those, too,” Liam called as she started down the hallway a moment later. “I haven’t gotten around to having any sand poured at the beach, and it’s rocky.”
It wasn’t until she’d hurriedly packed a canvas beach bag that Natalie realized how easily he’d smooth-talked her into accompanying him.
She was already regretting the decision by the time she followed Liam out to the driveway, her feet faltering when she saw his motorcycle. She recalled how she’d said she was disappointed because he hadn’t driven it last night and mentally damned her bravado.
“Is this the first time you’ve been on a bike?” Liam asked her as he stored her bag and handed her a helmet. Natalie suspected from his overly casual tone he’d noticed her apprehension.
He mounted the bike, all sinuous long limbs and effortless male grace. The motorcycle roared to life. “No worries. You’ll be safe with me.” His flashing grin faded as he examined her. “I promise, Natalie.”
Natalie seriously doubted about her safety when it came to Liam Kavanaugh, but she took the plunge anyway and got on the leather seat behind him, feeling every bit as awkward and foolish as Liam appeared comfortable and confident.
He turned his head so that she could see his profile.
“The only thing you’ve got to do is hold on. Tighter,” he added when she looped her arms around his waist in an uncertain gesture.
He exited her driveway at a tame pace, but when he turned down Travertine Road, the bike took off like a rocket. Natalie felt her heart plummet to the vicinity of her navel, and she hung on to Liam for dear life.
Chapter Eight
It took a few seconds for the full experience of being on the motorcycle to penetrate her consciousness. When she pried open her eyes after a moment, she saw the houses and trees along Travertine zooming by in a colorful, blurred landscape. The machine felt alive beneath her, as if they were riding some wild animal while it gave off a mixture of a growl and a vibrating purr.
By the time they passed the old, handcrafted mailbox at the cottage, Natalie had abandoned herself to the experience. Her upper body pressed flush against Liam’s back. Her cheek rested between his shoulder blades. She inhaled his scent—a subtle, fresh, spicy smell mixing with the clean fragrance of his laundered shirt. His body felt hard and supple in her encircling arms.
She was genuinely disappointed when Liam planted his feet on the gravel drive and the steel beast went silent.
Natalie clambered off the seat, removed the helmet and idly began to smooth back her hair. She noticed Liam’s quizzical look.
“What?” she asked as she readjusted a pin. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“You’re the one who’s smiling, Natalie.” She paused when she heard the gruff intimacy of his voice. It struck her in a flash he was right. She’d been grinning like an idiot. What’s more, her cheeks were hot. She brushed her fingertips across them in wonder.
She’d completely lost herself in the experience.
Feeling a little bewildered by her reaction, she busied herself with claiming her canvas bag.
“You liked it,” Liam said as he dismounted. He whipped off his glasses. “You liked it a lot.”
Natalie gave him a severe glance for the smug satisfaction in his voice. When she saw the sparkle in his blue eyes, though, she couldn’t help but join him in laughter.
Both of them were hot and sticky after the ride, so they agreed to swim first. Natalie exited the downstairs bathroom feeling self-conscious, wearing nothing but her bathing suit and a pair of flip-flops. Why hadn’t she thought to bring a cover-up or towel?
She breathed a sigh of relief when she entered the empty kitchen and saw a large blue beach towel placed conspicuously on the kitchen table. Liam had obviously left it there for her. When she walked onto the terrace she saw him already down at the beach, the waves breaking around his calves. He turned and looked back at the sound of the screen door closing. He
waved before he walked a few more feet into the water and pushed off the shore, shooting into the lake like a human projectile.
Her eyes remained fixed on him as she walked along the stone path between swaying prairie grass, cattails and sunflowers. His muscular, tanned back flexed and shone next to the shimmering water. She placed her towel on a rock and carefully set her glasses upon it.
If this had been the first time she’d been with Liam, she would have jumped to the conclusion that he’d gone ahead of her because he was hot and craved a refreshing swim.
Now she knew different.
He’d given her space deliberately. He’d known she’d be self-conscious if he stood over her while she removed her glasses and dropped her towel. She’d underestimated him by assuming he was too self-confident to understand another person’s insecurities.
She had a strong suspicion she’d underestimated Liam in a number of ways.
It embarrassed her that he’d seen her vulnerability. Her gratitude toward him was stronger, though. At least Natalie thought it was gratitude. She didn’t know what else to call the ache in her chest she felt when she recognized his subtle acknowledgment of her feelings.